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Oldspeak:"The alleged Yemen "underwear" bomber was just another fabricated spook in the long line of mounting justifications to keep the war on terror and its profiteers going; no matter the cost. As long as the American people are still easily whipped into a frenzy over forged menaces from afar, their blood and treasure will go on to be squandered on military boondoggles and redundant intelligence agencies. War and fear end up becoming a way of life. And so does the state's command over what could be a life of peace and tranquility for the nation it supposedly protects." -James E. Miller In what's becoming a familiar theme in America's "War On Terror", another "foiled" terrorist plot involving an inoperative bomb, and a C.I.A./F.B.I. operative playing a central role. Keep in mind all but THREE, foiled terrorist plots since 9/11 involved a C.I.A./F.B.I. agent. Take note of the collusion between the U.S. Government and corporate media to delay the reporting of the "plot" until this week. Consider that in the past White House officials have admitted using fake "terror alerts" to influence elections. (Obama just happened to kick off his re-election campaign this week) We know that the U.S. created Al-Qaida. We know the US outsourced terror operations to al Qaeda and the Taliban for many years, and that it's members have worked for the C.I.A. One doesn't have to make that much of a leap to see the connections, and come to a fairly obvious conclusion. "They're creating crimes to solve crimes so they can claim a victory in the war on terror."-Martin Stolar "Ignorance Is Strength", "War Is Peace"
By James E. Miller @ The Ludwig von Mises Institute of Canada:
Today it was widely reported that the CIA thwarted a "plot by al Qaeda's affiliate in Yemen to destroy a U.S.-bound airliner using a bomb." This bomb, which was to be concealed in a pair of underwear, was designed as an improvement over what Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to use to blow up an airliner over Detroit on Christmas Day of 2009. This bomb was upgraded and designed to specifically avoid metal detectors.
At first glance it would appear to be a job well done by the world's leading domestic affairs meddlers.
But like all of these instances, it was routinely denied "there was ever any immediate threat to the public." It was also revealed that:
The bomb plot had allegedly advanced to the point that a would-be suicide bomber was told to buy a ticket on the airliner of his choosing and decide the timing of the attack. It's not immediately clear what happened to the would-be bomber.
It would seem that what the CIA recovered was essentially just a crudely made bomb. The supposed bomber was nowhere to be found. There is no evidence presented as to a real threat or plan to use it.
The truth was finally revealed as the would-be bomber was, in fact, a double agent of the CIA.
When considering the nature of the state, this new instance of government supported terrorism is unsurprisingly comparable to previous cases.
Looking back at the original underwear bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the mainstream narrative nowhere matches the disturbing details. Not only was Abdulmutallab's explosive device determined not to be functional but, according to undersecretary for management at the State Department Patrick Kennedy, his visa wasn't confiscated and he was given access to the airplane for the purposes of conducting further investigation. This came at the request of federal counterterrorism officials.
As former Assistant Secretary to the U.S. Treasury and acclaimed commentator Paul Craig Roberts documents in regards to attempted terrorist attacks since September 11, 2001:
If we look around for the terror that the police state and a decade of war has allegedly protected us from, the terror is hard to find. Except for 9/11 itself, assuming we accept the government's improbable conspiracy theory explanation, there have been no terror attacks on the US. Indeed, as RT pointed out on August 23, 2011, an investigative program at the University of California discovered that the domestic "terror plots" hyped in the media were plotted by FBI agents.
For example, the Washington DC Metro bombing plot, the New York city subway plot, the plot to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago were all FBI brainchilds organized and managed by FBI agents.
RT reports that only three plots might have been independent of the FBI, but as none of the three worked they obviously were not the work of such a professional terror organization as Al Qaeda is purported to be. The Times Square car bomb didn't blow up, and apparently could not have.
Think now about the airliner shoe-bomb plot, the shampoo-bottled water plot, and the underwear-bomb plot. Experts, other than the whores hired by the US government, say that these plots are nonsensical. The "shoe bomb" and "underwear bomb" were colored fireworks powders incapable of blowing up a tin can. The liquid bomb, allegedly mixed up in an airliner toilet room, has been dismissed by experts as fantasy.
Just this past May Day, the FBI reportedly foiled an attempted bombing of a bridge near Cleveland. But like many instances of domestic terrorism, this operation was aided and facilitated by the FBI itself. On cue, authorities assured the public it "was never in any danger."
Far from having their liberty secured, the American public is being lulled into a sense of infant dependency from engineered threats from abroad and at home.
The art of governing can be broken down into two easy steps: scare the citizenry into capitulation with manufactured threats and legislate yourself increasing amounts of power.
With the illusion of monsters from foreign countries breathing down their necks, those infatuated with "national defense" as some unworldly savior are more than willing to bow down and submit themselves to having their privacy torn to shreds for the feeling of security. They are no better than children who wrap themselves in a blanket for fear of an unknown boogeyman. The corporate media, never letting an opportunity of state worship go to waste, vets out the reports of threats with little if any vigor. The Associate Press actually found out about the newly "foiled" underwear bomb threat last week but submitted to White House demands to hold off on reporting the story. After all, there is too much money at stake to not buddy up with Washington and keep a frightened populace spoon-fed with false delusions.
The danger in such juvenile acceptance of war propaganda is the creeping hand of despotism that must emerge. For if the public is lead to believe danger lurks in every shadow of the world, it will demand greater and greater protection from exactly those who salivate at the chance to provide it. From the Patriot Act to the National Defense Authorization Act, private correspondence and due process have been casually tossed aside for the promise of safety. This vicious cycle is reinforced by contrived instances of impending doom. The ruling class creates them and then feeds off the panic.
Even Bush administration spokesman Ari Fleischer admitted that "fake" terror alerts were used in 2002 to quell growing criticism amongst the public and particular Congressmen.
The famous Randolph Bourne quote "war is the health of the state" is often invoked as a simple dictum to demonstrate the irrefutable connection between government usurpations of authority and organized combat on a massive, industrialized scale. Almost any respectable writer, historian, or economist will cite the phrase when addressing the topic of warfare. That's because in just seven plain words the mentality and violent temperament of those who sit at the state's controls are defined so explicitly, it completely disrobes the glory and prestige too often associated with bloodthirsty crusades of patriotism.
Murray Rothbard recognized the underlying immorality of the government's war machine complex when he wrote:
It is in war that the State really comes into its own: swelling in power, in number, in pride, in absolute domination over the economy and the society. Society becomes a herd, seeking to kill its alleged enemies, rooting out and suppressing all dissent from the official war effort, happily betraying truth for the supposed public interest. Society becomes an armed camp, with the values and the morale—as Albert Jay Nock once phrased it—of an "army on the march."
The alleged Yemen "underwear" bomber was just another fabricated spook in the long line of mounting justifications to keep the war on terror and its profiteers going; no matter the cost. As long as the American people are still easily whipped into a frenzy over forged menaces from afar, their blood and treasure will go on to be squandered on military boondoggles and redundant intelligence agencies. War and fear end up becoming a way of life. And so does the state's command over what could be a life of peace and tranquility for the nation it supposedly protects.
This isn't conspiracy theory; just a recognition of the various hobgoblins, as H.L. Mencken described them, invented to justify encroaching totalitarianism.


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Cairo, Egypt
Ayman Sami
The recently announced Emirates Towers Business Park is set to become Dubai's most defining commercial development in over 10 years.
Dubai's vision to diversify its economy further and establish itself as a thriving global business hub has accelerated business activity in a number of innovative industries, in turn spurring a new stream of demand for industrial space.
According to CBRE Group, Middle East investment in the global commercial real estate sector reached nearly $10 billion in the first half of 2016.
The impact of the softening global economy continues to hamper the UAE's office market as redundancies in the oil and gas, finance and banking sectors have stifled demand for office space across the emirates.
According to a new report from Transwestern, the Greater Boston office market -- which had a slow start to the year -- closed the second quarter in positive territory.
According to Cluttons, office rents in Dubai's prime free zones held firm during the first quarter of 2016, as occupancy levels remained high in core areas such as Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Media City and Dubai Knowledge Village.
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subset: commoncrawl


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The House is gearing up for a battle over spending taxpayers money on sports sponsorship. The focus is on NASCAR but you cannot cut NASCAR without affecting all sports. The UFC recently inked a deal with the US Marines and many Mixed Martial Artists ("MMA") have been sponsored by Military divisions. If the measure passes these expenditures would cease.
Republicans are divided over topics that usually unite them (spending cuts, military and NASCAR) and the Democrats are excited to have the distraction. At the heart of the battle is the $80 million dollars spent on sports sponsorships and the return on that investment. The proponents say $20 million a race is way too much. While supporters of the sponsorship programs, like Army National Guard Director Lt. Gen. William Ingram Jr. say "the program is effective. " Without the draft, the Military needs to find ways to reach their target demographic.
There is no question that the Military's target demographic is watching NASCAR and UFC type events. The in-content exposure is valuable and hard to miss. When marquee brands like Nike are cutting TV and Print spending by 40% in favor of Team and Event sponsorships it seems like an odd move by the House to pressure the Military in exactly the opposite direction.
As the US Marines learned with their UFC deal, there are other valuable sports properties that allow the Military to reach its target demographic and not spend $20 million per event. The model in play with the UFC makes a ton of sense for The Marines. The Marines are getting in-content branding on the most sought after sports property around. They get interaction with the athletes, digital placement on the UFC's website and more.
Unlike NASCAR or other sports like Bull Riding, MMA also opens the door to real engagements with the target demographic. This engagement can go well beyond the recruiting phase too. We all have seen the UFC and Marine marketing program. The House should be looking at ways to get more for the expenditures. Ideas like:
MMA Athletes showing up during Basic Training to help during Combatives Training.
Military discounts on Merchandise and Tickets.
Armed Forces MMA Team – While on Active Duty the ability to train and compete at the amateur level (like they do with other sports like Boxing and Wrestling).
Veterans that were on the Armed Forces Team get immediate entry into TUF and their Pro card is paid for, in return they continue to represent their Branch of service. Guys like Brian Stann should be a sponsored athlete and a part of a program that helps transition the soldier athlete to a professional athlete.
Lifetime free entry in signature events like Grapplers Quest and NAGA for active Military and Veterans.
Ideas like those will only enhance the ROI. From a MMA perspective the price the Military allegedly spends on one race would fund all of the above programs for several years. Every service member will learn some form of hand to hand combat during their enlistment. There is no reason not to offer MMA as a Team Sport on the bases. The opportunity to enhance the return on investment has never been better.
The House needs to realize that it is less about how much they spend and more about how they spend it. If NASCAR has become too expensive then find other sport properties that reach the same demographic. If you can find sports like MMA that weave into the basic structure of current Military life then you can find others. You don't have to spend $20,000,000 per race to reach your target demographic. You don't have to kill off your marketing plans because one part of the plan has become too expensive. Just replace it. The sport of Mixed Martial Arts would welcome this budget and the branding would be dominant and active 24/7 like our Military.
Mixed Martial Arts Gold Mine?
We have been blessed to work with some amazing athletes and sponsors over the past few years. They both shared one thing in common, they gain exposure when they perform, and in that performance they have a 50% or greater chance to loose. Throughout this time in the sport of MMA, fighters complain that they do not earn enough and the sponsors claim to not be able to identify the return on investment (ROI) involved.
One of the big issues is that the athletes are usually too busy to market themselves correctly and do not have the right representation helping them find the time and tools to build their own fame outside of the events. The sponsors rarely activate the sponsorship and roll the dice on the event. Yet the athlete they are paying has little to no control over the event, if they show the sponsors logos or the very important walkout. Some brands have paid mid five-figures per fight to have their shirt worn during the walkout and post-fight coverage.
Many opportunities to engage the consumer and potential consumers are often missed or ignored and the activation is almost non-existent. The major promotions like the UFC regulate and restrict which sponsors are allowed and even charge the Brands a sponsorship participation fee. This fees can sometimes be in the mid to high five figures per year. They are not given anything that any other brand is given. You would think that this "tax" would increase the sponsors desire to get more for their investment. Instead it appears to have only reduced the amount the sponsors are willing to pay, made the sponsors focus more on if the event will be televised, and at the same time weeded out the small to medium apparel companies from the mix and removed their ability to support athletes. That is at least what they will have you believe. The fact is, many have just used this "tax" as a reason to leave the sport because they never developed an ROI.
We have brought in many non-endemic sponsors that are focused on the athletes and are willing to look at the events as "bonus" exposure while working with the athlete in a true endorsement fashion. One of the UFC's major sponsors, Bud Light and it's parent company, is arguably one of the largest Sports Marketing agencies in the world. They are also one of the most successful.
There is no missing the event involvement Bud Light has in place with the UFC. Their approach to their MMA Fight Team is less about big in-event placement on the athlete and instead more focused on outside the event endorsement. They use their athletes in their retail point of sale advertisements, use the athletes image and likeness in their bar and restaurant advertising, produce webisode series promoting the athletes and more. They make sure they ingrain their brand and athletes at every possible outlet and event. It may be argued that they provide equal or greater promotion of these athletes than the UFC does.
So what are some of the solutions? The first step is for the Brands to realize they are sponsoring and endorsing an athlete. They need to have a plan in place on how they are going to extract value from the sponsorship and utilize these athletes. Instead of looking at it as a billboard type logo placement it must instead be viewed as a relationship. They have to get beyond being a fan of the athlete because that will only lead to the most expensive Facebook photo in the world. Second, they need to activate around the athlete and his or her platform. Use the events these athlete's participate in as spikes in exposure and capitalize on the ability the events have to engage the target consumer but do not make this the be all, end all effort. The athletes and their team need to make sure they have a platform to offer. The brands need to try to coordinate and cross promote whenever possible.
As you can see Wrangler does a great job with this. They offer a wide array of their shirts with various PRCA and PBR sponsor logos on the shirt along with their Wrangler logo. I know MMA has to get away from having seven competing fight brands on one tee shirt and shorts before they can offer this type of merchandise. As you will see in the slide show below it is not just Rodeo either, many sports employ this model. You are also not tied to using all of the brands as you see with the Wrangler shirt above.
Here is the Official NASCAR Team DuPont Jersey.
And here is a NASCAR fan wearing the same jersey.
Obviously there are no competing brands on this jersey but you see various brands showcased and the primary brand DuPont is prominent. The fans buy these jerseys for the same reason they buy NFL, NBA and MLB apparel because it is authentic looking.
I recently moved to the Central Coast of California and on any given day you see a slew of Cyclists riding through the hills, coast line, and throughout town. I started to notice the majority of them are wearing authentic team apparel. Either Radio Shack has started sponsoring every cyclist in the world or once again we are seeing fans and practitioners of the sport seeking authentic apparel. Here are some examples –
Here is the Team Radio Shack cycling uniform.
Here is the Team using the uniform
And once again here is a fan who has sought, purchased, and is proudly representing the brand in the exact same gear.
This is not really a sport specific phenomenon. The fact is NASCAR, NBA, Soccer, MLB, NFL, PBR, PRCA, Motocross, Indy Car and more derive a considerable amount of revenue from this type of merchandise. The brands exposure is extended beyond the athlete, the event, and the athlete's platform and the marketing provided by the Brand. The exposure alone is a tangible return on the sponsors investment and having your brand worn by your target consumer or applied to your target consumers personal property becomes an extremely valuable proposition for the brands supporting these athletes and Teams.
The majority of the MMA industry is missing this market and opportunity. From the athletes to the brands no one seems to be making any replica merchandise. There is no doubt that there is a demand for these types of products. There is no doubt that in these tough economic times we need the sponsors to be more successful then ever before and at the same time find a way to extend the engagement beyond the events.
The managers and agents in the sport of MMA need to get out of the patch business and get into the brand building business. They need to build the brands of the athletes they represent and help guide the brands that support those athletes to successful and controllable engagements. If you are merely trading logos for dollars based on exposure you did not create you are on the path to failure for you and your clients.
The athletes need to look for ways to connect with the fans and extract value for the sacrifices made. Depending on events and televised exposure you can not and do not control is a recipe for disaster. You need to yourself or have other people helping you build your brand and increase your exposure even when you are not fighting.
Brock Lesnar's sponsor Death Clutch has offered replica walk out tees in the past. They seem to be one of the few brands or athletes offering such items. In the past you used to be able to buy the Overeem Replica Fight shorts. The issue with fight shorts is that unless you can kick ass like The Reem you probably should not be wearing his shorts. It is kind of like showing up to your first BJJ class with 20 sponsors on your gi.
Here is the Death Clutch UFC 116 walk out tee:
We have had one client that fought 9 times and 3 of which were in the UFC and he had earned just under $100,000 for 3 years of work and 9 fights that he won, his MMA earnings were predicated on when or if he fought. The same client is now a millionaire based on competing 3 times over two years. He has months where he makes $50,000 and has consistently has earned a monthly income from his endeavors in and out of the Octagon. The difference has been focusing on building his brand and finding ways for his sponsors to earn their ROI. He has both endemic and non-endemic sponsors alike.
The authentic and replica tee shirts are a great opportunity to increase your brand, your sponsors branding, and your income as an athlete. You can go to any size event and you will see merchandise similar to what you see here and in our slide show. If the athletes do not create these then the brands should. Even the video games strive to ingrain authentic sponsors on the in-game characters on both the THQ and EA Sports MMA games.
This should not be ignored and it very well may be the lowest hanging fruit in the entire MMA market. If you trained would you wear replicas of your favorite fighters shorts or rash guard?
I am sure just about everyone in the US has seen that NASCAR fan who has their personal possessions or vehicles with logos from the brands that support their favorite athlete.
Here is a slide show that shows various sport jerseys and tee shirts and the fans that wear them. It is easy to see the potential market that is out there. A lot of these fans are cross over fans and are fans of many sports.


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By Becky Johnson & Julia Merchant
A surprising turn of events caused the Maggie Valley town board to call off its vote on whether to loan the struggling Ghost Town in the Sky amusement park $200,000.
Moments before aldermen were to cast their votes at a special called meeting Monday (May 18) — and after it became apparent the request was going to be turned down — Ghost Town President Steve Shiver stood up and told the board he didn't need the town's money. Shiver said a private business owner in the room, who did not want to be named, had stepped up with an offer of financial aid to help get the park open.
The board then rescinded its motion to vote on the matter.
Prior to Shiver's announcement, the board had held an hour-long public comment session and was prepared to vote. After the public comment session, each board member stated their position.
Mayor Roger McElroy said he supported loaning the park the money. Alderman Colin Edwards in a last-minute decision asked to be recused from the vote. Alderwoman Saralyn Price said she was not willing to risk taxpayer money to provide the loan, a stance that aldermen Mark DeMeola and Phil Aldridge agreed with.
It became obvious that the loan would not be approved as the majority of the board members stated their positions against it.
Shiver would not speak to The Smoky Mountain News after the meeting. According to previous statements to this newspaper and other media, Ghost Town is still scheduled to open Friday, May 22, just in time for the Memorial Day weekend.
Public weighs in
The question of whether to loan Ghost Town $200,000 in taxpayer money proved to be a heated issue for residents and business owners in the town.
Two packed public hearings and dozens of written comments submitted to the town preceded the would-be vote.
Those who were against the loan fear Ghost Town will go under and the taxpayers will lose what they put in.
"It is throwing good money after bad," said Roger Ferguson, who owns a mobile home park in Maggie Valley. "They owe everybody in the county. How do they expect to pay back Maggie Valley?"
Those in favor of the loan claim that Maggie Valley's tourism economy hinges on Ghost Town's success.
"Ghost Town has marketed Maggie Valley for years upon years," said Joanne Martin, a local restaurant owner. "If we lose Ghost Town, what is Maggie Valley's brand?"
The controversy has pitted the town's business operators in the tourism trade against average residents, according to those on both sides.
"Please remember your obligation is not just to the businesses in Maggie, but also to its residents," town resident Candace Way implored to aldermen Monday night.
Business owner Brenda O'Keefe said the "we" and "them" way of thinking isn't new to Maggie Valley.
"I hope this will not happen over (the loan)," O'Keefe said. "I don't want it to be the business people versus the local people."
Shiver had said the amusement park would open its gates for the season regardless of how the town voted.
"We aren't here to fold up our tent and walk out if we don't get a loan from Maggie Valley," Shiver told the town aldermen, acknowledging their difficult position. "We are committed, and we are not going anywhere."
While Ghost Town billed its request as a loan, several speakers at the public hearing expressed reservations about the park's ability to repay it.
"This it is a risky move and we shouldn't be involved in this," said Jim Casey, a town resident and voter.
Ron DeSimone, who lives in Brannon Forest, questioned the town's ability to thoroughly evaluate Ghost Town's business plan and finances to know whether the loan would have been on solid footing.
The town asked Shiver more than once to provide a business plan showing how the loan could be repaid. But the town was told such a business plan isn't ready yet, Maggie Valley Town Manager Tim Barth said. Ghost Town has to file a reorganization plan with the bankruptcy court later this summer, but until then, Shiver said the park won't share it, Barth said.
The information Ghost Town has provided are one-page profit-and-loss summaries from 2007 and 2008.
"We asked for detailed information on revenues and expenditures, and that's what they sent us," said Barth. "They haven't really volunteered anything. We had to ask for what we have received."
Several speakers at the public comment session said the town should not be in the banking business, especially since Ghost Town has been turned down for a loan from financial institutions.
"Why should a local government lend money to a company that has filed banckruptcy?" asked Phyllis McClure, a property owner in Maggie Valley. "Elected and appointed officials are entrusted to be good stewards of public funds. Those funds should be handled more carefully than our personal funds. They are not ours to give away."
"Your plan to invest tax money in a high-risk venture that most normal banks won't touch seems to be a little iffy to me," said resident Jack Ryan.
Tourism driver
Shiver said it is not uncommon for towns and counties to support economic development, whether it is through a revolving loan fund or outright grants to lure industry. In Maggie Valley, where tourism reigns, Ghost Town is proper investment for town tax dollars, he said.
"There is no denying that tourism and vacation home sales are driving your economy," Shiver said. "There are many hoteliers in the audience and lodging partners that are here that truly depend on that."
Maggie has a history of investing in its tourism economy, Shiver said, pointing out the town's purchase in 2002 of the festival grounds. The town has spent more than $500,000 on the purchase, adding amenities and maintenance over the years.
Business owners say Maggie Valley's tourism economy will wither up without Ghost Town.
"We gotta have it," said Becky Ramey, owner of Smackers restaurant. "We'll have a Ghost Town either way — either Ghost Town will open up, or if it doesn't, Maggie Valley will be a Ghost Town."
Dave Blankenship, owner of Alamo Motel and Cottages, said his business went up 30 percent in 2007 when Ghost Town reopened after a five-year hiatus.
"If Ghost Town closes, we would risk losing a lot more than ($200,000) for a long time to come," said Tammy White, owner of the Clarkton Motel. White pointed out that the theme park draws in 130,000 visitors a year who then stay in the hotels and motels in the area. The local lodging facilities would have a hard time pulling in those numbers on their own.
Not on my dime
If Ghost Town is so important to the businesses in the Valley, let them put up the money, some speakers suggested.
"Maybe these businesses could form an alliance and lend the money to Ghost Town," McClure said. McClure said residential property owners won't see a direct benefit, yet will shoulder an increased tax burden if the loan isn't paid back.
Dave Blankenship at the Alamo Motel argued that the money split among the town's taxpayers doesn't amount to much. The town has 1,600 individual taxpayers on its rolls. The loan is equivalent to just $125 a person.
"That ain't nothing. You spend that going out to a good dinner somewhere," Blankenship said.
Speakers in the "no" camp said the town would be better served to spend its economic development dollars elsewhere.
"If the town wants to increase the climate for business, there are certainly other things you can do that would be much more effective and less risky. I think this is very risky," said DeSimone.
Roger Ferguson agreed the money could be put to a better use.
"If you have $200,000, put it in a trust fund for the kids of the Valley so they can go to college and don't have to scratch and claw like a lot of us do," Ferguson said. "Set up a scholarship fund so those who have the desire can get beyond what we have here."
Support from within
Employees of Ghost Town joined business owners in speaking up for the loan.
"This is how I feed my family. I think we deserve a chance to prove ourselves," said Michael Howard, the maintenance manager at the theme park. "You won't find a group of harder working people in the county. I work my heart out at it every week."
Howard said the park is on the right road and can pull through.
"We've gone through lows and we've gone through highs," said Howard. "We are making strides in any and every way we can to support our community."
Randy Bryant, an employee of Ghost Town, said he believes in Ghost Town so much he put $250,000 into the park since it filed bankruptcy.
"I took my hard-earned money, my retirement money, and invested it in Ghost Town because I love Maggie Valley," Bryant said. "I put my money into that park to get it open this year so we can try to get everybody that's owed that money you are talking about paid back. Without it being open, there is no way those people can ever get paid back."
A gunfighter at Ghost Town who goes by Preacher said the theme park is a labor of love for many employees.
"There is a great number of us up there who aren't on the clock," Preacher said of the push to get the park ready for opening day.
Many local people have invested personal money in Ghost Town. Among them are Austin Pendley of Maggie Mountaineer Crafts, Brenda O'Keefe of Joey's Pancake House, and Alaska Pressley, according to Shiver.
Verlin Edwards, a speaker in the "no" camp, said the investors should pony up the money themselves.
"I know they can dig a little deeper and come up with their $200,000," Edwards said.
Shiver has said previously, however, that the investors are tapped out. They have already poured their savings and assets into the park to get it this far.
In the first two weeks after filing bankruptcy, Shiver paid $23,000 to a company he owns, Global Management Services, according to bankruptcy filings. That's in addition to a salary of $1,600 that went straight to Shiver.
Ghost Town has to file quarterly financial reports with the bankruptcy court. The first quarter filing only contained financial transactions for a two-week period from when the company filed for bankruptcy in mid-March to the end of that month.
Going through the process
The town held two public hearings on the Ghost Town loan, although not by design. The town initially announced it would hold a public hearing on Thursday, May 14. The town had to run a legal notice in the newspaper at least two weeks before a public hearing, per state law.
There was a glitch in the notice being printed in The Mountaineer, forcing the town to push back the date of the "official" public hearing until Monday, May 18. Since May 14 had already been widely circulated among town residents as the date of the hearing, however, the town kept it on the calendar as well — thus the two public hearings.
The first public hearing drew a crowd of about 75, while the second public hearing drew a slightly smaller crowd.
Why the need for a loan?
Ghost Town filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in mid-March. It has a mortgage of $9.5 million and outstanding bills of $2.5 million. Many locals are among the 200 companies owed money, including electricians, building supply stores, marketing outlets and suppliers of T-shirts and souvenirs.
The iconic park is deeply engrained in the collective memory of Haywood County, both as an economic driver since its debut in the 1960s and a family past-time holding fond memories through the generations.
But when new owners bought the aging park in 2007 from its long-time owner and founder, they inherited a crumbling and jerry-rigged infrastructure. It required far more of a capital investment than they bargained for. Coupled with the economic downturn and credit crunch, the park was forced into bankruptcy, according to Ghost Town CEO Steve Shiver.
Maggie flush with extra cash?
Ghost Town CEO Steve Shiver argued that town has the money readily available for a loan, pointing to its substantial fund balance. Shiver said the town has plenty to spare without affecting residents' property tax rate.
The fund balance, equivalent to the town's savings account, is 51 percent of its general budget. Maggie Valley's fund balance is actually below the state average of 64 percent for towns of its size.
"I am not saying our fund balance is in bad shape, but it is not where the average town is at," Town Manager Tim Barth said. "Over time, I think we need to work toward getting our fund balance up so we are much closer to the average."
Shiver said Maggie has far more than the 8 percent fund balance required of local governments by the state. But Barth explained that the 8 percent minimum fund balance is geared toward larger governments.
"If you have a $100 million budget, 8 percent of that is $8 million," Barth said. But for Maggie, with a general budget of $2.5 million, reserves of 8 percent would be a mere $200,000.
The fund balance is the town's fall back for emergencies, should a storm wreak havoc, a road collapse or sewer line explode. Any government needs a certain amount of cash on hand to cover such contingencies. The smaller the town, the larger those savings will appear as a percentage of its overall budget.
The state average for towns with a population between 500 and 1,000 is a fund balance of 86 percent, and 112 percent for towns under 500.
"There's a reason that it is that way," Barth said. "The Local Government Commission would not wait until we got to 8 percent until they sent letter and made phone calls and said, 'What are you doing?'"
Ghost Town owes Maggie Valley $30,000 in back property taxes.


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WASHINGTON – Remember that bottle of waterproof sunblock you bought last year? It lied — lotion can't be waterproof or totally block out harmful rays. Thanks to new sunscreen-labeling rules from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that recently came into effect, misleading terminology has been wiped away to help consumers understand what exactly it is they're buying.
"We don't want to give users a false sense of security that they can stay in the sun for longer," says Shelby Moneer, education program manager for the Melanoma Research Foundation, which advocated for the changes. Products these days can boast being water-resistant, but now they have to clarify how long that protection lasts (either 40 or 80 minutes) to make it easier to remember when to slather more on.
The goal is to clear up any confusion, Moneer says, because although most people have got the message that they need sunscreen, "they're not using enough and they're not applying enough." She recommends a shot glass' worth of sunscreen every two hours — and only using products that are Broad Spectrum (protecting against both UVA and UVB rays) and SPF 30 or higher.
It's great if your facial moisturizer happens to have sun protection, adds Moneer, who uses an Oil of Olay product with SPF 30. But your morning routine won't matter much when you're outside at lunchtime, she cautions.
Moneer also advises wearing a hat and sleeves whenever possible — although, as a beach volleyball player, she recognizes that sometimes sun exposure is inevitable. That's not an excuse, however, for athletes and coaches not to be diligent about precautions.
In February, Leanda Cave, the 2012 Ironman and Half-Ironman world champion, announced she had skin cancer. The 35-year-old Welsh triathlete's basal-cell carcinoma wasn't life-threatening, but it was a reminder that long hours of outdoor training can have dangerous consequences, particularly when the diagnosis is melanoma.
"We have the saying, 'Once a melanoma patient, always a melanoma patient,' " says Moneer, who often has to explain that this type of skin cancer — the second-most common form of cancer for young adults — can spread to other organs.
Although promising treatments are on the horizon, prevention is critical. Changing sunscreen labels should help, but even more important is changing the way people see themselves. Moneer recently returned from a volleyball tournament in Florida, where she was bombarded with comments about how pale she looked.
"You have to be comfortable in your skin," Moneer says. "There's nothing wrong with being the color you're born with."
At his annual checkup in 2000, Kevin Stenstrom told his doctor, "You need to check out this mole or my wife is going to kill me." The spot on his shin turned out to be melanoma that had just started to spread.
"So she ended up saving my life," says Stenstrom, 50, who lives with his family in Burke, Virginia.
To battle the cancer, he enrolled in an experimental protocol at the National Institutes of Health for a year. Stenstrom thought he was in the clear until he found a lump in his leg in 2006. There was another in his pelvis in 2007, followed by months of grueling treatments.
In June, it'll be five years since he's had cancer, but Stenstrom isn't ready to declare his battle with melanoma over.
"It was at the six-year mark that I had my first recurrence," says the Melanoma Research Foundation advocate. "This isn't something you can remove and move on."
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.


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World of Wonder uncovered two vintage ads for Modess tampons from the 1950s. I mean, just look at 'em: These graceful women dressed in beautiful, flowy gowns — it's like Scarlett O'Hara is hawking the tampons herself. A far cry from the talking vagina bullshit we're stuck with today.
[Via World Of Wonder]


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PAST WEBINARS are for sale! Register and pay for the past webinar, and we will send you a link. The link gives you access for the past webinar for 24 hours.
All webinars take place at 2 PM Eastern Time.
Register for this Seminar | Return to Schedule |
Seminar Title:
Smartphone Forensics and Cellular Technology Certification +SMART
DATES: 12/14/2020 through 12/18/2020
INSTRUCTOR(S): Glenn Bard Bard
LOCATION: Drury Inn & Suites Columbus South - 4109 Parkway Centre Drive, Grove City, OH 43123
HOTEL: Drury Inn & Suites Columbus South - Grove City, OH 317-843-1100
Book Room Online Here
COURSE REGISTRATION FEE: $695.00 Includes all training materials, and a Certificate of Completion.
DATES: 12/14/2020 through 12/18/2020
INSTRUCTOR(S): Glenn Bard Bard
LOCATION: Drury Inn & Suites Columbus South - 4109 Parkway Centre Drive, Grove City, OH 43123
HOTEL: Drury Inn & Suites Columbus South - Grove City, OH 317-843-1100
Book Room Online Here
COURSE REGISTRATION FEE: $695.00 Includes all training materials, and a Certificate of Completion.
Instructor Bio
Glenn Bard
CISSP, EnCE, CFCE, CEECS, CHFI, A+, Net+, Sec+, ACE
Glenn Bard is a retired Pennsylvania State Trooper First Class and U.S. Veteran of Operation Desert Storm. In 1999 Glenn began Computer Crime Investigations for the PA State Police and has since investigated crimes across the United States ranging from Child Pornography to Criminal Homicide. Glenn has also conducted forensic examinations for city, state and federal Law Enforcement Agencies including the FBI, US Postal Inspectors, and I.C.E. as well as foreign governments.
Due to his training and experience, Glenn has been certified as an expert in Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas and the United States Federal Court System in the areas of Digital Forensics, Cellular Technology and Computer Technology. Glenn has also been certified as an expert Instructor in the State of Maryland.
Prior to retiring, Glenn was selected by the US Attorney's office in Pittsburgh and OPDAT to teach computer crime investigations and computer forensics in Tirana, Albania.
Additionally, he has been a speaker for organizations of all sizes and types, both public and private, to include the Cyril H. Wecht Institute of Forensic Science and Law, Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police, Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police, Federal Fraternal Order of Police, and the Institute of Law Enforcement Education, among many others.
Several of the cases Glenn has worked on have received National coverage, to include Fox News, Dateline, the Associated Press, Yahoo!, the New York Times, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh Tribune Review and more.
Additionally, Glenn has received numerous awards during his military and police career, including Honorable Discharges from both the United States Army and the Pennsylvania State Police.
Glenn is the Chief Technical officer for PATCtech, overseeing all Digital Forensic and Data Services. Glenn has acted as technical consultant and/or personally developed Computer Forensic Programs at multiple Colleges, to include Westmoreland County Community College where he was a faculty instructor prior to retiring.
Pre-Payment is not required to register or attend IN-PERSON seminars. Pre-payment is required for WEBINARS and ONLINE COURSES.
The primary objective of +SMART training is to provide practical instruction to attendees on the unique sets of evidence available on Smartphones and the advanced location-based evidence available on Smartphones and cellular networks. +SMART training provides attendees a practical exercise and study for law enforcement officers, detectives, private investigators, SIU's and computer specialists on the following:
This training module will provide practical instruction on the forensic techniques required for acquiring and investigating evidence from Smartphones and cellular technologies for the purpose of case development and successful prosecution.
Review of Cellular Networks & Introduction to Smartphone Technology: The training will start with a review of the different types of cellular networks and introduction to smartphone technology. As well as, what types of operating systems are used by devices such as the iPhone, droid and BlackBerry including jailbreaking and rooting devices.
Smartphone Operating Systems: Utilizing both classroom and hands-on exercises each attendee will be provided the skills required to understand smart phone operating systems and skills needed to recover data from these devices using a variety of applications.
Data Recovery from Smartphones: Attendees will be provided images of devices to examine and learn where to find artifacts that may be important to the investigator. Issues covered will include examining backups of synchronized phones, wifi analysis, skype analysis and internet history.
Router Interrogation: Students will be given practical instruction on interrogating routers for the purpose of identifying smartphones previously connected to the routers and how this information identifies potential suspects at a scene over a time period.
Smartphone Connection Logs: Students will be given practical instruction on determining if the phone was connected to the Internet via Wifi or if it was connected to a cellular network. In this section students will be introduced to IP Addressing on Smartphones, IPv6 and Mobile Hotspots. The purpose of this portion of instruction is to assist investigators in finding historical locations of the suspect and where to look for additional sources of evidence.
Practical Exercises: The class will include practical exercises in which the students will be supplied forensic images of smartphone's to examine, locate the evidence, prepare a report and practice testifying to their findings.
At the conclusion of training students will be given instructions on accessing the PATC Testing Portal to test for the +SMART credential that may be added to their CTF Certification.
Las Vegas Winter Conference
November 30 - December 11, 2020
Gatlinburg Conference
March 8-11, 2021
Las Vegas Spring Conference
March 29 - April 1, 2021
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It's time to show some skin! As we near the end of the Summer Season, it's the last chance to show that glorious glow and dare to bare. This week's blog focuses on "slit, slash, or cut out"- which one will YOU dare to try? We'll show you this Season's hottest styles and how to shape your body to rock the trends. Take a look below.
For just a hint of skin, let your leg go. The simplest way to show a little skin is with the slit skirt style. For work or play, this style is for you. Whether you prefer runway fashion designer's Lanvin demure slit or iiJin's more exposed style, you can easily rock this look. For the office or professional settings, pair your skirt with a chic lace body suit or cami and Bolero jacket. For evenings out, kick up your heels and combine with a dazzling metallic tank or leather lazer cut top. Check out our other favorite slit skirt options below.
Model Cara Delevingne rocks a white slit skirt from morning to evening. You can do the same by pairing with comfy sneakers or flat sandals by day and switching to chic stilettos for evening.
Check out our favorite slit skirt styles here:
"Ultra Suede" Ivory White Double Slit Knit Maxi Skirt
"Charcoal" Knit Slit Maxi Skirt
"Omia" Black Lace Slit Skirt Maxi
Instead of a skirt, you could also go with a chic Summer side slit dress perfect over your swimsuit at the beach or paired with your favorite lace up wedges or strappy heels for nighttime. And when the chillier Season hits, simply layer a cozy leather jacket over your dress for perfect style and warmth.
Shop our favorite side slit floral dresses here:
"Baylee" Teal Printed Maxi Side Slit Dress
"Sonnie" Periwinkle Blue Strapless Dress
Prefer slashed rather than slit? We've got you covered. You can definitely purchase your own "slashed top" or why not create your own DIY.
Check out our Posh at Play Facebook page to make your own just the way you want.
The "slashed tee" is easy to pair with your favorite shorts or jeans, or pencil skirt and pumps for a night out on the town.
Don't just rely on tops. Why not rock a pair of slashed leggings or cropped jeans as well. Keep it classy by pairing with a solid color tank or silk blouse up top.
From Milly, to Issa, to Guy Laroche, this Season's runway designers filled their collections with the cut-out "cold shoulder" trend. Flattering on every figure, show off your décolletage this Summer and try the look. Pair with your favorite jeans and sandals for daytime glam, and segue into the twilight hours by switching into a strappy pair of heels.
Shop the look here:
"Shaelee" Black Flutter Tunic
"Ariana" Printed Chiffon Top
"Chain Reaction" Blue Silk Drop Waist Tunic
Get on the celebrity trend and try out the cut out dress look. From casual street to red carpet ready, from maxi to mini, anyone can rock this Summer style dress. Less revealing than a crop top, the cut out dress shows a little side or back skin without baring it all. You can easily throw it over your favorite swimsuit for a your last Summer days at the pool or beach and transition into the evening hours with a chic pair of heels or wedges.
Check out our favorite cut out dress choices below:
"Femi" White Lace Cut Out Netted Dress
"June" Green Cut Out Back Halter Maxi Dress
"Maria" Split Lace Back Cut Out Maxi Dress
Somewhere between a bikini and one piece is the cut-out swimsuit for Summer. Baring just a little, this is the perfect "tummy"solution while at the pool or beach. Throw your slit skirt over for a Cabana lunch or cover up with a lace Kimono or tunic for a walk down the Boardwalk in style.
Check out our favorite swimsuit cover up finds:
"Azaria" White Lace Kimono
"Daisy" Black Lace Poncho
"Flights of Fancy" Purple Silk Strapless Top
If you dare to bare a little, be sure to keep skin glowing and wrinkle free. Make your own DIY soft skin scrub made from natural materials, free of harsh chemicals, and see skin transform in a matter of weeks.
Here's what you'll need:
Salt: sloughs off dry skin
Sugar: Great exfoliant, less harsh than salt
Baking Soda: Perfect for oily skin
Coffee Grounds: Eliminates stretch marks and cellulite
Honey: Perfect for sensitive skin; heals raw or irritated skin
Milk: The lactic acid soothes and hydrates
Coconut Oil: Contains Laurin acid to restructure skin and make it soft
Citrus Fruit: Natural exfoliator, eliminates dark spots
Chocolate: Contains antioxidants that protect your skin; reduces lines and wrinkles
Essential Oils: Detoxes and heals
Turmeric: powerful anti-inflammatory effects
RECIPE: 1 Cup Exfoliant + 1/2 Cup Liquid + 2-3 tablespoons fun add ins
Put the exfoliant in a bowl and add liquid slowly, stirring as you go. You want a consistency that you can scoop with your hand so don't let the texture get too runny. Add optional add ins and mix again. Store in a container with tight fitting lid. You can easily double this recipe if you want to keep it on hand for awhile.
Now with your cut out style and fresh scrubbed skin, you are ready to ready to rock Summer's favorite all natural body art style. "Henna"is a plant found and grown in South Asian and North African countries. It has been used since ancient time to color skin, hair, fingernails, leather, and wool. At the simplest, Henna is a paste made out of crushed leaves and twigs of henna plant. The paste can also be made from dried leaves of the plant by mixing it with hot water. When this paste is applied to skin (just like writing from a marker) and left for few hours, it leaves a orange to dark maroon stain in the skin which fades away in 7 to 14 days.
Search your local listings to get it professionally done, or click here for a tutorial on how to make and create your own at home: Henna Art.
So whether you prefer slit, slash, or cut out, dare to show a little skin in the few remaining weeks of Summer. Get out and enjoy the Seasonal sun and let your skin glow before being tucked in for Fall. We'd love to hear from you our readers on which style YOU will dare to try? Comment to us.
And remember no matter which style you choose,
Be YOU, Be Fabulous and always Be Feminine.


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Painter Esilda Corbin was born in Italy. During her formative years, she lived in Tuscany and Naples. The rich historical and artistic background of her youth, seasoned with extensive travel and recurring visits to many of Europe's most important museums, had a major influence upon her artistic taste and development
When Esilda moved to New England, she found herself away from an urban setting for the first time in decades. It was here that she discovered the deep impact that nature can have on the soul of an artist, and her works began to blend her urban cultural heritage with the majesty andbeauty of nature.
Esilda has served as a member of the City of Dover Arts Commission, is a member and former president of the Great Bay Art Association, and is an associate member of the New Hampshire Art Association. Her work will be on display in the Weston Art Gallery in the Lane Room throughout the month of May, 2013. Those with an interest in her work may contact the artist at Hesilda1(at)comcast.net.


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Southall Black Sisters Recent Activities
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Southall Black Sisters offer the Outreach Services below, click on the relevant link for further information and to access an online booking form. If you have any difficulty in filling out the form below, please contact the SBS Helpline and an advisor can assist you.
You do not have to be a client at SBS to access these services. If you are from an agency and would like to refer your client for specialist advice and assistance, please indicate on the form, whether you will be able to attend the appointment with your client.


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Sad Chairs
Posted by
Becky |
View all posts by Becky
2 Comments » | Published in Design Books, Design on the Web, Design Press | 2 Comments
The only thing sadder than the Framingham Massachusetts rest area at 11:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve is a massage chair in said rest area, stuck in between the candy machine and the men's room on Christmas Eve. What's even sadder than that is a pair of them. And the saddest thing of all, is that the sign above them says "Chairs Are For Massages Only." So non-paying sitters are not welcome to wait for their loved ones outside of the bathroom unless they are feeding quarters to the chairs.
How stiff would your muscles have to be to tempt you into sitting in one of these? Anyway, looking at this picture made me feel oh so much better about every single chair I have in my house. It's also making me think that putting a real spa in a rest area is not a bad idea.
What's the most bizarre thing you have seen in a rest area? Let me know in the comments section – I've got the post-holiday blues and I'm feeling really uninspired!
By the way, this post reminds me of one I wrote back in 2005, where I linked y'all over to 50 Sad Chairs by Bill Keaggy. It's still one of my favorite things on the interwebs and I'm happy to report it's still up and running. In fact, there is even a book, published in 2008, called 50 Sad Chairs (go figure). You can still find it on Amazon:
There's also a Flickr group called Sad Chairs. I think I'll be over there checking out the 1400+ submissions they have for the next few hours. Come join me if you want!
Hi, I'm Becky. I live in Atlanta. Besides acting as the Editorial Director here on Hatch, you can find me talking design over at Houzz. Make me happy — leave a comment!


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Here's the gist of the controversy over Israel's holy Western Wall: lots of Jewish women think they deserve the right to pray aloud, read from the Torah, and wear religious garments there, just as men do, but the ultra-Orthodox caretakers of the site have made sure they're prohibited by law from doing just that. Things have gotten so tense over the past few months that Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assigned famous former dissident Natan Sharansky to broker a deal. You know, because Israel doesn't have more pressing shit to figure out.
Apparently it's not going that well, because Israeli police detained 10 women at the Western Wall today for wearing prayer shawls, including Susan Silverman, a reform rabbi who also happens to be Sarah Silverman's sister, and her 17-year-old daughter.
Silverman said that they were among more than 100 women who regularly meet there along with the feminist group "Women of the Wall." All they're asking for is to be able to pray there for an hour every month. Is that so much to ask? It seems so. Police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld said the women had acted "against regulations set by the High Court." This is getting ridiculous. Don't the cops have more important issues to attend to?


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'Teen Mom' Jenelle Evans shows baby bump No. 2
"Baby bumpppp. My little angel !" wrote Jenelle Evans (now going by Jenelle Rogers), star of MTV's Teen Mom 2, as she shared this photo of her brand-new baby bump with her Instagram followers this morning.
Evans, 21, is expecting a baby with her husband of one month, Courtland Rogers. She tweeted that she is "7 weeks" along.
"I missed a few birth control pills, and found out I was pregnant at a doctor's appointment," Jenelle tells MTV Act. "I was really surprised. This wasn't planned, but it happened, so we're taking it as we go. Courtland and I are happy and excited now."
"We know having a child can be difficult, but we're going to do our best," she added.
Evans rose to fame in MTV's 16 and Pregnant. In 2009, she gave birth to son Jace, with boyfriend Andrew Lewis. She went on to star in Teen Mom 2, which documented her new life with the baby. But she no longer has custody of him. A notorious partier, Jenelle has been arrested for breaking and entering, drug possession and assault. In May 2012, she showed off her new breast implants.


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Calico Tormented Live Outdoors
Calico has had the opportunity to observe our live feeds before, so when it finally came to her turn the stakes have to be higher than ever. Once we get her up to the farm a world of options becomes available. She starts out at the bottom of a hot, dark hole. She knows better than to ask for relief, but the membership decides she could use a bit of cold water. It is a tough start to a long day. ...
Read More
18 U.S.C. 2257 Compliance Statement


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I constantly go to stores that print my entire credit card number on the slip they will keep, so I cross out the numbers. I thought it was the law that credit card slips could not have the full card number, but had to have something like xxxxxx4991. Am I correct?
- Madge, Chestertown, Md.
It seems strange, but federal law only requires the credit card or debit card number to be truncated (shortened) on the copy of the receipt the customer gets, not the one the merchant keeps.
According to the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act the customer copy of an electronically printed credit or debit card receipt cannot show more than the last five digits of the account number. And the expiration date must be deleted. The law does not apply to handwritten or imprinted card slips.
The idea is to keep your account information away from identity thieves if you lose or throw away that receipt. But there's no guarantee the merchant's copy won't get into the wrong hands.
"Having a pile of receipts stacked by the register with credit card numbers on them is a real temptation for a dishonest employee," says Beth Givens, director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. "The number should be truncated in on both copies," she says.
But doesn't the merchant need that number? No. If the credit card has already been processed using the electronic scanner, there's no need for the full number to be on either slip. I checked with the major credit card companies and they verified this. In fact, many retailers already shorten the number on both copies voluntarily, and I commend them for this.
What should you do when the merchant's receipt has the entire account number? It's easy to cross out all but the last 5 digits when you're at a restaurant, once the server walks away. But it may be impossible to do that at the checkout counter. I've heard from numerous people who tried to do this and were told by the sales clerk that if they did, the transaction would be terminated.
Identity theft is rampant, and the current law doesn't make any sense to me. Like Madge, I'm worried about the receipt left behind, the one with my credit card number on it.
A few years ago, I had my credit card number stolen while on trip to New York. I only used that card twice, at two delis that printed the full account number on their copy of the receipt. Why didn't I cross out the number? I was paying at the register and decided not to make a scene. Silly me! By the time the credit card company fraud department contacted me and closed the account, thousands of dollars in charges had been made. I wasn't out anything, but in the end we all pay for this fraud.
I think it's time Congress revisits this issue. I want the law to require my account number be removed from both copies of a credit card receipt. I know a lot of people feel the same way. But I honestly don't expect Congress to do anything. So that leaves you — and me — with two options: avoid merchants who print the number on their receipts (if you know about it) or cross out the numbers, if possible, when it comes time to pay.
I know online merchants ask for the three-digit security number on the back of my credit card to verify that I'm the legitimate card holder. But why would pizza delivery places or stores need this information?
- Marcia, Salt Lake City
Asking for those digits is one more way to fight credit card fraud. When you order over the phone, that code tells the pizza delivery place or other merchant that you have physical possession of that card. If someone snagged your credit card number, but didn't steal the actual card, they shouldn't have that three-digit code.
That's the same reason why they ask you for it at the store. If a crook gets your number and creates a counterfeit credit card he probably won't have the security code. And without that code, the transaction should be terminated.
Can a merchant add a tip to a receipt without the customer's permission?
- Name withheld
No. That would be fraud and a violation of the merchant agreement. If a restaurant has a policy of automatically adding a gratuity to all bills, that must be disclosed up front and added to the bill before the cardholder signs.
Can you tell me how many days a bank can hold a payment before they post it to your account?
- Rob, Salt Lake City
The Expedited Funds Availability Act sets three standard hold periods: one, two, and five business days. In most cases if you deposit a cashier's check, certified check, or government check into your account using a teller, the funds should be available the next business day.
Banks are allowed to put a hold on local checks for up to two business days and a hold on non-local checks and ATM deposits of up to five days.
The law gives a financial institution six exceptions that allow it to withhold the funds even longer:
- New accounts
- Deposits of more than $5,000 in one day
- A check that's been returned unpaid is being redeposited
- Deposits to accounts that have been repeatedly overdrawn
- The bank has reason to believe the check is uncollectible
- Emergency situations
Even so the law says, "these exceptions may generally not be invoked if the deposit would ordinarily receive next-day availability."


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LSD Release New Track "Thunderclouds"
Get a first listen to the latest release from the Labrinth, Sia, and Diplo collective
August 9, 2018
Well, LSD has really been putting in work lately, and they just released another brand new song!
Related: Take A Groovy Trip With LSD's New Song "Genius"
The group is made up of English vocalist, Labrinth, the multi-faceted artist, Sia, and super-producer, Diplo.
They've only been established as a group for just over 3 months, releasing their debut single, "Genius," on May 3 of this year. However, LSD has already been able to land their first two songs, "Genius" and "Audio," on charts around the world.
We finally have a brand new one to listen to!
Get a first listen to their newly minted track, "Thunderclouds:"


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Men Seem More Likely Than Women to Develop Hole in Knee Cartilage
Damage, which tends to occur after ACL injury, raises risk for osteoarthritis, researchers say
THURSDAY, July 7, 2011 (HealthDay News) -- Men who undergo surgery for a torn or overstretched anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) appear to face a higher risk than women for developing a hole in their knee cartilage, new Norwegian research indicates.
Such holes can result from stress on the knee that strikes following an ACL injury, and these lesions can raise the chances of developing osteoarthritis, the study authors noted.
The identification of a gender risk factor stems from work involving nearly 16,000 Norwegian and Swedish patients that was conducted by a team led by Dr. Jan Harald Roetterud, from Akershus University Hospital in Lorenskog, Norway.
He and his colleagues are slated to present their findings Thursday at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine annual meeting in San Diego.
According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the ACL is one of four principal ligaments that connect the end of the thigh bone (the femur) to the top of the shin bone (the tibia) in the knee. The ACL is situated in the middle of the knee, and its function is to stabilize the rotational movement of the knee and to keep the tibia from dislocating.
ACL injuries involving tears and overstretching are extremely common among both male and female athletes engaged in sports that entail a great deal of jumping or tackling.
Because recovery requires treatment, surgery is often called for to reconstruct the torn ligament.
As it turns out, many surgical patients are women, mostly because anatomical and muscular gender differences appear to raise the risk for an ACL injury more among women than men.
To see whether the same gender dynamic is at play with regard to ACL-associated cartilage issues, Roetterud and his team focused on a large pool of ACL reconstructive surgery patients who underwent the treatment between 2005 and 2008.
The authors found that 6.4 percent of roughly 15,800 patients between the ages of 8 and 69 had cartilage lesions. Among this subgroup of approximately 1,000 patients, 5.6 percent were women, while 7 percent were men.
The team suggested that gender be added to a list of known risk factors for such lesions, which include older age, history of prior surgery and a waiting period between an ACL injury and reconstructive surgery that is greater than a year.
Dr. Matthew Matava, an associate professor of orthopaedic surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, noted that the latest finding runs somewhat contrary to typical assumptions.
"It has been long known that girls have eight times the risk for an ACL injury than boys," he noted, "due to the way they fire their quads and hamstrings in response to a sprain in the knee joint. So, in terms of cartilage injury risk, it's been assumed to be kind of the same situation in terms of gender," Matava said.
"But men do tend to be bigger and somewhat faster, and put more stress on their body," he added. "So this makes some common sense. But does it change anything we would do as orthopaedic surgeons? Not really, other than to counsel our patients as to what their risks are once they already have this kind of injury."
Dr. C. David Geier Jr., director of the Medical University of South Carolina Sports Medicine Program, suggested that while the gender finding was intriguing, the emphasis should be placed on the need to get ACL patients of either gender into surgery sooner rather than later, to reduce their overall risk for associated cartilage damage.
"ACL tears are much more common in females than males," said Geier, who is also an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery. "So, some doctors might find it interesting that males with these injuries are more likely to have cartilage damage," he noted.
"Active people who are worried about doing more harm to their knee might consider surgery early after the injury, and not wait months or years," he stressed. "As orthopaedic surgeons, we have few reliable options for reversing cartilage damage, and finding cartilage defects can potentially suggest poorer outcomes from ACL surgeries and long-term problems for those patients."
Because this study was presented at a medical meeting, the data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
More information
For more on ACL injuries, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.


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Sunday, June 26, 2011
Drop Stitch Scarf Knitting Pattern
The first thing I ever learned to knit was a garter stitch scarf. The second thing was a drop stitch scarf. It was exciting to have learned a new trick (wrapping the yarn around the needle two times per stitch and then dropping it on the next row), although back in those days I was so focused on perfection that I usually ended up frogging it. Drop stitch isn't about perfection, it's about ... well, dropping perfection. Knit with variegated Noro yarn gives it a casual, rustic look.
This pattern is a slightly revised version of one I acquired from my local yarn shop. It is a very, very common pattern so I feel okay posting it here. The scarf is knit in Noro Taiyo, which I find softer than Kureyon, and is approx. 70 inches long and 6 inches wide.
Note 1/7/12: Today I saw a similar scarf for sale in an upscale women's clothing catalog. The retail price was $109. Feels good knowing I can make my own for the cost of a skein of yarn.
Noro Taiyo (one skein, 220 yards) or Noro Kureyon (two skeins, 110 yards each). Taiyo is a cotton/silk/nylon/wool blend and Kureyon is 100% wool. Both are Aran weight.
Size US 11 needles
To knit the drop stitch scarf:
With a cast on of 20 stitches, knit two rows.
On the third row, knit across the row wrapping the yarn twice around the needle for each stitch. (The way I do it is insert the right needle in to the stitch on the left needle, wrap the yarn around the right needle twice and then complete the stitch.)
On the fourth row, knit across, dropping the double-wrapped stitch as you go. (In other words, knit the double-wrapped stitch as if it were a regular old single-wrapped stitch and ignore how big and clumsy it looks.)
The scarf will look quite imperfect as you go, but don't let that bother you. Just give the drop stitched rows a gentle tug once in a while to pull down the long stitches.
Repeat the four rows until your scarf reaches the desired length and end on rows two and three.
You can easily modify this pattern by changing the needle size, increasing or decreasing the number of stitches you cast on and/or the number of garter stitch rows between drop stitched rows.
12 comments:
- GARAGE SALE GAL said...
Hi Stacy,
Are you having fun being a Auntie!!!
Pretty scarf. Hope all is well!
- June 26, 2011 at 2:47 PM
- Tracey ~ Clover said...
Beautiful scarf and I can't wait to try the pattern! We have missed you!
- June 26, 2011 at 3:24 PM
- Thimbleanna said...
VERY pretty Stacy -- I love Noro yarn!
- June 27, 2011 at 7:58 AM
- Maiden Jane said...
It's so pretty and I love the photo with your cat! I hope you are well.
- June 28, 2011 at 5:39 AM
- PunkiePie (Jen) said...
Pretty scarf!
- June 28, 2011 at 1:14 PM
- Theresa said...
SOOOOO beautiful, looks soft:) Have a blessed day dear friend! HUGS!
- June 30, 2011 at 6:29 AM
- Denise said...
Hi! I'm new to knitting. Is this dropped stitch the same as this:
Because according to your instructions, you insert the needle, wrap around, and then finish the stitch. My sister made a spectacular scarf with the technique in the video and I was just wondering if it's the same technique you used in the scarf or if it's different.
Thank you!!
- January 4, 2012 at 9:59 AM
I like doing this pattern with two different yarns. It is really pretty!
- August 5, 2013 at 7:04 PM
Hi Stacy, I love this scarf pattern and have decided to knit it using a magic ball I am in the process of making up. Loved your model - looks just like one of my fur babies.
- August 21, 2013 at 3:11 AM
brilliant idea for using up the odd bits of left over Taiyo I have from cardigan/tops I've made.
- March 26, 2015 at 5:18 PM
- Unknown said...
Always looking for something new and easy and different.
- September 16, 2018 at 6:52 AM
- Unknown said...
Hi all, just wondering, do u sew in the ends when changing wool colour? Cheers Lesley
- April 27, 2019 at 10:37 PM


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Doomsday Arcade: Episode 20
Pages 1 2 3 4 5 6 NEXT
If Lund and Shanks are dead someone else has to take up the resistance. I said IF.
So......God mode?
EDIT: Yeah, god mode http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/doomsday-arcade/511-Episode-Two
2nd Edit: They'll probably get some other explanations for this. Just to say "Good try, but no". That and most people seems to vote for the idea of God mode still on....
Uh... Hmmm...
I'm guessing you can't be killed by a non-agressive NPC?
What the hell was that!? the entire episode was weird. One of the weirdest things was the fact that they showed as in the episode that Toad is an extremely well trained soldier but yet from some reason, everyone think he is horrible. If it wasn't for the Michaels invincibility they would have died so many times and yet he is considered by everyone to be horribly untrained.
Seriously, did you see how fast he responded when he heard shanks? Did you see how fast he pooled out his gun and got direct hits to Shanks face even through his other hand was holding Lund and that his pistol was probably in his pocket or something? I have many other points about Toad, but the biggest point is-Toad isn't a wimp. He seems to be a war veteran but yet, from some reason he is considered a wimp.
That doesn't make sense.
and about the invincibility- I vote for god mode
edit: how did shanks look at his forehead, that's impossible, why did the new guys that were killed start screaming in horror after they were shot rather than screaming of pain? And of course there is to ask why did they scream the same before, during and after they were shot without the shot actually making a difference in the tone of the scream?
Why did toad carry so many weapons if in the last episode he was just leaving Mario that doesn't respect him, rather than just carry a pistol?
In short- logic has left the building
Uhhhh....... I got nothing on how they survived.
Still a good episode.
I think that we are seeing another effect of Michael poison...maybe.
Toad is still worthless.
Great as usual.Poor toad.
Sort of a weak episode...
If this doesn't get explained, and is just rolled over as if it was unforgotten realms, I will be very pissed :S
I knew toad was too unmanly to kill someone.
It seems shanks is as tough as a tank!
ALEX MERCER POWERS!!!!! I wondered when they would appear. another great episode too
Poor Toad. All he wanted was respect from his peers......To bad he's just to much of a wimp.
And a cliffhanger? Really? Come on. Tell us your secret? I won't tell anyone.
"I'm talking to you, bitchtits!"
Haha, damn. I thought toad would have a plan, not just fail to kill them.
Is this god mode striking again?
Eh... definitely one of your weaker episodes, but I do like the reference to the first episode.
Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there something about a God mode in one of the first episodes? Is that it?
Alex Mercer probably has something to do with this.
"you looked like you've been skullfucked" lolz nice list of extra lives and a great cliff hanger
"Vita Chamber?"
and why is liquid snake in the orange box?!?!
as for the invincibility i have no clue but makes another good question for future weeks
It can't be god mode because in the second episode they were stopped by the server for enabling god mode and hence cheating.
Another entertaining episode.
or, Toad cant do any damage because he is a weakling, like Mario said.
Yay I thought it had ended. Good episode if a little strange can't wait for the next
I'm so glad this episode is finally out, it's answered absolutely... Nothing...
Props though, you made it entertaining.
Phhooaarrrr! Poor toad, what does he expect. Nice comical episode, Tom and Ryan are awesome.
Yay bloopers!
Thats what I was thinking. Either that, or the place they are in makes them invincible.
You're forgetting that Toad is a little bitch.
As for invulnerability... Hero Caveat? (also known as GM armour)
My explanation for their not being dead?
Somehow they have become meat flags a la Gears of War 2.
I guess they were just "Knocked unconscious". *snicker*
regenerating health?
Maybe it was the mercer meatloaf? The mercer meal? The Alix soufle? By which I mean that they could have mercer manliness from their Alix anchovies.
That was random, but funny.
Don't forget that Cooking Mama was TOO good at cooking up their death, perhaps winding up giving them ambrosia, thus giving them 9999 health?
Since, y'know, they're still gaining holes and stuff. Maybe if you dished enough damage to leave nothing left to put a hole in?
I'd be inclined to believe this guy. Remember, video game laws. They were just recently in RPG land too, and this is common RPG territory.
The Michaels (sorry) are probably at like level 40 by final fantasy standards by now - they were able to directly challenge the Dice Lord and get the exposition out of him, but unable to hit him. 30 sounds roughly right to me, at least. In any case, their level is relatively high.
Toad, of course, is a little bitch. Level 1, if that. If a 10-small guns skill Lone Wanderer shoots a Super Mutant Overlord with a The Terrible Shotgun, it's still going to do shit damage on account of the skill being so low, despite the animation being exactly the same as if the skill was higher.
Ergo, Toad is simply too low level to do any real damage.
I think the orange box is to contain the portal tech.
One of the weaker episodes...still was fairly good. Getting a bit confusing though.
|Pages 1 2 3 4 5 6 NEXT


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Hypothetical question: If you had 7,688 tiny Swarovski crystals, what would you do with them? You'd glue them to a cheap Murcielago model, you say? Oh! It's like we were separated at birth!
The glitzy trinket you see before you is made by Californian model company Maisto. It's offically dubbed the "Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Made With Crystallized Swarovski Elements," and it wants to be your friend. There's only one catch: The model is only available in Europe. It's limited to 550 examples, it comes with its own box and commemorative mount, and it costs the equivalent of $2500.
Somewhere, someone wants this, and they want it badly. Just for the record, we have no idea who they are. (Hat tip to Andrew!)


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Watch CBSN Live
This summer New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art is home to an exhibit of fashion, titled "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology," exploring the techniques and processes used to make couture.
And it's not the only museum with fashion on the menu. All around the world, fashion is moving from catwalks into galleries.
By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan
Credit: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Correspondent Serena Altschul asked Andrew Bolton, Curator in Charge of the Costume institute at The Met, whether fashion really belongs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
"Yeah, I think the ephemerality of fashion sometimes goes against its serious consideration as an art form," Bolton replied. "The fact that it's often seen located within the female domain is often another reason there's this inherent sexism around fashion. And part of our role as curators is to promote the artistry of fashion, and to promote fashion [as much] as an art form as other art forms in the museum -- sculpture, painting."
In the summer of 2011, New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art bowed its blockbuster exhibition, "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty," devoted to late British fashion designer.
Credit: credit
"It was a complete surprise to us when we started to have lines around the museum," Bolton said of the McQueen show. "It was so unprepared for them as well. We don't really set out to create a blockbuster, per se."
With more than 660,000 visitors, the Alexander McQueen show was one of the Met's top 10 most-visited exhibits of all time, alongside exhibits featuring the Mona Lisa and Picasso.
"More than double what we were expecting, absolutely," said Bolton. "I think it introduced a new audience to the museum. So that's always great."
Karl Lagerfeld's wedding ensemble for House of Chanel, Autumn/Winter 2014-15, from "Manus x Machina."
Spring/Summer 2003 prêtà-porter dress by Nicolas Ghesquière for House of Balenciaga.
Credit: © Nicholas Alan Cope/Metropolitan Museum of Art
Yves Saint Laurent dress (Spring/Summer 1983 haute couture).
"Kaikoku" floating dress by designer Hussein Chalayan (Autumn/Winter 2011-12 prêt-à-porter). Courtesy of Swarovski.
A Spring/Summer 2010 haute couture ensemble by Dutch-born Iris van Herpen.
"L'Eléphant Blanc" evening dress by Yves Saint Laurent for House of Dior, (Spring/Summer 1958, haute couture).
At Boston's Museum of Fine Art, an exhibit called "#techstyle" (through July 10) explores the intersection between technology and fashion.
Pictured: A coated leather "Air" cape from British designer Lauren Bowker's The Unseen 2015 Air Collection.
Credit: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
"The attendance for fashion shows has been extraordinary," co-curator Lauren Whitley told Altschul. "Fashion shows bring in lots of people. We don't own cars, but we all own clothes, and they are very intimate to our experiences as human beings."
Pictured: 3D‑printed polyeurethane rubber and acrylic, steel cage, and cotton twill inner lining and silk satin lining Cape and Skirt, from the Voltage Collection by Iris van Herpen, designed by Neri Oxman, and printed by Stratasys Group.
Credit: Ronald Stoops/Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
To "#techstyle" co-curator Lauren Whitley, museum fashion exhibits are more than just a trend. "We've actually been showing fashion shows since the 1930s," she said. "There have been frequently occasions where major artists were interested in fashion. Picasso was involved with the stage; Coco Chanel with Hollywood. One of the most interesting was Elsa Schiaparelli, who was very close with a circle of surrealists like Dali."
Pictured: Bodysuit from the 2014 Hard Copy collection of Israeli designer Noa Raviv. Silk, polyester, tulle, cotton, beads, and 3D printed elements.
Credit: Ron Kedmi/Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Dress and bolero by Japanese designer Issey Miyake. Clothing by Reality Lab, Miyake Design Studio.
Credit: Hiroshi Iwasake/Courtesy Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
2015 gown by American designer Sally LaPointe: 80% polyester, 20% polyamid; stretch silk charmeuse.
Credit: Sally LaPointe/Courtesy Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Metallic leather fringe dress by English designer Giles Deacon: Leather, Swarovski crystals.
Credit: Chris Moore, Catwalking.com/Courtesy Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Pair of "Molecule" shoes from Francis Bitonti Studio Inc. for Adobe. Finished and printed using Adobe Photoshop CC.
Credit: © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Jacket and trousers (part of a three‑piece ensemble) by Swiss designer Akris, featuring flashing LED stars, St. Gallen embroidery crepe, asymmetrical tuxedo, silk asymmetrical top, crepe boy pants, black cervocalf leather belt.
Credit: Akris/Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Pop star Viktoria Modesta wears an artificial leg, "The Spike," designed by Sophie de Oliveira de Barata of the Alternative Limb Project. From the exhibition "#techstyle."
"We have to remember fashion designers are artists," said Whitley. "There is a huge aesthetic drive behind creating fashion, and it is one of the decorative arts, like ceramics, like furniture, like jewelry."
Credit: Lukasz Suchorab/Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
"Water Splash" Crystallization dress Iris van Herpen (Dutch, born in 1984) Dutch, 2013 Plexiglass synthetic *Image Courtesy of Nick Knight and SHOWstudio.com *Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Credit: Nick Knight, SHOWstudio.com/Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Designer Isaac Mizrahi is a little more sanguine about fashion's place in museums. "Some fashion belongs in museums, you know? And some really doesn't," he told Altschul.
His life and work is featured in yet another fashion-themed exhibit, "Isaac Mizrahi: An Unruly History," at New York's Jewish Museum (through August 7, 2016).
Credit: Will Ragozzino/The Jewish Museum
X-ray, Fall 2010 Cashmere and acetate coat, from "Isaac Mizrahi: An Unruly History."
For Mizrahi, museum-worthy fashion falls into two categories: historically significant or visually mesmerizing.
"I think that Alexander McQueen stands on its own, right? You could have looked at that 100 years ago, or 100 years from now. It's the craft of it, you know? Whereas like, again, Chanel or Halston was such a thing about the time that they lived in."
Credit: Jason Frank Rothenberg/The Jewish Museum
Mizrahi's "The Real Thing" (Spring 1994) used paillettes made from real Coca-Cola cans.
Installation view of the exhibition "Isaac Mizrahi: An Unruly History," at the Jewish Museum in New York City.
Credit: David Heald/The Jewish Museum
"Oscar de la Renta: The Retrospective" (at the De Young in San Francisco earlier in 2016) celebrated one of the most heralded names in haute couture.
Left: Oscar de la Renta cocktail dress Resort 1969 (printed silk organza), from the Kent State University Museum. Photograph by Erin Burns.
Right: Oscar de la Renta evening dress Fall 2014 (black silk satin, gold lamé, gilt feather appliqué). Photograph by Dan Lecca.
Credit: De Young Museum
The Roaring Twenties ("The greatest gaudiest spree in history," wrote F. Scott Fitzgerald) roars back to life in "Flapper Style: 1920s Fashion" at Kent State University Museum, Kent, Ohio (through Sept. 4, 2016).
Credit: Kent State University Museum
"Missoni Art Colour" at London's Fashion and Textile Museum (through September 4, 2016) showcases the work of Italian designers Ottavio and Rosita Missoni.
Credit: Darren Gerrish/WireImage
A sequined column evening dress (plastic sequins on silk plain weave and silk fringe) from Maison Martin Margiela's Spring/Summer 2012 collection, styled like a Persian carpet, was featured in "Swagged and Poufed: The Upholstered Body in the Late 19th-Century and Today," a recent exhibition at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, R.I.
Credit: Rhode Island School of Design
A recent exhibition at Tokyo's National Art Center highlighted the work of Japanese designer Miyake Issey and the technologies he has used to explore the relationship between fabrics and the human form.
Credit: Hiroshi Iwasaki/National Art Center, Tokyo
"Vlisco: African Fashion on a Global Stage" explores the impact of the Dutch textile company, founded in 1846, and features not only Vlisco's extraordinarily bold patterns but also the works of African and European fashion designers. At the Philadelphia Museum of Art (through Jan. 22, 2017).
Pictured: From Vlisco's Dazzling Graphics collection, 2011.
Credit: Fritz Kok/Philadelphia Museum of Art
A view of sketches from Isaac Mizrahi's New York collection show, fall 1988, on view at "Isaac Mizrahi: An Unruly History."
For more info:
"Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology," at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, New York City (through September 5) | Buy ticketsExhibition Catalogue: "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology" by Andrew Bolton; Photography by Nicholas Alan CopeExhibition Catalogue: "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" by Andrew Bolton, with contributions by Susannah Frankel and Tim Blanks; Photography by Sølve Sundsbø"#techstyle," at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (through July 10)| Buy tickets"Isaac Mizrahi: An Unruly History," at the Jewish Museum, New York (through August 7) | Buy tickets
Other recent and upcoming fashion exhibitions:
"Vlisco: African Fashion on a Global Stage" at Philadelphia Museum of Art (through Jan. 22, 2017)"Swagged and Poufed: The Upholstered Body in the Late 19th-Century and Today" at the Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, R.I. (through July 3)"Reigning Men: Fashion in Menswear, 1715-2015" at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (through August 21) | Buy tickets"Carolina Herrera: Refined Irreverence" at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film, Atlanta (through Sept. 25) | Buy tickets"Flapper Style: 1920s Fashion" at Kent State University Museum, Kent, Ohio (through Sept. 4)"Killer Fashion: The Consequence of Style" at the Charleston Museum, Charleston, S.C. (July 21, 2016-Jan. 15, 2017)"Black Fashion Designers" at the Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology, New York (December 2016-May 2017)


text:
Developer usage statistics should from the time the developer joined a project.
As a new co-developer of a few older tools my usage statistics look advantageous for me, but they not honest. I seem to have started contributing in 2006, at a time where I didn't even know nanohub exists. Instead what would be fairer is to include tool usage into my statistics only from the point in time on where I became an author of the tool.


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Nothing good happens online after 1a.m. Put an end to the embarrassment that follows regrettable, late-night posts!
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Well, have no fear, your solution is a few clicks away!
"The Social Media Sobriety Test," a free Firefox plug-in from online-security company Webroot, lets users name sites, like Facebook and Twitter, on which they'd like a little oversight.


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What should I do when my TD Credit Card expires?
If your TD Credit Card Account is in good standing, your new Card will be mailed to your home address up to 60 days before the month in which your existing Card expires. Your existing Card will continue to work until the last day of the month. For example, if your Card's expiration date is June 2017, your Card is valid until June 30, 2017. You can expect to receive your natural reissue card between the end of April 2017 and the end of May 2017. Your new Card must be activated before your old Card expires in order to continue using your Account.
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