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19-year-old model/actress Devon Aoki was born in New York, raised in Malibu, and educated in London where she started modeling. Her inheritance from her Japanese dad and German/English mom led to an exotic look that put her in high demand for ad campaigns in the states and Europe. Her music video appearances led to film work and now a role as Suki, a tough female driver on the Miami race circuit in the Fast and Furious sequel 2 Fast 2 Furious.
We met petite Devon recently in Los Angeles and found her to be much softer and more polite than her rough-edged character. If her acting career stalls [not likely], she won't starve. Her dad started the chain of Bene Hana Japanese restaurants! We also learned that, before making this movie about hot-shot drivers, she had no driver's license!
TeenHollywood: Was this your first big acting job?
Devon: I did a short film, a feature film - three actually, with John Malkovich, when I was a lot younger. And then I did a music video and another film a couple of months ago, and this was sort of my first real project, and now I'm shooting another one. It's starting now, little by little.
TeenHollywood: Was modeling a conscious steppingstone for this?
Devon: Definitely. It's led to a lot. Of course, I was presented with a lot of different opportunities like traveling and meeting people that otherwise I probably wouldn't have met, especially at that age. And so I have nothing but good things to say about it.
TeenHollywood: How did you get involved with modeling?
Devon: It wasn't something that I actively pursued, it was something that caught me by surprise. I didn't plan on being a model, because at the time I was in school, I was 14 years old and in school, and you don't think of anything other than academics at that age, you're getting ready for college.
I met Karl Lagerfeld early on and then I started working with him, and that got the ball rolling.
TeenHollywood: Do you think being of mixed descent and exotic helped in modeling?
Devon: Yes. When I started to work in the fashion industry there was a definite stereotype that everyone was looking for and I wanted to diversify what I thought should be diversified in the first place. My mom's German/English and my dad is Japanese, and I'm half and half, and I've been brought up with both sides equally, which is important to me. So I definitely think that I represent both. That's who I am.
TeenHollywood: You had to learn to drive for this?
Devon: Yes I did. I actually didn't have a license when I first got the role, and then I went to Miami for pre-production I did a two-week crash course, learning how to drive. It was incredible the set up they had there. They had a huge open space for us to basically do whatever we wanted to do. A line of about 20 or 30 cars to choose from, it was unbelievable; a team of professional stunt drivers. To learn in that environment for a first time driver was mind-blowing.
TeenHollywood: When did they find out that you'd never driven before and what was their reaction?
Devon: In Miami, John [Singleton, director] found out and he was like, 'What? Are you serious? You don't drive?' I said, 'No,' He said, 'Okay, we have to get you straight into driving school.' But I was like, 'I'll catch up, you don't have to worry about a thing.''
TeenHollywood: What did they teach you?
Devon: Everything. I'd never actually been in the driver's seat of any car, so the first day, I spent about five minutes in an automatic, and they were like, 'Okay, you've got this, now you've got to move on to the real deal cars.' So I was like 'Okay.' I learned how to drive stick, and the first thing we did racing, we did sliding into parking spaces, we did unbelievable things that I never thought that I would be able to do.
Teenhollywood: Did they know that you didn't know how to drive at all? How did you get the job?
Devon: [laughing] It's funny, because I think that they probably just assumed that I had a license, because if you live in the States and you're sixteen, usually you have license by then. I went through the course and I learned how to drive, and now I can definitely say that I can drive as well as anybody.
TeenHollywood: Do you have a license now?
Devon: I have a permit, I haven't had a chance to get a license yet, because after filming this I started another project, and I barely have five minutes to go to the DMV and to do it.
TeenHollywood: Okay, we are still curious. How did you grow up without getting a license? Were you busy modeling in England?
Devon: Living in England - it's not a requirement to have a car over there, you get around by going on the underground, or you take a yellow cab, and that's the easiest way to do it. Driving in London is very complicated, there's no rhyme or reason to the streets over there, so I would opt not to drive, especially being in high school.
TeenHollywood: Weren't you scared with Paul [Walker] and all the experienced drivers in your race scene?
Devon: I felt relatively fearless under those circumstances in the car. I was like, 'Okay, we have a medic standing by, we have team of the best stunt coordinators in the world, I'm not going to get hurt, so let's go for it.' I was really happy to be there, and really happy driving for the first time.
TeenHollywood: How important is the sex appeal of the film?
Devon: I think the most important thing is obviously the cars, that's why everybody goes to see the movie, but I think sex appeal is important in any movie to a certain extent, depending on what the genre the film is. I think Eva Mendes [her co-star] is incredibly beautiful, and I think besides her being very talented, it's kind of obvious also that she's gorgeous and that's probably one of the reasons why they cast her.
TeenHollywood: You are pretty hot in the movie too. How do you see yourself?
Devon: I don't know. I saw the movie last night for the first time, so it has to sink in, but hopefully I come across as being a good character in a good part.
TeenHollywood: What about working with Tyrese and Paul - what do you think about them?
Devon: I was at the theatre yesterday [at the Wango Tango concert in L.A.], when Tyrese took his shirt off and everybody went absolutely crazy - even the two men sitting next to me looked and me and went, 'How did he get a body like that?' You've got to ask him, I don't know. I think they are beautiful male specimens.
TeenHollywood: Let's dish. What is hottest about each guy?
Devon: Tyrese, I love his smile, he's got lots of teeth, these white teeth and of course he has a great body. He's a really good looking guy. And Paul, I would say his eyes, he's got incredible eyes.
TeenHollywood: How did Director John Singleton work with you on this film?
Devon: The first couple of weeks we were in pre-production, we would meet up and talk and get to know each other more so that when we started filming there was more of a camaraderie there, that we could draw upon. That was one of the things he did that I thought was unusual, and people said that that was very unusual for a director to be actually present at those things, when we would just run our lines sometimes, and sometimes just do the most random exercises to just get us acquainted with each other. That was something that was different about him.
TeenHollywood: Did you like your character?
Devon: I like the fact that she holds her own. She's an incredibly talented driver and makes it over the bridge. I really felt like I was her when I was in Miami; I was like, 'This is my pink car, these are my girls, and I'm going to beat you.' That's definitely how I felt. I mean I was driving around in the pink car, I got a little confused for awhile, am I Devon or am I Suki?
TeenHollywood: How much of the driving stunts did you actually do?
Devon: One of the things that I did was really simple, just to pull up, but it was complicated for me, just pulling to a stop. You have to hit a mark and you have to have the tail slide out, and there are a lot of things to think about, plus you don't want to run over the lighting guy, and you definitely don't want to hit the cones, you don't want to hurt anybody!
TeenHollywood: How much did you know about this racing world before you did the movie?
Devon: Not too much. I saw the first Fast and the Furious and that was the first time that I was really exposed to the racing world, besides going to the Grand Prix and seeing Nascar. You don't realize that it's such a movement, especially in Miami. A lot of kids would come to the set in their own cars. They're very much a part of this street culture, that lives and breathes for racing. But I wasn't really too familiar with it. Car manuals become your bible. You read them every day, because you want to know about what everyone's talking about, especially working with the rest of the cast because they are so into cars, especially Paul, who after he finished the first Fast and Furious went and bought himself a race car.
TeenHollywood: Have you bought a car yet?
Devon: I'm actually looking. It's funny, it's really difficult to find a car after you work on Fast and the Furious - nothing seems to really compare.
TeenHollywood: What's the next movie you're working on?
Devon: It's called Debs, and we have a great cast, we have Jordana [Brewster] from the first movie, Michael Clarke Duncan, Meagan Good from Biker Boyz and Sarah Foster, so the cast is great and the story's about a group of girls who solve a code in their SAT's and become enrolled in this secret academy, and they go and fight crime, it's kind of like Charlie's Angels, but with a twist. It's really cool. I play a French girl and have a very thick French accent and I carry an Uzi. The one I've been carrying lately has been plastic with plastic bullets, so I can't actually shoot anyone.
TeenHollywood: You're only 19, where do you go from here?
Devon: I don't know, hopefully I'll continue to work on film and other projects and be inspired by people around me.
Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.


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'MERICA – A prominent bioethicist is proposing a new push for what he says is an "edgier strategy" to promote weight loss: ginning up social stigma. Daniel Callahan, a senior research scholar and president emeritus of The Hastings Center, put out a new paper this week calling for a renewed emphasis on social pressure against heavy people — what some may call fat-shaming — including public posters that would pose questions like this: "If you are overweight or obese, are you pleased with the way that you look?" Callahan outlined a strategy that applauds efforts to boost education, promote public health awareness of obesity and curb marketing of unhealthy foods to children. But, he added, those plans could do with a dose of shame if there's any hope of repairing a nation where more than a third of adults and 17 percent of kids are obese. "Safe and slow incrementalism that strives never to stigmatize obesity has not and cannot do the necessary work," wrote Callahan in a Hastings Center Report from the nonprofit bioethics think tank.
Finally, somebody in the scientific community having the balls to say what we all think and know. Enough of this pussification, everybody gets a trophy horseshit. It's not good for society. Anyone who needs to lose 50+ pounds or is in danger in the next 3 years of losing all their toes isn't going to change their mindset if they're allowed to go around and say, "Being Big-Boned runs in the family" or "That tub of mayonaisse isn't going to eat itself" without being ridiculed constantly. If you're so obese that you haven't seen your dick since the Clinton administration you have every right to be called a fat fuck to your face every chance somebody gets. Don't end the shame there. Fupas should be marked, identified and branded with the McDonald's logo like cattle. Ban all scooters at Wal-Mart and make those walruses waddle in shame to get their dinner consisting of Pepsi and Crisco. Hell, the exertion may even be too much for them to hit up the "fruit and vegetable" aisle to get their Gushers and Candy Corn. Then and only then will there be a change of mindset in this land.
Sad part is, no way in hell this scientist's research will ever be followed. America is in too deep already. We need a hero in this country to tell it like it is, and that hero is Al Bundy:

subset: commoncrawl


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How to fix goaltending
March, 30, 2012
Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images
According to David Stern, this missed call might end up changing the game for the better.
Credit where it's due for this HoopIdea -- David Stern.
Just a few weeks after the NBA acknowledged that an official incorrectly called goaltending on a controversial play in the final seconds that swung an Oklahoma City-Portland game, Stern said on Tuesday night that it might be time to add goaltending to the handful of calls reviewable by video replay.
In Phoenix on Tuesday, Stern said: "Our competition committee has the final word on these things, but I think there's going to be a very robust discussion about goaltending." The commissioner went on to discuss some of the difficulties with getting goaltending right, even with replay involved, as you can see on this video (provided by Michael Schwartz).
Deputy commissioner Adam Silver added: "Over time it's inevitable given the advances in technology that we'll increase our use of instant replay. We want to get it right. It has to be balanced against the flow of the game. I think when it's clear in certain cases that the viewer at home can see there was a missed call, our referees want to get it right, too. We will continue to look at it."
Stern went on to suggest that input from "fans" had played a role in the expansion of replay, saying that the league was "getting pulled along" by the momentum toward using replay to help with difficult calls.
The play in Portland was an eye-opener. Goaltending is almost always a difficult call (despite what some broadcasters and fans seem to think), and this was an especially challenging case -- as Kevin Durant drove hard to the basket, LaMarcus Aldridge trailed and then knocked away Durant's layup, just before it reached the backboard, with all the action fast and furious. From a difficult angle about 30 feet away, referee Scott Foster whistled goaltending, to the delight of the Thunder and the dismay of the Blazers and their fans. This call tied the game 103-103 with 6.0 seconds remaining, and the Thunder went on to win in overtime.
And it was a big game in a short season. The Blazers lost a tough one at home to the Northwest Division leader, the first among 13 losses in 19 games in a tailspin that cost coach Nate McMillan his job. The Thunder, meanwhile, now hold just a two-game lead in the loss column in the Western Conference, with half of it coming from the controversial win in Portland.
The next day, the NBA, via Twitter, admitted, "Close call in Portland last night but w/ benefit of slow motion replay, goaltending was incorrect call."
Stern's comments on Tuesday echoed recent comments by the NBA's former director of officials, Ronnie Nunn, on NBA TV's "Making the Call." When Nunn was asked whether the NBA could use video replay to overturn incorrect goaltending calls such as on the Durant-Aldridge play, Nunn said, "If we have more of them at critical times, it might be something to be included in the future" among reviewable calls.
Nunn also said that overhead cameras above the basket were necessary to get such goaltending calls right, referring to situations in which officials had to judge whether the ball hit the backboard before the blocked shot occurred, as in the Durant-Aldridge situation.
Keep that word in mind: cameras.
Eventually, it will probably be cameras that solve goaltending for us. At the moment, 10 NBA arenas (and counting) have been outfitted with high-tech cameras which track player movement and ball movement at 25 frames per second. While this technology is currently used to collect data that allows for more sophisticated statistical analysis of the game, it seems likely that cameras and software could be configured to help officials assess all sorts of things that are happening on the court -- and in real time or very close. In tennis, cameras are already used to determine close calls, down to fractions of an inch, and that's just a start.
There are other potential solutions -- could computer technology, such as a microchip, be placed in the ball and other places to detect when the ball is on the way down or has hit the backboard? Probably so.
But let's start with what we can solve now by reviewing goaltending calls. The technology is already too good to allow the calls to be so bad.
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Come To Cowboys.com For The Football, Stay For The Gay Dating
Here is what I struggle with this morning: I desperately want to do a Top-5 Cowboys.com dating profiles but don't want to sign up for Cowboys.com to be able to view them. It's the Catch-22 to end all Catch-22′s. Just look at these profile teaser pictures at the bottom of their homepage:
What is the right blogger decision in this situation? Make a blog ABOUT doing a Top-5 Cowboys list thus proving that you had the idea first but saving you from the embarrassment and hard work of actually making the list. I got nothin!


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Choose from four great plans, or make your own with the Fan's Choice Plan!
The Brewers offer baseball's best home game giveaways and promotions.
Get an early look at your 2015 Brewers as they take the field for Cactus League play.
Here's your chance to save with special ticket and other value offers available.
Group tickets for the 2015 Brewers season are on sale now, starting at just $9 a ticket.
The club's first-ever postgame concert series features nationally-acclaimed artists.


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Join the Conversation
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Kate Campbell
Kate Campbell | |
Born | October 31, 1961 |
Origin | New Orleans, Louisiana |
Genres | Folk, Country, Americana |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
Instruments | Acoustic Guitar, Piano |
Years active | 1994 - Present |
Labels | Large River Music, Compass Records, Eminent Records, Compadre Records |
Associated acts | The New Agrarians |
Website | www.katecampbell.com |
Jamae Kathryn "Kate" Campbell (born October 31, 1961 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American folk singer/songwriter.
Kate's songwriting follows in the southern literary tradition with an emphasis on a sense of place, race, and religion. Her story-filled songs feature quirky characters and often deal with the region's complex issues. John Prine, Nanci Griffith, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Guy Clark, and Mac McAnally have provided guest vocals on her albums.
In addition to her Americana/Folk flavored albums, her catalog includes the all-acoustic Sing Me Out; Twang on a Wire, which features covers of songs made famous by female country artists of the 1960s and '70s; the piano-based 1000 Pound Machine; and two gospel CDs (Wandering Strange and For the Living of These Days) recorded at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals with Spooner Oldham on keyboards. Her producers over the years include Johnny Pierce, Walt Aldridge, and Will Kimbrough.
Campbell sometimes performs with Pierce Pettis and Tom Kimmel as the New Agrarians.
- Songs from the Levee (1994, re-issued 2004)
- Moonpie Dreams (1997)
- Visions of Plenty (1998)
- Rosaryville (1999)
- Wandering Strange (2001)
- Monuments (2003)
- Twang on a Wire (2003)
- Sing Me Out (2004)
- The Portable Kate Campbell (2004)
- Blues and Lamentations (2005)
- Sidetracks (Digital EP) (2005)
- For the Living of These Days (with Spooner Oldham) (2006)
- Save the Day (2008)
- Two Nights in Texas (2011)
- 1000 Pound Machine (2012)
Campbell appears on the following compilations, among others:
- Making God Smile: An Artists' Tribute to the Songs of Beach Boy Brian Wilson (2002)
- Freight Train Blues: Classic Railroad Songs Volume 4 (2000)
- Songs Inspired by To Kill A Mockingbird
- New Country August 1995
- Evening Star Compilation Volume 2
- Leak CD Magazine Issue 4 Fall 1994
- Oxford American Southern Music CD No. 1
- God in Music City
- Best of Woodsongs Old-time Radio Hour Volume 1
- Best New Women of Country
- Viva Americana
- Crowd Around the Mic WNCW Volume 2
- Bird Songs
External links[edit]
This article on a singer-songwriter is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |


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John Deere 5M versus 5R comparison
JOHN DEERE'S 5000 series tractors became the 5R, 5M and 5G series a couple of years back, split into specification levels. James Lane takes a look at the high-end 5R and mid-range 5M models.
Choosing a tractor may come down to price at the end of the day, but price differences generally mean you get more bang for your buck, especially when comparing almost like-for-like models.
We chose to take a look at John Deere's 5R and 5M series tractors, putting them head-to-head on an Essex mixed farm to perform some general duties.
Our test tractors arrived in the following guises:
- The 5R was the top 5100R model, which according to Deere's literature kicks out a rated 100hp (97/68 EC) at 2,300rpm, or a maximum power of 108hp. Maximum torque is given as 416Nm.
- The 5M was a 5090M, so it was not quite up there with the 5R in the power stakes. That said, Deere's figures state rated power (97/68 EC) at 90hp, albeit at 2,200rpm, giving a maximum power of 91.5hp.
Incidentally, a 5100M tractor would show rated horsepower of 100 with a maximum power of 102hp if tested, according to Deere's data. Torque on the 5090M reaches 373Nm.
The reason for the difference in the maximum and rated powers is down to the engines. While the 5M relies on Deere's four cylinder, 4.5-litre PowerTech M mechanical injection unit, the 5R models use the PowerTech E common rail with two valves per cylinder. This means the mechanical governor on the 5M cannot quite match the 5R's power range, which is understandable.
On the build front, both line-ups are assembled in Deere's Mannheim facility in Germany, but feature different concepts.
The 5M uses a semi-frame design, and the rear axle is built in Deere's Augusta plant in the US, but shipped to Mannheim for assembly.
The 5R has the full-frame setup of its larger 6030 and 7030 cousins, where engine and transmission are bolted to it. A full-frame is likely to be theoption of choice for more loader-based duties, given its greater inherent strength.
Similar appearance
The externals may not look too dissimilar on both tractors, but one noticeable difference is on top of the bonnet. The 5R displays a notable bulge near the windscreen, where the engine's cooling package sits. This is
barely noticeable from the driver's seat, but it helps distinguish between the different machines.
The higher specification 5R gets a superior specification in its transmission options, which run through Deere's oil-cooled PermaClutch II. Its lesser-specified cousin has a more basic oil-cooled wet disc type. These control a choice of transmissions.
On the test 5M, we were using Deere's 32/16 PowrReverser, which gets its speeds from a four-way range lever situated to the driver's right. It has four speeds on the main lever, plus an awkward to use park gate. A further high/low gear choice comes from a splitter to give the 32 forward gears. An optional 0.3 to 1.6kph creeper box with 16/8 arrangement can be added for use in vegetable applications.
The 5100R arrived with the base spec 16/16 PowerQuad Plus, with just one lever offering four speeds and four speed splits via two buttons.
The lever is an altogether better unit than the one on the 5M, and features a thumb-activated de-clutch button to allow range changes without your left foot. A park gate is also fitted, which is familiar to the former 5020 series setup, and much easier to find than the 5M's fiddly affair.
Gearbox options
The 5R's more advanced transmission also brings soft shift, speed matching and a cruise control function.
Options such as a creeper, which adds a further 16/16 gears from 1.5kph upwards, plus AutoQuad, can be specified for those who want to increase their speed options.
In terms of comparing the gearboxes, on test we found no argument with the 5R's PowerQuad Plus being the better unit.
Our host farmer runs a Manitou 741-120 telehandler, and was dubious about using a tractor with a front end loader, having been a telehandler convert for almost 20 years.
However, the 5R's better shuttle and four splits per gear found favour when mucking out barns, this was felt to be the preferred choice should the farm choose a loader tractor in future.
The 5M's more basic transmission and shuttle took more getting used to, and the lack of splits meant that shuttling was slower because more gear changes were required.
The range lever, low to the right of the seat, was awkward to use when changing range, which happened frequently during the test. That said, the 5M's PowrReverser 'box is simple and good and will meet the needs of most who want a 'no frills' machine.
Both cabs look very similar externally, bar the rounded work lights of the 5R as opposed to the square units of the 5M, but the internals are noticeably different.
The 5M's more basic specification does not give the impression of quality as much as the 5R does, and there are some noticeable differences in cab layout too.
Cab layout
The 5M uses a fixed dashboard facia, but with telescoping and tiltable steering wheel. One LCD display sits in the lower part of the basic facia, giving just the essential information the driver needs.
A 'Lo' or 'Hi' shows to indicate which split is being used, but it is very hard to see when the sun shines, and could be a problem when entering or leaving sheds.
The 5R, however, has a dash more akin to that found on the 6030/7030 series, in Deere's familiar beige-coloured plastic. This tilts with the wheel and is just so much clearer, especially when looking for which of the four splits you are working in.
The addition of two dials showing travel speed and engine revs offer a nicer feel than the 5M, plus there is a digital display of speed too. The 5R's dash just ticks the boxes in this department, and simply wins over the 5M's more basic layout.
A tractor on a livestock farm is rarely found without a loader in many cases, and both of the Deere test tractors came with John Deere 583 mechanically-levelled loaders fitted. Control for both was via mechanical levers installed in the cabs, which were both equipped with buttons for controlling the gearbox splits.
The Deere-fitted loaders are built in-house, and look robust enough, but we found that dropping off and re-fitting them was not for the novice or impatient.
Given both tractors were new, this accounts for lack of slack in the two locking pins, which will need a liberal greasing every so often. A practiced technique needs to be established here, and this would perhaps show the loader system in a better light.
There are neater and tidier systems available on loaders but, as our host farmer pointed out, when you are used to telehandlers and their simple locking systems, it does seem to take a long time.
Put to the test
To test the tractors, we found a suitably muck-laden shed to clear. Normally the Manitou will be employed with a full width muck grab and can load the farm's muck trailer in three good attempts.
The Deeres came with a combination bucket and grab, which were not ideal for large loads. We persisted with what we had, and it turned out that the combination was an efficient way of scraping up the debris where a grab cannot.
The tractors came with a weight block for the rear linkage, and it is definitely needed. Deere recommends 900kg for this combination of loaders and tractors. Without this weight, you will not be lifting much wet muck with any peace of mind, especially not over the side of 12-tonne Marston in a slippery yard as we were.
Hopping into the cabs, both tractors offered good traction and tear out force within our test shed. Some well set manure and straw was a test for the farm's Manitou, and both Deeres did well extracting the material.
When used to a telehandler, the reach and capacity difference was noticed by our host farmer, and was somewhat lacking, but this is to be expected.
In the mucking out test, the 5R came out on top, as expected. Having 10hp more than its contemporary, ease-of-use and more splits of the PowerQuad Plus really made it stand out.
The shuttle lever came into its own, leaving you feeling more in control of your direction changes, and when working close to the trailer when tipping a load. The thumb de-clutch button also worked nicely for stopping short of the muck trailer.
Loader controls for both machines were identical, and both fell to hand easily. As mentioned, the lever features split control buttons, but it is the 5R which makes better use of them. When shifting to or from the trailer,
cycle times were drastically reduced as the 5M often needed a gear change for going into the heap and then another to pull out or move the load to the trailer.
On transport duties, the difference in specification is clear. Hauling the trailer down to the muck pile was more of a pleasure in the higher level 5R, especially when changing ranges using the dump button.
In terms of hydraulic power, there is little to choose between the two, although we found the 5R was a little slack at tipping a full load. It was discovered that the tractor was a little on the low side when we checked the back end oil, but with a top up it performed admirably.
Hydraulic systems differ between the two tractor lines - the 5M features a standard 74 litres per minute open centre twin pump setup, with an option of 94 litres per minute. This compares well to the 5R's maximum flow of either 56 or 65 litres per minute, although this is from a load sensing system with constant flow pump.
With only limited field work possible, both tractors were hitched up a set of folding chain harrows, a common job on the farm's pasture, but usually carried out with the sole tractor - a New Holland T7040.
For general field work like this, the 5M distinguished itself, where the simpler gearbox is fine for motoring up and down.
Mechanical lift
The mechanical lift system fitted works well, but if you want refinement then opt for the 5R's quadrant system, which features dials for rate of drop and maximum height, similar to that found on larger Deeres.
Position and draft knobs sit on a dial further back in the cab, and linkage up/down is on a thumb button aside the quadrant.
We suspect cultivations and ploughing will not be the main duty for a tractor of this size, so you pay your money and take your choice when it comes to linkage controls.
The 5M came with a more basic 540 and 540E setup, although 1,000rpm speed is available. Engagement is by the same lever in both models, so when it comes to the crunch, there is little to choose between if you are aiming for a general all round tractor with a loader from the Deere 5 series stable.
While the 5M offers a good engine, solid hydraulics and simple mechanical hitch system as standard, it can be specified up to have electronic linkage, but not the better PowerQuad 'box, which is down to the tractor's construction using a short frame and not the full frame of the 5R.
For refinement in the sub-100hp sector, the 5R does tick the main boxes and is a nice place to spend a day, although whether it is enough to warrant paying the extra cash (around £10,000) is down to personal choice. Our host farmer was adamant that if he was to choose one, the 5R would be the one staying on farm to help out on duties which the big Manitou just cannot manage, such as mowing, tedding and raking.
Engine make/type | Deere PowerTech M, mechanical | Deere PowerTech E, common injection with turbocharger rail 2 valves per cylinder with turbocharger |
Displacement (litres)cylinders | 4.5,4 | 4.5, 4 |
Rated Power (97/68 EC), hp | 90 @ 2,200rpm | 100 @ 2,300rpm |
Max. Power (97/68 EC), hp | 91.5 | 108 |
Max. torque (97/68 EC), Nm | 373 | 416 |
Transmission options (all 40k) | 16/16 SyncReverser, 16/16 PowrReverser or 32/16 PowrReverser Plus | 16/16 PowerQuad Plus,16/16 AutoQuad Plus or with 16/16 creep |
Pto | 540/540E, or 540/540E/1000 | 540/540E, or 540/540E/1000 |
Hydraulic system | Open centre with tandem pump, 74l/min std, 94l/min opt | Load sensing with constant flow pump, max. flow 56l/min or 65l/min |
Maximum rear hydraulic valves | 3 | 3 |
Rear Linkage type | Mechanical or Electronic lower link sensing | Electronic lower link sensing |
Maximum rear linkage capacity, at hooks | 36kN | 42kN |
Chassis | Short frame design | Full steel frame design |
Dimensions | ||
Wheelbase (mm) | 2,250 | 2,250 |
Overall height (mm) (on tyre size) | 2,595 16.9R34/13.6R24 | 2,595/2,540 (low profile) 12.4R36/11.2R20 |
Overall width (mm) | 2,018 | 1,860 |
Max. gross weight (kg@40kph) | 6,100 | 6,600 |
Base retail price (and spec) | £39,215 (with 32/16 PowrReverser Plus) | £49,170(with PowerQuad Plus and 16.9R34/13.6R24) |
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text:
Calls to scrap anti-counterfeiting treaty
PUBLISHED: 10 Jul 2012 00:01:20 | UPDATED: 10 Jul 2012 03:06:21PUBLISHED: 10 Jul 2012 PRINT EDITION: 10 Jul 2012David Ramli
The Australian government is being urged to scrap its support for a global treaty designed to fight illegal downloads and counterfeit goods after the European Parliament moved overwhelmingly against it.
The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement is a multinational treaty designed to stop illegal downloads of movies and music as well as the production and sale of fake luxury goods and medications.
ACTA was signed by a range of countries including Australia and the United States as well as the European Union. But the move sparked protests with critics claiming the treaty infringed on civil liberties.
On July 4 the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly against ACTA in a move that weakened its international standing.
In Australia the treaty has been reviewed by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, which recommended delaying the final ratification of ACTA. The deputy chair of the committee, Senator Simon Birmingham, said the EU's rejection meant a new treaty with more transparency should be negotiated.
"It demonstrates that some of the concerns expressed by the committee are shared by the EU and some other jurisdictions as well," Senator Birmingham said.
"The negotiating parties perhaps all need to think about returning to the negotiating table rather than just trying to push the existing text through in home jurisdictions."
Senator Birmingham said the government could have avoided some of its current problems if it had been more transparent in negotiations.
"For some treaties, there is a justification for undertaking some confidential negotiation processes," he said. "But when you're talking about trademarks and intellectual property laws,I think it's not unreasonable to expect government to engage widely with stakeholders."
The Senator said copyright holders were rightfully upset at the time it was taking to address their concerns.
"But if we're going to try and get an appropriate multilateral approach, then we do need to get people back to the negotiation table," the Senator said.
The opposition foreign affairs and trade spokeswoman Julie Bishop agreed and urged the government to rethink its stance.
"There needs to be a serious rethink of the Australian government's commitment to this multilateral treaty," she said. "There has been significant criticism about the manner in which it was negotiated . . . and the generic pharmaceutical industry says this poses a real risk to it, which would have an impact on the cost of [generic medication]."
Trade Minister Craig Emerson insisted the withdrawal of European Union support did not automatically mean ACTA was dead in the water.
"I don't think the European position rules out the potential usefulness of ACTA . . . but of course I accept that the coverage would be much, much more limited," he said.
"Typically treaties require a minimum number of [nations] in order for the treaty to come into force and in this case it's six countries.
"But then typically the membership in the treaty expands over time."
Mr Emerson said the government was yet to make a final decision on whether to push the treaty forward or abandon it. "The committee called for a cost-benefit analysis and we're willing to look at that. . . but we don't envisage large costs given we don't need to change any legislation," he said. "I don't necessarily agree [with Senator Birmingham's suggestion of renegotiating ACTA] and I would rather not pre-empt the government's response to the committee. "The committee does not recommend that."
Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft managing director Neil Gane supported ACTA and said critics were spreading "rampant negative rumours" about it.
"The notion that ACTA was a secretive agreement is not borne out by the facts, and the agreement is drafted in such a way that fears regarding a rights imbalance in favour of IP rights holders are unfounded," he said in a statement.
"AFACT supports ACTA as a suitable agreement to protect our entertainment and creative industries from global content theft and counterfeit crime.
"Protections enabled by ACTA will assist Australian copyright owners to grow and prosper domestically and to drive export earnings over time."
Mr Gane could not predict how long fresh treaty talks would take but said he was confident of support from both major parties. "We are confident that both government and the opposition recognise that agreements like ACTA are the economic necessities of the future," he said.
The Australian Financial Review


text:
Documentation |
Undershoot metrics of bilevel waveform transitions
US = undershoot(X)
US = undershoot(X,FS)
US = undershoot(X,T)
= undershoot(...)
[...] = undershoot(...,Name,Value)
US = undershoot(X) returns the greatest deviations below the final state levels of each transition in the bilevel waveform, X. The undershoots, US, are expressed as a percentage of the difference between the state levels. See Undershoot. The length of US corresponds to the number of transitions detected in the input signal. The sample instants in X correspond to the vector indices. To determine the transitions, undershoot estimates the state levels of the input waveform by a histogram method. undershoot identifies all regions that cross the upper-state boundary of the low state and the lower-state boundary of the high state. The low-state and high-state boundaries are expressed as the state level plus or minus a multiple of the difference between the state levels. See State-Level Tolerances.
US = undershoot(X,FS) specifies the sampling frequency, FS, in hertz. The sampling frequency determines the sample instants corresponding to the elements in X. The first sample instant in X corresponds to t=0.
US = undershoot(X,T) specifies the sample instants, T, as a vector with the same number of elements as X.
[US,USLEV,USINST] = undershoot(...) returns the levels, USLEV, and sample instants, USINST, of the undershoots for each transition.
[...] = undershoot(...,Name,Value) returns the greatest deviations below the final state level with additional options specified by one or more Name,Value pair arguments.
undershoot(...) plots the bilevel waveform and marks the location of the undershoot of each transition as well as the lower- and upper reference-level instants and the associated reference levels. undershoot also plots the state levels and associated lower- and upper-state boundaries.
Bilevel waveform. X is a real-valued row or column vector. |
Sample rate in hertz. |
Vector of sample instants. The length of T must equal the length of the bilevel waveform, X. |
'PercentReferenceLevels' |
Reference levels as a percentage of the waveform amplitude. The lower-state level is defined to be 0 percent. The upper-state level is defined to be 100 percent. The value of 'PercentReferenceLevels' is a 2-element real row vector whose elements correspond to the lower and upper percent reference levels. Default: [10 90] |
'Region' |
Specify the region over which to perform the undershoot computation. Valid values for 'Region' are 'Preshoot' or 'Postshoot'. If you specify 'Preshoot', the end of the pretransition aberration region is defined as the last instant when the signal exits the first state. If you specify 'Postshoot', the start of the posttransition aberration region is defined as the instant when the signal enters the second state. Default: 'Postshoot' |
'SeekFactor' |
Aberration region duration. Specifies the duration of the region over which to compute the undershoot for each transition as a multiple of the corresponding transition duration. The edge of the waveform may be reached, or a complete intervening transition may be detected, before the duration aberration region duration elapses. In such cases, the duration is truncated to the edge of the waveform or the start of the intervening transition. Default: 3 |
'StateLevels' |
Lower- and upper-state levels. Specify the levels to use for the lower- and upper-state levels as a 2-element real row vector whose first and second elements correspond to the lower- and upper-state levels of the input waveform. |
'Tolerance' |
Specify the tolerance that the initial and final levels of each transition must be within the respective state levels. The 'Tolerance' value is a scalar expressing a percentage of the difference between the upper- and lower-state levels. See State-Level Tolerances. Default: 2 |
Undershoots expressed as a percentage of the state levels. The undershoot percentages are computed based on the greatest deviation from the final state level in each transition. By default undershoots are computed for posttransition aberration regions. See Undershoot. |
Level of the pretransition or posttransition undershoot. |
Sample instants of pretransition or posttransition undershoots. If you specify the sampling frequency or sampling instants, the undershoot instants are in seconds. If you do not specify the sampling frequency or sampling instants, the undershoot instants are the indices of the input vector. |
For a positive-going (positive-polarity) pulse, undershoot expressed as a percentage is
where U is the greatest deviation below the high-state level, S2 is the high state, and S1 is the low state.
For a negative-going (negative-polarity) pulse, undershoot expressed as a percentage is
The following figure illustrates the calculation of undershoot for a positive-going transition.
The red dashed lines indicate the estimated state levels. The double-sided black arrow depicts the difference between the high- and low-state levels. The solid black line indicates the difference between the high-state level and the undershoot value.
Each state level can have associated lower- and upper-state boundaries. These state boundaries are defined as the state level plus or minus a scalar multiple of the difference between the high state and low state. To provide a useful tolerance region, the scalar is typically a small number such as 2/100 or 3/100. In general, the α% tolerance region for the low state is defined as
where S1 is the low-state level and S2 is the high-state level. Replace the first term in the equation with S2 to obtain the α% tolerance region for the high state.
The following figure illustrates lower and upper 2% state boundaries (tolerance regions) for a positive-polarity bilevel waveform. The red dashed lines indicate the estimated state levels.
[1] IEEE® Standard on Transitions, Pulses, and Related Waveforms, IEEE Standard 181, 2003, pp. 15–17.


text:
1939's 'World of Tomorrow' Shaped Our Today
- |
- 8:00 pm |
- Permalink
Visitors entered the huge white globe of the Perisphere from an long outdoor escalator (top right of photo) and exited on a broad sweeping ramp called the Helicline. The inside of Perisphere had its own model city of the future.
The 700-foot-tall three-sided obelisk of the Trylon is just visible on the left. Wallace Harrison, co-designer (with partner Max Abramovitz) of the Trylon and Perisphere, was later lead designer for the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan.
Photo: Corbis


text:
City Activist Robert Walsh 5pts Lieberman you think is running again. Don't forget the appelate court is going to be hearing this term limits very shortly(probably next month or so. I think Lieberman will stay in poltics if, again IF she beats this whole mess w/ Talabisco and yes Stracher. If given Immunity(has she or doesn't she have it??) obviously she will be all set. I think lady luck her is crapped out. I think Att/Comm.Sheila Alu (notice the Att/Comm title contribute that to good lawyers) is coaching Lieberman and for her support Lieberman wil endorse her for Lady luck's comm. seat. who knows this whole story is very troubling. I think th eone that should also go to jail is Stracher(immunity). Concentrate on Stracher Mrs.Talabisco(you are the fall guy) . The more I try to disect this triangle the more I concentrate on Stracher. Everybody's friend is no body's friend. You got lucky Bev, damn lucky. I can't wait to meet you, immunity and all...
WhiskeyForMyMenBeerForMyHorses 5pts LOVE LOVE LOVE The title - Working Girls: Ritter and Lieberman Won't Stop Trickin' Lets caption the photo; I believe the words out of her mouth to be:"Haaaay boys put some bills in my bucket & I'll be sure to vote so I can profit!"
jad 5pts Flori-DUH posted the Florida law that showed the ACTUAL AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION that the county commissioners should be receiving, which is $22,500 per year. Regardless of the law, county commissioners in Broward County are receiving over four times the base salary. It makes you wonder "Just how did that happen?" Is it possible that any incompetent lawyer, deliberately hired by the county commission for his incompetence, could have misread sec. 145.031, F.S., to somehow make it appear that county commissioners in Broward County are worth almost $100,000 base salary yearly, a sum much higher than anywhere else in the State of Florida (which might make the county attorney's value and payment scale ratchet up a few notches)? Is it possible that every one of the commissioners could be so ignorant of the law governing their compensation, for such a (CONTINUING) lengthy period of time?Looks can be so deceiving -- especially for county attorneys & county commissioners employed by Broward County that have used a pot of tax money to finagle sundry plans in devious ways to overbuild the area, diminish social services, reduce the infrastructure, and cut a swathe through the Everglades. I know that reading the laws can make you bleary-eyed, and it is rather boring. But, it is essential to read these laws (and get some type of understanding) so that you no longer get hoodwinked. So (AS A COMPANION PIECE TO THAT EXCELLENT BIT OF INFORMATION POSTED BY FLORI-DUH), here goes a response to anonymously yours, who seems to think that somehow the county charter is a document that can be used to circumvent the law & permit the commissioners to continue to pillage & plunder the treasury to fatten their wallets, at the expense of the ever-suffering, over-taxed, under-appreciated taxpayer.The designation for Title XI, F.S., is "County Organization and Intergovernmental Relations," and this particular title of the Florida Statutes contains 20 separate chapters of Florida law. One of these twenty chapters, (the second listed) ch. 125, F.S., is titled "County Government", and consists of 6 separate parts. Part II of ch. 125, F.S., (with 9-sections) titled "Self-Government," and Part IV of ch. 125, F.S., (with 9-sections) titled "Optional County Charters," involve laws for chartered counties. Part III of ch. 125, F.S., (with 5-sections) titled "County Administration," involves laws for counties that are not chartered (from the statement of sec. 125.72, F.S., that "provisions of this part may apply to any county in this state which has not adopted a charter form of county government"). On the other hand, ch. 145, F.S., is titled "Compensation of County Officials, and is not a large chapter, consisting of only 18-sections.It is ch. 145, F.S., that has made anonymously yours respond to the two laws (of sec. 145.031, F.S., & sec. 145.17, F.S.) posted by Flori-DUH, with the statement that "Broward County is a Charter County. Not Applicable." I believe the type of home-rule status has not been taken into consideration -- and so, the law says otherwise, but please reply, anonymously yours, if you feel that I am wrong or have misrepresented the law.Sec. 145.011, F.S., identifies, as titled, the "Legislative Intent" of ch. 145, F.S., which is set out to comply with the directive given in art. II, sec. 5(c), Fla.Const. The Florida Legislature plainly secured a payment scheme (for compensation for county officials) that could not be compromised (unless the violator wished to pay fees & penalties, lose office & benefits, and be imprisoned). Furthermore, the Legislature had determined, as set out in sec. 145.16(2)(a), F.S., that pursuant to art. III, sec. 11(a)(21), Fla.Const., that there would be NO SPECIAL LAW OR GENERAL LAW OF LOCAL APPLICATION PERTAINING TO THE COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. The subsequent warning is quite clear that sec. 145.17, F.S., would treat, as a first degree misdemeanor, any action taken that would supplement the salary of a county commissioner, unless allowance had been given by one of the sections of ch. 145, F.S.Again, the law of sec. 145.17, F.S., is (in the entirety) "The compensation provided in chapter 145 shall be the sole and exclusive compensation of the officers whose salary is established therein for the execution of their official duties, and, except as specifically provided herein, the acceptance of salary for official duties as a result of other general or special law, general law of local application, resolution, or supplement or from any other source is a misdemeanor of the first degree punishable as provided in ss. 775.082 and 775.083." So, exactly how would the fact that Broward County is a charter county with home-rule powers stand in the way of a prosecution against each and every sitting county commissioner, and any and all county commissioners for whom the statute of limitations is still running, for taking such an exorbitant, unqualified amount of moneys, as a compensation for office (which surely would be grand theft, if the criminal act was accomplished with knowledge aforethought)?The Broward County home-rule charter was adopted in November of 1974, and it went into effect in January, 1975. A 15-member commission, that produced the charter, conducted a comprehensive study of the operation of county government. In this charter, did executive director Ken Jenne (assisted by Hamilton Forman, Hugh Anderson, E. Clay Shaw, and other helpmates) provide for the county commissioners to receive a compensation that was stratospheric, and not applicable to ch. 145, F.S.? Sec. 145.031, F.S., preceded the county charter by 14-years & sec. 145.17, F.S., was adopted in 1973, over 1-year before the charter's existence. So, at that time, the charter commission would have held knowledge of the way that county commissioners were compensated, and they would have known of the rate of pay. Since the system to compensate county officials (like the county commissioners) was already properly formulated in the Florida law, it is possible that Ken Jenne & crew did not feel a need to further address the matter. If a review of the home-rule charter should show that Ken Jenne & his band of merry men had forgotten to insert an outrageous payment scheme for county commissioners, or else changed their minds and thought that a compensation package for county commissioners would be better addressed in the charter, there would always be the possibility of amendment.Under sec. 125.64(2), F.S., (a law adopted in 1969), "Such charter, once adopted by the electors, may be amended only by the electors of the county." So, there was a way to amend the charter, but once the commission was through and the charter adopted by the people (at a referendum election), the only way to amend the charter would be the same as when the people had adopted the charter, which was by a majority vote of the electors of the county. Sec. 1.02A of art. I of the county's charter also provided (for law and an amendment process, in) that self-government brought about from the home-rule charter would not be "inconsistent with the United States Constitution, the Florida Constitution, general law, or with special law approved by vote of the electors and this Charter." Moreover, sec. 1.02B of art. I of the county's charter contains a little disclaimer that "if the Charter makes no provision," the details would be found in either "ordinance, resolution of the County Commission, or by the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida." Although there should be agreement that the passage of an ordinance should never be recognized as a legitimate means of amending the home-rule charter. And, the county commissioners powers are limited, under sec. 2.01 of art. II of the charter, when enacting ordinances, since any action taken in the enactment of an ordinance must be "consistent with this Charter and that is in the best interest of the health, safety, and welfare of the County's citizens." This should be taken to mean that if there is no preexisting provision in the charter for a specific ordinance, an ordinance alone can not be used to amend the charter.Later, a Citizen's Bill of Rights was added, as sec. 1.04 of art. I of the county's charter (of which the Preamble to the charter had already made several guarantees, one of which was "to secure to the County's citizens protection against abuses and encroachments by County government"). In subsection J (of sec. 1.04 of art. I), this Bill of Rights addressed a conflict of interest section (which has been said is to be a Code of Ethics) that would be adopted later by the county to be inserted into the county's code of ordinances. It seems that this peculiar amendment took the right to adopt a code of ethics, out of the hands of the people and transferred the power to complete the task of amendment to the county commissioners to accomplish the feat through adoption of an ordinance (a process described under sec. 125.66, F.S.). Consequently, would a county lawyer decide that the Citizen's Bill of Rights could be used to raise the salaries of the county commissioners in this same way, which was a simple adoption of an ordinance (by the commissioners themselves), stripping the people of the power to amend when exercising their right to vote on the measure? Other than the limited empowerment of the county commissioners to enact an ordinance, under sec. 2.01 of art. II of the charter, where exactly would the enactment of an ordinance for a matter not addressed in (or consistent with) the charter be found? How exactly would a county attorney rely on the county charter to show the people that the people had given up a right to make a decision on compensation of county commissioners, through amendment of the charter by popular vote of the people?It just may be that a county attorney can not document such an outrageous scheme, and the authority to give commissioners an exorbitant sum of moneys, contrary to the payment schedule contained under sec. 145.031, F.S., was not included in the charter. This omission had happened with a particular matter, which was the right to fill the vacancy in a county commission office. Sec. 2.01E of art. II of the Broward County home-rule charter does recognize that a vacancy in the office (of county commissioner) could exist, with an explanation that a vacancy "shall be defined and filled as provided by the laws of the State of Florida." However, sec. 125.83(3) (of Part IV of ch, 125) F.S., adopted in 1974, provides "The county charter shall define "vacancy in office" and provide methods for filling such vacancy." There is no similar description in Part II of ch. 125, F.S. (which would be the law that would be applicable to Broward County, as the home-rule charter was not originally brought forward by a county commission ordinance, as with part IV, but by a full-panel, charter commission study). Anyway, there is no clear definition, in either Florida law or charter provisions, as to what "vacancy on office" is.There is clear definition in the way that compensation is paid to county officials, of which county commissioners have been included, under sec. 145.16(2)(a), F.S. According to sec. 145.19(2), F.S., the Department of Management Services must certify "the annual factor and the cumulative annual factors," due to the fact that the salaries of all officials listed in ch. 145, F.S., are adjusted. In addition, a special qualification salary (that does not exceed $2,000) can be added to the adjusted salary rate of the official. If there has been a provision made in a county's home rule charter, it is possible that the Florida Legislature was able to abrogate its responsibilities to oversee the payment schedule of certain designated county officials. So, it is apparent that sec. 145.012, F.S., grants an allowance to sidestep the scheduled payment plan arranged for county officials -- but, only if the county's charter had already announced the provision, with the publication of such a plan in its charter. Just because the law would allow an avoidance of the fee schedule, does not mean that a home rule charter county can automatically grant more moneys to whomever it wants. Sec 145.012, F.S., plainly stated "This chapter applies to all officials herein designated in all counties of the state, except those officials whose salaries are not subject to being set by the Legislature because of the provisions of a county home rule charter." If there were no provision in the charter, ch. 145, F.S., was the commanding law.Any amount of supplemental compensation has been prohibited under sec. 145.17, F.S. Any action to snooker the populace is actually a crime, if done in contradiction to the law & contrary to the charter. If the provision is not made in the Broward County home-rule charter for compensation for county commissioners, no simple passage of an ordinance can be used to make a salary schedule, as that too would be a violation of Florida law. Even though sec. 125.83(4), F.S., permits compensation to be formulated in an ordinance to be adopted by the board of the county commission, this activity would not be applicable in Broward County. In order for sec. 125.83, F.S., to apply in a county, sec. 125.82, F.S., would have had to have been used as an alternative way to that provided by the provisions of sec. 125.60 – sec. 125.64 (of Part II of ch. 125, F.S.) Sec. 125.82, F.S., and sec. 125. 83, F.S., are just two of the sections of Part IV, which is a way of adopting a home-rule charter that county commissioners have made-up by ordinance.Broward County adopted its home-rule charter under Part II of ch. 125, F.S., through a charter review commission (with Ken Jenne as the executive director & 15 people on the charter review commission, per sec. 125.61(2), F.S.) and a subsequent adoption of the charter commission's work by the people. Section 125.83(4), F.S., resides in Part IV of ch. 125, F.S., which is the part that identifies with "optional home-rule charters," which are those charters initially brought forward by county ordinance (NOT an outside source, like a charter review commission). Naturally, a county ordinance could be adopted later to amend that charter that was originally implemented by county ordinance. However, in Broward County, the foundation of its home-rule charter was not by ordinance, and the salary scheme put forth under sec. 125.83(4), F.S. would not apply.A comprehensive study by the charter commission was done in Broward County, per sec. 125.63, F.S. Such charter, once adopted by the electors, may be amended only by the electors of the county, per sec. 125.64(2), F.S. Sec. 145.031(1), F.S., provides (in the entirety) "Each member of the board of county commissioners shall receive as salary the amount indicated, based on the population of his or her county. In addition, compensation shall be made for population increments over the minimum for each population group, which shall be determined by multiplying the population in excess of the minimum for the grouping times the group rate." Hence, sec. 2.01D of Art. III of the county's charter, which reads (in the entirety) as "The Commissioners' salaries shall be determined and established in accordance with the general law of the State of Florida pertaining to compensation for Commissioners of non-charter counties. Commissioners shall only be reimbursed for expenses that are specifically approved by the County Commission, and when properly incurred on County business, in conformance with the laws of the State of Florida," limits the power of commissioners, just as sec. 2.01E of Article II limits the power of the public to define vacancy in office.The county commissioners and county attorney may have believed that the outrageous sums of money being paid as a salary was a just and a legitimate expense for the taxpayers (to contribute). However, the laws prove otherwise. Flori-DUH was correct when posting the applicable Florida laws. The Broward County Commissioners are in violation of the law when accepting compensation that is not permitted in the charter, in the statutes, in the constitution, or using just plain sane judgment. This is a travesty and must be stopped. If Michael Satz won't do what he is paid to do (which is to arrest each and every commissioner for receiving an unjust compensation, contrary to sec. 145.17, F.S., a first degree misdemeanor, or arrest the person running the scam), can someone call in the feds?
Parkland man 5pts The state is going to try ex commissioner steve Gonot and when they confict him and they will,they will get ritter next, she is a lawyer so there just being carefull they will get her don't worry,and her buddy eileens husband is a lawyer also,look at lawyers all the time starting or being right in the middle of shit it never stops with them shitbirds lawyers.
jad 5pts Flori-DUH GREAT POST!!!!!!!!! I believe that you are 100% correct. I am just trying to piece together the laws right now. Regardless, it appears that you have discovered that the commissioners, who are so severely overpaid, are receiving a salary that is NOT permitted under the law. What do you think this will do for those who have retired on pensions (based on these inflated salaries)? It may be time to make the commissioners pay back every penny that they received over and above that allowed by law. Satz would probably scr*w up the prosecution, in trying to protect politicos. What is the alternative to prosecuting them now? Maybe the feds and the feebs can use this information against commissioners to make them reveal details of other scams that have been played out in Broward County!!!!!!!Skydove's comment above is right on. And Flori-DUH just proved the statement made, which was "commenters provide, free of charge, research and analysis impossible for one person to duplicate" Another comment is very true too, which is "the Internet offers the huge advantage of saving time for people who are already busy, thus permitting contributions from many who can't spend hours on round-trip travel, parking, &c to attend centrally sited meetings."Now, how can anyone put into action what anonymous responded to skydove? "We need visible action beyond talking amongst ourselves because for too many of these local criminals, the window will never open, there never will be a jury trial. Let's change that"Getting back to Flori-DUH's comments. The post of sec. 143.031, F.S., was a cut & paste, which post showed the maximum amount of compensation that a county commissioner (by that particular Florida Law) is entitled to receive to be $22,500 (NOT the $94,000 currently recognized as a base salary in Broward County). The other cut & paste law, of sec. 145.17, F.S., carries the detail that there is no other supplemental compensation to be permitted, and that any violation by a county commissioner, in receipt of the maximum amount allowed under ch. 145, F.S., (which in the case of Broward County is a salary of $22,500, with few perks), is a first degree misdemeanor violation. Maybe some more charges can be added, or the misdemeanor can be enlarged under RICO.Don't let any poster lead you astray with this one. Anonymously yours seems to think that Broward County is excluded from adherence to the dictates of ch. 145, F.S., because the county is a charter county. Au contraire mon ami. While the county is indeed a home-rule county, this does not remove the county from adhering to the governing law (as the county just up-and-forgot to include, in the charter, the entitlement of a commissioner to an exorbitant salary -- no matter how you read it). Flori-DUH is right. After my research is complete, I will post the laws -- so that you will understand that a RELIANCE on Broward County's home-rule status is just that a RE-LIE. In Broward maybe that is how the county's truth is built -- you know, a little white lie here, that is added to a little white lie there, that is mixed in with some subsequent half-truths, & whisk, bam, boom, the RE-LIE as truth. You can't make this sh*t up -- Only in Broward!!!!!!
skydove 5pts @ Anonymous, earlier today [not directly accessible via Disqus]You make a good point. Since so many who are very dirty indeed have engineered immunity for themselves, the only thing to do is move as efficiently as possible to get them out of office. What's "efficient" will vary depending on how much time remains in each person's term; it may make sense to go the recall route with some and organize to vote out any short timers. For those now under arrest or being seriously investigated by the feds, crowd sourcing and whistleblowing can still be useful, and continued pressure leading to the suspicion that "They hate me, they really hate me" might take its toll in smaller ways, even on the shameless.
parkland man 5pts I forgot to take my seroquel and I am posting from the Broward jayle on a cigarette break. Please someone call me a lawyer!
Nucky Thompson 5pts Breaking News (no, its not an April Fool)Jim Notter fires Oliphant. Pity it wasn't Ann Murray he fired then the headline would only have been slightly different:Jim Notter fires Elephant.http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.co...
KennyPowersSays 5pts If some creative graphic artist would make a collage of the Ritter dance photo, Jen's boob busting pix and Lieberman's tongue dance photo it would be collectible. We could call it Bimbo's of Broward.
Goldilocks 5pts Gloria Estefan just threw her hat into the race for mayor (Miami-Dade). Apparently, one of the 2-Live-Crew bandmembers is among the candidates, too.
Nucky Thompson 5pts I heard that the green bucket was for the audience to put in money if they wanted Ritter to put her clothes back on . Apparently it was full a minute later.
Anonymous 5pts Unreal. First I thought it was an April's Fool's joke, Pulp, but obviously it's not. Lieberman misses six months of meetings without uttering a single word of explanation to her constituents, then comes back and is silent for the next two or three meetings (but speaks at an event that's for other politicians) -- unbelievable. I don't trust the condo folks in Tamarac or Sunrise not to vote for her either, she's still their darling. And we're still paying Stracher, aren't we?, to be her aide.
StonedCEO 5pts Will these people ever feel any shame or remorse? Maybe when their children are visiting them in jail? Probably not even then, sad really.
Flori-DUH 5pts $90,000 plus as county commission salary???Please review following section of Florida Statutes (Broward is in Group VII with more than 1 million residents):The 2010 Florida Statutes(including Special Session A)Title XICOUNTY ORGANIZATION AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONSChapter 145COMPENSATION OF COUNTY OFFICIALSView Entire Chapter145.031 Board of county commissioners.—(1) Each member of the board of county commissioners shall receive as salary the amount indicated, based on the population of his or her county. In addition, compensation shall be made for population increments over the minimum for each population group, which shall be determined by multiplying the population in excess of the minimum for the grouping times the group rate.Pop. GroupCounty Pop. RangeBase SalaryGroup Rate MinimumMaximum I-0- 9,999 $4,500$0.150II10,00049,999 6,0000.075III50,00099,999 9,0000.060IV100,000199,999 12,0000.045V200,000399,999 16,5000.015VI400,000999,999 19,5000.005VII1,000,000 22,5000.000(2) No member of a governing body of a chartered county or a county with a consolidated form of government shall be deemed to be the equivalent of a county commissioner for the purposes of determining the compensation of such member under his or her respective charter.History.—s. 1, ch. 61-461; s. 1, ch. 63-560; s. 1, ch. 65-356; s. 1, ch. 67-543; s. 2, ch. 67-576; s. 5, ch. 69-346; s. 2, ch. 73-173; s. 853, ch. 95-147.Since it is 1 million and over, there is no addition for popluation increments over the minimum, as it is $0.000. Consequently, based upon Chapter 145, Florida Statutes, county commissioners in Broward County should be compensated at the rate of $22,500.00 per annum.Extra compensation?Please see the following:The 2010 Florida Statutes(including Special Session A)Title XICOUNTY ORGANIZATION AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONSChapter 145COMPENSATION OF COUNTY OFFICIALSView Entire Chapter145.17 Supplemental compensation prohibited.—The compensation provided in chapter 145 shall be the sole and exclusive compensation of the officers whose salary is established therein for the execution of their official duties, and, except as specifically provided herein, the acceptance of salary for official duties as a result of other general or special law, general law of local application, resolution, or supplement or from any other source is a misdemeanor of the first degree punishable as provided in ss. 775.082 and 775.083.History.—s. 10, ch. 73-173.
Obermann 5pts I can't believe they will withstand the criminal investigations going on, long term. I also don't think all of those RRA attorneys will be left unpunished. The wheels of justice move slowly and that's why we need you, Bob, to speed justice up. Keep the pressure on. It's a sad day when the only law enforcement leader we have in Broward County is a journalist. And the least we taxpayers should do is give Bob Norman subpoena rights! That would get things cleaned up, fast.
Windsome Lad 5pts Rumor has it that the principal at the school Oliphant was most recently fired from is also one of Oli's sorority sisters (AKA?) The Black Greek system is pervasive and penetrates adult life unlike non-black fraternities and sororities. Years ago I heard Fredrica Wilkerson described in an adult conversation as "an AKA." I said, "Surely , she can't be. She's head of the Democratics in the Florida. No way is she using an alias, an also-known-as." Talk about being the only white guy in the room.http://www.blackcollegesearch....
EconomicProf 5pts Maybe he wanted to do one right thing before he left.maybe if she wasn't a pig and strted out at 50k she would still be in the job.
anonymous 5pts Exactly right, Obermann. We have one law enforcement leader in this town and he's carrying a big weapon...The KeyBoard. If one guy in Tunisia can create an uprising in the middle east, Bob Norman can do the same for this town. The difference is that we bloggers aren't acting. We have the vehicle, Pulp's Blog, and the strength in numbers to drive this vermin out of town. Why aren't we organizing? Haven't we had enough of this corruption?
anonamoose 5pts On the one hand, it freakin' pisses me off that she would get hired at such an exorbitant rate just because she is a black sorority sister. On the other hand, white guys have been getting the choice jobs (some without ever really tryin') for years because they are white guys who know other important white guys.
skydove 5pts While it's certainly true that no individual is doing as much as Pulp to drive the vermin out of town, it's misleading to suggest that commenters aren't doing anything. First, the blog is a forum for anonymous whistleblowers and people with useful insider tips, most of whom either can't publish securely anywhere else or have already suffered for speaking out.Second, there's the crowd-sourcing function: commenters provide, free of charge, research and analysis impossible for one person to duplicate. Although the value of individuals' contributions can't be quantified, that doesn't mean there's been no effect. Pulp can't acknowledge everyone; miscreant pols and lobbyists aren't going to post that they're shaking in their books. But as Dead Norm pointed out recently, that doesn't mean they aren't. He nailed it further by observing that for persons with reason to worry, the comments here give a revealing window into the minds of any jury they may face. Every one-sentence post of outrage pushes that window open a little more. Third, the Internet offers the huge advantage of saving time for people who are already busy, thus permitting contributions from many who can't spend hours on round-trip travel, parking, &c to attend centrally sited meetings or don't have the patience to sit through the vent fests that get-togethers of relative strangers tend to become.This isn't to reject grassroots organization out of hand. Of course there's an important place for it. Fortunately there's more than one way to help bring about change.
anonymous 5pts I agree, Skydove, but currently we are acting individually; getting things moving forward, of course. But we could make greater inroads faster if we'd organize. Look at what happened in Miami-Dade with the mayor's recall. That happened because folks to the big step forward from just talking, to acting. We need visible action beyond talking amongst ourselves because for too many of these local criminals, the window will never open, there never will be a jury trial. Let's change that.


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David Ignatius of the Washington Post (12/29/10):
I've seen Petraeus give many briefings over the years, and it's a bit like watching a magician at work. Even though you've seen the trick before, and you know the patter, you still get mesmerized. He has the ability to make people believe the impossible might be doable, after all.
That sounds bad, but then I remembered this from ABC's Martha Raddatz (6/23/10):
A warrior and a scholar, Petraeus is sometimes jokingly referred to as a water walker, since almost everything he touches seems to turn to gold.
Joke's on us, I guess.


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A 'Baywatch' movie is moving forward, with Bill Hader of 'Saturday Night Live' rumored to be up for the lead role, possibly even taking on David Hasselhoff's character. However, Hader's reps deny involvement. There is also word both Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson will be making cameos.
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forum: Food & Drink
#991 Thu 09 Jun 11 4:27am
- Forum super champ Occupation Chief cook and bottle washer
- From Northern California
- Member since Sat 10 Feb 07
Re: Soup's on!!
I think that depends on the vegetable and whether or not it has already been cooked. Cooked corn is fine to freeze as it's blanched before freezing anyhow.
#992 Fri 10 Jun 11 5:33am
- Member Occupation Stuff and nonsense!
- From California
- Member since Mon 07 Sep 09
Re: Soup's on!!
SonomaEddie wrote:
I think that depends on the vegetable and whether or not it has already been cooked. Cooked corn is fine to freeze, as it's blanched before freezing anyhow.
That's good--we have two miniears of corn leftover from dinner. I was thinking that it'd be a good idea to freeze them for soup (they can't last long in a baggie).
#993 Fri 10 Jun 11 3:24pm
- Forum champ Occupation My OH and I own a new/secondhand bookshop.
- From Somerset, England
- Member since Wed 20 Feb 08
Re: Soup's on!!
I think i would make the soup with the veggies and freeze it.
#994 Fri 10 Jun 11 3:29pm
- Forum super champ Occupation Just being me
- Member since Fri 28 Mar 08
Re: Soup's on!!
One use for frozen vegetables that I find works well is to make soup with them. Either way, freezing the soup or the vegetables works fine, for me it has anyway.
#995 Mon 20 Jun 11 4:53pm
- Member
- Member since Thu 06 Nov 08
Re: Soup's on!!
Yes frozen vegetables are really good in soups But personally, I am reluctant to use them because they're not fresh and also because of the numerous food additives.
I do my best to use as many fresh vegetables as possible and one tip would be to always mix the frozen vegetables (if you cannot find many fresh ones) with some which are fresh so that you get all the necessary nutrients...
#996 Mon 12 Sep 11 3:34am
- Member Occupation Chief cook and bottle-washer
- From Scotland
- Member since Mon 12 Sep 11
Re: Soup's on!!
Before you freeze any raw veg, dunk them in fast-boiling water for a minute or so to blanch them - it stops enzyme activity which can make them lose flavour and texture in the freezer.
#997 Mon 12 Sep 11 3:47am
- Member Occupation Chief cook and bottle-washer
- From Scotland
- Member since Mon 12 Sep 11
Re: Soup's on!!
My favourite soup is my mum's Lentil soup. It's usually made by eye and guesswork, but I'll try for a recipe (sorry for lack of quantities):
1 medium onion
1 large carrot
1 stick celery
four or five waxy potatoes
Stock (ham is best, but any will do, fresh or cubes - if you don't have any you can use water, but salt it really well).
Red lentils
Oil for frying
Salt and pepper
If you have a pressure cooker, use that and this will be done in half an hour; otherwise use a large saucepan and expect it to take an hour and a half.
Dice all the veg and fry gently until onion is transparent. How coarsely you chop it is a matter of taste. Mum leaves the carrots as discs. You can peel the tatties if you want, but I keep the skins on unless they're very scabby.
Add the stock and lentils. This is where it gets tricky as far as quantities are concerned - my Mum never measures anything, but does it by eye, and I do too. You want maybe a litre of stock, and you want to add enough lentils that when you stir it they rise up and look reasonably numerous, but sink invisibly when you let it settle. I realise this is completely unhelpful, but the thickness of it is also a matter of taste. For starters, try 250ml lentils and you can change it in future batches if it is too thick or thin.
Add pepper, and salt if you are using water or unseasoned stock. No point tasting it at this stage as it will not taste right until the lentils dissolve.
Now bring to the boil. If using a pressure cooker, seal the lid on, bring it to pressure and give it 10min at 15lb pressure. If no pressure cooker, let it boil furiously for 10min, then simmer gently for 50min.
The finished soup should be smooth, with the lentils turned yellow and largely dissolved, but the veggies still distinguishable. Taste it and adjust the seasoning. Best served sprinkled with grated strong cheddar, with crusty white bread and butter!
This stores and freezes really well, but so you don't get a fright, it turns solid when it cools, and gets thicker the longer you store it! Just water it down when you come to use it.
Last edited by hippytea (Mon 12 Sep 11 3:51am)
#998 Sun 18 Sep 11 11:40am
- Forum champ Occupation Retired youngster but keeping busy!!
- From Scotland
- Member since Sun 14 Dec 08
Re: Soup's on!!
Hello hippy tea and welcome here! This just sounds a good old fashioned Scottish way of making soup - how I learned from my mother with nothing measured just good hearty soup and we're getting the weather for it now. I try to have a bowl homemade soup every lunchtime but nowadays make many more varieties Thame Mums broth lentil soup
#999 Sun 18 Sep 11 11:53am
- Forum champ Occupation Walking the Old Ways
- From Living in the Wild Woods
- Member since Wed 16 Jan 08
Re: Soup's on!!
Just made a soup for later:
Golden Veg Soup
3 lg carrot
1 lg onion
1 stick celery
4 small potatoes (1 lg one)
2 cloves of garlic
3 rashers of back bacon (or non-fatty equivalent)
Chop all the veg very finely, place in a large pan & sweat in olive oil until slightly soft.
Add boiling water to cover, add salt to taste (under-season slightly) lid on & simmer until soft.
Meanwhile grill or dry fry the bacon until very crispy, cool & then snip with scissors into shards.
Blitz 1/2 the soup to smooth in a blender, re-combine with soup in the pan, check seasoning, & serve.
Sprinkle bacon on the top of the soup.
It sounds wrong not to add a good stock, but this is such a gentle tasting soup nothing should overpower it.
Edit: With fresh bread, it will serve 4.
If another mouth turns up unexpectedly, just add a couple of handfuls of frozen peas/sweetcorn!!!
Last edited by minerva (Sun 18 Sep 11 11:56am)
#1000 Mon 19 Sep 11 8:43pm
- Member Occupation Chief cook and bottle-washer
- From Scotland
- Member since Mon 12 Sep 11
Re: Soup's on!!
MarielH - thanks for the welcome! Yes it's a good old Scottish lentil soup. I always feel it's the forgotten Scottish soup - everyone talks about Scotch Broth and Cock-a-Leekie and even Cullen Skink, but when did you last see a recipe for plain old Lentil Soup? But it's one of the best. The biggest mistake people make is to make it too thin, I think. It should be thick and rib-sticking! That or they don't cook it long enough and you can still see the lentils. I like it cooked til it's completely smooth.
If you want to make an easy cheat pea-and-ham soup, you can make lentil soup based on a strong ham broth, take the meat out, then add a handful of frozen peas at the very end, liquidise the whole shebang, and put the meat back in (or if you're using ham stock cubes, add some crispy fried bacon bits). It tastes way better than the kind made with dried peas, and it's a beautiful colour!
Last edited by hippytea (Mon 19 Sep 11 8:44pm)


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The Hamilton, a cavernous restaurant slash concert hall near the White House named for the Founding Father, has an upcoming performance list that includes The Hackensaw Boys, Gospel Brunches, and Jim Messina. This morning, though, it's empty but for the long table on the far back wall of the loft, where, over eggs and fruit salad, under ornate lacquer woodwork and a studio lit mural by Kevin Paulsen, four young conservatives are explaining their expectations for the youth vote this fall. Two are former Eric Cantor hands, representatives of the Young Guns Action Fund, a Super PAC aimed at electing more Republicans of the Cantor/Kevin McCarthy/Paul Ryan mold. The other two are with Maverick PAC, a group aimed at finding those same plucky young professional conservatives in business and law. They're teaming up this summer to work on supporting conservative candidates and encouraging young Republicans to get involved in politics this election.
They have just passed around the table a Pew Research Center study with disconcerting data about young peoples' dissatisfaction with the economy, the political process, even their fellow millennials. But, I ask them, what's the evidence that young voters will swing to Republicans?
"What I took away from this is they're not happy about anything. I don't think this is that they are sticking with Democrats or Republicanswhat they feel is everyone pays attention to other generations," says John Murray, Cantor's former deputy chief of staff, motioning his hand as though he were banging a gavel to emphasize his points, his thumb and index fingers pinched together. "They're saying, 'Well we're the group who's going to have to lead this country in the next generation economically, as well as from a political leadership perspective, and we're very concerned about where things are going.' I think that means they're open to persuasion and to take a look at Republicans in a way that perhaps they haven't in the past."
"But I am not here to say there's a magic wand we can wave and all of a sudden these voters are going to vote Republican," he says. His hand lowers down. "I think what we recognize is that there's a unique moment in time where there's a real choice being presented in this country and many voters, once you articulate that choice, people tend to say, 'You know, I want this freedom and opportunity and I'm concerned about it.'"
Jay Zeidman, Maverick PAC's David Schwimmer-esque national co-chair, adds: "For me, I'm 28. I don't live in DC, I live in Texas. We're frustrated with the way things are going, several years out of college, making that second paycheck, trying to start a new life. You get a major sense of frustration with the direction and a lot of folks, a lot of my friends, just haven't been engaged in politics before," he says. "This is an opportunity to do it now."
"President Obama did a fantastic job of capturing the imagination of these folks and inspiring them in 2008. His words were amazing," says Brad Dayspring, the intense, blue-eyed former spokesman for Cantor. "It'd be hard for a Republican or a Democrat to go back and watch him in 2008 and not recognize that fact. That's why people turned out to vote for him. He hasn't delivered, and he hasn't governed like the guy he spoke as. So are these folks going to come out and all vote Republican just because he hasn't delivered? No. But there's a great opportunity for Republicans if they talk about the things that made this country great ... to capture the imagination of those people."
George P. Bush, national co-chair of Maverick PAC, son of Jeb and nephew of W., speaks last, and most quietly. He is a dead ringer for his famous political forebears, only with a darker complexion and sharper features. "We had a great event in Little Havana, drinking cortaditos, and I think we had maybe 50 young people come out really on a week's notice during the primary. I expect as we get past Labor Day and into the convention and the general election there'll be some more meaningful allocation of resources," he saysthen, as if to correct any sense of naivety or over-hype"but we view it as an opportunity more than anything else. We want to manage expectations. We don't want to say it's going to swing 180 degrees in the other direction. But I think it's worth the effort."
Can This Young Republican Woo Voters Away From Barack Obama?
Hunger Reads: GQ's Marin Cogan Picks Her Favorite Political Writing of All Time
Today's Political Firestorm: Tax Cuts!
Follow Marin Cogan on Twitter for more updates from the political scene in Washington and on the campaign trail.


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Current Time
Concierge.com's insider take:
This placid five-story hotel on the grounds of the Orthodox Danilovsky (St. Daniel) Monastery feels like a cross between a monastic inn and a Soviet-era hotel for top party officials. But don't let that put you off one of the few hotel bargains near central Moscow. The 116 air-conditioned roomsdecorated with icons and portraits of Russian Orthodox patriarch Aleksy IIwere upgraded with new furnishings and modern bathroom fixtures in June 2008. Some, however, still feel slightly fusty: The flowery suites, for example, are reminiscent of an alpine B&B. If you want a double bed, be sure to ask for one (some "doubles" have twin beds). And request a room facing the cathedrals and the complex's lovely garden: The exterior view is industrial and unpleasant. While rooms are cheap by Moscow standards (about $250 for a double), the nondescript restaurant, which used to be known for relatively inexpensiveyet tasty and heartyRussian fare has become pricier and more Continental. There is a small business center, sauna, and pool, and the Russian Orthodox Church sponsors concerts and exhibitions on the grounds. It's likely you'll encounter clergy among your fellow guests. The nearest metro station, Tulskaya, is a few minutes' walk away, and then it's a ten-minute ride to the Kremlin. A few years ago, the neighborhood (usually called Tulskaya after the metro stop) was remarkably dreary, but has been spruced up with the addition of big shopping malls (one with a roller rink).
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SBTT for Joomla!™ FAQ
How do I install SBTT for Joomla!™
From your Joomla! administration area,
click Extensions > Extension Manager > Install > Browse for plg_sbtt14.zip > Upload.
click Extensions > Extension Manager > Install > Browse for plg_sbtt14.zip > Upload.
Now go to Extension > Plugins and enable SBTT.
What image options are included with SBTT?
Version 1.0 includes 11 Image options.
The top image is the active image and the bottom image is the mouseover or hover image.
How do I use my own image?
Upload your image using the Media Manager.
Go to the plugin configuration and choose select next to Choose Custom Image in the Basic Settings.
Browse to and select your image.
Note: Your image should be 48px wide by 96px high. If you want to use a different size, you will need to override the css.
How do I use custom css?
The custom css will only be limited by the capabilities of css.
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- #sbttA
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- #sbtta:hover
Once you have your css ready, go to the plugin configuration under Custom CSS and enable the override and place your css in the custom css text area.
The default css used by SBTT is available in this section as well.


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