text: These lake house decorating ideas will help create a serene oasis, expertly blending with the beauty of nature all around. Print Email Photo by Nancy Nolan PagesPrevious 17 of 25 Next View All Master Privacy and Light For privacy, while being minduful of beautiful views and light filtration, opt for soft linen draperies. Related Links Naturally Inspired Georgia Lake House Nature-Inspired Lake House Lake House in the Trees


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AEI Discussion Panel – My Take On Countering al Qaeda & Other Jihadis
Yesterday, I had the good fortune to participate in a debate on the state of al Qaeda, their future direction and how the U.S. might work to counter a plethora of jihadi groups around the world. Katie Zimmerman and Mary Habeck of AEI provided a great venue and discussion questions for a lively debate.
Here is the video, jump to the 5:45 mark to start watching the discussion.
Jihadi Competition After al Qaeda Hegemony – Part 3 of Smarter Counterterrorism
My third post in the FPRI series Smarter Counterterrorism just posted. With the help of some friends, I attempted to define the jihadi environment today and explain in narrative and visually the splits in al Qaeda's ranks. If interested, please read the entire article "Jihadi Competition After al Qaeda Hegemony – 'Old Guard' al Qaeda, Team ISIS and The Battle For Jihadi Hearts and Minds" at this link. Also, because I cannot make the charts that JM Berger and I put together display as larger versions at FPRI, I am posting them here for people to download. Please click on the graphics below if you would like the larger versions for easier viewing.
Here is the intro to the post:
"Today's Jihadi Landscape: What does two competing jihadi networks and other freelance jihadi groups look like?
I've been wondering since Bin Laden's death what a world without "One Big al Qaeda" might look like–see this for example. Only now can we start to see the effects of a generational shift amongst jihadis representing two loosely formed larger networks surrounded by some, or maybe even many, loosely tied or unaffiliated jihadi groups with more regional rather than global orientations.
With the environment changing rapidly and no good way to depict today's jihadi landscape, I, with input from friends, have put together the following visual estimate of what today's fractured jihadi landscape might look like. I tried to avoid the vertical, top-down task organization chart models because I don't believe these relationships represent command and control as much as communication and collaboration. Today's global jihadi landscape looks more like a swarm not a corporation: it is fungible, malleable and evolving. For the purposes of the charts you see below (Figure 1 and Figure 3), I've created three categories, which should not be viewed as definitive or exact as I anticipate much shifting of allegiances in the coming weeks and months. I put forth a discussion here, not an answer, and I'm open to input. If a group appears left out, it's likely because I was uncertain how to assess them. The amount of overlap represents the degree to which I estimate the groups are interlinked in their communication & efforts."
And here is the chart I worked on with much help from J.M. Berger, Aaron Zelin and some friends.
Senator Inhofe Has A Scary al Qaeda Map of Africa
For those that read my FPRI post "Smarter Counterterrorism in an Era of Competing al Qaedas", I poked fun of the use of scary maps showing al Qaeda taking over entire countries. Well, the same day I posted, Senator Inhofe of Senate Armed Services Committee brought his own to talk scary with DNI Clapper and LTG Flynn. Produced by the Economist apparently.
Check it out, and then freak out! Anyone know who the staffer is that had to hold it?
Watch him bring it out at the 39:35 minute of this hearing.
FPRI Post: Smarter Counterterrorism in the Age of Competing al Qaeda's
Today, I started the first in a multi-part series of blogposts at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) on counterterrorism options and policy as of 2014. Two weeks ago, Dr. Michael Doran, Dr. Will McCants and I combined for an article at Foreign Affairs entitled "The Good and the Bad of Ahrar al-Sham" trying to illustrate the complicated nature of today's terrorism threat and how to tread cautiously in managing it. The issue we addressed was premature designation of groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO), but this represents only one strand in an extremely complicated counterterrorism landscape.
To kick off my discussion, I posted a few assumptions on my perspective of today's terrorist threat and where we in the U.S., and the broader West to a certain extent, currently stand.
For those that see this article as another extension of wonk pontificating, good on you. You are right! Standby for the next few posts as I'll get more specific. Here's the start of the post and you can read the entire article "Smarter Counterterrorism in the Age of Competing al Qaeda's" at this link.
This post and several to follow represent my assumptions and opinions on how the U.S. might push forward in counterterrorism against al Qaeda and those jihadist groups emerging from al Qaeda's wake. (These are my opinions and not necessarily shared by my co-authors Drs. Doran and McCants-–I speak only for myself here.) The posts are meant to stir discussion and debate; I have no illusions that I have all the answers or am exactly correct in my prescriptions.
For my first post in this series, I have six assumptions and/or principles that shape my opinions to come in future posts.
- Al Qaeda is not one big thing
Analysts and pundits should stop focusing on building links between al Qaeda affiliates seeking to present loose networks as one large insurmountable threat. Billing al Qaeda as "One Big Thing" over the past decade resulted in the U.S. pursuing strategies, such as military occupation and backing corrupt dictators, which galvanize competing al Qaeda adherents and unify disparate affiliate actions. The US should pick its fights wisely and for the greatest counterterrorism return at the lowest cost. Since Bin Laden's death, we've seen unprecedented al Qaeda infighting in Somalia, Syria and the Sahel. Rather than build new fears of an al Qaeda juggernaut, we should instead be employing our vaunted "smart power"–that's if the U.S. can act smartly rather than in a partisan manner and still has power in a region where it has pursued a campaign of disengagement in recent years.
FPRI Primer on al Qaeda's history
In November, I had the good fortune to participate in the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Butcher History Institute Conference "The Invention of the Middle East, Post-World War One, and the Reinvention of the Middle East, Post-Arab Spring". While I'm by no means a Middle East historian, I did have the opportunity to present a consolidated version of al Qaeda's history. The conference seeks to provide training and resources for select high school teachers around the U.S. This conference had an excellent crowd and I was honored to participate. Accompanying my presentation I did a primer on al Qaeda which I will provide the introduction to here below. You can download or read the entire paper here at this link.
Al Qaeda today only slightly resembles the al Qaeda of yesteryear. Al Qaeda operatives or "al Qaeda-like" organizations stretch throughout North Africa, across the Middle East and into South Asia. This disparate string of organizations hosts a handful of al Qaeda's original Afghanistan and Pakistan veterans but mostly consist of newcomers inspired by al Qaeda's message — disenfranchised young men seeking an adventurous fight in the wake of a tumultuous Arab Spring. Al Qaeda, or more appropriately jihadism pursued under al Qaeda's banner, has morphed in several waves over the course of more than two decades.
Over twenty years, Al Qaeda has harnessed the collective energy of various conflicts in the Middle East, South Asia and now Africa to perpetuate an enduring conflict against the West and specifically the United States. Each Muslim country conflict attracted its own set of foreign fighters ensconced in al Qaeda's ideology and operational umbrella. But each conflict and al Qaeda affiliate varies in shape, size and capability. Evaluating al Qaeda through three incarnations may help us fully understand the group's evolution into the present day and what it may become in the future. Al Qaeda may be examined in three periods: al Qaeda 1.0 (1988 – 2001), al Qaeda 2.0 (2002 – 2011) and al Qaeda 3.0 (2011 – present). Note, these periods are not distinct entities. Al Qaeda has transformed slowly through each phase. Some affiliates carrying al Qaeda's name have rapidly morphed based on changing local conditions while others have adjusted more pragmatically. However, two significant events, the attacks of September 11, 2001 and the death of Osama Bin Laden on May 1, 2011 provide natural turning points for tracing al Qaeda's evolution.
Zubaydah's Diaries: Insights into al Qaeda pre-9/11
In the years after 9/11, one of the central al Qaeda figures discussed in the open media has been Abu Zubaydah; a man often times referred to as al Qaeda's #3. Zubaydah's fame in the media came first from his spectacular capture in Pakistan and then from his water boarding. Last week, al Jazeera released an unclassified but leaked diary of Zubaydah's which detailed bits and pieces of his thoughts in the years prior to and immediately after the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Before diving to deep, I remind everyone to take Zubaydah's diary notes with a grain of salt. First, by many accounts, Zubaydah apparently is a bit crazy. In the diary, he writes entries to an alias known as "Hani 2" which may be his other personality although we don't know for sure. Second, Zubaydah seems to be as surprised by the 9/11/2001 attacks as anyone else. Third, huge time gaps exist in the diary leaving much context to be desired. We don't know why he stops or starts writing, what is being left out, what is deliberately being falsified, etc.
The original diary is available somewhere on the Internet and a good summary article can be found here at al Jazeera America's website.
From the al Jazeera article here are some interesting things that were discussed.
- Zubaydah maybe didn't know he was in al Qaeda until the media informed him? Huh? – According to the diary, Zubaydah may have tried to cover his tracks right before his capture, suggesting he wasn't part of al Qaeda. Or maybe he was surprised to find out he was the heir to Bin Laden? Never considering himself part of al Qaeda, but instead the leader of his own team. This is doubtful (BS I think) based on the Ressam investigation. Check out this quote from the article:
Perhaps mindful of the growing danger that his diaries could be seized, he writes in a Feb. 4, 2002, entry, "For five years [the media] has been attempting to connect me to anything, and the matter is growing bigger, until they lately said that I am the heir of Bin Laden for the leadership of the Al-Qaeda Organization. I hope they know that I am not even a member of Al-Qaeda, so how can I become their leader?"… In a later entry he complains, "The Pakistani newspapers are saying that I'm in Peshawar, trying to reorganize Al-Qa'ida Organization, for war against the Americans, and that I am the heir of Bin Ladin, and Time [magazine] is saying that I know the Organization and those collaborating with the Organization more than Bin Ladin himself … I wish they know that I am not with Al-Qa'ida, to begin with, and that I am with them in ideology and body."…Regardless of whether he had sworn an oath of loyalty to bin Laden — which would make him a member of Al-Qaeda — Abu Zubaydah was clearly a trusted and very senior operative in the broader movement that had Al-Qaeda at the center. He was, as he said, "with them in ideology and body."
- Zubaydah's camp in Peshawar got shutdown by the Taliban in 1999 as part of what appears may have been a Bin Laden consolidation of power. Al Jazeera notes:
In 1999, Abu Zubaydah was residing at a guesthouse in Peshawar associated with the Khaldan training camp in Afghanistan, his mujahedeen alma mater, to which he had returned in an administrative capacity….But the following year, the Taliban ordered the camp shut down because its emir had refused to hand it over to bin Laden. Not all the like-minded foreign fighters in Afghanistan before 9/11 were directly answerable to bin Laden, even some of those who shared his broad goals…..His appeals to bin Laden to reopen Khaldan fell on deaf ears. Bin Laden and the Taliban declined to reopen the camp.
- In many ways, I get the sense from the article that Zubaydah thought of Bin Laden as a bit of a rival, and seemingly dependent at times on Bin Laden for receiving funding.
"It's different when you're the one calling the shots than being a wheel that's moving mechanically with other wheels as part of a specific machine," he complains in another diary entry written on the same day. At times, he seemed to regard bin Laden more as a competitor than a mentor. Abu Zubaydah writes that more jihad volunteers chose to train at Khaldan than at the full-fledged Al-Qaeda military camps bin Laden operated."
Zubaydah continues and demonstrates, as Gregory Johnsen noted in his book on AQAP, that what separated Bin Laden from others was his money. Bin Laden, like any other business, grew al Qaeda in scale because he had the resources to propel them forward.
"The resources are shrinking … We must have a secure financial source, so it will not come to an end (the camp)," he writes on July 14, 1996. About a year later, he writes that bin Laden has stepped in and offered assistance. "Bin Laden re-submitted his offer of unity to us and the brothers inside requested me to deliberate the issue," he writes in Volume 4 on Aug. 13, 1997.
- Amongst al Qaeda's chaos, was Zubaydah trying to build his own all star team? See this concluding quote from Zubaydah:
To that end, Abu Zubaydah was building in Pakistan an ark of sorts, assembling the most skilled explosives experts and others in the movement capable of teaching the vital skills necessary to regenerate the movement.
"I took them with me, from the flood, one or two individuals from each military science, just like Noah … two pairs from each … An instructor or two from each military subject, they are the nucleus of my future work, and I am starting from zero … I am preparing a safe location for us, so that we can start."
Zawahiri commands only some of the world's "al Qaeda's"
Despite gaining ground in some countries and encountering opportunities for revitalization in Syria and Egypt, al Qaeda, as a single entity, continues to fracture. For al Qaeda's second global leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, much of this has been his own doing. After the death of Bin Laden, Zawahiri, like many new bosses, tried to assert control by pushing forward via many affiliates and in many regions. Zawahiri had always been a bit more aggressive than Bin Laden who was more pragmatic and cautious in undertaking new endeavors learning from the group's early 1990s follies in Sudan and Somalia.
@will_mccants this past week excellently captured Zawahiri's dilemma in his Foreign Affairs article, "How Zawahiri Lost Control of al Qaeda." As I bitterly noted yesterday in my rant on media depictions of an all powerful and cohesive al Qaeda, we now see many "al Qaeda-like" things on the global stage only some of which truly follow al Qaeda Central's guidance. As McCants notes,
Paradoxically, one major reason that al Qaeda affiliates are not getting along is the great many opportunities before them. The turmoil in the Arab world has created security vacuums that Zawahiri has sought to exploit by calling on his local affiliates to set up shop. As they move in, they often disagree about who should be in charge.
Ahh, so who is boss? Many believed al Qaeda was a fluid and thriving terror group because petty personal squabbles were put aside by these extremely devout al Qaeda members who always put jihadi ideology over their own interests. As detailed in Jacob Shapiro's new book The Terrorist's Dilemma and frequently seen amongst the new affiliates, personal interests routinely trump al Qaeda's global agenda. So what is Zawahiri to do asks McCants:
Zawahiri could still pare back his organization. He could amicably part company with al Shabaab in Somalia and sever ties with AQI. The open defiance of the latter would certainly merit such a response. But al Qaeda's leadership has historically preferred to admonish wayward affiliates rather than cut them loose. During the Iraq war, Zarqawi severely damaged al Qaeda's global reputation by mismanaging his organization. Yet al Qaeda's leadership preferred to privately scold him rather than cut him loose. Better to have an affiliate behaving badly, al Qaeda central figured, than to have no affiliate at all.
Zawahiri faces a different challenge than Bin Laden: a lack of levers to rein in disobedient affiliates. As seen from the Abottabad documents, affiliates of all shapes and sizes still wanted to please Bin Laden. Additionally, Bin Laden, as Gregory Johnsen notably pointed out, had what other al Qaeda leaders didn't have: money. The respect earned from the Afghan mujahideen years, the success of the 9/11 attacks, his money and personal network, as well as steady communication all resulted in Bin Laden holding a series of levers with which to admonish wayward leaders and affiliates. Today, Zawahiri does not host these attributes nor enjoy these levers and thus has little ability to punish those out of step with his wishes. The next year will certainly be critical for seeing what shape al Qaeda takes in the future, and whether it will have much of any resemblance of the al Qaeda of old.
FPRI Post – Zawahiri's Latest Message: Please Listen To Me!
Today, I posted my latest thoughts at FPRI on Ayman al-Zawahiri's public guidelines for all jihadis. In my discussion, I talk about the agency problems Zawahiri appears to be having with his affiliates; most notably al-Badgdadi of al Qaeda in Iraq/ISI/ISIS or whatever they are calling themselves this week. Syria has for some time been the great hope for al Qaeda to be resurgent. Yet, al Qaeda globally seems to be in a fight for control over this jihadi prize. Here's a snippet from the article and you can read the entire post at this link.
First, let's explore why Zawahiri would issue public rather than private guidance to the global jihadi community. Normally, al Qaeda might broadcast strategic vision publicly, but reserve directives and corrective guidance via secure communications. The most famous intercept of these private communications comes from Zawahiri's 2006 scolding of abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi for counterproductive violence against Shia in Iraq. In addition, the Harmony documents provide countless other examples of al Qaeda's internal directives and squabbles. More recently some private communications to jihadi groups in Syria have allegedly surfaced showing dissatisfaction between Zawahiri and al Qaeda in Iraq's emir abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Al Qaeda, like most any terrorist organization, normally delivers these messages in private for several reasons:
- Airing internal squabbles publicly hurts the organization's popular support and certain leader's authority,
- Public messaging can reveal strategy and orders to adversaries (counterterrorists) enabling their efforts to defeat the terrorist organization, and
- Such messaging can, at times, severely reduce the security and success of al Qaeda affiliates.
In short, this message went public because Zawahiri's guidance isn't being followed. Al Qaeda Central messages and directives either can't get to affiliates or they are being ignored. Both scenarios are problematic for the terror group.
Shabaab in Somalia Getting Left Out of Al Qaeda's Party
Recent weeks have seen a flurry of articles touting a resurgent al Qaeda. I have lots of grumblings about this notion, which I'll post separately in the coming days – namely that al Qaeda has actually done nothing as of the writing of this post to achieve its so called resurgence.
The nexus of recent U.S. embassy closures and increased drone attacks allegedly came from an intelligence intercept of an al Qaeda conference call – or as we've now learned was probably not a conference call at all but instead some sort of an online chat where people that may or may not have involved high level leaders of al Qaeda affiliates or atleast some dudes that might know important people in al Qaeda affiliates. (We really don't know anything essentially) What was interesting about the al Qaeda conference call that wasn't a conference call was who did not participate. Check out this list of participants from the Daily Beast:
Al Qaeda members included representatives or leaders from Nigeria's Boko Haram, the Pakistani Taliban, al Qaeda in Iraq, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, and more obscure al Qaeda affiliates such as the Uzbekistan branch. Also on the call were representatives of aspiring al Qaeda affiliates such as al Qaeda in the Sinai Peninsula, according to a U.S. intelligence official.
Who is missing? uuhhh, al Shabaab right?
Maybe the source just forgot al Shabaab, but I think chances are that Shabaab wasn't invited to participate in the call. Shabaab isn't out in Somalia, but they most certainly are a mess. It was less than two years ago that Shabaab's merger with al Qaeda was seen by many as a sign of that group's growing strength with some in 2010 declaring Shabaab as al Qaeda's strongest affiliate. Having recruited the largest number of Western foreign fighters of any al Qaeda affiliate at the time, Zawahiri probably thought a merger might be a good opportunity during a time of relative decline in al Qaeda.
Instead he got involved in a distant and distracting quagmire in a country that has always been a problem for al Qaeda: Somalia. Since the beginning of 2013, Shabaab under Godane's leadership has splintered. Ibrahim al-Afghani publicly called for Zawahiri to replace Godane as head of Shabaab at a time when Godane was hunting the rebellious and disgruntled American jihadi Omar Hammami. Later Godane would attempt to kill Hammami and then actually kill al-Afghani and others who called for his ouster. Now, Shabaab appears to be fighting everyone; the Kenyans, Ethiopians, TFG/SNA/AMISOM and their former comrades that have aligned with Mukhtar Robow.
So what for Zawahiri and al Qaeda? Egypt is an opportunity and Syria remains the center of gravity for foreign fighters. But we should use caution when overstating Zawahiri's ability to control al Qaeda affiliates in these ripe battlefields. It was only a few months ago that al Qaeda went silent and turned a blind eye on its dysfunctional affiliate in Somalia. Zawahiri ignored Afghani, Aweys and Hammami; passively letting his affiliate leader Godane kill al Qaeda members loyal to AQ Central. Why should we be certain from a conference call that probably wasn't a conference call that Zawahiri and al Qaeda are in control of a global insurgency in many countries? While I do think al Qaeda has probably only delayed the attack that prompted the embassy closures, I don't think the West should heap so much credit on an al Qaeda that just a few months ago couldn't silence one of its most celebrated foreign fighters (Hammami) or remove its most divisive emir (Godane).

subset: commoncrawl


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Now that his final high school season has come to a close, star defensive end Alquadin Muhammad is finally ready to begin his official visits, and MSU has made his list. He recently joined Hondo S. Carpenter, Sr. on Spartan Nation Radio and discussed it.
While his strong play is obvious, it is the intangibles qualities that make this top prospect truly special.
"It definitely comes from my family," he says when asked about his focus on doing well in the classroom.
"It also comes from me thinking, 'what about after football?' What if I get hurt or anything like that? You can go a long way with education, with a degree. That comes first. It's definitely 'student-athlete,' and that's what I'm about."
He says his parents have stressed the importance of strong character for as long as he can remember.
"They always stress school, school, work, work, grades, which is awesome. I never took anything as bad criticism – always took it as constructive criticism and worked hard."
He also understands the importance of a having a strong support system, which he feels has developed partially due to the importance he places on being a "good guy".
"When you have a good character, teachers and all of them will give you good insight on what you need to know about school and colleges and how to go about things. Everyone who has played a big role in my life has stressed school, so I know without school there's nothing."
This focus and maturity are what have earned the high school senior out of Ramsey, New Jersey, scholarship offers from a long list of major college programs.
Muhammad said MSU defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi's recent visit to his high school was "great" and that he thinks he may fit well in the Spartan defense.
Muhammad also says he looks forward to what the next few years will bring regardless of where he decides to continue his academic and athletic career.
"As a young man that worked hard and has been through many ups and downs, I'm excited. Proud of myself, proud of my family, proud of everything that's around me that's had a big influence in my life. (I am also thankful for) all the little kids who want to be like me when they get older. I'm their role model, so I try to set good examples by being a model student and a model person all the way around."


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CURRENT Newsletter | 2 January 2014
News For and About Virginia's Credit Union System
- Thank You! Virginia Reaches 2013 CULAC Goal!
- Congressional Luncheon Feb. 26; Registration Now Open
- CUNA to Tally Target Breach Costs to Credit Unions
News About Credit Union
Compliance/Regulatory Affairs News
- NCUA Video Warns of Interest Rate Risk
- CUNA, Coalition Partners Added to Jan. 17 Interchange Oral Arguments
Financial Services/Marketplace News
- Congress Allows Mortgage Tax Break to Expire
- U.S. Home Prices Increase at Slower Rate in October
- Coin Looks to Rule the Credit Card Realm
- Consumer Confidence Jumps More Than Expected in December
News From Credit Unions
- Chartway FCU's We Promise Foundation Brightens Holiday Season with $924,300 in Grants to Charities
- Chartway FCU and its Divisions Brighten the Holidays for Those in Need
- Virginia Credit Union Financial Education Efforts Reached 13,232 in 2013
- At Freedom First CU, People 'Bank for Good'
- Belvoir Federal Adopts Children and Families for the Holiday Season
- Belvoir Federal Takes Action After Target Stores Compromise
- Beach Municipal Federal Credit Union Elects Board of Directors, Officers
Chapter News
- Tidewater Chapter Meets Jan. 16
- Tidewater Chapter Seeks Participants for Jan. 21 'CU Day at the General Assembly'
Community Involvement
Marketing News
News About The Competition
Headline News
Thank You! Virginia Reaches 2013 CULAC Goal!
Before the Christmas break we had a rush of generous credit union champions who met the year-end CULAC challenge, enabling us for the first time in a number of years to meet our state CULAC goal. CULAC is the federal political action committee (PAC) operated by the Credit Union National Association. We receive funds from CULAC to contribute to the campaigns of Virginia's federal legislators. Thank you to everyone who had a hand in supporting our political fundraising efforts in 2013!
Congressional Luncheon Feb. 26; Registration Now Open
Protect the credit union movement and promote our legislative agenda by attending the Feb. 26 Congressional Luncheon in Washington, D.C., held in conjunction with CUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference.
And in case you missed it, Tony Blair, former prime minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, will keynote the 2014 GAC.
[learn more and register for the Luncheon]
[learn more and register for the GAC]
CUNA to Tally Target Breach Costs to Credit Unions
CUNA will launch a survey tomorrow that will allow credit unions to report their costs incurred to replace credit and debit cards compromised in the data breach that involved 40 million payment cards used at Target stores from Nov. 27 to Dec. 15.
Look for the survey on CUNA's website. The data collected by this survey will be extremely valuable as CUNA and the leagues represent credit unions to legislators, regulators, the media, and potentially the courts. This advocacy is necessary to minimize potential costs of the Target data breach, and to protect credit unions from harm from future data breaches.
All affected credit unions are strongly encouraged to respond. Credit unions may complete the survey anonymously, but you are encouraged to include your charter number so that we can incorporate information from your 5300 Call Report. No one other than CUNA Marketing Research staff will have access to any individual credit union responses.
News About Credit Unions
CUNA Extends Exam Survey Deadline
The Credit Union National Association will let neither rain nor snow nor holiday dishes nor the late timing of a credit union's 2013 state or federal regulatory examination stand in the way of a credit union's desire to participate in the latest survey on experiences and impressions of the examination process.
CUNA and the state credit union associations have extended the deadline for completion of the survey until Jan. 10. Credit union responses may be completely anonymous.
[take the survey]
Compliance/Regulatory Affairs News
NCUA Video Warns of Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate risk as the economy improves could be a concern for credit union managers, said the NCUA in its latest economic video analysis. John Worth, the agency's chief economist, discussed how credit unions can benefit from economic improvements while remaining vigilant about interest rate risks. [view video]
CUNA, Coalition Partners Added to Jan. 17 Interchange Oral Arguments
The Credit Union National Association and its partner members of The Clearing House coalition will be in court Jan. 17 to present 10 minutes of oral arguments in the ongoing debit interchange case known as NACS, et al. v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The court ruled Friday that CUNA and TCH members will be allowed to present their views, along with the Fed and the merchants group, during the already-scheduled oral arguments for the Fed's appeal to uphold its rule.
The Fed is assigned 15 minutes for oral arguments and the merchants have 25 minutes. In this case, a merchants' coalition has challenged the Fed's implementation of a Dodd-Frank Act-imposed debit interchange cap as too high. CUNA and its partner maintain that the cap, in fact, is too restrictive.
Financial Services/Marketplace News
Congress Allows Mortgage Tax Break to Expire
Despite bipartisan support, a tax break for struggling homeowners has been allowed to expire. A tax break enacted by Congress in 2007 which exempted homeowners from taxes on aid received from banks such as reductions in mortgage debt and short sales has expired, The LA Times has reported.
The law expired at midnight on Tuesday in spite of bipartisan support, because Congressional lawmakers went home without extending the break. Legislation pending in the House and Senate would extend the tax break through 2015, and lawmakers could take up the issue as soon as next week, The LA Times reported. [read more]
U.S. Home Prices Increase at Slower Rate in October
U.S. home prices rose in October from the previous year at the fastest pace in almost eight years. But price gains slowed in most U.S. cities from September to October, suggesting the increases are leveling off. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index rose 0.2 percent from September to October, down from a 0.7 percent increase from August to September. Monthly price gains slowed in 18 of the 20 cities tracked by the index. And prices declined in nine cities, including Chicago, Denver, and Washington. [read more]
Coin Looks to Rule the Credit Card Realm
Behold the Coin: the card to literally end all cards. Cooked up by a seven-member San Francisco startup, Coin looks like a fatter, relatively featureless doppelganger of that motley assortment you lug around with you every day. It has a mag stripe just like a credit or debit card, but that's where the similarity ends.
There are no embossed digits, numerals, UPC or QR codes typically found on gift, loyalty or membership cards. Instead, Coin has a feature none of those legacy systems possess: the ability to swallow their data whole and duplicate them old-school at the cash register.
Coin runs counter to the recent trend toward digital wallets that turn your smartphone into a payment device. While a Coin app, Square-like dongle and smartphone camera are required to load and catalog your cards into Coin, once there, each becomes available for you to swipe or spend electronically at the push of a select-a-card button on the Coin's face.
Oh, and Coin does something else that your old inert plastic never dreamed of: If you leave it behind at a bar, restaurant or gym locker, Coin chimes in via a Bluetooth signal to your phone that lets you know your card isn't where it should be -- that is, within range of your phone. [read more]
Consumer Confidence Jumps More Than Expected in December
U.S. consumer confidence rose in December as consumers grew more optimistic about the job market, according to a private sector report released Tuesday. The Conference Board, an industry group, said its index of consumer attitudes rose to 78.1 from an upwardly revised 72.0 in November.
Economists polled by Reuters had expected a reading of 76.0. Following the report, U.S. stock indexes jumped. The increase puts the index near levels last seen before the October government shutdown that unnerved consumers. [read more]
News From Credit Unions
Chartway FCU's We Promise Foundation Brightens Holiday Season with $924,300 in Grants to Charities
Chartway Federal Credit Union's We Promise Foundation knows that for a child battling a life-threatening illness, having a reason to smile can be one of the most powerful weapons in even the most formidable fight.
Throughout the past year, Chartway's We Promise Foundation has been holding numerous fundraisers aimed at raising money to make a difference for children in the communities it serves. From its 8th Annual Diamonds in the Sky Gala emceed by The Fosters Actress Teri Polo, to its 15th Annual Charity Golf Classic attended by LPGA player Jill McGill, its 4th Annual Red Carpet Celebrity Handbag Auction where it auctioned off couture handbags donated by celebrities including four-time Best Actress Emmy Award Winner, Michael Learned, and American Idol Season Six favorite, Melinda Doolittle, just to name a few, the foundation was able to achieve a new fundraising milestone in 2013.
As a result of its historic efforts, the We Promise Foundation board approved grants to 16 charitable organizations, totaling an astonishing $924,300. [read more]
Chartway FCU and its Divisions Brighten the Holidays for Those in Need
Throughout the month of December, Chartway Federal Credit Union and its divisions of HeritageWest and SouthWest Community Credit Unions worked hard to sprinkle holiday magic all across the country through numerous charitable drives.
From raising money to purchase gifts for nearly 600 children at an elementary school where 97% of the students live below the poverty line, to donating nearly 3,000 presents to the Toys for Tots program, delivering shoes, socks, and other necessities to struggling families, donating meals to local food banks, and more, this special season was made brighter thanks to the kindness and generosity of the family of credit unions. [read more]
Virginia Credit Union Financial Education Efforts Reached 13,232 in 2013
Virginia Credit Union provided financial education programs to 13,232 youth and adults in 2013. The credit union provided financial education programs in schools, workplaces, public libraries and its own facilities last year. The 13,232 figure is the most ever. "Virginia Credit Union offers financial seminars for its members and the community as part of its vision of helping people achieve greater success," said Jane Watkins, president and CEO.
The credit union offered week-long money camps for teens, an introduction to personal finance for college students at Virginia Commonwealth University, adult workshops in budgeting and reducing debt, as well as programs for first-time homebuyers and other topics. [read more]
At Freedom First CU, People 'Bank for Good'
From spearheading redevelopment efforts in challenged neighborhoods to creating an all-hands-on-deck employee workday for volunteer causes, Freedom First Federal Credit Union has focused on becoming an elite Low-Income Credit Union since landing that designation in 2010.
The $314 million credit union, which serves 46,514 members in Salem, Va., and surrounding areas, earned first place in the 2013 CUNA Community Credit Union of the Year award competition among credit unions with more than $250 million in assets.
Credit Union Magazine explores the credit union's transformation and outreach efforts with Paul Phillps, CEO; Cari Humphries, AVP of marketing; and Dave Prosser, vice president of community development. [read more]
Belvoir Federal Adopts Children and Families for the Holiday Season
Belvoir Federal Credit Union employees donated $2,400 to a fund that was used to purchase gifts for children and families that the credit union adopted during the holiday season. The employees of Belvoir Federal have made supporting families in need an annual tradition. The generous donations made by credit union employees through dress down weeks enabled Belvoir Federal to assist two military families from the Ft. Belvoir Military Installation and adopt 10 children from the USO "Elf Program." Belvoir Federal showered these families and children with gifts to help make their holidays a little brighter. [read more]
Belvoir Federal Takes Action After Target Stores Compromise
Belvoir Federal Credit Union was notified of the Target Compromise on Dec. 18, 2013, where purchases using all major debit and credit cards from any U.S. Target store (not online) between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15 may have been compromised. In response to the news of a compromise, Belvoir Federal took action to inform members and notify them of their response to the situation.
Belvoir Federal released an email to those members affected by the compromise along with a reminder email to take action, posted a static message on their website's home page to inform inquiring members of any updates, and continues to respond to member inquiries related to the compromise. [read more]
Beach Municipal Federal Credit Union Elects Board of Directors, Officers
Congratulations to the following members of the Beach Municipal Federal Credit Union's Board of Directors who were elected at the Annual Meeting held Dec. 04, 2013: Nianza E. Wallace II, Robert W. Hall and Joelle Talbot. They, along with current members Kitty Hill, Bill Meador, Lois Ritger and Charity Stone, will guide the credit union. [read more]
Chapter News
Tidewater Chapter Meets Jan. 16
Raddon's Eric Wittekiend will be the featured guest speaker at the Tidewater Chapter's Jan. 16 meeting. He'll discuss key insights into improving your sales culture. Location: Greenbrier Country Club (1301 Volvo Parkway, Chesapeake. Time: 6 p.m. social; 6:30 p.m. dinner and meeting.
Tidewater Chapter Seeks Participants for Jan. 21 'CU Day at the General Assembly'
Please join us for the Tidewater Chapter's 'CU Day at the General Assembly' on Jan. 21,2014. Transportation will be provided. For any questions, please contact Craig Zuidema at firstname.lastname@example.com or Leigh Ann Graham at email@example.com. Talking points and times will be sent to those attending.
Community Involvement
A 'Please' and 'Thank You' on Behalf of the Kids
If you have not already done so, please send in your Credit Unions for Kids (CMN Hospitals) fundraising dollars as soon as possible. Simply submit this form (which includes mailing instructions) along with your fundraising check.
Children's Miracle Network Hospitals requests credit unions send their funds directly to the CMN Hospitals' Corporate Accounting Departmentwhere an accounting team carefully reviews the form you send with your check, notes that the funds came from your credit union and records the type of fundraiser(s) you held. Every single dollar you submit will be returned to your local hospitalfrom the corporate office on a quarterly basis along with a detailed report of the credit unions who submitted the funds.
THANK YOU for submitting the simple form (which includes mailing instructions) and your funds in a timely manner. Most importantly, on behalf of the kids treated at our local Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, THANK YOU for supporting the kids in your community! If you have questions about fund remittance, please do not hesitate to contact Joe Dearborn,CU4Kids Senior Director, CMN Hospitals at email@example.com.
Marketing News
aSmarterchoice to Get Even 'Smarter' in 2014
aSmarterChoice.org, the Credit Union National Association's consumer website, is undergoing a structural redesign to build a more responsive application on mobile phones and tablets. The website was launched in 2011 by CUNA and state credit union associations to provide information on credit unions to potential members and to press professionals. CUNA also is working to augment the site in early 2014 with content in the form of a blog and more articles on financial literacy.
"The goal is to encourage return visitors to the site, folks who will do more than just search for a credit union through the finder. They will actually complete the process of becoming a credit union member because they understand and appreciate our value proposition as compared to other financial institutions," said Pat Keefe, vice president of CUNA communications. Keefe said CUNA will execute a test phase of the changes early in January.
> As a reminder, keep your credit union's contact information and field-of-membership data up-to-date on the site. You can make changes to your info at any time simply by logging into the database and submitting your changes. Need your password to access the database? Contact your League's Mary Amyx at 800.768.3344, ext. 630 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Postage to Increase in January 2014
The Postal Regulatory Commission, which oversees the United States Postal Service (USPS), has approved a three-cent hike in the price of First-Class Mail from 46 cents to 49 cents. The new rates go into effect on Jan. 26. The new single-piece First-Class Mail pricing includes:
- Letters (1 oz.) — 3-cent increase to 49 cents
- Letters additional ounces — 1-cent increase to 21 cents
- Letters to all international destinations (1 oz.) — $1.15
- Postcards — 1-cent increase to 34 cents
Customers who purchase forever stamps before the new price takes effect will continue to pay 46 cents. Learn more at http://www.uspsstamps.com/.
News About The Competition
Big Banks Look to Win Back the Average Consumer
Yahoo Finance and NerdWallet.com suggest big banks will change their focus in 2014, shifting from catering to high net worth consumers to marketing to middle-income consumers. Some of the new tactics include teller-assisted ATM machines and kiosks that let customers speak with a live teller via webcam seven days a week with longer service hours.
Concierge services, typically reserved for those who carry ultra-elite cards, are starting to crop up on midrange cards as well, like the GM credit card, which charges no annual fee and offers free upgrades on some international flights. Issuers are getting more creative with perks, too. [read more]


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Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries To Take Over Irezumi Sushi Spot at South Coast Metro Pointe
Categories: Chain Reactions, Things To Look Forward To
|Photo Courtesy of Boardwalk Fresh Burgers & Fries
If you're paying attention, this is the space left empty by Irezumi Sushi, from the now failed and infamous Mor Project .
The burger chain is actually an offshoot of Broadwalk Fries, a Maryland based chain that made its name selling fries and other boardwalk snacks like funnel cakes and hot dogs.
A glance at their menu sees no surprises. Burgers customizable with toppings like sauteed mushrooms, yadda yadda yadda.
And of course, there will be fries fried in peanut oil (like our friends at Chik-fil-A) and served in a paper cup. But here's something interesting: Since they're out of Maryland, a can of Old Bay is featured prominently on one of their pictures as a possible french fry seasoning.
It's anyone's guess how Old Bay dusted fries and the whole beach-themed enterprise will be received by OC, especially when we've got plenty of home-grown burger joints here.
So let's get the formalities out of the way: TK Burgers, In-N-Out, Fatburger, The Counter meet Boardwalk. Shake hands. Now fight! Fight to the death!
Sponsor Content


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Alabama junior quarterback AJ McCarron should step into even more of a leadership role.
- Filed Under
Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron and his supporters have given plenty of reasons he will shine at quarterback this year:
■ He hurt his arm in the fourth game of last season, and it never felt as strong the rest of the year. But he is healthy now.
■ He no longer is a rookie starter and spent some of his summer competing against and learning from some of the nation's best quarterbacks at the Manning Passing Academy. ...


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Watch X-Bow lap Nurburgring in 7m25.7Comment on this story
Lapping the Nu?rburgring Nordschleife in under 7m30 is quite an achievement. Only a select few supercars like the Ferrari Enzo have posted times below this mark and the current track record stands at 6m48, achieved by a Radical SR8.
Naturally, a purist machine like the incredibly lightweight KTM X-Bow is an ideal vehicle to chase 'ring records in, given that it's really just a roll cage with an engine and wheels.
Yet the previous best time an X-Bow could achieve was 8m10 and now a successful racing driver has managed to skim through the 'ring in just 7:25.72 minutes in a street-legal X-Bow RR - and they've also captured the moment on video, as you'll see at the bottom of the story.
The car weighs a mere 820kg and is blasted along by a 265kW/474Nm version of Audi's 2-litre TFSI turbopetrol motor.
Christopher Haase, who won the 2008 GT4 European Championship in an X-Bow GT, had just two laps to get the most out of the RR in this latest 'ring attempt and he achieved it in the second flying lap.
Naturally, the driver was thrilled with the car: "We had a lot of wind and very little grip - but we have to hold something back for next year, don't we?
"The Audi engine is also a stunner that offers any amount of torque. But the rest of the car is also great.
"The suspension works perfectly and you notice that the XBOW is lighter than most other cars when you go into every corner. This makes twice as much sense on the technically demanding Nordschleife!"
Watch the action unfold in the video below:
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- Features a one horsepower, three-phase induction motor with aluminum housing
- Patented airfoil and winglet design achieves maximum air movement in the most efficient manner possible
Ease of Operation
- Two independent pivot points give the fan 73 unique positions, from 90 degrees to a completely horizontal profile
- Easy-to-adjust touchpad and dial controller
Custom Trim Pieces
- Custom trim pieces reduce noise at the connection points for quiet operation even at the highest speeds
- Easy-to-install cage for the toughest environments
- Precision-molded hub features a high-density casting that ensures smooth operation and long life
Control Options
- Be the master of your domain. Pivot® has several control options available—check them out!
- Integrate Pivot into your facility's fire suppression system and keep employees safer.
- Add SmartSense™ to automatically adjust your fan's speed based on temperature changes and seasonal conditions.
- Use BAFWorks™3.0 to control multiple fans from a single easy-to-use touch display.
- Integrate Pivot into your building automation system for automatic centralized control of all your building's systems.
- Learn More
180° Oscillator
- Rotates 180 degrees to provide airflow to an area greater than 12,000 square feet (3657.6m2)
- Made from heavy-duty, industrial-grade components to withstand the toughest environments


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You are invited to participate in a survey regarding your experience using the AHCCCS
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The Division of Fee For Service Management (DFSM) manages the Claims Customer Service calls for AHCCCS Fee For Service (FFS) recipients. To better serve our provider community, AHCCCS FFS offers providers the ability to status their claims on the AHCCCS Website at https://azweb.statemedicaid.us/. By utilizing this service providers will receive immediate status on claims that have been submitted for their FFS clients.
The Claims Customer Service Unit is designed to assist providers with complex claim inquiries. Representatives will status up to 4 inquiries per call. Providers should use the on-line claim status as the first step in checking the status of claims/payments.
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Australia-UK - See-saw on the rise
When London-based acquisitions executive Iain Canning and Sydney producer Emile Sherman vie for the best projects under their new See-Saw production banner, the ace up their sleeve will be a first-look deal with Paramount Pictures International (PPI) to invest equity.
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Home Basic Bedding Specialty Pillows Marco Memory Foam Contour Pillow
|Sleep in comfort with the portable Marco Pillow that conforms to your head and neck for an exquisite rest at home or on the road. The durable and compact memory foam alleviates the tension on the vertebral column and pressure points. The hypoallergenic material allows for an irritant-free environment and temperature sensitive experience. It is the perfect convenience for those who enjoy sleeping on their back or side.
|18.5" x 11.5" x 3.5"
|Remove cover machine wash with cold water. Foam core of Pillow is Spot Clean Only.
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NFL 2012 - Drive to Glory
View Single Post
December 20 2012, 09:40 AM
Vice Admiral
Location: Constant transit
Re: NFL 2012 - Drive to Glory
And he'll be able to afford it with all his millions of dollars. Do not weep for him. He is going to have offers coming in from a few teams. A friend of mine is convinced he was hurt worse than the anyone wants to admit and benching him has as much to do with not showing weakness(for the team, or for Smith when he goes on the market this spring) as it does Harbaugh wanting to start fresh with Kaepernick.
I'd like to see him play some role in the post-season, but as long as they're winning it is hard to criticize Harbaugh's call on this one. When they were sitting pretty with that 28 point lead on Sunday, bringing him in to slow down the game might have kept that margin a lot bigger than it ended up being. They did win though, which is what they all get paid those millions for.
"There is no reason why good cannot triumph as often as evil. The triumph of anything is a matter of organization. If there are such things as angels, I hope that they are organized along the lines of the Maffia." - Winston Niles Rumfoord.
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Valentine Green, British, 1739-1813, after Joshua Reynolds, British, 1723-1792
Sir Joshua Reynolds, 1780
Mezzotint with drypoint
Block: 18 13/16 x 14 3/4 in.; sheet: 20 7/8 x 15 7/8 in.
Purchased through the Adelbert Ames Jr. 1919 Fund; 2008.85
Unknown artist, Northern Plains
Toy cradle, about 1890s
Wool, cotton, canvas, hide, glass, shell, copper beads
15 1/2 x 5 x 5 1/4 in.
Purchased through the Mrs. Harvey P. Hood W'18 Fund; 2008.86
Gilles Demarteau, Flemish, 1722-1776, after Francois Boucher, French, 1703-1770
Young Boy Resting His Arm on a Fence, 1775
Chalk manner and tool work, printed in black and blue inks on white laid paper
10 3/16 x 7 3/16 in. (slightly irreg.)
Purchased through the Adelbert Ames Jr. 1919 Fund; 2008.87
Jeremy Frey, American, Passamaquoddy, born 1978
Vase Basket, 2008
Brown ash, sweetgrass, white cedar
15 x 10 in.
Purchased through the Phyllis and Bertram Geller 1937 Memorial Fund; 2008.88
Unknown artist, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kuba peoples
Kuba Mukyeen mask, 19th-20th century
Wood, beads, fiber, hair, cowrie shells, cloth
Height: 24 in.; diameter: 20 in.; width: 27 in.
Purchased through the William S. Rubin Fund; 2008.89
The Kuba Kingdom in what is presently the Democratic Republic of the Congo was founded in the 1600s by the leader Shyaam the Great; the system of governance he instituted made the kingdom one of the most prosperous and powerful states in Central Africa. All Kuba kings trace their ancestry back to Shyaam and align themselves to his legacy. At the most visible level, they adopt the iconic arts of the Kuba court that Shyaam and other members of his household are said to have invented, and Shyaam's wife is credited for the mask form mukyeem. Mukyeem represents the Kuba ruler and constitutes an important part of his courtly possessions. It is this mask that represents the deceased king at his funeral and is buried with him upon his interment.
In both its materials and imagery, mukyeem is an icon of Kuba leadership. The mask depicts the Kuba king as a fantastical human being with elephantine attributes: the bull elephant, because of his size, strength, and intolerance of rivals, defined many ideals of Kuba leadership. The Kuba king's face is evoked through large, disc-like eyes and finely carved wooden ears, nose, and mouth mounted on a flat fabric surface; the elephant's trunk and tusks emerge from the crown of the head. A U-shaped padded collar affixed to the back of the head is typical of the types of headgear worn by the ruler when seated in state. The mask's basketry substructure is covered entirely with cowrie shells and glass beads, both luxury materials used as currency throughout Central Africa. The blue, red, black, and white beads form geometric patterns found on prestige cloths given as tribute to the king, while the colors blue and white carry connotations of high status and spiritual purity.
John Chamberlain, American, born 1927
Signed, 1983
Painted steel
6 1/2 x 15 1/2 x 5 in.
Gift of Hugh J. Freund, Class of 1967; 2008.90
Unknown artist, Ivory Coast, Baule peoples
Figure for an Mbra Shrine, about 1965-75
Polychrome wood
21 1/8 x 9 1/4 x 10 1/4 in.
Gift of Steve Humble of Winchester, Kentucky; 2008.91
Within Baule communities, wooden figures of beautiful men and women are created to soothe wild nature spirits called asie usu whose chaotic and harmful behavior is the root of turmoil and misfortune in the human world. Asie usu inhabit the forest and are described as hideously ugly, with twisted limbs, wild red hair, enormous eyes, backwards-pointing feet, and diseased, dirty skin. When a person's life is beset with disaster a diviner is called upon to determine the source of his or her misfortune. If that source is an asie usu, a more formalized relationship with the spirit is called for to lend structure and predictability to their interactions. The diviner commissions a wooden image of an idealized human for the spirit to inhabit, which is set within a shrine or altar located in the house of the afflicted individual. The altar complex of which this figure was part, photographed in situ in 1978, reflects both the wild temperament of the asie usu and the individual's wish to assuage it. A large cloth bundle splattered with sacrificial chicken blood and offerings of gin and filled with materials from the forest reflects the spirit's "hot" personality, while the figure itself is kept beautiful with fresh applications of paint and receives gifts of money.
The visual appeal of the figure was key to attracting the difficult spirit, while the social ideals it embodied were a powerful means of controlling it. This sculpture takes the form of a beautiful young mother of two who would hold a position of esteem within her community. Her elaborate hairstyle, which would require the assistance of several women to create and maintain, indicates her place within a wide social network, while her physical beauty and facial expression communicate complementary values of youthful beauty and mature self-possession. The fullness of her face and breasts, and especially the striations on her neck, are indications of her recent graduation from women's initiation practices that physically and mentally prepare young Baule women for their future lives as wives and mothers. During these practices, teenage girls stay indoors for several months under the tutelage of older Baule women, learning proper behavior and hygiene while feasting on nourishing foods that bestow upon their bodies the healthy plumpness here on display. Additionally, the figure's pursed mouth and hooded eyes exemplify a Baule social value of "coolness" and self-containment that valorize calm restraint over recklessness or aggression in social relationships.
Sanford Biggers, American, born 1970
Peter Norton Christmas Project 2008, 2008
Plastic and electronics
1 x 12 1/4 x 12 1/4 in.
Gift of the Director of the Hood Museum of Art; 2008.92
Unknown artist, Northeast, Delaware
Bandolier bag, collected about 1850
Commercial cloth, silk, and glass beads
30 x 22 7/8 in.
Purchased through the Miriam and Sidney Stoneman Acquisitions Fund; 2008.93
Last Updated: 12/21/09


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Anna's Hummingbirds do not fly south for the winter. I have Christmas lights wound around the Hummingbird feeder to keep it from freezing so that the birds can drink freely. This Hummingbird sits on one of the Christmas lights in order to keep warm.
Winter Hummingbirds
By: janetta412Subscribe Channel: Weather & Scenery Location: NE Portland, Parkrose District
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Valve is offering a deal on the Hitman games on its Steam platform this weekend. Codename 47, Silent Assassin and (our beloved) Blood Money are all available for half price at £2.99 GBP. Or, alternatively, you can purchase the Hitman Collection which contains all three games (although, strangely, not Hitman Contracts) for £6.99 GBP.The deal ends on Monday, so don't miss out.A new Hitman game is reportedly in development and, despite an early rumour that Rocksteady (of Batman: Arkham Asylum fame) is developing the game, IO Interactive is apparently still in charge.
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I'd like you to take a look at this comic. The subject line is from Coop, the trigger to making it was seeing it after digging through the subject line forum. This comic was hand-crafted to my specifications. And I rarely draw unless I mean to post it.
...And nobody will get the reference, yay!
EDIT: ...Stupid.. wrong forum!


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November 30, 2015
New things are constantly coming to Downtown Dothan, but sprucing up the area takes community involvement.
The Development Group wants to focus on the importance of Dothan's Downtown as a community hub.
Over the past few years, it has gained momentum and the group wants it to continue.
On Tuesday, the group encouraged Rotary club members to get in on the action.
"New businesses that are coming in are so important to building downtowns because that lends a new vibrancy to the heartbeat of the Circle City again," said Jill Williams of the Downtown Group. "What we want to do is encourage as many shops and restaurants to be in one core location. It is a one stop shop for community's to come in instead of having to go to all these different places around the circle."
Williams says in five years, the Development Group hopes to have several more new businesses and see more traffic downtown.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
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- Age / Gender:
- 29, Male
- Location:
- lifeless cocoon
- Joined:
- 10/30/03
- All Stats >
here's my e-mail, feel free to send me crap! linkmaster64bits@yma il.com no spaces.
User Statshot
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Level 6 Blank Slate
Normal Whistle
Ranked as Civilian
Contact Info / Websites
Favorite Games
Favorite Audio
|Teach The World to Fap
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Latest News
I haven't been feeling tip top shape as of late. Weather isn't all that great either... rain, heat, humidity... the usual crap of life. Just glad that winter if FINALLY out of my mind for the next 5 months or so.
Aside that, personnal projects aren't moving as fast as I would like them to but I'm not not doing anything at the least. School isn't over yet so that'll be another month of really hard work there (have around 4 months of catching up to do) but at the same time, quite the amount of fun to have with folks I've become to enjoy their presence around me. More than others anyways.
Started playing League of Legends again recently... I had stopped because of issues I had with how the game was being played rather than why it was played... "Buy wards, you FEEDERS! Because I said so!" and that kind of thing, hope you get the reference but I sort of doubt it.
Gonna try to have a relaxed week-end, that is if that guy below me doesn't want to watch the hockey game until 4 in the morning...
Next post will be a personnal review of the new "Godzilla" movie.
Favorite Movies
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Total Medals Earned: 64 (From 14 different games.)
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- 1 Game


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Swisher ZTR2460BS
Have you looked at a lawn care attendant and you were amazed by the rate at which they completed their job in a few minutes depending on the size of the lawn they are attending to? Well, that is possible not only to them but to you as well. It is simple if you make the best choice though. Here are undisputed tips on how you can make wise decisions especially when you want to be the proud owner of the most efficient zero turn riding mower in the market.
A) Durability
Wondering how you can be able to tell whether the zero turn riding mower will last not? There are practical thing that can easily show you that a machine can simply take a while with you not withstanding where it is going to be used. One of the things you need to check on is the overall sturdiness. Check the front and the rear pumper. Good and durable zero riding mowers are made of pure or a mixture of steel alloys which is a durable metal for any automobile.
B) Deck Construction
Another main thing to take into account is the construction of the deck. Most decks are stamped. Granted, many lawn mowers have decks that brought together by many pieces of metal preferably steel. But if you will get a stamped deck, you are on the safe side. Such decks are more effective in whatever terrain they are used in. a throughout scrutiny on the way the deck is made will do you good as well, you will also learn if the deck has gauge wheels that are adjustable in order to meet different cutting heights which a good zero riding mower should have.
C) Engine Design
While it is agreeable that most zero turn riding mowers come with a single cylinder, it is also good to note that a two-cylinder zero riding mower is also becoming popular as well. In fact, they are now prevalent than before. Because of that, it will be advantageous to look for a two-cylinder zero turn riding mower as compared to a single cylinder. The former is powerful, has less vibration and has a smoother cut.
D) Cutting Height
A good zero-turn riding mower should be easy to adjust its cutting height. This is son because; adjustment is done while mowing is in progress. If it were to be done in a different way maybe before or after mowing, it couldn't be a bother. But now since it is done amid the work, it is advisable that you look for a mower whose adjustment has been simplified. This in turn enables the rider easy time to complete the work.
E) Comfort
Whether you were in the kitchen or driving your car, comfort is key. A zero turn lawn mower is no exceptional. Your comfort as you mow is imperative. The beauty is that with the zero-turn lawn mower, you are guaranteed comfort as compared to other riding lawn mowers such as a tractor. Nevertheless, it doesn't mean that comfort comes automatically. It is what you need to look up into in any riding mower that you are going to purchase.


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|Punk Rock 101
|TABS text only
|Difficulty: undetermined
|return to normal I wanted my band to play this song.....but there wasn't a tab for it, so I decided to tab it myself, its a great song! enjoy! (Listen to the song for the rhythm, becuase its almost impossible to show you the rhthm in tabs) Intro Part A e|- (guitaretab.com)


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Started Jan 22, 2013 | Discussions thread
Shop cameras & lenses ▾
Jan 22, 2013
Taken from Anglesey with the NEX-6, E55-210 zoom. I used the HDR painting effect but I'm not sure about it:
Thanks for looking
A620er's gear list:A620er's gear list
Canon PowerShot A620 Sony Alpha NEX-6 Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
Olympus E-5 Sony Alpha NEX-6
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Joseph Yates
- Filed Under
A Circleville man who raped a 12-year-old girl multiple times during a nearly yearlong period will spend seven years in prison.
Joseph E. Yates, 26, last known address 117 Pontious Lane, Apt. 12, entered a guilty plea to one count of first-degree felony rape Monday in front of Licking County Common Pleas Judge David Branstool.
Yates had been indicted on six counts of rape, all of which carried a possibile sentence of 15 years to life in prison because the victim was younger than 13. As a result of plea negotiations, five of the six counts were dropped. The terminology on the remaining count was ...


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I'm trying to eat more meatless meals but I need help being creative. I go to stores like Whole Foods or markets that make some great salads and sides with beans and sample. I buy a small portion and if I like it I get creative and make my own version.
I have found a product that I love to flavor my water it is True Lemon, True Lime, and True Orange. They also have some wonderful Lemonade sweetened with Truvia. The Crystals in the packetts are real juice and oils from the fruits and give you vitamin c and no calories. They taste fantastic.
Dex4.com for Hypoglycemia Free Sample of glucose tablets
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Devon and Zack Randall serve up a hot piss and jizz for each other and YOU!
More Galleries from Boys Pissing Click to see all 172 Galleries
There are 20 comments on this gallery
samsan2000 November 07, 2008 - 06:58:53 (See all My Comments)
i want a piece of Zack's uncut cockReply
Superboy69 July 24, 2008 - 03:25:26 (See all My Comments)
Not into piss, but anything that comes out of Randall's great boy cock has got to be worth trying.Reply
hal312 May 04, 2008 - 00:32:46 (See all My Comments)
Not into pissing, but might be willing to try if I could rub my cock against Zack's uncut piece of meat and his hairy pubes.Reply
bierkumpel February 25, 2008 - 09:03:20 (See all My Comments)
Zack has got the best pressure I've ever seen. he must have practised a lot in his youth and now he is able to piss in everybody's mouth from every position. great!Reply
tails50 February 23, 2008 - 20:44:12 (See all My Comments)
Everyone to his own.I happen to like piss photos and those on this site are very good. If you are offended by the subject matter push the exit button.Reply
STLMISERY February 22, 2008 - 07:22:22 (See all My Comments)
I'D LOVE TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THESE TWO... NOT INTO PISSING, BUT WOULD GIVE IT A WHIRL. WOULD LOVE TO GET FUCKED BY EITHER OF THESE LIL BOYS.Reply
ronboy February 20, 2008 - 22:34:02 (See all My Comments)
These guys are hot. Period. End of story!Reply
apiglet1 February 20, 2008 - 04:00:03 (See all My Comments)
Hey, you guys that aren't "into W/S"...don't knock it...dunno why, but I was fantasizing about piss before I knew what to do about sex...fortunately, I have cum to put the two together!Reply
Minnesota Guy February 20, 2008 - 01:59:20 (See all My Comments)
The dark hair model is Zach Randall. He has been featured on a few websites. I think it very hot as well.Reply
Eromenos February 19, 2008 - 19:27:42 (See all My Comments)
I'd piss all over these sexy guys!Reply
frenum_uk February 19, 2008 - 19:02:58 (See all My Comments)
Both got nice frenulums, even the circumcised guy - rare to even have one!Reply
kniteowl February 19, 2008 - 18:13:39 (See all My Comments)
Not into pissing but the dark hair guy is just perfect!!!!Reply
likmbig February 19, 2008 - 18:02:46 (See all My Comments)
While piss isn't my thing, I think this photo set is very erotic.Reply
SalesStud February 19, 2008 - 16:48:15 (See all My Comments)
Totally gross....BUT the dark-haired guy is beautiful! Who is he?Reply
1961bobcat February 19, 2008 - 15:38:25 (See all My Comments)
8, 9, 10, and 11 are too HOT. Don't care for the pee, but the cum shots are arousing.Reply
tingaling February 19, 2008 - 14:58:21 (See all My Comments)
nasty buzzards!geez thats just gross!Reply
prudyprudestein February 19, 2008 - 14:00:20 (See all My Comments)
i'd let them serve me their piss. Would love to blow both of them and take their man juice.Reply
DON55 February 19, 2008 - 13:37:33 (See all My Comments)
Gotta be me, but I just don't get the whole pissing scene. Just to gross.Reply
fuzzy64 February 19, 2008 - 13:22:49 (See all My Comments)
man the dark haired one is hot!Reply
dairyking469 February 19, 2008 - 13:12:47 (See all My Comments)
The dark haired guy is totally hot. I'm not into WS, but I would for himReply


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In 1995 Kevin Smith released his second feature film to lackluster reviews
and a drubbing by the movie critics that no man deserved, only to later find that
'Mallrats' was a huge fan favorite when it was released on home video. To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the theatrical release of Mallrats, we've decided to release a jam-packed 10th anniversary DVD featuring an all-new recut Extended Edition of the movie. Also featured on this dvd:
Jay & Silent Bob's Secret Stash
Online Orders Help Number: (732) 842-6933
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Stoney Boy Music presents Sammarco Beats volume 1 compilation
Stoney Boy Music's resident tribal master, Chris Sammarco, returns with the most anticipated mixed compilation of 2013, Sammarco Beats Volume 1. This compilation is unlike any other DJ mix as each track on this compilation has been remixed, re-worked or mashed to give each track Sammarco's own unique flavor. Each track in individually available, and included are two exclusive never before available Sammarco remixes. The first, already buzzing from the advance promo, is Cheets feat Phillipa Alexander-Back and Forth. This one has a massive energetic piano line that is sure to work any dance floor into a frenzy. The second exclusive, is Chris's Brazlian styled remix of DJ Mark One's-Party Up, which will please dance floor of all types. Grab your copy on Beatport and I Tunes now!
Listen/Download Release Here!
Related Posts:
- Matt Aubrey & Holevar feat. La Rae Starr – Super Nova (Chris Sammarco Remix)
- Nicole Kerrigan – Feel So Alive (Chris Sammarco Mix) [418 Music]
- Che Jose & Ryan Enzed ft. Jacq – The Game [Stoney Boy Music]
- Sammarco Beats presents The Union
- Lizzie Curious – I'm Not Drowning [Curiousity Club]


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A biker jacket
A rebellious, devil-may-care attitude is the driving force behind any insouciant look. Whether thrown on over a vintage tea-dress or faded denim cut-offs, Moss' choice of cover-up is nearly always a fitted leather biker. Toughen up weekend staples with a classic black style.
the must read: kate moss art
As London auction house Christie's prepares for the bidding war that the Kate Moss: From The Collection of Gert Elfering sale is sure to create, read up on the 58 iconic and sometimes rarely seen artworks of the supermodel in the auction's pre-sale catalog. Whether to plan a purchase or to simply pour over the comprehensive treasury of Moss images, this is an unmissable study of a modern muse. Preview Sept 21-25, auction Sept 25; christies.com
wear it withcredits
Words: Natalie Rigg; Kay Barron. Photograph: Bruce Anderson
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< >


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Publisher's Description+
ScheduFlow Calendar Software is a networkable calendar software for managing schedules, calendars, contacts, and booking appointments. This appointment scheduling software replaces your paper-based appointment book. Schedules can be viewed in Day, Week, Month, Timeline, 3D Carousel Card View. Users can share schedules on multiple computers on a local network or through the Internet. Schedules entered on one computer will immediately become visible for other users on the network. In depth PDF printable reports can be grouped and filtered by dates/resources/clients. Schedules can be assigned to unlimited resources/employees. ScheduFlow Calendar Software allows customizing and and color coding of appointment labels and statuses.
What's new in this version:
Version 2009 supports Vista.


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If you find there are broken links, misssing pages, wrong chapters or any other problems in a manga/manhwa, please comment here. We will try to solve them the first time.
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Dame BL 6 released in mangahere fastest, recommend your friends to read Dame BL 6 now!
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Wednesday, September 1, 2010
© Copyright 2015 Albany Herald
ALBANY, Ga. -- Things have begun to pick up at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital and at the future site of Phoebe Sumter Medical Center.
Officials in Americus and Albany have been monitoring the ongoing progress of the Phoebe Sumter complex and now have a clearer picture as to when the site will be used for its intended purpose.
"This investment is allowing (the Americus community) to go through a phoenix," said Phoebe CEO Joel Wernick. "It is a topic of discussion there, and you see something new every day at the construction site."
Two of the three on-site medical office buildings are expected to be open in January 2011, with the third to follow shortly after. A topping-out ceremony for the hospital is planned for November. The ground was broken on the site at a ceremony late last year, which was attended by such dignitaries as former President Jimmy Carter.
Sumter Regional Hospital was destroyed in a March 2007 tornado, after which a temporary facility was put in place. A number of physicians, some of whom left the area after the storm, have committed to practice at Phoebe Sumter.
The complex, which is being constructed at 126 Highway 280, is expected to include women's and family services, oncology, surgery, and wellness and education centers. The complex also includes the hospital, which will be four stories high and consist of 76 beds. It is expected to be in operation by the end of 2011.
Things have also picked up in Albany's facilities, where officials have reported an increase in lengths of stay, emergency center visits and convenient care visits.
Officials say a lot of the increased use has to do with the economic downturn.
"People have had a difficult time in this economy keeping in touch with their primary care physicians," said Dr. Doug Patten, senior vice president of medical affairs at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. "We see that translate into (increased) visits to the ER and convenient care.
"The length of stay is longer because patients being admitted are actually sicker now."
The length of stay for patients at the hospital during Fiscal Year 2010 was 5.36 days, up from 5.17 days in Fiscal Year 2009. During the same time frame, emergency center visits rose from 50,529 to 53,171, and convenient care visits have risen from 36,741 to 39,201.
There was increased activity at Phoebe during the same time last year, which was primarily caused by the H1N1 outbreak.
Even so, it's not uncommon for spikes to occur going into the the last quarter of the year.
"As we go into fall, we see more encounters with health care, particularly with it being flu season," Patten said. "It will stay busy, and volume will pick back up."
The same report, presented to media representatives at a Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital board meeting Wednesday, also shows that admissions have decreased from 18,791 in Fiscal Year 2009 to 17,921 in Fiscal Year 2010, and patient days have gone down from 97,231 to 96,090 during the same period.
This might have to do with increased activity in Americus.
"We like that; we think that's the right answer," Patten said. "We will press people to get treated close to home."
During a three-hour executive session, the board also discussed recommended staff changes, which were later approved during open session.
More like this story
- Phoebe still planning to move forward with trauma center ( November 3, 2010 )
- Chief medical officer at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital resigns ( April 21, 2014 )
- Temporary Phoebe Sumter facility being demolished ( April 3, 2013 )
- Phoebe Sumter to conduct ribbon-cutting today ( December 9, 2011 )
- Phoebe Sumter Medical Center has new interim CEO ( June 7, 2014 )


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|Decreased left ventricular coronary artery density in pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum.
MedLine Citation:
|PMID: 17627104 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE
|BACKGROUND: The prognosis for pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum (PAIVS) has been poor. Our hypothesis is that intrinsic abnormal left ventricular (LV) intramyocardial circulation might be related to the poor outcomes of these patients. METHODS: Neonatal heart specimens were examined microscopically in four groups of 6 cases each. Group I had PAIVS with ventriculocoronary artery connections (VCAC), group II had PAIVS without VCAC, group III had normal hearts, and group IV had LV hypertrophy. A projection microscope with grid overlay was used to count the LV intramyocardial coronary artery density (IMCAD), which was expressed as the number of profiles/mm(2). RESULTS: The LV IMCAD of groups I (0.40 +/- 0.14/mm(2)) and II (0.45 +/- 0.15/mm(2)) were significantly lower than those of groups III (0.77 +/- 0.11/mm(2)) and IV (0.76 +/- 0.09/mm(2); all with p = 0.002). There was no significant difference between either groups I and II (p = 0.394) or groups III and IV (p = 0.818). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates lower LV IMCAD in a widely heterogeneous spectrum of neonatal hearts with PAIVS, which might potentially predispose these patients to myocardial ischemia and in turn contribute to the poor prognosis of this disease.
|Mao-Sheng Hwang; Glenn P Taylor; Robert M Freedom
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Publication Detail:
|Type: Journal Article Date: 2007-07-10
Journal Detail:
|Title: Cardiology Volume: 109 ISSN: 1421-9751 ISO Abbreviation: Cardiology Publication Date: 2008
Date Detail:
|Created Date: 2007-12-06 Completed Date: 2008-01-18 Revised Date: -
Medline Journal Info:
|Nlm Unique ID: 1266406 Medline TA: Cardiology Country: Switzerland
Other Details:
|Languages: eng Pagination: 10-4 Citation Subset: IM
Copyright Information:
|(c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel
|Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Chang Gung Children's Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.
Export Citation:
|APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex
|MeSH Terms
Coronary Vessel Anomalies
Coronary Vessels / pathology*
Heart Ventricles / pathology
Infant, Newborn
Pulmonary Atresia / pathology*
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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Earl Theater
319 E. Main Street,
No one has favorited this theater yet
The Earl, on Main Street near Hebard Street in Knoxville, is listed in the 1945 Film Daily Yearbook as open with seating for 315. Another theater, the Tivoli, with 175 seats, is also listed as operating at that time. Any further information would be appreciated.
Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
Living first in Galesburg & then in Peoria in my early years, I passed thru Knoxville many times. The Earl was opened about 1942, at which time the Tivoli was closed. It was a very attractive art deco house from the outside (I was never in it), but regrettably closed probably by 1960 and has long-since been demolished.
The Earl was a fine movie house located on Main Street in Knoxville where the Mobil convinience store is now located.The picture is correct as to its location. It sat on the south portion of the lot with the sidewalk in front.A lighted marquee sign facing east and west.Closed in early 80's.
The grassy area next to the tan building was an alley to the rear of the Earl. Used to be a diner. It is now a barber shop or similar venue.The theater was next to the alley and sat about 15 feet from Main street only the sidewalk seperated it from the road.To the right was an older home/ used car lot. A auto repair shop is located there now.
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater


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Sri Lanka and New Zealand were sure to qualify for the semi-finals before the start of the tournament but the tables have turned and fate brigs them against each other with only the victor going through to the semis. With South Africa already qualified for a spot, these two teams face off in a must win match and it should be a cracker.
Sri Lanka is probably the better team here with an amazing bowling attack and they have been consistent throughout the ICC World T20 2014. Lasith Malinga is an indispensable weapon for the Sri Lankan team who delivers in almost every imaginable condition. Sri Lanka's batting with stalwarts like Jayawardene and Dilshan along with Sangakarra and Perera.
New Zealand may not have shown it on the field but they look like the most evenly balanced team in the ICC World T20 2014. New Zealand has James Neesham and Trent Boult to counter Sri Lanka's batting and they have Nathan McCullum to spin things around for them.
Williamson, Taylor and Brendon McCullum have shown their prowess with the bat and its time that they show it one more time against Sri Lanka to reach the semi-finals.
Catch the score updates here.
Sri Lanka win by 59 runs
New Zealand 60 all-out after 15.3 overs
New Zealand 59/7 after 15 overs
New Zealand 36/6 after 10 overs
New Zealand 23/2 after 5 overs
Williamson and Guptill open the batting for New Zealand
—END OF 1st INNINGS—
Sri Lanka set target of 120 runs for New Zealand
Sri Lanka 119 all-out after 19.2 overs
Sri Lanka 85/6 after 15 overs
Sri Lanka 55/3 after 10 overs
Sri Lanka 30/2 after 5 overs
Dilshan and Perera open the batting for Sri Lanka
Check the T20 World Cup 2014 Schedule: Match Time Table & Fixture Details here
For ICC World Twenty20 2014 Points Table, Match Results and Team Standings click here


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Review Of Hubsan X4 H107D Quadcopter
Review Of Hubsan X4 H107D Quadcopter
This particular model called the Hubsan X4 H107D Quadcopter is one of the models in a series of RC Quadcopters called the H107 Series. We could not figure out where this model is actually coming from. From the Hubsan website we found that there is only the Hubsan X4 H107L model and the Hubsan X4 H107C model. We have already written an extensive review on the Hubsan X4 H107L model which we had called just the Hubsan X4 H107 at the time. We were not aware that the there was a newer, more advanced model that came out recently.
Product Specifications
- Latest 6-axis flight control system with adjustable gyro sensitivity
- FPV Live Video and Audio Streaming & Recording – built in video camera
- Video & audio is recorded to SD card
- Package includes Protection Ring
- Flying has two options: Normal to Expert Mode
- Lightweight airframe
- Mainly for indoor flying
- Frequency: 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz for video transmission
- Flight Range: Up to 100 meters in open space for LCD control
- 3.7 V @ 380mAh Li-Po battery
- Takes 30 minutes to fully charge Li-Po battery
- About 7 min of flight time
- Camera Resolutions: 0.3M pixels @ 640 x 480
- 4 night LED lights
Buy the Hubsan X4 H107D model Here
Full Review
It seems that the company Hubsan made one of the most popular models with their older mini-quadcopter model. People were crazy about it but still had a few things they wished. The big thing that was asked for and delivered has been the new integrated camera into the model. Just like the previous models, the X4 H107D is a type of micro-quadcopter. The device is very small.
We found from the product page on the H107D that the camera's spec are listed at 0.3 Megapixel and 640*480. This is not HD but when we watched the video below from YouTube showing how the video would look from your transmitter, we were very surprised at how clear it seemed. Obviously the thing about getting a high resolution, clear shot from any camera, video or not, is to make sure you are holding the camera relatively steady and not shaking it around. When you watch the video as the X4 H107D starts to rise up in the air, notice how smooth the lift-off is. There is almost no turbulence and shaking.
As for the response time of the screen from the FPV (First Person View) the video changes almost instantly along with every single movement that the quadcopter makes.
We have always said that the 6 axis adjustable gyro sensitivity system is amazing and here is a clear evidence. Something new that has been added is the rubber feet padding at the bottom of the UAV. When you land the model, the rubber padding really absorbs most of the shock to damper out vibrations. This means that the quadcopter will last longer with much less chances of breaking something if you maybe make a slight mistake in landing the device too hard. You also have the protection ring which is the outer foam mode to put around the blades. This will help prevent the blades from hitting the walls if you flying it indoors and get it too close to the walls.
Another thing that we really like about this model is that it is claimed by the sellers that it takes just 30 minutes to charge the model, to the maximum for the internal Li-Po battery. We looked at the battery specs and it says that it would be at 3.7 Volts and 380 miliAmpHour. That is extremely good for a mini-quadcopter model. As for the flight time the maximum for one battery is supposed to be 7 minutes. That is sort of average but we would have liked if the model could have done better, maybe a total of 10 minutes. However, that issue is only a small concern. We just really like the fact that it takes only 30 minutes to fully charge the model to maximum battery power.
As for us, we like the new model and want to see more models made by the company. Of course, our opinions are just our own opinions. We are just a group of people who love these awesome new gadgets which look like alien spaceships. We understand that everyone wishes to find the best models to get the most satisfaction and fun from them.
You should definitely read what other people are saying about the particular model, NOT just what we say. What matters even more is what other people think of the model of quadcopter. The collective opinions of everyone is what will help you make the best choices when you do make any final decisions.
So what do other people think of the X4 H107D model?
Read what other people are saying about it here
You can see another review of the H107D model in the video below. They also take it out of the box for an outdoor flight demonstration.