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iPhone draws in Treo, T-Mobile users
Initial iPhone buyers were ten times more likely than other new phone buyers to have previously owned a Treo, and three times more likely to have owned a T-Mobile branded phone (such as the Sidekick), according to a new report from The NPD Group. NPD surveyed more than 13,000 consumers to collect data for its iPhone Report, which aims to provide insight into how the iPhone is affecting mobile phone sales in the U.S. In contrast to the Treo and Sidekick, iPhone buyers were no more likely than the average buyer to have previously owned a Blackberry. In addition, consumers who switched carriers were three times more likely to switch from Alltel or T-Mobile than from other carriers.
"The iPhone's Internet and media capabilities have resonated with consumers—especially those who previously owned Treos and Sidekicks," said Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis at NPD. "Its advanced operating system makes it competitive with smartphones for many tasks, while its sleek design and lack of expandability is reminiscent of fashion phones."
Greenpeace report on iPhone leads to lawsuit
Greenpeace has posted a new report [PDF Link] claiming that the iPhone contains hazardous substances, and findings in the report have led to a lawsuit against Apple. According to research performed by Greenpeace's Research Laboratories in the UK, the iPhone contains toxic brominated compounds (indicating the presence of brominated flame retardants (BFRs)) and hazardous PVC. "Apple missed a key opportunity when it rolled out the iPhone in June. There is no reason why the iPhone could not have been made without toxins like vinyl plastics and brominated flame retardants as Nokia is already doing," said Rick Hind of Greenpeace.
Afterwards, The Center for Environmental Health announced that it is suing Apple based on research found in the Greenpeace report. According to the Center, California's Proposition 65 law states that products exposing consumers to phthalates or other chemicals known to be reproductive toxins or carcinogens must carry a warning label. The iPhone does not. "In general what we try to do is encourage the manufacturers through a negotiated settlement to reduce the use of these chemicals," said Caroline Cox, spokeswoman for the Center for Environmental Health. "That would be our goal with Apple."
In May, Apple CEO Steve Jobs penned an update, "A Greener Apple", focusing on Apple's environmental efforts, in which he said: "Apple plans to completely eliminate the use of PVC and BFRs in its products by the end of 2008." [via MacWorld]
Apple & AT&T sued over iPhone
The law firms of Folkenflik & McGerity and Hoffman & Lazear have filed a $1.2 billion class action suit on behalf of iPhone owners against Apple and AT&T Mobility (AT&T's cellular unit) in US District Court. The case, Paul Holman and Lucy Rivello v. Apple, Inc., AT&T Mobility, LLC., claims that the companies' agreements to restrict iPhone users to using only the AT&T cellular network for voice and data, and to restrict users to using only applications from Apple, run afoul of Federal antitrust laws, California antitrust laws, and California unfair trade practice laws. The suit goes on to say that Apple and AT&T are liable for "computer trespass", based on the recent 1.1.1 iPhone software release, which disabled many SIM unlocks, third-party software, and left some users' phones inoperable. The suit claims these changes were not technically required for the new features Apple was offering in the update.
"There is little question that Apple and AT&T have misused Apple's programs to improperly coerce consumers to buy only AT&T voice and data services and only Apple programs. That is unlawful under both Federal and state laws, and any terms in Apple's and AT&T's contracts to the contrary are also unlawful and unenforceable," said Max Folkenflik, one of the attorneys on the case. "Apple and AT&T have no more right or technological justification for forcing iPhone users to use only AT&T service and Apple applications than Ford would to force car owners to use only Ford batteries or tires, or than the maker of your television has to force you to watch only Fox or CBS."
The suit calls for compensatory damages of $200 million, which are trebled according to law to $600 million, as well as for punitive damages of $600 million, and for injunctions prohibiting the alleged unlawful conduct and voiding the unlawful contract terms. More information, including a complete copy of the class action complaint, is available on the lawsuit's website, appleclassaction.net.
iPhone, iPod touch v1.1.1 jailbreak posted, unbricking method offered
A new "jailbreak" process, allowing for installation of third-party software on both iPhone and iPod touch units running software v1.1.1 and first discovered by members of the iPhone Dev Team, has been confirmed by Engadget and has been posted online. While the process is still very technical, and not ready for widespread use, it does represent a large technical hurdle overcome, particularly in the case of the iPod touch, which up until now has been unable to run any third-party native software. It has been confirmed that the iPhone's Mail and Maps applications, along with other third-party applications, are now running on the iPod touch.
Alongside these developments, iPhoneSimFree, makers of a commercial iPhone unlocking solution, have announced an unlock solution for phones running software v1.1.1, as well as an "unbricking" process for iPhone owners who saw their previously unlocked devices rendered inoperable by the 1.1.1 software update. It is worth noting that the solutions being offered by iPhoneSimFree rely on the same TIFF exploit used in the new "jailbreak" process; this exploit, found in MobileSafari, also poses a security risk, and as such is likely to be "fixed" by Apple in a future software update.
Apple: No set date for French iPhone launch
Apple has told Thompson Financial News that while the iPhone is scheduled to launch in Germany and the UK on Nov. 9, it has "not announced any other country launch dates in Europe." This statement follows remarks made by France Telecom CEO Didier Lombard that the group has signed a contract with Apple to make Orange the distributor of the iPhone in France and that the device's French launch would take place "during November." Prior to this, several press reports had appeared claiming there was a dispute impeding contract talks; also, it was reported that a French law calling for sales of both a locked and unlocked version of the iPhone might pose a challenge for negotiators.
Apple debuts three new iPhone TV ads
Apple has debuted three new iPhone television ads, featuring iPhone users against black backdrops, explaining how the devices has changed their lives. In the first spot, "Mankind", iPhone owner Doug talks about Visual Voicemail, proclaiming it to be "one of the greatest advancements in the history of mankind." The second spot, "Meredith", features a story of how Elliot used his iPhone to lookup the name of his girlfriend's boss' fiance before she arrived at a dinner, saving them the embarrassment of admitting to not knowing her name. In the third ad, titled "One Thing", iPhone owner Stefano explains how he no longer has to carry a bag around to hold his camera, iPod, and two separate cell phones, because the iPhone replaces them all. All three ads are airing now and are available for viewing on Apple's web site.
French law possible roadblock to iPhone release
A French law that would require the iPhone to be sold both with and without a contract may delay the launch of the device in the country, reports MarketWatch. According to the report, French daily Les Echos quotes a source from French Telecom's Orange as stating, "The risk we're evaluating this week is that Apple crosses France off". The law requiring the sale of the iPhone without a contract could potentially undermine any revenue-sharing agreements between Apple and Orange; it has been speculated that Apple has revenue-sharing agreements in place with every iPhone carrier. A spokeswoman from Orange had previously confirmed that the company has signed an agreement with Apple to carry the iPhone in France.
Analysts want iPhone feature, security updates separated
As we noted last week, included in Apple's iPhone Software version 1.1.1 update were several security fixes for the phone's Bluetooth, Mail, and Safari software. According to a Computerworld report, this drew the ire of security analysts, who believe that vendors should separate functionality and security updates, especially when the update may have unwanted consequences for some users. "With the iPhone update, Apple is now producing a fear of taking their patches," said Andrew Storms, director of security operations at nCircle Network Security Inc. "If they release a functionality update and security fixes at the same time in the future, some users will think twice about applying it." Garter Inc.'s John Pescatore added, "There should definitely be a separation between security and functionality. Users shouldn't be forced to accept new functionality to get security fixes." Apple has traditionally offered a mix of standalone security updates and bundled security fixes for its Mac OS X operating system.
Apple posts iPhone Human Interface Guidelines
Apple has posted its iPhone Human Interface Guidelines (HIG), a document meant to help developers create usable applications for the device. The iPhone HIG offers developers in-depth information on the iPhone's user interface, the concepts behind it, and how to design for it. Of particular interest to some may be a note from the HIG which leaves room for possible future native third-party iPhone applications. It states, "Currently, developers create web applications for iPhone, not native applications. Therefore, this document focuses solely on the presentation of web applications and other web content on iPhone." The document is available for viewing online or as a PDF download. [via Daring Fireball]
SquareTrade launches accidental damage protection for iPhone
SquareTrade has announced its new accidental damage warranty for the iPhone. The warranty, which guarantees repair or reimbursement within five days, provides coverage for damage resulting from the phone being dropped, crushed, or cracked. "Like all cellular phones, iPhones get carried from place to place—from home to the office, in and out of pockets and purses. It's inevitable that they will be dropped and sometimes break," notes Steve Abernethy, CEO of SquareTrade. "We offer an easy solution at a fair price to protect your purchases." Exact pricing details have yet to be released.
Apple, Orange struggle over iPhone terms
Apple and France Telecom are facing difficulties coming to a final agreement on the distribution of the iPhone in France, according to French weekly Challenges. France Telecom, which operates under the Orange brand, confirmed last week that an agreeement had already reached, stating, "We have signed an agreement with Apple to sell the iPhone." Challenges reports that Apple and France Telecom are battling over the percentage of service revenues that Apple will receive as part of the deal. If an agreement is not reached soon, says the report, a pre-holiday launch of the iPhone may be in jeopardy.
Retail Apple Stores deny unlocked iPhones Genius Bar, tech support
Following publication of its statement earlier this week that the use of unlocking software voids iPhone warranty coverage, Apple has posted a similar warning in its retail Apple Stores, denying Genius Bar assistance and technical support to users of unlocked iPhones.
The warning contains a modified version of the text found in Apple's earlier statement, omitting the reference to the "next iPhone software update… later this week," but now specifically noting that "An unlocked iPhone is not eligible for Genius Bar service or technical support." It is presently unclear whether Apple's new policy violates state laws on express or implied warranties for products.
Apple releases iPhone Software Version 1.1.1 [updated x5]
Apple has released iPhone Software Version 1.1.1, which is currently available as a download through iTunes.
The Software Update is a 152.3MB download, and begins with a warning that those who have modified their iPhones' software may find that "applying this software update may result in your iPhone becoming permanently inoperable." We experienced only one hiccup in our installation process, which you can read about by clicking on the headline of this article or the Comments link below. Version 1.1.1 most noticeably adds support for the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, video-out (with select accessories) and a variety of new settings, including double-tapping the Home button to bring you either to your Phone's list of favorite contacts, or the iPod control scheme.
New: A complete list of changes from iPhone Version 1.0.2 to Version 1.1.1 is now available here.
In addition, Apple has posted a brief six-minute video covering the new features and enhancements of iPhone Software v1.1.1. Like the company's Guided Tours, the video is broken down into major points: The iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, iTunes Ringtones, New Features and Shortcuts, Double Click on Home Button, Double Tap on Space Bar, Landscape View Mail Attachments, Connecting Your iPhone to a TV, and Additional Features. The video is available for viewing online in three different sizes, and can be downloaded as well.
Sun official: iPhone's lack of Java 'a mistake'
Speaking at that AJAXWorld conference this week, Sun Distinguished Engineer and vice president for software Bob Brewin urged Apple to consider Java support for the iPhone. "I think it's a mistake," said Brewin of the omission. "I think it would provide a lot more flexibility in applications being developed." Brewin went on to point out different applications, such as various games and the media-sharing application LimeWire, that could be easily ported to the handheld if it had Java support. In addition, he also mentioned Sun's JavaFX multimedia display technology, which Brewin said could offer rich applications on the iPhone.
Apple warns against iPhone unlocking, software update coming later this week [updated]
Apple today released a statement regarding the use of iPhone unlocking programs and the changes they make to the iPhone. Apple claims that many of the unauthorized iPhone unlocking programs available online cause "irreparable damage" to the iPhone's software, and that a future Apple-supplied iPhone software update will likely cause modified iPhones to become "permanently inoperable." The company also revealed that it will release the next iPhone software update, containing "many" new features including the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, later this week. Apple went on to strongly discourage iPhone owners from installing unauthorized unlocking programs, and gave the following warning to those still considering the option: "Users who make unauthorized modifications to the software on their iPhone violate their iPhone software license agreement and void their warranty. The permanent inability to use an iPhone due to installing unlocking software is not covered under the iPhone's warranty."
Update: Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, has made a statement clarifying the company's intentions regarding the warning. "This has nothing to do with proactively disabling a phone that is unlocked or hacked," Schiller said in an interview with The Associated Press. "It's unfortunate that some of these programs have caused damage to the iPhone software, but Apple cannot be responsible for ... those consequences."
EyeTV 2.5 update brings Wi-Fi video streaming for iPhone, iPod touch
Elgato has released EyeTV 2.5, a free update to its EyeTV 2 television software. EyeTV 2.5 offers WiFi Access, a feature that allows iPhone and iPod touch owners to connect to, browse, and play back recorded programs directly from the device over a local Wi-Fi network. In addition, EyeTV 2.5 features one-click export for iPhone and iPod touch, and can also automatically export to iPhone when scheduled recordings have completed. Other changes include improved H.264 HDTV playback performance, the ability to record from the live TV buffer, and IPTV support for Freebox. EyeTV 2.5 is a free update for all EyeTV 2.0 users; a full download of EyeTV runs $80.
iPhone beats N95, HTC Touch in usability test
The iPhone soundly bested both the Nokia N95 and HTC Touch in a recent usability test by Perceptive Sciences, a Texas-based usability consulting firm. The test, which was designed to be as objective as possible, asked ten people who had never used any of the three devices to perform simple tasks, such as setting the phone to vibrate, making a call, saving a phone number to the contact list, sending a brief e-mail, and taking a photo. Completion times for each task were recorded and compared; based on these results and the scientists' observations, a score of between one and five was awarded. Overall, the iPhone received a score of 4.6 out of 5, compared to the HTC Touch's score of 3.4 and the N95's score of 3.2. "Testers were [typically] about twice as fast doing specific tasks on the iPhone, which is pretty remarkable," said senior research scientist Tom Thornton. The iPhone was triumphant in all but one of the five testing categories, losing to the Nokia N95 in "Functionality."
Orange confirms iPhone deal for France
French Telecom's Orange unit has confimed that it will offer the iPhone in France, CNNMoney reports. "We have signed an agreement with Apple to sell the iPhone," France Telecom's spokeswoman said. The company also said it will start selling the handset in November, without giving a precise date for the launch. The iPhone is being launched in the U.K. and Germany on Nov. 9. In addition, the company said it "won't subsidize the iPhone," but declined to give any pricing details; in Germany, the phone will sell for €399, or around $554. Apple has yet to comment on the announcement.
iPhone to launch Nov. 9 on T-Mobile in Germany
Apple and T-Mobile announced today that T-Mobile will be the exclusive German carrier for the iPhone when it launches in that country on Nov. 9. The iPhone in Germany will feature Visual Voicemail, EDGE, and the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store. "We're thrilled to be partnering with T-Mobile to bring the iPhone to Germany," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "Customer response to iPhone in the US has been incredible, and we can't wait to introduce T-Mobile customers to the most revolutionary mobile device on the planet."
"We are convinced that we can get our customers excited about experiencing the mobile internet with the iPhone," said Hamid Akhavan, CEO, T-Mobile International. "I am proud that Apple and T-Mobile have become partners." iPhone owners in Germany will also have use of 8,600 T-Mobile HotSpot Wi-Fi access points, and T-Mobile claims that by the end of 2007, it will be the only network operator in Germany to offer EDGE throughout its entire GSM network. The iPhone is scheduled to launch on November 9 and will be sold in Germany through Telekom Shops of Deutsche Telekom and the T-Mobile web shop. It requires a new 2-year T-Mobile tariff and will be available in an 8GB model for euro 399 (around $554) including V.A.T.
Apple goes with O2, reveals iPhone UK launch details
At its "Mum is no longer the word" press event today, Apple revealed details of the iPhone's UK introduction. The company announced that O2 will be the device's exclusive carrier in the UK, when it makes its debut on November 9. "We're thrilled to be partnering with O2 to offer our revolutionary iPhone to UK customers," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "US iPhone customer satisfaction is off the charts, and we can't wait to let UK customers get their hands on it and learn what they think of it." Matthew Key, CEO, O2 UK, said, "The iPhone is a breakthrough that is changing the way people use their mobiles forever, and we're thrilled to have it exclusively for O2 customers in the UK."
The iPhone will be sold exclusively in the UK through Apple's retail and online stores, O2 and The Carphone Warehouse retail stores, and will be available as an EDGE-based 8GB model for £269 (inc. VAT). It will also require an 18 month contract with O2. O2 will offer three different tariffs for the phone, starting at £35 a month for 200 minutes and 200 SMS messages, and going up to £55 a month for 1200 minutes and 500 SMS. All three tariffs include unlimited data, visual voicemail, and unlimited access at any of The Cloud's 7500 UK Wi-Fi hotspots. iPhone activation will require an internet connection, an iTunes Store account or major credit card, and the latest version of iTunes.


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An Anonymous Patron writes "Saw this on Phil Bradley's Blog: Bibliomysteries What are bibliomysteries? Mysteries that have settings, plots or substantial charaters in them related to books, writers, archives and libraries. Bibliomysteries was created by academic librarian Marsha McCurley, using her own collection of bibliomysteries as the starting point."

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More in Outdoors
Have the utility company mark the location of buried cables in the yard. Calculate the size of the yard with a tape measure. Measure the water pressure and determine the sprinklers' coverage. Make a diagram on paper and plot the types and locations of the sprinkler heads. Mark the yard with flags where the sprinklers will go.
Tip: It's important to have the spray from one sprinkler head make contact with the other heads to ensure there will be no dry spots in the yard.
The easiest way to provide water for an irrigation system is to connect to an existing spigot. The more professional way involves tapping into the main water-service line. Both ways require the installation of an anti-siphon valve, which prevents brackish water, lawn chemicals and fertilizers from entering the main water supply.
Dig a trench 6" to 8" deep with sides sloping at a 45-degree angle. When digging, place sod to one side and soil to other to make filling and patching the trench easier. Rent a trenching device, also called a vibratory plow, to make this stage go much faster.
Dig a hole slightly larger than the valve manifold box. Place the box in the ground. Attach one end of the valve manifold assembly to the main water supply line. Tighten the clamps to secure it.
Connect 3/4" PVC pipe to the open end of the valve manifold. Continue laying the pipe along the main trench. Use "tee" connectors for pipes running off the main line. At the location of each flag, attach risers using 90-degree connectors. When gluing sections together, be sure to apply the adhesive thinly and smoothly.
Select the appropriate sprinkler heads based on the irrigation needs of the lawn and landscape. Before attaching sprinkler heads, flush water through the system to clean out any debris. Install the sprinkler heads onto the risers. Level the sprinkler heads with the soil level. Fill in trenches and holes with dirt and sod.


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How to make a SEXY toga because we all know togas dont look good on ANYONE.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
http://bit.ly/qCfO8e – How to Make a Toga- Women's Halter Top Toga show you how to make a stylish women's toga. This cute toga for girls is always a hit and …
Video Rating: 3 / 5
25 Responses to How To Make A Toga
neil newby August 31, 2014 at 10:31 pm Reply
Nice rack.
karshaybrumms August 31, 2014 at 11:30 pm Reply
i have a toga party this saturday and i dont care if this is a real toga or
not I'M WEARING THIS -
Kristen C August 31, 2014 at 11:33 pm Reply
Love this idea.. UTC's Kappa Sigma's Toga Party is this weekend so I'm
giving this a try!! thanks! -
uzunarugoku September 1, 2014 at 12:08 am Reply
Holy shit it just started off from a piece of fabric to a damn prom dress..
Laura O'Sullivan September 1, 2014 at 1:06 am Reply
i t looks like stephanies goig out clothes
Elizabeth Walcott September 1, 2014 at 1:35 am Reply
LOVEE. Definitely rocking this to a toga mixer on Saturday.
Amietwin1 September 1, 2014 at 1:44 am Reply
What length is the fabric you used? This is awesome by the way
cadetkitchen September 1, 2014 at 2:09 am Reply
traditionally togas and togas girls make for toga parties at college are
totally different…. maybe if the fabric was white you'd see if
better….this is a really easy idea i'd never thought of thanks! -
UscKitty September 1, 2014 at 2:39 am Reply
How much material are you using? (What length)?
marymo89 September 1, 2014 at 2:55 am Reply
love this toga very pretty…yea i am deff gunna try this
Mercedes F September 1, 2014 at 3:49 am Reply
Wow! That was nice!!!And it turned out to be a sexy dress!
i just think she is hot.
SreyPov September 1, 2014 at 4:45 am Reply
easy and sexy! so far i like this the best. thanks
xoBOBALINAxo September 1, 2014 at 5:18 am Reply
worst toga ever, its not even a toga.
awill94571 September 1, 2014 at 5:44 am Reply
That was great! You are a life saver
KeleTiva September 1, 2014 at 6:18 am Reply
This is not a toga.
FrmSyriaWithLuv September 1, 2014 at 6:57 am Reply
it looked like a prom dress before u made it shorter
jessicarabbit814 September 1, 2014 at 7:20 am Reply
how much fabric did you use for that?
maguitar3 September 1, 2014 at 8:00 am Reply
SOOOO PRETTY! Brillant! It looked awesome on you!
Gordon McDonald September 1, 2014 at 8:50 am Reply
amazing. tht is the best toga iv ever seen! ther all real shapeless and
mehr lol. thank you so much! -
smkelly2009 September 1, 2014 at 8:55 am Reply
Beatriz Sandoval September 1, 2014 at 9:14 am Reply
that doesnt even look like a toga it looks bad
MatteoZenari September 1, 2014 at 9:27 am Reply
may I try to fit your amazing …. BOOOOOOOOOOBSSS!???!!!
lvosburgh1961 September 1, 2014 at 10:25 am Reply
it looks cute. great job
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- Answer? They're on the same day this year! "Game of Thrones"' third season returns to our TV sets this Easter Sunday and to celebrate, you know you want to make dragon eggs. [The Mary Sue]
- Also, the finale of "The Walking Dead" is this Sunday, and in honor of Glenn and Maggie's recent engagement, here are the best apocalyptic love stories. [Nerve]
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The letter he received... They've been!!
Profile | Posted by | Options | Post Date |
Katwin | Report | 29 May 2005 11:00 |
Hi Sam, I have been following your thread for some time now and feel great sympathy for your BIL in what is such a sensitive and personal matter. Social Services are so tied up in red tape that I feel they will not be able to help particularly because their duty lies with his mother who is their client and not with BIL. However, the Salvation Army seems a very sensible route to go down, as they have no sides in this matter and can deal with it in a sensitive and supportive manner for both your BIL and his mother. Also his mother may have got over the shock and changed her mind about seeing him by now. Also, your BIL could have a FREE half hour consultation under the Legal Help Advice and Assistance Scheme with a solicitor who deals in family and children matters. He could ask them to contact his mother's doctor for a Medical Report which at least would tell him what is actually wrong with her. He should also get advice of his legal standing regarding his mother's care and also in the event of her death. Good luck to you and BIL in whichever way you decide to turn. Kathyx P.S. Having read Michelle Pringle's reply further down this page, I agree the vicar from her local church rather than the Salvation Army would be best to pay a visit to his mother, after BIL has explained the circumstances to him. If she is nearing the end of her life, she may well want to see someone from the church to pray for her, etc., and hopefully also her son. |
Researching: |
Irene | Report | 29 May 2005 14:48 |
Can I just add something else. I too had one like this in my family, a cousin. It took 30 or more years before he looked for his mother but he did. Found her, my one advice to him was don't look back, don't think about what happen and blame anyone. It was between your mother and father not you. Now it was my mum's brother god bless them, but they would stick together. My dad was pleased for him and gave few clues where to look for his mother as my parents had my cousin live with them before I was born they were close. Now my brother can remember she wrote wanting to see the boys but they were never told as by this time they had moved back with their father. I have now met Auntie and I don't blame anyone. If any think I feel so sorry for all involved. How does he know his father was not violent he would have been to young. If he's only heard one side then its possible there was more to it. But he does have to let her know that her address will be kept secret, he does not blame her only wants to get to know her and for her to get to know her granddaughter. If only we could wave wands. All the best Irene |
Christine in Herts | Report | 29 May 2005 21:54 |
I've just got back from a holiday and read this whole thread through. As a 'fiction' it would be intriguing - a good (if haunting) read - but to know it's fact... I'm just glad I haven't had to begin to face such a situation. One thing that you've mentioned twice.. the stillbirth. The second time, it was while BiL's dad was there? And he's known to have been violent to her during the marriage? Has anyone said what caused the stillbirth? If it was the result of that encounter, one can see why she'd be afraid of any contact which might carry a risk of the dad getting to know her whereabouts. Don't think I can add anything useful - apart from caring about the outcome - but would add my voice to those who advocate being careful-but-persistent. best wishes - Christine |
Michele | Report | 30 May 2005 11:46 |
Sammy I've been following this thread since the beginning and would just like to add my bit. I think your BIL would certainly be best off seeking the help of a third party. I know the Salvation Army has been suggested but personally I would try with the local priest/vicar first. Mainly because he may have prior knowledge of the lady in question. Even if he doesn't I would've thought it would be much less of a shock to her to see her local priest/vicar walking down her garden path than a stranger from the SA. I'm sure that if you spoke to the local vicar/priest they would do this. We did this when we were seeking out info on one of our sisters who we knew had been adopted and christened as a catholic in a local town. We contacted the two local catholic churches who ran searches. One of them said they were really sorry but they couldn't find anything in their records. The other said they'd look and do what they could and then totally changed tact when contacted again, which made us dig a little deeper and we found her.(They protested a little too loudly) Sorry for waffling but my point being that the church was still the best place to go for first point of contact. I also think your BIL should set out a plan of action and work his way through it ie contact vicar, contact CAB/solicitor, have someone check out house for comings and goings and ultimately visit himself, but he should be prepared for the worst that she genuinely doesn't want contact and if that is the case to be able to say to himself well I did everything I could now I have to let it go. I think he should also bear in mind that if she was so afraid of his father that she didn't dare divorce him for fear of him finding out where she is that it is a genuine fear. Maybe he could reiterate to the third party that he has very little contact with his father, that his father is unaware that he is even looking for his mother never mind found her and under no circumstances would he ever tell him where she is. Hope this helps Michele |
An Olde Crone | Report | 31 May 2005 22:30 |
Nudged for Smiley Sammy, out of shameless nosiness - don't want the thread to disappear down a hole while she is away. Marjorie |
Avril | Report | 1 Jun 2005 00:06 |
nugged |
Ann | Report | 1 Jun 2005 19:11 |
I was going to nudge it up too!! lol If you manage to get online sam, there's lots of folks on here thinking about you + BIL. Take care Ann x |
Ann | Report | 1 Jun 2005 19:15 |
Karen. BIL was his mothers child by her husband. He went to live (aged 3)with his paternal grandparents when his father separated from the mother. Ann |
AnninGlos | Report | 1 Jun 2005 20:16 |
hi Sammy, Nothing to add to the excellent advice you have been getting on here, except to say I do hope that your BiL gets a good result with this. wishing him all the very best in his quest to see his Mother. Ann Glos |
Researching: |
Sheila | Report | 1 Jun 2005 21:42 |
Hi Sammy, Just got back from my holidays and have been reading your thread. The first thing I would say is was the letter from the carer on letter headed paper? would Social Services be able to tell you if this person was actually an allocated carer for her? you need to confirm who this person is, and if they are telling the truth before you go any further. Have you thought of contacting a neighbour to see if you can find out anything,maybe they would know what sort of health she was in, there are so many possible scenario's at the moment, BIL mother may not want to see him, she may be scared of seeing him and re-living the past, or she may even have written the letter herself to put him of making contact. If she is ill you need to establish what with, for BIL peace of mind, but also you could state to SS you are concerned that this may be a heriditarty problem (also if he decides to go through his GP this would be an excuse for his GP to phone BMothers). Think he will have to try and be a little more patient till you can get some more information. If she is very ill, it may be necessary to take a more gentle approach to try and get the answers he is looking for. One thing though, time gives people selective memories he may not ever get the answers he's looking for :O( their will be his BF version of events his BM 's and somewhere in the middle the truth. Just tell him to make no judgements till he has all the facts, most of the people that have given him information are bound to have been biased. Let me know if you need a look up for his neighbours details. I wish you all the Luck in the World with this search, and hope he has a happy outcome. Best Wishes Sheila |
Liz | Report | 1 Jun 2005 23:28 |
So many possible scenarios, so many possible results - the one certain thing is that there are so, so many people 'out here' thinking of your BIL and his family and hoping against hope for a good outcome. Liz |
moe | Report | 2 Jun 2005 00:01 |
Sammy wouldn't the husband still be next of kin if they have never divorced?MOE! |
Borobabs | Report | 2 Jun 2005 00:08 |
Hita sam I`m with the rest of them tell BiL to try to find out more this happened to me with an aunt who was very close all my life I wish I had stood up more tell him to keep at it XX Babs |
Borobabs | Report | 2 Jun 2005 20:52 |
keep chins up you will win in end hopfully |
Karen in the desert | Report | 3 Jun 2005 10:49 |
Nudging for Sammy and hope she's managing a smile. K. x |
Researching: |
Granny | Report | 3 Jun 2005 19:00 |
I agree with Val from Exeter. Go and say who you are, and ask to see her. Good luck. Susan |
Bj :-) | Report | 3 Jun 2005 21:26 |
HI sAMMY. I have just read all the thread BIL should just go and have a look. my father left when i was 3 months old when i was 21 i found out where he lived got a friend to ring him & ask for a meeting he agreed that was the only time i ever saw him he told me my mum had not let him keep in contact other than to rewrap the presents he had sent my 4 siblings & I every year as he had another family by then I chose not to keep in contact with him even though he wanted to.25yrs on looking for my family tree I now realise how silly that was,tell BIL to go have a look even if she wont meet him he will always remember that he saw her and has a face for the name my father died 6 yrs ago but Iwill always have him with me now its something no one can take away or alter GOOD LUCK!!!! B.J. |
Smiley | Report | 4 Jun 2005 00:24 |
JUNE 4th 2005 Thank you for all your messages while I was away, you're all lovely, and trying for to keep me on the front page too :) I rang my sister as soon as we got home, but no news, other than they sent one more letter on Tuesday. here it is.... Dear Mum I can say that now, because I know it's you. I am still reeling from the letter, telling me never to write to you again, and also telling me I had "set you back" by contacting you. Your carer asked for you to be left in peace, for the time you have left. That final statement has left me absolutely devastated. I was not prepared for this at all; it now seems to me that I have nothing to lose, so I have decided to write just once more. Getting that letter has made me even more determined to meet you, I am so sorry you are ill, and I have no idea what you are suffering from, but I still want to see you. Is it that you don't want to see me? Or you don't want me to see you? I now know the timing of my contact was not good, but I promise you I will cope with anything, I also want to reassure you, that it is me & me alone that knows of your whereabouts. I have had little to do with my father over the years; my grandparents brought me up. My father's new partner made it clear to him that I was not welcome, he duly obliged and I was taken to my grandparents flat, I still live there part time, helping to care for them. The weekends are spent with my partner, R****. She has 2 children and we also have a daughter together. Yes, you are a grandmother too, our daughter is called A**** and she will be 8yrs old in August. I'm trying to fit the last 33yrs into a letter, but it's not working. I don't care about the past, there are no recriminations on my part, and there never were any, life is just too short. Please, please reconsider; I want so much to see you. I am so scared I will be visiting a grave instead of you. The address at the top is R**** house, you can write to me there, and I have included my mobile telephone number, you can leave a message, or ring me after 7pm weekdays, anytime over the weekend. I cannot bear the thought that this is it… It's not the ending I imagined Love always Your Son That would have reached BIL's mother by Wednesday, and as yet they have heard nothing back. She may just ignore it, he has said it's one last attempt and although you've all given very valuable and much-needed advice, above all he does not want to push himself on her. So he is saying he will not contact her directly again. Is this a 'man' thing? I think we women would get angry and just head on up there, without really stopping to think, but my husband agrees with my BIL, in that if his mother tells him yet again she does not want to see him, or have anything to do with him, then he will just have to draw a line under it. There is only so much rejection a person can take. My sister said BIL has been very depressed the last couple of days. I have passed on the comments about the local vicar, he is a bit confused as to whether to go that route, although I did say regardless of someone being religious or not, I think you would listen to what a member of the church has to say, and hopefully not be rude enough to dismiss him/her out of hand. So the story goes on, with no conclusion at present. Am I allowed to assume 'No News is Good News'? Bye for now Ever the optimist Sam BTW.. Nothing more from SS although they have had another email from BIL, asking amongst other things if his mother does not wish contact on any level would it be possible for him to informed of her death, as & when it happens - this also brought NO response from SS! The 'Carers' letter was not on headed paper, just an old fashioned lined writing pad's paper, looked like the writing of an elderly person. And the stillborn baby DID belong to BIL's father 100% sure of that, as for contacting him about it, maybe she thought he was entitled to know she was carrying his child. |
The Bag | Report | 4 Jun 2005 09:08 |
Sammy. His letter sounds really good- just enough to make her wonder about the grandaughter and other bits of his life. He sounds like a very sensative chap that will be easily hurt - and nothing can stop him hurting.Rejection IS hard but knowing you have done all you possibly can ....well, if the final 'NO' does come, at least he can say he put his heart and soul into trying. Is no news good news?- not sure.I would say if she hasn't replied within a week she probably wont.He needs to set himself a 'point' at which he will give up hoping, hard though that is.If she replies after that, then it is a bonus. I have everything crossed for him as it sounds like 'luck' is about all he has. Jess x |
Smiley | Report | 4 Jun 2005 10:16 |
Thank you Jess, good point about setting himself a cut-off regarding all this. That in itself will be difficult but, I too, think this has to be done, in order to get on with the rest of his life. My BIL is sensitive, he has only just come to terms with the fact that this did not go the way he had imagined. He thought his mum had stayed away because of his dad and that when he found her she would welcome him with open arms. Her reaction has made him feel absolutely worthless, my sister is doing all she can to reassure him, but at this present moment.. that is not enough. Sam |


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The International Home + Housewares show concludes today and at it are a feast of products, both licensed and proprietary for all areas of the home.
Get an overview of the licensing process, learn how to implement a successful business model and see case studies from the housewares market.
Licensing Expo and License! Global, in association with the International Housewares Association, are hosting a free webinar Wednesday.
Licensing Expo and the International Home + Housewares Show, have announced a collaboration to cross-promote their shows.


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Look behind you
Posted in Domestic Cricket
Confidence is high at Edgbaston at the moment. After being bottom of the championship after two defeats, we are now mid-table and looking to push the teams at the top.
We have won five in five in all competitions, two being in the championship. Winning can become a habit.
Our first two weeks of the season were weird. We thought we were playing pretty good cricket without finishing games off. We lost to Yorkshire and Lancashire and knew we had to turn it around.
In our third match of the season we were staring down the barrel against Hampshire so it was a fantastic effort to win.
After they scored 283 in the first innings, we were in trouble at 98 for seven when I went in and we gradually took the game away from them.
I batted with Tim Ambrose who got fifty, then Carts (Neil Carter) gave it a whack. I was like a silent assassin just ticking over at the other end so I just tried to give him the strike. He got out, which left me with our number 11 Imran Tahir who batted really well and stayed in long enough to make sure I could get to my hundred.
I think it was the best moment of my career so far. I've taken six wickets for England Lions, a few five-fors with Warwickshire but this was special. I was proud to score it at Edgbaston in front of a decent crowd too.
I don't know what it is about Hampshire as I scored my maiden first-class ton against them last season. We were up against it then as well but this one felt different. I knew I had to get the team out of trouble so I felt relief more than anything.
I work hard on my batting. Bowling comes more naturally, but if I keep making good scores then people might start to recognise me as a solid all-rounder which is what I want. I'd like to bat up the order at Warwickshire but there are some good batsmen here.
We had a brilliant win against Kent last week. Despite it being a low-scoring game with them chasing just 201 on the last day, we were always optimistic we would win. We were still upbeat when they were 100 for three at tea.
Imran bowled really well and got four key wickets. When we got Darren Stevens, caught by me at deep backward square, then we knew it was our game. Kent have a good side so it was an excellent to beat them.
There is something different about the way teams are playing in the championship this season. With the new ruling that the heavy roller can't be used once the game has started, there are more results and teams are going for the wins. That's our mentality. There is almost no point trying to draw games.
We are midtable after those two wins and want to push the teams at the top. Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire have started well but we are not too far behind now.
I am pleased with how I am bowling at the moment. I have 17 wickets at 28, so just over four wickets a match. I have taken a few three-fors and a four but I'd like to get a five. As long as the team are winning then I don't mind.
I have enjoyed bowling with Carts. He's been brilliant this season and is close to the top of the FTI MVP rankings. He's bowling well in all forms and taking wickets in clumps. I think it helps that we have a right-left combination.
Imran has been bowling well without getting the rewards. He was excellent against Kent and I'm sure he'll get lots of wickets when the wickets start turning. He's a great signing for us.
It's been nice to have a few days off this week. I played golf with my old man and a couple of mates on Tuesday - I hit 87 which wasn't too bad. A few of the lads at the club are pretty good so I try not to play with them as I am one of the worst golfers. Luckily my mates aren't too good.
We are back at Edgbaston on Thursday before driving down to the Rose Bowl for a Clydesdale Bank 40 game on Friday night.
We have won three matches on the trot in that competition and hopefully we can make it five by beating Hampshire on Friday and Kent on Sunday. We are looking to do well in this competition and have lots of bowling options with Boyd Rankin back from the World Twenty20 and Keith Barker free from injury.
The game with Hampshire is on TV so it's a good chance for me and the boys to shine and show people what we can do. When I was starting out I was really aware of the cameras when we played televised matches but now I just treat them as any other game.
I have managed to see bits and bobs of the World Twenty20. England have played some brilliant cricket and hopefully we can go all the way and win it.
The side looks really strong with two massive hitters up front. I saw lots of Lumby (Michael Lumb) when we played for England Lions in Dubai in February. He just dominates at the top of the order which makes it really hard for the bowlers.
Kiesy (Craig Kieswetter) was on that Lions tour - he's a top player too. He really gives it a smack and I'm sure he'll have a big future in Twenty20, one-day and perhaps even Test cricket.


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It's in 3D, which hasn't been put to brilliant use. You can rotate around your opponent, but the game AI's psychic powers make this rather ineffective. This is even worse with the Kawarimi move warping over to the other side of your foe - because the DS character has already turned around to face you before you've reappeared. Cheater!
For any experienced fighter, even on Hard this won't offer enough of a challenge. The touch screen is only used to activate the six bonus items you have for each battle, which boost your health or chakra (the power behind the special moves on the A button), and most fights can be won with just Y and A. Far too small and over-simplified, it's about 15 minutes of fun, and not that much fun either.


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Hamms Bear and Brewery
From MN150
Other Nominations
It wouldn't be East Side St. Paul without the Hamms Brewery and the Hamms Bear mascot.
HistoryHistory[1] Resource LinksShare your memories on this topicA little known fact... Hamm's produced the first beer can and subsequently introduced the first beer can opener. Bill Daly East Side p.s. Howard Hathaway of Don Miguel Fame worked at Hamm's in the 1960's after leaving KTCA. Notes


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| Email | Full Article (TrendHunter.com/id/146520) |
This two mile wedding dress has landed a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as it has officially been declared the world's longest wedding dress.
Taking over 100 days to create, the giant dress had ten seamstresses working hard to stitch together a massive piece of fabric. The materials for the dress cost close to $8,000. Once the dress was completed, there was only one logical thing left to: put the person wearing it an a hot air balloon and let the dress trail behind her.
Having an extravagant wedding is one thing, but this two mile wedding dress takes saying "I do" to the next level.


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| Email | Full Article (TrendHunter.com/id/84086) |
The Levi's Care to Air Design Competition is getting people and designers to think up creative ways to dry their beloved Levi's denim. The finalists have created some beautiful ways to air out their clothes without a dryer.
One finalist created a strap that can turn into a belt and also works as a handy hanging device. Another created a hanging system that conveniently looks like wall art when unused. The Levi's Care to Air Design Competition shows off the talent of the green generation.


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Hamburg See And Do
The area known as the Altstadt is centered on Rathausmarkt. Here, you can visit the 647-room Rathaus (Rathausmarkt; 49-40-428-312-470), one of the most interesting city halls in Germany, and the baroque Hauptkirche St. Michaelis (Englische Planke; 49-40-376-780), located just a few blocks west, which has sweeping views of the city and port from its elevator-accessible tower. Stroll down to the port, one of the busiest in the world, and take in Hamburg's oldest fish market, which dates back to 1703 and is teeming with locals and visitors alike.
City Center
Germany 20095
Tel: 49 40 428 131 200
This art museum's collection spans from the 14th century to the present. Don't miss the work of Master Bertram, Hamburg's first known painter—the altarpiece he painted in 1379 for the St. Petri Church is on display here. If the old masters aren't your scene, you can also find the work of late-19th-century Impressionists such as Manet, Renoir, and Monet, as well as the more modern work of Munch, Picasso, Kandinsky, Klee, and Warhol.
Closed Mondays.
A tangle of streets in the bohemian St. Pauli district down by the riverbank, the Reeperbahn is notorious throughout Europe as one of the Continent's biggest red-light districts. The area is fascinating—unsavory, but nonetheless safe. Prostitution is regulated, and the streets are always full. The "upscale" Herbertstrasse is gated to admit men only and features scantily clad ladies beckoning from storefront windows, a civilized spectacle compared with the scene on the streets closer to the river, where the come-ons are much more aggressive. The Grosse Freiheit packs more sleaze into its two blocks than do most cities: It's the home of anything-goes shows, though the posters and decor seem to date from a simpler age of shock and are almost kitschy today.
2 Lokstedter Grenzstrasse
Germany 22527
Tel: 49 40 530 033 0
Founded in 1848, this sprawling zoo was the first to introduce moated—rather than gated—animal exhibits, and is now home to over 360 species. It boasts a tropical aquarium, a large playground, and pony and elephant rides. Bring along fresh fruits and vegetables to feed the elephants and giraffes, and share any snack you've got on hand with the goats in the petting zoo. The Tierpark is also a botanical garden—so avid gardeners can scope out the scenery while making the rounds.
A mini-railroad connects this quartet of parks—the Grosse and Kleine Wallanlagen parks, the Planten un Blomen flower garden, and the Alter Botanischer Garten—all of which are meticulously well-kept. Within this complex, you'll find ice-skating and roller-skating rinks, restaurants, and gorgeous greenhouses. Planten un Blomen is at its most beautiful on summer evenings. Stroll through the tranquil Japanese Garden (the largest one in Europe) toward the small lake and watch a color light show brighten its waters (49-40-428-232-125; www.plantenunblomen.hamburg.de).


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Conan O'Brien Tweets About Justin Bieber, The Internet Explodes
Bieber Fever has hit hard over the past few weeks. And with Justin Bieber's second album My World 2.0 dropping in less than 24 hours, it's just gonna get worse, people. Even former late night talk show host Conan O'Brien is acknowledging the severity of Baby Biebs in pop culture and has declared him his Twitter nemesis.
Conan began tweeting not-so-innocently about Biebs over the weekend, saying,
"Sweet victory! I'm now trending higher than my twitter nemesis, Justin Bieber. Who's the tween heartthrob now?"
"I just learned that retweets of my Bieber tweet mentioning Bieber actually help Bieber. Bieber, you're a worthy foe. Bieber."
Unfortunately, Conan hadn't completely thought through his plan. But that didn't stop him from tweeting even MORE about Biebs. (Who can blame him?) Today he continued,
"As Bieber sleeps, I grow stronger. Sleep, Bieber. Sleep."
"Damn! Bieber revealed that I'm opening for him with a Whitney medley. It was supposed to be a surprise. Advantage: Bieber."
Well, we all know who's winning on Twitter currently—Bieber, clearly. The teen heartthrob has 1,506,186 followers, while O'Brien only has 715,500 followers.
So, we need to know your opinion: Who would win in a fight, Bieber or Conan?


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Gear Review
fell off instantly
i cleaned my board, pulled the backing off the stomp pad, placed it on my board and left weight on it over night.
As i stood my board up in the morning it slid down my board!
the glue is pathetic and even tho i was said i should get a refund i dont think i got one. but its only $5so its not that big of a deal.
View More Details on Bakoda Brass Knuckles Trac


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Outerlight's Source-powered, first-person murder mystery-'em-up The Ship is playable for free at the end of the week.
It's the latest action in Valve's free-trial fun which has already seen the likes of Day Of Defeat: Source open doors to all-comers for a short period of time. The full The Ship game will be accessible via Steam, with the fun kicking off on Thursday, November 1 (1pm PST or 9pm in Old Blighty) and closing at the same time on November 5.
Anyone not familiar with The Ship should read our review.


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Tidewater News | Unlawful gun owners can?t ?conceal? truth
Unlawful gun owners cant conceal truth
By Charlie Passut | Tidewater News
Published Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Richard Harris, owner of Firearms Sales Co. LLC, stands in the doorway of his Ivor gun shop while talking to a customer on his cell phone.
Richard Harris, owner of Firearms Sales Co. LLC, stands in the doorway of his Ivor gun shop while talking to a customer on his cell phone.
IVORWhen two men entered Richard Harris gun shop last year, they were both there for the same reason: to purchase an additional firearm.
They both presented a valid Virginia drivers license as their primary identification. And they both provided a valid concealed handgun permit from Virginia as their second form of ID.
And they were both rejected after a background check by the State Police.
And that worries Harris particularly the part about the men having concealed handgun permits.
This really got our attention because it was within a short time frame, said Harris, who owns Firearms Sales Co. LLC in Ivor.
Harris said the two men came in separately and were not together.
These two individuals both had firearms already, Harris said. They wanted something different. They picked out what they wanted.
The men then filled out two forms one state and one federal for the weapons. Harris, who is required to call the State Police afterward, calls and relays the information from those forms so that the authorities can perform a background check, something the police have three business days to complete.
We got a delay, Harris said. A few minutes later they called back and said, This purchase has been denied. Do not release the firearm. Well, I told them that this person has a concealed carry permit issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia. They said, Sorry, you cannot release the gun. His purchase has been denied.
Harris said after a denial, he gives the person who was rejected the phone number to Virginia State Police Headquarters in Richmond.
Due to privacy reasons, they wont tell me why anyones denied, Harris said. But that individual can inquire.
If an individual cannot purchase a firearm, why would the state of Virginia issue a concealed carry permit? Harris asked.
Concealed handguns have been legal in Virginia for many years, but the process was changed about 10 years ago, Harris said. Before the change, a judge would decide if an individual could get the permit.
It was just the judges discretion, Harris said. If the judge did not like you, or didnt like guns, no one in his jurisdiction got a permit.
Harris said people complained that the system was discriminatory and arbitrary. In response, the General Assembly changed the law and Virginia became a shall issue state, opening the door for any citizen to fill out an application for a concealed handgun permit.
According to Harris, the applicant for a concealed handgun permit must submit his or her fingerprints, and must also either show a certificate that they have been through a handgun course, a copy of their military discharge, or proof that they have been through a hunter safety course.
The state then has 45 days to run a background check on the applicant, Harris said.
If I can get an answer in three days on whether or not a person can buy a gun, and the Commonwealth of Virginia has 45 days to do an in-depth background check about a concealed handgun permit, are we not checking the same databases? Is there a loophole here?
As it turns out, the State Police do pursue individuals who shouldnt have a concealed handgun permit but not firearms.
If you do become convicted of a crime, or for some reason you are no longer allowed to be in possession of a firearm, then the burden is on the individual to surrender those weapons, said Corinne Geller, spokesman for the Virginia State Police.
Geller said weapons could be turned in to law enforcement or a gun shop, where they would be put on consignment. Another option, if the weapons were valuable or have sentimental value, would be to pass them on to a friend or family member who could legally have them.
Concealed handgun permits are issued by the courts, are good for five years and have an issue date. Geller said that state code specifies that as of that issue date, when the background check is run, if nothing is found under Virginia law that prohibits an individual from having the permit, it would be issued.
But that doesnt mean your status couldnt change the very next day, Geller said.
Permits are issued under Virginia law, not federal law. So there is always the chance that an individual could be turned down for purchasing a weapon, yet they possess a concealed handgun permit, Geller said.
There are eligibility parameters conducted through the Virginia State Police Firearms Transaction Center (that are) much broader than the parameters of eligibility that a court is mandated to look at to issue that concealed handgun permit, Geller said.
But the State Police will not let that permit stay out there.
Criminal records are updated daily and hourly, Geller said. We are constantly running the names of concealed handgun permit owners with those (criminal) names. If we come across an individual who is in possession of a concealed handgun permit, and we find that that individual is no longer allowed or eligible to possess a firearm, then we will notify the court. And the court is required to revoke that permit if that individual has not already surrendered it.
Southampton County Clerk Rick Francis said: There is a mechanism for the state police to notify us, and we bring (the individual) back into court to take (the permit) away from them. We will get a letter from the State Police, saying that this person has a concealed weapon permit, and they either have a case that is pending, or has suffered a recent adjudication.
Francis said the letter is then passed on to one of the two judges who serve Southampton County and Franklin Judges Westbrook Parker and Carl Edward Eason Jr. and the judge may issue a show cause order, which would require the individual to appear in court and show cause as to why the permit should not be revoked.
According to Francis, individuals are usually standing before a judge within 45 days of a show cause order. But others dont let the process get that far.
Its happened before that people have just surrendered their permits to this office, Francis said, adding that it was not a common occurrence he thought less than 10 were surrendered last year. He notifies the State Police if someone turns in their permit so they can update their database.
Southampton Commonwealths Attorney Eric Cooke said he believes the system works.
Its a good system, Cooke said. The far majority of the people who apply for a concealed handgun permit are law-abiding citizens. A criminal wont even bother getting a permit; theyll just carry their weapon around with them illegally.
Francis said the court issued 224 concealed handgun permits for Franklin and Southampton County residents last year. Each permit costs $50.
Thats one part of our economy thats up, Francis said.
Posted by steinertc (anonymous) on February 18, 2009 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There should be no permits for concealed weapons at all. The only ones allowed to carry concealed weapons is undercover officers. Seems to me, if your up to no good, you would be concealing. But after all one bad apple ruins it for all. Just issue permits to own a weapon. Why conceal it?????
Posted by mrpowr2u (anonymous) on February 18, 2009 at 3:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As a concealed handgun permit owner, I wonder at your reasoning for the statement you made. ("There should be no permits for concealed weapons at all. The only ones allowed to carry concealed weapons is undercover officers. Seems to me, if your up to no good, you would be concealing. But after all one bad apple ruins it for all. Just issue permits to own a weapon. Why conceal it?????")
I grew up having used rifles, shotguns and other weapons to hunt and target shoot for recreation. I learned from an early age to respect a weapon and how to use it properly. I learned to respect others and their property.
I served in the military and used handguns, rifles and shotguns as part of my service. I have used handguns, rifles and shotguns for more than 40 years. I have never caused another person to be injured as a result. I hope I never need to. But if my family or I am under imminent threat, I will use any method available to protect them and myself.
Evil does not care what method it uses to kill. Evil people will strangle, shoot, stab, run over, bomb or even use airplanes to perpetrate their acts. There is no inanimate object that causes people to die indiscriminately. Whether it is bare hands, a gun, knife, bomb etc. It must be used with an intent to kill OR an act of mischief OR an act of negligence by allowing a child to have access to a weapon who does not know otherwise. The object itself is benign until one of those acts takes place.
Remember that fertilizer and diesel fuel were the cause of the largest number of deaths in US history by a domestic terrorist in Oklahoma. Men, women and children were killed, maimed and left with scars for the rest of their lives, and not a single gun was involved.
Do not confuse the object with the intent or the action.
Good people, law-abiding citizens, who have concealed weapons are not the ones to worry about. Those who disregard the law, who have no respect for others, are the ones everyone needs to worry about and protect themselves against.
Posted by paramedic70002 (anonymous) on February 19, 2009 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree that there should not be permits for concealed weapons. Why should I need to give the courts $50 in order to place a piece of fabric over my weapon? As far as I am concerned, either I can legally possess guns, or not. Why have shades of gray? Vermont and Alaska do not require permits, and they have not suffered because they recognize what a free society is all about.
And as for why people should conceal; because there are too many Chicken Littles in this world that would have a hissy fit every time they saw someone carrying a weapon. Which is why some people insist on "open carrying," to desensitize the citizens to what is a natural right, the right to self defense.
Even liberal Democrat Governor Kaine approves of open carry, since he vetoed the bill allowing concealed carry in restaurants that serve alcohol last year.
That's right, per VA law, you can't conceal your weapon in Applebees or Joe's, unless you are the business owner or agent, a police officer, or a Commonwealth's Attorney.


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I started bleeding and cramping at 13weeks and 5 days, went to triage who removed some blood clots which said they were old. continued to bleed a brownish/black blood until 20 weeks and 5 days when i was finally sent for an anomily scan which they noticed a synchronised hematoma, so i am now 22 weeks and bleeding red like a period. It took them around 8 weeks to get to the bottom of this i also had like braxton hicks contractions which have disappeared now but i still have bleeding and so far baby is fine. I was told to rest but obviously i work full time and had a lot of time already because of this bleeding so i am resting when possible, im afraid complete bedrest will be impossible for me as i also have a 7 year old |


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The spices in this salad are like those in French gingerbread, or pain d'épice. If you make it with walnut oil, use walnuts; if you make it with hazelnut oil, use hazelnuts.
Sunset OCTOBER 2011
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Put walnuts in a pie pan. In another pie pan, toss bread with 1 tbsp. oil. Bake walnuts and bread, stirring occasionally, until walnuts are golden and croutons are golden and crisp, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool. Coarsely chop nuts.
2. Whisk remaining 3 tbsp. oil, the zest, orange juice, spices, and 1/4 tsp. each salt and pepper in a large bowl. Toss gently with lettuce, frisée, apple, nuts, and croutons. Add more salt and pepper to taste if you like.
*Find at well-stocked grocery stores and latourangelle.com
Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
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Fall Green Salad with Apples, Nuts, and Pain d'Épice Dressing Recipe


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The Surplus in Monopoly Capitalism and the Imperialist Rent
Paul Baran and Paul Sweezy dared, and were able, to continue the work begun by Marx. Starting from the observation that capitalism's inherent tendency was to allow increases in the value of labor power (wages) only at a rate lower than the rate of increase in the productivity of social labor, they deduced that the disequilibrium resulting from this distortion would lead to stagnation absent systematic organization of ways to absorb the excess profits stemming from that tendency.… This observation was the starting point for the definition that they gave to the new concept of 'surplus."… I have always considered this bold stroke as a crucial contribution to the creative utilization of Marx's thought.… but [Baran and Sweezy] refused to stop, like so many other Marxists, at the exegesis of his writings.… Having, for my part, completely accepted this crucial contribution from Baran and Sweezy, I would like, in this modest offering for the special issue that Monthly Review is devoting to honoring their work, to put forward a 'quantitative metric" of that surplus.… | more |
Value Added versus Value Capture
The 'GDP Illusion" is a fault in perception caused by defects in the construction and interpretation of standard economic data. Its main symptom is a systematic underestimation of the real contribution of low-wage workers in the global South to global wealth, and a corresponding exaggerated measure of the domestic product of the United States and other imperialist countries. These defects and distorted perceptions spring from the neoclassical concepts of price, value, and value added which inform how GDP, trade, and productivity statistics are devised and comprehended. The result is that supposedly objective and untarnished raw data on GDP, productivity, and trade are anything but; and standard interpretations conceal at least as much as they reveal about the sources of value and profit in the global economy.… | more |
Keynes, Steindl, and the Critique of Austerity Economics
Austerity is now 'in fashion," as governments respond to the revenue shortfalls of the crisis through deficit reduction plans and fiscal stability pacts, and economists blame it on the profligate spending of households and countries. Consumers, they say, bought houses they could not afford and countries consumed more than they produced, while loose monetary policies made this spending possible. Governments 'got prices wrong," keeping interest rates too low for too long, and while increases in government spending might alleviate current employment problems, this deficit spending is inflationary, and in any case will not help in the long run as budget deficits raise interest rates, 'crowding out" business and household spending. It is as if we have stepped back in time, to the depression years of the 1930s, when monetary theories of the cycle were dominant, the 'overinvestment" of the boom blamed for the downturn, and effective fiscal actions proposed by Keynes and others blocked by preoccupation with the public debt and its burdens.… The analysis here is concerned with the systematic rejection of Keynes's and Kalecki's revolution in economics and the resurrection of Say's Law (supply creates its own demand) of pre-Keynesian economics in all but name—a view that underlies today's austerity economics. … | more |
The question "Why Stagnation?" has a rather special significance for me. I started my graduate work in economics exactly fifty years ago this year. The cyclical downturn which began in 1929 was nearing the bottom. Unemployment in that year, according to government figures, was 23.6 percent of the labor force, and it reached its high point in 1933 at 24.9 percent. It remained in the double-digit range throughout the decade. Still, a recovery began in 1933, and it turned out to be the longest on record up to that time. Even at the top in 1937, however, the unemployment rate was still 14.3 percent, and it jumped up by the end of the year. That also happens to be the year I got my Ph.D. Can you imagine a set of circumstances better calculated to impress upon a young economist the idea that the fundamental economic problem was not cyclical ups and downs but secular stagnation?… | more |
The Great Financial Crisis and the Great Recession began in the United States in 2007 and quickly spread across the globe, marking what appears to be a turning point in world history. Although this was followed within two years by a recovery phase, the world economy five years after the onset of the crisis is still in the doldrums…. The one bright spot in the world economy, from a growth standpoint, has been the seemingly unstoppable expansion of a handful of emerging economies, particularly China. Yet, the continuing stability of China is now also in question. Hence, the general consensus among informed economic observers is that the world capitalist economy is facing the threat of long-run economic stagnation (complicated by the prospect of further financial deleveraging)…. It is this issue of the stagnation of the capitalist economy, even more than that of financial crisis or recession that has now emerged as the big question worldwide.… | more |
Monthly Review Volume 63, Number 11 (April 2012)
For decades we have been arguing in Monthly Review that stagnation is the normal state of the mature monopoly-capitalist economies. Today the reality of stagnation is increasingly gaining the attention of the corporate media itself.… For those accustomed to thinking of the capitalist economy as either growing rapidly or occasionally falling into a severe crisis (from which it quickly bounces back), long-run stagnation is a difficult to understand phenomenon. [A stagnating economy] neither collapses into a full (or "classic") crisis, which would allow it to clear out (or devalue) its overaccumulated capital, nor is it able to achieve a full recovery. Instead, it remains caught in a stagnation trap, limping along at a low rate of growth, with high unemployment and excess capacity. Under the circumstances—and without the help of some external stimulus like a major war, a financial bubble, or an epoch-making innovation—the capital accumulation process is unable to move off dead center.… | more |
The Role of the Federal Reserve System in Keeping Wages Low
Economist Edwin Dickens has written a series of significant articles analyzing the minutes of the meetings, dating back to the 1950s, of the Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve Board. (The Committee is the main policy-making body of the Board.) Dickens's research shows convincingly that the Federal Reserve's partisan behavior is designed to tilt the economy in the direction of the wealthy by making workers more compliant.… A recent study formalized Dickens's work by attempting to distinguish whether the policy actions of the Federal Reserve were responses to inflation or to low unemployment. The study concluded that "a baseless fear of full employment," rather than the prevention of inflation, was the guiding principal of the Federal Reserve. The conclusion of this study should come as little surprise to people familiar with the Federal Reserve's obsession with the danger of high wages.… | more |
March 2012, Volume 63, Number 10
As we write this, in late January 2012, international representatives of the ruling class and its power elite—wealthy investors, corporate executives, politicians, state bureaucrats, economists, pundits, and sundry celebrities—are gathered at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland to discuss the state of the world. Today there is no disguising the fact that some five years since the Great Financial Crisis began, the United States, Europe, and Japan all remain caught in an economic slump that will not go away.… From MR's standpoint, the current stagnation is not at all unexpected but represents the normal tendency of global monopoly-finance capital, especially in the mature economies. This tendency was disguised in part during the last three decades or more by a series of financial bubbles (and before that by Cold War military spending). Now with financialization on the rocks capitalism is once again face-to-face with the specter of stagnation, with no visible way out.… | more |
Growing inequality of income and wealth have characterized the U.S. economy for at least the past thirty years. Today, this inequality has become a central feature of politics, both mainstream and within such radical uprisings as the Occupy Wall Street phenomenon. This essay attempts to uncover the roots of inequality, showing that the source of it is in the nature of the capitalist economy. The magnitude of inequality ebbs and flows with the balance of class forces, but great inequality is built into the system's fundamental structures.… | more |
Dating the Cycle
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) decides the peak and trough dates of the business cycle. Most economists, including the government economists, accept their dates as the bible of research. Their dates do accomplish what they set out to do: they reflect the highest and lowest levels of business activity. This was the definition set by the founder of the NBER and it is very useful for many purposes. Certainly, there is a major gain if all economists use the same dates. Nevertheless, it is useful to ask a different question and use different dates for some purposes. Suppose we do not want to know the peaks and troughs of business activity, but instead we ask: How much human misery is caused by the cycle? There are many ways to answer that question, but the easiest is just to examine the duration of recessions in terms of human misery.… | more |
February 2012, Volume 63, Number 9
This issue of Monthly Review focuses particularly on China. Aside from the Review of the Month by John Bellamy Foster and Robert W. McChesney, which addresses the Chinese economy and its relation to the current phase of the capitalist world economy, we are publishing two separate contributions by Chinese scholars, one by Wen Tiejun, et. al., on the new rural reconstruction movement in China, and one by Zhihe Wang on the development of ecological Marxism in China. Our own thesis is that the era of rapid growth in China is leading to a period of deepening contradiction. The present accelerated growth is based on the intensive exploitation of migrant labor and the capitalization of newly urban land. For various reasons this model is reaching its outer limits, economically, socially, and ecologically. This suggests that China is on the wrong road, and must change directions.… | more |
The Global Stagnation and China
Five years after the Great Financial Crisis of 2007–09 began there is still no sign of a full recovery of the world economy. Consequently, concern has increasingly shifted from financial crisis and recession to slow growth or stagnation, causing some to dub the current era the Great Stagnation. Stagnation and financial crisis are now seen as feeding into one another.… To be sure, a few emerging economies have seemingly bucked the general trend, continuing to grow rapidly—most notably China, now the world's second largest economy after the United States. Yet, as [IMF Managing Director Christine] Lagarde warned her Chinese listeners, "Asia is not immune" to the general economic slowdown, "emerging Asia is also vulnerable to developments in the financial sector." So sharp were the IMF's warnings, dovetailing with widespread fears of a sharp Chinese economic slowdown, that Lagarde in late November was forced to reassure world business, declaring that stagnation was probably not imminent in China (the Bloomberg.com headline ran: "IMF Sees Chinese Economy Avoiding Stagnation.")… | more |
Ecological Civilization, Indigenous Culture, and Rural Reconstruction in China
The governments of almost all developing countries are facing the long-term twin problems of capital shortages and high fiscal debts, resulting from their attempts to modernize the state forms and economic and financial relations left by colonialism or copied from western political culture. Whether they claimed to be of the left or the right ideologically, they almost invariably undertook policies to attract foreign investment and encourage domestic private investors to join the global industrialization competition during the twentieth century…. Continental China, the biggest developing country, with the largest population (but also with significant natural resource constraints) has close to 20 percent of the world's population, but only 9 percent of its arable land and a mere 6 percent of its fresh water. Over the centuries, China had its share of drought- or flood-induced famines. But if not for a 6,000-year history of irrigated agriculture, with its related "village rationality" based on traditional indigenous knowledge—which internalizes risks by its multifunctional rural cultures of sustainable self-reliance—China would have been a land of perpetual hunger.… | more |
January 2012, Volume 63, Number 8
In a little more than two months at this writing (December 3, 2011) the Occupy Wall Street movement has ushered in a new dialectic of world revolt. Occupy movements now exist in more than 2,600 cities across the globe. The response of the system has been increased repression. Yet, everywhere the movement has come up with new means of revolt. Had we tried in early October to predict how things would be at the start of November we would never have succeeded. Likewise we cannot predict now at the start of December how things will look even at the start of January. And it is precisely this quality of emergence, i.e. of not being predictable from the current state of affairs, which suggests that we are at a turning point. This global rip in the cloth of imperial capital's supposed inevitability is irreversible; that we are fully ready to predict. Looking back it will be clear that as of late 2011, we are much closer to the start of a great global revolt against the plutocracy, the "one percent," than to its end.… | more |
Socialist Register 2012: The Crisis and the Left
The global economic crisis that closed the first decade of the 21st century has demonstrated that the contradictions of capitalism cannot be overcome. The challenge for socialist analysis is to reveal both the nature of these contradictions in the neo-liberal era of globalized finance, and their consequences in our time. This volume, a companion to The Crisis This Time: Socialist Register 2011, examines the response of the international Left and asks, how has the Left responded and can it offer an alternative to faltering capitalism? … | more |
November 2011, Volume 63, Number 6
It is a sign of the seriousness of the current economic malaise that more and more establishment commentators today are turning to Marx for answers. Thus a September 14, 2011, article in Bloomberg Businessweek, entitled "Marx to Market," acknowledged: "The Bearded One has rarely looked better. The current global financial crisis has given rise to a new contingent of unlikely admirers. In 2009 the Vatican's official newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, published an article praising Marx's diagnosis of income inequality…. In Shanghai, the turbo-capitalist hub of Communist-in-name-alone China, audiences flocked to a 2010 musical based on Capital, Marx's most famous work. In Japan, Capital is now out in a manga version…. Consider the particulars.… Marx predicted that companies would need fewer workers as they improved productivity, creating an "industrial reserve army" of the unemployed whose existence would keep downward pressure on wages for the employed…. It's hard to argue with that these days…. The condition of blue collar workers in the U.S. is still a far cry from the subsistence wage and 'accumulation of misery' that Marx conjured. But it's not morning in America, either." Bloomberg Businessweek seems unaware that Marx viewed the reserve army of labor as applicable not just to developed countries like the United States, but also to labor throughout the globe.… | more |
The Global Reserve Army of Labor and the New Imperialism
In the last few decades there has been an enormous shift in the capitalist economy in the direction of the globalization of production. Much of the increase in manufacturing and even services production that would have formerly taken place in the global North—as well as a portion of the North's preexisting production—is now being offshored to the global South, where it is feeding the rapid industrialization of a handful of emerging economies. It is customary to see this shift as arising from the economic crisis of 1974–75 and the rise of neoliberalism—or as erupting in the 1980s and after, with the huge increase in the global capitalist labor force resulting from the integration of Eastern Europe and China into the world economy. Yet, the foundations of production on a global scale, we will argue, were laid in the 1950s and 1960s, and were already depicted in the work of Stephen Hymer, the foremost theorist of the multinational corporation, who died in 1974.… | more |
Samir Amin at 80: An Introduction and Tribute
Samir Amin was born in Cairo in 1931, and studied within the French educational system in Egypt.… He is currently president of the World Forum for Alternatives.… Amin's wide-ranging work can be most succinctly described in terms of the dual designation of The Law of Value and Historical Materialism—the title of one of his books, now in a new edition as The Law of Worldwide Value. Marx's intellectual corpus, he notes, appears to be divided into writings on economics and writings on politics.… For Amin, this basic division of Marxist theory is not to be denied. Nevertheless, he insists that the economic laws of capitalism, summed up by the law of value, "are subordinate to the laws of historical materialism." Economic science, while indispensable, cannot explain at the highest level of abstraction, as in mathematical equations, the full reality of capitalism and imperialism—since it cannot account either for the historical origins of the system itself, or for the nature of the class struggle.… | more |
September 2011, Volume 63, Number 4
In this issue of MR we are reprinting Stephen Hymer's classic essay, "Robinson Crusoe and the Secret of Primitive Accumulation," which first appeared forty years ago in the September 1971 issue of MR. It represents, in our view, one of the most important articles produced by a whole generation of radical political economists associated with the revolt against mainstream economics in the 1960s, and the creation of the Union for Radical Political Economics in 1968.… [Hymer's] final article, "International Politics and International Economics: A Radical Approach," published posthumously in MR in March 1978, started off with the words: "To be a radical, or to be a scientist, is the same thing; it is a question of trying to go to the root of the matter."… | more |
The Ecology of Marxian Political Economy
It is no secret today that we are facing a planetary environmental emergency, endangering most species on the planet, including our own, and that this impending catastrophe has its roots in the capitalist economic system. Nevertheless, the extreme dangers that capitalism inherently poses to the environment are often inadequately understood, giving rise to the belief that it is possible to create a new "natural capitalism" or "climate capitalism" in which the system is turned from being the enemy of the environment into its savior. The chief problem with all such views is that they underestimate the cumulative threat to humanity and the earth arising from the existing relations of production. Indeed, the full enormity of the planetary ecological crisis, I shall contend, can only be understood from a standpoint informed by the Marxian critique of capitalism.… | more |