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I've read a few stories about individual Christians (like Brett Felton and Tim Locks), but here's the first report I've seen of an organized volunteer unit deploying to Syria.
This is a very small unit, but if it signals a trend then we are witnessing a significant challenge to the Westphalian nation-state system we've enjoyed since 1648. Up till now only Muslims have been organizing for violence outside the control of a recognized nation, but now Christians are getting into the game. We get so comfortable with the lines on the map that we're apt to forget that the lines are human constructs with no inherent meaning.
An eight-strong team of former British Army soldiers is preparing to leave Britain to join the fight against Islamic State in Syria, the Standard can reveal.
The team are training to fight as a single volunteer unit alongside the Kurdish militias on the front line in northern Syria.
Images on social media show members of the group posing in combat fatigues and clutching high powered assault rifles on a training exercise in Europe.
The caption to one image of a soldier with a machine gun reads: "Bad news delivery system, if you're ISIS!"
The former soldiers are believed to include a number who have Special Forces training.
It bears repeating: never consent to a search. If the authorities have a legitimate cause to search you they won't need to ask first. If they ask, always say no. Then ask if you're under arrest, and if not then walk away. Don't say anything else.
In a cold consent encounter, a person is stopped if an agent thinks that person's behavior fits a drug courier profile. Or an agent can stop a person cold "based on no particular behavior," according to the Inspector General report. The agent then asks people they have stopped for consent to question them and sometimes to search their possessions as well. By gaining consent, law enforcement officers can bypass the need for a warrant. ...
Moreover, agents can seize cash they find during a cold consent encounter. According to data analysis conducted by the Institute for Justice, half of all DEA cash seizures from 2009 to 2013 were under $10,000. Thanks to civil forfeiture laws, law enforcement can take cash and other valuable property, based on an officer's often subjective determination of probable cause, even from those who have not been charged with a crime. ...
Disturbingly, the Inspector General found that DEA interdiction task force groups have been seizing cash from travelers and then urging them to sign forms disclaiming their own cash and "waiving their rights." In one cold consent encounter, DEA agents stopped another African-American woman in part because she was "pacing nervously" before boarding her flight. After gaining her consent, the agents searched her luggage and found $8,000.
A drug dog then alerted to the cash, and the DEA seized it. However, the Inspector General report did not state if any drugs were actually found or if the woman was ever charged with or convicted of a crime in connection with the seizure. Not to mention that most U.S. currency in circulation has been exposed to drugs.
(HT: Simple Justice.)
Apparently it's protocol for departing State Department employees to hand over all their work emails when their employment ends, and they attest that they've done so using a standard separation agreement. I've seen similar documents in private industry. So, did Mrs. Clinton sign such an attestation when left the State Department in 2013?
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, like all departing federal employees, was required to fill out and sign a separation statement affirming that she had turned over all classified and other government documents, including all emails dealing with official business.
Fox News Megyn Kelly reported Wednesday evening on the requirement and that a spokesman for Clinton had not responded to a request for comment, including an explanation of when the former chief U.S. diplomat signed the mandatory separation agreement or, if she didn't, why didn't she.
The Washington Examiner also asked Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill for comment late Wednesday but had received no response from him early Thursday. Clinton did not respond when asked about the issue earlier this week by the Associated Press.
If Mrs. Clinton didn't sign such a separation agreement, why not? I'm sure an FOIA request has already been submitted to retrieve this document, if it exists.
If she did sign such an attestation but failed to turn over her email, then she broke the law and could face serious penalties, including jail time.
Many people find it hard to believe that Hillary Clinton's home-brew email server hosted zero emails containing classified or foreign government information. She was America's top diplomat, and nothing she sent or received was classified?
Mrs. Clinton insisted that she kept classified information out of her email, as the law required. Storing classified information in a personal, nongovernment email account on a private computer server, like the one at Mrs. Clinton's home, would be a violation of secrecy laws.
And relations with other countries are particularly subject to secrecy claims. "Foreign government information" -- information received from another government with the expectation that it will be held in confidence -- is an official category of classified information in secrecy regulations.
A former senior State Department official who served before the Obama administration said that while it was hard to be certain, it seemed unlikely that classified information could be kept out of the more than 30,000 emails that Mrs. Clinton's staff identified as involving government business.
"I would assume that more than 50 percent of what the secretary of state dealt with was classified," said the former official, who would speak only on the condition of anonymity because he did not want to seem ungracious to Mrs. Clinton. "Was every single email of the secretary of state completely unclassified? Maybe, but it's hard to imagine."
She also deleted tens of thousands of emails, at her own discretion.
Mrs. Clinton said she turned over some 30,490 emails to the State Department in December, nearly two years after leaving office. But she said she had deleted nearly 32,000 others
Mrs. Clinton claims that her decision to use a private email server located in her own residence was purely for convenience. In what world can you not check two email accounts from the same device? Couldn't she have used a government mobile device to check her personal email?
"I thought it would be easier to carry just one device for my work and for my personal emails instead of two," she explained. She asked, in effect, that voters trust that she was disclosing more of them than she needed to -- and even to credit her with an unusual degree of transparency.
Paul Mirengoff derides Mrs. Clinton for putting her convenience ahead of national security.
Even if one takes Clinton's explanation at face value, we must conclude that she placed her desire not to carry two devices ahead of Obama administration policy and the security interests of the United States. Whether or not Clinton's email system was breached, Clinton's use of her own server increased the likelihood of such a breach.
It's characteristic of Clinton that she would ignore rules and best practices for her own convenience. Simply put, she thinks she's better than everyone else and thus above the rules.
Dan McLaughlin has the tweet of the day.
(HT: Glenn Reynolds.)
Hillary Clinton is promising a press conference after she attends an event at the United Nations; Ashe Schow has 18 questions worth asking Mrs. Clinton, and they aren't all about her email.
Scotland Yard is advising homeowners to install security cameras in their homes "at eye level" to capture images of burglars and help police catch them using facial recognition technology.
Homeowners should consider fitting CCTV to trap burglars, the country's most senior police officer declared yesterday.
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said police forces needed more crime scene footage to match against their 12million images of suspects and offenders.
And he called on families and businesses to install cameras at eye level - to exploit advances in facial recognition technology.
If you're living in a free country, buy a gun.
Wait But Why blog has a great layman's primer on the potential for artificial super-intelligence and the potential dangers. They're very lengthy, but fun reads.
The New York Times broke the news about Hillary Clinton's secret, private email server that she used "exclusively" while secretary of state, but now the paper is poo-pooing the suggestion that this revelation could affect her chances to win the presidency in 2016.
The actual public response to the controversy is likely to be a combination of apathy and partisanship. Few Americans are paying attention to any aspect of the campaign at this point. Those who do notice will most likely divide largely along partisan lines, with Democrats interpreting her actions more charitably, especially once they see Republicans attacking Mrs. Clinton on the issue.
Any significant political costs are also likely to be fleeting because the revelations came so early in the campaign cycle. It is hard to believe that a lack of transparency in Mrs. Clinton's use of email will have a significant effect on a general election that will be held some 20 months from now. As the political scientist John Sides wrote on Twitter, "In October 2016, no persuadable voter will be thinking about Hillary Clinton's email account." It's equally implausible that this revelation will draw a second top-tier candidate into the race for the Democratic nomination given the advantages Mrs. Clinton retains over possible rivals like Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren.
I'm certainly rooting against Hillary, so maybe I'm biased, but I'm not so sure of Brendan Nyhan's conclusion. Some thoughts:
- Americans understand email. Every email user will cringe if you suggest that their email history might be made publicly available. So they will wonder: why was Hillary hiding her work email? What's on there that she doesn't want anyone to see?
- Hillary apparently fired the ambassador to Kenya in 2012 for using private email and in 2007 attacked Bush administration officials for using private email.
- There's no way to know if everything was turned over to the State Department. Just trust her?
- What if her private email server was hacked, and we just don't know it yet?
- With the Clintons there's a never-ending drip, drip, drip of scandal. "Emailgate" or "Servergate" or whatever this gets called won't be the last.
- It's true that "in October 2016, no persuadable voter" will care about the email... but how many formerly persuadable voters will have turned against Hillary before that point?
Should the punishment for intentionally false accusations match the punishment of the accused crime? (Ugh, that's a hard sentence to frame.) This mind-blowing story about several police officers and prosecutors falsely prosecuting an innocent man for assault is an appalling test case.
But here's my question: Why aren't the seven witnesses to Dendinger's nonexistent assault on Cassard already facing felony charges? Why are all but one of the cops who filed false reports still wearing badges and collecting paychecks? Why aren't the attorneys who filed false reports facing disbarment? Dendinger's prosecutors both filed false reports, then prosecuted Dendinger based on the reports they knew were false. They should be looking for new careers -- after they get out of jail.
If a group of regular citizens had pulled this on someone, they'd all likely be facing criminal conspiracy charges on top of the perjury and other charges. So why aren't these cops and prosecutors?
I could be wrong, but my guess is that they'll all be let off due to "professional courtesy" or some sort of exercise of prosecutorial discretion. And so the people who ought to be held to a higher standard than the rest of us will once again be held to a lower one.
Intentionally false accusations should be punished severely and should never be forgotten by the legal system.
I love this idea -- the federal government is already involved with accrediting colleges, so why not create a National University that accredits courses and offer degrees? There's a plethora of great online courses, but none of the universities who created them are willing to offer online degrees because they don't want to dilute their brands or lose out on tuition money.
That's where the federal government comes in. With some authorizing language from Congress and a small, one-time start-up budget, the U.S. Department of Education could create a nonprofit, bipartisan organization with only two missions: approving courses and granting degrees.
Don't worry, federal bureaucrats won't be in charge of academic matters. Instead, National U. would hire teams of leading scholars to evaluate and approve courses. Some of the decisions shouldn't be difficult. ...
National U. would also map out which courses students need to take to earn an associate or bachelor's degree. This won't be difficult, since existing colleges have already established a standard set of requirements: a certain number of approved lower- and upper-division courses, plus an approved sequence in an academic major, adding up to 60 or 120 credits. Once students complete the credits, National U. will grant them a degree.
While many of the courses will be free, students will bear small costs for taking exams through secure online channels or in-person testing facilities. (Textbooks will be free and open-source). Students will also pay a modest fee of a few hundred dollars for the degree itself, enough to defray the operating costs of National U.
When my six-year-old goes to college I bet it will look a lot different than it does now.
President Obama is "very interested" in raising taxes via executive action.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest confirmed Monday that President Obama is "very interested" in the idea of raising taxes through unitlateral executive action.
"The president certainly has not indicated any reticence in using his executive authority to try and advance an agenda that benefits middle class Americans," Earnest said in response to a question about Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) calling on Obama to raise more than $100 billion in taxes through IRS executive action.
King Obama should learn some history.
(HT: TaxProfBlog, Instapundit.)
Here is why I believe I am a Christian: I believe I have a personal relationship with my Lord and Savior. I believe in the grace offered by the Resurrection. I believe that whatever spiritual rewards I may reap come directly from trying to live the example set by Christ. Whether or not I succeed in living up to that example is primarily between Him and me.
My understanding of Christianity is that it doesn't require me to prove my faith to anyone on this plane of existence. It is about a direct relationship with the divine and freely offered salvation. That's one of the reasons that when my generic "There must be something out there" gut feeling blossomed into a desire for a personal connection to that "something," it was Christianity that I choose to explore. They'll let anyone in.
To be clear, I don't just believe in God. I am a Christian. Decades of mass culture New Ageism has fluffed up "belief in God" into a spiritual buffet, a holy catch-all for those who want to cover all the numbers: Pascal's wager as a roulette wheel and not a coin toss. Me, I'm going all in with Jesus. It's not just that the payoff could be tremendous--it already has been! The only cost is the judgment that comes from others, from telling people that my belief has a specific shape, with its own human legacy of both shame and triumph.
This makes my day! There's almost nothing I like more than reading about people coming to Christ.
James Taranto thoroughly mocks John Kerry and Hillary Clinton for their flip-floppery on their support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq and makes a keen observation:
Meanwhile, look at the list of prospective GOP presidential candidates (based on the polls we cited in yesterday's column): Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul, Rick Perry, Marco Rubio, Scott Walker. Not one of them was in Congress in 2002. That means there is a very strong likelihood the 2016 presidential election will pit a Democrat who voted to authorize the Iraq war against a Republican who didn't. The joke would be perfect if only the Democrat were John Kerry.
Federal investigators managed to find Lois Lerner's "lost emails" in two weeks and are now investigating whether any crimes were committed relating to their "loss".
The watchdog agency found the backed-up emails by consulting with IRS information-technology specialists, according to TIGTA Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Tim Camus.
"They were right where you would expect them to be," he said at the rare late-night hearing, which lasted until about 10 p.m.
IRS Commissioner John Koskinen testified before Congress last year that the backups were no help in recovering Lerner's lost emails, in part because the IRS overwrites them every six months.
Camus said the IRS's technology specialists told investigators that no one from the agency asked for the tapes, raising doubts about whether the agency did its due diligence in trying to locate Lerner's emails, or possibly greater troubles.
"There is potential criminal activity," Camus said.
Come. On. The IRS can't be fixed -- it needs to be completely disbanded and we need a wholly new tax collection agency.
Rudy Giuliani said that he doesn't think President Obama loves America and was immediately vilified for it, but numerous surveys show that liberals themselves claim to be less patriotic than conservatives do.
A Pew Research survey last year found that 46 percent of "steadfast conservatives" believed that the U.S. stands above all other countries; only 11 percent of "solid liberals" believed the same. Seventy-two percent of steadfast conservatives said they often feel proud to be an American; only 40 percent of solid liberals said they do. Gallup headlined its write-up of a 2010 survey
"One in Three Americans 'Extremely Patriotic': Republicans, conservatives, and seniors most likely to say so." According to Gallup, 52 percent of Republicans and 48 percent of conservatives called themselves extremely patriotic; only 20 percent of Democrats and 19 percent of liberals did.
That's not to say that President Obama or any other specific liberal doesn't "love America", but there's definitely a patriotism gap.
The music and movie industries use scummy accounting to rake in huge profits, pay performers almost nothing, and evade taxes. Read both articles if you want to be shocked and appalled. Maybe Congress will crack down on this sort of scam?
If you follow the entertainment business at all, you're probably well aware of "Hollywood accounting," whereby very, very, very few entertainment products are technically "profitable," even as they earn studios millions of dollars. A couple months ago, the Planet Money folks did a great episode explaining how this works in very simple terms. The really, really, really simplified version is that Hollywood sets up a separate corporation for each movie with the intent that this corporation will take on losses. The studio then charges the "film corporation" a huge fee (which creates a large part of the "expense" that leads to the loss). The end result is that the studio still rakes in the cash, but for accounting purposes the film is a money "loser" -- which matters quite a bit for anyone who is supposed to get a cut of any profits.
And who is supposed to get a cut of the profits? Artists, actors, and the tax-man.
Not for the faint of heart, but here's a look into human sacrifice and cannibalism in the Aztec Empire. Unsurprisingly, much of it comes down to geography.
In the Old World, domestication of herbivorous mammals, such as cattle, sheep, and pigs, proceeded apace with that of food plants. By about 7,200 B.C. in the New World, however, ancient hunters had completely eliminated herbivores suitable for domestication from the area anthropologists call Mesoamerica, the region of the future high civilizations of Mexico and Guatemala. Only in the Andean region and southern South America did some camel-related species, especially the llama and the alpaca, manage to survive hunters' onslaughts, and thus could be domesticated later, along with another important local herbivore, the guinea pig. In Mesoamerica, the guinea pig was not available, and the Camelidae species became extinct several thousand years before domesticated food production had to be seriously undertaken. Dogs, such as the Mexican hairless, and wildfowl, such as the turkey, had to be bred for protein. The dog, however, was a far from satisfactory solution because, as a carnivore, it competed with its breeders for animal protein.
It seems that the whole Aztec Empire was organized around cannibalism:
At first glance, this prohibition against commoners eating human flesh casts doubt on cannibalism's potential to mobilize the masses of Aztec society to engage in wars for prisoners. Actually, the prohibition was, if anything, a goad to the lower class to participate in these wars since those who single-handedly took captives several times gained the right to eat human flesh. Successful warriors became members of the Aztec elite and their descendants shared their privileges. Through the reward of flesh-eating rights to the group most in need of them, the Aztec rulers assured themselves an aggressive war machine and were able to motivate the bulk of the population, the poor, to contribute to state and upper-class maintenance through active participation in offensive military operations. Underlying the war machine's victories, and the resultant sacrifices, were the ecological extremities of the Valley of Mexico.
With an understanding of the importance of cannibalism in Aztec culture, and of the ecological reasons for its existence, some of the Aztecs' more distinctive institutions begin to make anthropological sense. For example, the old question of whether the Aztecs' political structure was or was not an "empire" can be reexamined. One part of this problem is that the Aztecs frequently withdrew from conquered territory without establishing administrative centers or garrisons. This "failure" to consolidate conquest in the Old World fashion puzzled Cortés, who asked Moctezuma to explain why he allowed the surrounded Tlaxcalans to maintain their independence. Moctezuma reportedly replied that his people could thus obtain captives for sacrifice. Since the Aztecs did not normally eat people of their own policy, which would have been socially and politically disruptive, they needed nearby "enemy" populations on whom they could prey for captives. This behavior makes sense in terms of Aztec cannibalism: from the Aztec point of view, the Tlaxcalan state was preserved as a stockyard. The Aztecs were unique among the world's states in having a cannibal empire. Understandably, they did not conform to Old World concepts of empire, based on economies with domesticated herbivores providing meat or milk.
Or a young woman, of course! But if you're in your late 30s and you still spend the majority of your time at work writing code you'd better be really good.
They don't prepare you for this in college or admit it in job interviews. The harsh reality is that if you are middle-aged, write computer code for a living, and earn a six-figure salary, you're headed for the unemployment lines. Your market value declines as you age and it becomes harder and harder to get a job.
I know this post will provoke anger, outrage, and denial. But, sadly, this is the way things are in the tech world. It's an "up or out" profession -- like the military. And it's as competitive as professional sports. Engineers need to be prepared.
This is not openly discussed, because employers could be accused of age discrimination. But research, such as that completed by University of California, Berkeley, professors Clair Brown and Greg Linden shows that even those with masters degrees and Ph.Ds have reason to worry.
Basically as you get older you need to diversify your skills beyond coding. As a software engineer in my late 30s, I'm not sure this is "age discrimination" -- you can't keep doing the same work and get 5% raises every year. Sure, you've got a family to support now, but that doesn't entitle you to more pay: you've got to create more value! Integrate your deep experience with software development with some other skills and you'll be golden:
Move up the ladder into management, architecture, or design, and diversify your experience. Work with business executives in your company, in areas such as sales, finance, marketing/product management, legal, and operations. Develop a broader set of skills that make you more valuable to your employer and that differentiate you from others with just coding skills.
It seems like you're on precarious moral ground when you feel compelled to write laws that self-destruct if your opponents win an election. Looks like bad faith and sour grapes on the part of politicians who would take such a path.
The city's new municipal ID program allows for personal info provided by applicants to be destroyed at the end of 2016, in case a conservative Republican wins the White House and demands the data, the law's co-sponsor told The Post on Monday.
City Councilman Carlos Menchaca (D-Brooklyn) said the measure was crafted so data submitted by those seeking the cards can be destroyed on Dec. 31, 2016.
The cards are aimed at undocumented immigrants.
"In case a Tea Party Republican comes into office and says, 'We want all of the data from all of the municipal ID programs in the country,' we're going to take the data," he explained.
Graeme Wood has produced a masterful dissection of how the Islamic State's religious devotion drives its strategy and tactics. It's a long piece, but I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in understanding what ISIS wants and how it views itself in the world.
Here is one small passage that describes how ISIS is forbidden from engaging diplomatically with anyone:
Choudary's colleague Abu Baraa explained that Islamic law permits only temporary peace treaties, lasting no longer than a decade. Similarly, accepting any border is anathema, as stated by the Prophet and echoed in the Islamic State's propaganda videos. If the caliph consents to a longer-term peace or permanent border, he will be in error. Temporary peace treaties are renewable, but may not be applied to all enemies at once: the caliph must wage jihad at least once a year. He may not rest, or he will fall into a state of sin.
One comparison to the Islamic State is the Khmer Rouge, which killed about a third of the population of Cambodia. But the Khmer Rouge occupied Cambodia's seat at the United Nations. "This is not permitted," Abu Baraa said. "To send an ambassador to the UN is to recognize an authority other than God's." This form of diplomacy is shirk, or polytheism, he argued, and would be immediate cause to hereticize and replace Baghdadi. Even to hasten the arrival of a caliphate by democratic means--for example by voting for political candidates who favor a caliphate--is shirk.
There's a lot more, and a lot to think about.


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Baseball fever hits the Suncoast as spring training begins for the Pirates, Orioles & Rays.
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SARASOTA, Fla. -- Regular viewers of ABC 7 have been following the love affair of Sara and Sota, a pair of ospreys that have made their winter home in the ABC 7 Tower Cam. We've been keeping tabs on the birds for months now, but today is the most exciting day of all.
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Friday 10:53 am
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. -- It's been more than a year since Manatee County Sheriff's Office raided the Napier's Log Cabin Horse and Animal Sanctuary and found 300 animals living in deplorable conditions. After a lengthy trial that saw a fair amount of drama, Alan and Sharee Napier were convicted on Feb. 4 of eight counts animal cruelty and scheme to defraud.
Alan Napier
Friday 4:45 am
A storm system will bring showers and a few thunderstorms our way beginning on Friday morning and tapering off by Friday late afternoon. Some of the storms could be strong. There is only a marginal chance that we will see these storms turn severe.
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SARASOTA, Fla -- A dense fog advisory is in effect for the area this morning.
Thursday 4:01 pm
Serve with brown butter and micro melon salad.
Micro Melon Salad
Paul Mattison
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Seared Porterhouse lamb chops, served with apple mint chutney and root vegetables.
Mint Chutney Lamb
Paul Mattison
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This week's Dream 18 hole is #15 on the Meadows course, one of three layouts included in the Meadows Country Club.
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This week's Dream 18 hole is #6 at Kings Gate Golf Club in Port Charlotte.
Friday 9:45 am
A lot of us can use more sleep.
Sleep Deprivation
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Thursday 5:34 pm
Corporate giants Google and Johnson & Johnson's workplace wellness programs are proof-positive of the benefits of healthier, fit employees.
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Johnson Johnson
Thursday 4:53 pm
SARASOTA, Fla. -- Ringling College of Art and Design gets a lot of attention these days for turning out talented digital animation artists that go on to rewarding careers at companies like Disney Pixar, but the art school was founded on a much older premise, shaping and growing the talent of fine art painters and sculptors. While it may not get as much attention, that mission is still happening at the growing campus in Sarasota.
Sarasota County Florida
Ringling College Of Art And Design
Thursday 5:53 am
SARASOTA, Fla -- The 17th annual Sarasota Film Festival has announced its complete film line-up.
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The fine art skill of several Ringling alums are now on display, including work by graduates Julie Miller Kanapaux and Tim Rogerson.
Facebook Inc. is opening Messenger so outside programmers can build features tailored for the service.
Fox plans a six-episode miniseries featuring original stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson.
"The Gunman," rated R, is now playing on the Suncoast.
The musical about the rise of Franki Valli & the Four Seasons grossed well over $1,000,000 at Sarasota's venerated performing arts center.
Harper Lee's literary agent says he was "surprised" that his client was believed a victim of elder abuse and asserted "categorically" that she was in "full
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The "Fashion Police" force is dwindling, with Kathy Griffin following Kelly Osbourne out the door.
Eric Clapton will celebrate his 70th birthday with two shows at Madison Square Garden in May.
A Boston auction house is selling items once owned by Ed Wood, the cult film figure who some critics consider the worst Hollywood movie director of all time.
LONDON (AP) — "Downton Abbey" has welcomed a royal visitor — and the TV show's creator has told the Duchess of Cambridge she's partly responsible for its global success.
ABC and Yahoo announced an expansion Thursday of their working relationship beyond their news divisions to include content from ABC entertainment programming.
The high-wire daredevil will take his show on the road for a summer appearance in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
CEO Tim Cook says the device hitting the market next month allows users to make calls, read full emails, control music, manage Instagram photos and pay for groceries.
Daytime television's most popular personality, "Judge Judy" Sheindlin, has extended her contract and will keep her court in session into 2020.
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Latest posts by Brian of London (see all)
- Confirmed: "Critical Technological Assessment In Israel" Nuclear Report Release Not Blocked By Israel - March 29, 2015
- Sincerest Form Of Flattery Moment: UK Government Copies The IDF's Talpiot Scheme - March 26, 2015
- Muhammad Zoabi Forgave Bibi Habibi In Person - March 24, 2015
- App Of The Day: Via Is Not Just A Road In Rome - March 24, 2015
- App Of The Day: Parking Polly Electrified Me - March 23, 2015
Yesterday both here and in the Times of Israel I posted about a New York Times reporter who took an electric Tesla Model S luxury car on a road trip in the north east United States testing Tesla's newly installed Supercharger fast charge stations. He ran out of power.
Last night the larger than life founder and CEO of Tesla Motors, Elon Musk, fired the first shots in what could become an interesting battle with the New York Times.tweet
That's a pretty big accusation and you'd have to have something to back it up. Well he probably does:tweet tweet
A quick word of explanation about the reference to "Top Gear BS". A few years back, just as Tesla were starting up, the British BBC TV show Top Gear tested their first car: the Tesla Roadster. Whilst the first half of the review praised the car highly, the show then launched into a theatrical portion criticising the long time it would take to re-charge and claiming the car broke during testing.
In what I would say was an ill advised sense of humour failure (and probably bad legal advice in the UK) Tesla sued the BBC for libel and eventually lost. Much more so than the New York Times, most reasonable people in the UK know that Top Gear is a scripted entertainment show with barely any real journalism. UK libel laws were always going to protect the BBC no matter how upset Elon Musk got, or how much money he wasted on Barristers.
Just like my car, Tesla is capable of turning on extensive logging and tracking for each of their cars. Tesla owners have a choice whether to allow this or not (unlike Better Place drivers who have no choice because of the subscription model). So Tesla really do have logged data showing exactly what the New York Times reporter so if he is lying he will be caught.
The New York Times, of course, has already issued a statement standing by their report.
What's interesting, especially for those of us who regularly criticsise the New York Times for it's reporting on Israel, is the wider picture. Did this particular journalist have some pre-conceived ideas or some point to prove. So of course it doesn't come as much of a surprise to find that John Broder has previously written at least one broadly negative piece about electric cars.
Which does lead Elon Musk to ask exactly the same question I asked yesterday. Who was it at Tesla who decided this was a good guy to give a car to for this journey?tweet
I completely agree: full background checks on journalists and a hunt through their prior work for potential conflicts of interest and bias are now necessary. The days of dispassionate journalism have long since faded. What a shame.


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In 2006, the International Astronomical Union changed Pluto's classification from a planet to a dwarf planet because the planet has not cleared its orbit of other objects. When a planet clears its orbit, all other objects on the orbital path are either drawn into the planet's gravitational pull or flung away from it and out of the orbit.Know More
The change in classification came after the discovery of the dwarf planet Eris in 2005. Eris is more massive and Pluto and orbits the sun, so its discovery challenged the notion of a nine-planet solar system. To account for the discovery of Eris and the subsequent discovery of other bodies, the International Astronomical Union created the dwarf planet classification. By definition, Pluto best matches the characteristics of a dwarf planet and was reclassified as one. Pluto could potentially clear its orbit in the future, most likely by colliding with other objects in its orbit and combining with them, which would give it back its planet classification. As of 2014, the other named dwarf planets besides Pluto and Eris are Ceres, Makemake and Haumea. According to NASA, there may be over 100 as-yet undiscovered dwarf planets in the solar system, which covers objects with sufficient mass to achieve a round shape and that orbit the sun.Learn more in Planets
Pluto became a dwarf planet in 2006. Upon being stripped of its title as a planet, Pluto joined two other celestial bodies, called Eris and Ceres, in the category of dwarf planets. The decision to reclassify the former planet was made by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).Full Answer >
Pluto is a dwarf planet in the area of the Kuiper belt, which is an area with many dwarf planets, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The dwarf planet is after Neptune in the planetary alignment, and it is the former ninth planet until reclassification in 2006, clarifies the Space Telescope Science Institute.Full Answer >
As of 2014, Pluto isn't considered a planet because of its size and location in space. In 2003, when an astronomer found an object in space that was beyond Pluto and also larger than Pluto, it caused scientists to reconsider what constitutes a planet.Full Answer >
The planet Pluto is named after Pluto, the god of the underworld in Greek and Roman mythology. The name was suggested by a young girl, Venetia Burney Phair, in 1930 when she heard the news that a new planet had been discovered in the solar system.Full Answer >


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Since accepting the attache from Agent Graves her life was changed forever. Trained to be a Minuteman, she will be a key player. However as a pawn of Graves her true purpose still remains a mystery.
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16.6°in Newcastle
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Hunter Valley residents intend to keep a Community Consultative Committee (CCC) operating even though it has been officially scrapped by the State Government.
The group has consulted with AGL Energy for the past three years on its coal seam methane gas exploration in the Broke and Bulga areas, south of Singleton.
"We were gobsmacked, we just did not understand how such a thing could happen," Broke vineyard owner and committee member, Graeme Gibson said.
"It is really the only line of communication between the community and AGL."
NSW Primary Industries Minister, Steve Whan, said the scrapping of the Bulga Gas Community Consultative Committee is part of a comprehensive review of the committees for exploration projects.
He has given an assurance the AGL committee will be re-established after the review.
However, it will have a membership which is more reflective of the whole region where AGL is currently actively exploring.
The company has exploration licences for an area bounded by Newcastle's outskirts to Scone and Merrriwa.
Despite the Government's decision, Broke and Bulga residents on the committee have voted to continue on and will meet again early next year
"We have resolved by show of hands, the hands of AGL not going up, that we continue with the CCC in its current format, setting our next meeting date of the seventh of February," Mr Gibson said.


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Vancouver Sun reporter Chad Skelton secured data from ICBC that identifies the most dangerous intersections in B.C., but we're interested to hear about any dicey roadways that may have slipped under the radar.
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The biggest sale of the year, on now! Find almost $4 million worth of items such as cars, trips, furniture, gift cards and more at discounts of up to 50% off. Don't miss out as savvy shoppers will move fast to take advantage of these deep discounts. Sale ends Wednesday, April 1, at 9 p.m. Like it? Buy it before its gone. Brought to you by The Vancouver Sun and The Province.


text: It was like a combination of the movie, the Shining, countered by the by Shaun of the Dead. Big, very fresh and new, huge foyer, great english speaking staff. Headed up to our room after quick check-in. For the next three days we hear one other door open and close, and they were loud secure closing doors. It felt like... More


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Boarding • Farrier • Horse Trailers • Horses • Mentor • Mentors • Other • Real Estate • Rider • Roommate • Round Pen • Saddles • Tack • Transportation • Vehicles
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want used horse shoes for art working
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Urgent help needed with grab bar placements
Please help! Contractor needs to know today how I want the grab bars placed.
This will be for a tub/shower, and my husband didn't want long ones, so we bought two 9 inch curved bars at Home Depot last night. We don't want a nursing home look -- another reason for the smaller curved bars.
What is the best way to position these? Contractor said one to the back where you enter, and one to the side where you stand to shower. That sounds reasonable.
BUT, does the curve go up or down, and should I put them at an angle?
Should I return these and get straight ones? So confused. And, I guess with these we won't have anything to help lift oneself out of the tub. We were thinking only in terms of taking a shower. I guess we could add those later if needed.
Thanks so much!
Hi SS,
I just went through this. DH just blocked for the two 24" grab bars that I decided to go with. Ours is just a shower, but at 60 x 34, about the same size as a tub/shower. I researched where to put them and found this research article from the Canadian gov't the most useful.
I then tried to research 'which' bar to go with, and chose this Moen 'designer bar'. Didn't want the curved end ones which to me scream nursing home look. Reviews mention the rubber back which is easy to grab even when wet, something I hadn't even thought of, as I've never used a grab bar, and am putting it in thinking of future needs.
I will be putting a teak shower seat in our shower, so I will be putting one bar at a 45 degree angle to help facilitate getting up and down from the seat, and to steady when standing and using seat to prop foot for shaving, etc. The other one will be placed vertically on end wall where we enter, just because that's where the research said it is most needed.
Here is a link that might be useful: grab bar placement article
I've been told that HD grab bars will not last - better to get them from a plumbing fixture place (Signature Hardware?). Although you could use HD for now - just remember to replace them before they fail.
As far as placement - it relates to how tall you are, among other things. I keep meaning to stop at my PT clinic to finalize this issue for our home...
We don't want the nursing home look either, but remember that there are many finishes that look more normal. I think it's more the finish than the actual shape of the thing...I want something longer than 9 inches to give flexibility for hand placement...
Don't forget a grab rail for the "throne"...are you doing an ADA height toilet? I have serious knee problems, so I am looking forward to our tall potty!
Sorry I'm not able to be more helpful - the grab bar dilemma is one more thing on my list of things for our new house to be resolved in the next month or so.
Ask your husband to put solid blocking behind all the places you could potentially want grab bars. I did that on 2 sides of the shower from hip height to about 5ft. I can decide on grab bars later. I did put these
Here is a link that might be useful: Moen - TP holder grab bar
They have installed the backer board, and the cultured marble is tomorrow. Contractor says they can put them in after the marble install, but I'm wondering if that will be into the studs, or just into the backing board. Since the marble isn't in yet, can we measure where the studs are now, and they can install into studs based on that?
The master hasn't been started, so no problem there, and I have time to get what I want.
Unfortunately, the bath that is being done tomorrow is the one that someday could be more easily remodeled for handicap issues down the road, so I want to do that one right.
Was the backer board screwed in? If so, could it be removed to add blocking? Sounds like a pain, but cheaper now, than having to remove cultured marble, etc. in future.
At the very least, yes mark, and take pictures of exactly where studs are. I wouldn't want grab bars secured only to the backer board. It will limit your grab bar placement to either only vertical , or long enough to hit two studs, and your bar would have to have screws 16" or however far apart your studs are. (Having said that, Moen does have a special secure mount system for installing grab bars/shelves, etc in areas where you don't have a stud, blocking). Just for me, I would feel better having it screwed into a solid wood blocking, but if it's too late to add that now, look at Moen's secure mount, and see if you feel comfortable with that.
Thanks for the info on the Moen Secure Mount. I think we will go with that, installing them after the CM goes in. I will take pictures and measure where the studs are tonight to determine the size to get, and then they can use all that info to try to hit the studs when installing. If not, they will have to use the secure mount install. Thanks so much! This helped a lot.
If he can't attach the bars directly to the wall studs or to solid blocking, the only other practical alternative is something like the Wing-It Anchors.
I ordered the Moen bars from a local plumbing supply (they are less expensive than anywhere else), the same place I got all my shower and towel bar fixtures from. But Home Depot, Amazon, Build.com, lots of places carry this one. You can read reviews of it on Amazon.
I had my carpenter put up blocking around the whole shower wall and around the toilet side and back at the height of center line at 36". The boards were 2x8s or so. These blocks are where ever I could conceivably put a bar. I may never install all of them but the blocking is there. I then took pictures to document the stuff behind the wall covering.
Putting in the blocking is a great way to plan for the future. The bars are a good idea at any age, but I understand not wanting to put all of them in till needed. One at the entry would probably suffice if you are not elderly or handicapped.
I was very impressed with that You Tube Video on the Secure Mount.
I went home yesterday to find they had already sprayed the bathroom walls. I'm not sure if the contractor's stud finder will be able to locate through the marble. If not, we'll just go with the Secure Mount.
I returned the 9 inch curved bars, and am ordering the 24 and 18 inch bars after I see the marble install tonight. I wanted 36 inches for the long wall, but DH wants them shorter.
My contractor said the marble has two corner shelves and one recessed soap/shampoo holder. I imagine that is rather long, so I'm hoping they didn't place that where it will interfere with the longer bar placed at an angle.
Thanks, raehelen...how long have you had your grab bars? I've heard that the ones from HD aren't durable enough to last more than a few years - is that true? I've got serious knee issues, and I use grab bars in public bathrooms all the time. Since I'm only 50 now, the bars need to last a while...:-P
On a side note: I consider grab bars, etc. to be potentially valuable at any age. Maybe I'm just a clutz, but I've had some unexpected sessions with crutches (broken leg,etc). Getting on and off the "throne" while strung out on pain meds has made me very aware of the usefulness of a *few* grab bars in the bathroom...
I actually don't have the grab bars yet ! Am still waiting for my order to arrive. I have serious knee issues too (am awaiting surgery), haven't had to use the grab bars yet, but forsee that I probably will. Even just for preventing falls, accidental slips, etc.
I think that if you bought the Moen designer bar that I have ordered, it would be the same everywhere. You could always check model #'s. I have a Pegasus faucet (made in Italy, and basically HD's house brand) in my guest bath...been there 5 years, and it still looks brand new. I don't think that everything from HD is necessarily lesser quality. I also have a Blanco Rados kitchen faucet that I bought from HD, I assume it is exactly the same as any of the same model bought from somewhere else. Blanco gives it their lifetime warranty.
Yeah. Knee replacements on the way - after we get our new house finished and moved into - might be easier if I'd pop into HD and order them. Perhaps a nice titanium model in light blue? (Sorry. I have a strange sense of humor!)
I don't know. Your moens look nice, but our tile company told me that HD bars won't last. All I'll need after replacement #2 (in a few years) is to have the bar collapse when I'm using it...I keep meaning to stop at my PT clinic for advice about this...
Grab bars, I have Kohler polished stainless. They are nice. I like them and will probably use them again in my current remodel project. They have several models. I will be looking for the modern type this time. In my first remodel I used a grab bar for my towel bar too. It is a little more time consuming to get the towel over the bar as it is closer to the wall than a towel bar. But I know that if I slip in the tub, I will grab anything to stop a fall so I wanted securely attached, reachable safety.
So, I figured as much. Here is a photo showing how they placed the soap, shampoo holder. This totally eliminates the possiblity of a long bar in that area!
So, now I guess we are stuck with at most a 16" bar to the right of the soap holder, and one vertically at the back.
I guess I should have told him about the bars ahead of time.
I much preferred the "white on white" that the other marble company had, but the contractor wouldn't use them. It still looks pretty - but that is NOT white on white. This is beige.
So what do ya'll think? One vertical on the left for enter/exit, and one at an angle to the right of the soap dish? There is a toilet right alongside the tub on the side where the tub fixtures are, so I'm sure people will enter and exit from the rear.
This post was edited by southernstitcher on Wed, Sep 25, 13 at 22:13
Our bathroom designer had blocking installed for a long bar. We put in a 12" designer one that looks like a towel bar. If we need a longer bar in the future, we can do that too. Regarding placement, you need to stand in the place and close your eyes as if under the shower water, then put your hand on the wall where you would want to grab. We split the difference between us because we are different heights. Same deal with getting in and out.
Your installation looks nice. Sorry you didn't get your white on white though.
Here is where I put my bar. It is 18" long and about 24 or 26" above the floor. I don't have a shower in this tub so it works out because it is a good height to grab while sitting. I am posting to show the placement. I thought it might give perspective to your tub. BTW, the bar at the end of the tub is the grab bar I installed for as a towel bar and I use it to steady myself, I've noticed, from time to time.
Good tip from Babka to use your imagination to find best placement for vertical entry bar. I think placing it at the back should work fine.
We put our grabs bars as pictured based on feedback from my MIL's PT.
Actually, the PT suggested angling the long bar for tub use, but as we never use this for a bath we opted for straight. The one at the front is for stepping in and out of the tub.
Ours are also Moen polished stainless grab bars. We were warned that inexpensive grab bars rust and will stain the tile and grout. Be sure to use stainless screws and ensure the screws are countersunk and a dollop of silicone caulk goes over the screws before the decorative plate is installed.


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Mexico Container Sale
William Spratling salad servers made of sterling silver and rosewood, circa 1950. Spratling (1900-67) was an architect, teacher, illustrator, author, and designer who emigrated to Mexico in the late 1920s and is credited with the revival and renaissance of silversmithing in the town of Taxco. Largely due to his efforts, Taxco became known as the center of the Mexican silver industry. Spratling was deeply influenced by the iconography of ancient Mexico, and this was adeptly reflected in his designs in silver.
This piece has been specially selected by the One Kings Lane Vintage & Designer Sales team.


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Mr. Matt Holleran is the Founder and Managing Director at Cloud Apps Management, LLC. Mr. Hollera has been a Guest Lecturer at the Stanford Business and Engineering schools. Mr. Holleran was a Venture Partner at Emergence Capital Partners. He is an expert in freemium and SaaS business models and cloud ecosystems. Mr. Holleran has specific knowledge and a unique network that entrepreneurs use to select and leverage cloud platforms, marketplaces and ecosystems. He advises ...
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Tag Archives: GBPUSD exhange rates
Are you selling a foreign currency to buy the pound? Making plans now could be a wise move…
Sterling has spiked against its peers as UK data shows improvements in the various sectors of the economy, notably the Manufacturing Industry and the Services Sector. Unless you are buying USD with the pound, 2015 has been pretty much plain sailing for anyone buying a foreign currency with the pound. What I wish to focus on are the numbers of clients buying the pound currently. Tomorrow and next week could be some very good opportunities to buy the pound as the Bank of England release some important information. Sterling looks set to rise over the longer term so making some plans soon is probably wise!
EUR to GBP – 2015 has been a rough ride for anyone selling a property or getting paid in the Eurozone. Quantitative Easing and the Greek election have caused the Euro to sink to a 7 year low against the pound and the forecast for Euro sellers is not very rosy. I would be seeking to trade on any dips in your favour. The General Election later in the year may help but in my opinion holding on for so long is a risky move. To learn more about the process of moving funds out of the Eurozone at the best exchange rates please contact me Jonathan on email@example.com
AUD to GBP – The Aussie has weakened to multi year lows against sterling too, principally on the back of the RBA (Reserve Bank of Australia) decision to cut interest rates to stimulate growth. Falling commodity prices have caused the Australian dollar to plummet and we are only a couple of cents off the historic 1 GBP for 2 AUD being reached. With the global economy slowing it would seem reasonable to expect further losses for the AUD as the RBA act to keep the Australian economy growing.
Even if you are holding on expecting rates to majorly improve for buying the pound depending on the currency you are holding it is probably sensible to make some firm plans now. We offer a specialist service to move money internationally at the very best exchange rates. Assisting in the planning and execution of said transfers we have directly helped over 4000 clients to make an informed decision about when to execute their exchange plus countless others who read the site. If you are a regular reader and wish to learn more please email me Jonathan on email@example.com
Tomorrow's Non Farm Payroll could be more important than the rate decisions today!
US ~Non Farm Payroll data is due tomorrow which could be a big market mover as it is the first one since the US stopped their QE programme. Today's meeting with Mario Draghi might also be very interesting and should be a market mover, the least interesting thing is probably the UK's Bank of England decision which is not expected to yield anything new.
How can you make a decision on when is the right time to enter the market if you don't know what is happening? The idea of this blog is to provide information on just where rates are headed and make sure you get the best price when you do decide to enter the market. If you have a transaction that you need to consider why not get in touch with our specialist team to find out more about moving money internationally at the very best rates.
Sterling has done really well this year as the UK economy improves and investors position themselves for the UK to raise interest rates. Next year we would expect the UK elections to move the market, the increased uncertainty surrounding the political situation in the UK is bound to cause ripples on exchange rates.
When considering making a currency exchange understanding what is driving the exchange rate is vital to getting the most from the market. Please contact Jonathan on firstname.lastname@example.com for a quick overview of your position and to learn more about getting the best rates.
Have sterling gains stalled? Three big reasons to think twice…
There is no shortage of the positive things for the pound at present. It is the only major currency genuinely on course to raise interest rates and the British economy is predicted to be one of the fastest growing in the next few months. Unemployment is falling and the economy is growing, the green shoots have for some finally sprouted…
A quick look up ahead however shows that the path to a stronger pound isn't quite as clear as some forecasters seem to believe. There are three key elements to look out for.
– Political Uncertainty –
Usually ahead of an election a currency weakens. The Scottish Referendum in September still has many unanswered questions and it would be foolish to discount late swing votes. Markets can be fearful creatures and if sentiments turn negative the pound may lose value. Next year is the General Election which could provide plenty of opportunities for GBP weakness. Even though the Bank of England is independent from the Government will rising interest rates be an election topic? Already portrayed as the 'mean' party, the Tories may struggle to maintain their economic plan under a new coalition and Labour's economic plans look very anti – business…
There is also the prospect of the UK leaving the EU, again it is the uncertainty these events present which could undermine GBP gains…
- Rising Interest Rates may derail the economy -
Rising Interest rates could do more harm than good! Property prices are principally rising in the South East, mainly London and this is skewing the market. Other areas of the country are actually seeing prices fall or remain stagnant. Rising Interest rates may serve to undermine recovery in the housing market across the housing market making it more difficult for purchasers to get a mortgage and reducing the disposable income (that is spent in the wider economy helping for example Retail sales) those with mortgages have.
Many commentators have pointed out we are in a new 'low interest rate' economy globally. There are drawbacks to this but perhaps the UK needs to be stronger on its feet before interest rates rise.
- A strong pound can be bad for exports and growth prospects -
There have been some of the UK's biggest companies this week highlighting the detrimental effect the strong pound is having on their profits. Rising interest rates may serve to strengthen the pound further making UK manufacturing and service less competitive in the global economy.
All in all the pound is at multi year highs against many currencies. Assuming rates will remain where they are is a foolish assumption and anyone considering moving larger volumes of currency should note the difference even 1 cent can make on a big volume of money.
If you need to buy or sell a foreign currency we can offer assistance understanding the market and getting the best rates on your deals. We are a group of specialist currency brokers writing this blog for your help. Please feel free to contact me Jonathan directly to learn more.
How much higher can sterling go? Important upcoming events for the pound!
Looking ahead is always fraught with difficulties but sometimes it is easier when you know a little more than the average. Just now sterling is at 1.2613 on GBPEUR and 1.7160 on GBPUSD. Other exchange rates are also at multi year highs giving some well deserved relief for anyone transferring money abroad in recent years! I was helping some clients buying property in Europe at 1.10 a few years ago and I remember businesses buying the USD cheering at being able to get 1.50!
Tomorrow we have a very important release for the UK with the latest labour market statistics including the all important Unemployment rate. With Inflation having unexpectedly risen changes in Average earnings will attract slightly more attention, the prospects for GBP strength on the whole seem high.
Thursday is the all important CPI (Consumer Price Index) Inflation data for the Eurozone which will outline just how justified recent ECB (European Central Bank) actions have been in attempting to quell falling inflation or 'disinflation'. Sterling may therefore make some further gains against a battered Euro.
Priced In? – Markets have probably been pricing in the prospect of a) good UK data and b) bad Eurozone data so anything that comes out worse than expected for the UK and better than expected for the Eurozone could trigger sharp corrections. Movements of up to one cent should not be ruled out depending on just what happens. I would personally be shooting for better rates to buy a foreign currency towards the end of the week (from tomorrow) in anticipation of some positive UK Unemployment data cementing and even lifting current levels.
Should you have further to hold on you can wait until next Friday when we get the first estimate of UK GDP (Gross Domestic Product) for the UK for Q2. I would personally not be surprised to see the rates tick higher on this release although arguably the good news is already in the market. As with the two releases above for me the risk is to the downside, markets expect positive numbers for the UK. Anything to the contrary could trigger sterling losses.
For more information on how to approach your transaction plus an award winning exchange rate when you do, please speak to me Jonathan Watson on firstname.lastname@example.com or call 01494 787 478.


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Along with exclusive clips of Mark Steyn, starting at 4 ET!
Joel Pollak's description of the Berkeley mob that stopped a speech by PayPal and Facebook billionaire Peter Thiel on Wednesday unleashed flashbacks. Fourteen years ago at the University of California's flagship campus, a similar mob,...Show More Summary
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Joel Pollak asserts that the Tea Party has a solid record of achievements, including bringing a freshness to American politics by providing a place for those Americans opposed to Obama and the political class in general.
Breitbart News Senior Editor-at-Large Joel Pollak, author of the new ebook 'Wacko Birds,' told Sean Hannity on Monday that not only did the Republican Party need a clear vision for governing, but visionaries who could articulate that vision. Show More Summary
On the day after November's midterm elections, the political world will instantly shift its focus and attention to 2016. And because Hillary Clinton is the clear frontrunner for the Democrats, most of the action--and chatter--will be...Show More Summary
In a book that thoroughly examines the successes and failures of the Tea Party in the age of Obama, Breitbart News Senior Editor-at-Large Joel Pollak's chapter on former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin shows why Palin unmasked the media's...Show More Summary
In an interview with Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin at her Alaska home, Wacko Birds author and Breitbart News Senior Editor-at-Large Joel Pollak said Hillary Clinton will try to be 2016's "Snapchat candidate" because she desperately wants to erase her past. Show More Summary
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin recently invited Breitbart News Senior Editor-at-Large Joel Pollak to her home in Alaska for dinner to discuss his new book, Wacko Birds: The Fall (and Rise) of the Tea Party. In a discussion posted...Show More Summary
Breitbart News senior editor-at-Large Joel B. Pollak visited with former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) at her home in Wasilla. Over dinner -- including Alaskan halibut and salmon caught by the family -- they discussed Joel's forthcoming book, "Wacko Birds: The Fall (and Rise) of the Tea Party." The book is set for release Sep. Show More Summary
As my colleague, senior editor-at-large Joel Pollak pointed out, Friday afternoon, CNN made a huge deal of Israel rejecting a "cease-fire deal" based on CNN's made-up premise that there was some sort of a deal. Pollak writes quite correctly...Show More Summary
State governments enjoy widely varying levels of trust, that's the finding of a new Gallup poll summarized by Breitbart's Joel B. Pollak on April 7. Illinois rests at the bottom of the trust heap with a trust deficit of 42 percent. North Dakota is tops with 56 percent more of its residents trusting state government than distrusting. Show More Summary
Today, the Breitbart News Network announced the launch of Breitbart California, with Senior Editor-at-Large Joel Pollak serving as Editor and Jon Fleishman as Politics Editor. In February, Breitbart News launched similar verticals covering...Show More Summary
In response to When Obama and Biden Betrayed Sharon: Joel Pollak's description of Obama's statement on the death of Sharon - "polite (if generic)" is downright charitable compared to what a few others on the right have said about it....Show More Summary
Breitbart.com Editor-in-Chief Joel Pollak joins Ezra to discuss the idea of a Canada-USE marger. This report aired on The Source October 29 2013....


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Berkshire WordFest
Thu, Sep 19 - Sun, Sep 22, 2013
Times: All Day
Venue: The Mount
2 Plunkett Street, Lenox, MA 01240
0 people saved this
Organized by The Mount, Berkshire WordFest brings together acclaimed writers and passionate readers for talks, readings, conversations, and discovery. Don't miss this festive literary house party! For more information, visit BerkshireWordFest.org.
Introducing #PulseOfBoston, A Virtual Day In Boston
Boston is a special place, for all sorts of reasons. But what's the city...
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My Competition Entries
|is in the "Best Artistic Blingee" competition with 1247 points. Help choose the Winner!
|is in the "Best Vintage Blingee" competition with 883 points. Help choose the Winner!
RedHeadsRule says:33 days ago
Thank you so very much for commenting on my daughter-in-law's blingee, sweet Janet! I know it will make her so happy when she sees it! You are so very kind!
SunMoonStars says:33 days ago
my hubby said we have 3 inches so far. Yall have a curfew? really? wow! The roads are pretty bad here. All the vehicles are packing it down making it slick. We don't have a curfew here in Kossuth. But, lucky my boys are playing in the yard, lol. building a snowman. I went out for a sec and it was just to cold for me to stay out very long, lol.
SunMoonStars says:33 days ago
We got a pretty good bit of snow and still snowing. The boys are out playing in it, lol. How much you get there?
RedHeadsRule says:33 days ago
Hi Janet! Sorry to bother you but this is a blingee my daughter-in-law made for me and she doesn't have many friends to encourage her, so could you just take a second to rate/comment on this blingee? It will mean so much to her, and to me, too! http://bln.gs/b/28e9re Thank you so very much! Glo
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My Gifts (21)
|From: SunMoonStars
|From: SunMoonStars
|From: RedHeadsRule
|From: scorpio39
My Challenge Trophies (1)
|Elvis Presl...


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Power stop
Reviewed By Joey D (CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI) Reviewed for a 2011 Audi A5 —11/10/2014 4:31 AM
300 miles and they're perfect so far. Installation was simple. Great product.
Reviewed By Avi D (BALLWIN, MO) Reviewed for a 2005 Mazda 3 —3/24/2015 12:58 PM
While I'm still in the break-in period for these brakes and rotors, I can already tell that the stopping power is present and strong. I can't wait to see how well these work under more intense braking. This kit deserves 5 stars mainly because they haven't killed me yet, and until they do I will most likely keep buying this brake kit for my Mazda.


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Ranch Motel
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- Suites
- Continental Breakfast
- Free High-Speed Internet
- Wheelchair accessibility
- Kitchenette
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TripAdvisor Reviews Kaibab Camper Village Jacob Lake
Travel Blogs from Olancha
California Coast to the High Sierras
... though. Just maybe 6- 10 scattered dots of light visible from just outside our camper at the edge of the woods. Intrigued by the discovery, we asked a ranger about it the next day. He proclaimed that we must have seen Foxfire (actually he said Firefox, but I did not correct him), because he said they don't have fireflies here in the Pacific coast Redwood forests. I knew that I had not seen a bioluminescent fungus because my eyes are so attuned ...
Death Valley
... bar and coffee house, is just north of the southern intersection of California State Routes 127 and 178. They may be small but they serve a great breakfast!! Just remember if you order a hashbrown it will be the size of an entire dinner plate! From Shoshone we headed into Death Valley Nation Park through the 178, which is the lower west and Amargosa Mountain Range into the valley. Our route through park was basically to traverse it from west to east and heading north through ...
Like a horse running back to the barn!
... just live in the fear. It was interesting to me that when there was no other choice than to just walk ahead in it, in spite of it, it fades back and loses it's power. I thought about Jody, with her fear of heights and how she had to look at that fear in those circumstances and walk on. That's a powerful thought, and actually the definition of courage...being afraid and doing it anyway. Good job Jody!
I woke up early again this morning...about 5:30. ...
Day Seventeen
... could see the valley floor and the road we would continue on for miles. It was breathtaking.
At one point, a military jet flew overhead, and then when we stopped at an overlook, a jet flew right through the canyon we were standing over. It had to turn sideways to get through. Very exciting! Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera to capture this. It reminded me of the scenes in Top Gun.
We arrived at the campground around 2:00 ...
Las Vegas to Lone Pine via Death Valley
... even at 8am, and we had another clear blue sky, all be it interspersed with humongous tall hotel buildings. These I found mesmerising and often dizzy looking up at them. I could also see a haze on the horizon and cloud over the hills in the distance, and a breeze today, causing the palm trees to sway. The weather was changing with cloud moving in. We were lucky to have had the good weather. Dragging ourselves reluctantly from the pool we ...


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One of my favorite and most powerful TED Talks I have seen. Brené Brown TED Talks she did in Houston has some parts are funny, other parts are very moving. Most of all it is life changing.
Share this post and help spread the love!Yevo just launched recently (February 2015) in the US and has plans to Continue Reading
Ever wanted to get toned, become a little bigger and get in the best shape of your life? Of course you will have to workout for this to happen, but what if you don't like going to the a gym or if you don't want to spend a lot on free weights or a weight machine. Is there any hope of getting into the shape you want?
If you want to get toned or bigger muscles you have to have some type of resistance training. Most use free weights for this. You can always go to a gym and use their free weights and weight machines and cardio equipment they have there.
This is a good option for some, but for others this can take too much time out of their day from driving to the gym and then waiting to use the equipment if it is very busy. A gym can be very intimidating for some. So the gym is not a good solution for everyone.
These people could make a home gym. However, the free wieghts and machines do take up a lot of room and they do cost a lot to buy.
So is there a solution for those who do not want to go to the gym or buy all the free weights?
Luckily there is.
If you done P90X or seen Tony Horton on TV you know he loves talk. He sometimes has some great quotes, sometimes they are funny, corny, or things that can help you in any thing in life. Here are some great quotes from Tony Horton.
I am sure you have seen the infomercials for P90X by now. Heck, they are up to P90X3 now seen that infomercial earlier today. I got the original P90X program and have been through it a few times. It has impacted my life in number of ways, especially in fitness.
Ever wondered how you can learn a new skill fast? Here is a hack that will allow you to learn any new skill fast.
Who do you like on YouTube? Or do you just watch funny or interesting videos your friends share on social media or ones you see on other websites? I tend to be more of some one who watches other videos shared on social media. However, there are a few people I subscribe to and enjoy watching their videos when they upload them. One of those is Andre Meadows are better known as his YouTube Channel Black Nerd.
Ever struggle about coming up with new ideas to blog about? I know I do sometimes struggle with this. This can be very debilitating if you are trying to keep a blog up to date. Here are two hacks to help you come up with new ideas for blogging very simple and quick.
With the NFC and AFC Championship games this weekend, what are some of your favorite quotes about football? I remember in high school, our coaches giving us several pages of different quotes from Vince Lombardi and Lou Holtz. Here are a few of my favorite football quotes.


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1. Baseball Between Lies
by Bob Carroll
2. Baseball's Even Greater Insults
by Kevin Nelson
There are no lyrical passages here, no fond reminiscences about childhood games, no tributes to "inspiring" players. Too much real stuff has happened ... More
See All Softcovers
3. Baseball's Biggest Bloopers: The Games That Got Away
by Dan Gutman
Some ball players are remembered for their home runs and great plays--but imagine being famous for blowing the game. Offering play-by-play ... More
See All Softcovers | Hardcovers
5. Branch Rickey's Little Blue Book: Wit and Strategy from Baseball's Last Wise Man
by Branch Rickey, John Monteleone (Editor)
Baseball's only true Renaissance man, Rickey, in his 84 years, was a teacher, lawyer, combat military officer in World War I, professional baseball ... More
See All Softcovers | Hardcovers
6. 100 years of major league baseball : American and National Leagues, 1901-2000
by David Nemec, Saul Wisnia
7. Billyball
by Billy Martin
8. The Autobiography of Baseball: The Inside Story from the Stars Who Played the Game
by Joseph Wallace, Ira Berkow (Foreword by)
Illustrated throughout, "The Autobiography of Baseball" is a book which allows fans to "listen in" as more than 100 Hall of Famers and other greats, ... More
See All Hardcovers
9. The Kid's World Almanac of Baseball
by Thomas G Aylesworth
Authoritative, but loads of fun, this fact-filled compendium about America's national pastime was created especially for kids ages 8 to 14. It covers ... More
See All Softcovers | Hardcovers
10. Bill Mazer's Amazin: 150 Years of Tales and Trivia from Baseball's Earliest Beginnings Down to the Present Day
by Bill Mazer
11. The Baseball Book of Why
by Dan Schlossberg
12. Test Your Baseball Literacy
by Wayne Schmittberger, R Wayne Schmittberger
Even if you're a long-time baseball fan, you may be surprised at how much you don't know about the game. Provides even the most seasoned baseball ... More
See All Softcovers
13. The Sporting News Baseball Trivia Book
by Sporting News, Craig Carter, D.D (Photographer), Joe Hoppel
14. Rain Delays: An Anecdotal History of Baseball Under One Umbrella
by Bert Randolph Sugar
Here is an entire collection of "rain delay" stories, an anecdotal history of baseball that's as fun to read as they were to hear the first time ... More
See All Softcovers | Hardcovers
15. Baseball Confidential
by Bruce Nash, Allan Zullo
The natural follow-up to the authors' Hall of Shame books gives the lowdown on baseball secrets even ardent fans don't know, like the best and ... More
See All Softcovers
16. Orioles Essential: Everything You Need to Know to Be a Real Fan!
by Thom Loverro
A one-stop record containing everything Oriole fans want to know about their favorite baseball team, this resource is packed with anecdotes, history, ... More
See All Hardcovers
17. Everything Baseball
by James Mote
Featuring more than 3,000 entries, this is the first and only book to bring together absolutely every reference to baseball ever recorded in American ... More
See All Softcovers
18. It Ain't Cheating If You Don't Get Caught
by Dan Gutman, Lew Burdette
Since baseball's rules were written, players have found ingenious ways of bending and breaking them. This book gives the baseball fan the folklore ... More
See All Softcovers
19. Baseball's great moments
by Joseph L. Reichler
Recounts over seventy great moments in baseball since World War II including a marathon game, a seventeen-run inning, and a twenty-three game losing ... More
See All Hardcovers
20. 50 Biggest Baseball Myths
by Brandon Toropov
Debunks the myths surrounding baseball, such as Babe Ruth's "called shot" and the year of the first World Series
See All Softcovers
21. Baseball Picture Quiz Book
by Bert Randolph Sugar, John Grafton
More than 200 questions, many with photographic clues, test the reader's knowledge of baseball trivia.
See All Softcovers
22. Baseballistics: The Absolutely, Positively, and Without Question Greatest Book of Baseball Facts, Figures, and Astonishing Lists Ever Co
by Bert Randolph Sugar
It's finally here: the greatest compendium of baseball trivia ever. As well as charting the fascinating achievements (and shortcomings) of individual ... More
See All Softcovers
23. The Great Book of Baseball Knowledge: The Ultimate Test for the Ultimate Fan
by David Nemec
In The Great Book of Baseball Knowledge, David Nemec combines the most compelling features of his many baseball quiz books and his best selling Great ... More
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24. You Be the Umpire!
by Richard Goldstein
Fans will relish the chance to relive baseball's most controversial plays and call them the way they see them in this fun, anecdotal quiz book that ... More
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25. The Ultimate Baseball Trivia Book
by Richard Vicknoy, Herbert A Ruth, Richard L Vickroy


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