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Jankowski was absent. Zwolak asked to remove number 8 because the resolution was passed previously. Tertzag misunderstood Zwolak's intent when he sent a copy of the resolution requiring recording of the council meetings.
Gordon wished Joanne Meyers condolences on the loss of her husband. Zwolak said he was a leader in the KofC, was in Alhambra, and a member of retiree groups. Zwolak thanked Kendzierski for doing an exception job on the election with a small staff. We reached a record in absentee ballots this year. Algazali wished everyone a a Happy Thanksgiving and welcomed people in the gallery in Arabic. Miah congratulated the Detroit Cheetahs cricket club for winning their league title. Zwolak said the library recognition dinner would be on Thursday at PNA at 6:30.
Public comment
Garbarino introduced three chaplains, Reverends Buttry, Swint and Bogdan. They are looking to expand the program. The chaplains were sworn in last week. We have 5 new reserves, and also a K9 dog unit, UDAA.
Charlene Mitchell of Corinthian Baptist sent a letter in writing. They are celebrating their 95th year. They asked to rename a section of Caniff after Reverend Jordan. She will come back with more congregants to follow up.
Zwolak asked if it would be an honorary name change. Mitchell confirmed that was the idea.
Ahmed Jordan(?) said the neighbors want Green Power Technology added to the next council agenda so they can talk about it. The company would be located at the former Missant. They are concerned about benefits and harm and want more information about what the company is. The company has been dealing with the city a long time. They want to know what type of trash will be processed. They are concerned about traffic safety and the health of children, property values, and smell.
Majewski said there is a process the company has to follow, and it would not be proper to put it on the agenda. She asked Friedmann to give a quick overview of the project. There will be plenty of opportunity for public comment.
Ahmed wanted to know what council can do for them, not the company. He still wanted to have it put on the agenda for public discussion. He attended a zoning board meeting, and hundreds of people attended, but that was only about zoning. He wanted to know if council wants a company here recycling trash.
Majewski said they need the company to be represented, too, so they can answer questions.
Algazali repeated that there is a process and it isn't on the agenda. He said they have no clue what's going on and need to see what is happening.
Gordon said it is a zoning issue, but council can't override what zoning decides. Hassan said there are things council can do.
Ahmed said there are community members who worked at Missant and it is a brownfield. The zoning ordinance lists waste processing an an unallowable use in the industrial area.
Friedmann said this is the beginning of a long process. The zoning meeting was only about parking. The building will be 250,000 ft on 20 acres. Less parking is good for the city and stormwater system. The decision of locating comes before the council for site plan review and the hosting agreement. It will cover hours of operation, truck routes, and benefit to the city in tonnage fees. Twice as many people were sent notices for the zoning meeting as required to bring the community into the process. Parking will be cnosidered by the zoning board again in December. One of the things that will happen before then is a formal memo will be sent to the zoning board by the city attorney explaining the use. The ordinance is vague in some ways, and this is the type of thing that would be allowed in an industrial zone. The city doesn't have chemical engineers on staff, so the state and county will be part of the process. The Wayne County Solid Waste Plan will involve the public and look at the host agreement. That is normally where the community would find out about the development. The host agreement will be before city council in early December, and then the formal review by the county will start. They know it is a sensitive issue, and there were problems with a waste incinerator in the neighborhood before. It will be a recycling center that takes all the valuable items out of solid waste from Hamtramck and other cities they contract with. The doors will never be open, and dumping will never happen outside. It will be regulated by the state, city, and county. Organic materials will be steamed to break them down. There will be no emissions from the building. It will not smell in the neighborhood. The owner of the company has a FAQ on the internet. They are working on a brochure that will be translated into 3 languages. The firm wants to involve the community and will be looking for up to 150 employees, as many from Hamtramck as possible. They will pay about $1.2 million dollars to the city in the first year.
Majewski confirmed with Friedmann that the ZBA meeting will only be about parking. The ZBA has no power to vote down the project.
Algazali said they have to send notices and wanted to know if there would be dead bodies or animals taken in there. Friedmann repeated that they will handle municipal solid waste.
Hassan said that council can vote down the plan and stop it. If they do research and find that it is bad for the residents and the environment, they will not approve it.
Bashid Obed(?) said that he talked to Friedmann a month ago. He said he would take their phone numbers and give them to the owner, but no one called. They are concerned and want to know what the advantages are. If they are not given information from the beginning, they think something is being hidden. The company will be doing processing. If it is recycling it is okay, but processing should not be allowed.
Majewski gave him the card of the business owner.
Miah suggested a town hall meeting before sending a flier out with information. Friedmann said he will do that. The company will only give their best side, but we have to count on the state and county regulations.
Public hearing on pawn shops – no one spoke.
Pawn shop: Majewski asked if this is the second reading. Krot explained that it was discussed before and questions were answered. Kendzierski said it was not published before.
Krot said there are two ordinances: one for pawn and resale shops and one for precious metals and gems. Zwolak said the agenda did not list the two ordinances. Majewski said the second item was not on the agenda at all. Allen said they should have first readings for both ordinances at the next meeting. Tertzag said they could amend the agenda. Allen said he preferred to handle them at the same time.
Zwolak moved to suspend the rules to add the metals ordinance to the agenda. Gordon said that council can't add to the agenda at the last minute. Tertzag made the request himself. Council voted to approve the recommendation.
Gordon said this is the best ordinance yet. She suggested council decide the fees before passing the ordinance.
Krot said it applies to all resellers except those who deal only in clothes. Garbarino said the fee for resellers should be just as high as pawn shops. The business license on a pawn shop is $560.
Majewski asked why it says they have to be closed on Sunday. Garbarino said state law prohibits pawn shops from being open on Sunday, but days for resale are at their discretion. Majewski thought it was silly for record stores and antique shops to be closed on Sunday.
Zwolak asked why they were restricting the number of pawn shops in the city to 4. Garbarino said it seemed to be the will of council. The first reading was approved unanimously.
(I saw no evidence that the metal ordinance was considered, and no public hearings were mentioned.)
Consent agenda passed unanimously
New business
Fund warrant list: Zwolak asked about $2724 spent on a trip for Jankowski. Zwolak wanted Freidmann to give an update on the bike path because bicycle planning was one of the conferences Jankowski attended. Majewski said Zwolak's request was out of order.
Zwolak asked about a $57,000 upgrade to lights on Caniff. Shaya said that is our share of the cost and is part of a payment plan. The lights use detectors to time the lights based on traffic. Miah asked if that is the only payment. Shaya said the whole project cost about $400,000, and we had to pay 10%.
Gordon asked why library charges were charged to the general fund. Tertzag said it was correct. Gordon said the library fund approves all their purchases and payments, and it shouldn't be in council's packet. Tertzag said he would take it out.
Miah asked about a charge for dumpsters for $2600. Shaya said they cost $350 each and were for clean-ups that the DPW has been doing. Miah wanted more information about dumpsters.
Zwolak said eviction dumpsters are on their fund warrant list. Shaya said the court requests the dumpster, and the dumpsters are paid for by title insurance and landlords. The city charges 50% more than the cost of the dumpster for administration. Zwolak asked how the court is involved in the dumpsters. Shaya said it is added to the tax rolls if the property owner doesn't pay.
Algazali asked if the dumpsters are issued permits. Shaya said they don't charge for permits because Rizzo is a city contractor. Miah asked what the dumpsters were for. Shaya said they could have been for the festival, but he will bring more information to the next meeting.
Gordon said they budgeted an extra $100,000 for clean-ups on top of Rizzo's fees, and the charges for dumpsters should be to the sanitation budget. Zwolak voted against it but the warrants passed.
Alarms: Garbarino said there was never a fine set for false alarms. Gordon said they want to charge $100 to register an alarm. Garbarino said there are different charges for residential and commercial.
Gordon asked about Knox boxes. Wilk explained that they are boxes on the exterior of buildings with keys to the doors for the fire department to use. If the alarm goes off falsely, they can enter without breaking the door. All new businesses that have an alarm are required to have a box.
Zwolak asked if it includes Hamtramck Housing. Garbarino said the fines would be charged.
Miah wanted to know why alarms have to be registered every year. Garbarino said that contact information changes and people move, but council can change it if they like. He eventually hopes to have online registration.
Miah asked what a false alarm is. Garbarino said that if the police respond and aren't needed, the alarm is false. Miah said his wife left a pot on the stove and set off the alarm. Garbarino said they get one response free. Wilk said he would not consider that a false alarm because that is what a fire alarm is for. Garbarino said they have discretion when charging and the ordinance is meant to deal with repeated problems. The ordinance doesn't fine anyone unless they have 3 false alarms in a year. Tertzag said it is meant as an incentive to owners to fix malfunctioning alarms.
Majewski read that registration is $25 for residential and $100 for businesses. On the third false alarm, the fine is $50 or $100, the 4th time costs $100 or $200, and five or more false alarms cost $150 or $250. The ordinance passed unanimously for a first reading.
Cost recovery: The company presented does billing for police departments. Charging for police services is a newer concept. There is an ordinance on the books that they are beginning to enforce, especially for at-fault accidents. The police department doesn't do billing, and Garbarino hopes to have a professional company handle it, same as the fire department does. The company will look at our actual costs based on charts and analysis and try to bill for the service rendered plus their fee. It is only for auto accidents at this time. We could bill for something else if there is cost and a party is at fault. A clerk has been sending bills for 2 months, and they have had modest success in collecting payments. Miah asked how much the billing company's fee is. Gordon read it would be 29%. Garbarino said services can be pricey if an accident takes hours to mop up.
Zwolak asked for representation from the company to attend the meeting. Garbarino said they are in Ohio, but he could ask them to come if council wishes. There are other cities in Michigan using the same service. Zwolak said the police will have to itemize reports for the billing, and it will burden the officers. Garbarino said the traffic clerk would be responsible and hiring the company would be less work than it is now. Officers may fill out a 30-second form in the future, and that is a minor task. The billing service was suggested to him by Waterford. Zwolak wanted to postpone it for a presentation by the company, seconded by Algazali. All voted to postpone.
Controller: Gordon said Tertzag wanted to hire a controller as required by the charter. We pay Plante and Moran $11,250 per month, and they are not at the council meeting. They don't have background or history of the city. Tertzag supported the resolution and said HR will have it posted. He still intends to have a stack of resumes ready for the new manager in January.
Majewski said Plante and Moran have been our auditor. Tertzag said Alan C Young is the auditor, but Plante and Moran has been working in the city since 2001. All voted in favor.
Assessing: Gordon said the reassessment is required by the state and hasn't been done in over a decade; Tertzag stopped Fuoco in midstream after Nazarko hired him to do it. Tertzag replied that he found out in August that the work was awarded without bids. Fuoco does a good job, but there is no way it will be done at the end of the year, and even when it is completed, it won't take effect until the next year. Tertzag thought it wasn't a high priority and can be handled by the new manager after the holiday. The reassessment will take the majority of next year to complete.
Gordon wanted to award the contract, letting Tertzag postpone the work if he wishes. Council has the right to waive the bids, and she just wants to assure Fuoco that he will get this work and not put it through the bid process. Algazali wanted to have bidding.
Miah asked how soon they have to start to have it done next year. Fuoco said this process is long overdue. There are build sheets for every property, and the reassessment is to verify the accuracy of the build sheet. The state calls it a 14-point review. We have a "dot net" appraisal system that we are not utilizing because the data is not there. The result would be accessible to the public, appraisers, and real estate professionals. It will help the city better defend the assessments on appeals because the computer will help them compare properties. The field work is intensive, as is the data entry. There are also land maps and studies required. He is still doing field sheets by hand with an old assessors manual. Everything will be more current because we have to switch all at once. We are using a manual based on 1950 costs and are factoring the costs year to year to make them current. The state believes we are magnifying our problems. It will take at least a year to complete the process. Everything has to be done by December 31 to put it on the next year, and it could be completed by next December.
Fuoco said it has to be done to make the assessing more accurate. He can't say if there will be a gain or loss in tax revenue, but we have to have more accurate data. The county lost some field sheets when they did our assessing. Someone needs to do it right, regardless of who does it.
Miah asked what would be looked at. Fuoco said they would verify square footage, and they may ask questions about the interior of the resident. They will be looking at the number of units per building. All of the assessments will also be recalculated using the new manual.
Zwolak asked if we are the last city to digitize the information. Fuoco said we pretty much are last. Zwolak said we have to look at number of meters, satellite dishes, and tenants in the attic. We have been building and tearing down homes, and people are constantly rebuilding their houses.
Tertzag recommended holding off on this and called it "rolling the dice". Gordon argued that the property owners deserve reassessment. Fuoco said that if a city is found to be substantially non-compliant, the city manager will be required to meet with the state tax commission, and they may take over our assessing, which would be costly. Majewski said that was the last thing we need to worry about from Lansing. Hassan said we know the property values will go down, and we can wait because the state isn't forcing us.
Fuoco said in 2014 assessments, we would be looking at sales that happen this year. A housing rebound is debatable, but if there are more mortgages available, the market could go up. He doesn't know how the data would compare. It will cost $75,000 to reassess next year, as opposed to $72,000 this year. Gordon and Zwolak voted for it, but the resolution failed.
Treasurer: Gordon thought the council reinstated the treasurer. Tertzag said the treasurer is in place, and he is negotiating with Wilk on working full time. IT contracts should be ready for the next council meeting. Zwolak reiterated that the treasurer is the chief collections officer of the city. Gordon asked who is doing to tasks manadated for the treasurer by the charter. Tertzag said Wilk is doing many things, but he is not doing the collections.
Zwolak reminded council that Wilk was elected treasurer a decade ago before the city manager form of government. Crawford established the finance director, and we no longer have that position.
Hassan said Wilk volunteered to work without pay and was not there looking for money. The department will be restructured soon. Algazali said the resolution was to compensate Wilk. Tertzag said he would have to bring the compensation and contract back to council for their approval. Gordon and Zwolak voted for it, but the resolution failed.
Video repair: Algazali said we have budget problems. Gordon said the money would come from the building fund. Council approved $11,000 for Plante and Moran every month. Miah said this action was passed a long time ago, but revolving doors in the clerk and manager's offices prevented it from happening. This needs to be done so we have records and can broadcast to people in the community on other days.
Tertzag asked if it was approved before. Algazali insisted that he voted against this before. He asked if they contacted Comcast. Gordon said they did, and there was nothing they could do. Tertzag spoke to Ellentuck about getting the correct equipment. Zwolak said the cable viewers pay the city, and Comcast no longer pays for the equipment due to changes in the law. He said Comcast has to come in to consult and look at the equipment. We do not have duplicating equipment like we had before. The sound comes in and out on the broadcasts.
Gordon tried to get the equipment fixed before with Comcast. The problem is not Comcast. We have to coordinate equipment with the settings at Comcast. Norris researched it multiple times. We need equipment first. Miah suggested Tertzag look at equipment. The resolution passed unanimously.
Documents: Zwolak said the city clerk is the custodian of all city documents, and Tertzag suggested in his report that he would like to secure documents and make digital copies for back-up. There is a room on the second floor that can be used for record keeping.
Miah asked where our documents are. Zwolak said Allen had to chase papers through 4 attorneys for a legal case, and according to the charter, they are supposed to be in the clerk's office.
Gordon asked if Allen has copies of all the contracts. He doesn't. The clerk is supposed to have them.
Allen said the nature of the documents he keeps are e-mails, and they don't have a server big enough for all his files. He won't leave legal files where he can't access and control them, and there is a state bar requirement that he return all city papers if he is no longer working here. It costs him in off-site storage. The problem with prior attorneys is that they did not transition their files. This was a problem in two cases. He called the discussion "innane" and "stupid".
Majewski asked if no outside vendors should keep papers on their work here. Zwolak argued that Allen should file the original documents with the clerk. Gordon said settlements should be registered, and if they make a list of things they want at the clerks office, he will surely accommodate them. Gordon said Allen doesn't have all contracts.
Allen said there are contracts that were changed after he and the council approved them. He believes that was done by a former city manager. Gordon asked why it wasn't brought to council. Allen said he just found out about something like this in the last 30 days. Gordon and Zwolak voted for it, but the resolution failed.
Platinum snow: Shaya said the amendment was to address concerns in the SRR report. The changes are to add plowing of certain fire routes, Fleming ($375 per plow), Dequindre ($685), Nagel, all the bridges, and Denton at the new school. Hassan asked if the cost will increase. Shaya said he brought a comparison that shows that $1995 is added per plow.
Hassan asked Tertzag if he talked to Platinum about issues. Tertzag said he hasn't talked to them, but this resolution is being done properly to amend the contract. He will talk to them about a price break later. Zwolak asked how much we owe Platinum from last year. Tertzag replied that he thought we issued them a check for last year and did not think there were unpaid invoices.
There was a motion proposed to amend the resolution to pay any outstanding invoices. No one voted in favor.
Gordon said Nazarko told her there are still bills of $50,000 outstanding from last Winter. She asked if it is all fire routes or bus routes being added. Shaya said most of the streets mentioned are "major collectors", streets that people take to the freeway.
Algazali asked if there is a contract with Platinum and if there will be bids. Tertzag said they have a contract and they are just adding streets to the existing contract. It is required because the change is more than 10% of contract total.
Majewski asked for the justification for plowing on Denton. Shaya said it was a fire route at one time, but was taken off by a previous DPW director. The fire routes are not a complete circle without Denton. They also plow the library, the police departmnet, and the post office. They don't plow for the school on Hanley, but how much do we want to spend? Maybe we should do Hanley and Lehman.
Miah said some communities don't plow at all, and we don't have cash to plow everything. If Winter is like last year, we won't need it at all. Gordon said the cost doesn't matter because it is Act 51, and she won't put kids at risk for $1950, wanting to add plowing for all the schools.
Tertzag said he is working with Shaya on a plan for sidewalks. They paved Hewitt; Whalen is to be paved in the Spring, and a study will be done to look at fixing other streets. Act 51 money is given to the city to spend, and we have needs in sidewalks. If we don't properly use the money, we won't get more. They also plan to pave 5 streets per year. The state wants a 5-year plan.
Hassan said the manager can get a better price after talking to Platinum, and council was just correcting paperwork. Gordon, Hassan, and Zwolak voted for it, and the resolution passed.
Gordon pulled the item on radio encryption.
Mayor's report: attended the Parade Company breakfast, 3 weddings, spoke to class at University of Michigan, attended a municipal league board meeting, and was at Post 10 on Veterans Day.
Mayor Pro Tem: attended a wedding and a ceremony at the community center.
Manager: Tertzag said this was the first election for the city clerk without a deputy, and Kendzierski did a wonderful job. There are issues at any election, and the issues were dealt with. He sent an e-mail to the department heads the day before, and they helped with the polls.
We had work sessions. Suggestions were made, and Tertzag had meetings about [something] to find savings. He and Shaya met with DTE and expressed concerns about the length of their project. It will not be allowed to go on through the Winter. If any residents have issues with the work by DTE, they should contact DPS and Shaya so he can see the situation first hand.
Shaya said Dec 21 is the deadline for the DTE project.
Zwolak asked about job postings. Tertzag said the city clerk job posting closed today, and the manager applications are supposed to be done by the 16th. Tertzag has not talked to the FBI. The seasonal workers will not be hired and will be looked at again in the Spring.
Tertzag said there was a timeline to be adopted, and Angerer and Scanio are coordinating their efforts so Angerer can bring packets to council. There was extra time built in to the process for the holidays.
Miah thought council would be presented with more information about the process. He never received a link showing him the postings as he requested. We hired a professional to get it done in a professional manner, but there has not been professionalism in the process. He has not been told how many applications were received. The money we're paying for the service is not happening.
Majewski said reporting on the process was not on the timeline, and the contractor was not told to report at regular intervals.
Tertzag said he asked questions and it is not open for discussion until the interview process starts. Angerer has done the job hired to do thus far, and when they get the applications, they should keep in mind that applicants may not have told their employer that they are leaving.
Gordon asked when we would hire an income tax director. Tertzag said it would be soon, and he and Plante and Moran are just trying to get their arms around the finances. Gordon said no one is paying income taxes from Housing, and no one is keeping track of DTE workers and others working in the city.
Gordon said they got a letter from a resident about income tax disputes. We have no income tax board of review, as is mandated in state law. It was supposed to be formed before any tax was collected. The board will be 3 people appointed by council under state law. She asked if she should bring a resolution to that effect. Tertzag asked to see the law.
Algazali asked who pays for broken curbs. Shaya said contractors must restore anything they break. He checks work between 10 and noon every day.
Public Comment
Susan Dunn said that she tries to get the council to listen because she speaks for more people than just herself. When Miah voted not to put Wilk in his position, he was part of the reason for charter violations. Wilk is part of the checks and balances, and he is only doing part of the job. We would have fewer problems if Wilk was allowed to do his job. He has been doing it for free because he loves the city. The money paid to Plante and Moran would be able to pay Wilk's salary. On not having current updated assessments, she would be happy to find out that her house is worth more and would pay more. They voted to pay TJs tab of $322 for travel, and she asked what was he driving that it cost $322 to get to Mackinac Island and back. He went to a conference about bike routes when that is taken care of by another department. She urged council not to approve his $300 reimbursement. Others may not get a paycheck, and the money is being wasted.
Miah thanked Dunn for being active. Wilk's position is already there, and Tertzag is working on that contract, so no resolution is required.
Algazali said Dunn is disrespectful to elected officials and started to quarrel with her.
Hillary Cherry said that I believed that only half of the pawn ordinances had been passed because only one vote was taken and the metals and gems ordinance was not discussed. On the fund warrant list, Gordon is correct that there is clearly another fund for the library, but the expenses are being charged to the general fund. Inaccurate assessments are unfair to property owners. There are many papers that should be filed with the clerk's office, and all city departments should be submitting documents to the clerk's office. The charter says that the opinions of the city attorney are to be filed with the city clerk. I filed a FOIA for those attorney opinions and received a response from Allen that he has not written any opinions. For example, the opinion stating who was to take the council seat vacated by Councilman Cedar's death should be registered. The registration isn't just for the public, but for the rest of the administration and council and other attorneys.* Act 51 is for paving streets, not to spend entirely on plowing.
Non-agenda: Majewski said there is an interfaith alliance gathering on November 21.
Algazali said Gallagher and Lehman have to be fixed. Shaya said Sobieski, Commor, Holbrook, and many other streets are also on the list. They will be starting road work in early March.
Tertzag said he passed out privileged information earlier. There was no closed session. The meeting was adjourned
* Jim Allen apparently didn't like what I said because he called me "liar" during my public comment and then tried to intimidate me after the meeting, one of his points being that even if he registered his opinions with the clerk, I'd never see them.


text:
Robert N. M. Watson
|University of Cambridge
William Gates Building
15 JJ Thomson Avenue
Cambridge CB3 0FD
United Kingdom
|Office: GE-13, William Gates Building
Voice: +44 (0)1223 763 569
Fax: +44 (0)1223 334 678
E-mail: robert.watson AT cl.cam.ac.uk
I am a University Lecturer in Systems, Security, and Architecture at the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory. I am involved in several research groups at the lab, including Security, Networks and Operating Systems, and Computer Architecture. I lead a number of cross-layer research projects spanning computer architecture, compilers, program analysis, program transformation, operating systems, networking, and security. Current projects include CTSRD, a project in collaboration with SRI International looking at clean-slate hardware and software designs for security. This includes the BERI and CHERI processor designs, and SOAAP and TESLA, software analysis and transformation systems based on LLVM. I also have active research projects in network-stack performance, tracing, and switching. Recent completed projects include the Capsicum hybrid capability system, system-call interposition concurrency problems, and the TrustedBSD MAC Framework, a widely deployed OS access-control extensibility framework (now found in FreeBSD, Mac OS X, Apple iOS, Junos, and other products). I have strong interests in open-source software, am on the board of directors of the FreeBSD Foundation, and have contributed extensively to the FreeBSD Project.
I completed two and a half years of post-doctoral research at the Computer Laboratory, and a Research Fellowship at St John's College, Cambridge in May, 2013. I finished my PhD in Computer Science at the Computer Laboratory in 2010, supervised by Professor Ross Anderson. Prior to that, I worked for six years in a series of industry research labs investigating operating systems, networking, and security; my contributions included widely used work in operating system security extensibility, the topic of my later PhD dissertation. My undergraduate degree is in Logic and Computation, with a double major in Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University.
Recent news
- February, 2015
The Computer Laboratory's new masters-level coures on operating systems, L41: Advanced Operating Systems (through tracing, analysis, and experimentation), has now started. This course uses material from the second edition of the Design and Implemntation of the FreeBSD Operating System, Gregg and Mauro's DTrace book, and Jain's computer performance text. We're teaching the course using FreeBSD on the BeagleBone Black, and will release our course material as open source soon!
I'm pleased to announce two further papers on our CHERI Architecture, one on CHERI and the C programming language at ASPLOS, and a second on the CHERI compartmentalisation model at the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy. See the publications section below for citations and camera-ready versions of the papers.
- January, 2015
We have posted a new version of our CHERI Instruction-Set Architecture reference, which converges ideas about capabilities and fat pointers, as well as matures our approach to fine-grained in-address-space compartmentalisation.
- September, 2014
Kirk McKusick, George Neville-Neil, and I are pleased to announce the release of the second edition of The Design and Implementation of the FreeBSD Operating System published by Pearson Education. eBook versions of the book are also becoming available. The book is available from Pearson directly in dead-tree and electronic versions, or from Amazon. At last check, the Kindle version had been approved for publication but was still in Amazon's pipeline, but should be available soon.
- June, 2014
I'm pleased to announce that the CTSRD Project has open sourced our CHERI processor implementation as well as complete software stack. CHERI is a 64-bit RISC processor extended with an in-address-space protection model, as well as fine-grained in-process sandboxing. We have ported the open-source FreeBSD operating system to CHERI, and adapted the Clang/LLVM compiler suite to generate capability-aware code, which can run alongside 64-bit MIPS code with relative transparency.
We have also released four new technical reports on BERI (the base RISC processor design) and CHERI (the capability extensions) including the CHERI ISA reference and BERI hardware and software references; these may be found on our CTSRD Publications Page.
Research interests
I lead a number of research projects spanning the security, computer architecture, and network + operating system research groups at the Computer Laboratory, supported by DARPA and Google. A theme spanning many of my current research areas is the tension between program representation and security, with interests in revising the hardware-software interface, and whole-system implementation of security. Several of these projects are part of the DARPA-sponsored CTSRD Project in collaboration with Peter G. Neumann at the Computer Science Laboratory at SRI International. We also have a second joint DARPA project, MRC2, which is applying many of these ideas in a distributed setting.
I have additional research interests in the interplay between concurrency and security, operating system access control (especially as relates to software pplication compartmentalisation and capability systems), multi-threaded network stacks, and revisiting a variety of hardware-software interfaces in support of security, networking, and operating system design. Utilising and improving open source platforms for research plays a key role in technology transition for my work.
Capability hardware enhanced RISC instructions (CHERI)
The CHERI processor provides hardware-assisted in-process sandboxing based on a hybrid capability model. The goal is to support several orders of magnitude greater numbers of sandboxes than current ISAs support -- while still maintaining compatibility with current software designs. Our first major paper on CHERI will appear in ISCA 2014, although we have prior workshop papers at several venues including RESoLVE 2012.
Bluespec experimental RISC implementation (BERI)
The Bluespec experimental RISC implementation is a new platform for research into the hardware-software interface. Consisting of a 64-bit MIPS ISA FPGA soft core implemented in the Bluespec Hardware Description Language (HDL), a port of the FreeBSD operating system, Clang/LLVM, and a conventional BSD/Apache-licensed software stack, we hope to use BERI to explore a range of new experimental research directions spanning the historically disjoint hardware and software research communities. CHERI is the first search research project. We have had several workshop and conference papers relating to the BERI platform. Brooks Davis (SRI) and I merged BERI support in to FreeBSD in August, 2012, which appeared in FreeBSD 10.0-RELEASE.
Temporally enhanced security logic assertions (TESLA)
Temporally enforced security logic assertions (TESLA) provide compiler-generated run-time instrumentation continuously to continuously validate complex (temporal) security properties, such as check-before-use, eventual audit, and network protocol state machines. We published a paper on TESLA at EuroSys 2014.
Security-oriented analysis of application programs (SOAAP)
The Security-oriented analysis of application programs (SOAAP) provides automated program analysis and transformation technqiues to help software developers deploy application compartmentalisation on sandboxing frameworks such as Capsicum and CHERI. We have had multiple workshop papers on these ideas, including at AHANS 2012 and the Security Protocols Workshop (SPW) 2013.
Operating-system network stacks
I have taken a long interest in network-stack structure and performance, including contributing substantially to FreeBSD's multithreaded, multicore network-stack implementation. My past consulting projects in this area include scalable multi-threaded TCP performance and zero-copy support for BPF. My PhD student Ilias Marinos, has been working on network-stack specialisation, the adaptation of network stacks to specific applications and workloads, achieving vastly higher performance than general-purpose stacks. This work has been the subject of papers at HotNets 2013 and SIGCOMM 2014. Bjoern Zeeb, a PhD student jointly supervised by Andrew Moore and myself, is working in network-stack tracing and analysis: what new techniques and tools can we develop to analyse performance and behaviour?
Capsicum: practical capabilities for UNIX
Capsicum: practical capabilities for UNIX: In this work, we developed the notion of a hybrid capability model, blending ideas from research capability system security with commodity UNIX operating systems. Capsicum is intended to support application and library compartmentalisation through extensions to the POSIX API. A key concern in Capsicum is incremental adoption --- we have a long-term vision for capability-oriented security, but wanted to provide a short-term technology adoption path addressing immediate security problems without introducing fundamental incompatibilities (an assumption in prior OS capability systems). This work was first published in USENIX Security 2010, with a version appearing in Communications of the ACM Research Highlights in 2013. We have also published pieces in USENIX's ;login magazine and elsewhere. Capsicum appeared in FreeBSD 9.0, with a more mature implementation and API in FreeBSD 10.0. Google has ported Capsicum to Linux, and continues to support Capsicum development alongside DARPA and the FreeBSD Foundation.
Exploiting concurrency vulnerabilities in system call wrappers
Exploiting concurrency vulnerabilities in system call wrappers: historically, a number of operating system vendors, researchers, and third-party security vendors (such as anti-virus vendors) have relied on system call interposition to augment the OS security model. In this work, I explored inherent concurrency vulnerabilities that exist in the model. We now teach this as an exercise to our Part II security students, who must exploit vulnerabilities in Systrace to deface a web site.
Operating system access control extensibility (MAC Framework)
The TrustedBSD Project: brought features traditionally limited to "trusted" operating systems into open source, including mature security event auditing, extensible kernel access control in support of mandatory access control access control (MAC), and discretionary access control (DAC) extensions such as access control lists (ACLs). These features have been adopted by a number of vendors including the FreeBSD Project, in Apple's Mac OS X and iOS operating systems, Juniper's JunOS, McAfee's Sidewinder firewall, and others. My February 2013 Communications of the ACM retrospective article (and open-access, slightly extended ACM Queue version) cover this evolution in significant detail.
During the 2014-2015 academic year, I am teaching Part I.B Concurrent and Distributed Systems, and co-teach our masters-level courses in the R209 - Principles and Foundations of Computer Security and R210 - Current Applications and Research in Computer Security. I am also teaching our masters-level course L41 - Advanced Operating Systems, a newly designed course that teaches advanced topics in operating systems through tracing and performance analysis.
During the 2013-2014 academic year, I taught Part I.B Concurrent and Distributed Systems, and co-teach our masters-level courses in the R209 - Computer Security: Principles and Foundations and R210 - Computer Security: Current Applications and Research in Computer Security
During the 2012-2013 academic year, I taught Part I.B Concurrent and Distributed Systems, and co-taught our expanded masters-level courses R209 - Principles and Foundations of Computer Security and R210 - Current Applications and Research in Computer Security.
During the 2011-2012 academic year, I taught our new masters-level course in R206: Operating and Distributed system Security.
Research students and postdocs
I currently supervise four research students: Ionel Gog, Ilias Marinos, Matthew Grosvenor, and Bjoern Zeeb. Several other research students are closely involved in my research projects, including Alan Mujumdar, Robert Norton, and Jonathan Woodruff in the Computer Architecture group. David Chisnall, Khilan Gudka, and Michael Roe are post-doctoral researchers contributing to my various research projects. I have previously supervised post-doctoral work by Jonathan Anderson and Steven Murdoch.
If you are interested in applying to Cambridge for a research-oriented MPhil or PhD in one of my research areas -- including computer security, operating systems, and computer architecture -- please free to get in touch regarding your research topic of interest. More information on the two programmes, including application requirements and information on initial research proposals, can be found on the MPhil in Advanced Computer Science and PhD in Computer Science pages at the Computer Laboratory.
Technology transition plays a central role in my research, and I take a particular interest in transition of research through open source systems. I have worked closely with a number of companies, including Apple and Juniper Networks as they have adopted open source systems to both help them engage with the open source community, improved open source software to better meet their needs, and helped them upstream improvements to the open source community. Recent projects have included open source adaptations of Apple's Grand Central Dispatch, collaborative development of the OpenBSM operating system audit framework between Apple and the FreeBSD Project, and work on highly scalable multi-core TCP processing with Juniper. Slightly longer ago, I worked with several companies including Apple and nCircle to help them use and extend the TrustedBSD MAC Framework, a kernel reference monitor now used as the foundation for access control in Mac OS X, iOS, Junos, McAfee's Sidewinder firewall, nCircle's IP360 appliance, and many other products.
Prior to coming to Cambridge, I worked for a series of industrial research labs in the US, including SPARTA ISSO, Trusted Information Systems - Advanced Research and Engineering, and McAfee Research. While there I led a number of network and operating system security research projects for government and industrial sponsors, including DARPA, the US Navy, Apple Computer, and others.
I offer consulting services to companies in the areas of open source integration for products, network stack performance, and operating system audit and access control. A list of past customers and projects is available on request; please contact me directly with any queries.
FreeBSD Project and Foundation
In addition to my academic work, I'm on the board of directors of the FreeBSD Foundation, a US-based non-profit foundation supporting the open source FreeBSD Project. I'm an active contributor to the project, working in the areas of multiprocessor-centric network stacks, operating system security audit, and mandatory access control. I was a member of the FreeBSD Project's elected Core Team for 12 years, and continue to serve as a member of the board of directors of the non-profit FreeBSD Foundation supporting the project. I'm also involved in the project's security officer and release engineering teams.
Matthew P. Grosvenor, Malte Schwarzkopf, Ionel Gog, Robert N.M. Watson, Andrew Moore, Steven Hand, and Jon Crowcroft. Queues don't matter when you can JUMP them!, Proceedings of the 12th USENIX Symposium on Networked Systems Design and Implementation (NSDI), Oakland, California, USA, May 2015. Best paper award!
Robert N. M. Watson, Jonathan Woodruff, Peter G. Neumann, Simon W. Moore, Jonathan Anderson, David Chisnall, Nirav Dave, Brooks Davis, Khilan Gudka, Ben Laurie, Steven J. Murdoch, Robert Norton, Michael Roe, Stacey Son, and Munraj Vadera. CHERI: A Hybrid Capability-System Architecture for Scalable Software Compartmentalization, Proceedings of the 36th IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy ("Oakland"), San Jose, California, USA, May 2015.
Robert N. M. Watson, David Chisnall, Brooks Davis, Wojciech Koszek, Simon W. Moore, Steven J. Murdoch, Peter G. Neumann, Jonathan Woodruff. Bluespec Extensible RISC Implementation: BERI Software Reference, Technical Report UCAM-CL-TR-869, University of Cambridge, Computer Laboratory, April 2015.
Robert N.M. Watson, Jonathan Woodruff, David Chisnall, Brooks Davis, Wojciech Koszek, A. Theodore Markettos, Simon W. Moore, Steven J. Murdoch, Peter G. Neumann, Robert Norton, and Michael Roe. Bluespec Extensible RISC Implementation: BERI Hardware Reference, Technical Report UCAM-CL-TR-868, University of Cambridge, Computer Laboratory, April 2015.
David Chisnall, Colin Rothwell, Brooks Davis, Robert N.M. Watson, Jonathan Woodruff, Simon W. Moore, Peter G. Neumann and Michael Roe. Beyond the PDP-11: Processor support for a memory-safe C abstract machine, Proceedings of Architectural Support for Programming Languages and Operating Systems (ASPLOS 2015), Istanbul, Turkey, March 2015. Audience pick: best presentation award!
Robert N.M. Watson, Peter G. Neumann, Jonathan Woodruff, Jonathan Anderson, David Chisnall, Brooks Davis, Ben Laurie, Simon W. Moore, Steven J. Murdoch, and Michael Roe. Capability Hardware Enhanced RISC Instructions: CHERI Instruction-Set Architecture, Technical Report UCAM-CL-TR-864, University of Cambridge, Computer Laboratory, December 2014.
Marshall Kirk McKusick, George V. Neville-Neil, and Robert N. M. Watson The Design and Implementation of the FreeBSD Operating System, 2nd Edition, Pearson Education, Boston, MA, USA, September 2014.
Ilias Marinos, Robert N. M. Watson, and Mark Handley, Network Stack Specialization for Performance, Proceedings of ACM SIGCOMM 2014 Conference (SIGCOMM'14), Chicago, IL, USA, August 17–22, 2014.
Jonathan Woodruff, Robert N. M. Watson, David Chisnall, Simon W. Moore, Jonathan Anderson, Brooks Davis, Ben Laurie, Peter G. Neumann, Robert Norton, and Michael Roe. The CHERI capability model: Revisiting RISC in an age of risk, Proceedings of the 41st International Symposium on Computer Architecture (ISCA 2014), Minneapolis, MN, USA, June 14–16, 2014.
Robert N.M. Watson, Peter G. Neumann, Jonathan Woodruff, Jonathan Anderson, David Chisnall, Brooks Davis, Ben Laurie, Simon W. Moore, Steven J. Murdoch, and Michael Roe. Capability Hardware Enhanced RISC Instructions: CHERI Instruction-Set Architecture, Technical Report UCAM-CL-TR-850, University of Cambridge, Computer Laboratory, April 2014.
Robert N.M. Watson, David Chisnall, Brooks Davis, Wojciech Koszek, Simon W. Moore, Steven J. Murdoch, Peter G. Neumann, and Jonathan Woodruff. Capability Hardware Enhanced RISC Instructions: CHERI User's Guide, Technical Report UCAM-CL-TR-851, University of Cambridge, Computer Laboratory, April 2014.
Robert N.M. Watson, Jonathan Woodruff, David Chisnall, Brooks Davis, Wojciech Koszek, A. Theodore Markettos, Simon W. Moore, Steven J. Murdoch, Peter G. Neumann, Robert Norton, and Michael Roe. Bluespec Extensible RISC Implementation: BERI Hardware Reference, Technical Report UCAM-CL-TR-852, University of Cambridge, Computer Laboratory, April 2014.
Robert N.M. Watson, David Chisnall, Brooks Davis, Wojciech Koszek, Simon W. Moore, Steven J. Murdoch, Peter G. Neumann, and Jonathan Woodruff. Bluespec Extensible RISC Implementation: BERI Software Reference, Technical Report UCAM-CL-TR-853, University of Cambridge, Computer Laboratory, April 2014.
Jonathan Anderson, Robert N. M. Watson, David Chisnall, Khilan Gudka, Brooks Davis, and Ilias Marinos. TESLA: Temporally Enhanced System Logic Assertions, Proceedings of The 2014 European Conference on Computer Systems (EuroSys 2014), Amsterdam, The Netherlands, April 14–16 2014.
Brooks Davis, Robert Norton, Jonathan Woodruff, and Robert N. M. Watson. How FreeBSD Boots: a soft-core MIPS perspective, Proceedings of AsiaBSDCon 2014, 13–16 March, 2014, Tokyo, Japan.
A Theodore Markettos, Jonathan Woodruff, Robert N. M. Watson, Bjoern A. Zeeb, Brooks Davis, Simon W Moore. The BERIpad tablet: open-source construction, CPU, OS and applications, Proceedings of 2013 FPGA Workshop and Design Contest, November 1st–3rd, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
Ilias Marinos, Robert N. M. Watson, and Mark Handley. Network stack specialisation for performance. Twelfth ACM Workshop on Hot Topics in Networks (HotNets-XII), November, 2013.
William R. Harris (University of Wisconsin, Madison), Somesh Jha (University of Wisconsin, Madison), Thomas Reps (University of Wisconsin, Madison), Jonathan Anderson (University of Cambridge), and Robert N. M. Watson (University of Cambridge). Declarative, Temporal, and Practical Programming with Capabilities, IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy ("Oakland"), May, 2013.
Robert N. M. Watson, Steven J. Murdoch, Khilan Gudka, Jonathan Anderson, Peter G. Neumann, and Ben Laurie. Towards a theory of application compartmentalisation. Security Protocols Workshop, March, 2013.
Robert N. M. Watson. A decade of OS access-control extensibility. Communications of the ACM 56(2), February 2013.
Robert N. M. Watson. A decade of OS access-control extensibility. ACM Queue 11(1), January 2013. (Open access, extended version of CACM article.)
Khilan Gudka, Robert N. M. Watson, Steven Hand, Ben Laurie, and Anil Madhavapeddy. Exploring compartmentalisation hypotheses with SOAAP. Workshop paper, Adaptive Host and Network Security (AHANS 2012), September, 2012.
Robert N. M. Watson. New approaches to operating system security extensibility. Technical report UCAM-CL-TR-818, University of Cambridge, Computer Laboratory, April 2012.
Jonathan Anderson and Robert N. M. Watson. Stayin' Alive: Aliveness as an alternative to authentication. In proceedings of the Twentieth International Workshop on Security Protocols (SPW), April 2012.
Robert N. M. Watson, Peter G. Neumann, Jonathan Woodruff, Jonathan Anderson, Ross Anderson, Nirav Dave, Ben Laurie, Simon W. Moore, Steven J. Murdoch, Philip Paeps, Michael Roe, and Hassen Saidi. CHERI: a research platform deconflating hardware virtualization and protection. Workshop paper, Runtime Environments, Systems, Layering and Virtualized Environments (RESoLVE 2012), March, 2012.
Steven Smith, Anil Madhavapeddy, Christopher Smowton, Malte Schwarzkopf, Richard Mortier, Robert N.M. Watson, and Steven Hand. The Case for Reconfigurable I/O Channels. Workshop paper, Runtime Environments, Systems, Layering and Virtualized Environments (RESoLVE 2012), March, 2012.
Robert N. M. Watson, Jonathan Anderson, Ben Laurie, and Kris Kennaway. A taste of Capsicum: practical capabilities for UNIX. In Communications of the ACM 55(3), pp. 97-104, March 2012.
Jonathan Anderson, Frank Stajano, and Robert Watson. How to keep bad papers out of conferences (with minimum reviewer effort). Proceedings of the Nineteenth International Workshop on Security Protocols, March 2011
Peter G. Neumann and Robert N. M. Watson. Capabilities Revisited: A Holistic Approach to Bottom-to-Top Assurance of Trustworthy Systems. Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Layered Assurance Workshop, Austin, Texas, December 2010.
Laurel D. Riek and Robert N.M. Watson. The Age of Avatar Realism: When seeing shouldn't be believing. IEEE Robotics and Automation (2010). Vol. 17, Issue 4, pp 37-42.
Robert N. M. Watson, Jonathan Anderson, Ben Laurie, Kris Kennaway. Capsicum: practical capabilities for UNIX. In Proceedings, 19th USENIX Security Symposium 2010, Washington, DC.
Steven J. Murdoch and Robert N. M. Watson. Metrics for security and performance in low-latency anonymity systems. In Proceedings, Privacy Enhancing Technologies Symposium 2008, Leuven, Belgium.
Richard Clayton, Steven J. Murdoch, Robert N. M. Watson. Ignoring the Great Firewall of China. A Journal of Law and Policy for the Information Society, Volume 3, Issue 2, Fall 2007.
Robert N. M. Watson. Exploiting Concurrency Vulnerabilities in System Call Wrappers. In Proceedings, WOOT'07 - First USENIX Workshop on Offensive Technologies, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Robert N. M. Watson. How the FreeBSD Project Works. In Proceedings, 2006 EuroBSDCon, Milan, Italy.
Richard Clayton, Steven J. Murdoch, and Robert N. M. Watson. Ignoring the Great Firewall of China. In Proceedings, Privacy Enhancing Technologies Workshop 2006, Cambridge, UK.
Robert N. M. Watson and Wayne Salamon. TrustedBSD OpenBSM: Open Source Security Audit Framework. In Proceedings, 2006 UKUUG Spring Conference, Durham, UK.
Robert N. M. Watson. Introduction to Multithreading and Multiprocessing in the FreeBSD SMPng Network Stack. In Proceedings, 2005 EuroBSDCon, Basel, Switzerland.
Poul-Henning Kamp, Robert N. M. Watson. Building Systems to be Shared, Securely. ACM Queue, July/August 2004.
Robert N. M. Watson, Brian Feldman, Adam Migus, and Chris Vance.The TrustedBSD MAC Framework: Extensible Kernel Access Control for FreeBSD 5.0. In Proceedings, 2003 USENIX Annual Technical Conference, FREENIX Track.
Robert N. M. Watson, Brian Feldman, Adam Migus, and Chris Vance. Design and Implementation of the TrustedBSD MAC Framework. 2003 DARPA Information Security Conference and Exposition (DISCEX III). IEEE.
Sandra L. Murphy, Edward T. Lewis, Robert N. M. Watson. Secure Active Network Prototypes. In Proceedings, 2002 DARPA Active Network Conference and Exposition (DANCE'02). IEEE.
Robert N. M. Watson, TrustedBSD: Adding Trusted Operating System Features to FreeBSD. In Proceedings, 2001 USENIX Annual Technical Conference, FREENIX Track.
Sandra Murphy, et al. Strong Security for Active Networks. In Proceedings, OpenArch 2001.
Robert N. M. Watson. Statement for SACMAT 2001 Panel. ACM Workshop on Role Based Access Control. In proceedings of the Sixth ACM Symposium on Access Control Models and Technologies, 2001.
Poul-Henning Kamp and Robert N. M. Watson. Jails: Confining the Omnipotent Root. In Proceedings, SANE 2000 Conference. NLUUG, 2000.
Robert N. M. Watson. Introducing Supporting Infrastructure for Trusted Operating System Support in FreeBSD. In BSDCon 2000 Conference Proceedings. BSDi, 2000.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
|Bare legs are so last season!
Ever since I watched her walk down the aisle in her stunning Alexander McQueen lace wedding gown, Kate Middleton's style has dominated my closet. As this year's biggest breakout style icon–I've been in love with her prep school-meets-princess personal style. From fascinators to lace overlay dresses, not to mention her bouncy chestnut tresses (you'd be hard pressed to spot this princess having a bad hair day), Kate is a trendsetter. But Kate's latest fashion choice is one that I'm not exactly rushing out to stores for — pantyhose?
Those itchy, icky-colored suntan tights that your grandma made you wear to church on Sundays? Yep, those are the ones. Kate Middleton and her sister Pippa have been seen donning nude hosiery and they become a staple in their regal style. And ever since the Middleton sisters have been spotted wearing them, the sales for sheer hosiery has jumped by 12 percent in the U.S. and 85 percent in the U.K. according to Good Morning America.
In fact, the Middletons' fans are taking their style-trends so much to heart, that apparently the saying among retailers goes, "Whatever the Middletons touch turns to 'sold!'"
But hosiery has also changed since then — fashion retailers say that these are not your grandma's pantyhose. They're lighter and come in a variety of shades to match your skin tone, not to mention, they smooth out shaving cuts and uneven tans.
What do you think? Are pantyhose seeing a comeback, or are they just hopelessly old fashioned?


text:
The Microsoft Blog
Microsoft news and other technology news, photos, charts and data from seattlepi.com.
Posts filtered on Category
How staffing agencies are handling the Microsoft cuts
Microsoft's staffing agencies are handling the company's decision to cut bill rates differently. [Read More]
Microsoft staffing agency defends legality of pay cuts
Can a staffing agency change an employee's salary and other provisions of employment whenever it wants? [Read More]
Some Microsoft temporary workers may see pay cuts
Microsoft Corp. is cutting the rates it pays its temporary staffing agencies by 10 percent, the Seattle P-I has learned. [Read More]
Microsoft will let laid-off workers keep extra severance
Microsoft Corp. will let laid-off employees who were overpaid severance keep the extra money, the company's senior vice president of human resources said Monday. [Read More]
Microsoft wants severance pay back from some fired staff
Microsoft is trying to get severance money back from some of the employees it fired last month. [Read More]
Pace of Microsoft hiring slowed again in January
The pace of hiring at Microsoft continues to slow. [Read More]
Microsoft promotes its top intellectual property lawyer
Microsoft said Thursday it had promoted its deputy general counsel of Intellectual Property and Licensing, Horacio Gutierrez, to the rank of corporate vice president. Previously, Gutierrez held the rank of vice president. [Read More]
Worker dies on Microsoft construction site
A construction worker died at a Microsoft construction site this morning. [Read More]
High schoolers quiz Microsoft's Bach on Vista, Xbox
Microsoft's Bach takes questions Friday morning / Mike Kane, Seattle P-I High school students attending Microsoft's annual Minority Student Day Friday quizzed Microsoft's entertainment and devices chief about some of Microsoft's touchiest issues, including the travails of Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system and its Zune music player. [Read More]
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text:
|By Raj Giri
|March 22, 2013 | Comments
Source: FOX News LatinoFOX News Latino has an interview with Chavo Guerrero, who discussed TNA and his family. Here are a couple of highlights from the interview:
His career without Eddie: "I had another three tag team championships runs and an ECW Championship. It's awesome. The very last year [in the WWE] left a lot to be desired, you're off TV and all of a sudden they start giving you this little program, you kinda make the most of them and make the best of them. They say the average life of a professional wrestler's about four and a half years. I've been doing it 18."
How long he plans to keep wrestling, and WWE wrestling being "bad": "In the wrestling business, you know, you really don't know what you're doing 'til about seven, eight years in. You look back to the way wrestling used to be you didn't even make it to the big time until you were ten years in minimum. Now you're in the business for six months or a year and they come in the ring and they're getting shots at big time. And if you see the wrestling , especially at the other place, you can tell. I won't even watch that program because it's bad. The wrestling is so bad.
"If he can't wrestle, then he can't wrestle, you know? Very, very few and far between do we get a Triple H or a Rey Mysterio, a Randy Orton. That doesn't happen too much anymore. It's very few and far between. You can tell who's making John Cena look good."
Chavo also discussed teaming with Hernandez, the "lie, cheat, and steal" gimmick, why he signed with TNA and more. You can read the full interview by clicking here.
Got a news tip or correction? Send it to us by clicking here.
WrestlingInc.com is the largest independently owned wrestling website in the world (Source: Alexa).
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WWE Diva Announces Her Retirement
How Did Last Night's WWE Tough Enough And Total Divas Do?
More Racist Comments From Hulk Hogan During Conversation With Son Surface
Brian Cage Calls WWE "Idiots" For Letting Him Go; Talks Brock Lesnar Comparisons, Alberto El Patron
Alicia Fox Concussion Note, The Miz Trying To Have Ryback Stripped?, The Kliq Special, WWE Stock
Taz Weighs In On Hulk Hogan Controversy, Says He Thinks Hogan "Is Done"
Today In Wrestling History 7/29: Kevin Nash Uses Rey Mysterio As A Dart, Jake Roberts Turns, More


text:
XCOM E3 2011 Trailer
The E3 trailer for Xcom shows how you will harness the power of the invaders and turn their own weapons against them.
by Alex Sassoon coby on
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this game looks bad but enemy unknown is straight beast
this better get canceled
I think if they changed the name, people would complain less. This DOES look like a cool game, but they really should remove any references to the name "XCOM" and change the title to something unique, and maybe fans like myself will be less likely to turn up their noses and just pick up Enemy Unknown instead.
this game suppose to release in 2011 .... !well when i saw it that time I said 2 my self that the graphics was weak ..anyhow .., this game has smth similar to Half Life .. in term of feelings ., but still interested in this game
i'm wandering y they didn't release this game until now
It's normal for me to want Enemy Unknown but not this one... right?
Looks good IMO but I can understand where you OG's are coming from. I'd hate it they turned my fav series into something it's not.
Trailer was weak hope they make the game alot better, I hope the delay allows them to make a better game.
Another good franchise ruined by creating a whole new game and not following the formula of the original series. FPS games are so 1990, unoriginal, and generally not fun. I'll pass on this one. Very lame.
I want this game
Still looks in Alpha stages. Looks like it will be a fun shooter, Definitely not an X-COM game in anyway at all. Doesn't even seem related in anyway other than aliens. I'll probably play it a bit but it wont curve any X-COM cravings I've had.
looks great!
I never played the original XCOM and I completely agree with the fans but Ill still pick this up and try to enjoy it as a single-player FPS not as an XCOM game hopefully it will be ok
gotta be nuts to pick this over me3
looks kinda out dated to me, just being honest ..
XCOM! Helll yeah, im gonna buy it. Oh... wait... ITS another goddamn FPS. better keep my money and get Mass Effect
This. Looks. AWESOME!
This seems to be the same case of Syndicate. Developing an FPS is a guaranteed money back return for the developers these days. The marketing will then claim this game will have unique mechanics to make it totally different other FPS. lol
Stupidity of the developers is infinite. Instead of raising the old x-com: ufo defence back they again create some dumm fps. Why do you have to take a great name and put it to a bag of sh**? If you're creating new kind of game you can also create a new, different name for it. And if you trying to raise x-com, it has been already done. The game is called UFO: Extraterestrials. At least they didnt screw it up like you are going to.
Devs these days are morons. What is happening to XCOM is also happening to Syndicate. When you take a classic strategy game, we don't want you to "modernize" it and make it an FPS. You are essentially dumbing it down for the new market of fanboys and trash talking online play. When you remake the game, listen to the people who actually played it, and ask them what they want.
The comment the designer of the game that the people play only fps today let's show him the reals xcom, diablo,starcraft... instead of this boring fps
why all the negative comments even if it strays from the original series it still looks like an incredible game and far more interesting than your typical FPS
really? you have to use the name of an awesome strategy series to make yet another FPS? that was a huge disappointment. was hoping for a new XCOM, like the old ones. graphics look like the old ones though ^^
childhood memories being brought back to life.... yet again. Just in a weird way I think.
I don't have a problem with it being a FPS but... I DO have a problem with it not being squad-based with customizable and upgradeable squadmates, and strategically going from building to building and room to room to find baddies - which was the heart and fun of x-com. If they wanted to change the format to real-time and 1st person, they should have at least considered modelling the gameplay after Rainbow Six 3: Las Vegas, a tactical WW2 game whose name I can't remember, or even Full Spectrum Warrior. Complimenting those types of games with squadmates you can equip and level-up so you are invested in their survival??? THAT would have been new, ground-breaking and would have attracted FPS, RPG, and strategy fans. A very big opportunity was lost here. The video showed a little bit of tactics, but not the same as the original x-com where we devoted our heart and soul. Also, I probably won't play this game because the aliens look uninteresting - I really don't think I'll have fun shooting at black blobs most of the time. Update: okay I read that they went back to the drawing board and actually did make the squad mates upgradeable and customizable, and that tactical commands do resemble Rainbow Six 3. So, I'll probably try it out. However, I still think the aliens suck in this one.
This game looks terrible to be honest!!at least Ufo fans gets ufo extraterrestrials 2 in september.good old fashion turn based strategy.For those who are old school players and didn`t know about ufo extraterrestrials 2 is coming,well here is the homepage of the game.www.ufo2extraterrestrials.com I rather stay on those old school turn based things than would put my money in that cheap **** FPS X-com
I think they forgot the original xcoms took place in the 90's... I'm not sure how humanity is supposed to fight back when they still have poor jet fighter tech.(your jets pretty much pwn'd alien ass in the first one, without jets you lose.) I'm pretty sure they put it into the 50's so they could reuse stuff from bioshock to cut corners... And why do the aliens look like a cross between the geth and the replicators in stargate universe? What happened to sectoids, floaters, etherals, snakemen etc..... I actually just finished beating x-com after buying the xcom pack on steam and this has none of the elements from the original games... I'm so confused, at least fallout stuck to the roots of the I.P and they pulled it off wonderfully. This just looks so bad and so far off the mark it's like they had an alien shooter already and decided to put xcom on it to sell a few more copies. I kind of hope this game gets cancelled. My least favorite part is how they are ignoring the previous games... I mean it looks like it might be shadowrun arena all over again. This is a pass for me.
[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]
I don't know. I have my reservations for this game. I'm really going to miss the old tactical gameplay. The graphics look like it was the wii version trailer. If the game is anything like the old game (besides the fps gameplay) I wonder how long it will take for people to get tired of fighting on the same maps over and over again. I'll try the game out when it releases. probably buy it too as with gameplay and graphics looking dated I dont see this lasting long outside of the bargain bin. I hope the game will be better than I expect though as I loved the older xcom's.
Wait... What?
In protest of this trailer I'm going to go play the original XCOM, I encourage all to join
The trailer really doesn't do the game any favors.
In the 2010 trailer, it said "Coming 2011" at the end. And now it says Mars 2012. Way to delay it over a year. lol
this is horrible... To turn Xcom into this rubbish.... Did the developers even play the orginal xcom game? Whatever this game is a fail and pass...
They should have done something like Valkyria Chronicles...
looking better and better
It can still be like the original Xcom series, but in a different genre. I am sure we will still be researching and base building, and capturing aliens etc. Instead of a top down look we will see from the eyes of the character (if zoomed in completely), which will give this game a more atmospheric feel to it, meaning more immersion something the original Xcom games had very little off, yes there was the line of sight view but you knew if you wen't round a corner or during the aliens turn you had an idea where they were, now it won't be so easy.
@spasticus162 I imagine that's because you work in retail. Digital distribution is where the money gets made in PC gaming.
to those saying 2k have ruined x-com. they haven't those games still exist if you want to play them play them. Game developers want people to play there games and coming from someone working in games retail i can tell you, pc game sales are in the toilet. And put simply if they want to make a game that stands any chance of being played on console it cant be a strategy game . Those games just don't work with a joypad its that simple and console players wont buy them. The developers of this game are more worried about making something playable and bringing across the setting and the general idea of the series not shackling it to a twenty year old game style that only a few people are interested in. just give the game a chance im sure its going to be great.
This is not x-com. :( this is just another linear shooter.
Looks too arcady but it is done by 2K so i might give it a chance when it comes down in price.
looks like this game can be a classic
I don't know the original game, but this trailer looks awesome!
Ya epic fail! Love when they ruin a classic game. Hopefully we at least get a revamp release of the first two with this.
omg they take one of the best strategy/rpg hybrids and turn it into a lame looking fps... epic fail
dunno about you, but i reminded of the new wolfenstein by this. and thats a good thing.
Graphics kinda remind me of killer7. Kind of an ehh trailer though.
It's realistic~
List of problems: 1. First of all, why make another first-person shooter, especially out of one of the greatest strategy games of all time. That's like taking a classic like Diablo and turning it into a Japanese RPG. 2. This trailer looks terrible! I felt like I was watching a hybrid between Geist and Twilight Princess for the Gamecube! How is this game going to even compete with MW3, BF:BC3, and Farcry 3... it's not. 3. Developers like 2K, EA, and Actvision seem to be far more interested in making money than in pushing the boundaries of the medium. While Japan is credited towards games like Super Mario, Katamari, Ico, Resident Evil, what are we credited for? Halo, Half-life, Quake, Modern Warfare, Doom... "Imagination is more important than knowledge."-- Albert Einstein Thank God for indy developement teams, and thank God for Tim Schafer!!! All hope is not lost!
Great. Yet another FPS! Why does all console games need to be either fps or 3ps? I was really looking forward to a classic turn-based tactical X-COM game. But instead they had to turn it into a Resistance clone. I'm so disapointed. :(


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Rocky Mountain Research Station Publications
RMRS Online Publication - Journal
Articles, External Publications, and Special Reports
Growth and nutrient content of herbaceous seedlings associated with biological soil crusts
Pendleton, R. L.; Pendleton, B. K.; Howard, G. L.; Warren, S. D. 2003. Growth and nutrient content of herbaceous seedlings associated with biological soil crusts. Arid Land Research and Management. 17: 271281.
doi: 10.1080/15324980390191627
Biological soil crusts of arid and semiarid lands contribute significantly to ecosystem stability by means of soil stabilization, nitrogen fixation, and improved growth and establishment of vascular plant species. In this study, we examined growth and nutrient content of Bromus tectorum, Elymus elymoides, Gaillardia pulchella, and Sphaeralcea munroana grown in soil amended with one of three levels of biological soil crust material: (1) a low-fertility sand collected near Moab, Utah; (2) sand amended with a 1-cm top layer of excised soil crust; and (3) crushed crust material. In addition, all plants were inoculated with spores of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus intraradices. Plants were harvested after 10 weeks growth, dried, weighed, and leaves were ground for nutrient analysis. Three aspects of root architecture were also quantified. Soil crust additions significantly affected nearly all variables examined. Both above- and below-ground vegetative biomass were significantly increased in the presence of crust material. Similarly, reproductive tissue of the three species that flowered was greatest in the crushed-crust medium. The effect of soil crust additions is likely due to the increased nitrogen content of the crusts. Nitrogen tissue content of all four species was greatly enhanced in crusted soils. All species showed a decline in root/shoot ratio and specific root length with crust additions, indicating a shift in plant allocation pattern in response to improved soil fertility. These data support other studies suggesting that soil crusts have a positive effect on the establishment and growth of associated vascular plant species.
Keywords: AMF, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, arid lands, Bromus tectorum, cryptogamic crusts, Elymus elymoides, Gaillardia pulchella, microphytic crusts, nutrient cycling, semiarid lands, Sphaeralcea munroana
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Title: RMRS Other
Publications: Growth and nutrient content of herbaceous seedlings
associated with biological soil crusts
Electronic Publish Date: April 29, 2013
Last Update: April 29, 2013
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Posted at: 04/16/2013 10:48 PM
By: Travis Dill
Governor Mark Dayton stopped in Virginia Tuesday night, and over 100 people turned out to talk about his proposed budget.
Before the town hall meeting Dayton said his budget is focused on the middle class and job growth. He said spending $640 million on education in the state will create a skilled workforce.
The meeting was held at the Mesabi Range Community and Technical College. Dayton said spending money at schools like the one in Virginia is important for new jobs.
"By 2020, 80 percent of the jobs in Minnesota will require some amount of post-secondary education, and the community and technical colleges have become a critical component in giving young people the preparation they need for jobs of the future," Dayton said.
But during the meeting a resident asked why the University of Minnesota pays administrators so well, specifically UMD's former chancellor Kathryn Martin.
Dayton said state law prevents him from addressing the issue directly, but he is working on the issue.
"Severance packages that went not only to the president at the university of Duluth, but also the former president of the university himself were just really way out of line," Dayton said.
Some also worried about increasing property taxes. Dayton said his proposed rebate didn't have legislative support, but he said putting $120 million in the hands of city and county governments should help.
"That also indirectly, but very definitely helps keep property tax increases down," Dayton said.
While not tied to the budget, several at the meeting had concerns about the Highway 53 relocation. Dayton said it will take years to get the project ready, and EPA involvement has complicated the process.
There will be a public meeting on that Highway 53 relocation on April 22 in Mountain Iron.


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Cover to Domingos Mexicanos, 192-?
Physical Details: Book jacket : 1 item : ill. ; 12 x 17 cm.
Creator: Rene D'Harnoncourt (1901-1968)
Description: Illustrated cover to Domingos Mexicanos (or Mexican Sundays), a published collection of reproductions of watercolors by Rene d'Harnoncourt. Published by F.W. Davis, Mexico.
Text of cover is embellished with illustrations of flowers, flags, and a rabbit.
Date derived from MoMA finding aid to their Rene d'Harnoncourt Papers, which estimates this collection is from the late 1920's.
Forms part of: René d'Harnoncourt papers, 1920-1983
Rights Statement: Current copyright status is undetermined
Citation: Cover to Domingos Mexicanos, 192-?
Digital ID: 12370
View all Image Gallery items from the René d'Harnoncourt papers


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Sequatchie Cove Cheese at Chattanooga Market this Sunday!
We can't wait for Chattanooga Market this Sunday August 8th at the First Tennessee Pavilion!
Come out and see us this week at Chattanooga Market, Sunday from 11am-4pm…we'll have plenty of Sequatchie Cove Cheeses and a selection of meats, produce and flowers! We are so excited to finally be joining the market as a vendor!
See y'all Sunday!
Filed under: Local Food News on August 5th, 2010 |


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This week from Washington Week: President Obama's announcement to begin drawing down U.S. troops from Afghanistan and what it means; the impact on class action suits as a result of the Supreme Court's Wal-Mart decision; and the latest on the growing GOP presidential field. Joining Gwen Ifill: Martha Raddatz, ABC News; Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times; Nia-Malika Henderson, Washington Post; and Pete Williams, NBC News.
WATCH this week's episode. READ the transcript. WATCH the website extra.


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New candids from December 21st and January 1st.
Gallery Links:
Candids from 2011 > 21.12.11 – Running Errands
Candids from 2012 > 01.01.12 – Out In Malibu
New candids from December 21st and January 1st.
Gallery Links:
Candids from 2011 > 21.12.11 – Running Errands
Candids from 2012 > 01.01.12 – Out In Malibu
As you can see we got a new layout up! A big thank you to my friend Claudia for making this beautiful layout featuring some of my favourite Maggie pictures. I hope you all like it as much as I do, and feel free to leave a comment.
Updates coming shortly.
Is that hard to understand?? Please stop spamming my mailbox with fan letters or pathetic total-waste-of-time hate letters.
My mother was very politically active and taught both my brother and me that it is everyone's responsibility as a citizen and as a person in the world to fight for what you believe in. And what I believe very strongly is that every woman has the right to decide what she can do with her body.
That seems like a no-brainer to me, but it's not to some politicians; they're working to restrict women's access to reproductive health services—things like cancer screenings, birth control and abortion care. With jobs bills waiting on legislative calendars, the unemployment rate at a crisis level and many Americans losing their homes, I find it incredibly frustrating that we're being forced to spend so much time and energy (and, yes, money) defending something as basic as self-determination.
The assaults on women's health care have been fast and furious. Over 80 abortion restrictions were enacted in 2011—more than double the previous record, in 2005. But it's not just abortion that's under fire. Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry dramatically cut funding that would have provided many low-income women with cervical cancer screenings, birth control and STD prevention and treatment. Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey slashed $7.5 million from his state's budget meant for family planning centers that provide birth control and Pap tests. And there are dozens more examples all over the country. (You can visit Planned Parenthood Action Fund's womenarewatching.org to see where some 2012 candidates stand on these issues.)
Many of these attacks are designed to shut down one provider: Planned Parenthood, the only health care provider to have been targeted by name in recent federal legislation. Restricting access to the services Planned Parenthood provides would affect millions of women—one in five American women turns to a Planned Parenthood health center at some point in her life. And more than 90 percent of these centers' services are in preventive care; 3 percent are in abortion care.
I find these restrictions dismaying because they disproportionately target women with lower incomes. Wealthy women will always be able to access the health care they need. Planned Parenthood is there for every woman. This is an organization that works in communities to provide high-quality care like cervical cancer screenings, breast exams, HIV tests and birth control—often to women who would otherwise go without. It is the place you call if you are 16 and don't know whom to ask about birth control. It's the website that has answers in the middle of the night. It's the health care resource that offers compassion and respect to women at times when they are incredibly vulnerable and afraid.
I've been a Planned Parenthood supporter my whole life—since my mom took me to a rally when I was in sixth grade. It's chilling to think of this resource being taken away. I have a five-year-old daughter, and I'm pregnant with my second child. I know when my children are older, I will be taking them to events like the one I went to with my mom. I hope we'll be celebrating our freedoms and rights, not fighting for them once again as we are now.
Oscar-nominated Maggie Gyllenhaal stars in next month's Won't Back Down.
I've added some candids of Maggie doing some Christmas shopping in NYC on December 22nd.
I've added scans of an interview with Maggie in Elle France. Enjoy!
Maggie Gyllenhaal says it's hard to find a range of "perfect dresses" for her many public appearances.
The stunning star admits that although she always tries her hardest to look good on the red carpet, there are going to be inevitable slip-ups. Maggie has revealed that hunting for lots of glamorous gowns can be tricky.
"For the premiere of Hysteria in Toronto a few months ago, I was pregnant but no-one knew. I also had flu and my dress didn't fit well as the zip was broken," she told the French edition of Elle. "The day after, I had a look on the internet and saw so many terrible comments! But this is the life of an actress, you have good days and bad days, and when you are promoting a movie and we have to find 15 different dresses per week, yes, one of them might be less perfect than the others."
Maggie recently announced that she is expecting her second child with her husband Peter Sarsgaard. The actress has confessed that it is difficult to find time to exercise while she is working and caring for her five-year-old daughter, Ramona.
"Honestly, I don't know how mothers who are working find time to go do exercise. I can't be a wife, a mother, an actress and run every day," she shrugged.
"So, I have to admit that I find it easier to forget to run than to cook dinner for my daughter."
I apologies for not adding these before now.. but enjoy!
Another day, another casting change on "The Iceman." The film, which was originally set to star James Franco, Benicio Del Toro and Michael Shannonhas dropped the first two actors on the way to filming, and has now lost one more esteemed thesp, with another random choice filling in to fill out this pretty bizarre cast.
Deadline reports that Winona Ryder will now take over for Maggie Gyllenhaal in the mob killer pic. Co-written (with Morgan Land) and set to be directed by Ariel Vromen, the film follows the exploits of Richard Kulinski (Shannon), one of the most notorious mob hitmen, claiming over 100 kills while keeping his true identity secret from his wife and kids. David Schwimmer will play the killer, Josh Rosenthal, who worked under mobster Roy Demoe (Ray Liotta). Ryder will now play the part of Kulinski's unsuspecting wife with Ryan O'Nan as a "young hustler" who gets caught up in the story. Finally, Chris Evans will take the role of Mr. Softee aka Robert Pronge, Kulinski's mentor assassin. a part previously slotted for Franco.
New candids from November 25h and 28th have been added to the gallery.
Gallery Links:
Candids from 2011 > 25.11.11 – At the park with Ramona and Peter
Candids from 2011 > 28.11.11 – Picking up Ramona from school


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I hope that I am very, very, wrong but something doesnt sound right about this. The Mayor and Police Chief heading back to Auburn when the multiple murder suspect is believed to be close to apprehension. Bringing in a fresh crew in the morning, really? What's wrong with right now? Our military doesnt sleep and I didnt think the U.S. Marshal Service did either. They are the ones in the house, correct? Please don't misunderstand me. I hold these law enforcement officals in the highest regard. I can only image the hours and stress that have been invested and endured in their investigation and I honor their efforts. However, does anyone else feel that the timing of this is odd?
My family and I were leaving our hometown Little League field a few weeks ago when my wife says, "hey, give a War Eagle shoutout to this guy. He looks like a football player." Yep, sho does. Jeff back home sportin his Blue and Orange. Spoke to him and he came over and introduced himself to my family and took pics with my little guys. Super nice guy and a pleasure to be around. Even though I bleed AUBURN football I expect that AUBURN'S front four play this year will be the best we have seen in a very, very long time. War Eagle Jeffery! Hats off for being one of the good guys.....
Dang Mark, I missed the Chick fil a game vs. Clemson last year. O Mac was MVP? Must have been a good one......lol
EST or CST?
Bammer Jackdyke---
I thougth yall said Bammer was loaded--------last year. "Coch Saban", yep, you got it. "Don't ever flame me again", please.......
BTW, I'm not from Opelika and I'm ALWAYS toatin'.
Dininghall is off the chain!!!! Get 'em my AUBURN Brother!!!
Waregal- I like Boris also. No doubt a corndogger but he gets the Homers all bent. Funny stuff from a funny guy (gal?).
War Eagle, see y'all Saturday
WOW !!! So now let's reflect: A cell phone with damning evidence dropped in the toilet and no longer useable by a Miss. St. assistant, a delayed notification to the SEC and an additional delay of information to the NZAA from Miss. ST. even though they were still recruiting Cam. An investigation into Cecil's personal bank records and an investigation into Cecil's church's financial records, no information in the Milton McGregor tapes and now a slam down of "THE BAGMAN". Now the next 30+ pages of posts will be --- Bammer su*ks and AUBURN su*ks. Bottom line is they ain't got nothin on AUBURN. Hate for the HATERS. WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!! TOLD YA SO!!!! Still lookin for a new suit ---- and a hit off the hooka----LOL!!!! Not really, I don't smoke! BLUE---ORANGE---BLUE---ORANGE
Alright Cafor I'm game---since you are an Updyke you didn't know (or you were unable to understand) my comment about Carolina was in response to one of your fellow homer idiots (Cam is a one man show) therefore, Carolina wins the SuperBowl---Am I going too fast? Now as Boris would say, fact, Auburn is 7 and 1 in the hollowed grounds of Bryant-Denny- Tuberville-Chizik-Cam Newton Stadium----FACT!!!!! Don't give a damn if AUBURN won by 1 or 50 points last year. Once again, Saban snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Hell, he couldn't even get his defense on the field in the fourth quarter. 24 point lead at home against your most fierce rival. EPIC FAIL, AGAIN!!!! A Saban coached team LOST to LAMO. REALLY? A Saban coached team embarassed the SEC in the Sugar Bowl by being BLOWN OUT by Utah, REALLY? ---- because of the Alabammer syndrome----which is, "we deserve better". Well, Caffy, I know the truth hurts, but, you want the stats on YOUR Heisman trophy winner in the previous years Iron Bowl----didn't think so. Don't fret, you still had the best three loss team in the nation even if that only got you 5th place in the SEC. Hey, don't kill my trees just because you don't like me. Any idea where I can pick up a new suit? See ya----
OOOOOHHHHHHH Vic----That REALLY HURT!!!! Since 08, really. Bet you'd sell your soul for a different outcome last year. Not too shabby for a West Georgia school going against the GREATEST COACH on the face of the planet. Hey, when your god Saban has a better than .500 record against Lil Bro, I'll listen to your lip. Until then, go troll on your HOME turf---I'm sorry---your home turf has earned you a 1-7 record against Lil Bro hasn't it. BRYANT-DENNY-TUBERVILLE-CHIZIK-CAM NEWTON stadium. LOSER 28-27. Has to suck-----FOR YOU!!!!!
Soooooooo-Carolina wins the SuperBowl. Silly Bammer. Can't fix stupid.
Oh, I see. This is another one of those: Cell phone with damning evidence dropped in toilet, should have could have gottin with you sooner to the SEC and NCAA from Miss. St. but we were too busy and we were still recruiting Cam, to Cecil's financial records to Cecil's church's financial records to IRS to FBI to Milton McGregor it's all on the tapes to.........yawn. Hey, Bammer Homer. Any idea where I can get a fresh looking suit. Be careful----YOU are on probation. BAHAWWWWWWWAAAAA
SUCKERS!!!! 28-27 MELTDOWN in front of 100,000 Homers. Worse than LAMO! Worse than UTAH! Lil Bro kickin you in the teeth in your OWN HOUSE!!!! Yea, REAL worried about ol' Danny Boy
Hey, Bammer. Didn't you notice? Lil Brother is all grown up now and has been kickin' yo as- right regular. I missed THE NEWS Danny Sheridan HAS NAMED the "Bagman"?
Gosh, I'm really late to the party. What's up my AUBURN Brothers and Sisters?
Homer12--thanks, but the 3 stud QBs we have "suit" me just fine. Hey, hows that probation thing workin for ya?
Not to worry my AUBURN Brothers and Sisters. Come game time Jeffery, Corey, Dee, and Nosa wont have to pull up on QBs wearing no contact jerseys. Can't wait to see those guys in action!
Your right ref------WE COMIN!
tp---is that what the NZAA did when they put yall on probation?
tp---do some research----pbm found in soil and ground water samples as documented by Federal officals--dont be stupid because Harvey wears your colors
Let Corey Grant be the Judge----BAHAWWWWWHAWWWW
----remind me--what D1 program in the state is currently on probation. Oh, yea, thanks---


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Last January I incredulously mentioned that the airlines have just collected 22.6 billion in ancillary fees in 2010. That was up from a mere 13.5 billion the prior year.
For 2011, you won't be surprised that things have escalated significantly. US major airlines will take 12.5 billion this year from us in fees, up from only 6.7 last year. That's an increase of 87 percent, or nearly double over 2010. Carriers worldwide are expected to rake in 32.5 billion by year's end.
Delta Airlines announces its latest fee enhancement with "Economy Comfort."
Following the model of United's Economy Plus, this new service will become available in 2012, including flights to Hawaii. For an additional introductory fee likely to be $99 each way, you'll be provided with an extra 3+ inches of legroom and priority boarding. Is it a good deal? You decide. Delta this week also announced fare hikes system-wide.
Keep your Hawaii travel dollars in your pocket
1. Please check out our posts:
2. Read the fine print before you buy. The airlines simply have so many intricate rules and are masters at this game.
For example:
3. USA Today Travel recently did an article covering many of the airline fees you're likely to encounter.
If you have any tips to add let us know. Maybe you found a credit card offering a free bag or belong to an airline program that saves you on luggage and other fees.
MaryMargaret (3 years ago)
Alaska Airlines MVP program gives you 2 free checked bags.
We love ALASKA!!
ed (3 years ago)
My question is, where do they get that additional 3 inches of legroom from? I mean, I'm sure they don't remove several rows of seats to get the extra legroom…Instead, I'm afraid that they will be squashing the remaining passengers by removing their legroom. It's gotten to the point where you can't even bend over in your seat to pick up something you may have dropped onto the floor!
I wonder if someone sues an airline for DVT if they are forced to sit in a seat with a 29″ seat pitch if that would change things?
I flew to Hong Kong from the east coast a few years ago…15 hours on a plane non-stop! Good thing I was on a 747…something to be said about flying in a "true" wide body jet!
kelly (3 years ago)
I am confused by the numbers in the first two paragraphs of your story. They seem at odds with each other, am I missing something?
Vicki Nielsen (3 years ago)
It's so discouraging, isn't it. I never check bags, so don't worry about that fee. But, so many people carry on their bags now that I'm afraid that will be the next fee. I've looked some at different credit cards that offer free checked bags and other airline fee perks, but I think if you look closely at the annual fee and the interest rates, you probably don't come out ahead if you are mostly a vacation traveler like me. The fun has definitely gone out of flying in the last few years. I usually feel cheated when I get off the plane. A long flight is torture, with the crowded and small seats and stripped down in-flight meals, and other amenities that used to fill up the time. I won't, however, miss my annual trip to Hawaii. Thanks guys for your e-mails and information. I look forward to it each day.
Tana (3 years ago)
How does the airlines expect Hawaii to recover from this terrible economy we are suffering from……Flying is the only way over there unless you want to spend four days on a ship to get there…….The airlines are getting very greedy and it started with charging for our baggage….they could at least let the first bag go free and charge for a second one…. I love Hawaii and always will support it as long as I can…..