text:
What do you think about cannabis?
If someone thinks they need drugs or alcoholism in their life, then they're not living it right. If they try to justify their addiction (or starting one) by pointing out someone else's, then that's just plain nonsense.
Watching K-dramas instead of sleeping....;D
Some people do need "drugs" (i.e. medication) in their lives to ease the burden of their illnesses like cancer, immune disorders, chronic pain, anxiety, and depression. Some people don't need drugs and they should consider themselves lucky. Of course some people have addictive personalities and take these things too far. Some people just use "drugs" to improve their everyday lives, like people who use caffeine to help them get started in the morning. One of the most common illnesses that affects modern society is stress (we all know how bad stress can be) and there are many different ways people find to relieve their stress. Some use drugs like alcohol, prescription drugs, cigarettes, chew, or cannabis. Caffeine is also a drug, and nearly everyone "uses" that, it's in tea, coffee, soft drinks, and in large quantities in energy drinks. Don't forget about aspirin and ibuprofen, those are also "drugs".
Some people's "drugs" or "addictions" can be more than those things like art, music, reading, dancing, tv, the internet, sex (that's a big one!), weight-lifting, running, tanning, or watching anime even (many of these you can actually be physically addicted to). But peoples "addictions" often do not hinder their lives, and sometimes they do but marginally so where the benefits outweigh the negatives. If someone told you that you don't need anime in your life to be happy, how would you feel? Do you think you could give up anime if it were widely considered a bad addiction even though you know its completely harmless? Or if your "addiction" was merely reasonably harmless like caffeine?
I just think that people who wish to use cannabis should be judged the same as those who partake in many other drugs that are socially acceptable, like nicotine, and not judged as a horrible addiction. Also, while you can get addicted to cannabis, it is identical to caffeine addiction (irritable, difficulty sleeping, and these usually very mild symptoms only last 7-14 days).
Every woman blows her cover in the eyes of the beholder.
I think Cannabis is a plant.
I don't smoke anything, and I wouldn't recommend it.
As for edibles and vaporizers...I know that they exist and such.
I do not think that Cannabis should be legalized for personal reasons.
Furthermore...I do however, believe that it should be decriminalized.
If possession is enough to get someone locked up, that's more people for minor offenses being imprisoned.
Decriminalizing it will rationalize the possession and use of cannabis as illicit, yet a minor offense.
Distribution will obviously be seen in the same light as other illicit substances, of course...not permitted.
If full legalization occurred, however, it would have unseen consequences...which is why I don't support that move.
And besides, with legalization, the overall "quality" of the product would decrease as it floats on the market.
The government could then impose steep taxes on the sale, trade and production of crops...there's more at work.
Decriminalizing all drugs would not be wise, but seeing how it works with Cannabis would be a good place to start.
As for your statements about driving...I don't think that would be the case. Impairment is impairment.
Operation of a vehicle while impaired in any manner is tantamount to reckless endangerment of oneself and others.
If you were to replace "all" the drunk drivers with those impaired by other substances (like Cannabis),
I'll bet the deaths/accident would be close to the same.
Reaction speed is something which is very much required in the safe and effective operation of a vehicle.
Substances negate this. If someone impaired cannot react in a timely manner or with enough urgency,
accidents are bound to, and will happen. That's my take on this, at least.
Everyone raised good points on each end of things.
While it is true that Cannabis is being used everywhere, I would say there are two classes of user. Functional and non.
I do not malign those who are functional drug users because they have health conditions alleviated by Cannabinols.
I do not really malign those who are functional Cannabis users and don't constantly go on about such use as well.
I don't generally judge those who use Cannabis in a wise manner (moderately), they know what they're doing.
死んでる。Hic nunc est hodie, cras absit. Ad praesens, nusquam quasi nihil.
I was really hoping for a post like yours DeleriumOxide. You disagree, but raise some damn good points. You definitely have enlightened me and changed my perspective on the subject for the better.
Also, what you said about driving is all exactly the truth, though I do think that the impairment of alcohol is much more severe especially in a culture that encourages drinking past your limits. Another point is that often cannabis makes someone sleepy especially if you are already tired, and driving sleepy or tired is just as dangerous as drunken driving.
Every woman blows her cover in the eyes of the beholder.
I still say, California.
You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villian
I think it is amazing how much of a double standard the American culture has. Every day, millions of people swallow millions of pills made by pharmaceutical companies that have a list of side effects and warnings that take up over 80% of their commercials, but smoking pot is not acceptable in today's society.
Weed should be regulated and taxed and everyone in jail for possession of marijuana should be released from jail. That would go a long way to helping with our deficit. Colorado actually has full legalization of marijuana on the ballot for november's election, but if they actually pass it, I bet the federal government will start cracking down.
Considering the way liberals are starting to take away personal freedoms in order to promote the general welfare and health of society (like telling people in new york what size soda they can buy), I think they we are about to see more government regulation in just about every aspect of society.
bmac6817 wrote:
Considering the way liberals are starting to take away personal freedoms in order to promote the general welfare and health of society (like telling people in new york what size soda they can buy), I think they we are about to see more government regulation in just about every aspect of society.
Uh... Liberals are the people that want more freedoms. It was Mayor Bloomberg who passed the soda size law and he is a republican.
Every woman blows her cover in the eyes of the beholder.
Legalize it.
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine
I smoke pot regularly. I enjoy it with my friends. It's better and "healthier" than the poison that is alcohol, granted I'd still have a mai tai or a beer over dinner. I will admit that pot is dangerous in a different way. Yes, any smoke is bad for your lungs, but the real danger of pot is the psychological effect it can have on you. It can be very relaxing on your mind, but it can also overwhelm you if you let it. I've seen it happen to people and experienced it myself. You need to be able to control it.
People that act like "burn dat green erryday bitch 420 420 fagit" are stupid assholes though.
We Do Not Sow
I think cannabis has a place in society and should be made legal though I am not a proponent of smoking it (I prefer a vaporizer). Cannabis is a plant, and is kept that way from the growers to the consumers. For those that believe cannabis is a "gateway" drug I beg to differ. I believe prescription medications are far more dangerous, especially anti-depressants and that doctors write prescriptions like a pez dispenser gives candy to a five year old.
Gah what do you want now?
justinitsu wrote:
It's better and "healthier" than the poison that is alcohol, granted I'd still have a mai tai or a beer over dinner.
People that act like "burn dat green erryday bitch 420 420 fagit" are stupid assholes though.
Definitely better than alcohol. Alcohol has impacted my life deeply, and other peoples have too... even ruined because of it. I drink extremely rarely and very little if I do, I am uncomfortable around people who are drinking and especially so if drinking excessively. I used to offer people who were drunk rides, but after an extremely close call, I realized that driving with someone who is smashed drunk (especially if they're in a bad mood) is also dangerous.
Usually people who act like "420 smoke weed errday" and vandalize shit with cannabis leaves are just immature kids trying to impress the wrong crowd. This sort of thing, I think, could be greatly reduced if the general public knew more about the true facts about cannabis and legalized and regulated to reduce the sale to minors. Though the exact affects of legalizing is still a mystery, we will never know until we do. Decriminalizing though, it would probably just reduce the amount of money spent putting people behind bars and ruining their lives... and hopefully allow for more studies and public knowledge too.
crazyfirefly wrote:
For those that believe cannabis is a "gateway" drug I beg to differ..
How many people still believe that? I usually hear people talking about wanting to try different drugs when drunk lol. Maybe its easier to convince people to believe the "gateway drug" lie because the people who are willing to try cannabis when its illegal, are already willing to defy law and look beyond what is socially acceptable to seek their own happiness.
On a side note, I just started watching Gosick which turned out to be pretty awesome so far.
Every woman blows her cover in the eyes of the beholder.
cannabis helps with pain stress eating helps treat cancer and many other things but what i want to say is plants that grow in the ground should be ether super cheap or free and should never be regulated taxed and sold in stores its ridiculous
besides thers worse drugs out there that are way easier to get such as pills bath salts ect. now these drugs are what should be way harder to get
but its not ts very easy for any kid to get there hands on these and over dose and kill them self's now on the other had you can smoke as much cannabis as you want and all you will do is get super hungry laugh alot and fall asleep then wake up a few hours later ive never once herd of a person over dosing on cannabis
iam very bored {freedom of speech}
I'm a big believer in moderation in regards to all things. Habitual use of weed can be problematic, but as long as it isn't getting in the way of living your life, than it's fine. I myself have smoked weed before, and I rather enjoy it, even if it is still illegal in my state. That being said, I do think that they should just make it legal and call it a day. It isn't as bad as some legal things so yeah.... Also I doubt we would even be having this conversation if it was legal, because I don't see any alcohol threads.
As for the whole gate way thing, that is some big BS that people with any sort of pattern recognition should figure out quick. After all, you don't see people drinking beer and then vodka and then rubbing alcohol. It doesn't work that way.
Zen is working at full power.
Don't smoke it and never will, but i'm all for legalizing and taxing it.
If I had a type it'd be you, fortunately I don't have a type so please stop.
cruentus wrote:
bmac6817 wrote:
Considering the way liberals are starting to take away personal freedoms in order to promote the general welfare and health of society (like telling people in new york what size soda they can buy), I think they we are about to see more government regulation in just about every aspect of society.
Uh... Liberals are the people that want more freedoms. It was Mayor Bloomberg who passed the soda size law and he is a republican.
Liberals are the people who promote more control over people because they know best and Bloomberg is not a republican, he is a political whore.
Democratic Party (until 2001)
Republican Party (2001–2007)
Independent (2007–present)
. . . and furthermore . . .


text:
The fire has been extinguished, Black Elk spokeswoman Leslie Hoffman said. She added that an emergency response is under way, but declined further comment, Reuters reported.
The US Coast Guard said 11 people were airlifted to hospitals while nine others were evacuated to other nearby energy facilities. Search and rescue helicopters were scouring the area, located around 17 miles south of Grand Isle, Louisiana.
No fatalities have been confirmed but two workers are missing. The 11 hurt included four who suffered burns and were in critical condition at Louisiana's West Jefferson Medical Center, a hospital spokeswoman said.
When it caught fire, 22 workers were aboard the shallow-water platform, which was not actively drilling or producing oil and gas, the Coast Guard said.
An oil sheen is being monitored in waters nearby. The Coast Guard said there appeared to be little risk of a major oil spill because production was shut off before the fire, and Black Elk told authorities that any spill could be as little as 28 gallons.
The latest potentially deadly offshore incident comes a day after oil giant BP reached an agreement to pay record penalties of $4.5bn for its role in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, which spewed 4.9m barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico and killed 11 workers.
The Black Elk platform sits in 56 feet of water and its production apparatus was shut off before the fire. In contrast, the BP disaster happened during a drilling operation in waters nearly a mile deep.
Federal data and SEC filings show that Black Elk, a minor producer in the Gulf, has a recent history of close calls, platform incidents and fines, including a $300,000 federal penalty it paid in September.
Friday's incident could reignite a national debate over safety standards for offshore drilling. After the Horizon spill, the government overhauled offshore drilling regulations and imposed a ban on drilling that lasted for several months.
"BP and the government may have settled criminal matters yesterday, but today's incident shows that increasing safety of offshore drilling and for hard-working men and women is still not a settled matter," said Massachusetts congressman Ed Markey, the ranking Democrat on the House National Resources Committee, in a statement.
"This incident raises a number of questions about the nature and adequacy of safety measures on this offshore rig," Markey added.
The federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) said it was sending safety inspectors to the Black Elk platform.
"They were not actively drilling," said Coast Guard spokesman Glenn Sanchez. "They were cutting a pipe or doing some type of maintenance that may have resulted in the explosion and fire."
Offshore producer Black Elk was founded in 2007 by CEO John Hoffman, a former BP Amoco executive, according to an interview with him published in the Houston Business Journal in April.
The firm holds at least 88 oil and gas leases, according to US government data. Its SEC filings show Black Elk pumped some 14,000 barrels of oil and natural gas equivalent per day last quarter.
It recently announced a major expansion, with plans to drill 23 new wells in the Gulf of Mexico starting this month, according to a company website.
In a company filing, Black Elk lists New York hedge fund Platinum Partners Value Arbitrage Fund as its majority equity owner. Platinum declined comment.
Government data and company filings show that Black Elk has a recent history of fines and safety issues on offshore rigs.
The firm was investigated by BSEE as recently as August for an incident in which two employees were dropped 60 feet into Gulf of Mexico waters due to a crane malfunction. No injuries were reported.
In September, while repairing a leak at another well on a platform in the High Island area of the Gulf of Mexico in September, workers were forced to activate a blowout preventer to control the well. Regulators ordered the well to be plugged and abandoned last month.
SEC filings also show that Black Elk paid a $300,000 civil fine in September, related to a site inspection in 2011 of one of its facilities, which revealed compliance issues. A small fire occurred at a Black Elk platform in February of 2011 in the Gulf of Mexico, but was quickly contained, according to a report filed with the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, a predecessor of BSEE.
Black Elk specializes in acquiring mature oil and gas properties from other companies, according to a July report in the magazine Hedge Funds Review, which says it has spent $600m on wells since 2009.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Journal | Black
Journal | Black
Write It Down
- Hand stitched
- 4oz Black Bridle Leather
- Two Cardholders
- .04mm Waxed Thread
- Solid Brass Snap Closure
- Moleskine Notebook included
All Howl + Hide Products are crafted in house at our workshop in Indianapolis, Indiana. In order to maintain the best quality we pride ourselves on every product that leaves our production table. Due to this nature of work most of our bags have a production time of 3-5 weeks to make. We have a limited stock of inventory in our showroom but due to the high demand we cannot guarantee immediate availability. While we understand this may be a new concept in a world of next day shipping the traditions that binds our mission in producing items with the focus of quality over quantity does take time.
Thank you for supporting our independent workshop.


text:
Paris to Provence: Childhood Memories of Food & France by Ethel Brennan and Sara Remington
Who would turn down childhood summers spent in France, traveling between a farmhouse in Provence and the glamour of Paris, or taking a long road trip through Bordeaux, stopping off in Saint Malo and Lyon and ending up in on a beach in the Mediterranean? Who wouldn't love to offer such a life to their own children? If that's not immediately possible for you, then you can take vicarious pleasure in reading and cooking from this beautifully photographed cookbook/memoir written by two lucky women who had that very childhood and more.
Quick Facts
• Who wrote it: Ethel Brennan and Sara Remington
• Who published it: Andrews McMeel
• Number of recipes: over 50
• Recipes for right now: Soft-Boiled Eggs and Fresh Asparagus Spears, Warm Goat Cheese Salad, Onion Tart (Pissaladière), Socca, Citron Pressè, Rosemary Grilled Lamb Chops
• Other highlights: Both of the authors of Paris to Provence spent their childhood summers in France, primarily in Paris and Provence. Although they didn't meet well into adulthood and are 10 years apart in age, they bonded instantly over this shared experience, which led, eventually, to their collaborating together on this book. Here they share the food and memories of the unique and beautiful childhood their parents gave to them, which they in turn are passing on to their own children.
The recipes are classic French offerings such as Poulet Roti avec Pommes de Terre (Rotisserie Chicken with Potatoes), Quiche Lorraine, Pan Bagnat (Nicoise-Style Tuna sandwich), Madeleines, Le Grand Aioli. There's nothing new or earth shattering here, but that's part of the appeal. This book reminded me that mastering the basics (roast chicken, quiche, lemon cheesecake) is an important, and really fulfilling, endeavor.
Sara Remington's photographs are beautiful, often showing us the finished dish but also scenes from cafes and markets, as well as happy, well-fed children enjoying and exploring the French countryside.
• Who would enjoy this book? Anyone who has dreamed of spending extended time exploring France, eating the food and discovering the countryside, and especially those would like to share that experience with their children. I could see a parent sharing this book with her child, reading the text and looking at the pictures, and cooking some of the dishes together, perhaps as a preliminary step towards traveling to France together one day. Dreams, after all, do occasionally come true!
Find the book at your local library, independent bookstore, or Amazon: Paris to Provence: Childhood Memories of Food and France by Ethel Brennan and Sara Remington
Apartment Therapy Media makes every effort to test and review products fairly and transparently. The views expressed in this review are the personal views of the reviewer and this particular product review was not sponsored or paid for in any way by the manufacturer or an agent working on their behalf. However, the manufacturer did give us the product for testing and review purposes.
(Images: Dana Velden)


text: Sijun Forums :: View topic - portrait (kind of weird) Log in to check your private messages Sijun Forums Forum Index >> Gallery/Finished Work View previous topic :: View next topic Author Topic : "portrait (kind of weird)" searmemberMember #Joined: 29 Sep 2000Posts: 443Location: switzerland Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2001 5:54 am (critic?) ------------------ sear http://sear.planet-d.net Back to top JIMmemberMember #Joined: 01 Nov 2000Posts: 107Location: MI, USA Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2001 6:36 am looks good kinda looks like anthony keidis (check the spelling) from chilli peppers the left side of face is kinda screwy though. is that a hand resting on face? unless you keep as abstract then in that case i like it alot Back to top sh4dememberMember #Joined: 29 Jul 2000Posts: 124Location: suomi finland perkele Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2001 7:21 am wee sear does it again actually I feel like I could try to draw something.. for the first time in moths. Back to top agent44memberMember #Joined: 07 Sep 2000Posts: 473Location: glendale, CA Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2001 7:21 am hmmm, that is kind of wierd. What prompted this peice? I like the eyes and mouth a lot. But the head shape isn't as dynamic as your other pieces. Nice work! ------------------ agent44 Back to top TinuschmemberMember #Joined: 25 Dec 1999Posts: 2757Location: Rhode Island, USA Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2001 3:06 pm I love this. I'm really liking all these pics you've been posting. Lately I've been starting to like more abstract stuff, with more unusual use of color and whatnot. Awesome job. Back to top tayetememberMember #Joined: 03 Dec 2000Posts: 656Location: Madrid, Spain Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2001 12:57 am It reminds me of Bacon's art...I loved his paintings, a pity he's dead now. Back to top searmemberMember #Joined: 29 Sep 2000Posts: 443Location: switzerland Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2001 4:35 am hi there people... jim: thanks. well, i don't know if he looks like anthony k. may be in a way, but i'll have a look on their video clips... be sure that i didn't do intentionally well, i guess there's a clear abstract will in this painting. i wanted it to be a bit messy or something... it's kind of weird like i said earlier, but i still like doin' it that way. sh4de: hehe... just feel free to email me some of your work. agent 44: it's pretty hard for me to say what prompted this pic... i mean... to be honest i was just coming back from snowboard holidays in the snowy swiss alps, and i wanted to draw someone that looked tired and a bit fucked up... well, i don't know why i'm standing here telling you so futile words.. eheh... anyway watch out agent, my next piece is gonna be realllly dynamic tayete: i'm also really keen on francis bacon's art... i dig the way he worked with the colors.... so powerful... tinusch: thanks. well, you kinda understood it, i'm just trying to walk out of the beaten paths... anyway guys, thanks for precious feedback. peace. yann Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Sijun Forums Forum Index -> Gallery/Finished Work All times are GMT - 8 Hours Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Digital Art----------------Digital Art DiscussionWork in ProgressGallery/Finished Work Miscellaneous----------------Random MusingsArchive : Sep99 - Dec00 You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum Powered by phpBB © 2005 phpBB Group


text:
When you tell most people that you ride a motorcycle, their usual question is "so, what do you ride, a Ducati?" The only other brand name so synonymous with motorcycling would be Harley-Davidson.
The famed Italian brand's distinctive Euro-styling and cultural cachet seemed to resonate with nearly 45,000 people in 2013, as the brand from Bologna sold a record 44,287 motorbikes worldwide last year.
Sales in South Asia rose by 26% with 5,200 motorcycles sold, while the United States, Ducati's top market, accounted for 24% in sales, followed by Italy at 11.3% and Germany at 10.7%.


text:
I'm old enough that I sometimes look back on days gone by and wistfully express my longing for times past.
Well, I guess you don't have to be too terribly old to do that. I've heard my eight- and 10-year-olds deliver a significant pause and a hint of a sigh after recalling how things were back in the day, back when "Mawci" and "Dawci" would take the preschoolers at Mary Johnson out to play in the kiddie pool on hot summer days.


text:
MIDDLEBURY/HANCOCK — Three Hancock residents appeared at the Addison County Courthouse on Wednesday, Nov. 21, to plead innocent to drug-related crimes in connection with an alleged methamphetamine operation at a home at 2698 Route 125 in Hancock.
It is the first substantial meth case to be prosecuted in Addison County.
Subscribe to Online Edition
Online PDF Print Edition
Copyright 2011 Addison Independent | 58 Maple Street, Middlebury, Vt. 05753 | All Rights Reserved
Site Development by Surf New Media


text:
RCKa have recognised a fundamental shift in the economic and civic landscape in which architects work. RCKa have sought a new approach to produce an architecture of the real, a community-centric architecture that increases development opportunities and creates a positive dialogue through engagement, without compromising architectural ambition.
RCKa provide a new model for how young practices can operate successfully in a shifting professional context, where the architect takes a greater and more expansive role in the procurement and management of projects from the outset, acting not only as designer but often as project instigator and enabler. Roles include identifying development opportunities and synergies, securing funding and connecting organisations to socially responsible and mutually beneficial ends.
Their approach - centred on dialogue and enterprise - has created opportunities for them to demonstrate the positive role that architecture and architects can play, leading to the practice securing several significant award-winning commissions.
Examples include; TNG Community Centre London for which we identified the site and helped raise £3.5m (Completion Dec 2012), OPEN Youth Venue £6.5m co-design of listed building with young people of Norwich (Completed Jan 2010), Open Eye Photographic Gallery Liverpool challenged curatorial brief to engage positively with the public realm and create a dramatic community event space (Completed Sept 2011), Community Housing Preston developed with local people features community homezone from which all units are accessed (Completion Nov 2012).
Whilst they have won numerous design awards both in the UK and abroad for their innovative use of materials and deep understanding of place, for us it is as important that application of their design skills to the wider socio-political context result in the production of a meaningful and beautiful architecture.


text:
Our Department
Utilities and Franchise Division
In 2002 a franchise agreement with the cable company, Comcast CableVision was negotiated and approved by the City Council. To review the approved agreement, select the link at left, "Comcast Franchise Agreement."
The City Attorney's Office takes complaints from residents concerning the cable company. If you would like to file a complaint, please complete the Cable Complaint Form.
Franchise Agreements such as the Comcast Franchise Agreement and others can be found at the City of Albuquerque's Code of Ordinances site. Please refer to Chapter 13 (Business and Occupations Chapter) for all utility franchise agreements. The franchises in effect are listed below.
- Gas Franchise 13-4-8-1
- Electricity Franchise 13-4-2
- Brooks Fiber Franchise 13-4-5
- GST Lightwave Franchise 13-4-6
- American Communications Services of Albuquerque 13-5-3-1
The Real Estate and Land Use Division
The Real Estate and Land Use Division (RELU) handles all real property transactions for the City and litigates all land use disputes involving the City, including quiet title actions, rezoning of property, eminent domain actions, public infrastructure construction, animal control cases, zoning code violations and foreclosure actions.
RELU also advises numerous City administrative boards and commissions, including the Police Oversight Commission (POC), the Environmental Planning Commission (EPC), the Development Review Board (DRB), the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency (MRA) and The Board of Appeals (BOA).
The Litigation Division
The Litigation Division defends the City and City employees during trial, hearings, and appeals in lawsuits alleging Section 1983, Title VII, personal injury, and premises liability claims.
The Employment Section
The Employment Section is organizationally part of the Litigation Division, but its attorneys and staff work exclusively in the areas of employment, personnel and labor law, and report directly to the City Attorney.
The Employment Section advises the City departments on employment and personnel matters, working closely with the Human Resources representatives for each department; represents the City before the Personnel Board, the Labor Board and various courts in matters involving employee grievances and discipline as well as labor management and collective bargaining issues.
The Municipal Affairs Division
The Municipal Affairs Division attorneys and staff provide legal services to a variety of City departments, the Office of the Mayor and City Council regarding Environmental Health Department issues including noise, food sanitation, swimming pools and air quality; DFAS Purchasing (procurement of goods and services for the City, review of City contracts); Albuquerque Housing Authority (Public Housing and Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers and related matters, including evictions); Aviation Department matters; telecommunication franchises, cell tower leases and related rights-of way issues and licenses; bankruptcies regarding amounts owed to the City; liquor licenses owned by and granted by the City; and HUD programs to stabilize neighborhoods.
In addition to representing the City in administrative hearings and various courts, and drafting contracts, ordinances and regulations, the attorneys attend meetings and hearings of the Albuquerque Housing Authority Board, the city-county Air Quality Control Board, the Cable Franchise and Hearing Board (Cable Board), the Airport Advisory Board, the Small Business Regulatory Advisory Commission (SBRAC), and the Housing Advisory and Appeals Committee (HAAC).
The Safe City Strike Force
The Safe City Strike Force enforces many of the City's Codes and Ordinances including the Nuisance Abatement Ordinance (11-1-1-1 et. seq.), the Uniform Housing Code (14-3-1-1 et seq.) and related rules and regulations. SCSF seeks remedies allowed by State law for abatement of "public nuisances" including but not limited to the demolition of persistently non-complaint properties.
SCSF handles most of the citizen complaints referred to the Legal Department by 311. SCSF meets twice a month with the Police Department, the Fire Department, the Family and Community Affairs Department, Planning, Animal Services and City Council to coordinate efforts to deal with problem properties.
SCSF enforces the vehicle forfeiture program and litigates challenges to the seizure of the vehicles of repeat drunk drivers or those driving on revocation. SCSF staffs the Metropolitan Court Traffic Arraignment Program.


text:
High strangeness - The French connection
One night whilst asleep in bed with my wife I was awoken by her as she suddenly burst into conversation. I became immediately aware of a French accent in her voice but then realized that her words were (or appeared to be) actual French words. I knew she didn't speak a word of French and also that she was not prone to pranks in any way. As my French was equally non existent I memorized the sounds with a view to unraveling the mystery later. The sounds most clear in my head were- "Se la gehr". This was followed by a complicated and lengthy sentence that I did not pick up. I recall only that this second sentence included the sound "Perverse". Later that day at work I offered my rendition of "Se la Gehr" as it sounded, to a fluent French speaking colleague who immediately translated the phrase into - "It is war". Reflecting back on the sounds and intent in my wife's dream I conclude that she was talking about a war that was most perverse. The most striking thing of all was to hear my wife bursting into Fluent French whilst asleep. The second shock came when the sounds she made were instantly recognizable to a French speaking person. Was my wife re-living a past event. Was she passing a future event back in time to the present day. Or was the interlaced collective consciousness MATRIX exposed for what it is for that moment ?
The Wolf Dream
I was asleep one night in bed when suddenly I was jolted awake by a loud SLAP. I nudged my wife into consciousness and said "What was that slapping sound". She said that she'd been having a dream mumbling something about a crowd. At this point we let it go and went back to sleep. Later in the day I enquired as to the content of her dream the night before. My wife said that in the dream she was being confronted by a mob in a clearing of a wood or forest somewhere. The crowd were accusing her of being in league with a wolf (her familiar ?) normally resident in the wood. The ring leader (a man) tries to force my wife deeper into the wood at which point she lashes out with her hand and slaps him sharply across the face. At this moment the dream ended with my digging her in the back demanding to know what the SLAPPING sound was. Other details of the dream are:-
1)The time of day was dusk (not dawn)
2)The mob consisted of approximately 20 mixed sex individuals
3)After the slap the assailant recoils but does not let go.
4)The arrival & presence of the wolf behind my wife was revealed by the changed expression on the assailants face.
5)The wolf leapt at the assailant causing him to let go of my wife.
6)My wife is awakened by my digging her in the back
This is a very strange affair indeed I feel . To hear a sound from another person's dream is a most curious event.


text:
Jennifer Aniston: Waldorf-Astoria Arrival with Justin Theroux!
Jennifer Aniston and her boyfriend Justin Theroux arrive back to the Waldorf-Astoria hotel on Monday (June 27) in New York City.
The 42-year-old Horrible Bosses actress and the 39-year-old actor exited their SUV from separate sides as they headed into a private entrance of the hotel.
Earlier in the day, Jennifer stepped out at The Daily Show studios to make an appearance on the show to promote her new movie.
The salon owner who charged hundreds of thousands of dollars to her famous clients' credit cards, including those of Jen, Anne Hathaway, and Liv Tyler, was just sentenced to nine months of home confinement and five years of probation.
10+ pictures inside of Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux arriving at their hotel…


text: After receiving many requests for an extended remix of "Love in the Park" I am happy to present "Love in the Park Dance Remix". This composition features the vocals of Canadian singer Theda Phoenix. This melodic and hypnotic groove will work well for web sites, films, intros, podcasts as well as an upbeat track to drive down the road with. I hope you enjoy it.


text:
Is Photographing A Meal 'Taking Intellectual Property Away' From A Chef?
from the not-getting-the-point dept
The article linked above, from Eater, talks to a number of different chefs to get their opinion on diners photographing the food that they're served. Most seem to have a grudging acceptance of the practice. The first chef, Sean Brock (from Husk and McCrady's in Charleston, South Carolina) appears to be the most enthusiastic, saying that he actually loves it when diners photograph the menu, because it even helps remind him what they made and also puts more pressure on the cooking staff to make sure the plates look good. However, a couple chefs down, there's RJ Cooper (from Rogue 24 in DC). He admits that they allow (non-flash) photography, mainly because he can't really stop it. But he's certainly not happy about it. After being asked if his opinion about people photographing dinner had changed, he said:
No, I still have the feeling. You're there for the dining experience with your companion, not to take photos of food. They publish food photos without your consent, which is taking intellectual property away from the restaurant. And also, generally, the photographs are terrible.I'm curious how this is "taking intellectual property away from the restaurant." Unfortunately, it seems like yet another sign of the kind of "ownership culture" that is being spread by copyright maximalists these days -- encouraging the world to think they have "ownership" over things they have absolutely no rights to. The restaurant can legally refuse to serve someone, or kick someone out of their restaurant for taking a photograph if they wanted (though, that would likely hurt the restaurant's reputation), but there simply is no serious intellectual property issue in having someone take a photograph of the dinner they were served. Is there a lawyer crazy enough to make an argument that the cooking and plating process creates enough creativity in a "fixed" manner that it deserves copyright? Perhaps, but even then I'd have a hard time believing the photograph was not perfectly legitimate fair use.
All in all, I think it's unfortunate that we keep seeing more and more examples of people believing they "own" aspects of culture and can prevent others from sharing them, and regret that this is what our culture has become in an era where kids are being (incorrectly) taught that copyright is just like "property" for things you create. It leads people into thinking they "own" anything they do.


text:
Do some Excel Work
Бюджет $250-750 AUD
I need an excel guru to develop a dashboard interface for some background data to make the presentation of the information more interactive and user friendly.
The end result being a report that will need to have the background data updated by myself quarterly. We currently use a cloud based platform that has the capability to generate raw data excel spreadsheets with all the required information - I wish to be able to generate this data report and copy and paste the data into the developed excel spreadsheet where to front page dashboard will update automatically (or to something of that effect).
The data that will need to be represented is manufacturing data - criteria being manufacturing production weights, versus how much energy is used to produce this product, how much water is required, and how much waste and greenhouse gases are generated due to our operations. I have a sketch of what I wish the dashboard to include but there will need to be a number of background calculations applied to the raw data to enable to functionality of the graphs on the dashboard.
There will also need to be year on year graph comparisons as to how the site is tracking each consecutive year (using historical data).
25 фрилансеров(-а) в среднем готовы выполнить эту работу за $468
Hello, I am ready to develop a dashboard interface. Lets discuss before starting the task. Highly experienced in Excel Programming, Excel automation and Macros. I am good at Visual Basic and .net for Applications Больше
Dear Sir/Ma'am, I am a Web research, Data Entry & Webs Scrapping expert. I checked and understood your requirements. I can handle this job very well to your appreciation. I can find and extract the information Больше
Hi, my name is Sevinc. I read your "Do some Excel Work" project descriptions carefully before bidding. I checked the attached reporting template as well... I got what you need and ready to go ahead as soon as we can Больше
Hello, my name is Cristian, I have a degree in Business and work with excel every day. I have much experience with spreadsheets, formulas, models and macros. Check my reviews. They speak for themselves. Best rega Больше
I can do exactly what you need. I'm a computer science professional with extensive experience in automation of data acquisition, processing, analysis, and presentation in Excel using custom dashboards, macros (VBA scri Больше
Greetings! I have 17+ years experience in using Excel as part of my daily work life. In the process I have implemented lot of automation similar to what you are expecting as well as dashboards for Management Reporti Больше
Hi, Check my XL dashboard example in my portfolio page. The data from the raw file (the one downloaded from the cloud) can be calculated/populated and then update the dashboard figures by a click of a button, whi Больше
Hello, I am Excel and VBA expert. Can I see raw data? Please note that I have 100% completion rate and 5-star feedback on 50 projects.
Hi, I have a university degree in economics and IT, and several decades of system design and programming, in the recent decade especially in Excel and VBA. I plan to complete the project via writing an Excel macr Больше
Hello, I understood the initial scope of this project. Although i want to discuss further this job in order to prepare the final concept for this project. After Complete discussion over the call or in chat, i wi Больше


text:
Wale: I Just Want To Make Music & Give It To Fans For Free... They'll Support Me
from the new-way dept
There are lots of artists who recognize this basic formula. For example, hip hop star Wale was recently asked about things like SOPA, and he explained that he doesn't get too involved in those things, but he just wants to make music and give it to his fans for free, knowing that they'll support him when it comes time to buy:
I just know that I want to continue to make music and give it to the people for free and then if it's good enough when it's time for it to be sold they'll go out and support it. I'm a fan of the mode that it is now...Of course, he's signed to Universal Music, which kinda limits his ability to give out his music for free. They don't like that kind of thing. But it again raises questions about the claims of labels that they represent the best interests of artists. It seems like some artists have a better handle on what's best for themselves...


text:
Herd behavior
Herd behavior describes how individuals in a group can act collectively without centralized direction. The term can refer to the behavior of animals in herds, packs, bird flocks, fish schools, demonstrations, riots and general strikes,[1] sporting events, religious gatherings, episodes of mob violence and everyday decision-making, judgement and opinion-forming.
Raafat, Chater and Frith proposed an integrated approach to herding, describing two key issues, the mechanisms of transmission of thoughts or behavior between individuals and the patterns of connections between them.[2] They suggested that bringing together diverse theoretical approaches of herding behavior illuminates the applicability of the concept to many domains, ranging from cognitive neuroscience to economics.[3]
- In animals 1
- Symmetry-breaking 2
In human societies 3
- Stock market bubbles 3.1
- In crowds 3.2
- Everyday decision-making 3.3
- See also 4
- Notes 5
- References 6
- Further reading 7
In animals
A group of animals fleeing from a predator shows the nature of herd behavior. In 1971, in the oft cited article "Geometry For The Selfish Herd," evolutionary biologist W. D. Hamilton asserted that each individual group member reduces the danger to itself by moving as close as possible to the center of the fleeing group. Thus the herd appears as a unit in moving together, but its function emerges from the uncoordinated behavior of self-serving individuals.[4]
Asymmetric aggregation of animals under panic conditions has been observed in many species, including humans, mice, and ants.[5] Theoretical models have demonstrated symmetry-breaking similar to observations in empirical studies. For example, when panicked individuals are confined to a room with two equal and equidistant exits, a majority will favor one exit while the minority will favor the other.
Possible mechanisms for this behavior include Hamilton's Selfish herd theory, neighbor copying, or the byproduct of communication by social animals or runaway positive feedback.
Characteristics of escape panic include:
- Individuals attempt to move faster than normal.
- Interactions between individuals become physical.
- Exits become arched and clogged.
- Escape is slowed by fallen individuals serving as obstacles.
- Individuals display a tendency towards mass or copied behavior.
- Alternative or less used exits are overlooked.[4][6]
In human societies
The philosophers Freud (crowd psychology), Carl Jung (collective unconscious), and Gustave Le Bon (the popular mind). Swarm theory observed in non-human societies is a related concept and is being explored as it occurs in human society.
Stock market bubbles
Large stock market trends often begin and end with periods of frenzied buying (bubbles) or selling (crashes). Many observers cite these episodes as clear examples of herding behavior that is irrational and driven by emotion—greed in the bubbles, fear in the crashes. Individual investors join the crowd of others in a rush to get in or out of the market.[7]
Some followers of the technical analysis school of investing see the herding behavior of investors as an example of extreme market sentiment.[8] The academic study of behavioral finance has identified herding in the collective irrationality of investors, particularly the work of Nobel laureates Vernon L. Smith, Amos Tversky, Daniel Kahneman, and Robert Shiller. [9][a]
Hey and Morone (2004) analyzed a model of herd behavior in a market context. Their work is related to at least two important strands of literature. The first of these strands is that on herd behavior in a non-market context. The seminal references are Banerjee (1992) and Bikhchandani, Hirshleifer and Welch (1992), both of which showed that herd behavior may result from private information not publicly shared. More specifically, both of these papers showed that individuals, acting sequentially on the basis of private information and public knowledge about the behavior of others, may end up choosing the socially undesirable option. The second of the strands of literature motivating this paper is that of information aggregation in market contexts. A very early reference is the classic paper by Grossman and Stiglitz (1976) that showed that uninformed traders in a market context can become informed through the price in such a way that private information is aggregated correctly and efficiently. A summary of the progress of this strand of literature can be found in the paper by Plott (2000). Hey and Morone (2004) showed that it is possible to observe herd-type behavior in a market context. Their result is even more interesting since it refers to a market with a well-defined fundamental value. Even if herd behavior might only be observed rarely, this has important consequences for a whole range of real markets – most particularly foreign exchange markets.
One such herdish incident was the price volatility that surrounded the 2007 Uranium bubble, which started with flooding of the Cigar Lake Mine in Saskatchewan, during the year 2006.[10][11][12]
In crowds
Crowds that gather on behalf of a grievance can involve herding behavior that turns violent, particularly when confronted by an opposing ethnic or racial group. The Los Angeles riots of 1992, New York Draft Riots and Tulsa Race Riot are notorious in U.S. history. The idea of a "group mind" or "mob behavior" was put forward by the French social psychologists Gabriel Tarde and Gustave Le Bon.
Sporting events can also produce violent episodes of herd behavior. The most violent single riot in history may be the sixth-century Nika riots in Constantinople, precipitated by partisan factions attending the chariot races. The football hooliganism of the 1980s was a well-publicized, latter-day example of sports violence.
During times of mass panic, the herd type behavior can lead to the formation of mobs or large groups of people with destructive intentions. In addition, during such instances, like those during natural disasters, behavior such as mass evacuation and clearing the shelves of food and supplies is common.
Several historians also believe that Adolf Hitler used herd behavior and crowd psychology to his advantage, by placing a group of German officers disguised as civilians within a crowd attending one of his speeches. These officers would cheer and clap loudly for Hitler, and the rest of the crowd followed their example, making it appear that the entire crowd completely agreed with Hitler and his views. These speeches would then be broadcast, increasing the effect.
Everyday decision-making
"Benign" herding behaviors may occur frequently in everyday decisions based on learning from the information of others, as when a person on the street decides which of two restaurants to dine in. Suppose that both look appealing, but both are empty because it is early evening; so at random, this person chooses restaurant A. Soon a couple walks down the same street in search of a place to eat. They see that restaurant A has customers while B is empty, and choose A on the assumption that having customers makes it the better choice. And so on with other passersby into the evening, with restaurant A doing more business that night than B. This phenomenon is also referred as an information cascade.[13][14][15][16]
See also
- Anxiety
- Bandwagon effect
- Collective behavior
- Collective consciousness
- Collective effervescence
- Collective intelligence
- Crowd psychology
- Conformity
- Group behavior
- Groupthink
- Herd mentality
- Hive mind
- Informational cascade
- Mass hysteria
- Mean world syndrome
- Meme
- Mob rule
- Moral panic
- Propaganda
- Self-organization
- Sheeple
- Social proof
- Socionomics
- Spontaneous order
- Swarm intelligence
- Team player
- The 2009 Birmingham, Millennium Point stampede
- The Hillsborough disaster
- Riot
- Stampede
- Symmetry breaking of escaping ants
a. ^ See for example the WorldHeritage article on his book Irrational Exuberance.[9]
- ^ Braha, D (2012) Global Civil Unrest: Contagion, Self-Organization, and Prediction. PLoS ONE 7(10): e48596, article doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0048596
- ^ Raafat, R. M.; Chater, N.; Frith, C. (2009). "Herding in humans". Trends in Cognitive Sciences 13 (10): 420–428.
- ^ Burke, C. J.; Tobler, P. N.; Schultz, W.; Baddeley, M. (2010). "Striatal BOLD response reflects the impact of herd information on financial decisions". Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 4: 48.
- ^ a b Hamilton, W. D. (1971). "Geometry for the Selfish Herd". Journal of Theoretical Biology 31 (2): 295–311.
- ^ Altshuler, E.; Ramos, O.; Nuñez, Y.; Fernández, J. "Panic-induced symmetry breaking in escaping ants" (PDF).
- ^ E. Altshuler, O. Ramos, Y. Núñez, J. Fernández, A. J. Batista-Leyva, and C. Noda (2005), "Symmetry Breaking in Escaping Ants," The American Naturalist, 166 (6):643–649.
- ^ Markus K. Brunnermeier, Pricing under Asymmetric Information: Bubbles, Crashes, Technical Analysis, and HerdingAsset , Oxford University Press (2001).
- ^ Robert Prechter, The Wave Principle of Human Social Behavior, New Classics Library (1999), pp. 152–153.
- ^ a b Shiller, Robert J. (2000). Irrational Exuberance. Princeton University Press. pp. 149–153. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
- ^ In Focus article (8 June 2012), "WNFM: A Focus on Fundamentals One Year After Fukushima", Reproduced article from Nuclear Market Review, TradeTech, retrieved 4 March 2013 There are several reproduced In Focus articles on this page. The relevant one is near the bottom, under the title in this reference
- ^ UraniumSeek.com, Gold Seek LLC (2008-08-22). "Uranium Has Bottomed: Two Uranium Bulls to Jump on Now". UraniumSeek.com. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
- ^ "Uranium Bubble & Spec Market Outlook". News.goldseek.com. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
- ^ Banerjee, Abhijit V. (1992). "A Simple Model of Herd Behavior".
- ^ Bikhchandani, Sushil;
- ^ Froot, K; Schaferstein, DS; Jeremy Stein, J (1992). "Herd on the street: Informational inefficiencies in a market with short-term speculation" (PDF). Journal of Finance 47: 1461–1484.
- ^ Hirshleifer, D; Teoh, SH (2003). "Herd behaviour and cascading in capital markets: A review and synthesis" (PDF). European Financial Management 9 (1): 25–66.
Further reading
- Bikhchandani, Sushil; Hirshleifer, David; Welch, Ivo (1992). "A Theory of Fads, Fashion, Custom, and Cultural Change as
- Brunnermeier, Markus Konrad (2001). Asset Pricing under Asymmetric Information: Bubbles, Crashes, Technical Analysis, and Herding. Oxford, UK ; New York: Oxford University Press.
- Rook, Laurens (2006). "An Economic Psychological Approach to Herd Behavior". Journal of Economic Issues 40 (1): 75–95.
- Hamilton, W. D. (1970). Geometry for the Selfish Herd. Diss. Imperial College.
- Stanford, Craig B. (2001). "Avoiding Predators: Expectations and Evidence in Primate Antipredator Behaviour". International Journal of Primatology 23: 741–757. Ebsco. Fall. Keyword: Herd Behaviour.
- Ottaviani, Marco; Sorenson, Peter (2000). "Herd Behavior and Investment: Comment".
- Altshuler, E.; et al. (2005). "Symmetry Breaking in Escaping Ants". The American Naturalist 166: 6.
- Hey, John D.; Morone, Andrea (2004). "Do Markets Drive out Lemmings—or Vice Versa?".


text:
Vanessa Hudgens Talks Zac Efron & Quentin Tarantino
Vanessa Hudgens strikes a sexy pose in this shot from Details magazine's latest issue.
Here's what the 22-year-old Sucker Punch actress, wearing a D&G cami, had to share:
On training for Sucker Punch: "We trained with Navy Seals. We were machines, You could NOT f— with us."
On working with Michael Caine for Journey 2: "He's uh-mazing. Not only is he uh-mazingly, stupidly talented, but he still kind of hits on me. All the time. If it was anybody else, I'd be like 'Who the hell do you think you are?' But because it's Michael Caine, I'm, like, 'Sock it to me more, baby, come on!' I.Frickin.Love.Him."
On Zac Efron: "We're still friends. Who knows what the future will bring. We're figuring this out."
On talking to Quentin Tarantino at a post-Oscar party: "….probably after a few drinks I told him 'We've gotta do something together.' … "Slowly, I've gained balls. I used to be very shy. Nothing has happened with Tarantino yet, but I definitely tried to plant my seed. Hopefully he won't look back and think, 'Oh my God. That crazy b—-."
For more from Vanessa, visit Details.com!
Bigger pic inside…


text:
Washington University School of Law
A rich variety of courses in substantive law and applied lawyering skills provides Washington University law students with the training necessary to excel in both legal reasoning and practice techniques. In addition to offering a curriculum leading to the JD degree, the School of Law offers multiple joint degree programs with other graduate schools on campus as well as a variety of advanced, post-JD degree programs. We also offer graduate law programs online.


text:
Can anyone help me? I'm planning on having a fundraiser for DDB to raise money. I would also like to have educational brochures re:pit bulls also or anything to help promote the positive in the bully breed. and info to educate anyone owning one or wanting to own one..
If anyone has anything to offer please let me know asap. I'm looking to have a fundraiser this weekend coming (either on Sat 3/11, or Sun 3/12 or both days).
If anyone wants to volunteer to help me that would be great too.
As for the fundraiser I'm still trying to decide.
Thanks in advance,


text:
Will Schwalbe
Will Schwalbe has worked in publishing (most recently as senior vice president and editor in chief of Hyperion Books); digital media, as the founder and CEO of Cookstr.com; and as a journalist, writing for various publications including The New York Times and the South China Morning Post. He is on the board of the Kingsborough Community College Foundation. He is the coauthor, with David Shipley, of Send: Why People Email So Badly and How to Do It Better.


text:
Narrow Selection
Mezuzah Scrolls
The primary purpose of hanging a mezuzahs is to fulfill the biblical command. The Biblical source of the mitzvah of mezuzah is found in the Torah in the book of Deuteronomy. It is written: "And you shall write them on the entryways of your dwellings and your gates". A mezuzah is a small box or case housing a mezuzah scroll and is affixed to the doorway. The mezuzah scroll is the most important part of a mezuzah, as it contains the blessings.
For a mezuzah scroll to be kosher it cannot be printed from a computer or written in ball point pen. The process of writing a mezuzah scroll is similar to that of writing a Torah. The mezuzah scroll must be handwritten by a Sofer (observant Jewish scribe), on parchment made from the skin of a kosher animal. A mezuzah scroll contains 22 lines of 713 letters. The text in the mezuzah scroll is the passages of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Deuteronomy 11:13-21. The text on each scroll must be written perfectly and in the correct order. The text is written with special ink made from vegetables and is written with a quill from a kosher fowl such as a goose or turkey.
The mezuzah scroll is carefully checked by an expert for textual errors and incorrectly formed letters. Any mistakes and the parchment is invalidated. The mezuzah scroll is rolled, placed inside a mezuzah and affixed to the post on the right side of entry.
Mezuzahs are supposed to be affixed to the doorpost of each room in the home and places of business, except for the bathrooms.
While some mezuzahs come with a mezuzah scroll, many do not. It is always important to ensure you have a kosher mezuzah scroll for your mezuzahs. For more information or for questions regarding mezuzah scrolls feel free to contact our Judaica experts.
Mezuzah Scrolls Guide
You can find a mezuzah on the doorpost of just about every Jew in the US and around the world. While the mezuzah typically refers to the box or case that houses the mezuzah scroll, it is actually the handwritten mezuzah scroll that fulfills the mitzvah of mezuzah, and therefor is the most important part. The mezuzah scroll features the blessings and is housed inside of the mezuzah.
What is a Mezuzah Scroll?
A mezuzah scroll is a small parchment inscribed with short Torah passages in Hebrew. The parchment is rolled up, placed in a mezuzah (decorative case), and attached to the doorpost of Jewish homes. In order for a mezuzah scroll to be kosher an observant Jewish scribe (called a Sofer) must carefully write on kosher parchment using a kosher quill. The text in the mezuzah scroll is the passages of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Deuteronomy 11:13-21. The text must be written perfectly and in the correct order. Once finished the mezuzah scroll is carefully checked by an expert for textual errors and incorrectly formed letters then rolled, placed inside a mezuzah and affixed to the post on the right side of entry. The standard size of a mezuzah is 6 - 15cms. It is difficult to write smaller and still remain kosher.
The mezuzah scroll is made of a parchment and is handwritten with special ink. The parchment in which the mezuzah scroll is made of must come from the skin of a kosher animal, usually a lamb or goat. The black ink used is specially prepared from vegetable ingredients. In addition, the quill used to write the text must be taken from a kosher fowl such as a turkey or a goose.
The text on the mezuzah scroll comes from the passages of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Deuteronomy 11:13-21 and contains the first two paragraphs of the "Shema" prayer as well as the "Vehaya". The text contains 22 lines of 713 letters. Each line and letter must be written exactly, any mistakes or missing letters invalidates the entire parchment.
On the back of the scroll, the word Shaddai, the name of God, is written in Hebrew. Shaddai's three Hebrew letters - shin, dalet, yad - stand for the phrase shomer daltot Yisrael, "protector of the doors of Israel." When placing the mezuzah in the case or on the wall, the Hebrew word Shaddai, should be facing outward (i.e. toward the entrance once it is affixed).
For More Information
For more information on mezuzah scrolls, mezuzahs or other Judaica items contact our Judaica experts with and questions, concerns, and comments.


text:
Away from Inaugural, Minnesota Heeds Call to Service
ST. PAUL (AP) - Thousands of miles from Washington, Minnesota volunteers are hoping to get into the inaugural spirit with a series of community action events.
The committee organizing President Barack Obama's second-term inauguration has set Saturday as a National Day of Service. In Minnesota, that has translated into 31 planned events.
Some of the Minnesota activities are taking place in churches, bookstores, food shelves and homeless shelters. Others involve Habitat for Humanity building projects.
Nationwide, there are plans for more than 2,200 events.
Obama is formally sworn in on Monday.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)


text:
Bachelor star charged in fatal crash
Bachelor star charged in fatal crash
Bachelor star charged in fatal crash
AURORA, Iowa —
An Iowa native and star of the TV show "The Bachelor" faces charges in a fatal Iowa crash.
The Buchanan County Sheriff's Office said Chris Soules, who was the Bachelor in Season 19, has been charged with leaving the scene of a deadly crash.
KCRG-TV reports the crash on Monday night killed a person driving a tractor. Authorities said they received a report of an accident in the 1000 block of Slater Avenue, north of Aurora around 8:30 p.m.
A report from the Iowa State Patrol shows a pickup rear ended a tractor going southbound on Slater Avenue. The tractor and the truck then went into opposite ditches.
Court documents indicate that after an investigation it was discovered that Soules was involved in the crash and left the scene after the crash.


text:
Porto striker Jackson Martinez insists he is not being turned by speculation over his future
Porto's Jackson Martinez insists that being linked to clubs like Barcelona and Chelsea is just a sign of his progress.
By Francisco Acedo
Last Updated: 16/11/12 3:13pm
The 26-year-old only joined Porto this summer, but he is already being tipped for a big-money move and follow in the footsteps of fellow countryman Radamel Falcao - now at Atletico Madrid and considered one of the finest strikers in the world.
Martinez has scored 11 goals in his first 12 games, meaning he has beaten the previous records of Falcao, Hulk and Lisandro Lopez.
But the Colombian insists he is more than happy with Porto and is calm about his future, despite recent links with the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Barcelona.
He told OJogo: "Chelsea and Barcelona? Sincerely I have not spoken with anybody but this is a good signal about my performances in the Portuguese Liga.
"Rumours are normal because I am working with success in Porto and scoring goals but I am calm, if the papers say there are offers that does not worry me.
"Now I am focussed exclusively on my work for Porto, I prefer to ignore the rumours about clubs being interested."


text:
10:00 pm
Life On Fire "Pioneers of the Deep" In the vast emptiness of the Pacific Ocean, tectonic movements construct or swallow islands. In the Tongan archipelago, two little-known animals have learned to cope with these ephemeral lands risen from the ocean depths: the sooty tern, a seabird that never dares wet its wings for fear of drowning, and the Alvin shrimp, a blind crustacean that manages to find its way around the abyss. When an underwater volcano becomes an island, the fates of these two extraordinary paradoxes are linked. D
11:00 pm
Secrets of the Dead "Churchill's Deadly Decision" Original documents and interviews with surviving British and French sailors reveal the dark side of Britain's fight against the Nazis. In July 1940 France signs an armistice with Germany, agreeing to return French ships to port to sit out the war. Churchill fears Germany will seize the ships. France refuses to give them to England. Churchill must decide whether to destroy the ships before they reach France.G


text:
Nothing would be more fitting than for the BCS's final seasons to be mired in controversy. With a month left, college football could be headed right down that road, with four undefeated powers - Alabama, Kansas State, Notre Dame and Oregon - on a collision course with BCS chaos. At the moment, it looks like perfect material for a four-team playoff, the event we'll get starting with the 2014 season. For now, we're stuck with the current system, and while chaos is a strong possibility if three or four of those teams finish undefeated, it's also possible that the BCS will luck into an ideal situation with two distinguished undefeateds, like 2005's memorable Texas-USC game. As October ends and we move into the home stretch of November, let's pause to take stock of the national title race and rank the contenders.
1. Alabama
Top 10 wins: None
Top 25 wins: Mississippi State
Solid wins: Michigan, at Missouri, Ole Miss, at Tennessee
Irrelevant wins: at Arkansas, Florida Atlantic, Western Kentucky
Remaining schedule: at No. 5 LSU, No. 16 Texas A&M, Western Carolina, Auburn
Conference championship game: Yes; in Atlanta, likely vs. Georgia
Why They'll Win the National Title: Alabama is a powerful, well-oiled machine. It's trailed for a total of 15 seconds this year -- vs. Ole Miss -- and immediately rectified that anomaly by returning the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. A.J. McCarron has yet to throw an interception. Barrett Jones anchors one of the nation's best offensive lines. Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon form a brilliant one-two punch at running back. The defense is rock solid as ever despite losing a ridiculous amount of talent to the NFL last April, ranking No. 1 nationally against the run, against the pass and in points allowed (8.1 points per game, frequently allowed in garbage time). Nick Saban is the best coach in the country. And on and on and on. What more do you want?
Why They Won't: Alabama hasn't played a top-10 caliber team yet, so while it's blown out decent opponents - there's something to be said for leaving no doubt against the teams you're supposed to beat - it still hasn't been adequately tested. The biggest test will finally come this Saturday in Baton Rouge against LSU, although the Tigers' offense doesn't look any better than the one that couldn't cross the 50 against Bama in last January's BCS Championship.
Predicted Finish: 13-0. One recipe for a championship: great coaching, a mistake-free offense, a big and athletic defense. LSU doesn't have the offense to beat Alabama, the Iron Bowl will be over before kickoff and, while Georgia's defense could give the Tide some trouble in the SEC Championship game if it plays like it did against Florida, the Bulldogs have rarely looked dominant as a whole this year. Alabama's won two of the last three national titles, and until proven otherwise it's the favorite for a third in four years.
2. Oregon
Top 10 wins: None
Top 25 wins: Arizona
Solid wins: at Arizona State, Washington
Irrelevant wins: Arkansas State, Colorado, Fresno State, Tennessee Tech, at Washington State
Remaining schedule: at No. 17 USC, at California, No. 14 Stanford, at No. 11 Oregon State
Conference championship game: Yes; at home site of team with best record, so likely at home vs. USC, UCLA or Arizona
Why They'll Win the National Title: This is Chip Kelly's best team, better than the one edged by Auburn in the national title game two years ago. Freshman quarterback Marcus Mariota is a perfect fit for the fastest offense in football, with more explosiveness and better passing ability than his predecessor, Darron Thomas. Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas form the most explosive tandem of running backs in the country. And, while deemed a slight liability heading into the season, the defense is also Kelly's best. It hasn't been tested much, but it did shut out Arizona's high-powered attack that just scored 39 on USC, and it only needs to be decent, given that the offense scores 53.4 points per game despite taking its foot off the gas in the second half almost every week.
Why They Won't: It would be easy to point to Mariota's freshman status, and it's true that he has yet to be tested by a great defense. He'll face challenges from USC and Oregon State and especially Stanford, so we'll see. But he's done nothing to make us doubt his ability. The real problem for Oregon will be once it gets to the national title game, if it gets there. Oregon can score on anyone; how will it fare against a physical and fast Alabama defense with more than a month for Nick Saban to prepare?
Predicted Finish: 13-0. Through two months, the Ducks have played the easiest schedule among the top contenders. However, they can boost their resume significantly down the stretch with games against USC, Stanford and Oregon State, plus a Pac-12 title game. The trip to Los Angeles remains difficult, but this is the most complete and explosive Oregon team we've seen, and the Ducks can wear down the Trojans. Alabama and Oregon are the two teams least likely to get upset, and we'll stick with our preseason prediction of those two at the top, although I reserve the right to change my mind about who will win.
3. Kansas State
Top 10 wins: None
Top 25 wins: at Oklahoma, Texas Tech, at West Virginia
Solid wins: at Iowa State, Miami
Irrelevant wins: Kansas, Missouri State, North Texas
Remaining schedule: No. 24 Oklahoma State, at TCU, at Baylor, No. 23 Texas
Conference championship game: No
Why They'll Win the National Title: Bill Snyder is a coaching wizard, a man who put the other Manhattan on the football map. What was once arguably the worst major program in America has become a national title contender in two different Snyder eras (1998 behind QB Michael Bishop, and this year behind Collin Klein). Klein is a fantastic QB, a Tebow/Newton type with power running ability in the red zone and improved passing skills, and he has a bullish running mate in 5-foot-7 running back John Hubert, who packs a punch with his compact build and runs over defenders. Throw in a defense that has improved all season led by linebacker Arthur Brown, and Kansas State is a smart, efficient team that doesn't make mistakes.
Why They Won't: There's still reason to be concerned about the Wildcats if they find themselves in a hole, which of course hasn't really happened yet. Klein has undoubtedly improved as a passer, but this team isn't built to play from behind. It's built to control the clock, run the ball all day, force turnovers (fifth in turnover margin) and make opponents beat themselves.
Predicted Finish: 11-1. Kansas State doesn't have to worry about a conference title game, which means one less chance for a loss but also one less chance to pad the resume with a win against a quality opponent. The guess here is that the Wildcats, who can't match the overall talent of Alabama and Oregon, slip up once in November. While the attention this Saturday night will be on USC-Oregon and Alabama-LSU, the biggest news may happen as Oklahoma State visits Kansas State.
4. Notre Dame
Top 10 wins: None
Top 25 wins: at Oklahoma, Stanford
Solid wins: BYU, Miami, Michigan, at Michigan State
Irrelevant wins: Navy, Purdue
Remaining schedule: Pittsburgh, at Boston College, Wake Forest, at No. 17 USC
Conference championship game: No
Why They'll Win the National Title: Alabama may have the only defense better than Notre Dame. Manti Te'o deservedly gets most of the attention - he's the vocal leader, leads in tackles every week, has five interceptions, etc. - but the entire front seven has been dominant, especially tackle Stephon Tuitt (eight sacks). Notre Dame has been so dominant that it went more than a month without allowing an offensive touchdown and still hasn't allowed more than 17 points in a game. Nobody can run against the Irish, and nobody can sustain drives. Offensively, the Fighting Irish are inconsistent, but the running game has found life with an LSU-like rotation featuring Theo Riddick, Cierre Wood and George Atkinson III.
Why They Won't: The offense is easily the worst of the top four teams, even with a solid running game and a weapon at tight end in Tyler Eifert. Everett Golson has mostly been decent at quarterback, but he's a freshman who occasionally struggles to protect the ball. And while backup Tommy Rees has been praised for his ability as a "closer" this year, let's be realistic: He's led a couple nice drives, but he was a turnover machine last year, and there's a reason he's not starting this year. Defensively, again, this unit is one of the nation's best, but a good passing team could do some damage to the secondary, which makes the season finale against USC potentially interesting, if USC's line can actually handle Notre Dame's defensive front.
Predicted Finish: 11-1. It wouldn't be shocking to see Notre Dame suffer a scare against Pitt but win, cruise against Boston College and Wake Forest, and then see its undefeated season ruined in the last game at USC. A certain segment of pollsters would surely love to bump up Notre Dame, but Oregon and Kansas State both have stronger finishing schedules. Notre Dame gets praised for its scheduling, but unfortunately many of the strong games - Michigan and Michigan State, especially - don't look as good as once thought. As asked Sunday, can you imagine a national title game that leaves out undefeated Notre Dame? It's a real possibility, but the bet here is the Irish finally slip up in the season finale at USC.
The Other Undefeateds
Sorry, Big East, but there's no chance Louisville makes the national championship game, even if the four teams at the top all lose. Realistically, at least one of those teams is going to go unbeaten, and given that the Cardinals are still ranked only 10th in the BCS, it's too much of an uphill climb. They have a good QB in Teddy Bridgewater, but their best wins are against North Carolina and Cincinnati, and they haven't won any of their last six games by more than 10 points. This team appears ready for an upset at some point, so let's give the nod to Syracuse at the Carrier Dome Nov. 10, with another possible loss at Rutgers to end the season. Predicted Finish: 11-1.
Ohio State
Urban Meyer has done an amazing job, and the Buckeyes are well on their way to navigating NCAA sanctions and a weak Big Ten slate to an undefeated record. It won't mean much, given the lack of post-season eligibility, but there's still a glimmer of hope that the Buckeyes can get voted No. 1 in the AP poll if everyone at the top somehow loses and Ohio State takes care of business against Illinois (a given), Wisconsin and Michigan. As the Purdue game showed, Ohio State is beatable, but QB Braxton Miller is one of the best players in the country, and a thin defense stepped up and controlled the game last Saturday at Penn State. Still, let's not count out Wisconsin - its three losses are by a total of nine points - and its solid defense Nov. 17 in Madison. Predicted Finish: 11-1.
Still Alive
Georgia, LSU and Florida
If a current one-loss team makes the national title game, it's likely going to come from this group of SEC teams. A one-loss Georgia (if it wins out, including the SEC Championship), LSU (if it beats Alabama, wins out and wins the SEC Championship) or Florida (needs a lot of unlikely things to happen) probably needs a loss by at least two of the top non-SEC contenders this year, but if any conference is going to get a one-loss team into the national title game, it's the SEC, which has won six straight.
BCS Projections
National Championship: Alabama vs. Oregon
Rose Bowl: Nebraska vs. Notre Dame
Fiesta Bowl: Kansas State vs. Clemson
Orange Bowl: Florida State vs. Boise State
Sugar Bowl: Georgia vs. Louisville
A few explanations: It's possible the Rose Bowl will have no suitable Pac-12 replacement for Oregon if everyone else has at least three losses. In that case, who could be a more attractive replacement than Notre Dame? Boise State gets an automatic bid if it finishes in the top 16 (currently No. 19), ahead of an automatic bid champion (Nebraska, maybe Louisville). Clemson and its devoted fan base could move into at-large position by beating rival South Carolina and finishing with one loss.
Heisman Race
1. Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State
The clear favorite, Klein is the best quarterback of an undefeated national title contender - in other words, the No. 1 criteria for people to vote for you. Klein has run for 16 touchdowns and thrown for 12, with only two interceptions. He's been at his best lately, totaling 11 TDs in blowout wins over Top-25 teams West Virginia and Texas Tech.
2. Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame
Te'o may actually have a chance to do what Ndamukong Suh should have done in 2009. The Heisman essentially goes to the signature player of a given season, and Te'o has been in the headlines all year, leading the way for a dominant defense that went more than a month without allowing a touchdown. If Notre Dame goes undefeated and Klein's Kansas State team loses, Te'o - who leads the team in tackles and has five interceptions - has a chance.
3. Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State
How will voters handle a team ineligible for the postseason? Despite their NCAA sanctions, the Buckeyes are a high-profile undefeated team, and Miller has quickly developed into one of the most dangerous players in football under Urban Meyer. He's one of 10 players nationally to hit 1,000 rushing yards so far, and he leads the Big Ten with an average of 121.4 rushing yards per game.
4. A.J. McCarron, QB, Alabama
McCarron is the perfect quarterback for a Nick Saban team. Not only is he a smarter passer who plays mistake-free football (18 touchdowns, 0 interceptions), but he's the most talented passer Saban has had at Alabama. His overall numbers normally wouldn't warrant Heisman consideration, but he's one of the most visible players in the country and could take a big step forward with a great performance against LSU on Saturday.
5. Kenjon Barner, RB, Oregon
It feels like Oregon should have a top Heisman contender given the gaudy numbers its offense puts up, but the production gets spread around between Barner and De'Anthony Thomas (plus, the starters often play only half a game). Thomas is known for his highlight-reel plays, but Barner is almost as explosive and gets more touches. He averages 6.9 yards per carry with 14 touchdown runs, and he has several high-profile games in the last month.


text:
Elsewhere on a goal-laden final day in Italy, Lazio lost out in the race to finish in a Europa League spot courtesy of defeat to Cagliari, while Parma were the other big winners
Chievo displayed impressive resillience in coming back from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw with Atalanta on Saturday.
Inside just eight minutes, the Orobici went ahead thanks to some horrendous Flying Donkeys defending as Guglielmo Stendardo came and saw with a header.
The hosts maintained their lead for over an hour before Cyril Thereau - a reported transfer target for Fiorentina - picked the ball up from deep and struck the equaliser for his team.
However, Atalanta thought they had won it when Luigi Giorgi unleashed a powerful left-footed effort from outside the box with only minutes of normal time remaining.
But Chievo were keen on a grandstand finish of their own, and it came from Thereau again as he netted from close range in the third minute of stoppage time for a share of the spoils.
Genoa survived two crashes of the crossbar and had goalkeeper Antonio Donnarumma to thank as they escaped with a 0-0 draw against Bologna.
The visitors had nothing to play for in Emilia-Romagna as they secured their Serie A status for another season last week, but it was they who came closest first through Antonio Floro Flores who forced Dejan Stojanovic into making a fine stop.
But the Rossoblu soon turned up the heat and both Panagiotis Kone and Alessandro Diamanti took it in turns to fire attempts at the woodwork, while the rookie shot-stopper denied the Ligurians on more than one occasion.
Torino needed a last-gasp equaliser to claim a point against Catania on Sunday after they rescued a 2-2 draw in northern Italy.
The Sicilians - who finished the season four points clear of fallen giants Inter - took the lead midway through the first half via Sergio Almiron who capitalised on intelligent link-up play between compatriots Lucas Castro and Gonzalo Bergessio.
But the Granata regained equilibrium early in the second half when Alessio Cerci finished off a three-way move, although the visitors took control of proceedings once more in no small part thanks to Angelo Ogbonna's error and Bergessio's 13th strike of the season.
However, Torino refused to throw in the towel and were aptly rewarded with injury time fast approaching as Rolando Bianchi found the equaliser from Cerci's assist.
Walter Mazzarri concluded his reign as Napoli coach without the fairytale ending he hoped for as Roma resumed winning ways with a 2-1 success at the Olimpico.
Marquinho bagged his fourth goal of the season when he came inside from the right flank and hit the opening goal, before Mattia Destro showed Rolando a clean set of heels and placed the ball to the left of Antonio Rosati in a second-half smash-and-grab.
There was still time for Edinson Cavani to add to his haul for the season, though, as he swept home a rebound, but Mazzarri had to settle for defeat in his final match at the helm of the Partenopei.
Palermo departed Serie A on a sour note as they collapsed to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Parma on Sunday.
Massimo Gobbi handed the Gialloblu the lead on 38 minutes thanks to a low strike from outside the box, before Jaime Valdes collected Ishak Belfodil's give-and-go and unleashed an angled drive into the bottom left corner.
Belfodil then grabbed one of his own at the end of the first half to complete both a triple salvo and a comprehensive away victory for Parma despite Fabrizio Miccoli's impressive solo effort late on.
Cagliari ended a run of five matches without a win on Sunday as they sent Lazio packing in a 1-0 win to end their season on a high.
The winning goal came on 75 minutes as substitute Andrea Cossu made an instant impact, sending in the cross for midfielder Daniele Dessena to fling his head onto.
The result leaves the Biancocelesti needing to beat arch-rivals Roma in the Coppa Italia final later this month to qualify for next season's Europa League.


text:
Charles Carreon Keeps Digging & Digging: Inman And IndieGoGo Hit Back
from the and-hit-back-hard dept
That's because a few days later, Carreon filed for a temporary restraining order trying to get IndieGoGo not to give the money raised to Inman (in order to fulfill his plan of taking a photo with the money before giving it to the two charities in question), but rather demanding that IndieGoGo give the money directly to the charities. Yes, his entire argument is basically that he wants to skip the part where Inman gets to take a photo with the money, which he seems to think would mock him (even though it was always designed to mock Funnyjunk, not Carreon).
Thankfully, both IndieGoGo and Inman have hit back on the whole thing pretty hard. IndieGoGo, I'm thrilled to learn, has brought on one of my favorite law firms, Durie Tangri, to represent him, and both Ragesh Tangri and Mark Lemley appear to be helping out. When those two are involved, you know the response is going to be good, and this one does not disappoint (pdf and embedded below). Among other things, they point out that Carreon's request for a temporary restraining order is moot, because the money has already been distributed -- but also that Carreon already knew this and waited to file the TRO:
Carreon did not file his papers until June 30... By the time he filed them, he had been informed that the money already had been transferred.... At Inman's request, his share of the money contributed to the BearLove campaign was sent by check to the American Cancer Society and the National Wildlife Fund, in equal amounts, on June 29.... As explained below, Carreon was aware at least as early as June 15 that the money was liable to be transferred at any time beginning June 26 and at all events no later than Monday July 2. He nevertheless made no effort even to file for a TRO until the close of business on June 28. And, while he notes that the ECF system was down at that time, he offers no explanation for not having sought to file his TRO application well before June 26 – which he knew to be the earliest date the money could have been transferred – so that the Court could have adjudicated it before the time period during which the money was due to be transferred began. Nor does he offer an explanation for having failed at least to bring the application to the Court's attention by means other than ECF on Friday June 29.Furthermore, the filing rightfully points out that not only are Carreon's claims a huge miss, but the idea that there is any sort of "irreparable harm" (required for the TRO to be issued) to him is laughable. Remember, Carreon donated a grand total of $10 here. Paying that back would solve any "harm" if there were any. That's not irreparable. It's the very definition of reparable. If there were harm. Which there is not. So of the "irreparable harm," Carreon fails to show that it is irreparable (because it is not) or that there is harm (because there is not).
The simple reason for that is that there never was an emergency here, or any serious threat to anyone or anything. Carreon's application is gamesmanship. When Carreon filed his original complaint on June 15, he knew that funds would be disbursed within five business days of the close of the fundraising campaign, which was set for June 25. Indeed, on June 26, in conversation with Indiegogo's counsel, he admitted that he was aware that the funds could be disbursed at any time between the time of that conversation and Monday July 2.... Yet Carreon waited nearly two weeks after filing his complaint to present the court with his TRO request at the eleventh hour. Had there been any threat of real harm, Carreon would have made this application with more than hours to spare
First, Carreon cannot demonstrate irreparable harm to anyone, and certainly not to himself. A temporary restraining order is a drastic remedy, intended to prevent the grave and irreversible consequences of some imminent event. Here, the only imminent event was the disbursement of just over $95,000 to the National Wildlife Fund and the American Cancer Society (not $200,000 as Carreon's application mistakenly states), fulfilling Inman's promise to donate the money to those organizations – the very outcome that Carreon claims to desire. Indiegogo will retain roughly $8,800 as a processing fee. Carreon's total contribution was $10. Should it later be determined that any harm flowed from these events, that harm would be readily compensable with an award of monetary damages or restitution.There's also the fact that IndieGoGo never touches any of the money that is paid via PayPal, meaning it couldn't have stopped it from going to Inman in the first place. The filing points out that this is clearly stated in IndieGoGo's terms of service -- something that Carreon claims to have read and which he cited in his own filing. IndieGoGo also points out that Carreon makes a bunch of crazy statements in his TRO request, including the idea that Inman might get a huge tax writeoff from all of this. As IndieGoGo's response points out, Carreon is "not remotely qualified" to make such an analysis, not the least of which because it's so obviously wrong to... well... anyone with even the slightest amount of common sense. The only way that Inman would get the writeoff is if the money was counted as income to himself, and, as the IndieGoGo filing notes, the supposed "benefit" from the writeoff "would be offset by at least an equivalent increase in income, thus leaving Inman at break-even or worse."
Second, Carreon has not demonstrated and cannot demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits. His claims against Indiegogo are barred by section 230(c)(1) of the Communications Decency Act ("CDA"), which protects from liability a provider of an interactive computer service that merely publishes information provided by another information content provider. And his claims under the Supervision of Trustees and Fundraisers for Charitable Purposes Act, Cal. Government Code sections 12580 et seq., are likewise barred because that statute does not create a private right of action that would afford Carreon standing to sue for its violation.
And then there's Inman's response (pdf and embedded below), also discussed by the EFF who wrote it along with (occasional Techidrt contributor) Venkat Balasubramani. It hits back equally hard (if not harder). Any filing that starts out with the following sentence is a filing you just know is going to be good:
Plaintiff Charles Carreon's application for a temporary restraining order... is notable as much for its lack of context as its lack of merit.The filing makes the basics clear: this is a "blatant -- and baseless -- attempt [by Carreon] to retaliate against a critic with whom he is engaged in a very public dispute." It goes into lots of details, nearly all of which seem to demonstrate Carreon's grasp of the law here is weak at best (some might argue "non-existent" at times). My favorite bit:
Likewise, the First Amendment does not permit the law to hold, as Mr. Carreon claims, that the phrase "Fuck Off" "cannot be lawfully associated with tax-exempt charitable solicitation in the State of California."Following that, the filing actually cites a previous court ruling on how "one man's vulgarity is another's lyric."
The bigger point, is that Carreon seems to repeatedly just make stuff up. He claims that Inman misrepresented that donating to the campaign would be tax deductible, even though he did no such thing -- and, in fact, IndieGoGo is pretty clear about when projects are not tax deducible. Yet, Carreon pretends that he expected "his" donation to be tax deductible. Separately, as Adam Steinbaugh points out, Carreon makes this claim (that he expected his donation to be tax-deductible) in a highly questionable way -- especially since his "donation" came just hours before the lawsuit he filed -- and demonstrates pretty clearly that Carreon was already intending to file the lawsuit, and that the donation was just a weak attempt to get standing. The EFF's filing points out how courts tend to look poorly on plaintiffs who do something solely for the purpose of trying to create standing to sue -- because it pretty clearly suggests they were not wronged or deceived, but willingly partook of a situation they fully understood in order to seek standing in a lawsuit.
Basically, Carreon just seems to keep digging. He's trying to drag California's Attorney General into the matter, because he's at least realizing that his own standing is pretty weak, but this TRO request seems to just reinforce the idea that this whole thing is about Charles Carreon being petty and petulant in trying to mess up Inman's attempt to make a statement about the money. Carreon, once again, would be well-served to take some time off and think about what he's doing, rather than reacting by insisting he's going to show the world who's boss. Each move he makes just makes him look even worse.


text: You'll love Root's best-selling ArborRidge unscented pillars, candles influenced by nature's textures in stylish, designer-inspired color palettes. Crafted from a premium wax blend containing recycled beeswax, you will appreciate a pure and longer burn, 13 hours per inch. Available in 14 tranquil colors and 2 distinct sizes. Every Root ArborRidge Pillar is 3 inches in diameter, and are available in two heights; 4.5" and 7.5". Root Candle''s ArborRidge Unscented Pillars: Inspired by Nature, Crafted by Bees, Recycled by Root. Made in USA.


text:
- About us
- Blogs
- Funding/Donations
- Challenges
- Chapters
- Papers
- Projects
- Code of Conduct
- Google SoC
- Recent posts
- Security Workshops
We have finally gotten an interview with Mark Schloesser. This is the guy that does not say too much, but delivers as hell. "Less talk more code" could easily describe him. He will take you through Configuring an Environment for Threat Assessment This is building a functional and centralized threat intelligence framework! We are really looking forward to this workshop!
Tell us Mark, why did you become a security expert? Read more »
We have interviewed Mahmud ab Rahman, who currently works as an Information Security Specialist for Malaysia Computer Emergency and Response Team (MyCERT) under the umbrella of CyberSecurity Malaysia. His areas of focus are network security,botnet monitoring, and malware analysis. Read more »