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Arbitron Restarts PPM Commercialization
New York - Jun 12, 2008 - Arbitron will resume the commercialization of its Portable People Meter (PPM) radio ratings service in eight markets. Steve Morris, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Arbitron said, "We have improved our PPM samples in the four key areas we outlined last November. We have enhanced our ability to deliver PPM sample targets. We've improved the composition of our PPM panels, especially among the 18-34 demographic. We've raised the day-to-day cooperation rate of our PPM respondents. We've also put in place a number of programs designed to have a positive impact on response rates. Our commitment to continuous improvement means that we will keep working on these metrics as we go forward."
Arbitron also notes it has been "working diligently with the Media Rating Council in order to achieve MRC accreditation" for the PPM in all Arbitron markets.
New York, Nassau-Suffolk, Middlesex-Somerset-Union, Los Angeles, Riverside-San Bernardino, Chicago, San Francisco, and San Jose will commercialize with the release of the September PPM survey report on Oct. 8, 2008. On that date, the company's diary-based radio ratings will be withdrawn from those eight markets and radio transactions among Arbitron-subscribing stations and agencies will take place solely using PPM-based radio ratings.
Arbitron will deliver pre-currency PPM survey reports for Los Angeles, Riverside-San Bernardino and Chicago with a special release of the June PPM survey report in mid-July, and with the regular release of the July PPM survey report on Aug. 13 and the August PPM survey report on Sept. 10. Arbitron will deliver pre-currency PPM survey reports for San Francisco and San Jose with the release of the July PPM survey report on Aug. 13 and the August PPM survey report on Sept. 10.
Arbitron commercialized the PPM ratings service in Philadelphia in March 2007 and Houston-Galveston in July 2007. In addition, PPM technology is currently being used for radio and/or television measurement in Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Canada and Singapore.
In the revised PPM commercialization schedule released by Arbitron in November 2007, Arbitron indicated an expected commercialization of the PPM ratings service in Atlanta, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Detroit and Washington D.C. in December 2008. Arbitron is not altering that expectation at this time.
The Arbitron plan was announced at the same time as the Spanish Radio Association (SRA) was formed. The SRA is a coalition of Hispanic radio broadcasters including Spanish Broadcasting System, Entravision, Univision and Border Media. The group has concerns with the PPM data and believes it is flawed, the radio group said in a statement that the rollout of the measurement system in major U.S. Hispanic markets may have a harmful effect on the marketplace. Among key issues cited during the meeting were: concerns about the PPM's panel sample size, the increase in response rates, accurately identifying and tracking panelists by country of origin, language weighting, mobile phone-only usage, fair measurement in high-density Hispanic areas, sharing of sample information, meter placement by zip codes and documented versus undocumented listeners, per the industry group.
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text: By G. Michael Dobbs Managing Editor Three radically different DVDs are featured in this week's review column. The recent passing of author, historian and social activist Howard Zinn will undoubtedly call attention to the DVD release of "The People Speak," an adaptation of his famous book, "A People's History of the United States." "The People Speak" was broadcast on A&E and this DVD release includes as extras a "making of" feature as well as interviews with some of the well-known performers who participated in it. Filmed primarily at a theater in San Francisco, "The People Speak" is narrated by Zinn, who explained he wrote the book in 1980 in response to history texts that told only one side of the American story. His aim was to use original texts and documents to illustrate other events and points of view. Like all histories, the outlook of the author influences the narrative. Zinn, who was active in the Civil Rights movement as well as the anti-Vietnam War efforts, sees things from a leftist point of view. His book and this film are not the things that will sit well with the FOX News crowd. The film has various actors Danny Glover, Viggo Mortenson and Rosario Dawson to name three read the words of people who were part of the events Zinn presented. These sequences are quite moving. When one hears an account of how a 10-year-old African-American girl was denied the opportunity to play on a swing set reserved for white kids, you can feel her pain and anger. For me as a journalist, these first-person accounts are the most important parts of the film, rather than Zinn's framework. I found his presentation was made with too broad of a stroke. History is about details, context as well as the big picture. I do have to admit as well I didn't like the way he dismissed the significance of Shays' Rebellion. Rather than mention its importance as the catalyst for the writing of the Constitution, Zinn said there were thousands of people involved at the time in mini-rebellions against state authorities. Nor did he say how Thomas Jefferson actually endorsed the questioning of the status quo. Depending upon your political beliefs, you might find "The People Speak" an affirmation or a challenge. It is certainly provocative, which is one of the main jobs of any historical account. I recently was asked to review this 15-disc DVD set that contains seasons one through five of the A&E television series with illusionist Criss Angel. Besides all of his shows, there are commentaries, interviews, uncut episodes and even a tutorial on creating one's own tricks. I've watched enough of this to know that if you're like me - a guy who was brought up watching Mark Wilson on television and reading about Houdini - Angel has a certain appeal. I like magic. Angel is the Houdini for the present generation who has cleverly packaged his escapes and tricks with reality show family drama and heavy metal music. Houdini was also a master of framing his tricks for the maximum impact and it's fascinating for me to see how Houdini's public relations stunts have evolved into Angel's reality show format. Fascination, though, doesn't translate into my being able to stomach him when he isn't just trying to get out of some box. The family drama as well as his efforts to be a rock musician leave me cold. It's too bad you can't just hit a button somewhere on this set and just get the illusions. That would be the best trick of all. Another zombie movie! Dobbs, that makes three zombie movies in almost as many columns! Sorry, folks, but I can't help the recent zombie explosion -- no pun intended, as they have been know to explode -- and this one was too outrageous to pass up. Made in Norway as a clear homage to Sam Raimi's "Evil Dead" movies, "Dead Snow" has something fairly new to the genre, Nazi zombies. Now to be fair, Nazi zombies were featured in the 1976 movie "Shock Waves," so the idea isn't completely original, but director and writer Tommy Wirkola made it his own. A group of Norwegian medical students decide to spend Easter break in a remote cabin. An old sinister codger, who just turns up at their door looking for some coffee, tells them there is an evil presence in the woods. He explains an SS unit that had been occupying the area during World War II were trapped and apparently killed by the local population. Well, what he hasn't told them is that somehow this bunch have been turned into flesh-eating zombies. They are not your basic George Romero, lurching about undead. No, these guys are organized and they are quick. When members of the group find themselves as snacks, the remainder decide they have to take a stand. They even break out a chainsaw in a clear nod to Raimi's films. Unlike "Zombieland" that soft-pedaled the gore, "Dead Snow" doesn't shy away from it and manages to do it with such outrageousness that it is difficult for a horror fan such as myself not to giggle instead of shudder. That being said, be aware that although this DVD is not rated, it would be a very hard "R" for violence. The two-disc set has several making-of features as well as out-takes. |

subset: commoncrawl


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Kohort's Plan to Beat Meetup? A Social Network for Groups
Here is the strange thing about Meetup.com. It's terrific for organizing people to get together in the real world. But even though there are 28 adult soccer clubs on Meetup near the Betabeat office, each one sits in a separate silo and doesn't connect to its peers. Trying to merge groups together is a nightmare on Meetup.
Kohort, the new startup from Mark Davis, just raised $3 million from folks like IA Ventures, RRE, FF Capital, David Tisch and David Cohen. It's going to be offering a suite of tools to help groups do things like organize events, collect dues and enlist new members.
But the secret sauce, says one investor, is the way in which Kohort will help groups to interact with one another. "Meetup is essentially providing a platform for anyone to create a group, but its not tapping the network effect that comes from tying those organizations together." Read More


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Sponsored by: Missoula Federal Credit Union
Jul 15, 2012 6:48 PM by Tara Oster - KPAX News
MISSOULA- A transient man is behind bars after he allegedly tied a vacuum hose to his pickup truck at a car wash and drove away Saturday.
Missoula Police Sergeant Jerry Odlin said the man was apparently upset that the vacuum machine at Frontier Super Stop on West Broadway had stolen his money.
Odlin said the man tied the hose to the back of the truck and drove away pulling the entire machine off the pedestal. The man then got out of his truck, untied the hose, and drove away.
Odlin said the man was arrested at Muralts at the Wye and is being charged with felony criminal mischief and the damage was estimated to be around $4,000.
7 hours ago


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Golf is considered a gentleman's game due to its emphasis on proper etiquette, color-coordinated outfits, and the removal of all brass knuckles before competition. Suit up for sportsmanship with this Groupon.
Choose from Four Options
- $26 for an 18-hole round of golf for two, including cart rental, redeemable anytime Monday–Friday or after 2:30 p.m. on weekends (up to a $52 value)
- $34 for an 18-hole round of golf for two, including cart rental, redeemable Saturday or Sunday before 2:30 p.m. (up to a $68 value)
- $75 for a Wacky Wednesday greens-fee 2014 membership (up to a $150 value)
- $400 for a weekday greens-fee 2014 membership (up to an $800 value)
Memberships purchased through this Groupon will be valid for August–October 2013 as well as the 2014 season.
Deer Pass Golf Course's rates fluctuate throughout the day and week, and they also offer discounted rates for seniors and juniors.
Deer Pass Golf Course
Arching over the rolling hills of Seville, the fairways at Deer Pass Golf Course's 18-hole layout stretch across 6,012 yards of well-manicured terrain. Though scenic sights abound throughout the course, golfers will likely leave with the seventh hole most firmly etched in their memory, as the 155-yard par 3 requires players to launch tee shots onto a green surrounded entirely by water and populated by a wrinkly Gilligan. Before taking to the breezy links, clubbers can prep their short game at the practice green or fuel up with a snack and refreshments at the on-site snack bar. Visitors can also peruse the club's pro shop, which is filled with racks of stylish shirts and accessories from top brands, many of which are emblazoned with Deer Pass's logo or missing kitty flyers.
Course at a Glance:
- 18-hole, par 71 course
- Length of 6,012 yards from the farthest tees
- Three tee options
- Link to scorecard
86% of 70 customers recommend
"Phenomenal service. Watch out if the greens were aerated."
"Call ahead to make sure there are no scrambles going on"
"Water on course from rains. But they were very accommodating in other ways. I.e. Play other holes"


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About | Projects | Docs | Forums | Lists | Bugs | Get Gentoo! | Support | Planet | Wiki
Yup.. I use vi everyday.. you have to use nano (pico clone) to setup but the first thing I did after installation was 'emerge vim' and 'ls -s /bin/vim /bin/vi' and now I'm happy with my superior text editor.. C elh> Hi elh> still do not have gentoo on my ibook-tangerine elh> somebody told me that elh> gentoo doesn't have vi as its default txt-editor elh> is this true? elh> but you can compile it..can't you? elh> BUYO-BUYO-IGOR------------------------------------------ elh> http://mybrowser.ismad.com elh> _______________________________________________ elh> gentooppc-user mailing list elh> email@example.com elh> http://lists.gentoo.org/mailman/listinfo/gentooppc-user
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This is a syndicated post from Saint Jude Chapel. [Read the original article...]
Every Friday from February 15th thru March 22nd, St Jude Chapel welcomed the faithful for the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions. The Benediction was also celebrated followed by the Station of the Cross. A small reception was held after the prayers.


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Each Activity has a specfic set of lesson plans which introduces with the basics required for each experiment as well as the extension activites which are done for a deeper analysis of the concepts.
Click here to access the Lesson Plans
All the lesson plans are password protected here.
Passwords are given to the parents on Sunday June 13 2010 ,when they came to drop their children. If you are a teacher or a student ask one of the camp counsellor for the password.
Note: If you are using internet explorer you maynot be able to view the lesson plans .Please use any other browser.


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"Each of these following companies own over 1 millions shares of CCA and GEO, and collectively own over two-thirds of CCA and GEO." Unbelievable!!
- American Century Companies Inc.
- Ameriprise Financial Inc.
- Balestra Capital LTD.
- Bank Of America Corp.
- Bank Of New York Mellon Corp.
- Barclays Global Investors
- Blackrock Fund Advisors
- Carlson Capital LP
- Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn LLC
- Dimensional Fund Advisors LP
- Eagle Asset Management Inc.
- Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
- Goldman Sachs Group Inc.
- Hamlin Capital Management, LLC
- ING Investment Management, LLC & Co.
- Invesco LTD.
- Jennison Associates LLC
- JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Keeley Asset Management Corp.
- Lazard Asset Management LLC
- London Co. Of Virginia
- Makaira Partners LLC
- Managed Account Advisors LLC
- Morgan Stanley
- Neuberger Berman Group LLC
- New South Capital Management INC
- Northern Trust Corp
- Principal Financial Group Inc
- Renaissance Technologies LLC
- River Road Asset Management, LLC
- Scopia Capital Management LLC
- State Street Corp
- Suntrust Banks INC
- Vanguard Group INC
- Wells Fargo & Company
Originally posted on Prison Divestment Campaign:
There are 36 U.S.-based major financial investors that own over one million shares of CCA and GEO combined. The following companies each own over 1 million shares of CCA and GEO, and collectively own over two-thirds of CCA and GEO:
View original 392 more words


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Word Viewer
Use Word Viewer to write, edit or translate any document 100% Free. Word Viewer makes it possible to work on one document, presentation or spreadsheet at the same time with multiple people. You can store documents online, share documents with your friends and colleagues.
Step 1: | Download Setup File |
Step 2: | Click "Run" or "Save File" in Firefox |
Step 3: | Click "Run" once more |
Step 4: | Easy installation will begin |
Free Full Version for Windows 7, Vista, XP |
This download is managed by a download manager, an ad supported smart installer. Learn more.
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Requirements: | No special requirements |
OS: | Windows XP/Vista/7 |
Last Updated: | July 02, 2012 |
- The latest version with all the latest updates & features
- Compatible with all Windows desktops and PC's
- Store documents online and share.
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This product is totally free and offers the user additional bundle products that may include advertisement. the software can be installed without any additional software by opting out of the offerings. All additional bundle products are available for free from the manufacturer website.
This installation is distributed with the AVG Toolbar. You can decline to install it. AVG add-on supports IE, Firefox and Chrome. It shall change the user home page and default search in IE, Firefox and Chrome, in the event you select such options.
Supported OS:
Windows XP/Vista/7


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Hacking collective Anonymous has brought down Virgin Media's website in response to the internet service provider's decision to block access to The Pirate Bay.
Virgin Media was forced to take its website offline for an hour last night during a hack attack, and the site is down again at time of writing.
Twitter feeds associated with Anonymous announced (via the BBC): "Virgin Media - Tango Down #OpTPB".
Virgin Media blocked access to popular torrent site The Pirate Bay last Wednesday following a High Court ruling.
Four other ISPs - Sky, Everything Everywhere, TalkTalk and O2 - have also been ordered to prevent their users visiting The Pirate Bay by this coming Friday, while BT has requested "a few more weeks" to consider its position.
Anonymous also claimed to have targeted TalkTalk over the weekend, although the network hasn't confirmed this.
Virgin Media said in a statement: "As a responsible ISP, Virgin Media complies with court orders but we strongly believe that tackling the issue of copyright infringement needs compelling legal alternatives, giving consumers access to great content at the right price, to help change consumer behaviour."


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Day 5: Ryan Murray, D Everett Silvertips. 2nd NA.
The 2012 draft is top heavy with talented forwards but Everett Silvertips defenceman Ryan Murray figures to be the first blueliner to warrant a pick.
Still, the pick is in flux. With a bevy of young forwards, the Edmonton Oilers, owners of the first overall pick, may want to drop a place or two and emerge with Murray.
A six-foot-defenceman and captain with the (WHL's) Everett Silvertips, Murray is an effortless skater with offensive upside. In his sophomore Western League season Murray scored nine times and added 22 assists in 46 games. Barring an unexpected turn, he will likely be wearing someone else's baseball hat and jersey when the Leafs choose at number five.
Murray also filled in when injuries struck Canada's World Championship team and accompanied the club overseas where he was pointless in six games. It represented a rare triple: Murray also wore Canadian colours at the World Juniors and captained Team Canada at the under-18 world championship.
"I am honored Team Canada has called upon me to play for them. I'm just really happy about having the opportunity."
Sound in all three zones, Murray is probably the most NHL-ready defenceman in the draft. Nearly every player who skated in the NHL at 18 were forwards with players like New Jersey defenceman Adam Larsson standing out as a rare exception.
"It's been done before. You know it's possible at least," Murray said. "I've got to have a big summer and hopefully crack the lineup next year.


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Nestled between the Los Angeles River and the 710 freeway, and often passed off as just another crime-ridden neighborhood by outsiders, Boyle Heights is home to a growing concentration of Latino immigrants, many who lived in and strengthened this community for generations.
Boyle Heights became a center for immigrant life in L.A. as early as the 1920s and remained so for decades. It was a place to call home when other parts of the city wouldn't open its doors. In the 1930s, its demographics began to shift when Mexican families started to populate the area as Jewish and Japanese families moved out. Today, Boyle Heights boasts nearly 110,000 residents.
Dissected by five major freeways and neighbor to several industries, the residents of Boyle Heights face significant amounts of noise, air, industrial and traffic pollutants every day. As part of the award-winning "Toxic Tour" reporting project sponsored by Newsdesk.org and Spot.Us, this project will bring you coverage from this underreported community highlighting the detrimental effects caused by pollution and other harmful environmental health factors.
Background: Newsdesk.org's 2009 series "The Bay Area Toxic Tour: West Oakland" covered the impacts of pollution from the Port of Oakland on adjacent communities. The project was produced by three independent journalists, financed by Spot.Us, and won the Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Award for Excellence in Journalism.


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U. S. Attorney's Office Collects More Than $183 Million In Civil & Criminal Actions In FY 2011
Tampa, Florida - U.S. Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announced today that the Middle District of Florida collected $183,364,578 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 related to criminal and civil actions. Of this amount, $11,273,000 was collected in criminal actions and $172,091,578 was collected in civil actions. Additionally, the office collected $19,227,245 in criminal and civil forfeitures.
Nationwide, the U.S. Attorneys' offices collected $6.5 billion in criminal and civil actions during FY 2011, surpassing $6 billion for the second consecutive year. A portion of this amount, $1.3 billion, was collected in shared cases in which one or more U.S. Attorneys' offices or department litigating divisions were also involved. The $6.5 billion represents more than three times the appropriated budget of the combined 94 offices for FY 2011.
"Our district is very proud of the significant level of success we have enjoyed in this important part of our mission," said U.S. Attorney O'Neill. "It is vitally important to protect the interests of victims of federal crime and the integrity of federal programs. In the coming fiscal year, we will rededicate ourselves to holding accountable those who seek to profit from their illegal conduct."
The U.S. Attorneys' Offices, along with the department's litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. Statistics indicate that the total amount collected in criminal actions totaled $2.66 billion in restitution, criminal fines, and felony assessments. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid directly to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department's Crime Victims' Fund, which distributes the funds to state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. Our Financial Litigation Unit, which is charged with collecting criminal restitution and fines from defendants, posted more than $11 million in criminal collections, which were either disbursed to non-federal victims of crime, federal agencies, or deposited into the Crime Victims' Fund.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorneys' offices, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $1.68 billion in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2011. Forfeited assets are deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund and Department of Treasury Forfeiture Fund and are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes. In the Middle District of Florida, more than $23.8 million in forfeited funds were returned to crime victims in FY 2011, and $14 million in forfeited funds was shared with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
The statistics also indicate that $3.83 billion was collected by the U.S. Attorneys' offices in individually and jointly handled civil actions. The largest civil collections were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected fines imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal health, safety, civil rights or environmental laws. In addition, civil debts were collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Internal Revenue Service, and Small Business Administration.
For the past two fiscal years, the Middle District of Florida has had more whistleblower cases filed under the False Claims Act than any other judicial district in the country. The significant recoveries in FY2011 were driven in large measure by two settlements in cases filed by private whistleblowers involving fraud against federal healthcare programs. Please see case highlights for details on United States ex rel. Austin v. Novartis Pharmaceutical Corp. and United States ex rel. Maul v. Ameritox, LLC.
The nationwide collection totals for the U.S. Attorneys' offices for FY 2010 and FY 2011 combined is $13.18 billion, which represents nearly a 52% increase over the FY 2008 and FY 2009 combined total of $8.55 billion.
For further information, the United States Attorneys' Annual Statistical Reports can be found on the internet by clicking HERE.
Please see highlighted cases below from the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Middle District of Florida Affirmative Case Highlights
United States ex rel. Austin v. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.
On September 30, 2010, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation agreed to pay $201 million to resolve its civil liability from a Middle District of Florida suit concerning Novartis's illegal marketing of its Trileptal medication. Under the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, once the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug for a specific use, a company may not legally market that drug for other, unapproved uses. However, Novartis promoted Trileptal to physicians for prescription to patients suffering from psychiatric conditions and neuropathic pain despite the fact that the FDA had never approved Trileptal for such uses. Two former Novartis sales representatives filed a federal whistleblower suit under the False Claims Act in Tampa that alerted the United States of Novartis's off-label marketing regarding Trileptal. The United States, through the efforts of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Department of Justice's Civil Division, and the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida, then intervened in the case to prosecute the suit on behalf of all United States citizens. Novartis agreed to pay $201 million to resolve the Middle District of Florida's suit against it as part of a larger settlement involving other suits filed against Novartis in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. From the $201 million, $150 million was allocated to damage suffered by federal health care programs. The settlement monies were received during FY2011 and were distributed to both the United States and state governments touched by Novartis's off-label violations. The whistleblowers who filed the Tampa case received payments totaling more than $20 million from the federal share of the civil recovery.
United States ex rel. Maul v. Ameritox, LLC
In November, 2010, we resolved civil kickback claims in this qui tam case filed by a former sales executive of a diagnostic blood testing laboratory. The relator alleged that the laboratory, Ameritox, LLC, paid cash kickbacks to its client physicians to induce them to refer Medicare reimbursable drug testing business to the lab. The relator also alleged that the lab had paid in-kind kickbacks to physicians in the form of no cost collector personnel to physicians, also to induce referrals. After a lengthy investigation, we confirmed each practice and persuaded the defendant to settle the kickback claims in exchange for a payment of $16.3 million plus interest, to the United States and a handful of state Medicaid programs. The relator received a share of the recovery in excess of $3.4 million.
Middle District of Florida Asset Forfeiture Case Highlights
Most of the $19 million forfeited by the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida in FY2011 was the proceeds of fraud – including health care fraud, investment fraud, and federal program fraud – or drug trafficking. In accordance with the Department of Justice's policy, the United States Attorney sought approval to use forfeited funds to compensate victims of crime for the financial losses, resulting in the return of almost $24 million in FY 2011. For instance, as a result of seven civil forfeiture cases completed in FY 2010 against bank accounts containing Medicare fraud proceeds, a total of $4,399,697.47 was returned to the victim, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in FY 2011. As the result of the prosecution of Frank Amodeo, approximately $7 million was returned to the Internal Revenue Service, the victim of Amodeo's $200 million tax fraud. The majority of the funds returned to victims this year, however, were returned to individual victims of financial frauds.
Several of the forfeitures completed in FY 2011 will result in significant payments to victims in FY 2012. Among the cases in which the United States Attorney will seek to use forfeited funds to pay victims this fiscal year are the three discussed below.
United States v. Ben Bane
On August 23, 2011, Ben Bane was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison after a jury convicted him of a healthcare fraud scheme involving fraudulent Medicare billing. In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a forfeiture money judgment against Bane for more than $5.8 million, and ordered him to forfeit a number of assets to satisfy the judgment, including $1.425 million in cash, 2 mortgages, 17 real properties and 4 vehicles and vessels.
United States v. David Merrick
Merrick, along with co-conspirators, operated a massive fraud scheme, taking in more than $15 million from investors. Thus far, the United States has completed the forfeiture of $2,021,354.60, three pieces of real property and two luxury vehicles. Several million dollars in additional forfeitures are still pending.
United States v. Roy Ageloff
While in prison for committing securities fraud violations, Ageloff laundered the proceeds he obtained from his securities fraud violations (and failed to advise the court he had). Thus far, $1,728,297.27 has been obtained from the sale of real and personal property. An additional piece of real property is pending sale.
In addition to the civil and criminal forfeiture of fraud proceeds, the forfeiture of drug proceeds continues to have a significant impact on our community. The largest narcotics-related forfeiture completed in the Middle District of Florida in FY 2011 occurred in United States v. Jaime Mor-Saab. Mor-Saab pleaded guilty to knowingly and willingly participating in a money laundering conspiracy with Fabio Enrique Ochoa Vasco, a significant Colombian cocaine trafficker, to launder Ochoa's drug trafficking proceeds. In his plea agreement, Mor-Saab admitted that, between 1987 and early 2007, he laundered millions of dollars for Ochoa and he agreed to forfeit all property he acquired as a result of his laundering. In FY 2011, the United States forfeited more than $1.3 million from seven bank accounts Mor-Saab maintained in the United States and the forfeiture of an additional $2.2 million was completed this month.
United States v. Michael Olaf Schütt involved the forfeiture of money involved in, or traceable to, the operation of several money transmitting businesses. Schütt had been receiving millions of dollars from foreign corporations involved in illegal gambling operations and transmitting those funds to gamblers in violation of federal and state law. As part of his plea agreement, Schütt agreed to forfeit the contents of ten bank accounts, funds from the escrow account of a title company, a 2009 Audi Q7 vehicle, a 2002 Porsche 911 Carrera, four Rolex watches, $10,000 in cash seized from his residence, a diamond engagement ring and a diamond wedding band. As a result of the forfeiture, $2,571,669.54 was deposited into the Treasury Forfeiture Fund.
Middle District of Florida Criminal Debt Collection Case Highlights
This year, the United States Attorney restructured the office, creating a new Asset Recovery and Victims' Rights Division (ARVRD) charged with coordinating victim issues, forfeiting criminal proceeds, and enforcing criminal monetary penalties, including restitution orders. As a result of the reorganization, there is increased communication and coordination between Criminal Division Assistant United States Attorneys and their colleagues in the ARVRD, which in turn has significantly improved our collection efforts. Among the best examples of the success of the new ARVRD are the following cases. In United States v. Orpeza, within weeks after sentencing, the new ARVRD collected all $409,000.00 in restitution ordered by the Court. In United States v. Bane, through the use of writs of garnishment on bank accounts and execution on properties owned by Bane or which were held for his benefit, approximately $1,868,000 in restitution was collecting following the defendant's sentencing.


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Wed, Mar 30, 11 at 19:10
For the first time I saved the roots of Tropicanas from Lowes that I grew in pots & stored them under my house for the winter. How soon can I start them in a new pot & how deep should I place the root? I have a green house but it's not heated & does get cold at night, 110 degrees during the day. I live in northern NV. I attempted a few new plants already. Also, I trimmed the long stringy roots. Am I supposed to do that? |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by canna2grow z7 AR (My Page) on Fri, Apr 1, 11 at 10:13
Assuming your rhizomes survived the winter storage, you can repot your cannas roughly 3/5 weeks prior to moving outside for the summer. If you have a heated and well lighted area you could start earlier. Once plants emerge, do not allow to freeze. Trimming the old feeder roots is not a problem. Most containers sold at Lowes and other outlets are not large enough for maximum potential growth. I would suggest a much larger container for each large 3/5 eye rhizome. Best, Kent |
- Posted by washoe_mark 5 (My Page) on Sat, Apr 2, 11 at 7:49
Thank you very much for the response. I believe the rizomes are fine. A couple look dead. Also I'm going to try planting a few in the ground but I know I'll have to dig them up in fall. Our winters are to harsh. |
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Listed below are terms, policies, and procedures that are commonly used in the conduct of Committee on Educational Policy (CEP) business.
Academic Program
Auditing Courses
Course Approval
Course Cancellation
Course Categorization
Course Evaluations
Course Sponsors and Primary Instructors
Course Syllabus
Academic program – Academic programs are offered by the school and correspond to the degrees listed for HSPH in the statutes of the university: Master of Public Health, Doctor of Public Health, Master of Occupational Health, Master or Doctor of Science in a public health discipline (generally, the name of the department; also Master of Science in Health Care Management); also, Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences in Public Health, granted by GSAS. This term is synonymous with degree program.
Within an academic program, a department may offer two or more concentrations (see "concentration" below for information about CEP approval) to which a prospective student may apply; for example, the Department of Society, Human Development and Health offers one concentration, health communications. Within a department may be two or more areas of interest in which a student may specialize; for example, areas of interest within the Department of Health Policy and Management include: Health policy, health management, or research. Areas of interest are listed in the departmental section of the catalog but do not require CEP approval. In most departments, applicants are not required to specify an area of interest.
Auditing Courses – Auditing courses policy. "Only HSPH degree students, students cross-registering from Harvard faculties and approved institutions, and HSPH-affiliated and approved postdoctoral fellows may audit HSPH courses. Student wishing to audit courses may do so only with the permission of the instructor. All students auditing courses must register for the course through the Registrar with the grade option of 'audit' indicated. Courses which exclude auditors are noted as such on the course descriptions. There is a limit of five credits per semester of audited course work while registered as a full- or part-time student fulfilling degree requirements. Students may not extend their time to degree in order to audit courses. If a student still has time to degree (graduation date) and is not registered for courses for credit, he/she may register for up to 5 credits of audited courses. Audited courses appear on the students transcripts as AU/Audit. Summer courses may not be taken for audit." Each semester a memo of guidelines for auditing at HSPH will be sent from Student Services to instructors.
Competencies – Competencies define what a successful learner should know and be able to do upon completion of a particular program or course of study. These statements describe in measurable terms the knowledge, skills, and abilities a successful student will demonstrate at the conclusion of the academic program. To meet CEPH requirements each HSPH degree program, concentration, and area of specialization is expected to have clearly stated competencies that guide the development of the educational program. The description of the competencies must include the learning experiences by which the competencies are met and include the required curriculum for each program. The competencies must be made available to the students.
Concentration – A coordinated program of study within an academic program. Departmental concentrations are usually located within a single department or within the MPH program, but can also encompass two HSPH departments.
Concentrations encompassing three or more departments are called interdisciplinary concentrations. A core set of required courses from the participating departments is established, along with elective courses. The CEP strongly recommends that the core course(s) be interdisciplinary rather than a collection of existing courses from the participating departments. Concentration sponsors will be responsible for ensuring that interdisciplinary core courses are scheduled at a time that does not conflict with required courses for students in participating departments.
Students apply to one of the participating departments, and the degree will be issued from that department. Currently there are four interdisciplinary concentrations with CEP and faculty approval — Women, Gender, and Health, Epidemiology of Infectious Disease, Maternal and Child Health/Child, Youth and Family, and Obesity Epidemiology and Prevention.
In 1996, the CEP approved a policy for the creation of new concentrations that was revised in 2007 (either departmental or interdisciplinary.) All concentration proposals submitted to the CEP must include the following information:
- proposed name
- background and development of the concentration
- purpose (need it addresses)
- concentration competencies
- syllabus for core courses designated how they meet concentration competencies
- description (for use in HSPH Catalog)
- requirements (number of credits, lab work, other types of experiences, etc.)
- proposed curriculum (required/core courses and electives) indicating the sequencing and progression of courses
- detailed description of the culminating activity(s)
- process for documenting completion of the concentration
- degrees to be awarded
- description of likely career paths for graduates
- letter of endorsement from the department chair (or, in the case of interdisciplinary concentrations, a letter from the chair of each participating department)
- list of faculty members affiliated with the concentration
In addition, concentrations encompassing two or more departments should include the following:
- how concentration will be administered and reviewed
- detailed financial support by each department
- list of steering committee members
- proposed admission review process
The sponsor of the concentration will attend a CEP meeting to present the proposal and to provide answers to questions that committee members may have. The CEP will review the concentration proposal and may make recommendations, or ask for additional information before granting final approval. If the proposed concentration is approved by the CEP, the proposal will be placed on the agenda of a faculty meeting for discussion and full faculty approval. Once final approval is granted by the faculty, the concentration will be forwarded to the Office of Student Services and to the catalog editor for inclusion in the catalog and application materials.
Newly approved concentrations will be reviewed by the CEP after five years. A status report will be presented at a CEP meeting by one of the concentration's sponsors. Any revisions to the original concentration proposal in terms of name, purpose, description, requirements, curriculum, etc. should be noted and discussed.
Information about a new concentration must be included in the edition of the catalog and application materials used by the prospective students who will be applying for the concentration. For example, if the first class of students is expected to enroll in September 2011, the proposal for the concentration must be reviewed and approved by the CEP and the full faculty during the 2009-10 academic year. To meet the catalog deadline, which in this example would be March 2010, it is recommended that the new concentration be proposed to the CEP at its October 2009 meeting. Please note that this is nearly two years before the first class matriculates.
Course approval – Conditional or formal approval of new courses. After discussion and vote by the CEP, a list of conditionally and formally approved courses is forwarded to the faculty for vote at a faculty meeting.
Conditional course approval is granted for one year to new courses. After one year conditionally approved courses are eligible for formal approval. Conditional approval may be extended for one year if a course is not evaluated, receives a student course evaluation rating of less than 3.6 of the enrolled students. The vote for approval is based on the description of the course that is submitted to the registrar by the course instructor.
Formal course approval is given to courses that were conditionally approved for the previous year and received a rating of 3.6 or higher on student course evaluations. The vote for approval may integrate the views of the department offering the course. Established courses that have received formal approval do not need to reapply for approval, but are subject to review if they receive consistently poor student course evaluation ratings.
New courses will be posted by the Registrar's Office following CEP approval. Proposed courses, not yet approved, will be given "Pending" status and students will be wait-listed until CEP approval.
Deadlines for new course proposal delivery to the Registrar's Office:
March 16 All courses to be posted (for returning students & advisors to meet prior to leaving for summer)
July 1 Fall, Fall 1 & Fall 2
November 1 Winter Session, Spring, Spring 1 & Spring 2
Course cancellation – All canceled courses require that a Course Cancellation Form be completed and submitted to the Registrar's Office. The form must identify the reason for the cancellation and whether it is only a one-year or a permanent cancellation. All cancellations submitted less than two weeks before registration begins for the semester are considered late cancellations, and must satisfy one of the requirements below in order for the cancellation to be approved:
- low enrollment (fewer than five students enrolled by the end of the first week of class)
- minimum enrollment not met by end of the first week of class
- emergency circumstances – requires an explanation
- other – requires a letter outlining the reasons for the cancellation and the signature of the dean for academic affairs
All cancellations are reviewed by the CEP.
Course Categorization – Each HSPH course has a specific department(s)/program designation based on the following categories:
- Category 1: a school-wide core requirement for masters or doctoral programs (i.e., identified courses in biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, social and behavioral sciences, health services administration).
- Category 2: a required course for students in one or more HSPH degree programs and/or concentrations (both departmental and interdepartmental courses).
- Category 3: an essential course to the mission of the department, but designated as one of several options for fulfilling required credits within a discipline or program area. Intended to be taught on a regular basis to ensure student access regardless of the availability of a specific faculty member.
- Category 4: an elective, not required course, that provides students with access to new knowledge or skills generated by faculty interest; provided only as long as the faculty member chooses to offer it.
Departments/programs propose and justify the designation and CEP reviews and approves the list of courses that qualify for each category. Changes in faculty for Category 1, 2 or 3 courses are subject to CEP approval, in consultation with the sponsoring department/program. Consistent poor course performance (as evidenced by student evaluations, peer review, and/or other means of course review) is subject to CEP oversight.
Compensation for Courses – Compensation for categorized courses is under the authority of the Office for Finance and Administration.
Changing a Course Category – A request for a change in a course's category must be submitted to the CEP for approval one year in advance of the change. The request should include the proposed change, a letter from department(s)/program chair/director describing the reasons for the change, and describe how students will be accommodated for the competencies and learning requirements of the course in the future.
Cancellation of Courses in Category 1, 2, or 3 – All Category 1, 2 and 3 courses are expected to be offered on a periodic basis that maintains adequate student access. Departments/programs are obligated to provide course instructors for these courses regardless of faculty changes or sabbaticals. Courses would not be cancelled, for one year or permanently, unless CEP has received and approved the request signed by the department(s)/program chair/director of any programs affected by the course cancellation, at least one year in advance of the proposed cancellation. Cancellation requests include:
- Signed course change/cancellation form
- The reason for the cancellation
- A plan for how the competencies and other learning requirements of the course will be met (e.g., other courses that provide the same competencies)
- A communication plan for informing faculty, students, administrative offices, and other departments of the cancellation and the proposed method for students to otherwise meet the competencies and learning objectives of the cancelled course.
Cancellation of courses in Category 4 requires the signed course cancellation form and completion of any other requests from the Registrar or CEP.
Course Evaluations – Online evaluation forms completed by students at the end of each course. The results are compiled into reports that are distributed to the instructor, department chair, Office of Student Services, MPH office, and students.
High rating is an overall rating of 4.3 or higher (on a five-point scale.) Instructors of courses that receive a high rating are sent a letter of congratulations from the chair of the CEP, and department chairs are notified of the course's high rating.
Low rating is an overall rating of 3.6 or lower (on a five-point scale.) Instructors of courses that receive a low rating are sent a letter from the chair of the CEP asking them to comment on the reasons for the low rating and to inform CEP of any plans to change the course. If no response is received by the deadline noted in the letter, a follow up letter will be sent to the instructor and the department chair(s).
Course Sponsors and Primary Instructors - All courses (including formal courses, tutorials, independent studies, and research credits) will have a sponsor. At HSPH, faculty members eligible to sponsor a course are individuals whose academic appointments have been approved by SCARP and the Board of Overseers, i.e., those holding the titles professor, associate professor, assistant professor, senior lecturer, or lecturer (as primary, secondary, adjunct, or visiting appointees); in unusual cases, a dean who holds the title "member of the faculty" may be a sponsor of a course. Individuals with an equivalent appointment in another faculty of Harvard University or at MIT may also sponsor an HSPH course.
The responsibilities of a course sponsor include oversight of the following:
- submission of the course proposal
- course syllabus including course objectives and outcome measures
- course instruction;
- course structure and content;
- continuity of course supervision;
- quality of instruction;
- evaluation of student performance (grading); and
- submission of grades.
This sponsor, in most cases, is also the primary instructor.
A "primary instructor" is defined as an individual who does the majority of the teaching in the course. This may be someone with a nonfaculty academic appointment. While the most appropriate title for such individuals is instructor, appointees with the following titles may also occasionally be the primary instructor of a course: research associate, research scientist, visiting scientist, or annual lecturer (as distinct from faculty lecturer). Please note that students may participate in instruction only in the role of teaching assistant.
If the primary instructor is different from the sponsor, this information must be indicated on the course proposal or revision form submitted by the course sponsor to the Registrar's Office.
In those cases where the sponsor is different from the primary instructor, the letters (S) and (P) will appear, accordingly, after the instructors' names in the official course listings produced by the Registrar's Office.
(The policy stated above was approved by the CEP in 1996, and revised 2001.)
Course syllabus – All HSPH courses must have a syllabus that outlines, at a minimum, course objectives, grading criteria, activities, and assignments. Also included must be the measures by which students will be evaluated to determine their achievement of the course objectives.


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Department Chair Phylis Martinelli presents portions of her book
Wed, 2011-09-14 12:18
Department Chair Phylis Martinelli presented selected portions of her book Undermining Race: Ethnic Identities in AZ Copper Camps (University of Arizona Press, 2009) to students in the Honors Program at Saint Mary's College on Tuesday, October 25. Students gained new insights into the history of Arizona anti-immigrant laws. The lecture was part of an ongoing series sponsored by the Honors Program.
Groups audience
Maps & Directories
Mailing Address
Saint Mary's College of California
1928 Saint Mary's Road
Moraga, CA 94575
(925) 631-4000
Google Map | Campus Map | PO Boxes


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What can't you find online these days? Check out Steep.it, a site that can help brew a perfect cup of tea everytime.
Keep reading to see what the site does.
Popping open a bottle of something bubbly—whether it's genuine Champagne or some other type of sparkling wine—is mandatory on New Year's Eve. But there are lots of fun and super-easy ways to dress up the drink for the night if you're in the mood for something different. Better yet, put out an assortment of mixers and let your guests concoct their own festive libations. Here are some ideas for sparkling wine add-ins (and if you're creating cocktails, I'd recommend using an inexpensive cava or Prosecco instead of real Champagne; you don't want to mess around too much with the good stuff).
At this very moment as I'm typing this, the main article on the NYTimes.com homepage is about a new trend in a handful of New York City bars: coffee cocktails (why this is front-page-worthy news, I'm not sure. It even has a featured video). We're not talking about your typical Irish coffee here—there's nothing loaded down with sugar or covered in whipped cream and maraschino cherries. Instead, these drinks include top-shelf bourbon and brandy, house-made syrups, and sustainable, carefully sourced coffee. Some are served hot, some are cold, and for now, they're mostly being served during the day (though the article speculates nighttime service is soon to follow).
This week's rant is directed mainly towards myself. Most times that I roll into my favorite coffee place and order a cup, I make a foolish financial decision. (Well, actually two, I guess, since the first one is not making my morning fix at home.) It's one that only costs me a few nickels with each cup, but as financial experts lecture time and time again, the small things can really add up.
So I'm admitting it here for you all to see: I am a sucker for the size upgrade.
There is nothing associated quite as strongly with the Kentucky Derby as the Mint Julep. Perhaps big, crazy-looking hats come in at a close second. I love a good reason to indulge in some bourbon – it's such a rare event for me; even better when it's served in a pretty silver cup.
I grew up in Greenwich Village, home of the infamous Village Halloween Parade, and for many years I thought of the evening as an adult holiday where children were tolerated—or more commonly ignored—in a celebration that called for increasingly elaborate and creative costumes and rites. Flash forward a few decades and I am now a mom in one of the most kid-centric neighborhoods in New York. The same amount of creativity is forthcoming on October 31st, except this time around it is channeled into kids' costumes, bake sale treats, and party snacks. After several years of cookie-baking marathons and (unappreciated) homemade costumes, I finally feel prepared. . .
In honor of National Tequila Day (yes, it really does exist – and it's today!), I've decided to share my super-secret homemade margarita recipe with you. It's the most refreshing summer cocktail, perfect for the dog days of summer.


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Happy Easter, Baby! Book
Celebrate Easter with your favorite Disney friends! From Thumper's fluffy tail to the satiny ribbon on Minnie Mouse's pretty bonnet, the pages of this delightful touch and feel book have all sorts of Easter textures for you and your baby to explore together.
Available at Amazon,Barnes & Noble
Suggested Retail Price: 6.99


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Wed, Sep 19, 07 at 12:50
It is time to be thinking about making that special heirloom for youngsters for the upcoming holiday. If you have one about the age of 2, a rocking horse or other hand-made rocker is something to consider.
Several years ago I built ones for our grandchildren, now 8 and 5. They have been ridden many miles and both remain in their bedrooms. A variety of plans are available at your local woodworker store or on-line. Many only require basic woodworking equipment and skill - just care. Photos or mine are linked from "My Page". |
Follow-Up Postings:
Thanks for the suggestions... |
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Hey all. Traveller724 and i were throwing around ideas the other day and he came up with one that is just wizard. In campaigns we all want our star pilots to stay in the fight. So he wants to add ejection seats in to allow them to keep on blasting in the next battle. This would be great in my opinion, but i would like some feedback from everyone.
Ejection Seats
Posted 20 November 2012 - 08:00 AM
Posted 20 November 2012 - 08:41 AM
What kind of mechanic are you thinking about using to determine if the pilot ejects safely, or are you just assuming everyone always escapes harm?
Posted 20 November 2012 - 10:04 AM
What, do I go all the the trouble of killing Luke, but he ejects and then space swims over the the rookie pilot's X-Wing, kicks that pilot out into space and steals the fighter.
If this is what you are thinking then I have to vote no, as strongly as I can. If you go to the trouble of killing a particular pilot you deserve to get to have him dead.
However if you are doing something like a campaign and you want there to be a possibility that just because Wedge got shot down in round one, that he isn't nessisarally out of the fight for rounds two and forward. That would be fine. But I don't think that is what you are talking about.
Posted 20 November 2012 - 03:29 PM
Hrathen said:
However if you are doing something like a campaign and you want there to be a possibility that just because Wedge got shot down in round one, that he isn't nessisarally out of the fight for rounds two and forward. That would be fine. But I don't think that is what you are talking about.
Actually, I think that's exactly what he's talking about. It's a cool idea, but it does kind of unbalance the factions. Hey, if staying alive is the idea, why not have hyperdrive-equipped craft flee the battle if they make it to an edge? Once again, those poor TIE fighters don't have that option, but I don't think TIE pilots pride themselves on a long life expectancy.
I agree that if you gun for a certain character only to have him "survive" after the killing blow it would be disappointing. Are you thinking something along the lines of "roll an evade die. On a [evade] your pilot may be deployed in later engagements in the campaign."?
I'd be interested to play in some campaigns without this mechanic before I tried it out. I think I'd appreciate it more. Or I may feel that it's unnecessary. In fact, having Wedge die in round 1 may even force me to play with Red Squadron Pilots, who I never touch right now. That'd be cool, too.
"That starship won't fly, Bastila."
Posted 20 November 2012 - 08:24 PM
Para has it right. I do not want a simple eject to be a jerk. I agree with a dice roll and you live with the outcome. Now i thought TIE fighters had ejection seats. Read it somewhere. But it would be used for campaigns and only campaigns. Who wants to lose their Vader in game 1? So lets all test it out. See the outcome of games with it and not with it.
Posted 21 November 2012 - 02:15 AM
Suggestion: Have the ability to recover pilots tied to winning the scenario. For example, if the Rebs bug out or are wiped out, then it is less likely they will be able to move in a recovery ship (or that the recovery ship will survive moving into the area). Of course, an ejected pilot would then be vulnerable to capture by the Imperials, so that could open up another aspect of the campaign as an interrogated enemy could reveal classified information!
Posted 21 November 2012 - 04:32 AM
I would actually do this in reverse, sort of. No ejections. Instead, everyone would start with the lowest level generic pilots. for each of your pilots to survive the first round, you can take a higher level no-name for the second round. For each of them to survive that round, you get the lowest level named pilot or maybe just any named pilot available to that ship. And so on. Let people be rewarded for good play, like getting kinged in checkers.
Though, that said, if you had to do ejections, I'd wait until the end of the game, and whoever wins the conflict could be given the opportunity to roll two evade dice to get their ejected pilots back. Both die have to roll evade, and only the winner get's to roll.
Posted 21 November 2012 - 04:33 AM
The idea being that pilots are gaining experience.
Posted 21 November 2012 - 09:01 AM
OK, so let me explain….no, there is too much, let me sum up.
Ejection and experience rules would be used for campaigns between players. This is all homebrew, use it, don't use it, or modify it, whichever suites your style of play and campaigns. My proposal is based on a complete system, of squadron building, playing multi-mission campaigns, and pilots gaining experience…and yes, that there is a chance that they are recovered after an ejection. In Star Wars, Episode IV, Porkins was told to eject…he politely declined just before his ship exploded, there is canon material to support the idea.
I personally prefer playing campaigns because players (me included) operate differently when they you will need that ship or pilot in upcoming games…as opposed to playing single games where people are generally a little more bloody minded.
This is basically a modified version of the system used in a game published a long long time ago….Squadron Commander 3600.
Fighter squadrons will have a mix of experience. You'll have a mix of talented pilots (either experienced or natural pilots) and newbies (ie cannon fodder). Histoically in fighter combat, a small percentage of pilots (I think about 10%) get a disproportionate amount of kills (like around 80%).
Part of campaign involves building a squadron first. I think an X-Wing squadron would be about 300 pts (maybe a little more) and have 12 Fighters, if it was at full strength. TIE squadrons might be about 150, also with 12 fighters. Per Star Wars canon, Imperial doctrine says that TIE squadrons, should out number X-Wings 3-1 at a minimum, to give them an advantage. Generally speaking, a balanced fight is about 2 TIEs for every X-Wing. Anyhow, assuming an even fight, it would be 1 X-Wing squadron against 2 TIE Squadrons. Obviously you could ad variations for other types of ships.
These points would be used to buy pilots, skills, ordinance, ship mods. If your squadron was intended to be an attack squadron, you might invest in more proton torps. The squadron could also have maintenance crews that repair your battledamage. Bring too many ships home with damage and ships may have to sit out for a fight.
The campaign would be played in multiple rounds. There are 3 missions per rounds. Each player assigns fighters to the missions each round. You either win or lose each mission,, pilots either die or survive and gain experience. Anyone who flew on the previous round also becomes fatigued. Fly a pilot too many missions without a rest, he is penalized in some way (temporary reduction in skill, loss of special ability etc). Also, real squadrons usually have more pilots than they do fighters for this very reason.
Missions would consist of Space superiority, Escort, Scouting, and Strike missions against starships, bases, or ground targets.
You could of course adjust the number of points for each opposing force and increase or reduce the number of missions flying during each round.
Pilots gain experience from participating in a mission and from scoring kills. Again, historically, if fighter pilots survive their first 5 missions, they tended to have a good life expectancy, but they were vulnerable those first 5 missions. I haven't worked out the details yet here is the rough idea I am working with: the pilot that scores the killing blow gets experience, equal to the point cost of the target. From thier, there would be a chart explaining how many experiece points are required to move up to the next pilot skill level. Perhaps when someone becomes an ace, they get the "Medal", meaning they can choose pilot skill card.
When a pilot's fighter is shot down, he is out of the battle,, but may return to the squadron . When a pilot is shot down, he either returns to his squadron in time to participate in the campaign, or he doesn't. So whether the pilot didn't get out of his exploding ship in time, suffocated in space while waiting for rescue, or was captured, the result is the same, he's gone. The empire isn't going to give him back if he is captured either.
The way I see it, pilots have 3 damage points. PILOT Critical hits count against the pilot's damage points (This make the Determination pilot skill card valuable). A wounded pilot is less likely to survive in space than a health pilot with an undamaged cockpit/escape pod. When a pilot ejects, roll 4 red damage dice. On HIT or CRITICAL HIT results, apply one point of damage to the pilot. If the pilot takes 3 damage points, then he is killed/captured or lost. The number of dice rolled could be modified by the outcome of the battle or its location: EJECT IN ENEMY TERRITORY: +1 Die: WINNER OF THE BATTLE: -1 DIE
I made the a 1 step process because the question is this, "Will the pilot live to fight another day, yes or no. You could easily make seperate rolls for EJECTION, then another to decide your FATE (choices being Lost, Captured, or Rescued, then another to determine how long before the pilot is ready to get back to flying.
For every damage point sustained, the pilot must sit out an equal number of campaign rounds. This can represent the time it takes to find the pilot, or the medical recovery time required after rescue.
The number of dice rolled rolled and the number of pilot hit points can be adjusted to suite your taste. 3 Hit points and 4 dice give the pilot a good chance of recovery if he isn't wounded, though he is likely to be out of the fight for a couple rounds.
I have not worked out details for this game yet, and testing will be required. I did spend about 4 years using this very system in another starfighter combat game, so the principle works well. Specifics still need some tweeking for this game. The bottom line is that, for me, it is more fun to see which of my pilots survive the campaign. The challenge is also trying to win while not being so reckless that you sacrifice your best pilots. Its also a challenge to rotate your pilots to keep themm from getting too fatigued. Thus every lost pilot and lost fighter makes it harder and harder to complete your missions.
Posted 21 November 2012 - 10:43 AM
I like Para's evade die concept. With a twist. A blank result equals death, evade results in the pilot surviving but with injury, banning his use in the next round, while a focus result means the pilot has survived and can fight again in the next round.
You could implement a capture mechanic, too… with possible prisoner exchanges based on pilot point value… further locking down, but not completely removing pilots from the game. Academy and Rookie pilots are of course immune to capture and survival.
Posted 21 November 2012 - 11:46 AM
I like this and will try this out, I was thinking about giving one XP for playing, and 5 XP for winning and the pilot getting the XP value of the kills he made. To gain an upgrade would be 5 XP to incress a pilot form a 1 to a 2 and the cost of the upgrade ie marksmanship the value of the card x 10 xp.
so it could be and should be a slow progession to being an ace, also you can only go up in incerments of 1 to no jumping from a rookie to a pilot skill 7 in one go.
Posted 21 November 2012 - 03:22 PM
I started to work on some similar rules tonight. I also came up with an idea for fleeing the battlefield that allows strategic retreats (although with potential penalties).


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Fri, Sep 14, 12 at 11:04
I purchased and had planted a beautiful Cedar tree labeled "Cedrus Deodara" but the cultivar information is missing. I wonder if anyone can help me identify this cultivar (or species, if incorrectly labeled!). The tree is about 10 feet tall now. Photos (though not great) provide a view of the tree in total, a mid-range with bark, branches and needles, and a close up of the shape, distribution and color of the needles. Let me know if anyone has any idea of the cultivar, so I can plan the garden around this specimen. Thanks.jahart |
Follow-Up Postings:
Any signs of it being grafted? If not probably just an unselected seedling. Unless you think the gaunt habit is characteristic, and not due to existing site conditions such as possible shading by other trees, or other circumstances in its recent history (like being left in the same pot too long). |
- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Fri, Sep 14, 12 at 15:48
when was it planted ??? .. i am thinking not recently ... how big at planting ??? i also am interested in the ID... and have no clue myself.. but i dont understand what the ID has to do with the bed under it?? welcome to GW.. if i hadnt said that before .... ken |
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This post is brought to you by Mosa. Leading Dutch surface specialist Mosa knows that the choice of materials can be what transforms a good design into an outstanding one — especially when it comes to picking out a material as versatile as the ceramic tile. For over 130 years, Mosa continues... View full entry »
This post is brought to you by Mosa. The Netherlands has a rich centuries-long history of making tiles, so it's no surprise that Dutch ceramic surface specialist Mosa has been a leading expert in creating reputable products for the global architecture and design field for over 130 years.For... View full entry »
This post is brought to you by Mosa.For over 130 years, Dutch ceramic surface specialist Mosa has been recognized by architects and designers worldwide for their reputable products that are crafted with optimal standards of durability, elegant versatility, and cost-effective sustainability. Mosa's... View full entry »
The U.S. Department of Agriculture officially launched their U.S. Tall Wood Building Prize Competition. As the first step of a new USDA and forest industry initiative, the competition...aims to showcase the architectural and commercial feasibility of advanced wood products in tall building construction in order to support employment opportunities in U.S. rural communities, maintain the health and resiliency of American forests, and advance sustainability in the built environment. — bustler.net
"Following a funding initiative announced by the Obama Administration and the U.S. forestry industry through the USDA, SLB and BSLC earlier this year, the competition invites all U.S. developers, institutions, organizations and design teams willing to undertake an alternative solution approach to... View full entry »
The aptly named Quake Column is a knurled pillar of 3-D printed concrete that combines an ancient Incan masonry technique with state-of-the-art manufacturing tools to create a structure that can withstand seismic shocks without mortar or rebar. [...]
It's an interesting proof of concept, but utilizing a 3-D printer, rather than traditional ceramic manufacturing technique also unlocked a host of other advantages.
— wired.com
This post is brought to you by Mosa. Having collaborated with architects and designers throughout the world in its 130-year history, Dutch ceramic surface expert Mosa is no stranger to the growing significance of producing building materials that are durable, versatile, and of course... View full entry »
With over 130 years of tile-making experience, Dutch ceramic surface specialist Mosa continues its mission of creating reputable products for architects and designers worldwide with the U.S. debut of two new tile collections, Mosa Scenes and Mosa Solids. The Maastricht-based manufacturer... View full entry »
Designed by Brighton-based architect Duncan Baker-Brown, it will be built on the University of Brighton's campus in the city centre from waste and surplus material from local building sites and other local industries.
The walls will be made of waste timber products. Ply "cassettes" containing waste material will be slotted in between the timber structure. These cassettes will be removable so that new building technologies can be added easily.
— guardian.co.uk


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Friday 30 Jan 2015
By The Art Newspaper. News, Issue 229, November 2011Published online: 09 November 2011
The Saudi artist Ahmed Mater has become the subject of an online campaign in Saudi Arabia calling for his immediate censure by the Saudi government, following the inclusion of his work Evolution of Man, 2010, in an exhibition in Israel.
The show, "West End", opened this summer at Jerusalem's Museum on the Seam, a socio-political contemporary art museum on the edge of the ultra-orthodox Jewish neighbourhood of Mea She'arim. The display garnered extensive media coverage largely thanks to the participation, alongside 21 other artists, of seven non-Israeli artists of Middle Eastern origin. Of these, only two live permanently in the country of their birth: the Egyptian artist Moataz Nasr and Mater.Several weeks after the opening of "West End" in Jerusalem, messages predominantly from fellow Saudis began to appear on Mater's Facebook page. Although some were supportive of the inclusion of his work in "West End", the majority were not. One female Saudi artist wrote (in English): "This is treason at the highest level. He [Mater] should be made an example of."In late August, names began to be gathered for a petition against Mater. Now this is set to be presented to the Saudi minister of the interior, the minister of foreign affairs, the Association of Fine Arts and ultimately King Abdullah. The petition describes Mater's participation in "West End" as tantamount to the "normalisation" of relations with Israel. This is in spite of the fact that the Museum on the Seam receives no funding from the Israeli government. Moreover, Mater's work belonged to a private collection when it was lent to "West End"."Ahmed Mater is not personally responsible for us receiving his work Evolution of Man," explains Raphie Etgar, the curator of "West End" and the artistic director of the museum. "It was sent to us by a private collector in the United States."Of the petition against Mater, Etgar says: "I am shocked. It is not the first time an Arab artist has exhibited in Israel. The kind of thinking that lies behind this petition should have been demolished long ago. The Museum on the Seam is not part of the Israeli government. It is an independent socio-political contemporary art museum dedicated to improving inter-cultural understanding. I'm standing right behind Ahmed Mater and other artists like him. They are doing all they can to create a better world for tomorrow, and it's amazing that people are trying to stop him from doing this."The precise location in Jerusalem of the Museum on the Seam is significant. It is next to, or on, the "Green Line" that divided the Israeli and Jordanian sections of Jerusalem between 1948 and 1967. What was once a military no-man's-land lost to concrete blocks and barbed wire is now a road divided by a tramline, with the Museum on the Seam located on the western side of the road. Technically this places it in West Jerusalem. Had the exhibition taken place on the other side of the road, less than 50 metres away, there would almost certainly have been no petition.Mater belongs to a new generation of internationally successful Saudi artists. Having originally trained as a doctor, his artistic career took off in 2006 following the inclusion of X-Ray, 2003, in the British Museum's "Word into Art" exhibition. Since then, he has exhibited widely in Europe, the Middle East and the United States. His work was on display in "Gifts of the Sultan" at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art earlier this year, and can be seen in "The Future of a Promise" (until 20 November) at the 54th Venice Biennale, as well as in "West End" (until December).Yet for Saudi artists like Mater, there are no guidelines as to exactly what they can show outside Saudi Arabia, or indeed where. Iranian nationals, for example, are forbidden by their government to engage with Israeli institutions. Saudi artists are free to show where they like, yet they may have to contend with indirect pressure from colleagues, family, members of the government, local clerics, prominent sheikhs or, in this case, members of the public via an online petition.The response to this petition may offer an interesting insight into the actual freedom of Saudi artists abroad. It may also open the door to further participation by Saudi artists in exhibitions run by independent Israeli museums and galleries.Mater declined to make any formal comment about what has happened.
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14 Nov 11 15:27 CET
The Museum on the Seam is attempting to build a bridge, it may seem naive or manipulative to some, but it cannot be dismissed just by saying that, since they are on Israeli territory, they should be boycotted. It is a different case that if it had been shown in a state museum. I am afraid this will encourage bigotry on both sides.
10 Nov 11 16:21 CET
I wished these people who went ahead with the online petition weren't so fanatic. There is an effort to forbid artists, writers or musicians to stop creating in freedom. The petinioners are not just using their right of expressing their opposite position, they are imposing their opinion demanding punishment. I hope this will end good for Mater, it will be another victory of human rights and freedom of speech in our world. And we definitely need this drift today, no more accusations for works of art. They do no harm- People's fanaticism do.
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I wished these people who went ahead with the online petition weren't so fanatic. There is an effort to forbid artists, writers or musicians to...
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Gear Question
do you not get to pick what color you...
do you not get to pick what color you want?
Brandon Collett
This board comes assorted so there is no way of choosing which color you get, sorry for the inconvenience.
View More Details on Lib Technologies Skate Banana BTX Snowboard - Assorted Bananas - Narrow


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I have some pomegranate molasses I want to play with but I'm not sure what to do. Do you ever cook with it? What do you make? What do you like? Recipes would be great.
Thanks!! |
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I think the first thing I would do is spread a little on a piece of white bread and see how it tastes and what you think it might go with. |
I use it in a sauce for chicken. It's also a key ingredient in Fesenjan, a Persian dish made with chicken and ground walnuts. It's delicious! |
Here is a link that might be useful: Chicken with Pomegranates and Walnuts
- Posted by loves2cook4six (My Page) on Mon, Jun 18, 12 at 0:07
I second Fesenjoon. My SIL is from Iran and gave me her recipe. It is so good. Serve with rice made the Persian way. Everyone fights over the crust. ----------���� Fesenjoon is an Iranian Chicken dish made with Walnuts, pomegranate molasses and chicken and is delicious. Mitra introduced it to me. Ingredients: - Chicken pieces from 1 chicken Directions: Slice and fry onions until slightly golden... Take chicken pieces and add with the onions until color changes. Add 3 glasses of hot water and let it boil...... Then turn heat down and let it boil slowly for about 30 minutes adding more hot water if needed. Grind walnuts in a food processor till a fine consistency looking kind of like sugar. Then add nuts, salt and pomegranate paste to chicken. You may need to add a glass of hot water if the paste is too thick. Add sugar to the sweetness wanted, making sure its not too sweet. Proper fesenjoon should be sweet but at the same time a little tart. Cook it long enough till all of the oil from the walnuts rises. You will see a layer of oil that I suggest you should scoop out later. The consistency must be thick. Serve it with some saffron flavored rice. |
- Posted by loves2cook4six (My Page) on Mon, Jun 18, 12 at 0:11
Here's another I've clipped. It was sooooo good. Recipe By: http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/514634 Ingredients: - 250 g ground walnuts, ground very fine for the correct texture, chopped fine will have a coarser texture Directions: 1. Place the walnuts in a heavy saucepan over a medium heat and stir constantly for 3-4 minutes or so, until lightly toasted. 2. Lower the heat slightly, add the chicken stock, the stock cube and the plums and cook for about 15 minutes. 3. In a separate large saucepan or casserole dish, heat the oil over a medium heat and fry the chicken on all sides to seal. Add the onions, turmeric and pepper. 4. Add the walnut mixture to the chicken, reduce the heat, cover with a lid and cook for a further 10-15 minutes. 5. Stir in the pomegranate juice, pomegranate molasses, sugar, and cinnamon and cook for 20 minutes more. 6. Just before serving, add the beetroot dye. Serve with rice. |
Ice cream, Bizzo! Put it on ice cream! I got a bottle at Trader Joe's once, and it's a wonderful thing to use--on ICE CREAM! Okay, I'm sure it's delish in other recipes as well ! lolam Oh, and try mixing it with Chambord black raspberry liqueur and some cream over crushed ice. I don't really drink all that much, but gosh, it was heavenly! Smiles, |
We use it as a salad dressing. Mix a little (maybe a teaspoon or two?) with about 1/4 cup olive oil. Try mixing it to your taste. It makes a tart-sweet dressing, particularly good over beet salad. I make mine by roasting beets cut into smallish dice (about 1/3" cubes). I toss these with the pom dressing. To make this fancier, I crumble a little feta on top of the beets, then top with some chopped toasted walnuts. You can layer lettuce leaves below if you like your salads to be green. The pom salad dressing also works with tossed greens, but you may not like the dark color. Cheryl |
- Posted by publickman (My Page) on Mon, Jun 18, 12 at 14:53
I drizzle it over fruit, especially apple and pear slices, but also oranges and mango slices. You can add it to a smoothie. If you have recipes for sweet balsamic vinegar, you can substitute it there as well. I sometimes put it in salad dressings, but only in tiny quantities to offset a sour tasting vinegar or bitter greens. Cheryl's beet salad sounds good and is similar to beet salads I've had in the past. It goes well with walnuts. Lars |
CF Rocks! I knew I'd get good ideas from all of you! I think I have to put Fesanjoon on the docket for this weekend. It sounds great, thank you Sooz, that drink sounds interesting...sounds like a summer dessert (like over ice cream, with a kick). Lars, I hadn't thought to drizzle it over fruit... a summer fruit salad addition. And I'll probably try some for salad dressing this week. I hope we like it LOL! |
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The Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan is getting restyled for the 2014 model year, so it's only fitting that the E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet will get some alterations as well. The two-door E-Classes will debut alongside the sedan at the Detroit Auto Show later this month.
As with the sedan, the 2014 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet are midcycle refreshes, not completely new designs, and the biggest changes are in styling. All 2014 E-Class models ditch the four-headlight look that dates back to the 1997 E-Class and CLK coupe and convertible.


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By Dave Ulacia
Ahh…fall. The temperatures have dropped back into the realm of comfortable, the kids have gone back to school, and the house is just a little quieter now. Mornings are turning crisp, and you can sense a hint of chill in the air. While winter isn't far away, the weather is almost perfect.
According to our GO Poll, our readers aren't any different than anyone else. You're looking for ways to stay on top of your crazy work routine.
Now that you're committed to getting organized in 2010, it's time to get serious. Nobody likes organizing the garage, but if you do it right, it's so worth it. Usually, garages and sheds turn into giant dumping grounds. That's because we don't take the time to give them a sense of order.
It's hard to find someone who doesn't have something they want to improve when it comes to personal fitness. Even the exercising obsessed with solid bodies can find something to work on. Most of us, though, just want to feel better. We want more energy. We might want to trim off a few pounds, or we may have an even larger goal in mind. But exercising means effort, discomfort, and messing with an already crazy schedule. How do we break that cycle and actually begin improving our health? Here are some suggestions to help you squeeze more physical activity into your routine.
Schedules are wonderful. At no time is that more evident than during summer break, when your children's schedules evaporate. As part of the challenge to get organized in 2010, we're focusing on your children's summer downtime. We're sure you'll agree it's one of the biggest challenges yet. But organizing that time is important because as schedules evaporate, so does their productivity. Before you know it, summer will be over and they'll have precious little to show for that time. And that can be frustrating, even for kids.
by Kelly Pratt
When space is at a premium, organizing options can feel limited to non-existent. If your closets are tiny or already crammed full, or if the only storage you can find is at the top of your garage, it's time to get creative with solutions that are ceiling- high and off-the-wall.
Ceiling Storage
With Spring in full bloom, that means spring cleaning and organizing are in order. To help you get started (with the organizing part), we've put together a list of our Most Wanted organizing products for Spring; a collection of our favorites that will help organize your space, your day, and your life.
Here are some fun new products from our new partners that will help make your spring organizing much more enjoyable. We hope our favorites will also become yours.
For hassle-free travel, we love:
Most of us like to dig out in the spring. After months of holing up through the cold season, we get an itch to start fresh. That's great, but have you ever cleaned out an area and still felt like nothing had really changed? If you've ever cleaned your garage—thrown out a bunch of junk, swept the floor, and made room for both of your cars—but still couldn't find your Allen Wrench set, you know what we mean. No matter how much you clean, you're still going to feel buried until you get organized.
by Holly Bohn