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Reykjavik, Iceland
My Rating
Great tour! You cannot miss the golden circle classic tour. It shows you all of the wonderful things nature-wise that makes Iceland unique. The first stop was views of the rock formations and geothermal pipes that are the energy source of this lovely country. Next we were unroute to the Thingvellur and tectonic plates of north america and europe. You actually walk between the plates, which they call "no mans land" and its amazing and what a view! At Thingvellir, theres a charming church and buildings and were off to the Gullfoss, which is huge and beautifully powerful. Were off to the geysirs and hot pools which is pretty neat and the smell of sulfur(smells like faint rotten eggs) lingers in the air which is something you get used to, trust me youll understand when you arrive here. We proceeded to another church which was lovely and a crater and to a geothermal power plant/museum, but we decided not to go in, we took in the scenery outside. Overall nice tour but there were many stops and the tour had too many people and this made it difficult to hear our tour guide who tried hard to educate us on her country but again, when theres so many people, its hard to hear over everyones voices. I would recommend a smaller tour and also the elderly people i feel held up the tour many times. There was a small amount of hiking and lots of walking and climbing in a steep bus and i feel they should have attended a tour with a slower pace with less strenous activities.
Reykjavik, Iceland
My Rating
I have to first start off by saying this trip was amazing! The scenery is spectacular and our tour guide Rakna(i hope im spelling this correctly) was so incredibly nice and informative. She taught us so much about the sights we were visiting and passing. She also told us Icelandic stories of the sagas, elves and trolls. We first visited a waterfall on our first stop and it was breathtaking. The lush green moss, mist of the foss(waterfall in Icelandic) was truly a sight. We then proceeded on towards the glacier lagoon. The scenery of the glaciers, volcanoes and taking the boat ride in the glacial lake was fantastic. We then proceeded back to Reykjavik, but as an added bonus the guide and driver decided to give us an extra trip to a scenic view of a glacial split and the black sand beach of Vik. Vik was hands down my favorite spot in Iceland. Hearing the crashing of the waves of the north atlantic, walking on the volcanic black sand, viewing the cliffs and taking in the fresh briny air was a little piece of heaven on earth. Then we visited another waterfall which was beautiful and back to Reykjavik. It might appear like a long day, but its not, the time flies by and theres ample food and bathroom stops. Overall, extremely recommended trip. Please dont miss this tour!
Zurich, Switzerland
My Rating
One word to describe Switzerland, beautfiul. The country is gorgeous and during our 4 day stay, we wanted to visit the Swiss country side and one of the smallest countries in the world, Liechtenstein. The tour was great, albeit, the rainy afternoon. The tour started in Zurich, tour guide showed us a handful of key sites, we didnt leave bus and then we were off to Rapperswil. Rapperswil is a tiny city located on the other side of Lake Zurich. The tour guide suggested lunch at a local cafe, food was delicious, restaurant charming. The restaurant staff were lovely. Then off to Liechtenstein. The countryside was gorgeous, were able to get close to Alps for some great pics and the scenery was lush. Liechtenstein's visit was short, hour in country, wish we had extra 2 hours to roam, to take in 30 minute hike to castle and take in museum, but I got my stamp. After that we headed to Heidiland. This was the highlight for me because we had to take a 20 minute walk to Heidiland and it was wonderful walking near an apple orchard and the vegetation was green and vibrant. There were cows, goats and chickens grazing on grass. I opted out of Heidiland house and took in the nature and scenery, which was peaceful. The trip ended around 6:30. The reason I gave the trip 4 stars is I wish the trip was longer, started earlier and then we would have been able to have more time to explore Liechtenstein and I wish there was more of an educated walking tour, but overall, tour guide was great, telling lots of jokes and was a nice gentleman. Bus driver was amazing, driving through narrow old medival streets and drove safely. I highly recommend tour.
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EUGENE, Ore. — A portion of sales at Ninkasi Monday will benefit a local animal rescue. West Coast Dog and Cat rescue is a non-profit with two locations inside both Petsmart stores in Eugene.
Organizers said they're excited for the Pints for Pets fundraiser because it'll help raise money for its wide variety of adoptable pets.
"Dogs and cats coming from a variety of background some of them strays, surrenders, special need animals, senior animals," said Tarah Campi, West Coast Dog and Cat Rescue volunteer.
Since 2007 the rescue's found new homes for 1600 dogs and cats.

subset: commoncrawl


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Prime One Twelve is one of the finest restaurants on South Beach. Gleaming wooden plank floors, exposed brick columns, and creamy white leather-upholstered chairs set the stage for a menu listing three items that, to devotees of fine food, might seem inexpensive: $25 "Kobe beef sliders," a $25 "Kobe beef hot dog," and for those with an appetite, a $30 "one-pound Kobe hamburger."
The problem is that the meat isn't what's advertised. It's not the product of cattle raised in the Hyogo Prefecture of Japan that in some cases drink beer and receive sake massages.
Moreover, its listing on the menu is an apparent violation of federal standards and state law. "We were not aware of the requirement for the specific labeling," owner Myles Chefetz says when told of the problem. "Given this info, we will state this on the menu immediately."
112 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Category: Restaurant > American
Region: South Beach
1201 Brickell Ave.
Miami, FL 33131
Category: Restaurant > American
Region: Brickell
915 Lincoln Road
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Category: Restaurant > Steakhouse
Region: South Beach
Dozens of Miami restaurants include the same type of misleading information on their menus. And scores of customers every day pay top dollar thinking they are ingesting the world's most precious meat.
The list of offending eateries includes upscale and casual, local and national chains, and in Miami Beach and Brickell. There's 8 oz. Burger Bar, Bancroft Supper Club, China Grill, Gordon Biersch, Plat Bleu at the Delano, Meat Market, and Prime One Twelve. Contacted by New Times, representatives of each of these places admitted to serving high-quality American or Australian beef from similar cattle even when the item was listed as Kobe beef on the menu.
Indeed, the issue repeats in cities across the nation. Though the federal government has known of the trend for almost a decade, not much has been done.
"It's basically become a free-for-all," says Charles Gaskins, spokesman for the American Wagyu Association, a Washington state-based industry group with more than 250 members. "We're aware of the [federal] guidelines, but people do what they want... Some of them use the term Kobe in their farm names."
Kobe refers to beef from the black Tajima breed of Wagyu cattle, which are raised in Japan under strict ministry of agriculture oversight. Wagyu, which literally means "Japanese cattle," were imported to the island nation in the Second Century to cultivate rice. They have a genetic predisposition toward heavy fat marbling in the muscle. Prime cuts such as filet, rib eye, and strip loin are distributed the world over, prized for their rich flavor and tender, velvety texture.
Of course, this beef is expensive, selling for $16 to $30 per ounce depending on the cut, according to Anshu Pathak, owner of Kobe Beef Incorporated, a leading online purveyor.
So in 1976 and later from 1993 to 1994, some American farmers tried to come up with a cheaper product. They imported a few dozen Wagyu cattle and then cross-bred them with domestic Angus. The offspring looks similar to the pure-bred Japanese, but the meat is darker, with less marbling and a bolder flavor and texture. American Wagyu costs four to ten dollars per ounce, depending on the cut. (Australians produce something similar.)
This beef began to gain popularity between 2001 and 2004, when Japanese meat imports into the United States were temporarily banned during the mad cow scare. Now it's relatively widespread.
At the Bancroft Supper Club in Miami Beach, manager Karen Martin blames the restaurant's distributor for the menu items labeled "Kobe beef mini burgers" ($18) and "Kobe beef carpaccio" ($18), which she admits are Australian Wagyu. "The invoices say Kobe," she explains. "That's why we list it like that." She will work with chef Tim Andriola to make the description change.
Chef/owner Sean Brasel of high-end Lincoln Road steak house Meat Market lists a genuine Kobe item in a menu section called "Reserve Cuts." The "six-ounce Japanese A5 Kobe tenderloin" goes for $95. Then there's the meat labeled "Kobe skirt steak" ($31) and "white truffle Kobe tartare" ($21), which come from Snake River Farms in Idaho, not Japan.
Brasel explains that listing the real provenance of the skirt steak would be "redundant." "Customers know [those items] are not Japanese Kobe because of the price. In the other section with more expensive cuts, I specify."
Not all chefs understand they are misrepresenting products. Executive chef Maria Manso at the Delano in Miami Beach says her Plat Bleu menu offers "Kobe beef sliders" for $28 and then reveals they are American Wagyu. "The menu labeling comes from corporate," she explains. "We leave it up to the servers, who are well-trained to explain where it comes from if a customer has an issue or a question. There's no reason to change it." Phone calls to owner/operator China Grill Management were not returned.
It's perhaps more understandable that casual-dining establishments would mislabel their victuals. Take Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Gordon Biersch, which has locations in 17 states and Taiwan. The "Kobe sliders" ($10.95), popular at its Brickell Avenue outpost, are American Wagyu. To meet demand, corporate executive chef Bill Heckler also recently introduced a $13.95 "German Kobe burger," using the same beef, on his Oktoberfest menu.
Heckler will update the Gordon Biersch menu nationwide in January to accurately denote the provenance of the meat. He emphasizes the company trains servers to answer customers' questions about the product. He believes the majority of diners don't know the difference. "To my knowledge, use of the word Kobe was an acceptable marketing term," Heckler explains. "I recently had a situation with my rep where I specifically ordered Kobe beef from Japan and got American Wagyu instead. I wasn't happy."


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In the game, Grover sets out to create a series of challenges designed to help his Sesame Street friends get up and go! Through the course of the game, Elmo and Abby jump over obstacles, row a boat, and play "Grover Says," all while learning important life lessons on healthy habits to grow with. Through their adventures, the game promotes physical activity, good nutrition, personal hygiene, and even the importance of rest and relaxation.
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Atheist insists on lose-lose scenario in nativity fight Comments
For nearly 60 years, the city of Santa Monica has showcased a series of dioramas featuring the Nativity of Christ, but thanks to atheist involvement, the nativities are going away. Rather than fight with the atheists, the city has decided to do away with the displays altogether. Continue Reading
11 - 18 of 18 Comments
2 years ago
The Atheist is the Herod of these times. They are bound and determined to kill the idea of the Christ Child wherever that image is adored. Why not also do away with the XMAS holiday altogether? Get rid of Santa Claus especially,because his real name is Saint Nicholas,a person made into some mythical Catholic legend. Get rid of holiday shopping and the giving of donations for any cause. After all it is a matter of getting your own way,never being tolerant or even generous to others. It is better to see that ones rights are not violated and that it is the way of the Atheist or the highway. Remember separation of church and state is the all and all issue everywhere and in every place. Remember force those athiest ideas on everyone be sure to shove those ideas down the throats of others,even if they find it a hard pill to swallow. Re-name California cities such as San Francisco,Santa Monica,cities like that named after Catholic saints. Make sure there isn't a trace of Christianity any where,pitch a tent over every Church so no one can see them. Scream myth,illusion,fantasy,whatever about God. Then go to your favourite movie theatre and watch some kind of fantasy laden,Hollywood movie and call it entertaining,inspirational,a must see for everyone. My ranting here is about tolerance. I don't like pornography and I do not think it should be promoted or sold or even viewed any where. Why can't I simply get a movement to put an end to that whole industry. I simply can't because like any religion it is tolerated and promoted as a right to be protected. No one minds when Christmas helps the economy prosper and grow this time of year. No one minds getting donations for good causes. Maybe Christmas will help some poor devastated NY city families this year. What is wrong with a major holiday,the king of all holidays,like Christmas that has so much power to inspire common goodness and charity? So what if the Christ Child is associated with it. In every child that is born there is hope. It is said Christmas is for children,if so leave it and all it's tradition alone. What harm is there in any of it? So be it! Amen! Merry Christmas!
2 years ago
To Mike:
The issue goes to motivation. The Christian booths were set up without any aggressive or hostile intent towards anyone, offering everyone - believers and unbelievers - the chance to see and enjoy a series of charming nativity scenes. The motivation of the atheists, however, is entirely different, in keeping with a strategy adopted nationwide in recent years: tendentious talk about freedom masking a desire to insult and offend, reducing freedom of speech and expression to a zero desert where no one has a right to say anything. Such a strategy may seem very "smart" and "clever" but it reveals itself for what it is all too clearly: a mean, petty, spiteful, envious, kill-joy spirit that prefers social and cultural poverty to true freedom of expression and a healthy, vibrant, diverse democracy. The atheists then have the audacity to call it progress when in reality it is nothing but a contemptible display of bad faith. They fool no one but themselves. Cheers!! -
2 years ago
Wow, my head hurts again....
I'm a born again Christian and this does not at all dissuade me from my ultimate responsibility; to tell people about Christ. To let them know that Jesus came to earth to die for my sins and the sins of everybody that ever lived before him, during his life and all those that followed.
Call it the celebrations of December 25 the Holidays and ban any mention or displays of Christ all you want, at some point some kid somewhere is going to ask a teacher or parent why we celebrate the holidays we celebrate and eventually we'll be faced with one of three choices; accept the holidays for what they are and tell the kids the truth about the historical significance of these holidays, keep lying or worse yet, have nothing to say other than "I'm not sure" or outright ban the celebrations all together.
I don't care what you all decide on, while I still have breath - JESUS IS LORD!! He always has been and will continue to be regardless of man's hatred toward him. Jesus said that the world loves its own, if you love Jesus, they will hate you - John 15:19. This hatred can not and will not stop me from telling you that you need Jesus. Go ahead and take away all my apparent religious freedom, I still do not care. All this proves is that Jesus is right and righteous and I figure that's about enough to drive all the atheists crazy because these atheist are themselves proving there is a God and he has son named Jesus. -
2 years ago
Aren't there thousands of churches that can display nativity scenes? Why the need to place religious speech on what the first amendment calls neutral secular land? Is it because people aren't going to churches anymore? The atheists have shifted tactics. Rather than pursue court, they are asking for the same free speech rights the religious claim. It's interesting to me that faith-organizations strongly supported each others' "religious liberty" this past year though clearly thinking some of each others' members were destined to Hell and yet I don't see support for free speech here for atheists. Fascinating! ~Cheers! -Mike
2 years ago
Oh people of little faith. Most of these people do not understand what creche is. For them they are figures with a talk about God and Jesus and all of that is a myth. I see an excellent opportunity. Let them put signs with their slogans, and let us put signs with Word of God. God through these atheists is calling us to bring back His message. The know creche, but they do not know how much God loves them. They know not message of Love and the message of the Cross. Blessed be God!
2 years ago
The atheists forced the government to follow the constitution and not give Christians a forum that no one else could use. That's always a "win" in my book.
2 years ago
A few points:
1. The atheists showed a great display of faith. Why? It takes more faith, it has often been said, to be an atheist than it does to be a theist. And we can go further back than Jesus by looking at Aristotle: out of nothing, nothing becomes. Existence exists. What kind of an imbecile fairy magician would imagine that all of existence suddenly got put into existence out of nothing?
2. Next, if these atheists are intellectually rigorous and honest, throw them out of California. Certainly, throw them out of Santa Monica. Why? San Francisco. Santa Barbara. Santa Monica. San Diego. San Fernandez. Santa Clara. There seems to have been a lot of Catholic influence in California! If they don't like their state, let them move to North Korea! Then, they can obey a dictator!
3. The separation of Church and state? On some levels it is good, possibly, on other levels if pushed to the extreme it becomes nonsense. It doesn't mean separation of Church and planet earth! Is it possible to separate your heart from your brain, then once again from your body, then again separate your thoughts, words, actions without becoming a completely dissipated nihilistic mashed salad of moral relativism filled smorg cult-ure with nothing but sophistry stuffed inside the turkey? I don't know. Someone tell me.
4. Reread the last 2 paragraphs:
I see the words "abandon", "killed", "empty", "devoid", "nothing"; these are all words describing a cult-ure of death are they not? And then? Then, humanity risks becoming more enslaved by even more stupid cult-ure.
Let the atheists know that Christianity and Catholicism are also good for the economy. Why? In the words abandon, kill, empty, devoid, nothing; these also apply to economic prosperity on a longer timeline. Your economy is already in the toilet. Don't let it drop down into the sewer systems! It's already half way there as it is! Stop the drainage! Your economy isn't constipated, it is on diarrhea! And the cattle are headed for the cliff to boot! Stop the stampede. Put the salt blocks and hay on the other end of the pasture before they keep running towards empty illusions and standing in mid air like Willie the Coyote on Bugs Bunny! The politicians are the road runners. And old Willie the Coyote is who? Us! The citizenry. And if they have their way, they'll run us towards a cliff.
Atheism is for the intellectually inferior. The best philosphers, even before Jesus physically walked on the earth, were theists. Aristotle believed in God. Is anyone going to dare calling him an idiot? If Aristotle was an idiot, then truly I am failing to see the great multiple geniuses around me in my daily life for there ought to be millions and billions of them by now and yet my eyes do not see this reality at present.
Where's your American "can-do" spirit? For goodness sake, Americans, the older boys were filled with some gusto. You young guys are wimps! And by young, I mean those under about 75! Will you older boys show the youth (under 75) how it is done? They are practically wearing skirts and makeup, many have become so effeminate. Read some Plato and see what he writes on this subject matter. This stupid gender neutral indoctrination you have going on in many schools is producing a pile of identity twisting in boys and girls. Most people in most older cultures LAUGH at things like gay marriage and the likes. It is farcical! A tragic comedy! And Canada is NUTS too, which explains in part why I left! All this liberalism belongs in the trash can. And while I am at it, the CBC in Canada ought to be called the CBC-OCFLALALWLS-ATPCWP: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation-Of Cheerleaders For Liberals And Leftists And Left Wing Loon Sophists-And The Politically Correct With Pompons.
Journalism? In many countries, it is sensationalism for ratings and propaganda. Journalism? Does it exist that much anymore? It is media and propaganda, manipulation for the most part. Plus, lots of marketing. I suppose the herd mentality still exists and the herd likes to be led like lemmings either to the trough or off a cliff. Usually, first the trough is promised to then have the cattle walking like lemmings off a cliff just a little after having bloated. And then? Then, the politicians play the blame game since it is always someone else's fault. I know where the fault line is. Practically all politicians and all parties. It's politics. And the citizens are to blame as well since they are often asleep.
What did Abraham Maslow have to say? Research it. For sure, at any rate, the biggest cult of all is what? CULT-URE. If your cult-ure gets run over by a pile of agnostics and atheists, then it has gone to the dogs. Where is the America so many once knew? I suppose some fools are considering taking the 'San' out of Francisco or Diego? Can you imagine going to only Barbara or Monica instead of Santa Barbara or Santa Monica? At airports, some might risk saying in the future "I am making reservations to go to Barbara and then Monica". "And then, I will travel to Francisco and Diego". If these political loon cult-ure types had their way, they would ruin practically all that is good. All it takes for evil to prevail is for a few good men to do nothing. Rivet their sophistry and lazer them. Period. It is very EASY.
Paul-Emile Leray -
2 years ago
PJI Fights for Christmas Free Speech Rights
Los Angeles – The Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) filed a lawsuit against the City of Santa Monica after a nearly 60-year tradition was unconstitutionally terminated by city officials.
Each Christmas season, for nearly 60 years, visitors of the Palisades Park in Santa Monica, California, were able to enjoy diverse displays—privately hosted—featuring different aspects of the Nativity scene. This annual tradition was bombarded in recent years with challenges from adamant atheists.
The complaints led the City to opening up the display spaces to others interested in using them on a first-come first-serve lottery basis. In 2011 atheists collaborated together, and secured 18 of the 21 spaces. They left spaces empty, and filled others with anti-religious, secular statements.
One of the atheists was quoted as saying, "the atheist groups had no real desire to set up displays, but wanted to counter the Nativity scenes in size and message." In response to the increased competition for spaces, and the potential for greater controversy, the City Council of Santa Monica opted to do away with the annual tradition instead of welcoming free speech.
The lawsuit, filed by Los Angeles area Becker Law Firm with PJI attorney Michael Peffer as co-counsel, aims to reinstate the long-held tradition, and restore the free-speech that has been banned.
"Stopping this tradition is one of the worst things the City could have done. They have, in effect, given in to the atheists' demands," said Brad Dacus, president of PJI. "Government officials throwing out traditional free speech opportunities due to fear of controversy is unwise, and unconstitutional, behavior," Dacus noted.
Pacific Justice Institute is a non-profit legal organization dedicated to defending religious, parental, and other constitutional rights. PJI.org
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Announcement: Online Sports Betting
Before I begin discussing Sports Betting, I recommend you take a look at my review on John Morrison Betting System. It can be found by far the best at the moment. Betting has always been a popular pursuit, and today has become a way of life for millions of people around the world. Well, theres a factor in today's modern explosion of sports betting, and that can, with the advent of the Internet, which eventually brought a number of opportunities for sports betting online. Online betting on sports is of most sports minded people for the fact that disadvantaged attributed it to has a lot to offer as the Las Vegas sports books or the local bookie. With a number of online sports betting sites out there on the virtual world, sports betting for the average weather is clear, simple and accessible to bet on the comfort and privacy of their homes. And although most sportsbooks, betting on sports online operating outside the United States but they are based, you have succeeded the ultimate in convenience and variety. Also, sports betting online offers you the chance to experience ultimate gaming action right in the comfort of your own room, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Unlike the old-fashioned local bookmakers, that offer you just the opportunity to be on the major sporting events, the players of today, with the advent of online sports betting, is not that confined.They now have the Mo opportunity to online sports bet in almost any sporting event in existence. Much of that sports betting on sporting events doesn't have online for the fact that all the odds, has bet on almost anything and everything, from the American Idol for the Olympic Games. But as betting on your local bookmakers or in Las Vegas sports books, all weather needs a better understanding of online sports betting for him or her have profits.As generate the majority of experts recommend mu You need to some knowledge of the sport, are big money-management course betting and discipline in sports betting online. So, before you place your bets on, it is best to first ensure that all those weapons you've got to win for you. If sports betting online, it is also best to keep an eye that moves for personnel adjustments, coaching, exposure, injury, weather conditions, line, and also the return of starters that may occur. Taking all these factors can help you decide what to bet and how much. Do not play the entire board. That's one thing to consider when betting online. As you may know, love some of the sports betting action, but that's actually a fast way to. Poorhouse The reason is quite simple: .. the opportunities and VIG will Eat You Alive Another piece of advice is not to be afraid to bet on crappy teams Actually, that is, you'll find the best value, especially if youre fighting spread to a point. Please note that the spreads seem to be true, usually are.therefore for good, it is advantageous to go against them and reap the fruits of that for you in the long run to give.
Announcement: To make bets in online sports betting platform
You dont always have to spend your own money purchasing the different bets in online sports betting platforms. If you are willing to put in the effort and time, and you have the necessary patience, it is at least one way through which you can get some free bets. Betting But in case this whole idea of online sports betting, bets are free of charge and purchase sounds totally new to you, we give you a brief overview of the functioning of online sports betting, you gain the ndnis the context in which you can get free bets.Online sports betting is a little different than traditional sports betting. In both cases, of course people bet for or against the presence of different sporting event results. The difference is that in online sports, betting the people placing the bets could be in very different parts of the world. So it is very difficult, the traditional system, where you could walk up to your friend, and tell her that you put in $ 100 against this and win the team that put the annual Super Bowl tournament. Under the agreement, could you be described as placing bets big. You could win $ 200 if your team (the other $ 100 is your friend) to get. Conversely, you could lose the $ 100 you had put down in case you want your team to lose. What happens online, as many people from different parts of the world, betting for or against a range of sporting results, is betting that the fragmentation and sold piecemeal – as shares in the capital markets. Sun entry into the online sports betting platform with $ 100, you can bet 10 against buying a winning team to lose (at $ 1 each), and 20 operations for the team of C (at $ 4 ) each and another 10 applications for the team win from D (at $ 10). The betting, like stocks, were, in some types of raw materials by fragmentation, which also makes them more affordable than betting wholesale (win-all or lose all), where you bet a huge sum of money FÜ outcome.It for or against a particular sport is with this understanding, then, that we return to our discussion about how you can get free bets.And the way, would such free betting by full use of the sports betting bonuses are that different online sports betting platforms, from time to time.The way the system usually works is that the sports betting platform information to its members (or potential members), that for any amount of money which they deposit in their accounts are betting on the site for the purpose of purchase, management platforms would be Add / refilling with another a certain amount. So if $ 20 deposit to the account, and the platform to give a 10% bonus, you get to $ 22. It is with the $ 2 free money that is given in this way as bet bonus of going to earn what would be effectively betting, free. There are also platforms for sports betting, free bets give the right to register new members to give them a sense of their activity, as some platforms provide a free bet on existing members from time to time, as a gesture of appreciation. The impetus is on you to busy to get online, and work hard at this online sports betting sites that will identify the opportunity to earn free bets.
Betting Systems – The Smart Approach to Sports Betting
Spend any time looking for sports betting systems and their more outlandish claims about heaven will rapidly see your bankroll quickly. Do these sports betting systems really work in the long run
or are they just as risky and costly bets pocket as impulsive? They are like people who like to bet on your favorite sport
you probably dream about the day can prevent you from professional sports bettor. The reality is that such a life in sports betting is indeed possible if you set things with the right approach in the head and betting with the best sports you systems.First need to assess how much are you willing to play a bankroll that will fund your betting career. How much money you have is not important when you begin
you should aim to increase your overtime hours so patient is to fund critical. Your bankroll should be money you can afford to put aside and the only bets and your sports betting is systems.You lot of one-size bet size ratios and other Fundamental Principles bets to be heard in relation to your bankroll. Typically
most supporters are betting 1-2% of your bankroll on each bet. While this works
take the professional sports bettors a step further.Professional are not sports bettor the happiest people in the world. There is nothing magical about their ability to make money off of time.What the professionals is their sports betting systems that are based on cash-management systems. Most people spend almost all their time to the decision to bet on and why instead of how to bet. This money-management systems are purely mathematical.This is why the professionals in a position to even money bets on a range of only collect 40% winners
for example. How is that possible? Bet you use progressions and strategies allows them to minimize risk of losing their bets on a number of
but maximize their bets profits.An example of sports betting system based on progressions is the 2 / 6 Straight Bet. The 2 / 6 Straight bet is a series of 6 bet bets with predetermined amounts of 1-2 games at once. If you win two consecutive start your bets on a bet. In the 2 / 6 Progression you can win only 33% of your bets and still make a profit! Your bankroll is broken into quarters so that if an incredible run of bad luck occurs
you still have 75% of your bankroll.This is how the pros do it
which is 2 / 6 an example of a sports betting systems tÄ possible use by the professionals. Personally
I'm 6-7 betting progressions that I use the yet to fail me. If it as a purely mathematical approach
things change very quickly and you will see exactly why only 2-3% of the bettors get too crazy profits.


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My favorite robust porter is Tadcaster Porter, from Samuel Smith. I have been working for quite some time in duplicating that wonderful flavor of a savory pint of roasty-toasty goodness that is Taddy Porter. So without further ado, here is my transcription of tadcaster porter. Batch size is 5.5 gallons. Eff% is 75% Mash temp is 155F for 60 mins 9# Marris Otter 1# English Crystal 55L 8oz Brown Malt 8oz UK Chocolate malt 4oz black patent malt 4oz Treacle (black strap molasses if you can't find treacle) 2oz EKGs(5.0%)@60 1oz Fuggles(4.5%)@0 Yeast: I am convinced that yeast makes a big difference in getting that awesome Samuel Smith taste, so for authenticity go for WLP037: "Yorkshire Square Ale" In lieu of that yeast (it's a seasonal one) go for any english strain that is very malt-focused and is pretty low on the fruit esters. Other good yeasts would be ringwood (WLP005, wy1187), wyeast west yorkshire (wy1469), or any other malty non-fruity english strain. (so no thames valley/burton ale yeasts) and ferment around 68F. the taste is very close to Sam Smith's Taddy porter, coffee/dark chocolate/roasty flavors dominate, with a slight earthy bitterness from the fuggles. Full and rich, a great sipping beer. Enjoy.
I'd contest by just looking at the grain bill that this is probably not close to the Taddy porter. Looks like it'd make a fine beer, just not a Taddy. I say this because Taddy tastes like water to me; It's the guiness of porters.
Freeze, I'm glad you posted this. I've got an iteration of the Taddy Porter at 7 days into fermentation with the WLP037 strain. Recipe is out of Brewing Classic Styles which is similar to your recipe: 20% less crystal, 40% more brown, no black or treacle, and roughly half the hops (strange). When are you adding the treacle and do you notice it in the final product? I decided to try another go at open fermentation, first attempt was on a bitter but have found little difference in a parallel closed fermentation (attenuation, overall character). I also tried a thick 1qt/lb mash thinking it is the more "English" way to do it. My feelings on the yeast are that you need to keep it warm or it will quit on you, at least above 60-62F. It smells wonderful and flocs great, bitter was 'clear' in 8 days. I'm not convinced that the strain or how I'm handling it is key, though. However, my experience with it is lacking right now. I'd like to try a complete rousing/aeration schedule like the brewery does but I've got to get the cajones to do it. I might try it on a Nut Brown coming up. Have you gotten that hazelnut character pinned down yet?
Funny, that's almost the exact same recipe I made on my own for a brown ale..... Im calling it a porter now tho ^^
Does anyone have the OG and FG for this recipe?
Cane sugar in a TADDY PORTER? SS site says it has cane sugar. I have seen brown porters without its use. Jamils for example...9.5 # British pale, 1# brown malt, 1# crystal 40 and 10 oz of chocolate.


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Bill Downs, who lost out on The Voice, but gained a wife.
Dan Grimmer
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Millions watched Sprowston singer Bill Downs crash out of TV show The Voice at the weekend, but it was still a happy ending for the musician – his exit meant he got to tie the knot with his childhood sweetheart.
The 24-year-old was on the team of The Script singer Danny O'Donoghue on the popular BBC talent show, but found himself pitted against Londoner Max Milner on Saturday night's show.
The pair were given Beggin' by Madcon to sing and wowed all judges, including Jessie J, Sir Tom Jones and will.i.am.
But, to the disappointment of former Sprowston High School pupil Bill, his mentor decided it was Max who would go through to the next round – the live finals.
Before he competed in the top-rated show, Bill and girlfriend Sacha Cullum had been due to get married. But his wife-to-be agreed to put the champagne on ice to give him his shot at stardom.
The couple managed to re-book the church and reception venue after his early exit and the big day went ahead as scheduled.
He said: "Obviously the show was pre-recorded so we pretty much had just over a month to get things back on track in terms of the wedding.
"I was disappointed not to continue on the show but I knew it meant I could get married so it was bit of mixed emotions.
"It was bit of a win-win situation for me."
The couple, who have been together since they were teenagers, got married at St Mary and St Margaret's Church in Sprowston. They are set to jet off for their honeymoon in Dubai and Mauritius tomorrow (Monday).
People can still root for local talent on The Voice.
Gorleston mum Toni Warne has made it through after dualling with Londoner Kirtsten Joy.
Miss Warne, of Jenner Road, was picked to continue by her voice coach, Jessie J.
Leanne Mitchell, 28, from Lowestoft, is also still in the competition.
7 comments
I hope that you continue on your musical career and I look forward to hearing you on the wireless one day. Best Regards, Whiley.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Out of the pot into the fire!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
You were definately the best singer, Max was too full of himself and very annoying to watch Hope you had a lovely day though and best wishes for the future.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
In my opinion....they picked the wrong one !! I thought you were the best Bill.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Bill is an amazing singer I hope he keeps in there as he is a name I think could be around for a long long time...and deserve to be !
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Toni and Jazz final.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Toni was marvelous, she deserved to win, what was a fantastic sing off. I think she can go all the way.
Monday, April 23, 2012
The views expressed in the above comments do not necessarily reflect the views of this site


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What's New
- 50 new levels Added- Translated in many languages : CS, DA, DE, EL, FI, ID, JA, KO, LT, NO, PT, PT-BR, RO, RU SR, SV, TR, ZH-CN
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App Description
Help save the Bubble Blast from horrible enemies who are keeping them hostage on remote islands !Set in stunning 3D environment, your job will be to throw Bubble Blast at enemies and push them into the surroundings water. Be aware that the enemies are smart and have protected themselves in such a way you could lose Bubble Blast friends if you are not careful enough.
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June 25, 2012 Initial Release


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Please note: this information was current as of July 2009 but is still a useful guide to today's market.
Capacity: FutureSwitch: 2 plugs supplied Belkin: 8 point power board Price: FutureSwitch: $55 per pair Belkin: $250 per board Contact: www.futurerange.com.au and www.belkin.com/anz
Imagine a world where everything is wireless – even turning off your appliances is done wirelessly. But don't we already do this with remote controls? Not quite. Switching off with a remote leaves many appliances in standby mode, still using a small amount of energy, which adds up over millions of households. These two devices save you reaching behind your audio-visual gear or all the peripherals around your computer to turn off the power switch, in turn saving you money on your energy bill. Both products, in one case a plug and the other a power board, turn off with a wireless remote. But to use wireless you need batteries for the remote and power for the device. So just how much do the power savers save? CHOICE hooked up both products to an entertainment system and found they work well, allowing devices to be turned off from up to 10m, with multiple obstacles such as doors and walls in between. The FutureSwitch plugs into your mains socket, and you plug in whatever power board you want to be able to turn off. Two plugs are supplied in the package we bought and both work on the same radio frequency, so you can have two areas in the house working off the same remote. You can easily add other plugs to the same remote. Both plugs and the remote worked out of the box, with no setup required. The Belkin Conserve consists of an eight-socket power board and remote. The board simply plugs into a power point and you then plug your gear in the board. The Belkin claims surge protection, which we didn't test, and also has two sockets separate from the rest, so they stay on when the remote is used. This means appliances that need to remain on, such as a router or PVR, can be plugged in and remain on when you turn the others off. You can also add more Belkin power boards and switch them to the same channel used on the remote, allowing for more devices to be turned off with the one remote. We tested how much energy each device draws based on 19 hours of standby power, where they are still using energy listening for a signal, and five hours of being powered whereby a current runs through to the attached appliances. Based on today's energy prices they each cost about a dollar per year to run to, whereas our configuration of appliances used over $27/year in standby power. If your power switch is difficult to reach, however, one of these may save you much more in convenience.
These switches may be useful for difficult to reach power switches, however, there are cheaper alternatives. A well-positioned power board attached to an extension cord can be switched off easily. Although clever, these switches are an extra piece of hardware you have to pay for, both upfront and in the long run with battery replacement and power. And do you really want another remote? It all comes down to weighing up the amount of materials that go into producing these energy savers as opposed to reaching behind your goods and flicking the power switch where possible.
10 Sep 2008 | Keeping your mobile phone or MP3 player charged when you're travelling can be a hassle, especially when you're in remote areas away from a convenient power point.
21 Nov 2012 | Our latest test results rate 15 NiMH rechargeable batteries, to see which hold their capacity and last longer in storage.
18 Feb 2009 | How much money should you spend on your home entertainment cables to feel confident about sound and image quality? CHOICE finds out.
22 Jan 2014 | The idea behind a universal remote control is to allow you to reduce the number of remotes in your lounge room to one easy-to-use device.
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What's New
- Fixed a few bugs.App Description
100% FREE Quran Teacher is used to learn Quran.- Beautiful Application for childrens and Adults to learn Quran from their iPhone, iPad and iPod.
- Learn Quran with Tajweed.
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- 10 Sections having 52 lessons to learn.
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App Changes
September 26, 2013 New version 1.1
November 30, -0001 Initial Release


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Wednesday, June 8, 2005
Sealed Bids will be received by the City of Winona, Minnesota, in Council Chambers of the City Hall at 207 Lafayette Street, PO Box 378, Winona, MN 55987, until 10:00 A.M., C.D.S.T., Friday, July 1, 2005, at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud for the furnishing of all labor, materials, and all else necessary for the following:
Winona Golf and Dining Sanitary Sewer Interceptor
In general, work consists of the following approximate quantities:
3375 LF 10 Inch PVC Sanitary Sewer
1020 LF Directional Drill 8" HDPE
1895 LF Directional Drill 10" HDPE
2 EA 5' diameter Siphon Manholes
20 EA Standard Manhole, 4' dia.
850 TON Aggregate Base
172 TON Bituminous Mixture
2 AC Seeding
10000 SY Hydro Seeding
Bidders desiring a copy of the Bidding Documents may obtain them from the Issuing Office of Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik & Associates, Inc., Consulting Engineers, 2335 West Highway 36, St. Paul, MN 55113, (651) 636-4600 upon payment of a non-refundable fee of $50.00. Bidding Documents may be seen at City Engineer's Office in the City of Winona and at the Issuing Office. Bidding Documents can also be purchased with a credit card over the internet at www.bonestroo.com.
Direct inquiries to Engineer's Project Manager, Michael C. Lynch at (507) 529-6042.
Bid Security in the amount of 5 percent of the amount of the Bid must accompany each Bid in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders.
The Owner reserves the right to retain the deposits of the 3 lowest Bidders for a period not to exceed 60 days after the date and time set for the Opening of Bids. No Bids may be withdrawn for a period of 60 days after the date and time set for the Opening of Bids.
The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all Bids, to waive irregularities and informalities therein, and further reserves the right to award the Contract to the best interests of the Owner.
Monica Hennessy Mohan - Clerk
City of Winona, Minnesota


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My Ford Ranger Thunder 2004 2.5 is making a loud whinning and clattering noise when i power up and put the engien under load,It also seems to take a while to achieve full revs making a bit sluggish. I suspect it is the turbo on its way out.But thought someone might have experienced the same and could confirm my fears before i let go of any cash on a new torbo unit.
I am completly new to the forum so Hi to everyone.


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Current Location: AMHRPP » Key Initiatives » Collaborative Research Grant Initiative (CRGI)
Through various partnerships, the Alberta Addiction and Mental Health Research Partnership Program will offer grants to support research and/or evaluation in specific areas of focus. These grants are intended to support both academic and practitioner-driven investigation. Overall, the purpose of the Collaborative Research Grants (CRGI) is to increase relevant and practical knowledge generation to improve the mental health outcomes of Albertans.
The Collaborative Research Grant Initiative for Mental Wellness in Seniors and Persons with Disabilities aims to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the programs, services, and supports to respond to the mental health needs of seniors and adults with disabilities.


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Hogwash (and you know which word I'd rather use). The only thing that kept me sane after reading Stellin's bilge was a wonderfully nostalgic column on the Times's opinion page from Ann Hood, an author who was a T.W.A. flight attendant for eight years. In it, she bemoans the frustrations of holiday travel and writes poignantly about a bygone era "when to fly was to soar. [And] The airlines, and their employees, took pride in how their passengers were treated."
I know what she means. Journalism used to be more helpful, too.


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Rebuttal statements
Academics have performed some cost-benefit analyses on specific airline-security measures. The results: the security benefits of most post-9/11 security changes do not justify the costs.
Shoe removal and baggies are low-cost, immediate measures that work. Also, restrictions on liquids forced terror planners to move off into more exotic and less reliable explosive techniques.
Kip Hawley may well be feeling a bit bruised at the moment. I suspected he would have the trickier task in opposing this debate, but the antipathy many people feel towards airport security has still surprised me. After that opening round he will need a truly Lazarene response to claim victory on March 30th, though to that end, those of you who have already voted should remember that you are free to change your minds.
Mr Hawley's status as a former head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is not helping his case. He points out in his rebuttal that this debate is not a referendum on the TSA, but with a lot of commenters complaining about the way they have been treated by the organisation, Mr Hawley is bearing the brunt. His case is made harder by the difficulty of proving that the absence of successful terrorist attacks over the past decade is down to changes made in airport security. It's a problem of asymmetric information. As reader Edward Dong put it: "Joe Public will never know how much the new security measures helped …The only people who will truly know if these measures have prevented security breaches are the terrorist cells who gave up on their plans after examining the security measures." Or in the words of bpc1995: "It may be horribly Rumsfeldian, but the truth is the 88% signalling agreement with the question at hand don't know what they don't know. Just because it's not on the front page of the Times, or the Enquirer doesn't mean it didn't happen."
The TSA is often described as a reactive outfit that alters its security measures only after the terrorists have acted. Mr Hawley responds to such charges by describing some of the circumstances under which the TSA has deployed procedures. The liquid-bombs plot that was stopped in August 2006 did not just emerge from an intelligence void. "Liquids were already on the radar," he writes. "In fact, the TSA trained its entire workforce on liquid explosives earlier in 2006, but this particular formulation was thought by experts to be too volatile to safely transport through an airport." The liquids ban may have been a reaction, but this does not make it ipso facto a bad idea. It has had a beneficial effect, forcing would-be terrorists into more exotic and less reliable explosive techniques such as the failed underwear bomb. And now that liquid-scanning technology is being developed, the time is approaching when the ban can be ended, and not continued as yet another temporary action that ossifies into standard procedure.
Both debaters cited the absence of a successful terrorist attack since 9/11 in their opening statements. Mr Hawley said the consecutive run of days without such an incident showed that new methods were working. In his rebuttal Bruce Schneier refutes Mr Hawley's logic and says the rarity of any such attacks makes Mr Hawley's metric meaningless. He also continues his attack on the procedures adopted in airports, saying several can be bypassed, and adds that TSA methods do not take into account the essence of probability: "if you're caught with a knife or a large bottle of liquid, the TSA agent will simply take it and let you through. This means that anything less than a 100% detection rate is ineffective, because a terrorist can repeatedly try until he succeeds."
Many commenters have made it clear how much they resent the impact that security-related procedures have had on their travelling lives; some even view them as abuses of their civil liberties. My question is still this, though: while we can be annoyed at the requirements these procedures make of us, what is the harm they are doing? Those voting for the motion need to have a clear idea of this harm, even as the good the procedures achieve remains hard to define. Commenter CCC had a go at this: "Hard to quantify the harm to our constitutional rights (unreasonable search and seizure), economy (delays, time lost in security lines, perfectly good water and toiletries seized, a massive and wasteful security employment apparatus), and health (stress, and radiation?)." But to my mind, airport security still belongs to the realm of the inconvenient. To vote with the proposal, I would want to think that new security measures were putting me at greater risk than would their absence (with the accompanying shift in expenditure). What is the risk to which I am being exposed? I'd like to see Mr Schneier tackle this point in his closing statement and offer his vision of the kind of airport-security operation he believes is most fitting to the modern world.
Many thanks to all those of you who have commented so far; your perspicacity is keeping me on my toes.
Kip Hawley's first sentence makes an impressive claim. "More than 6 billion consecutive safe arrivals of airline passengers since 9/11 mean that … airport-security measures … have been ultimately successful." Actually, they mean nothing of the sort. If anything, they mean the same thing as the more than 6 billion safe consecutive arrivals that took place before 9/11: the ones that were equally safe but happened without any annoying and obtuse security measures. They mean that terrorist plots are sufficiently rare as to make this a meaningless success metric.
Examining how effective individual security measures are at achieving their stated goals is more useful, and the results are not pretty. It is still—in America and much of Europe at least, Britain gets this right—trivially easy to bypass the photo ID requirement and fly while on the no-fly list. It is still trivially easy to bring as much liquid as you want through American—again, the trick does not work in Britain—security checkpoints. Full-body scanners do not detect the plastic explosive PETN (that's what the underwear bomber used) and you can sneak metal objects through them as well. I could go on.
Even the standard item-confiscation procedures fail. If you think about it, there are two basic kinds of contraband. If you're caught with a gun or a bomb, airport security will call the police and at the very least it will completely ruin your day. So it doesn't matter that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) isn't 100% perfect at detecting those items; the risk of getting caught is enough that terrorists can't build a plot around them. However, if you're caught with a knife or a large bottle of liquid, the TSA agent will simply take it and let you through. This means that anything less than a 100% detection rate is ineffective, because a terrorist can repeatedly try until he succeeds.
These vulnerabilities are many years old, and this isn't the first time Mr Hawley has heard them from me. In 2007, when he was still running the TSA, I interviewed him extensively over e-mail. From my point of view, it was a fascinating back and forth of probing questions and evasive answers. (I'm sure he has a different recollection.) But the TSA continues the tradition of ducking and denying even today.
An even more meaningful response to any of these issues would be to perform a cost-benefit analysis. These sorts of analyses are standard, even with regard to rare risks, but the TSA (and, in fact, the whole Department of Homeland Security) has never conducted them on any of its programmes or technologies. It's incredible but true: he TSA does not analyse whether the security measures it deploys are worth deploying. In 2010, the National Academies of Science wrote a pretty damning report on this topic.
Filling in where the TSA and the DHS have left a void, academics have performed some cost-benefit analyses on specific airline-security measures. The results are pretty much what you would expect: the security benefits of most post-9/11 security changes do not justify the costs.
Examining the recent failed plots against planes shows that it's not post-9/11 security that prevents terrorism, but instead pre-9/11 security. Consider the 2009 underwear bomber. Because security screened for obvious bombs, Umar Abdulmutallab had to construct a unreliable bomb. Instead of using a timer or a plunger or a normal detonation mechanism, he had to resort to an ad-hoc and much more inefficient system involving a syringe, 20 minutes in the lavatory and setting his pants on fire. Not only did the bomb fail to explode, but his actions were so obvious that the other passengers noticed what was going on and subdued him. The shoe bomber, Richard Reid, was foiled in the same way.
Consider also the arrest of the liquid bombers in 2006. Again, it wasn't airport security that caught them; it was intelligence and investigation. It wouldn't have mattered if they had been using liquids or solids or gases. It wouldn't even have mattered if they had been targeting airports or shopping malls or crowded movie theatres. And it's a good thing, too; their plot was specifically designed to bypass airport security.
This latter success speaks to what I think should be done, and Mr Hawley even hints at it: "An enemy like al-Qaeda incurs trivial cost by changing attack methods to get around regulation-based security, but defensive forces have to spend disproportionately large amounts of money and effort to close off increasing numbers of new types of attack." Unfortunately he doesn't follow that line of reasoning to its logical conclusion, that our focus on planes is itself a costly waste of our security dollars. As I said in my opening remarks: "Airport security is the last line of defence, and it is not a very good one." Investing in investigation, intelligence and emergency response will keep us far safer for much less.
These financial costs are enough to demonstrate that post-9/11 security has done more harm than good, but there's much more. I'll talk about the broader social harms of these ineffective security measures in the final instalment of this debate.
Abdulrahman Hilal Hussein ("AHH"), a sandy-haired man born on January 15th 1983 in Mödling, Austria, stalked commercial airline targets from 2005 to 2009. He rose through the ranks of al-Qaeda to become one of its top operational planners. AHH was technically gifted, spoke several languages with pitch-perfect street vocabulary, and in Pakistan camps trained dozens of western European and North American operatives who looked like main-street Westerners and were unknown to counter-terrorism authorities. AHH and other colleagues around the world tracked Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and other security measures, probing for ways to blow up commercial airliners.
Due to extraordinary teamwork among intelligence and law-enforcement services in several countries, AHH's plots and the dozens of others that sprang from his training camps were stopped. After al-Qaeda discovered a way to make extremely powerful liquid explosives that were undetectable to Western scanners, a team orchestrated by a Briton, Rashid Rauf, prepared to launch the 2006 attacks on more than a dozen flights from Britain to America and Canada. Al-Qaeda worked for years to come up with this explosive mixture to evade Western security measures. Up to that point, the shoe bomb had been developed as the most effective way to beat Western security. But that class of device was made ineffective by the low-tech, albeit irritating, security measure of checking shoes under X-rays.
After British security authorities arrested the cell members on the night of August 9th 2006, a team of scientists and security officials from America and the EU worked around the clock to understand the power of this new explosive. (Liquids were already on the radar. In fact, the TSA had trained its entire workforce on liquid explosives earlier in 2006, but this particular formulation was thought by experts to be too volatile to safely transport through an airport.) Within six weeks, American, Canadian and EU security authorities agreed on new measures that would allow common liquids on board but would stop a bomb that could destroy a plane. By year-end the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) adopted similar measures and al-Qaeda's prize liquid H2O2 bombs were negated. The plastic baggie may be epically unpopular, but since 2006 it has bought precious time for intelligence and law-enforcement agencies to disrupt al-Qaeda cells.
The baggie is a good example of the risk management I described in the opening of this debate. The single greatest threat to aviation was hydrogen-peroxide-based liquid explosives smuggled on board planes. Al-Qaeda's liquid H2O2 bombs were in the sweet spot, being compact, powerful and hard to detect, and we knew that terrorists intended to use them. Looking backwards at old plots is easy to ridicule, but what if you know that they are coming at you again with a refined version of an old weapon, and you can't stop them without some very unpopular measures? Shoe removal and baggies are low-cost, immediate measures that work. Also unappreciated is the fact that restrictions on liquids forced terror planners to move off into more exotic and less reliable explosive techniques such as the failed underwear bomb. The baggie did its job and bought us the time to deploy scanners that could find a wide array of novel solid, liquid and powder-based threats. However, more efficient measures are now in place so the baggie should be retired, not continued as yet another temporary action that ossifies into standard procedure.
There have and continue to be serious threats to aviation (and many other targets). TSA operations are required to stop the attacks in progress, for instance at checkpoints or with air marshals, but they also work with others throughout the American government and around the world to get ahead of future plots. "Airport security" is much more than the TSA and checkpoints; it has to be a connected network that links global intelligence, law enforcement, military and private-sector counter-terrorism resources.
I respect the deeply felt negative comments from readers about security since 9/11 and the TSA in particular. My comment about 6 billion safe landings drew out some vivid analogies and pointedly noted the difference between correlation and causality. Having lived it for almost four years, the dangers and close calls of plots against aviation loom so large for me that I forget that most travellers experience only the frustration of airport procedures and their foibles. I am, though, asserting that the post-9/11 security actions of the counter-terrorism community (intelligence, law-enforcement, military and private-sector players in many countries, including the TSA) have enabled attacks to be stopped.
The question here is not a referendum on the TSA; it declares that more harm than good has been inflicted by security measures since 9/11. Please consider that we have all been on flying targets for a decade and security measures, including but not limited to airport-security operations, have prevented literally thousands of deaths and the follow-on destructive effects on our economies and society.
A senior intelligence official once told me that AHH was one of a hundred guys like him. They are not done yet. However you decide to vote here, I respectfully suggest that at some point we need to come together and find a common way forward.


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- McLeod, S., & Lehmann, C. (2012). What school leaders need to know about digital technologies and social media. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Available through Amazon.
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