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My husband and nine-year-old son were itching to surf. My daughter, age five, and I longed to play in the sand. We wanted a painless flight from our home in New York; an inexpensive, well-situated hotel; and adventures we could take—or leave. Fortunately, we knew just where to find all this: Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula, on the Pacific coast. Recently accessible from the States thanks to an expanding local airport, it's a mecca for beach bums and wannabes.
Our family had vacationed in these parts a couple of years ago, taking a cruise down a jungle river, spying on monkeys in Manuel Antonio National Park, and going on an expedition to see leatherbacks, the world's largest turtles, lay eggs on the beach before they headed back to sea. It was during a day spent watching surfers on Nicoya's beaches that my husband, Richard, and I made a mental note for next time. And so for the two weeks of Harvey and Oona's March school vacation we decided to stay put at Hotel Playa Negra, a compound of 10 enchantingly rustic thatch-roofed bungalows on a black-sand beach with an impressive break (you can catch it in Endless Summer II). Friends who have two kids around the same ages as ours planned to join us for our second week, which turned out to be when another group of families we all knew would be staying just north of the peninsula at the Four Seasons, the country's most lavish resort. How could I not insist on a sleepover at their place?
Costa Rica Rustic
Our days at Playa Negra quickly fell into an agreeable rhythm, starting with breakfast at the hotel's poolside open-air rancho—platters of papaya, mango, pineapple, and banana; gallo pinto (rice and beans); and tostadas francesas (French toast). Then we all got wet. Richard and Harvey learned to ride the waves with the help of Manu, from the Playa Negra Surf School, while Oona and I splashed in the shallows (and diligently stayed out of the current).
We loved having lunch at Lola's, on nearby Playa Avellana, where guests sit at palm-shaded tables made from tree trunks right on the white sand, and the Dutch-American owners serve perfect thin-crust pizza and seared-tuna salads (but no pork, out of respect for their resident 800-pound pet pig, Lola). Afternoons revolved around the resort's main pool—where iguanas the size of Chihuahuas crawled by—or pool table. Harvey and Oona took up with a dozen or so other kids who were staying at Playa Negra and in rental houses along the beach, some of them hailing from the U.S. and Canada, others from Uruguay, Honduras, and Costa Rica's capital, San José—none of them in the least bit hampered by the language barrier. The children invented billiard games while running up smoothie tabs at the hotel bar, then chased one another through the bare, twisted trunks of mangle trees.
Dinner might be a half-mile away in the town of Los Pargos, a typical Costa Rican village—school, bar, market, soccer field—with a surprising number of good restaurants, including Café Playa Negra, offering Peruvian cuisine and a trampoline that kept the kids happy before and after grilled mahimahi and lomo saltado, or jumping steak. (The local Brahman cows produce exceptionally tender, not-to-be-missed beef.) Back at our bungalow, bullfrogs sat croaking on our doorstep, and howler monkeys whooped from the trees. By 10 p.m. we were all dreaming beneath the breeze of the ceiling fan, though the nightly invasion of ants would sometimes have me up swatting the floor beneath our bed with a flip-flop.
The hotel manager offered to arrange fishing trips and zipline outings in the jungle for us, and though our friends tried and loved them all, my own crew was too busy relaxing. The horseback ride we booked one day turned out to be more than enough excitement. My husband got stuck with the loco Mataritta, who suddenly decided to gallop down a cliff; although Richard, a photographer, managed to hang on, his camera went flying. (He took the pictures on these pages with a spare.) Our other big thrill: our 24-hour excursion to the Four Seasons, to see how the other half vacations.


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Car Forums / Volvo / Volvo S80
Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
2007 Volvo S80
jarchdeacon Posts: 22The link below from Volvo's European Website shows S80 pricing and configurations/options there. I assume this may at least tell us what is likely coming to the USA sometime later (basic, SE, and Luxury packages). I have an old S80 T6 which is approaching 100,000 miles and I'm considering another S80, Acura RL or Infiniti M.
2007 S80 Price List from Europe
I realize one cannot probably derive US pricing from this, but perhaps (?) it gives us an idea of what the US configurations might look like. -
lev_berkovich Posts: 858I think, it gives you a pretty good idea what US prices are going to be, if you compare them with the Euro prices for the XC90.
It is apparent to me, that an S80 is priced rather aggressively (well bellow a comparable XC90), which means, that we can expect to see S80 in US at the same price point as a current one.
3.2 - starting at mid-upper 30th (37K) and V8 - low-mid 40th (43-45K).
I honestly expect to get well loaded S80 3.2 FWD at 35-37K through OSD in 2008, just as I've got my current S80 2.9 with Premium package and some other bell and whistles in 2000 for 34, 995. -
volvomax Posts: 5,274DO NOT use European prices to try to figure the price on the US S80.
There are taxes and tariffs built into the Euro price that we won't have.
If you want an educated guess here it is.
S80 3.2, base @$38,000 loaded @ $45,000
S80 V8 base @ $43,000 loaded @$50,000
Honestly, I may be a little low on the V8.
Could be $48-55,000 -
lev_berkovich Posts: 858
rockylee Wyoming, MichiganPosts: 13,989
volvomax Posts: 5,274Well that's quite awhile, why so long I wonder ? I am seriously considering one if I can get a good deal.
Just normal lead time for a new model.
Volvo is concentrating on the C70 right now.
As for a good deal, that depends on your point of view. It will be a new model so I doubt there will be any incentives or special financing. Maybe a lease package.
The car will be considerably less than a similar Mercedes or BMW model. -
rockylee Wyoming, MichiganPosts: 13,989Did the S60 get a refresh this year ? If so did it get a Dynaudio finally ???
If I could get a good lease deal, I might be suckered into buying one. This lady claims she can get me any vehicle at or below invoice. So I'll try her first to see how true she is. I also am thinking about a BMW 335i sedan when it comes available next March (I heard)
Rocky -
rockylee Wyoming, MichiganPosts: 13,989Lease deals are on the 06's.
I bet the S60R isn't included ? I see that many of the new Volvo's have the Dynaudio equipment which is interesting. If the Volvo S60 didn't get the upgrade, that would be ashame :sick: I might be better off waiting for the next generation S60R then or attempt to get my hands on a S80.
Rocky -
rockylee Wyoming, MichiganPosts: 13,989If the 2007 S60R got the Dynaudio, I look at one. Why in the Heck is Volvo canceling the highly sucessful S60 "R" ???? :surprise: That is too bad. :sick:
I guess all I can do is pray the S80 isn't ridiculously high and a good lease deal can happen. The residuals should be very high making a lease attractive one would think :confuse:
Are you "volvomax" going to look at the S80 as your next car ? -
volvomax Posts: 5,274Well, I have a 2004 S60R and I have the Prem sound system and I like it.
The only dynaudio system worth getting is the 900 watt system in the C70. But that is ONLY in the C70.
The R is going away because the current S60 is coming to the end of its model cycle.
As for the S80, "ridiculous" is in the eye of the beholder.
The V8 is gonna be in the low to mid $50's and will lease like a car leases in that price range.
It will be a less expensive alternative to the MB E500 or BMW 545i. Not to mention the Lexus GS430 and Infiniti M45.
My S60R lease has a year and a half to run, so I don't know what I'm going to get yet. My girlfriend wants the new S80, but I may look at the C30 and replace my 99 vette w/ a newer one or some other toy. -
rockylee Wyoming, MichiganPosts: 13,989Well, I have a 2004 S60R and I have the Prem sound system and I like it.
The only dynaudio system worth getting is the 900 watt system in the C70. But that is ONLY in the C70.
Well I read somewhere on the net the S80 has 650 watts, plenty for me.
Volvomax, do you think the C70 convertible could ever get a "R" version with AWD ? I don't understand Volvo sometimes. They have a 425+ hp. Turbo I-5 on the shelf and I'm waiting for them to use it in production.
The R is going away because the current S60 is coming to the end of its model cycle.
That is dumb IMHO. If I was Volvo, I'd drop in a 425 Turbo I-5, put in some ventilated seats, style the interior like the S80, drop in a 900 Watt Dynaudio system, and you might possibly have the greatest sedan ever made :shades:
The V8 is gonna be in the low to mid $50's and will lease like a car leases in that price range.
It will be a less expensive alternative to the MB E500 or BMW 545i. Not to mention the Lexus GS430 and Infiniti M45.
So you don't expect the S80 to have class leading residuals ?
My S60R lease has a year and a half to run, so I don't know what I'm going to get yet. My girlfriend wants the new S80, but I may look at the C30 and replace my 99 vette w/ a newer one or some other toy.
I'll be your girlfriend if you buy me a Volvo S80 J/K :P
My wife really likes the S80 also pal. She would feel secure knowing are 2 kids are protected by the safest car perhaps on earth.
I like I said many times think the S80, is the best sedan on the market. The car was built around safety, and seems comfy. About the only thing I'd probably change about it would be to add a stick. I also don't understand why they just didn't drop in a Turbo I-5 with 425-450 hp. I would think that a Turbo I-5 would be just as cheap as the Yamaha V-8 and it would make more sense to use a Scandinavian, engine over a Japanese IMHO.
Well if I can somehow get a good lease deal when this car becomes available, sign me up. :shades:
Rocky -
volvomax Posts: 5,274The way the C70's structure is configured, AWD running gear won't fit.
Volvo most emphatically does not have a 425hp Turbo 5 motor sitting on a shelf. It is possible to modify the R engine to produce that hp level, but Volvo is not in the business of building hot rods. Now, a turbo 5 under the kind of stress needed to produce 400+ hp won't live long and is not easy to drive. A V8 is a much better solution and chances are, if there is a new S60R it will carry a modified version of the Volvo designed, Yamaha produced V8.
As for the S80, residuals aren't what people think they are anymore. The 48 mo residual on the BMW 550i is 36% of MSRP.
The Mercedes E500 is 38%, Lexus GS430 is 36%.
Doing the math, you are looking at lease pmts in the 700-800/mo range. -
rockylee Wyoming, MichiganPosts: 13,989
volvomax Posts: 5,274I saw the Turbo 5 on this very site. They were talking about using it in the SUV-Ya know the "R" version of that.
Don't believe everything Edmunds tells you.
Not too long ago they were convinced that Volvo was going to use the Ford Explorers V8 for the XC90
A peaky turbo engine is a horrible idea in a heavy SUV.
Volvo has experimented w/ a supercharged version of the V8, but it has only gone as far as the drawing board. -
volvomax Posts: 5,274Obviously, the 3 series is not a competitor for the S80. The 5 series is.
The S60 is the 3 series competitor.
With the current lease deals, the R is a better deal than any 3 series.
BMW doesn't have the highest residuals anymore. The 330xi @ 48 mos is 44%. Which is good, but not outstanding.
Also, BMW finance charges high money factors, esp on new models. -
rockylee Wyoming, MichiganPosts: 13,989So BMW slipped in 2006 ? They had the highest resale in 2005. I'm leaning torwards a BMW, because I only have to drive 45 minutes to get to the dealership in Amarillo. The Volvo, dealership is in Lubbock,(2 1/2 hours away)and I wasn't thrilled at all with the way they treated me when I was trying to buy a S60R. :sick:


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How to Get A Customizable iOS 7 Control Center Clone On Your Android Device
Get a customizable iOS 7 Control Center Clone on your Android device . iOS 7 control center is the one of the most express ideas feature of iOS 7.The developers of the Android based Control Center app describe the package as an "iOS 7 style and Android capability Control Center" and promises to bring the iPhone user experience to Android devices.
When you install the Control Center app on your device, it lets you to toggle Wi-Fi, data connection, flashlight, Bluetooth, airplane mode, screen orientation and auto-brightness. The controls are quite easy to understand except for the last button at the bottom that looks something like an inbox.
It also has sliders for controlling your device's media and ringer volumes as well as brightness level. You can also quickly access the alarms, calenders and camera too. The app could be brought up on all screens including the lock screen.
Download iOS 7 Control Center app from Play Store


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"There are two kinds of evil people in this world. Those who do evil stuff and those who see evil stuff being done and don't try to stop it." — Janis Ian
Judging from the popularity of femme-on-femme makeouts being used to sell products from Versace to concert tickets, one would think that lesbian porn is a big seller. The best thing a pop star can do to fan media attention is fake interest in another woman, after all, so we must be eating up lesbian porn. Right? Keep reading »


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Warren Neal Herron, 81, a resident of Old Fort, passed away Monday evening, May 26, 2014, in a local hospital.
Herron was the son of the late Ina Belle Morton Herron and Leonard Noel Herron. He was preceded in deathy by his sister, Brenda Herron; brother, L. N. Herron; and son-in-law, James "Rat" Pullen.
He was a U.S. Army Veteran. He was retired from Hardwick Stove with more than 26 years of service. He owned and operated Herron's Used Cars. He owned his own car haulers and enjoyed hauling cars for his business as well as other dealers.
He attended the Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Buena Herron of Old Fort; his daughters: Shirley Pullen, Pamela Farris and her husband, Rick, all of Old Fort; his son, Dean Herron of Benton; his grandchildren: Chariti Scoggins, Heath Dunn, Hailey Stewart, Hannah Price and her husband, Erick, Shelley Morrow and her husband, Scott, Amanda Herron and Beth Herron; his great-grandchildren: Madison Scoggins, Hayden Ledford, Warren Price, Chandler, Chloe, Carley and Cole Stewart, Destiny Crabtree, Cayden Botts and Cayla Morrow; his sisters: Sarah Herron and Alice Herron, both of Cleveland; his brothers: Billy Herron and his wife, Betty, of Cleveland, Paul Herron and his wife, Barbara, of Old Fort and David Herron and his wife, Sharon, of San Antonio, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.
The Remembrance of Life service will be conducted Thursday afternoon, May 29, 2014, at 2 p.m. from the Wildwood Chapel of the Jim Rush Funeral Homes with the Rev. Ken Stiles and the Rev. Charles Moore officiating.
Interment will follow in the Herron Family Cemetery with Nicholas Herron, Jerry Johnson, Junior Bain, Roger Cissom and Sky Perry serving as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends from 5 until 8 p.m. tonight at the funeral home.
You may share your condolences and your memories with the Herron family at www.jimrushfuneralhomes.com.


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William Russell, RPFT.
Pulmonary Testing Laboratory Manager, Airways Biology Initiative
University of Pennsylvania Medical Center
Pulmonary, Allergy, & Critical Care Division
4th floor Andrew Mutch Building
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
51 North 39th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
tel.: (215) 662-9238
fax: (215) 243-4682
email: email@example.com
Education: AAS, Respiratory Therapy- Community College of Pennsylvania
B.S., Temple University , Philadelphia, PA
Mr. Russell has served as a Clinical Research Manager at the Airways Biology Initiative since 2004. Prior to this he served as both staff member and Clinical Specialist-Supervisor at the Pulmonary Diagnostics Laboratory of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Selected publications
- Sims MW, Musani AI, Sareli C, Russell W, McLaren WJ, Delaney PM, Litzky LA, Panettieri RA: A Pilot Study of the Feasibility of Confocal Endomicroscopy for Examination of the Human Airway. J Bronchol Intervent Pulmonol 17(2): 126-30, April 2010. Note: Sims & Musani are co-first authors.
- National Lung Screening Trial Research Team; The National Lung Screening Trial: Overview and Study Design. Radiology 258:243-253, January 2011. Note: Staff Team Member


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Thoughts on linking
I've been thinking about the topic of linking. If you've been blogging or reading blogs for long you've no doubt seen the subject bantered about. Those who do and those who don't.
In it's mechanical form a link (Hyperlink) is a navigational element in a post or document that when selected by the user brings the referred information to the user. It's part of the foundation of the Internet and is used to tie things together and to make navigation simple as well as convenient.
However, in blogging you quickly come to find out that a link is so much more. Links are used to determine popularity and expertise. Site rankings on sites such as Technorati and in most search engines are calculated based at least in part by the number of inbound links. Links are seen by some as power. Due to this view, some bloggers use links like they were gold. They hang on to them and cash them in very infrequently and often only with friends or those they feel can help them.
Here's how I view linking. A link for me is like a gentleman's handshake. It's a sign of acknowledgment and respect. It's also my chance to vote or communicate on what I feel is worthwhile. It may also be a chance to pass on some information I discovered that could of been overlooked by someone else. It's my contribution to be a productive part of the machine.
My linking is not influenced by the popularity of the site or person I'm linking to.
I've added a new page to "Meandering Passage" call "Links." You will find it in the Page Menu at the upper right corner of the site. It's the top site's that have been "LINKED TO" from Meandering Passage posts. This list is the output of a WordPress Plug-in call "Link Harvest" and it will automatically update as I post.
I encourage everyone to link freely.


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Now free access for all our guests!
At our own indoor tennis center with 2 courts with a synthetic, granulate surface, our guests play for a special rate.
In spring, summer, and fall you pay NO rental fee for courts (lighting cost only EUR 4,--).
Rackets, balls, and indoor tennis shoes can be rented in-house.
Test your playing ability at our weekly tennis tournaments.
For beginners, we organize weekly introductory tennis courses with a trainer!
Coaching lessons are possible at any time!
Directly next to the hotel, you can find 3 sand courts!
Tennis 4 Kids
Our kids' tennis lessons don't only focus on teaching tennis technique, they also offer ample opportunity to experience a variety of movement associated with other types of sports, and besides that, they make exercise fun!
Our in-house tennis coach is looking forward to seeing you.


text: Hundreds of human casualties, millions of hectares of destroyed crops and widespread forest fires are direct results of the drought and long lasting record temperatures in south-eastern Europe, according to the Global Drought Monitor. The need for a regional centre led to the recent establishment by WMO and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification of the Drought Management Centre for South-Eastern Europe (DMCSEE). It aims to serve as an operational centre for the 11 founding countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Hungary, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovenia and Turkey) for drought preparedness, monitoring and management.


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Ziva's gone and Ellie's in on ''NCIS''; see how past shows fared when recasting a fan fave
It always seemed that both Sheen and his freewheeling character Charlie Harper could sidle out of any mess but turned out that wasn't true for either of them. With Sheen out, Harper met an apparently messy demise when he was said to have been hit by a train in France. In came Ashton Kutcher's eccentric (and well-endowed) millionaire Walden Schmidt to play the life-of-the-party role.
Image Credit: Greg Gayne/CBS
Copyright © 2014 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved.


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A boatload of spectacular restaurants have opened lately, so you're forgiven if you've missed the best of them.
That would be Michael Mina 74. You might have missed it because it's in a basement.
Trust us, though, because when we say basement, we mean the ground floor of the Fontainebleu, where an old-school feel of leather gangster booths, dim lighting, and wood trim make you feel like Prohibition is back.
Luckily, the mixologist circling the room is a reminder that it's not. Take his suggestion: a barrel-aged cocktail, like the Magic City (bourbon, kaffir lime syrup, and bling-inducing gold leaf).
But nothing is more blinged-out than tableside service outside the club. And here, your catwalk-worthy server will swing by with a roving cart to build shellfish plates before dinner, or break open your pot pie to reveal a flaky, fluffy marriage of lobster and pastry.
But if you don't want her help, go with the insanely tender octopus salad (pictured) or the wagyu beef shabu-shabu style, which you're just going to have to see to believe.
Kinda like this whole place, given Miami's best new restaurant is buried inside a hotel basement.
We like you, 2014. You're full of surprises.
Price: 4 (out of 4)
Noise: 2 (out of 4)
Parking: Valet
Scene: Swank Miami Beach setting meets a chef with serious chops
Best bets: Tableside shellfish service; Maine lobster pot pie; Japanese wagyu shabu-shabu
Hot seat: Dining like a don in the half-circle gangster booths
Nearby: The Dutch; LIV; Gotham Steak


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Robovie-PC Wins First Robot Marathon (At a Very Slow Pace)
Ah, marathons. It seems that robots are now taking up the task of running them for us. The winner of the first robot marathon is a small robot called Robovie-PC.
Yep, it was a real marathon, not a mini-marathon, and definitely not this. There were five robots running a 330-foot track for the Vstone Robot Marathon [JP]. They had to run this over 400 times to complete a full marathon. The race was a full 26.2 miles long, but the guys over at PlasticPals point out that in robot scale (1/4.5 scale), they would have actually run closer to 118 miles in human scale.
The mini humanoid Robovie-PC stands about 16 inches tall and weighs 53 pounds. It has a total of 20 joints. Robovie-PC beat his closest opponent by just a second. It took him 55 hours to complete the marathon. His average speed was less than 0.5 mph. I guess there's not danger of robots winning any real marathons soon.
[via Yahoo!News [JP] via PlasticPals]
MORE:Just Plain Fun | Robots | Strange + Wonderful | Technology | fun | japan | marathon | race | robovie | running


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Hofbräuhaus of America
Authentic and unique Bavarian gifts & collectibles including mugs, steins, apparel, hats and more! |
Visit Us Today in one of our Hofbräuhaus Restaurants, Beer Halls and Brew Pubs. We might be closer than you think. |
Current News |
Learn MoreClassic Bavarian Brews Our beer is brewed and imported using the original recipes handed down by Wilhelm V, the Duke of Bavaria, over 400 years ago. |


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Maximize Your Urbana 12 Experience
Take advantage of exclusive opportunities available to InterVarsity Alumni at Urbana 12. Network with hundreds of alumni and relive your college memories of InterVarsity with these great add-ons to your Urbana experience.
Urbana 12 Student Missions Conference
December 27-31, 2012
St. Louis, Missouri
Insider Access Pass
Purchase a Pass and get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Urbana 12. The Pass includes a private group lunch and backstage tour, InterVarsity Showcase Dinner with President Alec Hill, and special-offer alumni gift bag. Limited space available!
This pass is no longer available.
Alumni Exhibit Booth
Stop by our booth December 28-31 in the Exhibit Hall to say hi, receive gifts and materials, and discover how you can stay connected or reconnect with InterVarsity. Plus, you'll have the chance to win great prizes, including one of two Amazon Kindle e-readers!
Manuscript Bible Studies
Hear from the Lord through inductive study and relive your manuscript experience alongside other alumni. There will be areas designated for alumni in all manuscript rooms – just look for the blue InterVarsity Alumni balloons and join others experienced in manuscript-style Bible study.
InterVarsity Appreciation Reception
Join other alumni December 29 at a reception in the Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel Majestic Ballroom immediately following the Evening Session.
- Hear from InterVarsity leaders as they share how God continues to work through the fellowship
- Learn what's changed and what's stayed the same with the ministry
- Network with alumni and staff from your region and across the country
Not Yet Registered for Urbana 12?
Click here for more information and to register!
If you have any questions about InterVarsity Alumni activities at Urbana 12, please contact the Alumni Team at firstname.lastname@example.com or 608-443-3719. We'll meet you in St. Louis!


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John Tamny of RealClearMarkets and Forbes really didn't like my take last week on that awful Bloomberg BusinessWeek cover.
Here's his headline:
The Ongoing, Hideous Lie About 'Victimized' Mortgage Holders
And his argument:
Though it apologized for the alleged offense, Bloomberg BusinessWeek should have stood firm. It did nothing wrong. Though the cover would have likely been more accurate had it included people of all races, the notion that those who borrowed to buy houses they couldn't afford were the ones victimized is laughable, and it's Chittum who should apologize for promoting such an offensive falsehood.
Considering the individuals who bought houses they couldn't afford with the money of others, they were the self-destructive victimizers. In most instances well aware that they were taking on mortgages they couldn't afford, they with great dishonesty accepted the loans on the assumption that, if they couldn't make regular payments on them, it would be easy to pay them off in full by virtue of selling the underlying home for an amount greater than the purchase price. Far from deserving our sympathy, these people deserve our disgusted scorn.
I'll pass, thanks.
Tamny's is the old blame-the-borrowers line, vehemently expressed (as it tends to be). It's nasty, but beyond that, it completely misses the point.
In any rational placing of blame in a foreclosure—even assuming an eyes-wide-open borrower—the lender gets the bulk of it, because of its unique role in the economy and because of the decidedly uneven power relationship between subprime borrower and lender (read my former colleague Elinore Longobardi's excellent 2009 piece on the usage of the terms predatory lending and subprime). One has capital and the power to actually create money; the other doesn't. One has appraisers, underwriters, lawyers, brokers, analysts, marketers, etc., on the payroll; the other has a Realtor, maybe, who gets paid only when she signs for the loan (in other words: an agent whose incentives aren't really aligned with their own).
In a borrower-lender relationship, the lender holds most of the cards. The lender created and named the product "liar loans," you know, and we know borrowers weren't the only ones doing the lying on those loans. In any case, as the former regulator Bill Black has shown, banks were directly or indirectly complicit in most instances of fraud committed by borrowers. And almost always, lenders who put borrowers into loans they couldn't afford knew they couldn't afford them or intentionally looked the other way. If you underwrite a NINJA (no income, no jobs, no assets) loan, you are asking the borrower to lie to you.
Of course, not all people who got mortgages (it's worth noting that most subprime borrowers were refinancing houses, not actually buying them for the first time) during the bubble were victims, particularly the ones who knew what they were doing. No one has any sympathy for them.
But it's just a matter of historical record that many, many borrowers were either financially unsophisticated and taken advantage of or actively defrauded. And defrauded borrowers were no exception to the rule. Broker and lender fraud was an epidemic.
And it wasn't even a newfangled thing. It was the third or so subprime push in fifteen years—one that happened to be supercharged by Wall Street innovation unmoored from any sense of propriety and—unlike the previous flare-ups—unchecked by any real regulation.
This is from the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission's report:
But many borrowers do not understand the most basic aspects of their mortgage. A study by two Federal Reserve economists estimated at least 38% of borrowers with adjustable-rate mortgages did not understand how much their interest rates could reset at one time, and more than half underestimated how high their rates could reach over the years. The same lack of awareness extended to other terms of the loan—for example, the level of documentation provided to the lender.
Subprime mortgage brokers, to put it very mildly, were not known for their morals or ethics, and these . Ninety percent of appraisers surveyed in 2006 said they were pressured to artificially inflate home values, mostly by mortgage brokers.
Countrywide dangled serious monetary incentives in front of its brokers to put borrowers in subprime loans even when they qualified for better mortgages. That was because Countrywide itself made twice or three times the profit margin on subprime as it did on prime. New Century paid its brokers a 2 percentage point cut if they were able to put borrowers in loans 1.25 percent higher than its listed rates.
New Century went bust in 2007, but Countrywide (now part of Bank of America) settled predatory lending lawsuits for $8.4 billion a year and a half later. That settlement covered 400,000 borrowers.


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Bradley Katsuyama, chief executive of the stock trading upstart IEX Group, made waves on Wall Street by playing the part of a disruptive innovator who said he believed the markets were "rigged." But he adopted a softer tone on Tuesday in testimony prepared for a hearing before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations…Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, and the ranking member of the panel, asked Mr. Katsuyama whether it was accurate to describe the market as "rigged." Mr. Katsuyama said that term was "a word that can be used to describe" the disadvantages that certain investors suffer in the market, but he stopped short of endorsing it. "What it did was it gave our critics and people who are part of the problem a reason to talk about something else," Mr. Katsuyama said. "It was a distraction which was unfortunate." [Dealbook]
Maybe Guy Who Used The Word 'Rigged' To Describe The Markets Would Be More Comfortable With 'Rigged-ish'?
By Bess LevinHere's a math problem: what does this sentence, from John McCain, tell you?
"Apple claims to be the largest U.S. corporate taxpayer, but by sheer size and scale, it is also among America's largest tax avoiders," he said in Monday's pre-hearing comments.
The answer, of course, is that Apple is among the most profitable companies in America.1 If you have a lot of profits, you can not pay taxes on a lot of them, and still pay lots of taxes on a different lot of them. There is much focus on the exceptions, but for the most part I'd guess that "biggest taxpayers" and "biggest tax avoiders" are both highly correlated to "biggest profits." Warren Buffett pays more taxes than his secretary, but at a lower rate.
The Senate, not being known for its quickness with math, is holding hearings today on the avoiding part; here you can read (pdf) the committee's report. Apple does two main things to avoid taxes that the committee doesn't like:
- It incorporated two of its main foreign subsidiaries, Apple Operations International (AOI) and Apple Sales International (ASI), in Ireland. Those subsidiaries are, however, managed and controlled in the U.S. by their California-based directors. The U.S. taxes corporate income based on place of incorporation; Ireland taxes corporate income based on place of management and control. So if you're incorporated in Ireland and managed and controlled in the U.S. you pay taxes nowhere, as AOI does and ASI more or less does. This is … honestly isn't the surprise that everyone doesn't do this?2 I'm incorporating myself in Ireland as we speak.
- It entered a cost sharing agreement that gave ASI the economic rights to Apple intellectual property outside of America, in exchange for ASI funding a share of Apple's California-based R&D proportional to its share of Apple's total sales. Apple is in the business of manufacturing cheap electronic components in China, slapping expensive cool on them in California, and selling the package for $500. ASI effectively got the California cool at cost, rather than paying retail, which means that the international share (some 60%) of the profits of that cool are, for tax purposes, "earned" abroad (in a zero-tax subsidiary!) rather than in California.
That's the main stuff; there's some stupid stuff too.3 Apple's response is a lot of blather that boils down to: Read more »
The executive who led the J.P. Morgan Chase Co. cash-management unit at the center of the "London Whale" debacle is scheduled to testify Friday before a Senate panel probing the $6 billion trading loss at the nation's largest bank by assets. Former Chief Investment Officer Ina Drew, who resigned as head of the unit last May, will make her first public appearance since the New York company disclosed the trading losses last spring. [WSJ]
If we're being totally honest, while it had its moments, last week's Jamie Dimon Congressional hearing to discuss Whale Boy was a bit of a letdown, theatrically-speaking. This was probably due in large part to the fact that it was conducted by the Senate Banking Committee, and the Senate typically comes off intelligent and reasonable compared to the House,* and proceeded accordingly. As we surely don't have to tell you, this is not the kind of hearing we are interested in. Read more »
Posted in:
JPMorgan Flogging
Jamie Dimon: "We Are All Blessed To Have The American Financial System"
By Bess LevinSenator Bob Menendez: I listen to this [hearing] and I paraphrase Shakespeare when I ask, a hedge or not a hedge, that is the question.
Jamie Dimon: [staring] Read more »
They took JPMorgan through the financial crisis "with flying colors." The Whale stuff was a blip. [Related]
MF Global Chief Risk Officer To Recount The Time Corzine Brusquely Told Him His Risk Models Didn't Work In "The Real World"
By Bess LevinThe chief risk officer who was brought in to install risk management systems at MF Global after a rogue trading incident in February 2008 is expected to tell Congress Thursday he outlined his concerns about European sovereign debt trades in the fall of 2010…At the hearing, Michael Roseman is expected to say he "expressed my growing concerns with regard to the potential capital risk associated with the growing positions and began to express caution on the growing liquidity risk," according to a copy of the testimony reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. In mid-September, Roseman told MF Global's chief executive, Jon Corzine, that he would consult the firm's board of directors on requests to increase limits on the European trades. According to his written testimony, Roseman is expected to say that by late October of 2010, the positions were approaching $3.5 billion to $4 billion. After discussing his concerns with Corzine and others, the risk scenarios he presented "were challenged as being implausible." Roseman's testimony doesn't specify who aside from Corzine and the board he told of his concerns. [FINS]


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Boston Marriage. For the entire first act, Boston Marriage is pure enjoyment. It's light and fast, and the language is dizzyingly clever and cleverly self-punctuating. The plot concerns two nineteenth-century women who live together in an arrangement termed a "Boston marriage." One of them, Anna, has snared a rich lover who has given her an emerald necklace; his contributions will help the pair survive financially. Claire has news of her own. She's infatuated with a young woman. Through all this, Anna's fuddled and incompetent maid, Catherine, makes frequent appearances, bringing tea, interrupting the conversation, adding oddly unrelated thoughts of her own. The second act of Boston Marriage isn't nearly as entertaining as the first, primarily because Anna, Claire and Catherine aren't really fleshed-out characters, but agglomerations of words. Things do get a bit more interesting as the action builds toward the O. Henry-style mini-revelation of the ending, though for the most part the plot doesn't bear much scrutiny. The dialogue is lots of fun, however. You should see Boston Marriage for the lift and flow of the language and the vicious charm of the women -- Robin Moseley as the dry-tongued Claire, and Annette Helde in a tour de force performance as the witty, sulky, vivacious and oblivious Anna. Presented by the Denver Center Theatre Company through December 23, the Jones Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100, www.denvercenter.org. Reviewed November 11.
Cats. This company does as good a job with Cats as one can imagine. The dancing, choreographed by Stephen Bertles, who also directed, is seamless. The cast is lithe and graceful. They slither like snakes. They leap high and land without a sound. They're wonderfully into character, batting at each other with kitty-cat paws, or hissing or rubbing a head lightly against a fellow actor's shoulder. The voices and performances are also fine, and there are a few good numbers, such as "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" and "Gus the Theatre Cat." There's also the T.S. Eliot factor: Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats is the dour old poet's most playful work. But this is still Andrew Lloyd Webber, the composer-impresario who arrived on the musical-theater scene like a soggy gray blanket, snuffing out any sparks of wit or originality and leaving in their place a huge, throbbing, manipulative, faintly ecclesiastical and unfocusedly ecstatic swamp of sentimentality. It's a swamp that snares these dancing kitties' feet, no matter how high they try to leap. Presented by Boulder Dinner Theatre through May 1, 5501 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, 303-442-5671, www.theatreinboulder.com. Reviewed December 2.
A Christmas Carol. This is a strong production, with a beautifully evocative set by Robert Blackman -- an intricate puzzle column of objects, books, boxes, tricks and toys that first entraps poor old Scrooge, then gradually vanishes, leaving an almost empty stage filled with light (Don Darmutzer is the lighting designer). Lee Hoiby's music is moving but unsentimental; music director Lee Stametz does well with it, and the singing is often sweet but never showy. The late Andrew V. Yelusich's costumes are pure fantasy. This is a visual and aural feast. And the production values support the performances rather than detracting from them. Last year, the scenes at the Cratchit household felt saccharine. This year, they're touching. Harry Feder Pruett, who plays Tiny Tim, even manages to speak the overused line "God bless us, every one," with a quiet sincerity that makes it new. Randy Moore's Scrooge is a brilliant creation: He's pinch-mouthed and mean, but he's also an aging child, with a child's unconcern for decency and politeness, and also a child's vulnerability. Scrooge's story is a journey through death and into life, just as Christmas itself is an assertion -- primal and unstoppable, whether expressed in pagan rites or Victorian sugarplums -- that even when all trace of green has vanished and the world is locked in ice as gray as Scrooge's mean old heart, life flickers at the core and spring is bound to return. Presented by the Denver Center Theatre Company through December 26, the Stage Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100, www.denvercenter.org. Reviewed December 16.
Impulse Theater. Basements and comedy go together like beer and nuts or toddlers and sandboxes. The basement of the Wynkoop Brewery where Impulse Theater performs is crowded, loud and energetic. Impulse does no prepared skits, nothing but pure improv -- which means that what you see changes every night, and so does the team of actors. These actors set up and follow certain rules and frameworks; they rely on audience suggestions to get these scenes going or to vary the action. Your level of enjoyment depends a lot on whether or not you like the players. Charm is a factor, and so is the ability to take risks. Fortunately, the performers are clever and fast on their feet, willing to throw themselves into the action but never betraying tension or anxiety, perfectly content to shrug off a piece that isn't coming together. The show is funny when the actors hit a groove, but equally funny when they get stymied. So, in a way, the improvisers -- and the audience -- can't lose. Impulse Theater, oen-ended run, Wynkoop Brewing Co., 18th and Wynkoop streets, 303-297-2111 or www.impulsetheater.com. Reviewed June 3.


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The Global Intelligence Files
On Monday February 27th, 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files, over five million e-mails from the Texas headquartered "global intelligence" company Stratfor. The e-mails date between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal's Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The emails show Stratfor's web of informers, pay-off structure, payment laundering techniques and psychological methods.
G3/S3* - IRAQ/US - Iraqi military to get around 700 US trainers-officials
Released on 2012-10-11 16:00 GMT
Email-ID | 1048385 |
Date | 2011-11-23 17:22:46 |
From | firstname.lastname@example.com |
To | email@example.com |
List-Name | email@example.com |
BAGHDAD, Nov 23 (Reuters) - About 700 U.S. mostly civilian trainers will
help Iraqi security forces when American troops leave, Iraqi and U.S.
officials say, far less than the several thousand troops and contractors
once under discussion between Baghdad and Washington.
The number of U.S. troops and trainers to remain in Iraq was the subject
of months of informal talks before President Barack Obama decided in
October to end the U.S. military presence in Iraq. The remaining American
troops, now fewer than 20,000, will leave before year-end.
"There are no talks any more about this issue and the final total number
of U.S. trainers is 740," said a senior Iraqi security official close to
the talks. "Most of them are civilian weapons contractors, and just a few
are military officers."
Iraq needs U.S. experts to train its security forces on U.S. tanks, combat
jets and other equipment as it rebuilds its military nearly nine years
after the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
Violence has dropped sharply from the peak of sectarian bloodshed in
2006-07, but more than 250 civilians, police and soldiers died in violence
in October.
Talks between Baghdad and Washington broke down over legal safeguards for
U.S. troops if they stayed on as trainers. Many Iraqi officials said
immunity for U.S. forces would have been politically unpalatable.
Iraqi security forces are considered capable of containing internal
threats from a lethal Sunni insurgency and Shi'ite militias that carry out
scores of attacks each month. But local forces have serious deficiencies
against external threats.
A U.S. military official had said about 700 civilian trainers were
expected to remain, along with 157 military personnel attached to the U.S.
Embassy's Office of Security Cooperation and a contingent of about 20 to
25 Marine guards.
The trainers will work at Iraqi bases in Baghdad, Tikrit, Kirkuk, Basra,
Nassiriya, Besmaya, Taji and Arbil, the Iraqi official said. Just over 100
will be attached to the Interior Ministry for police training with the
rest working with the Defence Ministry.
"They have no immunity, but they will be a part of the U.S. embassy
delegation in Iraq," the official said. (Writing by Jim Loney)
Yaroslav Primachenko
Global Monitor
Allison Fedirka
South America Correspondent
US Cell: +1.512.496.3466 A| Brazil Cell: +55.11.9343.7752


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HoopsHype Robert Pera rumors
Hours removed from the owner of the Memphis Grizzlies challenging Michael Jordan to a charity one-on-one game, MJ had a response: "Comical." That's the word the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats (and Hall of Fame player) used in a brief interview with the Observer Wednesday. If new Grizzlies owner Robert Pera wants to play one-on-one for $1 million to charity (as he said on Twitter), Jordan won't be his opponent. "I think that's comical,'' Jordan said. "It didn't make any sense. Why would I play one-on-one? It's a no-win situation for me no matter what." Charlotte Observer
Hours removed from the owner of the Memphis Grizzlies challenging Michael Jordan to a charity one-on-one game, MJ had a response: "Comical." That's the word the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats (and Hall of Fame player) used in a brief interview with the Observer Wednesday. If new Grizzlies owner Robert Pera wants to play one-on-one for $1 million to charity (as he said on Twitter), Jordan won't be his opponent. "I think that's comical,'' Jordan said. "It didn't make any sense. Why would I play one one-on-one? It's a no-win situation for me no matter what." Charlotte Observer
And now Grizzlies owner Robert J. Pera is challenging Jordan to a one-on-one game, offering to stake a $1 million contribution to charity. Pera had been joking with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban on Twitter, asking why Cuban had postponed a one-on-one game between them since "I would make quick work of him." Then Pera upped the stakes with this Tweet directed at Hall of Famer Jordan: "If we are talking a charity game, get me MJ! I'll up the charity contribution to $1 m" Charlotte Observer
Memphis Grizzlies Chairman and Controlling Owner Robert Pera will play Grizzlies guard Tony Allen in an exhibition game of one-on-one in the Coventry Health Care Practice Facility at FedExForum on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 4 p.m. Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph will officiate. Media is invited to attend. Pera and Allen agreed to the exhibition contest and to donate $100,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® to tip-off the 2013-14 season. The event will be streamed live at grizzlies.com and broadcast live on ESPN Radio 92.9 FM. This event is closed to the public. NBA.com
There are 12 other NBA owners on the list, including Kroenke (Nuggets), Micky Arison (Heat, $5.9 billion), Dan Gilbert (Cavaliers, $3.9 billion), Charles Dolan (Knicks, $3.3 billion), Tom Gores (Pistons, $2.7 billion), Mark Cuban (Mavericks $2.5 billion), Josh Harris (Sixers, $2.5 billion), Robert Pera (Grizzlies, $1.95 billion), Herb Simon (Pacers, $1.95 billion), Donald Sterling (Clippers, $1.9 billion), Glen Taylor (Timberwolves, $1.7 billion) and Benson (Pelicans). ESPN.com
Gentry was contacted by the Grizzlies on Wednesday and is expected to interview with owner Robert Pera and CEO Jason Levien in Washington, D.C.. on Friday. Other coaching candidates include Grizzlies assistant coach Dave Joerger, former Denver Nuggets coach George Karl and Chicago Bulls assistant coach Ed Pickney, a league source said. Memphis is expected to conduct interviews through next week. Yahoo! Sports
Since the analytics-driven new ownership group of Robert Pera took over control of the franchise this season, there's been dramatic conflict between management and Hollins. Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien has given vice president of basketball operations John Hollinger significant latitude in constructing the roster and a philosophy. Yahoo! Sports
Doubts about Hollins' willingness to work for new Grizzlies owner Robert Pera and CEO Jason Levien have likewise been in circulation since the coach's multiple critiques of the Gay deal in the immediate aftermath of the trade. Sources told ESPN.com that Hollins' relationship with star forward Zach Randolph has been strained at times throughout the season as well. ESPN.com
Sources say Wallace, whose role in Memphis has diminished over the course of the season after the transfer of ownership with the Grizzlies from Michael Heisley to Robert Pera, has received strong backing in Sacramento's GM search from fellow West Virginia native Jerry West. The legendary former player and executive currently serves as a Warriors consultant and has been counseling Ranadive on his early moves with the Kings. ESPN.com
Pete Pranica: Hollins says he's "hopeful" of returning. Spoke with Robert Pera at length re: personnel not contract last night. Twitter @PetePranica
As owner of the Memphis Grizzlies, Robert Pera was already celebrating his team's romp through the NBA playoffs. Now he can add another milestone — he's back to being one of the youngest billionaires in the world, less than a year after falling out of the ranks of the wealthiest last June. Forbes.com
The Nets get their first look at the revamped Grizzlies Sunday in Brooklyn. By sending Gay to Toronto and off-loading Marreese Speights to Cleveland, it's all about shedding salaries and avoiding taxes for the new ownership group, headed by Robert Pera. Those weren't basketball-driven decisions, but had everything to do with the new bosses' demands to save money. As one team official put it, "They put a gun to our head." New York Daily News
Randolph was asked if he agreed with team chairman Robert Pera, who this week said his new-look Grizzlies are better equipped for playoff success after a trade that sent Rudy Gay to Toronto. "I definitely do," Randolph said during a media session in a ballroom at the posh Hilton Americas hotel here. "I think once we get our identity together and continue to play, get some more games under our belt as a unit and come together, I think we can surprise a lot of people." Memphis Commercial Appeal
Robert Pera on Hollins' contract situation: "I think all that for now is confidential. The final decision will come down to Jason and I'll approve whichever direction he wants to go." Memphis Commercial Appeal
When John Hollinger was hired, that was a signal to many people that the Grizzlies are going to rely on analytics and advanced stats. How much do you rely on those types of things? Pera: Well, we like the movie "Moneyball." They use a lot of advanced statistics for the Oakland A's teams. But the difference between baseball and basketball, is (in) baseball, you have individual players, they each have an on-base percentage and a batting average, defensive capabilities. All these parts added together equals the strength of the team, right? But in basketball it's completely different. A player can be immensely valuable in one system and maybe not as valuable in another system. I think it's the combination of pieces in basketball. Analytics are a great tool but you also have to look at the individual player analytics in the context of the system you're running. Q: Did you read a lot of Hollinger before you hired him? Pera: Sure, sure, of course. The Player Efficiency Rating, it's officially adopted by ESPN, so it's a great metric. Memphis Commercial Appeal
Pera: I think what I was trying to say is like OK, I don't want to profit off this team at all. I'm not running it as necessarily a business. Definitely I'm prepared to write a check (to cover franchise losses), and I will write a check at the end of the year. And whether I'm worth a billion dollars or 10 billion dollars, I believe creating a great franchise isn't about throwing money. You've got to carefully assemble the right parts and have the right chemistry. And then what I wanted to say, not only are we not thrifty, but we've inherited financial obligations from the previous ownership for moving the team to Memphis, which we're paying, and the FedEx sponsorship, naming rights, that's all front-loaded from (previous owner Michael) Heisley's time. We're perfectly OK with those economic burdens. I just used a bad choice of words. I wanted to illustrate that we're financially committed. Memphis Commercial Appeal
Still, Pera does follow and did recently chime into his team's official message board. And when he plopped down for a visit last week, no Grizzlies fan believed him. From a Grizzlies.com thread entitled "Do You Guys Think The Front Office Get Ideas From Us," started on Feb. 4: Yahoo! Sports
More (rightfully) dismissive replies followed before 'BeBoutBidness' and 'LilFrontOffice' pointed out that Pera was awarded "All-Star" status (usually given to a poster with a massive amount of posts) after just one message on the board – a sign that this might not be some joker that was quick to grab the "Robert Pera" handle. And then, in his first meeting with local media in three months on Tuesday, Pera admitted to following the team's message board. If not grabbing ideas from it as the thread he replied to posited. Rightfully, the thread was bumped up almost immediately. Yahoo! Sports
Any rumor missing? E-mail us at email@example.com.


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The Fallacy of Islamic Reform
May 12, 2011 by TMO · Leave a Comment
By Dr. Macksood A. Aftab
In recent times many individuals are advocating for an Islamic reform along the lines of the reforms which occurred in Christian Europe and brought Christianity out of the dark ages and into the modern one. The advocates of such reform appear unaware of Islamic intellectual and cultural history. Their assertion lies on the mistaken assumption that like medieval Christianity, medieval Islam must also have been similarly backward and barbaric. However, the exact opposite is true in the case of Islam.
Medieval Islam gave rise to a beautiful civilization filled with culture, tolerance and diversity. It nourished a whole array of scientists and sciences in the fields of philosophy, astronomy, medicine, history and others. As an example of the culture of learning the main library in Cordoba (Islamic Spain) contained between 400,000 and 600,000 books, and was one of 70 libraries in the city.
Art, architecture and poetry flourished in medieval Islam. Some of the most beautiful world landmarks such as the Alhamra, the Taj Mahal, and the Blue Mosque are from this era. Bernard Lewis states, "The civilization of Islam was by far the most advanced and the most creative in the world. Muslims led the world in science." Fischer adds, " The brilliance of Perso-Turko-Islamic civilization provided architectural, painting and music forms to a world stretching from Andalusia to India to Central Asia."
Islam during this time embodied a liberal worldview which embodied religious tolerance not only towards non-muslim minorities but also amongst the various schools of thought within Islam.
Contrast the progressive city of Venice with the Islamic capital of Istanbul. Goffman narrates the experience of a Muslim merchant who visits Venice in 1567 CE and notices that Muslim were not allowed to build mosques and were even denied water for ablution. Whereas, "In his beloved city of Istanbul, the large and thriving communities of Christians and Jews fraternized with Muslims on the streets and in the work places of the city." Classical Islamic civilization celebrated and preserved religious, ethnic, and linguistic diversity amongst its population.
Women enjoyed privileges in society and status unthinkable in Europe. Ruth Roded has documented that that the proportion of female lecturers in many classical Islamic colleges was higher than in modern Western universities. She writes, 'If U.S. and European historians feel a need to reconstruct women's history because women are invisible in the traditional sources, Islamic scholars are faced with a plethora of source material that has only begun to be studied. [ . . . ] In reading the biographies of thousands of Muslim women scholars, one is amazed at the evidence that contradicts the view of Muslim women as marginal, secluded, and restricted.'
Reform movements did take place in Islam in the 19th and 20th century. However, unlike in the case of Europe when reform brought it out of the dark ages into enlightenment. This reform took Islam from enlightenment into the dark ages. These movements form the basis for the ideology of today's Islamists, extremists and "puritans."
Professor Fadl summarizes , "Puritans render the humanistic legacy of the Islamic civilization irrelevant as they ignore the accomplishments of past generations of Muslims in fields such as philosophy, the arts, architecture, poetry and music, moral and ethical theory, and even romanticism and love."
These reform movements revolted against traditional and progressive Islamic civilization and were largely reactionary to Western colonialism, ironically adopting western organizational structures at the expense of traditional Islamic institutions. "Indeed, today's Islamist militants reject the heritage of traditions in their endeavor to politicize Islam. Ironically, they contribute to the process of detraditionalization of society."
Therefore, the traditional Muslims of today are wary of a call towards Islamic reform. This call is a result of the imposition of a western worldview on Islamic history. Rather, the traditional Muslims are calling for a Revival of Islam. A restoration of what were a great religion, and a great civilization begun in Madina by the Prophet (s) of Islam and which flourished for the following millennium. Not for reform which had derailed the success story of Islam.
Dr. Macksood A. Aftab is Clinical Instructer at Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine. He is also a candidate for Masters in History of Science at Harvard University's Extension School. He is a Neuroradiologist having completed his fellowship training at the Harvard Medical School. He is also editor of the Journal of Islamic Philosophy.


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Male Extra
Male Extra is an effective and popular male enhancement supplement. It was designed to help men with a small penis and allows them to achieve penile size gain. The Male Extra supplements work more efficiently and effectively than other male enhancement products.
The product includes ingredients to help men achieve harder and longer erections. The supplement increases men's sexual drive of any man who desires it. The supplements will increase libido and enhanced sexual performance. Men will have a more satisfying time in bed and so will their partners. Men will gain virility and staying power as they enjoy sex a lot more than they might have in the past.
The supplement is made from products that are all natural removing any worry of using a product with harmful and dangerous chemicals and medications. The ingredients include zinc, cordyceps, MSM, creatine and L-arginine. The combination of ingredients can help men improve sexual performance with increased penis size.
Male Extra includes a CD, Penis Health, that shows the proper penis exercise techniques. Exercises will enhance the sexual experience and pleasure. The program includes taking 3 supplements once per day and applies the exercise techniques for maximum benefit.
Male Extra will work to increase the size of a penis anywhere from 0.8" to 2.6" within 3 to 6 months. Male Extra will also increase sexual desire and better control over erections and orgasms. Male Extra has been clinically studies for its effectiveness and ingredient validity. The ingredients increase the levels of nitric oxide that results in better blood flow to the penis. The result is firmer and harder erections and heightened sexual performance.
Male extra also includes Pomegranate 40% in the formula to cut down on the time it takes to get to the results. Male Extra comes with a 60 day money return guarantee, making using the product risk free.


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"Wow, Thank you, Kathie for posting this up. My family enjoyed this for breakfast today and it was a hit. I plastic-wrapped and froze the ones that could be cooked at a later time. My daughter was happy to hear this!!! I also remembered to take pictures for you?.hahaha, I almost snarfed it all up before I could take a picture. Sooo good, than..."
"With 542 positive reviews, I didn't think it needed one more....but it does!!!! I just have to review it so that I can remember to come back to this wonderful recipe. The talk around the lunchroom table this week was about everyone's version of this. I knew to come here and look this recipe up because I had made it before. It is in ..."
"Made this tonight for my family who loved it. I "low" cooked it for 6.5 hours.....had to because we went to the movies. All turned out fine, and there was no need for knife as the meat was fork tender. I always read the comments to get my feel for the recipe and to listen to suggestions that I might like to use. Here are a few of my ..."
"I love recipes that makes my husband beg me to make again and again. I made this last night and he is already asking when I am I going to make it again....5 stars!!!! As with all the other great cooks (reviewers) here, I took liberties with this recipe. I hope you don't mind this, Mama Hope. Followed the recipe but this is how I tweeked it......"
"Parsley, hugs to you my friend!! I won a brownie bake off today at work with your recipe. I made the recipe just as you had stated...except I didn't use a wooden spoon when called for. It didn't even jiggle. I was worried about that and had gone easy with the cream cheese/cherry mixture in the center and stirred up a bit more of the brownie p..."
"Screaming good!! I made three yeast recipes in the last 3 days trying to find the right roll that I wanted (in my head). Never worked with yeast.....brave, I know but these were exactly what I wanted. First batch, seemed kind of not done on the bottom...doughy.....which I know after working this recipe and this issue will go away. ...Second b..."
"Fantastic dish that I shared with my family yesterday for the 4th of July, 2011. It had both myself and my husband salivating for it just from the title alone. I so loved the caramelized, well cooked edges the most. Yum!!! Thank you for sharing.
PS. Hubby came home and requested the leftovers for tonights dinner....love him and loved..."


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"After a while, a few people said to me, "I've heard of you. You're the guy going around buying signs. I was wondering if you were ever going to find me."
Poverty in America is a prevalent issue evident in the ring of the Salvation Army's bell, first-hand experiences of loved ones, and the actual struggling people who look you in the eye as you pass through an intersection. As physically obvious as the issue is, it continues to be a growing problem in America. This collection of homeless people's signs aims to raise awareness for homelessness, this time via the Internet. Artist Andres Serrano collects people's cardboard signs in New York City by seeking out the homeless and offering them $20 for their creation – which he then documents and has recently presented online in an interesting exhibit of struggle, humor, and honesty. [Read more…]


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Quotes & Info
SVNTQ > SEC Filings for SVNTQ > Form 8-K on 10-Jan-2014 | All Recent SEC Filings |
Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement, Completion of Acquisi
The information contained in Item 2.01 is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.02.
As previously disclosed, on October 14, 2013, Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company") and its subsidiary, Savient Pharma Holdings, Inc. (collectively, the "Debtors"), filed voluntary petitions (the "Chapter 11 Cases") for relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code (the "Bankruptcy Code") in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the "Bankruptcy Court").
On December 11, 2013, the Company announced that, pursuant to an auction
conducted on December 10, 2013 under the provisions of Section 363 of the
Bankruptcy Code (the "Auction"), it had entered into an acquisition agreement
(the "Acquisition Agreement") with Crealta Pharmaceuticals LLC ("Crealta")
through which Crealta would acquire substantially all of the Debtors' assets and
certain liabilities, for gross proceeds of approximately $120.4 million (the
"Sale Transaction"). As previously disclosed, on December 13, 2013, the
Bankruptcy Court approved an order authorizing the Sale Transaction with Crealta
pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement.
On January 9, 2014, the Company completed the Sale Transaction. With the closing of the Sale Transaction, the Debtors have completed the disposition of substantially all of their assets, including all KRYSTEXXA� assets. The Company has agreed to provide to Crealta certain support services in connection with the transition of the business through January 31, 2014.
As previously disclosed, on October 14, 2013, the Debtors entered into an acquisition agreement (the "Stalking Horse Agreement") with US WorldMeds, LLC ("US WorldMeds") and its subsidiary Sloan Holdings C.V. ("Sloan"), pursuant to which Sloan agreed to acquire substantially all of the Debtors' assets and certain liabilities for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $55 million, subject to receipt of higher or otherwise better bids at the Auction. In connection with the closing of the Sale Transaction, on January 9, 2014, the Company terminated the Stalking Horse Agreement pursuant to its terms and paid $2.4 million to US WorldMeds as a break-up fee and expense reimbursement.
(b) In connection with the closing of the Sale Transaction and in anticipation
of the winding down of the Debtors' affairs, on January 8, 2014, directors
Ginger Constantine, MD, David P. Meeker, MD, David Y. Norton, Robert G. Savage
and Virgil Thompson resigned from the board of directors of the Company,
effective as of the closing of the Sale Transaction. The sole remaining director
of the Company following such resignations is Stephen O. Jaeger. Also in
connection with the closing of the Sale Transaction and in anticipation of the
winding down of the Debtors' affairs, on January 8, 2014, the following
individuals were removed as officers of the Company, effective January 15, 2014:
Philip K. Yachmetz, Co-President and Chief Business Officer, John P. Hamill,
Co-President and Chief Financial Officer, Richard Crowley, Co-President and
Chief Operating Officer, Kenneth M. Bahrt, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief
Medical Officer and David Gionco, Group VP of Finance and Chief Accounting
(c) On January 8, 2014, Mathew Bazley was appointed Chief Liquidation Officer, President and Secretary of the Company, effective January 15, 2014.
Mr. Bazley, 41, has served as the Company's Assistant General Counsel since February 2013. Prior to that time, Mr. Bazley was an attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP, from 2006 to 2013. From 2003 to 2006, Mr. Bazley was an attorney at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
On January 8, 2014, the board of directors of the Company adopted an amendment to the Company's By-Laws to reduce the minimum number of directors constituting the whole board of directors from three to one and to eliminate the requirement that the Company have a vice president or treasurer. The amendment to the Company's By-Laws is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1.
This Current Report on Form 8-K (this "Current Report") may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are those involving future events and future results that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections as well as the current beliefs and assumptions of the Company's management. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "may," "predict," "will," "would," "could," "should," "target" and similar expressions. All statements contained in this Current Report that are not statements of historical fact and other estimates, projections, future trends and the outcome of events that have not yet occurred referenced in this Current Report should be considered forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from those indicated in forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, the potential adverse impact of the Chapter 11 Cases on the Company's liquidity, changes in the Company's ability to meet financial obligations during the Chapter 11 process or to maintain contracts that are critical to the Company's wind-down of its affairs, the outcome or timing of the Chapter 11 process, the effect of the Chapter 11 Cases or the Sale Transaction on the Company's relationships with third parties, regulatory authorities, employees and consultants in connection with the Company's wind-down of its affairs, proceedings that may be brought by third parties in connection with the Chapter 11 process, the ability of the Company to fund the wind-down of its affairs and the timing or amount of any distributions to the Company's stakeholders. For a discussion of some of the additional risks and important factors that the Company believes could cause actual results or events to differ from the forward-looking statements that it makes, see the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013. In addition, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict or assess the impact of every factor that may cause its actual results or events to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this Current Report. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Current Report. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Additional Information Regarding the Chapter 11 Cases
Additional information regarding the Chapter 11 Cases is available at www.gcginc.com/cases/svnt. This link is provided for convenience only. Such information shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein. As a result of the consummation of the Sale Transaction, investors should no longer refer to the Company's former company website for information.
(b) Pro Forma Financial Information
The Company is currently unable to prepare pro forma financial information reflecting the transactions described in Item 2.01 of this Current Report without unreasonable effort or expense and thus such information is not reasonably available to the Company within the meaning of Rule 12b-21 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. As a debtor-in-possession under the Bankruptcy Code, the Company files monthly operating reports with the Bankruptcy Court, which reports include financial statements that are limited in scope and prepared solely for the purpose of complying with requirements of the Bankruptcy Court. The Company cautions investors and potential investors not to place undue reliance upon the information contained in the monthly operating reports, which are not prepared for the purpose of providing the basis for an investment decision relating to any of the securities of the Company.
(d) Exhibits
3.1 Amendment to the By-Laws of Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc., effective January 8, 2014.


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Cars > FastLS1's Garage
About FastLS1's Garage
About me and my passion for cars
Started when I was about 14 years old, just got carried away and wanted to learn as much about cars as I could. At age 15 I was already swapping sub frames and doing drive train swaps, I caught on fast. Currently going to school full time to be ASE certified.
My first car
1979 Pontiac Trans Am, WS6 package. It was rough, needed some work, but a great car never the less. 455 in it, with simple bolt on's that made the car come to life, gears, stall, exhaust, intake, carb few other goodies.
My dream car
73 Trans Am 455 SD. I have an on going 73 Trans Am project, original 455 with 4 speed, I want to put as many SD455 parts on it as I can, I don't care if they are not OEM, just want the engine to be a .60 over 455 with a slightly modified SD heart.
Car clubs I'm in
SOCAL Ponchos. Socal car club with nothing but Pontiac F-body cars.
- Type of racing: Drag, Auto X, Circuit and off road
- Driver: Tony Stewart
- Driving song: AC/DC "TNT"
- Car movie: Two lane black top
- Car book: Pontiac 400 : inside and out
- Car magazine: High Performance Pontiac
- Car game: Motor City Online
— Profile last updated: May 11, 2010
Date Joined | Dec 30, 2008 |
Trophies | |
Garage Views: | 5,162 |
Challenges | W: 5 L: 9 |
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Photos | 113 photos in 8 albums |
Videos | 0 view |
Cars | 8 view |
Parts |
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Left Lane Life Enthusiast
Left Lane Life are world wide forums based out of Colorado and founded by people with true passion, we hope to be one the worlds best car clubs. Whether you get in your car just to drive, or you hammer it down on the track. We all have that love for the pure acceleration flowing through our...
Colorado, United States
NASCAR FANS Enthusiast
Club Groups
This Car Club is a firm beliver in having fun but in a safe inviroment, thier is a time & a place for every thing.So If your going to race -Race the Strip not the Streets- One life lost is one to many!We believe in giving back to the community! When the Club has Car shows everyone is welcome to...
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Welcome to the Student's Companion
This guide aims to bring you useful information that students need, local information for getting around and learning about the Atlanta metro area, and answers to frequently asked questions. |
Regents and Compass Examinations
Regents Test Preparation (Reading and Essay)
ACT Compass to help prepare for the Compass exam.
Library Basics
How to Use the Library
offers links to tutorials that will improve your use of the library.
GIL Universal Catalog for borrowing books from
other University System of Georgia Libraries.
Interlibrary loan for journal articles
and interlibrary
loan for books.
Wireless Printing for Students: Using GPC's wireless network.
How to Access GALILEO through iCollegeEnjoy this short Prezi video about getting to GALILEO the easy way at home.
Copier Refunds How to obtain a refund when the copiers malfunction.
ESL Book List: A list of reading materials compiled for and by students to improve reading skills.
Help Writing Research Papers
Ask a Librarian: Call, email,
or instant message a librarian.
Cite Your Sources:
Handouts and links to help cite sources.
Library Services for GPC Online Services for students taking hybrid or iCollege classes.
Additional Information
Great Web Sites:
A great place to look for the best the web has to offer.
Making the Most of Web 2.0. Learn
about the social web's academic features.
Learning and Tutoring Center:
The learning and tutoring center.
Copyright Best Practices: A
Page on copyright for students and faculty.
Back to the top of the page.


text:
The MCA Biannual General Meeting which was held on Saturday, 23rd March 2013, saw the delegates giving their thumps up for many from the 2011 – 2012 committee by returning them unopposed. Expect for the positions of the 4 Ordinary EXCO members, the rest of the positions did not see any contest. From the earlier committee, the President has now have Mahinda Vallipuram as his Deputy and Ordinary Committee Member, R. Devindran moving up to the post of Vice President. Honorary Secretary, Iqbal Ali & Treasurer, Ahmad Feisal retained their post. This time around the line-up has also a couple of new faces who are very much from the cricketing circle. The 2013 – 2014 Executive Committee is as follows.
Mr. P. Krishnasamy
Deputy President
Mr. Mahinda Vallipuram
Vice President
Mr. Devindran Ramanathan
Mr. Venu Ramadass
Hon. Secretary
Mr. Mohammed Iqbal Ali Kassim Ali
Hon. Treasurer
Mr. Ahmad Feisal Ahmad Tajuddin
Ordinary EXCO Members
Mr. Dipendra Harshad Rai
Mr. K. Balakrishnan
Dr. Arun Kumar
Mr. Mohd. Haniff Khatri Abdulla
Affiliates Committee Members
Mr. Gerry S. Dionysius
Mr. Gordon Chung Pei Nan


text:
LED8 Table LampPin It Houzz |
. |
Related Info Tools |
Design by Mikko Karkkainen.By Tunto.
LED8 is an ideal lamp for any modern interior, from offices and homes to hotels and lounge environments. It is especially functional as a desk lamp, providing superb lighting for working purposes. The LED8 Table Lamp combines Tunto's renowned design and functional lighting with state-of-the art technical innovation: the lamp is available with the revolutionary Qi Wireless Charging technology, which enables the lamp's surface to be used for charging mobile devices wirelessly.
LED8 is available in oak, walnut or birch. The woods are hand-picked to ensure the best possible quality and certified to support responsible forest management. The oak and walnut are from North America, and the birch comes from Finland.
Qi Wireless Charging is capable of charging various kinds of handheld devices, such as mobile phones, tablets and MP3 players, without attaching any power cables to the device. Place your device on the lamp's wireless charging spot, and it starts to charge automatically.
The use of the wire-free charging depends on the mobile device: certain mobile devices are Qi-compatible without any external adapters; others require a specific Qi ring or a charger case attached to the device. Ships with multiple device adapters, including iRing adapter with Apple 30-pin connector, iRing adapter with Apple lightning connector (for use with iPad 4th Generation and higher, iPhone 5 and higher, iPad Mini and iPod Touch 5th Generation and higher), and Ring adapter with USB micro-b connector (for use with most other smartphones and devices).
Ships with 6 feet of black cord. UL Listed.
Material(s): Wood
Dimensions: 22.5"L X 7"W X 22"H
Lamp Type: LED
Bulbs: 1 X 15W 24V LED module; 2800K, 95 CRI, 700 lumens (included)
Listing: CUL, UL
Manufacturer Specifications: Click to download specifications.
Model(s): LED8W LED8O LED8B LED8
Tunto is lead by founder, owner and award-winning designer Mikko Karkkainen. Mikko' passion is to create unique designs that feel just right and make a difference, while maintaining that certain magical touch of the Scandinavian aesthetics which all the legendary Finnish designs are known for. With Tunto, Mikko aims to dive even deeper into innovative and timeless design and come up with innovative creations that combine wood and modern technology ‐ all in the unique spirit that has earned Tunto its worldwide fame.
See other lights/products from Mikko KarkkainenTunto - Design that makes a difference.
Tunto develops and produces innovative new lighting concepts that combine the latest technology with wooden materials. With their creations, they strive to fulfill the needs and dreams of architects, interior architects and interior designers alike. The focus is on wooden lamps and lighting concepts. Wood is their main material and source of inspiration. They believe that the world needs modern inspiring design with a respect for traditional handwork. Tunto puts emphasis on environmental issues in every production phase and maintains an ecological approach in all designs and packaging. All Tunto products are handmade with love at their workshop in Järvenpää, Finland.
Free shipping
on most orders
Expert advice
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100% price match


text:
notes from the book
MAENPO CIKALONG - Born From the Philosophy of Sufi Tradition
Fly me to the moon
Filtered water from the office water dispensers
Flowers by the Moon Transcription II
The Secret On How To Get Rich From The Internet
List Laundering Secrets From The True Italian
The Sweet Truth Confessions as well as Strategies from the Vending Insider.pdf
Top Attraction Marketing Secrets From The Real World.pdf
Site Profit Domination How To Make Money Online From the Website.pdf
Merchant | Format | Price | |
BookByte | Paperback | $6.55 |
Water from the Well: A Minister's Communion Meditations
This book is part of a series on sustainability. Specifically, it deals with the issue of sustainable water use. Fresh sources of potable water are being depleted across the world. Pure water is the ...
Out of the technological battlefield of World War II came a team of gifted German engineers and designers who developed the vengeance weapon, the V-2, which evolved into the peaceful, powerful Saturn ...
In the conclusion to this epic interstellar adventure by Nebula Award nominee Wil McCarthy, humanity stands at a crossroads as the heroes who fashioned a man-made heaven must rescue their descendants ...
On July 20, 1969, US astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. The Apollo 11 mission that carried him and his two fellow astronauts on their epic journey marked the ...
Not since The Thorn Birds has the lush and romantic land of Australia been brought so vividly to life. Tears of the Moon is the thrilling and dramatic story of an endless ...


text:
- inframike
- http://itakecandle.blogspot.com/
- Member Since Aug 21st, 2006
Blog | Comments |
Engadget | 1 Comment |
AOL TV | 1 Comment |
WoW | 5 Comments |
Blog Maverick | 1 Comment |
Massively | 1 Comment |
Recent Comments:
'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?' Giveaway - Win an HDTV! {AOL TV}
Sep 11th 2010 3:17PM Which of these actresses became one of the earliest female game show hosts by guest hosting "Dollar A Second" in the 1950s?
A) Barbara Stanwyck B) Dagmar
C) Gloria Grahame D) Dorothy Dandridge
EVE Evolved: Wormhole piracy 101, part 2 {Massively}
Aug 17th 2009 1:05AM I'm a reader who quit Eve halfway into the 10-day trial, doesn't have time for much other than WoW, and probably wouldn't be willing to spend the time to get up to speed in Eve or deal with the hassles of travel or losing stuff through PvP
I love reading the Eve stories though.
I'd be thrilled if this depth of coverage was given to other games so I could absorb their lore, mechanics, and player culture without having to buy and play.
Enter to win a Spectral Tiger Mount from WoW Insider! {WoW}
Jul 26th 2007 3:19PM big mounts, no whammies!
Fact or Fiction: The Horde attracts the more mature player {WoW}
Nov 6th 2006 12:41PM The proper stereotypes:
When I played Alliance, everyone complained that the Horde were a bunch of loser teenage powergamers because they only cared about getting the better PvP racials, play 200 hours a day, etc.
When I played Horde, everyone complained that the Alliance were a bunch of sheep who got all their epix on Easy Mode because of Paladin buffs and Fear Ward.
Science says: whichever faction has the highest percentage of guilds self-destructing is the worst faction! ^_^
Engadget's relaunch giveaways: a second Xbox 360 Premium pack {Engadget}
Oct 6th 2006 4:37PM Halo 3, I mean.
Breakfast Topic: Creepiest WoW Moment {WoW}
Aug 31st 2006 1:52PM *nod* I think the scariest C'thun quote was "Teh Hunter will ninja j00r lewt."
Seriously, nothing outright creeped me out, but the screenshot of the chained dead dragon from BWL was a spooky highlight for me when I saw it the first time, and the people you give experimental death potions to in Brill are good horror.
The secret underground passages in Deadwind Pass near Med's tower are kinda spooky too, but that could be mostly because there's no/quiet music there.
WoW Insider Contest: Win Character Art! {WoW}
Aug 22nd 2006 11:43AM More spirit = luckier rolls.
Breakfast Topic: Best Arena Group Composition {WoW}
Aug 21st 2006 12:01PM What we don't know is so many of the variables that the Arena itself will have -- how long will the matches last before the winner is whoever is "ahead on points"? Are there going to be powerups available like Warsong Gulch, and if so, how important will they be to winning? If the powerups are spread out, it could possibly provide an incentive for your group to split up and be picked off. And, how large is the arena itself? Your hunter might be a liability in a small 2v2 arena, but absolutely own a large 5v5 arena where players are forced to spread out.
Print piracy costs much more than music piracy...but its an opportunity {Blog Maverick}
Nov 10th 2005 6:29PM Hi, I liked reading your ideas. The missing part of the equation in my mind is: What about the people who share information for the joy of that information, and don't care about the money? If I want friends on my pitiful little LiveJournal to read an article, it's easiest for me to cut and paste it. I don't care about money enough to jump through hoops to get my small share of it, but the upstream provider may care very much that he lost that 6c, or may be legally bound to harass me over that 6c lest he lose his rights.


text:
Company Overview of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Inc.
BOARD MEMBERS AFFILIATED WITH Edwin D. Secord III, D.D.S., M.S.*
Director | 34 34 |
MOST CONNECTED PEOPLE TO Edwin D. Secord III, D.D.S., M.S.
Name | Relationships |
Gary H. Torgow | 194 Relationships |
Jon E. Barfield | 184 Relationships |
S. Martin Taylor | 176 Relationships |
Daniel J. Loepp | 127 Relationships |
Brian M. Connolly | 85 Relationships |
Sponsored Financial Commentaries
Sponsored Links
To contact Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Inc., please visit . Company data is provided by Capital IQ. Please use this form to report any data issues.
Our data partners will research the update request and update the information on this page if necessary. Research and follow-up could take several weeks. If you have questions, you can contact them at email@example.com.


text:
Super Bowl XLVIII: Which Team Is Best Equipped For The Weather?
As you probably know by now, this Sunday at MetLife Stadium marks the first time that the Super Bowl will be played in an outdoor cold weather venue. Due to the potential for bad weather, uniforms and equipment may play a bigger role in the outcome of the game than they ever have before.
According to Uni Watch's Paul Lukas, the Broncos have a slight advantage going into Sunday's big game thanks to their uniform color (the Bronco's orange vs. Seahawk's white and navy combo), quarterback's glove preference (Russell Wilson favors to throw barehanded, brrrr) and the teams break even in regards to adrenaline. Click though to see a brief breakdown on how the gear should affect the game this Sunday and head over to Paul's column on ESPN for the full story.
RELATED: Nike Football Unveils Silver Speed Collection for Super Bowl XLVIII
RELATED: Nike Debuts the LunarTerra Arktos Super Bowl Edition


text:
Select () or exclude () categories to narrow your recipe search.
As you select categories, the number of matching recipes will update.
Find exactly what you're looking for with the web's most powerful recipe filtering tool.
I can spend hours going through cookbooks looking for new recipes. I like to go to garage sales, auctions and craft shows. I have a very spoiled dog,rusty,and a cat, missy.
chocolate, pizza, pasta


text:
Blog | Comments |
WoW | 6 Comments |
Recent Comments:
How to get your blog crashed by Wow.com, part 2 {WoW}
Jul 12th 2009 5:29PM I actually haven't had any really negative comments posted on my blog site, even several months after after my slashdot effect from wow.com posting about my blog. Not all readers are angry people, so there are a lot of positive experiences you can have as a blogger.
Shifting Perspectives: Why (or why not) to play a Druid, part 2 {WoW}
Jul 10th 2009 1:12AM And... druids have the best community feel out of all the classes (with things like the most help guides stickied on the wow forums).
Encrypted Text: Three's a crowd {WoW}
Jul 1st 2009 12:00PM With rogue/priest/mage 3's combos being so powerful this last season, I don't see how the removal of 2's hurts rogues all that much.
If anything, resto druids were also a class that shone in 2's but doesn't hold up so well in 3's or 5's.
Breakfast Topic: What do you think of the new Druid cat forms? {WoW}
Jun 8th 2009 9:03PM I'm okay with everything except the pink on half of the Night Elf cat forms.
BlizzCon ticket status {WoW}
May 16th 2009 1:37PM Only about the first 2,000 people in queue got tickets.
Breakfast Topic: Did you get what you wanted out of Noblegarden? {WoW}
May 4th 2009 6:41PM You can still complete the "shake your bunny maker" achievement if you have the item. Keep stalking, lol.


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This September, I threw all my camera gear into the car and drove South to do something I've wanted to do for a long time: shoot time-lapse footage of the radio telescopes at the Very Large Array in Socorro, New Mexico.
I've been looking for interesting subject matter to use as a basis for motion-tracking and compositing exercises in After Effects, and I thought the VLA would be perfect source material.
Unfortunately, a tire on my car started failing just as I was pulling into Socorro, and I had to turn around and drive back to Albuquerque to get it replaced, which cost me a full night and day of shooting.
Undeterred, I sped back towards Socorro the minute they lowered the car off the lift, and was able to set up the cameras in time to shoot a beautiful New Mexico sunset, and about 4 hours worth of astro time-lapse that night.
I went back early the next day and got set up again, managing to shoot for about an hour or so before a nasty-looking storm-front started rolling in, which was a pretty huge bummer. The clouds looked amazing as they were gathering over the array, but unfortunately, they didn't move out again, so most of the day I was shooting in the rain, under really flat light, with the lenses pointed at a solid, pewter slab of overcast sky. Not ideal conditions for any kind of photography, and definitely not time-lapse, which depends so heavily on shifting skies to remain visually compelling. Luckily, the scientist/operator made some fairly dramatic moves with the dishes, so there's hopefully still enough there to hold a viewer's interest.
I think the footage I managed to get will yield some cool results if I push it far enough in After Effects, but I'd really like to give it another shot this summer. It really was a fascinating place to film, and I'll definitely be going back soon.
In the meantime– keep an eye on this site. I should be posting the results within the next month or two.
Posted in Photography, Travel, Video