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October 18, 2007
Testimony of Theodore M. Shaw
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Hearing on the Nomination of Michael B. Mukasey to be Attorney General of the United States
Hart Senate Office Building Room 216
October 17,2007
10:00 a.m.
My name is Theodore M. Shaw. I am the Director-Counsel and President of the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. Founded under the direction of Thurgood Marshall, the Legal Defense Fund is the nation's oldest civil rights law firm. We have served as legal counsel for African Americans in most of the country's major racial discrimination cases.
I am pleased to testify on the important issues facing the Senate as it considers the nomination of Judge Mukasey for Attorney General. My testimony will not address Judge Mukasey's personal qualifications for the position, but rather the pervasive problems within the Justice Department affecting civil rights that, unless immediately remedied, will further derail proper government enforcement of civil rights laws and cast a long shadow on Judge Mukasey's tenure if he is confirmed. Judge Mukasey should be required-as a condition to Senate confirmation-to commit to restoring the integrity of the Civil Rights Division and to taking tangible steps to ensure that the Division's vast enforcement powers are utilized in a manner that vindicates the rights of all persons falling within the protection of our civil rights laws.
There are, however, certain aspects of Judge Mukasey's record on civil rights and civil liberties issues that warrant comment. Judge Mukasey has published a number of troubling civil rights rulings involving discrimination in jury selection and employment discrimination, some of which were reversed by the Second Circuit. l We also note Judge Mukasey's long record of granting very broad deference to the federal government on civil liberties issues. We hope that, if confirmed to be the nation's chief law enforcement officer, Judge Mukasey would aggressively prosecute civil rights cases to the full extent of the law, and further ensure that criminal prosecutions are conducted with all available legal protections. We hope that the Senate will fully explore these aspects of his record before moving forward on the nomination.
The Department of Justice has long stood as a beacon for equality and justice. It represents our nation's collective commitment to fair enforcement of the rule oflaw, and to ensuring equal opportunity in every facet of society. The Attorney General must be committed to protecting the civil and human rights of all Americans, and to acting independently of political or partisan pressure.
Within the Justice Department, the Civil Rights Division has always provided the best hope for racial and ethnic minorities in their elusive quest for equal justice. Just last month, the Division celebrated its 50th Anniversary, having been created in the wake of the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Brown v. Board ofEducation, and as part of the first civil rights law since Reconstruction. Its courageous and aggressive enforcement of the new civil rights statutes passed in the 1950's and 1960's opened countless doors for African Americans and other racial minorities. While national civil rights organizations such as the Legal Defense Fund certainly bring many civil rights cases, it is the Civil Rights Division that is the premier enforcer of our nation's civil rights laws, second to none in terms of the capacity, staff and resources it can devote to civil rights cases.
As the Senate considers whether to confirm Judge Mukasey, it is important to review the Civil Rights Division's recent downward turn in civil rights enforcement as measured against the original promise of the Civil Rights Division and the important role it has played in our history for the past fifty years. Sadly, while racial divisions continue to haunt our country, the Civil Rights Division has sharply deviated from its original mission in a host of areas. It is imperative that the Senate use this opportunity to demand dramatic changes under the new leadership of the Justice Department, which Judge Mukasey's nomination now offers.
My testimony today is informed both by my experience as a civil rights litigator with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and as a former employee ofthe Justice Department. I began the practice of law as a line attorney in the Civil Rights Division. I joined the Division through the Honors Program in the fall of 1979, and was assigned to the General Litigation Section, which had responsibility for school desegregation, housing and credit discrimination cases.2
When I enrolled in law school, I had two dream jobs. One was to work as an attorney for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. The other was to work for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Neither job was easy to obtain. The Civil Rights Division was a storied position from which to do civil rights work. Its reputation had been firmly established during the halcyon days of the Civil Rights Movement, when Assistant Attorney General John Doar was a constant presence who identified himself as a Justice Department lawyer before a mob that was threatening violence to civil rights demonstrators seeking to vindicate the right to vote. At least since the days when Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy wrestled with the Justice Department's role in vindicating the rights of black Americans, the Civil Rights Division had built a staff of career attorneys who were dedicated to civil rights enforcement. To be clear, these attorneys fully understood that their role was to represent the United States, and not any individual or any group of individuals. But in representing our federal government, the Justice Department at long last had the authority and the inclination to vindicate the rights of individuals who were discriminated against because of their race, color, or membership in a subordinated group. The history and condition of black Americans were the impetus for the Civil Rights Division's creation and much of its work, but its mission extended to all Americans. Career attorneys were the backbone of the Civil Rights Division.
To be sure, each Administration has the prerogative to make political appointees to the Justice Department and by extension, to its Civil Rights Division. Career attorneys understood that policies and practices might shift as administrations came and went, but there was also a limit on the politicization of the Justice Department. The core mission of the Civil Rights Division was inviolate, and career attorneys' work on cases filed by the Department was insulated from crass political influence. Under multiple administrations, Republicans and Democrats, the Civil Rights Division had pursued enforcement of our nation's anti-discrimination laws and its career attorneys had continued their course.
My training and experience as a young lawyer in the Civil Rights Division were the best anyone could hope for. I had superb mentors. I appeared in court often, and was given weighty responsibilities. It was a corps of lawyers who were among the best in the nation. We stood up in court to represent the United States of America in support of the civil rights of those who had long been deprived ofthe equal protection of the law.
Today, I believe that the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division is a very different place. Severe institutional problems have come to light, affecting both the performance and morale of the Division, with devastating consequences on the enforcement of civil rights laws. These issues appropriately have been, and continue to be, the subject of oversight hearings before this Committee and before the House Judiciary Committee. It pains me to note that the most controversial area within the Department of Justice is now the Civil Rights Division. The nominee for Attorney General must commit to redressing these problems in an exhaustive and effective manner before the Senate can place its imprimatur on his nomination.
The first issue concerns the lifeblood of the Civil Rights Division-its lawyers. While the Division still retains some of the career attorneys whose expertise over the years has served Republican and Democratic administrations alike, in recent years too many of those career attorneys have left or been driven out by political appointees with ideological agendas that are directly at odds with the traditional mission of the Civil Rights Division, namely, the protection and vindication of the rights of members of racial minority groups, especially black and brown people. Like many others in the civil rights community, we have recoiled at recent disclosures about the personnel practices within the Division, including the hiring of attorneys based on ideological or partisan reasons; the politicization of the Honors Program; and top officials' making personnel changes in order to "make room for some good Americans.,,3 The work of the Division is drastically undermined when the hiring, transferring, and firing of its lawyers is said to be motivated primarily by politics, instead of experience in civil rights litigation. The people of the United Stateswhom the Division represents-need to be assured that their interests in seeking justice will always be paramount. Similarly, it is important for the Division to ensure that it retains career lawyers and analysts with expertise and institutional knowledge throughout the various enforcement areas.
The second and related concern involves decisions by these increasingly emboldened political appointees that promote politics over substance, again at the expense of civil rights enforcement. In order to maintain its historic stature, it is critical that the work of the Civil Rights Division not be subjected to the vagaries of politics. While every administration has the right to establish its priorities, we, like many others, are deeply concerned that the current Division is unduly influenced by political considerations. We believe that this trend is not good for the Division, the Justice Department, civil rights enforcement generally, or indeed the country. As the nation's top enforcer of civil rights laws, the Attorney General must inspire confidence that the actions of the Civil Rights Division are based on the law and the facts.
The recent disclosures about political appointees overriding well-founded recommendations of career attorneys in the Voting Section, concerning Section 5 enforcement matters in Georgia and Texas, have undermined the credibility and reputation of a Division that has long been held in high esteem.
Career attorneys strongly objected to preclearing a Georgia voting statute requiring voters to produce photo identification at the polls, after conducting a thorough examination of the law and determining that the identification requirement would likely worsen the position of African-American voters.4 The very next day, political appointees at the Division overrode the recommendation, disregarded the evidence and analysis underlying that recommendation, and precleared the retrogressive voting change.5 Although a number of federal and state courts enjoined earlier iterations of the Georgia law,6 most recently, a federal court upheld the Georgia voter identification requirement after the legislature made a number of changes that purport to address voter access concerns.7 Although serious questions remain regarding the law's impact, the upcoming November 6, 2007 general election will provide the first opportunity to gauge the impact that the state's restrictive identification requirements will have on voters throughout the State of Georgia.8 It is worth noting that the Supreme Court will soon examine issues concerning voter identification requirements when it reviews an Indiana voter identification requirement in Crawford v. Marion County Democratic Party.9 It is important that the Department not adopt any blanket rule endorsing voter identification requirements, wherever they emerge. Rather, the Department must undertake a rigorous and searching examination of these laws to determine what impact these restrictions may have on minority voter access while scrutinizing the justifications proffered by officials who endorse these measures.
In another closely watched case, six career lawyers (including the head of the Voting Rights section) and two analysts reviewed a controversial redistricting plan in Texas, and concluded that the state had "not met its burden in showing that the proposed congressional redistricting plan does not have a discriminatory effect."lo The team of career lawyers and analysts therefore unanimously recommended that the Division interpose an objection under Section 5. Despite this recommendation, the Division precleared the plan. The Supreme Court subsequently held that the Texas redistricting plan violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diminishing the opportunity of Latino voters to participate effectively in the political process, and further held that the plan "bears the mark of intentional discrimination."ll The holding of the Court effectively shows that the plan worsened the position of Texas' minority voters and that its passage raised serious questions of purposeful discrimination. Either of these rationales should have been enough to ensure that the plan was denied preclearance under Section 5 review.
These examples illustrate the problems with the Division's recent civil rights enforcement. First, the role of the career staff is being diminished in favor of political appointees; and second, that shift is leading to outcomes that provide less vigorous civil rights protection for our nation. Indeed, it appears that the extremely low number of objections interposed to voting changes over recent years is attributable, at least in part, to the disregard of careful and thorough work performed by attorneys and analysts, many of whom have significant experience with the preclearance provisions of Section 5.
There are good reasons for respecting the role of the career attorneys. Because the Section 5 process calls for a fact-intensive examination of a particular voting change (with more complicated voting changes taking up to 60 days to complete), the analysis performed by Section attorneys and analysts should be given tremendous deference, as it has been in the past.
Other actions by the Justice Department in civil rights cases are equally alarming. On behalf of the federal government, the Department has taken positions which have not only abandoned its traditional role, but which have turned it in the opposite direction. Nowhere has this been more apparent than in the recent Supreme Court consideration of the voluntary school integration cases out of Louisville, Kentucky (Meredith v. Jefferson County Public Schools) and Seattle, Washington (Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School Districts). Since the Brown v. Board ofEducation cases, in which Justice argued in support of those challenging school segregation laws, the federal government has played a central role in school desegregation cases. Either the Justice Department or the NAACP Legal Defense Fund or both, has been involved in nearly all school desegregation cases litigated since Brown. The Justice Department arfued in opposition to voluntary school desegregation in the Seattle and Louisville cases,l as it did against the University of Michigan's efforts to pursue diversity in student enrollment. 13 One can argue the merits of color-blindness versus race-conscious attempts to achieve diversity or integration, but this fact remains: for the first time in fifty-three years, the Justice Department has argued a case in the Supreme Court against public school desegregation. Fortunately, the Supreme Court in these cases did not adopt the arguments advanced by the Department, and permitted our educational institutions to continue to rely on certain race-conscious methods to pursue diversity and/or avoid racial isolation in schools. 14
There are other troubling examples of the Department's changes in legal positions, to the detriment of victims of discrimination. In Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Co. v. White, decided during the 2005-06 Supreme Court Term, the Department sided with the employer in an employment discrimination case and urged an exceedingly narrow interpretation of Title VII's anti-retaliation provision. \5 The Department's position contradicted longstanding policy of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Eight Justices of the Supreme Court ultimately rejected the Department's position as inconsistent with both Title VII's plain language and its underlying pUfPoseto provide broad protection to employees who participate in Title VII enforcement. 1
During the 2006-07 Supreme Court Term, the Department joined an employer again in the case Ledbetter v. Goodyear, arguing against EEOC policy involving the statute of limitations for discrimination in pay. The Department filed an amicus brief rejecting the EEOC's position which supported a female employee who had received lower pay over a long period of time on the basis of her sex in violation of Title VII. Asserting that the EEOC's reading that her claim was timely filed "lacks persuasive force and is not entitled to deference,,,17 the Department instead argued that the plaintiff had lost her right to challenge pay discrimination because she had not done so within 180 days of the paysetting decision, even if she continued to receive unequal pay for years thereafter. The Court agreed with the Department in a 5-4 decision,18 with Justice Ginsburg noting in her dissent that this interpretation constitutes a "cramped interpretation of Title VII, incompatible with the statute's broad remedial purpose.,,19 Though members of Congress have already introduced legislation to reverse this interpretation, the Department's willing abandonment of the EEOC's well-established position remains deeply troubling.
The fourth area of concern involves the docket of the Civil Rights Division. Enforcement of our nation's civil rights laws by the Division must be rigorous, and it must be constant. Enforcement by the Division should also be as even as possible, in order to represent all persons falling within the ambit of its protection. Regretfully, over the past six and one-half years, the Division has neglected its commitment to fair and aggressive enforcement ofour nation's civil rights laws.
For example, during this period, the Civil Rights Division has filed only a handful of cases addressing employment discrimination against African Americans.2o Remarkably, it was not until 2006 -just last year -that the Division brought a case alleging that employment practices had a discriminatory impact on African Americans.21
Unfortunately, this coincides with a dramatic decrease in enforcement of Title VII generally. Despite its special obligation to enforce Title VII, the Employment Litigation Section's level of activity has declined markedly. Since January 20,2001, the Section has filed only 46 Title VII complaints, or approximately seven per year.22 By contrast, the Section initiated an average of eleven Title VII cases per year during the Clinton administration -a disparity over two presidential terms of 32 cases.23 This disparity is more striking given that more attorneys have been assigned to the Employment Litigation Section during the current administration (35 to 36 on average) than during the previous administration (30 to 31 on average).24
Even more worrisome than the reduction in the Division's overall litigation efforts on behalf of victims of employment discrimination is the Division's retreat from its longstanding commitment to eliminate racial discrimination against African Americans. The entire Civil Rights Division has decreased the number of cases brought on behalf of African Americans and Latinos during the past six and one-half years of the Bush administration, and the Employment Litigation Section is no exception to that trend?5 Of the Title VII claims that the Section has brought on behalf of individuals pursuant to Section 706 of the statute, only five included allegations of race discrimination against African-American victims, while three challenged "reverse discrimination" against whites?6 The Section's remaining resources have been devoted to largely non-racial discrimination-for example, nearly half of the employment cases filed in the last two years have addressed discrimination against uniformed service members?7
While all citizens are entitled to Title VII's protections against job discrimination, the statute was enacted during the civil rights movement in direct response to the historic injustice experienced by African Americans and other racial minorities. Traditionally, the Division has recognized that employment discrimination burdens African Americans and other minorities more so than other groups, and has focused its resources accordingly.
We find these developments to be extremely troubling. The Division's priorities do not reflect the unfortunate reality that race discrimination still pervades many of our social structures. While individual claims have a place on the Division's docket, it is imperative that the Division continue its longstanding tradition of bringing pattern and practice cases that otherwise will likely not be prosecuted by the private bar or civil rights organizations with limited resources. Litigation of systemic discrimination claims is costly, complicated and protracted, but this is precisely the type of case in which the federal government should bring to bear its extraordinary resources. The reluctance on the part of the Division to bring systemic cases makes our job that much harder. Not only does the burden fall upon organizations and private attorneys to fill the void, but it signals to employers that they face reduced scrutiny of their practices and even gives fuel to the argument by some that certain forms of race discrimination may no longer exist.
We share similar concerns about the docket in the Voting Section. The Civil Rights Division was initially established as part of the 1957 voting rights statute, and the Division's first lawyers prosecuted voting rights violations against African Americans. Throughout its history, securing the right to vote for African Americans and having that vote count have been important priorities for the Division. While the Division under the Bush Administration has brought a record number of cases involving language provisions of the Voting Rights Act, it has approved only one case alleging voting discrimination against African Americans under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, just last year.28
As an organization with a substantial voting rights docket, we know only too well that violations against African Americans continue to exist. The recent reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act made clear that racial minorities continue to be denied full participation in the political process. The Civil Rights Division must remain true to its original charter, and be a leader in prosecuting these cases to the fullest extent of the law. Any move by the Division to focus instead on criminal fraud by voters is misguided, not in keeping with the separation of responsibilities between the Civil Rights Division and other divisions within the Justice Department, and risks alienating and intimidating the very communities the Division is charged with protecting. And, while the Division continues to monitor elections, it is important for the Division to maintain strong community ties in these jurisdictions so that its monitoring efforts can be maximized.
As we approach the 2008 general election cycle, it is important that the Division use its resources to investigate complaints arising out of the jurisdictions covered under the Voting Rights Act. In our view, the legacy of past and present voting discrimination illustrates the continuing need for the federal observer provisions of the Voting Rights Act. So long as voting discrimination persists, there remains the potential for harassment and intimidation to emerge during the course of an election. The Justice Department's federal observer program provides an effective oversight mechanism to protect minority voters' access to the ballot box. We think it is important that the Justice Department take seriously and investigate thoroughly complaints concerning racial tension and harassment that may precede this election cycle, with a particular focus on those jurisdictions certified for federal observer coverage under the Act. In addition, it is important for the Justice Department to focus on schemes used to discourage minority voter participation during elections including, but not limited to, aggressive challenges mounted by groups and/or individuals inside polling places, uneven application of voting rules, and the misapplication of new restrictive voting measures such as the presentation of mandatory voter identification. Finally, the Justice Department should ensure that federal observers carry out their responsibilities in a fair, neutral and impartial manner.
We also add a cautionary note concerning the enforcement pnonties of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division. While the Section has a much-publicized new focus on prosecuting human trafficking cases, we hope that this does not come at the expense of resources allocated to cases fulfilling the core mission of the Section. Specifically, we urge the Civil Rights Division not to abandon its traditional emphasis on law enforcement misconduct and racial bias crimes. As the events in Jena, Louisiana have just vividly demonstrated, racial equality in the criminal justice system remains elusive. The Division, as well as the entire Justice Department, must use its full resources to address these problems aggressively. We must all remain vigilant in order to bring about a fair and just legal system.
The new Attorney General must ensure that the Civil Rights Division maintains its continuity and steadfastness of mission. Priorities can be discharged without abdicating core responsibilities. Civil rights enforcement is not, and cannot be, a zero-sum game in our complex and increasingly diverse society. Protecting African Americans is not inconsistent with protecting Latinos, protecting disabled persons is not inconsistent with protecting women, and protecting citizens who are being discriminated against because of their religious beliefs need not be in tension with doing the same for those whose national origin has subjected them to discrimination. Priorities obviously can and will change from administration to administration but the role of the Division as a protector of marginalized citizens and minorities is its core charge. Taking account of new priorities, and of new or intensified discrimination faced by various groups is appropriate but need not be achieved through the wholesale abandonment of longstanding priorities.
Because discrimination in the nation has proven to be hard to overcome and virtually impossible to eradicate completely in many circumstances in education, voting, housing, employment, and criminal justice, among others, having a department of the federal government that is focused on discharging this mission is critical to effective civil rights enforcement, and also has tremendous symbolic and practical significance. As I have mentioned previously, the Civil Rights Division is second to none in terms of the time and resources it can devote to systemic litigation to address race discrimination. Very often a case brought by the Division reverberates and can have industry-wide impact in terms of deterrence and reform. The broad-based injunctive relief that the Division can pursue simply cannot be matched through the efforts of individual or private lawsuits alone.
In conclusion, we urge the Senate to use this opportunity presented by the nomination of Judge Mukasey to explore fully the critical problems within the Civil Rights Division that we and others have identified, and to use the confirmation process to bring about dramatic changes in the direction and leadership of the Justice Department. Nothing less than the future of justice and equality in our country is at stake.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify. I would be happy to answer any questions.
1 Jordan v. Lefevre, 206 F.3d 196 (2d Cir. 2000) (granting habeas relief because Judge Mukasey did not properly determine whether purposeful discrimination injury selection was established, and writing that "[t]he trial judge in this case made no effort to comply with the letter, much less the spirit, of [Batson v. Kentucky]"); Sorlucco v. N. Y. City Police Dep't, 971 F.2d 864 (2d Cir. 1992) (reversing Judge Mukasey's decision to overturn jury verdict for female police officer on gender discrimination claims that she was transferred and then terminated after complaining ofrape by another officer); Rosen v. Thornburgh, 928 F.2d 528 (2d Cir. 1991) (reversing Judge Mukasey's dismissal of case claiming religious discrimination); Lopez v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 930 F.2d 157 (2d Cir. 1991) (Judge Mukasey sitting by designation and ruling that plaintiff claiming race and national origin discrimination in employment did not make prima facie case).
2 The General Litigation Section was created during the Carter Administration in recognition of the link between school and housing discrimination, as well as the link between housing and credit discrimination. In 1980, the Justice Department filed suit against the city of Yonkers, New York, alleging both school and housing discrimination. The suit was reviewed by the Reagan appointees to the Justice Department to determine whether it was "improperly filed." After the basis of that review was reported publicly in the press, the case was allowed to continue. However, the Civil Rights Division was reorganized and the General Litigation Section was disbanded. 1was one ofthe attorneys who investigated housing and school segregation in Yonkers and who worked on the original complaint and initial discovery.
3 Political Hiring injustice Division Probed, WASH. POST, June 21, 2007.
4 Criticism o/Voting Law Was Overruled, WASH. POST, Nov. 17,2005.
5 The Legal Defense Fund signaled its concerns regarding the law in a Comment Letter submitted to the Justice Department. See Comment Letter from Theodore M. Shaw to John Tanner, Chief, Voting Section, Aug. 3,2005.
6 Although the specific legal rationales have varied, five court rulings in total-three by federal courts and two by state courts-subsequently enjoined two iterations of the Georgia law on constitutional, among other grounds. Common Cause/Georgia v. Billups, Civ. A. No. 4:05-CY-0201-HLM (N.D. Ga. Sept. 15,2006); Common Cause/Georgia v. Billups, 439 F. Supp. 2d 1294 (N.D. Ga. 2006); Common Cause/Georgia v. Billups, 406 F. Supp. 2d 1326 (N.D. Ga. 2005) (comparing the law to a poll tax from the Jim Crow era); see also Lake v. Perdue, 2006-CY-119207 (Ga. Super. Ct., Sept. 19, 2006); Lake v. Perdue, 2006-CY-119207 (Ga. Super. Ct., July 7, 2006).
7 Common Cause/Georgia v. Billups, _ F. Supp. 2d _,2007 WL 2601438 (N.D. Ga. Sept. 6,2007).
8 The new voter identification requirement was also in place for a recent September 18,2007 special election.
9 Crawford v. Marion County Election Ed., 484 F. 3d 436 (7th Cir. 2007), cert. granted Crawford v. Marion County Election Ed., _ S.Ct. _, 2007 WL 1999941 (U.S. Sep. 25, 2007) (No. 07-21) and Indiana Democratic Party v. Rokita, _ S.Ct. _ 2007 WL 1999963 (U.S. Sep. 25, 2007) (No. 07-25). Indiana officials claim that the identification requirement is aimed at combating fraud. However, state officials have also admitted they are unaware of any incidents of persons attempting to vote with false identification.
10 Justice StajJSaw Texas Districting as Illegal, WASH. POST, Dec. 2, 2005. J
11 League ofUnited Latin Am. Citizens v. Perry, 126 S. Ct. 2594, 2622 (2006).
12 Brieffor the United States As Amicus Curiae Supporting Petitioner, Meredith v. Jefferson Co. Bd. of Educ., No. 05-915.
13 Brief for the United States As Amicus Curiae Supporting Petitioner, Grutter v. Bollinger, No. 02-241.
14 Meredith v. Jefferson Co. Bd. ofEduc., 127 S. Ct. 2738 (2007).
15 Brief for the United States As Amicus Curiae Supporting Respondent, Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Co. v. White, No. 05-259.
16 126 S. Ct. 2405 (2006).
17 Brief for the United States As Amicus Curiae Supporting Respondent, Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., No. 05-1074.
18 127 S. Ct. 2162 (2007).
19 Id. at 2188 (Ginsburg, J., dissenting).
20 See Complaints Filed, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Employment Litigation Section, at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/emp/papers.htm1.
21 Id.
22 See Complaints Filed, U.S. Department ofJustice, Civil Rights Division, Employment Litigation Section, at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/emp/papers.htm1.
23 See Civil Rights Division Oversight: Hearing Before the S. Comm. on the Judiciary, 11 Oth Congo (June 21, 2007) (testimony of Helen Norton, Professor, University of Maryland School of Law).
24 See id.
25 See Oversight ofthe Civil Rights Division: Hearing Before the S. Comm. on the Judiciary, 109th Congo (Nov. 16,2006) (testimony of Theodore M. Shaw, Director-Counsel and President, NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc.).
26 See Complaints Filed, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Employment Litigation Section, at http://www.usdoj.gov/crtlemp/papers.html.
27 See id.
28 Litigation Brought by the Voting Section, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Voting Section Home Page, available at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/litigation/caselist.html.


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There are 19 private schools in Texas, serving 6,707 students.
Learn more about the Texas Catholic Conference Education Department.
- Town School Students Grades
HoustonDuchesne Academy Of The Sacred Heart
All-girls  (Roman Catholic)686 students | Gr. PK-12 2 Recommendations
HoustonIncarnate Word Academy
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San AntonioProvidence Catholic School
All-girls  (Roman Catholic)365 students | Gr. 6-12 1 Recommendation
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About This State (TX) | (TX) State Statistics | Nationwide Statistics |
Population (Approximate) | 24,296,891 people | 304,788,332 people |
Age 25+ w/College Degree | 23% | 25% |
Median Household Income | $44,515 | $46,250 |
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Q: Why do I need to take prenatal vitamins or even folic acid before I even get pregnant? I thought that taking prenatal vitamins was for when YOU ARE pregnant! A:For those who aren't used to taking any vitamins at all and are reluctant to start any time soon should really rethink the reasoning behind prenatal's especially folic acid. Below are some facts about the importance of folic acid fromhttp://www.kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/pregnancy/folic_acid.html: Folic acid, sometimes called folate, is a B vitamin (B9) found mostly in leafy green vegetables like kale and spinach, orange juice, and enriched grains. Repeated studies have shown that women who get 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) daily prior to conception and during early pregnancy reduce the risk that their baby will be born with a serious neural tube defect (a birth defect involving incomplete development of the brain and spinal cord) by up to 70%. The most common neural tube defects arespina bifida(an incomplete closure of the spinal cord and spinal column), anencephaly (severe underdevelopment of the brain), and encephalocele (when brain tissue protrudes out to the skin from an abnormal opening in the skull). All of these defects occur during the first 28 days of pregnancy - usually before a woman even knows she's pregnant. That's why it's so important for all women of childbearing age to get enough folic acid - not just those who are planning to become pregnant. Only 50% of pregnancies are planned, so any woman who could become pregnant should make sure she's getting enough folic acid. (and women planning on becoming egg donors and surrogates) Doctors and scientists still aren't completely sure why folic acid has such a profound effect on the prevention of neural tube defects, but they do know that this vitamin is crucial in the development of DNA. As a result, folic acid plays a large role in cell growth and development, as well as tissue formation. |
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AbstractPhytoestrogens have the potential to maintain bone health and delay or prevent osteoporosis. This review focuses on their dose-dependent effects on bone and their possible mechanisms of action. Phytoestrogens exert biphasic dose-dependent effects on osteoblasts and osteoprogenitor cells, stimulating osteogenesis at low concentrations and inhibiting osteogenesis at high concentrations. They inhibit osteoclast formation and activity. Recent data show that the balance between estrogen receptors and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, which are dose-dependently activated by phytoestrogens, determines their biological effects on bone. This review provides a new understanding of the mechanism of action of phytoestrogens and could be important for future studies to find precise beneficial doses in vivo and in clinical trials.
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Copyright © 2001 All rights reserved.
Trends in Molecular Medicine, Volume 7, Issue 4, 146-147, 1 April 2001
Research update
Steroids, steroid receptors and disease
Helen Wiseman and Rosanna Duffy
Dept of Nutrition and Dietetics, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London, UK SE1 9NN
The 672nd Biochemical Society meeting was held at Sussex University, UK, from 19 to 21 December 2000. One session was dedicated to the study of steroids and their receptors, and related diseases.


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"Someone wants Gary Cooper to make a movie badly enough to resort to threats, blackmail, and murder. But when private eye Toby Peters arrives on the scene, things start to get interesting. High Midnight, Kaminsky's 1981 comedic mystery, is set during the golden days of Hollywood. With news of World War II in the background and the price of Ann Page spaghetti at two cans for 13, Kaminsky's private eye wends his way through the Hollywood hills, hunting for the killers and running into the likes of Ernest Hemingway. Along the way, Toby stumbles over corpses, avoids stray bullets, and tries to... keep from being turned into a Kosher hot dog by some menacing East Coast thugs. Despite these promising elements, though, the story line and characters are weak. Narrator Christopher Lane makes a gallant effort to infuse some life into this audiobook but to little avail. High Midnight is not one of Kaminsky's best. Not recommended." Quoting Gretchen Browne, Rockville Centre P.L., N.Y.more
Stuart M. Kaminsky was an American mystery writer and film professor. He is known for three long-running series of mystery novels featuring the protagonists Toby Peters, a private detective in 1940s Hollywood; Inspector Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov, a Moscow police inspector; and veteran Chicago... police officer Abe Lieberman. A later series followed Lew Fonesca, a process server from Sarasota, Florida. Kaminsky's Inspector Rostnikov novel A Cold Red Sunrise received the 1989 Edgar Award for Best Novel. He earned six other Edgar nominations, most recently for the 2005 non-fiction book Behind the Mystery: Top Mystery Writers Interviewed, which was also nominated for an Anthony Award, a Macavity Award, and an Agatha Award. In 2006 Kaminsky received the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America. Kaminsky, who grew up in Chicago, earned a B.S. in journalism and an M.A. in English from the University of Illinois and a Ph.D. in speech from Northwestern University. He taught film studies at Northwestern for 16 years, and then taught at Florida State for six years. Kaminsky's first novel was the 1977 Toby Peters mystery Bullet for a Star.more
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term. It is often used by Dime Mystery, which started out as an ordinary crime fiction magazine but switched to... "weird menace" during the latter part of 1933. An early work of modern mystery fiction, Das Fräulein von Scuderi by E.T.A. Hoffmann , was an influence on The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe . Wilkie Collins' epistolary novel The Woman in White was published in 1860, while The Moonstone , is often thought to be his masterpiece. In 1887 Arthur Conan Doyle introduced Sherlock Holmes, whose mysteries are said to have been singularly responsible for the huge popularity in this genre. The genre began to expand near the turn of century with the development of dime novels and pulp magazines. Books were especially helpful to the genre with many authors writing in the genre in the 1920s. An important contribution to mystery fiction in the 1920s was the development of the juvenile mystery by Edward Stratemeyer. Stratemeyer originally developed and wrote the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries written under the Franklin W.more


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Now, in the comics, the Joes had "The Pit", an underground five-story headquarters that served them well for many years. But it simply isn't feasible to create a truly effective headquarters - in a toy line -- for a toy line whose members number in the hundreds. Something like that would be larger than the Aircraft Carrier. Toywise, G.I. Joe has always fared best when its headquarters have tended to be known as "Command Centers", and they've been on wheels. 1987's Mobile Command Center was actually a superb piece of work. Although the thing looked like a less fantasy-inspired version of the Star Wars Jawa Sandcrawler, it was on wheels, and opened up into a three-story command center that was, if not all that plausible from a real-world standpoint, then certainly workable from a toy standpoint, and included a generous amount of hardware and equipment for the Joes to use in whatever trouble spot the M.C.C. happened to drive into. And the holding cell for Cobras was hardly the largest room on the thing. If anything, it was little more than a slot with barely enough room for a captured Cobra to stand up in. Which, if you think about it, is about all terrorists deserve. The modern-day successor to the M.C.C. is most certainly the R.O.C.C., the Rolling Operation Command Center. This was one of a handful of vehicles offered through Hasbro's online toy store, and has received almost universally positive reviews. You know, it's amazing. Not just the vehicle. But just when you think that Hasbro's really pretty much given up, along comes something like the ROCC, and it's practically the 1980's all over again, when anything you pulled out of a box marked G.I. Joe was virtually assured of providing tons of fun and adventure, and was just as assured of being a high-quality, imaginative product. The ROCC is just such a vehicle. For starters, it's huge, especially for a toy vehicle these days. About the only line that can get away with this big of a product anymore is Power Rangers. The ROCC is nearly two feet in length, eight inches wide, and not counting the turret and antenna, is over 6 inches in height. That's pretty big these days. Then there's the amount of attention to detail in this vehicle. The windshield actually has transparent plastic windows in it. So does the turret. I can name any number of vehicles from the original G.I. Joe line that lacked these. The overall look of the vehicle is fantastic. I was a little concerned, looking at the package illustration and the photograph on the back of the box. These seemed to show a vehicle that had been given an overspray of dirtying paint. Fortunately, the vehicle inside the box has no evidence of this whatsoever. The ROCC is molded in a dark metallic grey, with dark brown trim and some features, and black tires. There is no evidence of any sort of dirtying or weathering whatsoever. The vehicle conveys a somewhat futuristic image, but also a sense of ruggedness. It fits in amazingly well with the image of the G.I. Joe Team as a group of soldiers, but ones that are a little more high-tech than what we usually see on the nightly news. There's just enough of an element of the fantastic in the ROCC's overall design without tipping the scales too far away from something that, in theory, could exist in real-life to some degree. You want capabilities, special features, moving parts? The ROCC has them like few G.I. Joe vehicles I have ever encountered. Let's start with the front section. The windshield of the cab opens forward, and there's three seats right there for the Joes to use. One nice thing about G.I. Joe vehicles from 2002-present. Most of them will accommodate any 3-3/4" G.I. Joes. There's a missile rack in the back of the front section that raises up, revealing a firing center with a couple of more seats in the main cab. There's a rack of eight missiles in the turret, that can be fired with a spring-loaded mechanism, two at a time, from a series of four orange buttons that otherwise blend in very nicely with the vehicle, and visually could probably be passed off as a series of lights. Now let's consider the larger rear section of the ROCC. Detached from the cab, there are two legs on the underside that can be moved down to level the vehicle. There's a single man turret in the top of the section, that rotates, but can also be lifted up, swung around, slid down to the other end of the vehicle, and repositioned in a new turret housing. The entire section opens up to reveal where the ROCC gets the "Command Center" part of its name. A side panel opens up and then the entire upper portion of the section folds back to reveal not only a nicely equipped command center, but quite a few other features, as well! The command center, although somewhat small, is nonetheless designed to look very decently functional. There are four seats, one very distinct intended as a command chair, and a series of nearby computer monitors. Two additional side panels fold down, to allow a small vehicle to drive up onto a maintenance bay, that includes a robotic arm. Most impressive is the fact that the rear wall of this "folded-out" mode, the section which was formerly the top of the section, has now become a launch gantry for a small scout plane. Looking very modern and stealthy, there's a nice black plane mounted here, ready for launch. The plane is fairly simple in its construction. It has no moving parts except its cockpit canopy, but the overall design of it is very nicely done, and it's an impressive addition to the overall vehicle. The jet is mounted on a sliding peg that can travel up the launch tower, giving the illusion of a lift-off within the vehicle, and then of course, it can be removed for its own "flight". There's also a small one man "elevator" in this section, as well as a couple of levels along the way for Joes to stand on. On the whole, the rear section of the ROCC has elements of both the Mobile Command Center and the Defiant Space Vehicle Launch Complex in its design, and is a very respectful nod to both of those legendary vehicles. Of additional note inside the rear section of the ROCC are the painted details. Various hoses, cables, and floor sections have all been very neatly painted. Then there's the labels for the entire vehicle. I have always enjoyed in the past putting the labels on G.I. Joe vehicles myself. I am a perfectionist when it comes to this sort of thing. However, I have to say that whoever placed the labels for the ROCC, did a very good job. They fit well and look cool, adding to the overall impressive appearance of the vehicle. Honestly, I can see why the ROCC has gotten such good reviews. This vehicle would have been an impressive addition to the G.I. Joe line twenty years ago. These days, it's that much more impressive. The ROCC does come with a newsculpt figure, its driver, named LONG RANGE. And therein lies a tale in itself as a result of recent events in the G.I. Joe universe. This is not the same Long Range character as came with the Thunderclap vehicle in 1989. And, really, it's not the first time a code-name has been reused, so that doesn't bother me. The ROCC is a heavily-featured vehicle in the G.I. JOE SIGMA 6 animated series. That's probably because, according to any number of very reliable reports I've read, the current animated series didn't start out as Sigma 6. It was intended to be based on what would have been the 2005 line of 3-3/4" figures and vehicles, before those plans were scrapped and/or altered for reasons I won't get into here, but which also led to the development of Sigma 6. Now, Sigma 6 is an 8" line. A ROCC to scale with those figures would be impossible to market today. Consider the size of the one for the 3-3/4" figures. Now, double it and then some. You'd be looking at a vehicle that's over four feet in length, about a foot-and-a-half across, and over a foot in height. Good luck selling that to Wal-Mart. Don't even get me started on the probable price tag if it had all the features of its smaller cousin. This is doubtless why Hasbro has created the 2.5" Sigma 6 line. Fortunately, we got the ROCC before that happened. The 2.5" line is controversial enough among both 3-3/4" and Sigma 6 fans as it is without relegating something this cool into that mess. But let's discuss the Long Range figure. How much does he resemble his Sigma 6 counterpart? Well, quite a bit. He's obviously not wearing a "Sigma Suit", nor does he have a big overcoat. However, he does have the ponytail in the back, and given the course of the animated series, I think it's fair to say that this Long Range figure is supposed to be the same individual as the Sigma 6 Long Range. Long Range's file card reads as follows: LONG RANGE ROCC Driver File Name: Garcia, Alejandro Primary Military Specialty: Transportation Expert Secondary Military Specialty: Infantry Birthplace: Monterrey, Mexico Long Range faces each situation with calm determination. He has read every major philosopher from Aristotle to Zeno and studied every battle from Antietam to Zusmarshausen. He applies the wisdom of the centuries to the present problem, accompanied by a full blast from an M-60 when he really wants to get his point across. As the driver for the G.I. Joe Team's new mobile base, he doesn't let anything come between him and his objective. Once he's in motion, nothing stops him. He'll go over, under, around, or through whatever is in his way, but he will not, under any circumstances, be stopped by it. "As Diogenes said, 'Stay a little out of my sun,'" Long Range said as he drives straight over a battalion of mutant androids, leaving crushed silicon chips and twisted metal in his wake. "Aristotle said that law is order, and good law is good order. I intend to make COBRA learn what good law and order is. If they have to learn it the hard way, so be it." Born in Mexico, huh? Hope he entered the country legally. However, the nation of origin does once again link this Long Range to his Sigma 6 counterpart, who has been known to use some Spanish exclamations in his speech. And I'd be stunned if Larry Hama didn't write this file card. I don't know anyone else who would bother to throw Aristotle and Diogenes onto an action figure's file card, and I don't know of much of anyone who would even know what Zusmarshausen is! The figure, for a newsculpt, isn't too bad, although most newsculpts are pretty unremarkable. The headsculpt is a nice design, the padded vest well-detailed, and it's nice that Hasbro thought enough to paint the dogtag. And it's not hand-painted, either. The figure has grey camouflage trousers, and his most distinctive point is probably his fancy belt with the double holsters and pistols (not removable). The vehicle has its own origin story, printed on the back of the box, and largely in keeping with the early episodes of Sigma 6 which were produced before anyone knew there was going to be a Sigma 6. It reads: "In their quest for world domination, COBRA forces have destroyed G.I. Joe headquarters! The G.I. Joe team heads out to do battle in the R.O.C.C., their top-secret Rolling Operations Command Center. This awesome vehicle is a massive superpower on wheels, and has a mobile command base hidden inside. It's outfitted witgh a multi-missile launcher, a high-tech jet with its own launching bay, and a cab that separates from the base to become a heavy-duty fighting rig. Advanced holographic technology allows the team to camouflage the R.O.C.C. As a harmless-looking trailer truck or motor home as it moves from mission to mission. Inside the R.O.C.C., the team pursues Cobra with enhanced satellite and digitized tracking systems and all the technology of a large-scale headquarters, as they heat up their weapons for the next battle to stop Cobra!" Need it be said the R.O.C.C. vehicle does not include any actual holographic camouflage technology, although after reading that sentence I did have this weird mental image from the TV show "Extreme Makeover Home Edition", as the design team for that show does travel around from town to town in a large motor home. So, is that thing pulling up arriving to build me a new house, or is my neighbor a Crimson Guard!? On the whole, the ROCC is everything a longtime, knowledgeable G.I. Joe collector wants to see in a G.I. Joe vehicle. It looks cool, it's very well-made, it has tons of capabilities and features, and I can't see a single problem with any aspect of its design or construction. The G.I. JOE ROCC gets my highest possible recommendation! You don't
want your G.I. Joe collection to be without this amazing vehicle! |


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Unlike conventional medicine, which focuses on attempting to treat disease once it occurs, McCarley Chiropractic: A Creating Wellness Center emphasizes improving your health in an effort to reduce the risk of pain and illness in the first place. Most people would rather be healthy and avoid illness, if they could.
The fluid motions of Pilates Plus' workouts release muscular tension, improve posture and flexibility as they tone physiques. Within the intimate studio—characterized by warm earth tones and soft lighting—Pilates equipment abounds, including foam support blocks and Reformer machines. The studio's classes range from traditional Pilates classes to yoga sessions and barre workouts, which mix Pilates and yoga with calisthenics and dance. Trainers oversee each workout, ensuring students strengthen their cores with proper form, rather than developing six-packs on their faces. Athletes seeking more one-on-one attention, however, can opt for private training sessions.
Koko FitClub's automated personal-training system rockets both men and women toward fitness goals with 30-minute custom workouts that incorporate cardio and strength training. An initial consultation determines fitness level and baseline measurements, which Koko's computerized equipment uses to design a tailored workout plan that precisely measures the weight, pace, and rest time appropriate for each exerciser.
The Koko machines guide exercisers through each workout and adapt as the user's fitness needs change, to constantly challenge the body. Designed by professional trainers, workouts maximize the body's lean-muscle mass, which can boost metabolism and help fight off disease by challenging viruses to kickboxing matches. Exercisers can track their shrinking waistlines and swelling muscles online by analyzing workout scores and comparing individual fitness levels to the Koko FitClub community.
As a fifth grader, Dan Brown went out to his garage and started lifting his dad's old sand-filled weights. He returned to the garage to lift regularly, spurred on by the inspiring figures he saw in ESPN2's World's Strongest Man competitions. Over time, strength training improved his play in baseball and football and instilled in him a newfound confidence.
Now, with years of experience and a kinesiology degree from Purdue University, Dan imparts that confidence to each of his students at Force Barbell. His conditioning classes, rooted in sports science, help participants of all skill levels build strength through an innovative mix of traditional power lifting and the use of atlas stones, tractor tires, and weight sleds.
You might not have guessed it if you saw the trim, muscular, and infectiously energetic Zumba instructor today, but there was a time when Granita Young was overweight. She enrolled in Zumba classes hoping to get into shape and was immediately grabbed by the lively music and the spirit-lifting dance routines. It wasn't long before Granita had shed her excess pounds, earned her instructor certification, and began leading Zumba classes of her own.
Nowadays, at NZ Fitness, the seasoned instructor and her staff guide students of all abilities through Zumba and other energy-infused dance fitness classes. To supplement their skills, the team draws on a range of gear that includes maraca-like hand weights and Ripstix to build strength and sculpt muscles. Equally important to Granita and company is maintaining a non-judgmental environment and keeping class sizes personal and not overly crowded.
Though Shannon Belcher and Gina Bardach were raised by two different families in two different parts of Indiana, you'd think they were sisters. The spirited girls seem like they were born to be in the spotlight, devoting their days to cheerleading, dancing, and performance from adolescence to adulthood. Their paths crossed during an NFL-NBA cheerleader-alumni reunion, when they decided to combine their talents to create their own fitness studio—VibeOlogy. There, the duo, along with a team of fellow teachers, leads students of all ages through a variety of high-energy classes including yoga, modern dance, and boot camp. Many of the classes focus on refining a specific area of the body, from toning stomachs to exercising that muscle of the brain that remembers the birthdays of coworkers.


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Competitive Enterprise Institute | 1899 L ST NW Floor 12, Washington, DC 20036 | Phone: 202-331-1010 | Fax: 202-331-0640
William Yeatman of the conservative free-market Competitive Enterprise Institute said that Binz's work with the Colorado PUC raised concerns, including his actions in support of renewable energy development and its impacts on ratepayers.
Given his track record in Colorado, Binz's successful confirmation to lead FERC, Yeatman argued, would lead to the continued socialization of transmission costs, potentially past the point of reasonableness, and more aggressive actions in the support of demand side management resources. While acknowledging that federal courts have required that cost allocation be reasonable and roughly commensurate with the benefits, Yeatman argued that the cost-benefit analysis leaves plenty of room for interpretation, which could allow Binz to impose unnecessary costs on ratepayers.
On demand side management, he agreed that Binz could develop policies even beyond those advanced by Wellinghoff, a strong supporter of demand side management, and that such actions raise concerns about elevating one industry versus the interests of dispersed ratepayers.
[1] http://cei.org/expert/william-yeatman
[2] http://cei.org/


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Listen to News ~ dateline: 21 February 2012 Hundreds Die In Honduras Prison FirePre-Listening Vocabulary
Comprehension Questions
Discussion Question: When a fire breaks out in a prison, should guards open the gates and let the prisoners free? Why or why not? show Answers Written by Tara Benwell for EnglishClub.com |


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Homer Laughlin Red Jade 9 oz. Creamy White / Off White China Mug 36 / Case
- Made in the USA
- High fired, lead-free glaze
- Microwave and dishwasher safe
Customer questions about this product
- Does this item offer an exact liquid measurement?
- China capacities are stated in ounces and are an approximate maximum capacity--they are not to be used as a standard of measure for serving capacity.
This Homer Laughlin Red Jade 9 oz. creamy white / off white mug is enriched with the original Gothic design with a chic burgundy variation. Made in the USA with high-fired, lead free glazes, this mug has a fine, iridescent, burgundy ring bordering the rim for added intricacy. This Homer Laughlin Gothic Red Jade mug has an overall satiny texture, yet maintains a chip-resistant durability.
This Homer Laughlin Red Jade 9 oz. mug is ideal for serving coffee, cappuccino, or hot chocolate. It's versatile enough for elegant cafes, restaurants, or catering events. This Homer Laughlin Red Jade mug has a 9 oz. capacity and a height of 3 3/8". Sold 36 per case.
Oven safe up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Homer Laughlin Red Jade Gothic China is comparable to CAC Boston Pattern China.
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MacPorts Portfiles
The MacPorts Project currently distributes 18236 ports, organized across 87 different categories and available below for viewing. This form allows you to search the MacPorts software index, last updated on 2014-03-09 at 13:00:25 America/Los_Angeles.
Or view the complete ports list (18236 ports).
Query Results
1 Portfile Selected
- p5.14-b-hooks-endofscope 0.90.0
- Execute code after a scope finished compilation
Maintained by: nomaintainer
Categories: perl
Platforms: darwin
Dependencies: p5.14-sub-exporter p5.14-variable-magic perl5.14


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into the Domain of His Realm
where she is stripped of self
Immersed in sensual delight
sight cloaked with silk
wrists bound secure
breath jerky with need
for touch
for tongue
for heat of cock
all she hears is the ambient
ringing of soft Celtic music
nipples taut
reaching upward
aching for pull
for sweet suckling
to light the fire
that runs like electricity
to hooded pink clit
a sweet engorged twinge
throbs with each pound
of her gentle submissive heart
she lies open and wet
every nerve strains for sense
a frantic need for Master
for He gives her wings
to soar above ecstasy
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Gender Benders - Drawing collection (2)
Collected by Kanamesama913
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text: I'll give it to you that many of my sites would qualify as "thin". However there were also many removed that call into question the value of a search engine that would remove these. Take for example my neighborhood homeowners association. We have a small website where we post the board minutes, contact information, newsletters, bylaws etc. Bing removed even that. So if there is one HOA that goes by that name and when you search for it you cannot find the official website then what good is a search engine?


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Register to update information, save favorites, post photos, news stories and comments. A LucyMe.com login allows you to edit our four websites.
Chelsea Joy Handler (born February 25, 1975) is an American comedian, actress, author, talk show host and producer. She hosts a late-night talk show called Chelsea Lately, on E! Entertainment Television.


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Immunity, Volume 26, Issue 6, 22 June 2007, Pages 812-826
Bing He, Weifeng Xu, Paul A. Santini, Alexandros D. Polydorides, April Chiu, Jeannelyn Estrella, Meimei Shan, Amy Chadburn, Vincenzo Villanacci, Alessandro Plebani, Daniel M. Knowles, Maria Rescigno and Andrea Cerutti
SummaryBacteria colonize the intestine shortly after birth and thereafter exert several beneficial functions, including induction of protective immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies. The distal intestine contains IgA2, which is more resistant to bacterial proteases than is IgA1. The mechanism by which B cells switch from IgM to IgA2 remains unknown. We found that human intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) triggered IgA2 class switching in B cells, including IgA1-expressing B cells arriving from mucosal follicles, through a CD4+ T cell-independent pathway involving a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL). IECs released APRIL after sensing bacteria through Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and further increased APRIL production by activating dendritic cells via thymic stromal lymphopoietin. Our data indicate that bacteria elicit IgA2 class switching by linking lamina propria B cells with IECs through a TLR-inducible signaling program requiring APRIL. Thus, mucosal vaccines should activate IECs to induce more effective IgA2 responses.
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Copyright © 1986 All rights reserved.
Cell, Volume 44, Issue 3, 507-515, 14 February 1986
Add/View Comments (0)Different pathways of differentiation of pre-B cell lines are induced by dendritic cells and T cells from different lymphoid tissues
David M. Spalding★, † and Johanna A. Griffin†, ‡
★ Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Department of Medicine University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama 35294 USA
† Department of Microbiology University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama 35294 USA
‡ Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Birmingham Veteran's Administration Hospital University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama 35294 USA
- Nontransformed pre-B cells were induced to differentiate in vitro along several different but predictable pathways with only dendritic cells (DC) and conconavalin A-stimulated T lymphocytes. DC-T from spleen induced secretion of only IgM, whereas DC-T from Peyer's patches induced high levels of IgA and intermediate levels of IgM and IgG. Both the isotype of antibody secreted and the extent of pre-B cell differentiation were determined by the Iymphoid tissue source of DC, not of T cells. The pre-B cells synthesizing detectable levels of only the IgM heavy chain had cytoplasmic RNA transcripts from both light chain constant region genes and from the entire length of the heavy chain constant locus. In cells secreting IgM there were deletions in the DNA flanking the Cμ coding region.


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Found January 19, 2012 on
Tallinder out for 6-8 weeks with acute thrombophlebitis of the lower left leg
Original Story:
Zdeno Chara Named Captain For NHL All-Star Game
Did Patrice Bergeron, Nathan Horton or Milan Lucic Score the Captain Morgan Goal of the Week?
Coaches assigned for NHL All-Star game
POLL: Who Had The Best Save From Thursday's Action?
Chara named All-Star captain
The Stanley Cup Was On Display At NASA's Kennedy Space Center
Bruins wake up late, get what they want
Pro-Canucks, Anti-Bruins propaganda uses Jon Stewart's cynicism for 10-minute diatribe (Video)
Bruins score 4 in third to beat Devils, 4-1
NHL Midpoint Review Part 2: Citations, Concussions, Celebrations
New Jersey Devils Team Up With Hotbox Sports
Marchand tries to shake off rust
Bruins beat Devils for third time in as many games
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Out of Stock
Item # TYR0042
2013 This model is no longer in stock.
Don't worry though, we have a lot more Men's Tri Bottoms in stock than that.
TYR Competitor 9in Tri Shorts $0.00
For the competitor within you.
Triathlon shorts play by a simple set of rules. Basically, the closer to a 'next-to-skin' fit, the better. The reasons for this are numerous (aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, comfort), however, most manufacturers fail at at least one of these criteria. Not so with the TYR Competitor 9in Tri Shorts. In fact, TYR developed these shorts to both excel at and accommodate all three disciplines of triathlon.
For the bulk of the Competitor Tri shorts' construction, TYR used a blend of polyester and spandex. Why these two fibers? Well, polyester is easily the most versatile fiber in sports apparel. Case in point is the venerable Lycra material. It provides a supportive, yet non-constrictive, structure, while remaining soft-to-the-touch. Additionally, with the elasticity of the added spandex content, the resulting material is granted a four-way stretch. So, your freedom of movement is guaranteed, regardless of the discipline at hand. You'll also find that, when combined, this material is quite efficient at managing moisture. So, whether it be water or perspiration, moisture moved away from the skin and transported to the quick-drying surface of the fabric. As a result, you remain dry and comfortable over the two land legs of your competition.
In terms of fit, TYR designed the Competitor Tri shorts for competitors, meaning that it's ready for endurance racing. It features a comfort beaded silicone leg hem, a stretch-woven drawcord, and an ample, nine-inch inseam. As a result of the latter, the shorts experience more surface area coverage, which results in an increase in both compressive support and resistance to wetsuit chafing.
Furthering this level of comfort, TYR included its new Competitor AMP chamois. This insert features a minimalist construction as to provide enough support for the bike leg without inhibiting comfort in either the swim or run. And because of the swim, TYR also designed the Competitor to be water-resistant and quick-drying. So, you won't be racing soggy after T1.
For storage of your race nutrition, TYR has also included a zippered rear pocket.
The TYR Competitor 9in Tri Shorts are available in five sizes from X-Small to X-Large and in the colors Black, Black/red, Black/green, Black/grey, and Navy/red.
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Andrea Pablo Assanelli
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- Familiarity: I've used it several times
Used mainly for... running. The slight compression effect is great durin bike to run transition. But I have used it without hassles for 10k running races. I recommend it (plus... I bested my 10k PR twice this year using these shorts!)


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Digital Photographer Certificate
Start your career in digital photography or indulge your personal interest in this comprehensive certificate comprised of four courses. CPCC's expert instructor will show you tips and techniques and answer all your questions along the way.
You'll begin with photographic metering and composition, the principles of photographing motion and HDR photography, along with basic flash and portrait photography. Plus, study how to use Adobe Photoshop in post-production processing.
Students will need to bring a digital SLR camera to class and be prepared for field work.
Course outline (MMG 7942)
Course schedule for dates, times and locations


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Join our campaign for an independent Kiwi as head of State for just $10 a year.
How you can help the campaign for a Kiwi head of State.
Our media releases, how to contact us.
Nau Mai, Haere Mai, Welcome. We are a group of New Zealanders campaigning for an independent, Kiwi head of state.
I just feel it's time we did something about this. So what's wrong with becoming a republic within the Commonwealth, with an elected President as head of state with the same powers at the Governor General?
Events, blog posts and images from our campaign.
MEDIA RELEASE: 7 March 2014 The Republican Movement is re-naming its entire campaign to make it clear that reforming New Zealand's head of state is its number one priority. From now on the group will be campaigning under the banner 'New Zealand Head of State'.
New Zealand will never fully come to terms with the treaty as a partnership between iwi and tauiwi until we have our own head of state. For many European New Zealanders the treaty is something that happened in the past. It was an agreement between Queen Victoria and Maori and they see little reason why they should have to address the reasons Maori were made second class citzens in their own land.
Prime Minister John Key has highlighted the constitutional ambuiguity around the position of the Governor-General describing Sir Jerry Mateparae as "our head of state". His comments were reported on the stuff website as he commented on the Governor-General's welcome onto Te Tii marae at Waitangi today.
Apologies to members - our email system has been broken for the past fortnight. As a consequence we haven't been able to send the important messages we've got to share with you - but please keep an eye on your inbox though, it's almost fixed!
The campaign for a proper head of state here in Aotearoa continues ands all members (yes even those ones on holiday) are asked to check their email accounts to make sure they have received the very important email sent out concerning this week's Special General Meeting and the important changes happening in our ongoing campaign to remove the Monarchy and install fairness and democracy in its place


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Desmond does this, and it is really annoying, he seems to think, oh Mom is here I can nurse rather then drinking my water. While I don't have a problem with nursing, I really thought that after 12 months or so nursing cut down some to 3 to 5 times a day, I am happy on days when we nurse less then 8 times and 10 times a day seems normal most days. I will stop nursing if he pops off more then 6 times or so in a short period though, since he isn't really nursing at that point in time, he is just playing.
I have stopped offering to nurse other then naptime, bedtime, and in the morning (he nurses 3 times before we get up in the morning), just because I really do want him to cut down a little. I never refuse when he comes and asks to nurse though. I really think it is boredom here too, because when Daddy is home he nurses a lot less, and when we go out to do something all day, he never asks to nurse. Fortunately with the weather getting nicer now, we can go out more during the day to take walks and such so maybe that will cut down on the constant nursing some. |


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Fact vs. Fiction from Houston Rockets' NBA Playoffs Performance
By Kenny DeJohn ,
The Houston Rockets had some interesting stat lines and trends during their postseason series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but it's important to establish which of those were "fact" and which of those were "fiction."
The organization (as well as the fans) could get a false sense of what's right with the roster if they go into next season expecting some of the same results as the postseason. Building a team based on such a small sample size is not a smart plan—although there were some performances that will likely continue on in 2013-14.
The Thunder were put at a disadvantage when Russell Westbrook was injured, but the series would not have become so interesting had it not been for some standout performances.
Deciphering what's real and what's not will be general manager Daryl Morey's key job this offseason as he looks to build a winner from the already strong core he has in place.
Rookie Patrick Beverley had a great run with increased playing time during the playoffs. Beverley played a significant number of minutes with Jeremy Lin active but saw an even greater spike in time when Lin went down.
Beverley played 33.3 minutes per game during the series and converted 43.1 percent of his shots (33.3 percent from deep). That led to 11.8 points per game. He didn't dish out too many assists (2.8 per game), as the role of ball-handler went to James Harden with Lin sidelined (Harden was primary "point guard" with Lin active anyway).
Where Beverley made surprising contributions was on the glass. He pulled down 5.5 boards per game, 1.8 of which were offensive. This was a huge contribution from a guy (and position) not expected to make an impact on the glass.
Playing in a run-and-gun offense, Beverley's ability to grab rebounds gave the Rockets second-chance opportunities that they may have lost had Lin been the point guard.
Defensively, Beverley proved that he can guard some of the NBA's best. He averaged 1.2 steals per game and even 0.7 blocks per game in the playoffs. This type of defense is invaluable in Houston given the team's defensive inefficiencies.
Beverley stands to improve next season—should he avoid the "sophomore slump." His performance is one that Houston can count on moving forward.
Verdict: Fact; Beverley will be a key contributor in the future.
Chandler Parsons played a great series against the Thunder. Primarily matched up against the long and athletic Kevin Durant, Parsons was able to find ways to score at a high percentage.
He averaged 18.2 points per game on 45.2 percent shooting, while knocking down exactly 40 percent of his shots from deep. Parsons was a perfect No. 2 scoring option behind James Harden, and a good portion of the Rockets' surprising success this season can be attributed to his play.
Even still, Parsons had his shortcomings against the Thunder.
Parsons shot just 64.3 percent from the charity stripe. This is surprising because most above-average shooters are at least sufficient from the free-throw line. Parsons is a liability at the line, and that's something he'll need to work on moving forward.
He did shoot 72.9 percent there during the season, but he shot just 55.1 percent during his rookie year a season prior. That averages to 67 percent, right around Parsons' playoff mark.
To take the next step in his development, Parsons needs to work on his free-throw shooting. Not only will it add a few more points to his numbers, but it has the potential to also result in a few more Rockets victories.
Verdict: Fact; The guy just can't shoot the free ones.
The Rockets scored 100.0 points per game against the Thunder, while Oklahoma City was able to drop 105.8 points per game. We all know that the defense in Houston is bad, but allowing nearly 106 points per contest is ridiculous.
During the regular season, Houston allowed 102.5 points per game. That's not a huge improvement, but it's an improvement all the same.
Defense should be a priority for Daryl Morey during the offseason, as shoring up the defense of the second unit could really work wonders for Houston's title hopes. A potent offense and lockdown defense is a pretty good recipe for success.
The lack of impact defenders against the Thunder really showed. Even without Russell Westbrook (who played very well when he was healthy), Houston had no answer for Kevin Durant and Co. Durant averaged 32.5 points per game against the Rockets. As the only impact scorer with Westbrook gone, Durant was too much to handle.
They needed to at least slow him down, and they couldn't.
Regardless, the defense is not one that will routinely allow that many points per game. The high total was just a product of playing the potent Thunder in the first round. This team can do better next season as is. Throw in a few new defensive-minded players and it could make a big difference.
Verdict: Fact (bad defense), Fiction (so bad they'll allow nearly 106 per game)
You have answered the question correctly if you said, "Kenny, they shot a ridiculous 33.7 three-point field goals per game."
That's, right—33.7! That's nine more than the next-closest team, the Thunder (funny, right?), who shot 24.7 per game.
Luckily for Houston, the team was able to convert on a high percentage of these shots. The 34.7 percent mark is good enough to rank it fourth amongst all playoff teams this season (both those playing and eliminated).
That percentage, however, can be attributed to some pretty lucky shooters.
Francisco Garcia shot 45.9 percent, Chandler Parsons shot 40.0 percent and Carlos Delfino shot 35.5 percent. Those three shooters are the reason why the Rockets shot so well as a "team." Inflated numbers from these three guys brought the team's percentage up.
Shooting over 30 three-point field goals a game is not conducive to success. That's a lot of threes, and even an offensive team like Houston should know not to shoot from deep so often. I'm chalking this statistic up to the Rockets taking what the defense gave them.
Who could blame the Thunder defense, anyway? I'd let a team chuck up over 30 threes per game, too. The chances of them missing are pretty darn good.
Verdict: Fiction; They won't shoot that many per game next season.
Jeremy Lin was essentially a non-factor in the playoffs—except if you consider not being a factor actually being a factor.
Lin started just three games and played in another but only saw the court for 21.0 minutes per game. He scored only four points, grabbed only two boards and dished out only two assists per game.
That's not the type of reliability and consistency you want to see from your point guard.
This is the second straight season that Lin closed the year out with an injury. Last season with the New York Knicks, Lin tore his meniscus and was sidelined for the remainder of the team's season.
It took a chest injury to keep Lin out of action this postseason, albeit it was not serious enough to keep him out entirely. Even when healthy, though, he was a non-factor.
Lin's tendency to injure himself at the end of the season is a trend that will likely continue. He's a player that plays 110 percent every game (which is commendable), but that leads to a ton of wear and tear on his body. Because he plays so hard, Lin's body gets beaten up over the course of a full NBA season (plus playoffs).
It's hard to ask a high-energy guy like Lin to calm it down, but he may have to if he wants to be effective at the end of the season.
Verdict: Fact; Lin's style of play will lead to more injuries in the future.


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What is the rationale for "parking lights" on a vehicle? Could I be ticketed for illegally using them? How do they differ from "running lights"? -- P.F., of Steeleville
That's easy. Parking lights are for people with houses like the one in which I grew up.
We lived on a major Belleville thoroughfare -- South Belt West -- which made parking a nightmare. You couldn't park in front of our house because South 16th is too narrow. And you certainly didn't want to park in our driveway, because you'd have to risk life and limb trying to peer around a row of hedges as you backed out directly onto that busy beltway.
So that left just one alternative: Both we and visitors often just pulled off South Belt and parked on the shoulder where there was a break in our hedges. Even now I shudder when I think about the horrific accidents that occur when drivers plow into vehicles parked on the side of a busy road. But at night, we'd turn on our parking lights and keep our fingers crossed.
So, it's sort of self-explanatory when you think about it: You use parking lights when you park in an area where leaving an unlit car would pose a hazard. That's why they are usually gold or orange. When used legally by themselves at night, they tell oncoming drivers that, hey, this car is not moving and should be avoided.
But I can understand your confusion. From what I read, their original function has gone by the wayside pretty much. I don't think I've ever used my parking lights for parking in the 14 years I've owned my current car.
Now when cars stall or we pull off in a rainstorm, we switch on our emergency flashers. Their main purpose of parking lights now seems to be making a moving car more visible from the side as well as to provide some light if a headlight should burn out.
In the meantime, carmakers added a new wrinkle: daytime running lights or DRLs for short. First offered on a handful of 1995 passenger cars, these are low-powered headlights that are lit whenever a vehicle is running.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, DRLs can help prevent daytime head-on and front-corner crashes by making cars more visible. Canada made them mandatory on all cars made after Dec. 1, 1989, and the European Union has required them since February 2011.
They say numerous studies prove their effectiveness. For example, a Canadian study that compared 1990 cars with DRLs to 1989 cars without found an 11 percent drop in multiple-vehicle crashes. The U.S. is less convinced; no state mandates them, and a 2008 federal study found no significant effect on accidents involving cars, pedestrians or bicycles.
Finally, yes, you can be pulled over in Illinois if you are caught driving at night with only your parking lights because they do not provide adequate illumination. In which case, you'll want to leave your parking lights on so nobody runs into you as the officer writes your ticket.
Could you please give me the address for "Wheel of Fortune"? -- Sandy Menke, of Millstadt
Since you neglected to give a reason for your request, let me give you a few possibilities so that you're sure to hit the jackpot.
If you want tickets to attend a taping, you should call 800-482-9840 for both "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy." However, "Wheel" production won't resume until July, so you need not call until June.
To try to become a contestant, you can fill out a form at www.wheeloffortune.com or write Wheel of Fortune Contestant Auditions, 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Suite 5300, Culver City, CA 90232. Include your name, phone number and dates you will be in L.A.
Just remember that last year more than a million people requested an audition -- and fewer than 600 appeared on the show. That's less than one-tenth of 1 percent, which is why show producers "strongly discourage you from incurring any expenses whatsoever" in your quest to appear.
If you have yet another purpose for writing, I'd use the Culver City address. For more information, go to the show's website at www.wheelofforunte.com. And, if you want tickets for other shows, try www.tvtix.com/schedule.php.
Oh, baby!: That's probably how former St. Louis Blues announcer Ken Wilson would remind you that "Call the Midwife" will open its second season on KETC-TV Channel 9 Sunday night. This week, Jenny Lee helps a woman in an abusive relationship while Trixie and Sister Evangelina board a ship to care for the captain's daughter. See it at 7 p.m. on Easter -- or 1 a.m. Tuesday if you forget.
Today's trivia
What did Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen discover on Easter Sunday 1722?
Answer to Wednesday's trivia: In March 1992, Duke University's Christian Laettner became the first and only player to start in four consecutive Final Four games. He also holds NCAA tourney career records for most games played (23), points scored (407), free throws attempted (167) and free throws made (142).
Send your questions to Roger Schlueter, Belleville News-Democrat, 120 S. Illinois St., P.O. Box 427, Belleville, IL 62222-0427 or email@example.com or call 239-2465.


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March 12, 2014
BATON ROUGE, La. -- The blazing starts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina are raising doubts about preseason assumptions that the West is best in the Southeastern Conference.
No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 LSU, the leaders of the West Division, also remain the league's top teams in the national rankings. But the next few weeks will clarify the extent to which the SEC's balance of power has begun shifting eastward.
LSU travels to No. 11 Florida on Oct. 6 and hosts No. 6 South Carolina on Oct. 13.
The leaders in the East have been winning with dominant defenses and powerful running games, a formula familiar to Alabama and LSU.
Georgia coach Mark Richt says it now looks like his fifth-ranked Bulldogs will have a tougher road in the East than many thought.
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