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4th February 2013
David Cameron to defend equal marriage policy amid vociferous Tory revolt 16
1:03 PM — David Cameron will reportedly speak out in favour of equal marriage later this evening, ahead of tomorrow's first vote by MPs on the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, according to the Times.
29th January 2013
Tory rebel says same-sex marriage bill could pass Commons with a majority of 400 16
5:45 PM — Conservative MP Philip Davies, who opposes equal marriage, has told a PinkNews reader that he expects the government's Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill for England and Wales to pass with a Commons majority of between 300-400.
23rd January 2013
Comment: The boundaries of tolerance 20
7:03 PM — Don't be fooled by the victim narrative of religious lobby groups, writes Adrian Tippetts for PinkNews. In a society of competing ideas, cultures and aspirations, individual liberty is sacrosanct.
17th January 2013
Vatican criticises pro-gay European Court of Human Rights ruling 56
10:45 AM — The Vatican's foreign minister has criticised a pro-gay ruling from the European Court of Human Rights that affirms employers' right to limit the expression of religious beliefs in the workplace when it conflicts with equality laws.
15th January 2013
UK: Defeat for anti-gay Christians at European Court of Human Rights 87
11:46 AM — Two Christians, who claim that they were fired because they wouldn't work with gay couples, have lost their anti-discrimination case at the European Court of Human Rights.
9th December 2012
Nick Herbert: Legalising same-sex marriage is 'the right thing to do' 13
10:35 AM — The former Police Minister, and current Conservative MP for Arundel and South Downs, Nick Herbert, has written on his support for equal marriage, including religious freedoms, the European Court of Human Rights, and that he thinks it still plays an important role in society.
4th December 2012
Tory MP Richard Bacon's motion to repeal Human Rights Act defeated 30
4:02 PM — MPs have defeated a bid by Conservative MP Richard Bacon to scrap the Human Rights Act, which opponents of equal marriage have argued is a key threat to religious freedom.
29th November 2012
Comment: UKIP and homosexuality – a gay member's view 207
2:08 PM — In a comment piece for PinkNews.co.uk, Nicholas Dancer, a university student and member of UKIP says the party is not a bunch of "fruit cakes and loonies" and that Britain should leave the European Union if it wants to legalise equal marriage.
11th November 2012
UK equalities minister: Gay couples will be banned from suing churches that refuse to marry them 154
10:24 AM — The British equalities minister has confirmed that gay couples are to be prevented from using European human rights laws to demand a church to marry them. Maria Miller, the culture secretary and equalities minister has said that new safeguards would prevent couples from using the European Convention on Human Right's protection for freedom of religion to force a particular church to marry them.
28th October 2012
Northern Ireland Health minister criticised by Greens over gay adoption appeal 15
4:34 PM — Speaking at his party's conference, Northern Ireland Green Party leader Steven Agnew said Edwin Poots was "unfit for office" over his decision to challenge a senior judge's ruling on adoption rights for couples in civil partnerships.
10th October 2012
UK: Serial killer Peter Moore launches new appeal
11:32 AM — Serial killer Peter Moore, who murdered several gay men in 1995, is to appeal his life sentence at the Court of Appeal in London.
2nd October 2012
UK: Muslim anti-gay cleric Abu Hamza in 'poor health' ahead of extradition 34
2:44 PM — Lawyers for Abu Hamza have asked the High Court for an injunction so they can carry out further medical tests on the radical anti-gay cleric.
26th September 2012
UK: Muslim anti-gay cleric Abu Hamza launches new appeal 49
1:48 PM — Abu Hamza has launched a last minute High Court appeal to avoid extradition to the US on terror charges.
25th September 2012
UK: Muslim anti-gay cleric Abu Hamza's US extradition approved 38
11:30 AM — Abu Hamza had previously said AIDS had been sent as a curse on gay people and he also claimed that transgender people were cursed too.
4th September 2012
UK: Anti-gay Christians take their case to the European court 96
1:33 PM — Two Christians, who claim that they were fired because they wouldn't work with gay couples, are appealing to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
13th August 2012
Nick Clegg says churches should not face equal marriage ban 20
5:24 PM — Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is set to open the channels to allow the UK Government's plans for marriage equality to extend to ceremonies in churches and other religious institutions.
1st August 2012
Bid to decriminalise gay acts in Northern Cyprus at European court 11
6:00 PM — The European Court of Human Rights has registered a case to decriminalise homosexuality in Northern Cyprus, the last place in the Council of Europe where being gay is a criminal offence.
20th July 2012
European court to hear life tariff appeal for killer of gay men 41
11:01 AM — European judges will hear an appeal from three British murderers, including one who killed four gay men, that the 'life tariffs' on which they are imprisoned violate their human rights.
14th June 2012
Law Society backs equal marriage, says faiths will not be forced to marry gay couples 108
1:58 PM — The Law Society, which represents solicitors in England and Wales, has lent its support to equal marriage rights for gay couples and called for faiths to be allowed to perform gay weddings if they so choose, saying the European Court of Human Rights has shown it is 'not going to force religious groups to conduct same-sex marriages'.
19th March 2012
French gay couple lose adoption appeal at European Court 58
1:32 PM — The European Court of Human Rights has ruled against a lesbian couple from France who were seeking to jointly adopt a child one of them had conceived.


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AUSTIN-- The Texas Department of Public Safety is offering a cash reward for information leading to the capture of a wanted sex offender.
Alonzo Bradley, Jr., 40, was added to the 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders list for not complying with sex offender registration policies. DPS says he has a violent criminal past, including sexually assaulting a 12-year-old, possessing marijuana and multiple DWIs.
DPS is offering $2,000 for any information about Bradley's whereabouts.
The suspect has ties to Texarkana and southwestern Arkansas. He has previously had jobs dealing with tires and water well supplies.
Bradley is 5'9 and weighs 190 pounds. He has tattoos on both arms. See his Most Wanted bulletin for more information.
If you have a tip callCrime Stoppers at 1-800-252-TIPS. You can also submit a tip here.

subset: commoncrawl


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Jack Spade
Day Bag
- Color:
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Please select an available size.
Please select a size.
Share This Item: Email
Description: Day Bag:
- Lightweight bag with a shoulder strap
- Made of 100 denier canvas
- Features a zippered interior pocket
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- Flap top with Velcro closures
- Water resistant
Material: 100 %denier canvas, nylon
Care: Spot Clean
Brand: Jack Spade


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(And fans :)) Go!
Mommy to Mason- 5/22/13
Eli Joseph 05/06/2013
Finn Wish EDD: 08/20/2014
The metro system in Paris is RER. Makes me feel special to see my initials and arrows pointing to them all over town.
Silas: May 2013
Aggie: May 2015
Anyone else regret their screen name? When I joined bbc I obviously had no idea what I was getting in to, but my initials, how uncreatively square. Though honestly I don't know what I'd pick if I created a new one anyhow.
Silas: May 2013
Aggie: May 2015
How do I change my screen name?


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|Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Hopkins (TXC223) Texas Issued by the National Weather Service
Beverly Haygood, our post mistress, wants to thank all of Brashear for donating over 1,700 pounds of food for their food drive last week. That amount more than doubles what was collected for last year. She said that in hard times you can count on your neighbors. Also want to congratulate Julie Benoist, daughter of Beverly's assistant at the Post Office, Jody Benoist, for being recognized at her school for being good. Way to go!
Would like to express my thanks to all of you who wave and comment on how you enjoy reading about what is going on in Brashear.
Our commissioner, Beth Wisenbaker, called this morning and wanted me to let everyone know that Precinct 1 compound on Highway 19 will be open until Friday, the 24th, at 5:30 p.m. She is extending the date for our county clean up. The rain may have kept some of us from cleaning up. They will accept anything but tires or hazardous materials.
What beautiful weather we are having! Even the rain is welcomed since it is coming a little at a time. Make sure you have a little time to enjoy the weather, flowers or the beautiful sunsets we have been having.


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Food briefs for July 21-27
BICE Seasonal Centric Series: BICE restaurant in the Gaslamp Quarter will launch its second Seasonal Centric Series; the four- to six-course dinners are offered monthly and focus on one ingredient. Go to www.bicesandiego.com or call 619-239-2423.
• Aug. 15: Beans and Pork (five courses); $49 (selections include Pan Seared Potato Gnocchi, Pasta E Fagioli Soup and Thinly Sliced Karabuta Pork Loin)
• Sept. 12: Kings Mushrooms (five courses); $51 (selections include Beef Steak Tartare, Stuffed Ravioli, and Pumpkin Crumble Cake)
Wine-tasting fundraiser: Bourbon Street in University Heights will host its 16th annual Mama's Kitchen Wine Tasting Event from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 18. Attendees will receive wine tastings, hors d'oeuvres and a silent auction, with proceeds going directly to Mama's Kitchen, which provides meals to those affected by HIV/AIDS or cancer. There will also be a wine bottle ring toss, with prizes including wine bottles and more; guests who bring five items to donate to Mama's Kitchen will receive three free rings to toss. Tickets are $55 presale or $65 at the door; go to www.mamaskitchen.org or call 619-233-6262.
Rossi's wine dinner: Rossi's, at 156 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road in San Marcos, will host Rotta Vineyard owner Mike Giubbini for a four-course wine dinner at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 20. Courses include Caesar salad, lasagna, chicken parmigiana and chocolate cake. The dinner is $40; reserve to www.meetup.com/The-San-Marcos-Wine-Meetup-Group/events/23290781/ .Go to www.rossis-pizza.com or call 760-727-4747.
Chula Vista Rotary Wine & Food Festival: The ninth annual Chula Vista Rotary Wine & Food Festival will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 27 at Otay Ranch Town Center. Participating restaurants include Brigantine Seafood, Firehouse American Eatery & Lounge, King's Fish House, Miguel's Cocina, The Brew House at Eastlake, Via Lago Trattoria, and more. Participating breweries include Ballast Point Brewing Co., Karl Strauss Brewing Co., Stone Brewing Co., TailGate Beer and more; participating wineries include Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, La Serenissima Vineyards & Winery, Wiens Family Cellars and more. Tickets are $50; go to www.mcfarlanepromotions.com or call 619-233-5008.
Orfila grape stomp: Orfila Vineyards and Winery in Escondido will host its 18th annual grape stomp from 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 27 (age 21 and up only). The stomp includes a wine tasting reception, hors d'oeuvres, a buffet dinner, and the stomp. Tickets are $85; go to www.orfila.com or call 760-738-6500, ext. 7.
Taste at the Cove: The San Diego Sports Medicine Foundation will hold the 10th annual Taste at the Cove from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Aug. 31 at Scripps Park at La Jolla Cove. The event will feature more than 30 restaurants, hosted bars, a fashion show, auctions and more. Tables of 10 are $3,000; go to www.tasteatthecove.com .
Annual BBQ Fundraiser: The Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department will host its annual barbecue fundraiser Sept. 3. The event will include live music, a firefighters challenge, an auction, drawings, antique fire engine rides, the barbecue and more. Go to www.palomarfire.org .
The Vault: Contemporary Art & Fine Wine: As part of the Art San Diego 2011 Contemporary Art Fair, the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel will host The Vault: Contemporary Art & Fine Wine from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 3. More than 30 wineries will be showcasing their products. Tickets are $35; go to www.artsandiego-fair.com .


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Zak Downtown - Cupid
Artist: Zak Downtown
Producer: Emil and Friends
Album: None (Promo Single)
Avg Rating: 3.9 ( 12 votes )
Still in the Valentine's Day spirit? Good, because Zak Downtown's back in the Booth with a holiday-themed promo single we didn't get around to featuring on Tuesday. On Cupid, Emil and Friends' grinding electronic grooves bang in the back as the Manhattan native expresses his excitement regarding a new woman in his life. While this joint is just a one-off release, those who like what they're hearing should keep their browsers locked you-know-where for all the latest news and tunes from Zak Downtown.
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Written by richard on Feb 15, 2012
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I need help
I love my F800GS. It is now fully farkelized - crash bars, bash plate, Jesse bags, TT tailbag, TT halogens, Garmin Zumo, TT roll chart holder, folding shifter, headlamp guard, TKC80's front and rear, Akro exhaust, all safety wired in the right places,...
The problem. I am riding like a pussy with it. I am afraid to drop it. MY GF has questioned my manhood, and loves to roost on me with her CRF230. She claims her heated grips are now more exciting than me. My riding bros just shake their heads, and mumble "what has happened to the tmex we know and hated for his antics". My best riding bro, BillyD, has threatened to take the bike out in my gravel driveway and just kick it over to be done with it.
I am in love. I can't help it. Arrrggghhh...
That's what you get for buying a bike that will require a second mortgage to fix if you drop it!
But seriously, like all relationships, the new will eventually wear off. The first scratch will come in its own time, and then you will be able to actually start RIDING it!
Just pretend Tammy Faye Baker is following you and is gonna give you a nice big kiss when she catches you.
You may pick up the pace.
I've also been pussified w/ my 800. I really don't think it is meant to haul any ass. It will go anywhere, just not in a hurry. Hate to say it, but I'm pretty much in love w/ the same girl. Too bad she weighs a quarter of a ton. I don't like to show her to my friends because they just laugh at me.
Just remember, even beautiful women like to be ridden and ridden hard.
Likewise, dirt bikes and dualsports like to be ridden, not pampered. I'm convinced that you just have a phobia about putting that first scratch/ding in it. As a result, you ride tense and are just not letting it flow. The near blisters on your hands after our last ride prove that you have been riding with a death grip. That ride was a cake walk that you should have been able to ride with no gloves at all.
Get it up (on the pegs) and worry not. Maybe the F8 is just too smooth and you are loosing your equilibrium without all the normal vibration (which means you should give it to me).
Now that is one funny post/I know exactly how you feel tho.:D
Hey tmex!! break out a katoom and shoot some roost!!! that will wake your buddies up!!!:lol3
Two bike rule! Every ADV rider needs an old 250cc shitter in the shed to just ride like an idiot on. It's a bit like having a wife and a mistress... :huh:huh:huh
I'll get through this.
I dropped mine just before taking this picture.
Had been riding for a couple hours, and the combination of cold, numb feet, and the slippery footing caused a zero-MPH tipover when I went to get off. Broke the right front turnsignal and put a bunch of scratches into the side cover.
Was kind of like :dunno
My VFR's got 78,000 miles and other than a couple scratches from a bungee net, the bodywork looks as clean as the day she came off the line. I know the GS will be down quite a number of times in its lifetime. Honestly, it was kind of a relief to get the first one out of the way like that.
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Latest News See All News »
Radio Ad Returns For EMS Week
The Wisconsin EMS Association has released a radio public service announcement (PSA) to help promote emergency medical services during EMS Week. The 60 second, professionally-produced, commercial calls attention to the dedicated efforts of Wisconsin's emergency responders and ambulance services. WEMSA members and visitors can take a listen to the radio spot by clicking the audio player below. Broadcast audio files are available for download in both professional WAV and MP3 formats by clicking the button below.
WEMSA Member assistance in securing radio play will help show citizens across Wisconsin just how important EMS is to the local community. Help WEMSA spread the word to your location radio stations so they can help support you! Smaller radio stations in rural communities are often more willing to air PSAs due to lower commercial loads. Hometown radio stations who hear from local EMS providers, ambulance services and fire departments are more likely to download and air the radio ads during regular programming. WEMSA members are asked to contact their local radio stations to encourage them to air the spots during the month of May and especially during National EMS Week, May 17-23, 2015 as well as year-round.
WEMSA Member to Throw Out First Pitch at Milwaukee Brewers Game
Are you a Wisconsin EMS Association member? If not, we invite you along with your EMS organization to join today. Individual membership is only $25, or save even more with service membership.
The June 12th Milwaukee Brewers game will feature Wisconsin EMS Days with Gates throwing out the first pitch. During the event, the Milwaukee Brewers Community Foundation will also present a donation to representatives from the Wisconsin EMS Association. Read More »
EMS Week Edition of EMS Professionals Magazine Available Online
It's our largest and most read issue of EMS Professionals magazine each year. The annual EMS Week edition of EMS Professionals has arrived online. While current Wisconsin EMS Association members will receive their magazine in the mail in early May, the complete magazine is available online right now for everyone to view and enjoy.
See EMS Week greetings and messages from dozens of Wisconsin's finest and most engaged EMS partners. Plus, at 64 pages, this issue is packed full of timely information for all EMS providers including an up-close and detailed look at the opiate drug addiction and overdose epidemic sweeping Wisconsin and the Nation. Learn how EMS can play a huge role in this crisis, just as we did when "accidental death and disability were labeled as the neglected disease of modern society." Plus, see how you can keep your life balanced in EMS with the 2016 EMS Cruise. And these features are only the start!
If you have not seen EMS Professionals for a while, it's time to take another look. If you've never picked up or viewed a copy, you're in for a real experience. While the EMS Week issue is available to everyone, all of the other bi-monthly issue are provided exclusively to members of the Wisconsin EMS Association as one of many membership benefits. If you are not a member, or your EMS organization is not one of nearly 370 who currently are, it's time to join. Get all of the details on membership right here.
So, what are you still waiting for? Check out the May-June edition of EMS Professionals right now. The magazine reader supports desktop, tablet and mobile computer screens, plus direct links and clipping ability.


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Latest Posts
12/10/12: WarmlyYours Weekly Remodeling and Radiant Heating News
Here is the latest news from the WarmlyYours Weekly Radiant News for this week! We are your one-stop source for all things radiant and the home remodeling industry!
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Four Ways To Keep The Outside Of Your Home Ice Free This Winter
Now that cold weather is stretching across much of the country, more people are concerning themselves with maintaining safety as snow begins to fall. Ice is a primary concern in many regions where...
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Radiant Pro Selling: 5 Reasons Selling on Price Doesn't Work
Sale pitches are not always easy. In fact, you could say that there is an art to selling . There are salespeople who strongly believe if they sell at a lower price, they will increase their overall number...
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Four Tips For Creating Your Dream Master Bedroom
There's nothing quite like coming home to a warm, comfortable master bedroom, especially after a long day at the office. However, it can be tough to relax and unwind in this space if it doesn't have an...
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please send an e-mail us or call 713-547-8674.
Research/Resources Our printable Houston Food Bank fact sheets are packed with valuable information that are perfect for all of your event, food drive, news or educational needs.
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Celebrate the Year of the Sunflower with beautiful images and fun facts about the yellow beauties.
After studying the correlation between space weather enhancements and thunderstorms in the UK, scientists think they've found a link. Continue reading →
The sun and the Earth like to flip their magnetic fields, but they do it for very different reasons. Neither seem particularly dangerous, however.
Super villains aside, some have proposed blocking out the sun to curb global warming. But the U.N. may say no.
The A-train of satellites monitoring Earth's equator is picking up a caboose.
Today the sun will appear to make its lowest, quickest trek across the sky all year.


text: My Suzuki Hayabusa: [Archive] - Glock Talk Glock Talk > Leisure > Vehicle-Related Clubs > Moto Club > My Suzuki Hayabusa: PDA View Full Version : My Suzuki Hayabusa: MeatGrinder08-10-2004, 20:44http://www.members.cox.net/delma04/b1.jpg fastvfr08-11-2004, 23:19Nice Gixxer! '03, right? I have made a few 'Busa pilots around here regret their bragging, by virtue of a few hop-up mods, the fact that a VFR is a much nimbler machine, and some seriously curvy (and very familiar-to ME! HAH!!) roads! There's no contest in a drag race; but a good pilot on a well-tuned '04 R1 will smoke the average Hayabusa rider in the quarter mile 9 times out of ten. And an even better pilot on a strong CBR600F4 can plain walk away from me in those twisties I mentioned earlier...:cool: Best regards, FastVFR chevrofreak08-13-2004, 00:21The Hayabusa doesnt really sport too quick of a 1/4 time compared to some of the other bikes. Still, its a heck of a comfortable bike with a hell of a lot of grunt. Watch those 120mph wheelies ;g vafish08-13-2004, 15:13Originally posted by chevrofreak The Hayabusa doesnt really sport too quick of a 1/4 time compared to some of the other bikes. Still, its a heck of a comfortable bike with a hell of a lot of grunt. Watch those 120mph wheelies ;g My 97 CBR1100XX could beat a Hyabusa up to about 125 mph, then the Busa walked away from it. It was fun having those toys in a land without speed limits. I took a brand new Busa for a test drive and saw 315 KM/hr on the speedo (The Blackbird would only do 305). Don't know how much error it had. mdglock08-15-2004, 14:12here is my hayabusa. i have a velocity racing turbo kit on it. highly recommended to any busa owners if you want a true 200 mph bike Ralphumor08-15-2004, 19:13I love ALL motorcycles.....I just think that you fellas are crazy..doing 120 and lifting the front end off the ground. I ride a Goldwing...Im glad that we have machines that can do that. Let me ride 1500 miles in a day. vafish08-16-2004, 17:34Originally posted by Ralphumor Let me ride 1500 miles in a day. Let's see 1500 miles/200 miles per hour=7.5 Hours. Yep that would be a nice days ride alright.;g D2508-21-2004, 17:13Nice 'busas fellas. vBulletin® v3.8.7, Copyright ©2000-2015, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.


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Cheetah Girls Go Bollywood
By Bill Keveney
The Cheetah Girls: One World lives up to its title.
The successful Disney Channel franchise traveled to India for its third movie (tonight, 8 ET/PT), mixing the familiar, three singing-dancing friends, with what many viewers will find exotic: dance, music and clothing emblematic of India's Bollywood film industry.
One World, which comes five years after the first Cheetah film, opens with the three recording hopefuls — Chanel (Adrienne Bailon), Dorinda (Sabrina Bryan) and Aqua (Kiely Williams) — hitting young adulthood and contemplating separate pursuits. (The fourth member, Galleria, is off to classes at Cambridge, an explanation for the absence of Raven-Symone, who was in the first two films.)
The three change plans when they're cast in an Indian musical, only to find one role when they arrive.
The actresses, who spent two months in the cities of Mumbai and Udaipur, had to pick up different dance moves and music tempos, learning how various movements symbolized the stars, the moon and other elements, Bailon says.
"It was difficult for us in the sense that it was different. We're so used to one style of dance. (But) we were really enthusiastic about learning it," she says. "I think our movie will open some eyes to a whole new culture."
One song, Dance Me If You Can, begins as a challenge between performance styles, which come together as the song concludes. "It was really cool the way we blended our sound, which is pop, hip-hop, with Indian sounds. It started out like two different songs and it (ends) like one complete song," Williams says. "Fans will be able to do it the Cheetah Girls way and the Indian way."
Filming in India provided scenes of "breathtaking" beauty, Bailon says, and a full-on Bollywood experience for the actresses, including a song, One World, the singers performed in Indian dress on top of an elephant. "Riding an elephant was so fun (but) scary at times because we had a huge elephant, and when she walks it's not the sturdiest thing to be on top of," Bryan says.
The Cheetah presence will make Bollywood elements less intimidating to core viewers (ages 6-14) who are unfamiliar with the genre, says Gary Marsh, entertainment president of Disney Channels Worldwide. "There's a connection our audience has to Western elements. Using that connection, we can introduce Eastern cultural elements."
And on a business level, the foreign setting and multicultural cast should play well on a network available in more than 100 countries, including India, Marsh says.
The first two films were big draws; they attracted 6.5 million and 7.8 million viewers, respectively. Marsh says audience response will help determine whether there is a fourth. The three stars are gung-ho about another film, even as they venture into solo projects.
"We've got a wish list of places to go," Williams says. "Japan, South America, 'Cheetah Girls Down Under.' We can pretty much go anywhere."
**** World, Critic's Corner, 14B (c) Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc. <>>


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News from WTOP
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Mike Causey
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Shows & Panels
- Agency of the Month
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- Reducing Risk in the Cloud
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Shows & Panels
- AFCEA Answers
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- Ask the CIO
- The Business Case for Cloud Computing in Government
- Cloud-Driven Data Insights in Government
- Connecting the Dots: Digital Authentication in Government
- Cybersecurity Game Changer: Real-Time Event Processing in Government
- Data-Centric Approaches to Government in the Cloud
- Delivering the Digital Government Mission
- Federal Executive Forum
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- Federal Tech Talk
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- Industrialized, Interoperable and Insight-driven Federal Health Panel
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- Reducing Risk in the Cloud
- Security in the Age of Targeted Attacks
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- Transforming Business Operations at the Defense Department
AP IMPACT: Deficient levees found across America
Thursday - 1/17/2013, 2:34pm EST
By JOHN FLESHER and CAIN BURDEAU
Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Inspectors taking the first-ever inventory of flood control systems overseen by the federal government have found hundreds of structures at risk of failing and endangering people and property in 37 states.
Levees deemed in unacceptable condition span the breadth of America. They are in every region, in cities and towns big and small: Washington, D.C., and Sacramento Calif., Cleveland and Dallas, Augusta, Ga., and Brookport, Ill.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has yet to issue ratings for a little more than 40 percent of the 2,487 structures, which protect about 10 million people. Of those it has rated, however, 326 levees covering more than 2,000 miles were found in urgent need of repair.
The problems are myriad: earthen walls weakened by trees, shrubs and burrowing animal holes; houses built dangerously close to or even on top of levees; decayed pipes and pumping stations.
The Associated Press requested, under the Freedom of Information Act, details on why certain levees were judged unacceptable and how many people would be affected in a flood. The Corps declined on grounds that such information could heighten risks of terrorism and sabotage.
The AP found specifics about the condition of some levees from federal and state records and in interviews with more than a dozen officials in cities and towns. The number of people who might be affected by a breach could not be determined because there are many different factors in a flood, such as terrain and obstacles.
The severity of the risk from any particular levee depends not only on its condition but also the population, infrastructure and property it protects. The Corps is currently conducting risk assessments of levees under its jurisdiction.
Local governments are responsible for upgrading unacceptable levees. Some local officials say that the Corps is exaggerating the dangers, that some deficiencies were approved or not objected to by the federal government and that any repairs could cost them hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars.
"It's just not right to tell a little town like this to spend millions of dollars that we can't raise," said Judy Askew, mayor of Brookport, a hardscrabble town of about 1,000 on the banks of the Ohio River.
Compared with other types of infrastructure, the nation's levees, within and outside federal jurisdiction, don't fare well. They earned a D-minus for overall condition from the American Society of Civil Engineers in its latest report card in 2009, ranking behind dams, bridges, rails and eight other categories.
The condition of flood control systems came into dramatic focus in August 2005 when Hurricane Katrina's rain and storm surge toppled levees in New Orleans and tore up the Gulf Coast. It left 1,800 people dead and was the costliest storm in U.S. history with damage estimated at $108 billion.
Afterward, Congress told the Corps to catalog federally overseen levees, many of which it built and handed over to municipalities to run and maintain. The Corps has spent more than $140 million on inspections and developing the inventory, which is posted online.
As of Jan. 10, the agency had published ratings for 1,451, or 58 percent, of the levees. Of those, 326 were unacceptable, 1,004 were minimally acceptable with deficiencies that need correcting, and 121 were acceptable.
In the AP's examination, among the most widespread issues were:
_ Design or construction flaws.
Some levees had inadequate "freeboard" _ extra height to prevent overflow, which can weaken the landward slope of the levee. For example, the Corps found there was not enough height in a levee along a 20-mile stretch of Mississippi's Yazoo River system, which came close to being overtopped in 2011 during historic flooding of the Mississippi River valley.
_ Inadequate or crumbling infrastructure.
Many pipes built into levees to drain storm water were made of metal that has rusted. And pumping systems are giving out. In Brookport, inspectors found inoperable pumps and deteriorating pipes in its 6-mile-long earthen levee. Their report said a gaping hole just outside town has put the structure in "critical condition."
_ Failure to control vegetation and invasive animals.
Corps specifications require that levee slopes be kept clear of plants and burrowing critters such as ground squirrels and gophers. The tunnels could weaken the walls by providing pathways for water. Thick vegetation also can conceal cracks, holes and unstable slopes. A 2010 Corps report found parts of a 2.2-mile-long Mississippi River levee in South St. Paul, Minn., dotted with trees, brush, weeds and tree stumps.


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Upon his return to London, Bailey was met at the airport by three newly hired Desmond bodyguards. They drove him straight to Desmond's home, which Bailey said was guarded "like Ft. Knox." The bodyguards quizzed Bailey about the assault, but Desmond expressed little concern for his aide. The press lord told him: "You don't look so bad. Bailey, you look all right." An outraged Bailey leaped at Desmond, pinning him against a refrigerator before being hauled off by the bodyguards. "Don't be naughty," they told him.
"Don't worry, Bailey," Desmond allegedly said. "We got a legit business here. I'm not paying [Chanes's company] a penny back. He can whistle for it. Stop crying, Bailey."
That was the last time Desmond ever spoke to him, according to Bailey, who quit the company a few weeks later. Bailey never spoke publicly about the incident, but the story leaked out, and over the years, every time Desmond has made newssuch as when he purchased the Express in 2000the press has hounded Bailey to talk, though he has always declined. For his part, Desmond has always dismissed the episode as "pure fantasy." Spokesmen for the press baron have also denied that he ever met Martino, and maintain that he has "never directly, or knowingly, engaged in any business with people associated with organized crime."
John Evans, a Penthouse executive, later visited Desmond in London and asked him about it. "I think he made it up, John," Desmond told him. Evans thought that was a strange opinion, since he'd seen the injured Bailey with his own eyes. "If he made it up," he told the publisher, "he was brilliant."
Guccione, now ailing and broke, lives largely in seclusion in a portion of his 45-room townhouse which has since been sold. His wife, Kathy Keeton, died in 1997. When the FBI asked Guccione about Bailey recently he said he only vaguely remembered an incident in which one of Desmond's people, possibly Bailey, had been "beaten up." A lot of people came and went in the house in 1992, he said, and he wasn't sure if Bailey had stayed there. It "was possible," he said.
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New Nests for a Rare Bird Found in Wildlife Area
DELRAY BEACH — U.S. Fish & Wildlife biologists have found nests and recently hatched birds of the endangered Everglade snail kite in a small wetland in the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.
These are the first nests seen in the area since 1998. The rare raptor was added to the endangered species list when it was created about 40 years ago. If current trends continue, they could be near extinction in another 40 years, officials said.
"Every nest, every bird that is produced right now is absolutely critical to keeping their population sustained through time," said Wylie Kitchens, who leads a team of researchers that tracks snail kite populations in Florida over the long term.
Last year, they predicted that about 1,200 snail kites were in Florida. This year, the population may be somewhere around 700 to 800 birds.
In total, 12 adult snail kites and four nests were found, one nest with three hatchlings and one nest with three eggs. The birds are in a 32-acre wetland near the southwest entrance of the refuge but far from their typical nesting grounds in the more than 100,000 acres of the park's interior. Water levels can be controlled in the area, which is surrounded by levees, and create optimal nesting grounds.
"The good news is some of them are finding opportunities. The bad news is there's not opportunity in the traditional nesting sites," Kitchens said. "There haven't been any birds to speak of coming out of the water conservation areas. That spells real trouble."
The hatchlings, which are about a week old, are visible to the public from the top of a levee. Refuge officials suggest visitors bring binoculars. The other three eggs should hatch soon, said Cindy Fury, the refuge's senior biologist.
Florida's snail kite population has been "backed into a corner" by a variety of influences, said Brian Reichert, a graduate student involved in the project.
Key among the bird's challenges are recent droughts and water management efforts. Erratic water levels hamper a delicate and necessary balance and threaten their main source of food, the apple snail.
"The highs have been too high and the lows have been too low in one year so you have these drastic water changes that essentially affect the snails and decrease the food for snail kites," Reichert said.
Runoff from agriculture andencroachment from development also could be factors. Kitchens said he is unsure how big a role global warming plays in the equation today but expects it to exacerbate erratic weather and water levels in the future.
The bird's best chance, he said, is the Everglades Restoration Plan which would restore free-flowing rivers and more natural water cycles.
"The hope is that the restoration initiative will iron some of this out," he said. "The concern is whether that will happen in time."
Khari Johnson can be reached at or 561-243-6690.