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Appendix A
Selective Re-appraisal of Sales
(Sales Chasing)
Beginning with the 1999 Property Value Study, Section 403.302, Government Code required the Comptroller to ensure that "different levels of appraisal on sold and unsold property do not adversely affect the accuracy of the study." Differing levels of appraisal are often referred to as unequal appraisal, and the most common cause of unequal appraisal is sales chasing.
Sales chasing is the practice of using the sale of a property to trigger a change in appraised value of that property to (or near) the property's selling price. In contrast, the appraised value of unsold property is not changed. The practice of sales chasing may cause invalid findings in ratio studies like the Property Value Study.
Effect on the Property Value Study
Sales chasing may taint the findings of ratio studies that require large samples of sales. The study depends heavily on sales because the alternative, conducting appraisals, is cost prohibitive. If an appraisal district is chasing sales, the sample will show appraised values at or near market value. Since the sample is made up of a subgroup of all properties in its category and this subgroup is treated differently than the universe of properties, this sample may not reflect the true nature of the universe of properties. The reality may be that the majority of appraised values—unsold properties—may be below or above market value. In a rising housing market, sales chasing may cause a study to arrive at an inaccurately low taxable value. Conversely, in a falling market, sales chasing may cause a study to arrive at an inaccurately high taxable value.
Study Response
PTD's response to the legal requirement to ensure that the accuracy of the study is unaffected by unequal appraisal has two primary steps:
- conduct one or more tests in each appraisal district to determine if it is likely sales chasing is occurring; and
- adjust the sample to correct for sales chasing in districts where sales chasing is likely.
In situations where sample adjustments are required, PTD staff ensures that the sample contains properties that had no chance of unequal treatment by sales chasing. This is done by including sales that occurred too late in the study year for the sales price to be used by the appraisal district, by including sales from sources unavailable to the appraisal district or by including PTD staff appraisals.
It is important to note that even in districts where samples are adjusted, if sold and unsold property is appraised equally at or near market value, the study findings will not be adverse to the school or appraisal district.
Questions and Answers about Margins of Error and Confidence Intervals in the Property Value Study
95 percent confidence interval: The 95 percent confidence interval or range of values means that, on average, 95 out of 100 samples would result in a value that lies within the computed range of values. The correct value is assumed to be within the computed range of values.
standard error: A "standard error" is a commonly used statistical term. It is a measure of the differences between an average and all the numbers that go into determining that average. Conceptually, it is somewhat similar to a coefficient of dispersion.
"t-value": The "t-value" is an adjustment factor that increases the margin of error as the sample size decreases.
- What is a margin of error? How is it calculated?
A margin of error (as computed in the Property Value Study) is approximately twice the "standard error" of a school district's estimated value (in the property categories "tested"), expressed as a percentage of such value. Consequently, the margin of error indicates statistical reliability.
The following procedures are used to calculate the PTD margin of error:
- Calculate the "standard error" (SE $) of the school district's estimated value.
- Multiply the "standard error" (SE $) by the appropriate t-value at the 95 percent "confidence interval." (See definition above.)
- Divide the product of the standard error (SE $) and the t-value (See definition) by the school district's estimated value.
Formula = (SE $ * t-value)/ISD $ estimate
- How is a margin of error related to a confidence interval?
The margin of error is equal to one half of the confidence interval expressed as a percent of total value "tested" in a school district. For example, assume that PTD staff estimates market value in sampled and censused property categories in school district ABC to be $100 million (before exemptions). The margin of error is computed to be plus or minus 5 percent of $100 million. Market value plus 5 percent is $105 million; market value minus 5 percent is $95 million (the $100 million estimate is known as a "point estimate"; the confidence interval of $95 million to $105 million is often called an "interval estimate.")
- What is the purpose of a confidence interval?
A confidence interval provides one measure of whether the state's estimate of value in a school district is statistically significantly different from the self-reported appraisal roll value (i.e., local value) in that district. In other words, a confidence interval is a measure of the reliability (or precision) of the Comptroller's estimate of school district value.
Assume that Comptroller staff estimates market value in ABC school district to be $100 million with a margin of error of 5 percent at the 95 percent confidence level. This means that the actual market value in ABC school district is probably somewhere between $95 million and $105 million. This range constitutes the 95 percent confidence interval. The 95 percent confidence interval means that, in repeated sampling of this school district, approximately 95 of every 100 computed confidence intervals would be expected to contain the true market value, which staff has estimated to be $100 million, while only five of these would not.
If the local value in the ABC school district lies within the calculated confidence interval, then the difference between the local value and the "point estimate" of value is statistically insignificant. This means that the Comptroller has not disproved local value. In this case, the Comptroller certifies ABC's local value to the commissioner of education. If the local value lies outside the confidence interval, the Comptroller's estimate of value is certified to the Commissioner of Education. If local value lies outside the confidence interval, the Comptroller has disproved local value because the difference between the local value and the Comptroller's estimate is statistically significant.
The study contains a "hold harmless" feature. This feature means that if the school district's tested value is calculated to be within 5 percent of the PTD estimate of value, the PTD will automatically certify the school district's value. Also, if the school district's margin of error is calculated to be less than 5 percent, then the PTD will calculate (i.e., widen) the confidence interval as if it were 5 percent for purposes of certifying value. The actual percentage used in the calculation is set by management and could vary in future studies.
- Is the target margin of error the same in every school district?
Yes. The target margin of error is also referred to as a "planned" margin of error.
- If the target margin of error is the same in every district, is the target confidence interval the same in every district?
No, because they are expressed in different units. For example, the margin of error is expressed in percentage terms while the confidence interval is expressed in dollar terms. Assume there are two districts, ABC and XYZ. The Comptroller estimates the total value (in tested property categories) to be $100 million (in ABC) and $500 million (in XYZ). If the margin of error is 5 percent in both districts, the confidence interval of ABC would be $95 million to $105 million, while the confidence interval for XYZ would be $475 million to $525 million. Although the margin of error is the same for both districts, the "widths" of the confidence intervals are different because the districts' values are different. However, even if two school districts have identical margins of error and/or confidence intervals, this does not determine whether local or state value will be certified. The critical test is whether local value lies within the PTD's computed confidence interval for the district.
Are the confidence interval and margin of error for a school district computed on the basis of all value in the district?
No. In computing a confidence interval for a school district, staff only includes property categories whose values were estimated from representative (i.e., random) samples taken in that school district. If a property category is not tested, that category value is excluded from the confidence interval and margin of error calculations for that school district.
For example, assume a school district with a Comptroller estimate of market value of $106 million before exemptions. Total local value in the district as shown on the self report is $98 million. The estimated margin of error is 5 percent. Assume further that staff does not sample any properties in Multi-family (Category B) and Vacant Lots (Category C) in the school district because they constitute less than 5 percent of value. The combined value of these "non-sampled" (i.e., non-tested) categories is $6 million. "Non-sampled" property categories are assigned local value.
The confidence interval for this district is computed as follows:
$106 million less $6 million = $100 million
(the point estimate)
$100 million – 5 percent and $100 million + 5 percent =
$95 million and $105 million
(the confidence interval).
Since the local value for the "sampled" property categories (excluding Categories B and C) lies within the confidence interval, the Comptroller would certify local value for the district.
Remember that the Comptroller computes confidence intervals before deducting exemptions. If a school district's local value, before exemptions, lies within the Comptroller's computed confidence interval, then the Comptroller certifies local taxable value, after exemptions, to the Commissioner of Education.
Are "technical" properties treated differently than "local" properties?
Yes. In many cases, technical properties are treated as censused (i.e., "non-random") categories rather than sampled categories. (In a census, one studies every unit in a group to determine some characteristic of the group. In a sample, one studies a portion of the units in a group to estimate some characteristic of the group. Sampling requires far fewer resources than conducting a census.) Censused properties are not used to calculate the confidence interval, but they are used to calculate the margin of error. All properties in a census are studied so there is no sampling error since the variance and standard error for censused properties is zero.
On the confidence interval detail sheet, censused properties are shown as "non-random" properties. To compute the margin of error, staff adds the value of censused properties to the combined value of the sampled property categories. One half of the confidence interval (as computed from sampled and censused properties) is divided by this total to produce the margin of error for the school district.
In effect, the censused (non-random) properties collectively comprise a separate subcategory.
All properties in the J Category (Utilities) as well as the D2 Category (qualified agricultural acreage) sample are treated as censused properties.
How does the Comptroller's use of confidence intervals affect the methodology used to select and appraise properties for the Property Value Study?
It has no effect. Confidence intervals for each school district's market value are calculated after all sales and appraisals are entered into the system and all market values are calculated.


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May 6, 2016
Almost three weeks after China reported finding a new strain of bird flu in humans, experts are still stumped by how people are becoming infected because many appear to have had no recent contact with live fowl.
The uncertainty adds to challenges the Chinese government faces in trying to control the spread of the H7N9 bird flu virus, which has already killed 17 people and infected 66 others in the country.
Understanding how the virus is spreading is a goal of international and Chinese experts assembled by the World Health Organization as they begin a week-long investigation Friday.
The WHO spokeswoman in China, Helen Yu, says the experts started arriving Thursday and will visit Beijing and Shanghai.
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subset: commoncrawl


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What sort of things can you do when you're a celebrity? Have two weddings. Keira Knightley had a regular wedding for friends and family, and then a second "secret" wedding for other friends with a whole new wedding dress and everything. Being a celebrity, you can do stuff like that.
What other sort of things can you do when you're a celebrity? Get married at an Applebee's. Jenny McCarthy and Donnie Wahlberg just might have their wedding at an Applebee's. After Jenny jokingly suggested the place on The View, Applebee's responded by tweeting a wedding invitation to both of them. We're looking forward to hearing what will be served for the wedding dinner, and may we suggest: Jalapeno Poppers!
There is nothing like a good ol' rebound with your ex-boyfriend. Katy Perry was caught kissin' and a cuddlin' Rob Ackroyd, the man she dated before John Mayer. Are they together again? Are they just having fun? Speculation, it's gossips best friend.
Does it seem to you that Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher have been pregnant for at least a year now? They're still pregnant. But it doesn't stop them from having vacations. Nor should it! They just spent a good relaxing weekend at a resort & spa in French Polynesia last week, complete with couple massages and helicopter rides. It's good to be a celebrity.
Poor Lupita Nyong'o, she may have just made a small fashion mistake, but now its all over the news. Oh, sometimes something looks great on the hanger, but you put it on and you just have to go with it. It's too bad we can't save her now. Oh well, looks like she got cast in the new Star Wars movie anyway because of her talent and not that terrible outfit.


text:
Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - Teddy Purcell and Victor Hedman scored in the
shootout, while Mathieu Garon stopped both New Jersey attempts, as Tampa Bay
scored a comeback 5-4 victory over the Devils on Friday.
Steven Stamkos added two goals and assisted on the game-tying tally from Alex
Killorn for the Lightning, who received a goal from Nate Thompson and 21 saves
from Garon to give Jon Cooper a win in his head-coaching debut.
Andrei Loktionov, Andy Greene, Tom Kostopoulos and Ryan Carter scored for the
Devils, who have lost five of their last seven outings.
Martin Brodeur stopped 21 shots in defeat.
The Sports Network


text:
May 6, 2016
Illinois' infant mortality rate has fallen to an all-time low.
The infant mortality rate was 7.2 deaths per 1,000 births in 2002. That's lower than the 7.5 deaths recorded in 2001. The rate has fallen 25 percent in a decade, but the gap in deaths among babies of different races widened.
The rate for blacks rose to 15.7 deaths per 1,000, up from 14.9 in 2001. White babies died at a rate of 5.5 per 1,000 in 2002. That was down from 5.9 a year earlier.
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Human Resource Management Minor
Students in the Human Resource Management Minor learn about people and the workplace - and what it takes to meet the needs of people in the workplace, and develop the strategic, functional, and personal skills necessary in HR positions. Students learn about organizational behavior and explore the psychology and sociology of work.
Minor Requirements:
- BUS1100 Introduction to Business
- BUS2203 Accounting for Business
- MGT3310 Organizational Behavior
- MGT3351 Human Resource Management
Choose 1 additional Human Resource Management course:
- MGT3320 Employment Law and Labor Relations
- MGT3330 Legal Environment of Business
- MGT3355 Diversity in the Workplace
- MGT4900 Special Topics in Management
Career Combination: Students who major in Sociology or Psychology and minor in Human Resource Management will have a great foundation for a career in human resources. Graduates with a Human Resource Management Minor may work in recruiting, corporate training, consulting, and work for a variety of firms such as financial institutions, healthcare organizations, technology companies, service providers, etc.


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this wiki
|This is the article on the story arc. If you are looking for the article on the actual invasion, head to Invasion of Konoha.
The Invasion of Konoha Arc was included in Part I of the series, and comprised chapters 115 to 138 of the manga and episodes 68 to 80 of the Naruto anime. The previous arc directly led into this one. This arc covered Gaara's change of heart towards people after battling Naruto, and the death of the Third Hokage at Orochimaru's hands. This arc is preceded by the Chūnin Exam Arc and is followed by the Search for Tsunade Arc.
The Third Hokage vs. Orochimaru
Three giant snakes were summoned, and broke down the walls guarding Konoha before proceeding to wreak havoc on the village. Meanwhile, approximately one-hundred and twenty Suna and Oto ninja invaded the village. Suna had joined the attack because their daimyō had mistreated their village and had showed favour towards Konoha; this attack was to show that Sunagakure didn't appreciate being treated as second-rate in their own country.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru began to fight the Third Hokage. Orochimaru revealed his secret: he had created a ninjutsu to grant him immortality. Orochimaru's spirit was able to live forever, but he must change bodies frequently. Orochimaru had also mastered Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation, which allowed him to summon the souls of the first two Hokage at the cost of sacrificing the two remaining genin of Team Dosu. It appeared that the Third managed to stop the third coffin, containing the Fourth Hokage, from being summoned. Sarutobi then used the Summoning Technique to summon Monkey King: Enma.
The summoned Hokage, although perfect in form to the original and retaining all their abilities, had lost their personalities, and were merely Orochimaru's slaves. They couldn't be killed, since their bodies simply regenerated. The Third realised that he must do something about their souls, and used Dead Demon Consuming Seal, the same technique the Fourth Hokage had used to seal the Nine-Tails. Sarutobi was able to sacrifice two Shadow Clones to seal away the souls of the two Hokage, and then attempted to do the same to Orochimaru. However, Sarutobi was low on chakra and stamina, and thus was reduced to doing the next best thing: sealing away Orochimaru's arms, so that Orochimaru would be unable to perform any more techniques. The Third died with a smile on his face.
Naruto vs. Gaara
Initially, Sasuke was sent after Gaara by Genma. Sakura, Shikamaru, and Naruto chased after Temari and Kankurō, who had been charged with protecting Gaara until he had recovered from his fight with Sasuke. It was later revealed that Shino also followed them, claiming that he wanted to have his battle with Kankurō. Shikamaru fell behind to stop nine Oto jōnin from following them, although Shikamaru was still low on chakra from his own match. However, Asuma arrived to bail him out.
In the anime, Temari, before Kankurō stopped to fight Sasuke, set traps in order to deter Sasuke before engaging him in combat herself.
Kankurō stopped to fight Sasuke, giving Gaara enough time to recover. However, Shino declared that Kankurō was his opponent, as they had been set to fight during the Chūnin Exams. Shino was able to defeat Kankurō by placing a female insect on him. The scent of this insect attracted all of Shino's other insects, which then overpowered Kankurō, but Shino was also rendered unconscious after being poisoned earlier in the fight, until his father came to his aid to remove the poison. Finally, Sasuke caught up with and fought Gaara. Gaara began to transform into his Shukaku state, overpowering and defeating Sasuke.
When Sasuke was about to be killed, Naruto and Sakura arrived. Gaara continued attempting to kill Sasuke until Sakura placed herself between them. Gaara trapped Sakura in one of his Shukaku sand claws and pinned her to a tree. He then taunted Naruto, stating that, unless he defeated him, Sakura would eventually be crushed by the sand claw trapping her to the tree.
At first, Naruto was clearly overpowered, but, later in the fight, he gained the upper hand by using clever tactics and by employing the techniques Jiraiya had taught him. Naruto used One Thousand Years of Death to injure the partial Shukaku form to prevent any movement, then used the Naruto Uzumaki Two Thousand Combo to pound Gaara, surprising everyone watching their battle. However, Gaara then transformed into the full Shukaku form, and attempted to finish Naruto off with his Sand Binding Coffin and Sand Waterfall Funeral techniques. However, Naruto was able to break out of Gaara's Sand Binding Coffin by summoning Gamabunta, and, after a little convincing from Gamakichi, Gamabunta decided to fight Shukaku.
However, Gaara then used his Feigning Sleep Technique to call out Shukaku's real powers. As Gamabunta was no longer a match, Naruto would have to force Gaara awake. Using a Combination Transformation technique, Naruto transformed Gamabunta into the form of a giant fox (the Nine-Tails itself in the anime), which was able to grab Shukaku long enough for Naruto to punch Gaara awake. Angered, Gaara attempted to trap Naruto in his Sand Binding Coffin technique again. Although Gamabunta failed in an attempt to stop Gaara's attack, Naruto escaped using the Nine-Tails' chakra. He launched himself at Gaara, but was unable to reach him with his fist, and therefore head-butted him. As blood trickled down both their foreheads, Gaara's Shukaku form crumbled away around them.
The two each only had enough chakra for one more attack. Gaara and Naruto launched themselves at each other, and Naruto knocked Gaara down with one final punch. Despite being unable to walk, Naruto crawled to Gaara to make sure he had been defeated. The two then realised they were almost identical to each other; they both had monsters in their bodies, which had led to them being ostracised by the people in their village. While Gaara wondered why Naruto was so strong, Naruto explained to Gaara, that although he knew exactly what Gaara had gone through growing up and being hated by everyone, he would not let him take away those that had saved him from the hell of being alone and unloved, even if it meant killing Gaara. As Naruto continued to crawl towards Gaara, a recovered Sasuke dropped down next to him and informed him that Sakura was now free of Gaara's sand claw, and was safe. Temari and Kankurō dropped by Gaara and prepared to face off with Sasuke until Gaara told them that he gave up and asked them not to fight any more. The two agreed, and took Gaara away from the scene. After seeing the job was done, Naruto fell asleep due to exhaustion.
In the end, what enabled Naruto to triumph was his devotion to those important to him, which turned out to be a source of much greater strength than Gaara's hatred. After the battle had ended, Gaara wondered whether he would be able to love again, and apologised to Temari and Kankurō for his earlier treatment of them, much to their surprise.
Also, as Gaara had been an opponent that Sasuke could not face equally, this reversed Naruto and Sasuke's roles in their rivalry, and induced deep feelings of inferiority in Sasuke, despite the façade of superiority that he continued to maintain. Later on, a funeral was held for the Third Hokage.
The invasion was called off, as Orochimaru was unable to use any more techniques, and the Suna and Oto shinobi retreated. The surviving Suna ninja also discovered the body of their leader, the Fourth Kazekage, and realised that Orochimaru had murdered him and disguised himself as the Kazekage, thereby manipulating both sides of the alliance he had created, which resulted in the restoration of their alliance with Konoha.
|Episode Title
|Japanese Airdate
|English Airdate
|"Zero Hour! The Konoha Crush Begins!"
|28 January 2004
|6 January 2007
|"Village in Distress: A New A-Ranked Mission!"
|4 February 2004
|13 January 2007
|"A Shirker's Call to Action: A Layabout No More!"
|11 February 2004
|20 January 2007
|"An Unrivaled Match: Hokage Battle Royale!"
|18 February 2004
|27 January 2007
|"A Mistake from the Past: A Face Revealed!"
|25 February 2004
|27 January 2007
|"Forbidden Secret Technique: Dead Demon Consuming Seal!"
|3 March 2004
|3 February 2007
|"Astonishing Truth! Gaara's Identity Emerges!"
|10 March 2004
|10 February 2007
|"Sasuke's Decision: Pushed to the Edge!"
|17 March 2004
|17 February 2007
|"Assassin of the Moonlit Night"
|24 March 2004
|24 February 2007
|"Light vs. Dark: The Two Faces of Gaara"
|31 March 2004
|3 March 2007
|"Naruto's Ninja Handbook"
|7 April 2004
|10 March 2007
|"Beyond the Limit of Darkness and Light"
|14 April 2004
|17 March 2007
|"The Third Hokage, Forever…"
|21 April 2004
|24 March 2007


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We don't know where or when this picture was taken, but it's pretty incriminating. Robin Thicke posed with a woman in front of a mirror. But maybe he didn't know they were in front of a mirror. Because if he did know, he probably wouldn't have grabbed a handful of her booty because he would have realized that mirror would betray him. You have to see it - click HERE!
Puff Diddly Pooh and J Cole reportedly got into it at a "VMA" after-party Sunday night, after Cole said,"inappropriate things" to Diddy and his girlfriend Cassie. Sources say some pushing and shoving ensued and it was Beyonce that yelled at them to cut the crap. Diddy later Tweeted, "I usually don't address rumors but I got too much respect for my bro J Cole. We are friends. We just yell in public sometimes. LOL"
We told you that Demi Lovato is coming to "Glee" this season, but there was one little thing we left out about her character. She'll be playing the lesbian love interest for Naya Rivera's character, Santana. Demi is doing multiple episodes, with the first one airing on October 3rd. Naya said, "I'm excited to work with her. We're bringing her to the dark side."
Alec Baldwin attacked another photographer in New York yesterday, after he tried to take pictures of Alec and his wife Hilaria. Alec actually got the guy in a hammerlock and pinned him against the hood of a car. There were witnesses who say the photographer was being too aggressive. But he says, "I was doing my job asking him normal questions and he flipped. That's all." Both men called the cops, but in the end, neither pressed charges. You can see more pictures HERE.


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Map (Click to enlarge)
Created in: Dunjinni / Photoshop
This map is brought to us by one of our long time members Heruca. It demonstrates a great combination of community mapping resources and compositing skill. The map itself has a very warm hand painted feel to it even though it of course was done digitally. The variety in buildings and organic placement of everything really brings this map home as a very useful piece of cartography.
Artists Notes
This map depicts the small farming community of Kenby, in the region of Kelerak, which is part of the world of Farland (www.farlandworld.com). As mentioned in the original thread, it's a re-envisioning of the adventure author's map.
In creating this area map, I was also attempting to establish a mapping style that I can use in the future for other area maps that I might create. I went with as close to a "realistic" look as I could manage. I wanted each house to look distinct and original, rather than just showing a bunch of rectangle-shaped iconic structures. The low-resolution sample posted here doesn't really do the map justice, but there's a close-up posted in the original thread that lets you see the details better.
The Dundjinni forums proved to be an invaluable resource for source images, not just for the houses, but also for the bridges and general source textures.
The crop fields I had to make myself, using a technique AidyBaby taught me on another forum. It was very tedious work; all the wavy crop lines were hand-drawn to fit each field's shape and orientation. It nearly drove me batty doing that with a mouse. I suspect it probably could have been done in a much simpler fashion by someone who really knows Photoshop well, or someone with a drawing tablet.
The map was created in Photoshop CS2, using dozens upon dozens of layers, layer effects, adjustment layers, masks, etc. I originally thought I would spend just a couple of days on the map, but I think it took me around a week or more to complete it. But I'm happy with the results.
I hope it makes playing through the adventure module more fun and entertaining. Maybe someday I'll map out some of the important building interiors that are highlighted in the module.
Original Thread
Click here to view the original thread by the author.


text: Other people's kids Published on May 29, 2012 Share 0 0 Comment Send to a friend Print Send to a friend Send this article to a friend. Name* Email* Your name* Your email* Comments Submit My boy raced through the doors of the McDonald's playroom. We'd been on the highway for four hours and being told of this McPit Stop was the only thing that got him through the last 30 kilometres. He quickly ended up in a corner where two girls were playing with this big wheel thingy. My kid loves anything that spins. He wanted to give this a whirl. The girls didn't want any part of that, or of him. "This is a room for girls only," one warned with authority. My son didn't care. He was making that wheel go round and round. He reached for it. She reached for him. They were pushing. I was mortified. "Let the girls play," I said. "They were here first." He let them be and, when they moved a few feet from the wheel, he raced towards it. She raced for him. More shoving, and a little shouting. No. I considered picking the boy up and exiting Playland. I didn't, because he had sat impatiently in the car for this and deserved to be here. As well, I wasn't really interested in hauling him out of there kicking and screaming. I didn't know the little girl and didn't want to speak to her, because that just didn't seem right. So, I demanded he leave the girl alone and stop pushing, even though it really was his turn at the wheel. I suggested he play in another area of the room. He did, but as soon as the girl moved away from the wheel, he zoomed right back to it. And the girl darted right back to him. "Beam me up, Scotty," I said, with no luck. "Clickety click - Barba trick" didn't work either. Neither did my Bat Signal or saying Beetlejuice three times. With no help arriving, I tried diffusing the situation myself. "Go over around the slides," I said. He listened, but started climbing up the slides to my nervous chagrin. What if someone slid down? I told him not to do it, and he stopped, perhaps because he couldn't get that far up the slide. He ran for that blasted wheel again. The girl had walked to another part of the room, but once he touched the wheel, she was back trying to push him away. She and her friend then ran up some giant steps in a large cylinder. And instead of staying at the wheel, my kid chased after her. Oh boy. Soon, they were in the cylinder and she was screaming, "Go away" at him. Enough was enough - it was time to get him out of there before someone really wasn't McHappy. He didn't fuss, but seemed a little puzzled. "Captain," I told him on the way to the car, "you always got to be a good boy, but you're not always going to see eye to eye with girls." Steve Bartlett wants suggestions on proper playroom etiquette when it comes to speaking to other people's kids. Reach him at firstname.lastname@example.com or on Twitter @SteveBartlett_ 1 2 3 4 5 Thanks for voting! Top of page Comments Comments Your name* Email* Comment*


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Some time last year I decided to attempt to make a game for a nintendo ds, here are the results. You can download the game files to run these on your flash cart or whatever else you use for this kinda stuff. Beware most of these are unfinished and quite buggy. All of these were made using the brilliant devkitPro and PAlib software.
Simple input game
This was the first game i made, although its not really a game it detects what buttons are pressed, the location of the stylus and displays some of the users settings and time/date.
download (V 1.0)
This version is only able to detect if the stylus is pressed on to the screen
This version will display if the stylus/which button is pressed.
This is the final version and is able to tell which button is pressed and display the location of the stylus if it is touching the screen. It also displays some of the users Nintendo DS's settings like their username, birthday, alarm clock time, the consoles defult language, their favorite colour and their welcome message aswell as the current time and date.
Tic Tac Toe
This was the second game i made, it looks quite crap and has lots of bugs that cause it to crash. The final version of it is quite playable but still needs work. I got bored quite quickly with this and moved onto somethis else.
download (V 1.50)
This first version isn't even a tictactoe game, its simply a test to move sprites around the screen with the stylus.
This is the first verson of this game that looks and plays like a noughts and crosses game. It has sprites for each piece that are supposed to be dragged on to the table with the stylus.
This is identical to the previous version except it now has text/instructions on the top screen.
This version is simmilar to the previous except it has snazzier graphics
Simple Walking Sprite
This game is a test to move a character around the screen. When the player is on one of the consoles two screens the light of the other screen is switched off as the character movers from one screen to the next the back light illuminates whichever screen he is on
Twinbee DS
This is an attempt at a simple old school 2D shoot-em up in the vein of gradius and twinbee. Unfortunatly even the simplist game is insainly diffcult to code and i abandonned this after a while.
download (V 1.60)
This is the first attempt, the ship moves freely around the lower screen when controled by the d-pad and the simple background scrolls to give the sence of speed and flying
This version features a simple black and white text splash/intro screen where by the user has to touch the lower touchscreen in order to play.
Identicle to the previous, except the text intro screen has been replaced by a scrolling graphical background. The source of the background graphic was from pop'n'twinbee which was released in japan on the super famicon.
The intro screen has been snazzed up a little bit more, there is now a grapical logo in place.
The intro screen has again been modified and cleaned up a bit. The background of the main game has also been changed to a cityscape scene instead of the coloured bands as before. The city background graphic was ripped from the first level of pop'n'twinbee as before.
New to this version are two more intro screens the first is one with an animated cloud ripped from yoshi's island on the snes and some of my contacy info etc, the second is a konami logo they were the people who made the original twinbee game. Other new and improved elements are the abiltly to move the ship on to the top screen aswell as the lower screen and an improved background scrolling that reacts to the speed and direction the ship is traveling in. The top of the screen also displays the postion of the ships sprite on the screen.
This is the last update of this game and features an abiltly to fire bullets from your ship unfortunatly it dosn't work very well and it gave me a bit of a headache trying to fix it, i abandoned this project soon afterwards.
R.C. Pro-am DS
This was an attempt at a top down racing game. Although the game is unfinished it is still playable as a one player time trial. After i got the basics working i decided to add graphics to make it look like an update of the classic Nintendo game R.C. Pro-am.
download (V 0.5)
Ok, so this version is pretty simple the track is an oval stretching over both screens and the car only goes at one speed when driven by the d-pad and the A button. The values displayed on the lower screen are the cars x and y postions and the angle its driving in.
This version adds a simple gear system. By pressing the R button the cars moves up a gear and its speed increases, to decrease speed press the L button to move into a lower gear. Apart from that this is the same as the previous version. There is some additional text on the lower screen that shows the gear and the steering sensitivity aswell as a lap counter.
Updates include an intro screen of my animated cloud logo like in the previous game aswell as a title screen with a modified graphic from the Nintendo R.C. Pro-am game. The main game has been changed from a small track stretching across two screens to a bigger track only viewable upon the top screen, this track pans and moves as the car is driven around. The lower screen now shows a info hub, with the debugging text/values as before. The hub on the lower screen will eventually show race information, but for the moment it is static.
I have now added a lap timer and a better lap counter to the lower screen. Eventually these two items will become graphical, however for now they are simple text.
Although this isn't a final version it is the last update i made. The title screen has an option to select either a short, medium or long track aswell as a special mario kart inspired rainbow road. Thats four tracks intotal to race around, although i never got the chance to add any other competitors you could always try and beat you best time.
3D Driving Demo
This is just a demo, i wanted to see how hard it would be to make a racing demo kinda like Mario Kart on the snes. I havn't even put a car in this project so it kinda seems like your walking down a road in a first person shooter view. This demo uses a type of scrolling called mode 7 its what made SNES games like Mario Kart and the flying airships scenes in Final Fantasy possible.
download (V 0.2)
In this first version you can move forwards, backwards, left, and right aswell as zooming up and down. This showed me that it was possible to make something that looked kinda cool without to much effort.
I corrected the controls in this version so that pressing the A accelerates and B reverses also you can only turn when you are traving either forwards or backwards, this makes it seem more like a cars movement as opposed to a FPS. The plan was to add a car so you can see what you are moving however i never got around to making it.
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That's quite lovely, actually. The mountains and forests look pretty great, and i like that layout of islands & continents. I can't say I'm too moved by that thick gray line around your coasts, though. It seems really jarring and out of place compared to everything else.
Have some rep for jumping right in with a map, and hope to see more stuff from you!


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43 U.S. Code § 178 - Patents for lands in New Mexico; lands contiguous to Spanish or Mexican land grants
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Whenever it shall be shown to the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Interior that a tract or tracts of public land, contiguous to a Spanish or Mexican land grant, in the State of New Mexico, not exceeding in the aggregate one hundred and sixty acres, has or have been held in good faith and in peaceful, adverse possession by a citizen of the United States, his ancestors or grantors, for more than twenty years under claim or color of title, and that valuable improvements have been placed on such land, or some part thereof has been reduced to cultivation, the Secretary may, in his discretion, upon the payment of $1.25 per acre, cause a patent or patents to issue for such land to any such citizens: Provided, That where the area or areas so held by any such citizen is in excess of one hundred and sixty acres the Secretary may determine what particular subdivisions, not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres in the aggregate, to any such citizen may be patented hereunder: Provided further, That coal and all other minerals contained therein are reserved to the United States; that said coal and other minerals shall be subject to sale or disposal by the United States under applicable leasing and mineral land laws, and permittees, lessees, or grantees of the United States shall have the right to enter upon said lands for the purpose of prospecting for and mining such deposits: Provided further, That the term "citizen", as used in this section, shall be held to include a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or any State or Territory thereof.
Source(Feb. 23, 1932, ch. 52, 47 Stat. 53.)
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And Life Is Good
Previous Birthday Posts:
7/9/05: My Berry Sweet Birthday Treat
7/9/06: I'll Be Back, but I'm Taking the Day Off
7/9/08: It's A Birthday Girl!
© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the how in the world can I be 41 years old? foodie farm blog where Charles Schulz was right, happiness is a warm puppy—or even a very cold one.


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Russia or China: Which Country Is More Hazardous for Investors?
You can put new clothes on formerly communist nations, but it's hard to change what's under their skin. Don't be fooled: Both Russia and China have really awful bones. So before investing in either one, know the risks that lurk below the surface.


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Home Opinion Columns Baker is aging, gracefully
Baker is aging, gracefully
Baker City never seems to me quite so old as it does around Christmas.
I mean this in a good way.
With rare exceptions such as fine wine, advanced age is associated with an inexorable deterioration in utility, vigor and appearance, whether the object is animate or not.
Both cars and people, for instance, tend to accumulate sludge in their circulatory systems as their mileage rises. This comparison doesn't hold up, of course — you can sometimes cure a balky fuel injector by simply pouring a bottle of additive into your gas tank; fixing a clogged artery is a rather more ticklish task, and not one you'd be wise to tackle with that tool set you got at Sears for 59 bucks.
Anyway, the sense of age I'm talking about, as regards our city, is more clearly expressed with a different analogy.
The notion I'm getting at is akin to the way the face of an elderly person can attain a peculiar beauty, when its wrinkles are clearly the brands left by a lifetime of smiles. The sight pleases our hearts as much as our eyes; we feel the welcome weight of many decades of love and laughter, and bask in their kind warmth.
When I walk past the great old homes of our town in this season I wonder at how many Christmases have passed within their walls.
I imagine children slinking in bare feet across cold wood floors in the thin light of dawn, and I hear the echoes of their squeals when they see boxes piled beneath the tree and lumps in the toes of their stockings.
I envision fathers shoveling the walk and carefully salting the steps to make safe passage for the grandparents who are coming for dinner.
I see in the new snow on the streets the tracks not of studded tires but of shod horses and buggy wheels.
I see reflected in leaded glass windows the soft flicker of kerosene lamps rather than the steady but sterile glow of incandescent bulbs.
Only the pleasant scent of pine smoke is as it has always been.
These links to Baker City's past have for me seemed especially acute this season because I have been reading through Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House" series.
This must be at least my 10th trip along this literary path since I first set out on it 30 years or so ago, yet the journey is no less enjoyable for my recognizing its every turn.
So far as I remember, though, this is the only time I've ambled through Laura's simple yet evocative prose so near to Christmas.
She wrote in detail about the holiday in each of her books.
In "Little House on the Prairie" Laura told of Mr. Edwards, who waded a rain-swollen creek to bring tin cups and candy sticks and a penny each for Laura and her sister, Mary.
And in "On the Banks of Plum Creek" when Pa was lost in a blizzard and had to eat the Christmas candy to save himself.
What's different about my current dalliance with the "Little House" books is that I've realized, for perhaps the first time, that although the era Laura writes about has always seemed to me very nearly ancient, Baker City is in fact older.
Our city was founded in 1864, three years before Laura was born in the Big Woods of Wisconsin.
When the Ingalls family was eating Christmas dinner in the log cabin in Indian Territory or the surveyors' house on Silver Lake in Dakota Territory, families in Baker City were likely doing the same.
Probably their menus were similar — a roast goose, maybe, fried potatoes and biscuits, almost certainly.
We can't know, of course.
Which is why, for me anyway, pondering the past frustrates as well as fascinates.
The future is interesting, too. But I know I'm going to live through at least part of it; the answers to today's questions will be available if I'm willing to seek them out.
The past, though, is denied us, farther beyond our grasp than Neptune.
Fortunately we can at least glimpse history in the words of gifted storytellers such as Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Better still there are places such as Baker City, where we revere the patina of age rather than treat it as an embarrassing blemish that ought to be scraped away as soon as we can manage it.
You can immerse yourself in history here simply by strolling through the neighborhoods. Just remember to exercise your imagination as well as your legs.
Any old house is rich in stories.
But they need you to help out with the narration.


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Tailored Gyroscopes from STMicroelectronics Target Shake-Free Images on Mobiles and Cameras
STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, the world's top MEMS manufacturer, and the leading supplier of MEMS sensors for consumer and portable applications1, has introduced a new family of gyroscopes specifically optimized for optical image stabilization in smartphones and digital still cameras.
In addition, to assure maximum reliability, the new 2-axis (L2G3IS) and 3-axis (L3G3IS) gyroscopes operate with a resonant frequency of the sensing mass at around 20kHz. As a result of this high resonant frequency in combination with the mechanical structure, the devices are immune to the damage that could be caused by ultrasonic cleaning equipment (typically operating at around 30kHz) that many customers use to clean devices before equipment assembly."In addition to revolutionizing user interfaces with intuitive gesture recognition, MEMS gyroscopes have brought enormous benefits to hand-held digital photography through optical image stabilization. With the LxG3IS family, ST's proven MEMS manufacturing technology and supply-chain advantage are applied to gyroscopes that are uniquely tailored for image stabilization and offer increased damage protection," said Fabio Pasolini, General Manager, Motion MEMS Division, STMicroelectronics.
Other key technical features of the new devices include ±65 dps / ±130 dps full-scale range, SPI digital interface, embedded temperature sensor, and integrated low- and high-pass filters with selectable bandwidth. The devices operate with supply voltage from 2.4V to 3.6V and are housed in an LGA-16 3x3.5x1 mm package.According to information and analytics firm IHS, ST's total MEMS and sensor sales grew more than 19% in 2012, reaching a total of approximately $800 million. In the largest of these markets, motion sensors in mobile handsets and tablets, ST's MEMS sales accounted for 48% of the market, well more than twice as large as that of its closest competitor.
The one-stop MEMS supplier of choice, ST offers a comprehensive portfolio of micro-machined accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure sensors, magnetic sensors, and microphones, and has the capability to integrate these in multi-sensor combos with on-board signal processing, control functions, sensor-fusion algorithms, and wireless connectivity. Not only the clear market leader, ST is also at the forefront of MEMS technology development with more than 800 MEMS-related patent families. ST leads the way towards intelligent and independent sensing devices that will open new horizons in consumer electronics, healthcare, environmental sciences, and many other domains.Samples of ST's new 2-axis (L2G3IS) and 3-axis (L3G3IS) gyroscopes are available now and budgetary unit pricing is $2.37 (L2G3IS) and $3.38 (L3G3IS) for orders over 1,000 pieces.
For further information please go to http://www.st.com/gyroscopes.
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About STMicroelectronics
ST is a global leader in the semiconductor market serving customers across the spectrum of sense and power and automotive products and embedded processing solutions. From energy management and savings to trust and data security, from healthcare and wellness to smart consumer devices, in the home, car and office, at work and at play, ST is found everywhere microelectronics make a positive and innovative contribution to people's life. By getting more from technology to get more from life, ST stands for life.augmented.
In 2012, the Company's net revenues were $8.49 billion. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.


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The clone army might be full of copies, but your son's look will be one of a kind with our Boy's Clone Trooper Costume. This Star Wars outfit includes a PVC trooper mask and jumpsuit. Blue stripes along the helmet and chest piece signify this trooper suit as a member of the Clone Wars. Blue, black and white uniforms will make your child ready to crush the enemies of the Republic. Your child will probably be as familiar with the Clone Wars as adults are with the Rebel and Empire conflicts from the original trilogy. These highly trained soldiers need the best equipment. Add Star Wars accessories like Jango Fett's blaster gun, boots, gloves, or other space weapons to complete your look. The Force will be with your this Halloween with our child's Clone Wars costume.
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text: Japanese cooks rely on these efficient tools to create whisper-thin slices and exquisite julienne cuts. The key to their sharpness: Each slicer is fitted with a ceramic blade that holds its edge ten times as long as steel. You'll find the slicers useful for everything from cutting vegetables for a stir-fry to slicing apples for a tart.


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It's International Women's Day: How Does the U.S. Wage Gap Compare?
Happy International Women's Day, America: Overall, your women are doing pretty well. But when it comes to wage equality -- how much women earn compared to men -- the land of the free and the home of the brave ranks a startling 61st worldwide, behind nations like Madagascar, Cambodia and Guyana.


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As the aerial map below demonstrates, El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico lie cheek to jowl along the border. The Barrio Azteca prison gang had its roots among offenders in the Texas prison system from El Paso. BA is now firmly planted on both sides of the border.
The U.S. Gang Intelligence Center describes the role of border gangs generally in Mexican drug trafficking:
Some larger gangs have developed regular working relationships with DTOs and other criminal organizations in Mexico, Central America, and Canada to develop sources of supply for wholesale quantities of illicit drugs and to facilitate other criminal activities. According to law enforcement information, gang members provide Mexican DTOs with support, such as smuggling, transportation, and security.
Barrio Azteca is one of those gangs, according to the U.S. Department of Justice Gang Unit:
The Barrio Azteca is one of the most violent prison gangs operating within the U.S…primarily in federal, state and local correctional facilities in Texas, as well as on the outside in communities located in Southwestern Texas and Southeastern New Mexico. Barrio Azteca's main source of income is derived from the smuggling of heroin, powdered cocaine and marijuana from Mexico into the U.S. for distribution both inside and outside the prison systems. Members of the Barrio Azteca often transport illicit drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border on behalf of DTOs.
Parts One and Two of this series have described the BA's organization and provided an overview of its operations.
"Tom Diaz has worn out some shoe leather—much like a good detective—in gathering facts, not myths or urban legend. "
—Chris Swecker, Former Assistant Director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division.
"Few people know more about the subject than Tom Diaz and no single book tells the whole story better than No Boundaries. If you really want to know what organized crime in America looks like today, then read this alarming book."
—Rocky Delgadillo, former City Attorney of Los Angeles
Order No Boundaries from Amazon.com
But, how exactly are drugs smuggled into the United States from Mexico — whether by BA or another gang? This is a vague area of public knowledge. It is revealed through serial anecdotes and often treated in summary description.
The private intelligence service Stratfor issued an excellent report and analysis this week going into much-needed detail about this process. "Drug smuggling," Stratfor reports, "is one of the most accessible ways for a gang member to make money when he is released from prison." The full report can be read here, but here are a few excerpts to provide a background for a look into a Texas appeals court's description of one smuggling attempt involving a Barrio Azteca member that went awry:
As products move through the supply chain, they require more specific handling and detailed knowledge of an area, which requires more manpower. The same, more or less, can be said for drug shipments. This can be seen in interdiction reports. When narcotics are intercepted traversing South America into Mexico, they can be measured in tons; as they cross the border into the United States, seizures are reported in kilograms; and by the time products are picked up on the streets of U.S. cities, the narcotics have been divided into packages measured in grams. To reflect this difference, we will refer to the movement of drugs south of the border as trafficking and the movement of drugs north of the border as distributing.
The only certainties are that drugs and people will move from south to north, and that money and weapons will move from north to south. But the specific nature and corridors of those movements are constantly in flux as traffickers innovate in their attempts to stay ahead of the police in a very Darwinian environment. The traffickers employ all forms of movement imaginable, including:
* Tunneling under border fences into safe houses on the U.S. side.
* Traversing the desert on foot with 50-pound packs of narcotics. (Dirt bikes, ATVs and pack mules are also used.)
* Driving across the border by fording the Rio Grande, using ramps to get over fences, cutting through fences or driving through open areas.
* Using densely vegetated portions of the riverbank as dead drops.
* Floating narcotics across isolated stretches of the river.
* Flying small aircraft near the ground to avoid radar.
* Concealing narcotics in private vehicles, personal possessions and in or on the bodies of persons who are crossing legally at ports of entry.
* Bribing border officials in order to pass through checkpoints.
* Hiding narcotics on cross-border trains.
* Hiding narcotics in tractor trailers carrying otherwise legitimate loads.
* Using boats along the Gulf coast.
* Using human "mules" to smuggle narcotics aboard commercial aircraft in their luggage or bodies.
* Shipping narcotics via mail or parcel service.
These methods are not mutually exclusive, and organizations may use any combination at the same time. New ways to move the product are constantly emerging.
A 2004 Texas appellate court decision, Ojeda vs. Texas, contains a nitty-gritty description of the reality of the cross-border pipeline in a particular kind of transport — the use of the body cavities of human "mules." Stratfor reports that "a large part of the process simply involves saturating the system with massive numbers of expendable, low-skilled smugglers who are desperate for the money."
The story unfolds as Alejandro Ojeda and his female passenger attempted to cross the border into the United States. They seem to be their own worst enemies — but, remember that these are not masterminds, just the lowest level of fodder, workers in the modern sweat shops of gang criminal enterprise:
At approximately 8 p.m. on November 3, 1999, [Ojeda] driving a gray 1991 Chrysler Caravan, approached the U.S. Customs inspection booth at the Paso Del Norte Bridge. Martha Guerra was sitting in the front passenger seat.
During routine questioning, Customs Inspector Armando San Roman asked [Ojeda]for his citizenship, his purpose for traveling to Mexico, and inquired about the vehicle's ownership. [Ojeda] responded that he was a U.S. citizen, and that he had bought the vehicle about thirty days prior in Mexico. As he was conducting the questioning, Inspector San Roman noticed [Ojeda] "moving around and sitting upright and getting nervous."
Noticing that the vehicle did not have a front license plate, Inspector San Roman asked [Ojeda] and Ms. Guerra for identification and proceeded to the back of the vehicle. Inspector San Roman testified at trial that [Ojeda's] demeanor by this time was unusual; [Ojeda] was talking loud, getting tense, and then he sat upright and appeared to be getting anxious. According to Inspector San Roman, [Ojeda's] nervous behavior was out of the ordinary.
In addition, Ms. Guerra, with the exception of declaring her citizenship, did not utter a word, although Inspector San Roman testified that he directed some questions towards her. Inspector San Roman testified that she was sitting at the edge of her seat, just looking at him; she appeared to be nervous and anxious. Inspector San Roman testified that [Ojeda's] behavior and Ms. Guerra's silence made him get suspicious.
Inspector San Roman walked to the back of the vehicle and saw that the vehicle's plates were from Kansas. He returned back to the driver's side and proceeded to ask the same questions he had asked before to verify that the answers were the same. This time, [Ojeda]stated that he had been in Juarez for about two to three hours and that the reason for his trip was to take Ms. Guerra's cousin to Mexico. Inspector San Roman then noticed that the names on [Ojeda's] and Ms. Guerra's ID's matched the names provided on a "be on the lookout" bulletin. Inspector San Roman sent the vehicle to the secondary inspection station.
At this point, Ojeda and Guerra are fixed like a bug on an entomologist's needle. It's all over but the details for them. But keep in mind that at most busy border crossings, time is not standing still. Other vehicles with other mules or concealed packages are getting through. The next bit of the story describes the quotidian work of winkling out the dope:
Inspector John Maxwell, trained as a canine enforcement officer, was asked to screen [Ojeda] and Ms. Guerra with the canine. He testified that the canine is trained to alert to marijuana, hash, cocaine, heroin, and crystal meth, and that he is what is called a passive alerter. This means that if the canine gets the odor of narcotics, he changes his behavior by wagging his tail, his ears come up, his breathing gets heavier, and then he sits next to where the odor is detected. On this occasion, Inspector Maxwell testified that the canine alerted to both the Appellant and Ms. Guerra, who were standing about a foot apart. The canine then went over to the open door of the vehicle, sniffed the passenger seat and alerted to it as well.
[Senior Inspection Officer Maria Elena] Frazier testified that she saw Ms. Guerra walking funny, as if she was holding something between her legs, but that she had not suspected she was hiding contraband, until the heroin was found. Inspector Criss-man testified that Ms. Guerra was taking very small steps, as if she was having a hard time walking.
Frazier placed Ms. Guerra in a holding cell and then requested the assistance of Inspector Dianne Crissman in conducting a pat-down of Ms. Guerra. Inspector Frazier asked Ms. Guerra to stand, put her hands against the wall, and spread her legs. Initially, Ms. Guerra did not want to comply and had to be asked several times before Inspector Frazier had to push open her legs. In conducting a pat-down of Ms. Guerra, Inspector Frazier felt a foreign substance in Ms. Guerra's groin area. Inspector Frazier asked Ms. Guerra to remove the object, but it was not until she asked Ms. Guerra if she needed medical assistance in removing the object that Ms. Guerra complied. Ms. Guerra removed from her vaginal cavity a condom containing about four to five golf size balls of a black tar like substance which were wrapped in another condom. The two condoms combined formed a cylinder like shape. The substance field tested positive as heroin. Further laboratory testing con-firmed that the substance was in fact pure heroin containing some adulterants and dilutants, and that it weighed 125.19 grams.
Upon searching Ms. Guerra's purse, Inspector Crissman testified that she found among other things, a condom. A search of vehicle uncovered an open plastic bag sitting in between the driver's seat and the passenger's seat that contained an unopened box of condoms, an open box of condoms, two open condom wrappers, and lubricants, one container which was open. The condom in Ms. Guerra's purse matched the brand on the condom wrappers and both boxes.
Note that this incident happened ten years ago, so procedures of gang and law enforcement alike could have changed. For an engaging and counter-trend analysis of drug trafficking and terrorist networks, and how they learn, read Michael Kenney's From Pablo to Osama: Trafficking and Terrorist Networks, Government Bureaucracies, and Competitive Adaptation.
In fact, a recent study of similar smuggling attempts through Jamaica found that the drug traffickers have indeed changed their methods in response to law enforcement's having developed a profile of their old method. Here is the abstract from "The Changing Demographics of Cocaine Body Packers in Jamaica" in The Internet Journal of Forensic Science (2009):
Cocaine trafficking by body packers has become epidemic in Jamaica. In 1999 the Jamaican government created a specialized anti-drug task force aimed at intercepting body packers at international airports. An important method used to identify these packers is passenger profiling. International experience suggests that the majority of body packers are single females from under-privileged backgrounds with multiple dependents. This retrospective study describes the demographics of Cocaine body packers detained at the largest international airport in Jamaica between January 2002 and December 2006.
There were 189 body packers identified, with a marked preponderance of male offenders (81% vs 19%). There were 153 males, with a mean age of 34.3 +/- 9.5 years (Range 17 to 57; Median 33; Mode 38). Only 35 offenders were female, with a mean age of 29.9 +/- 10.4 years (Range 17 to 55; Median 27; Mode 27). The demographics of the Cocaine body packer in Jamaica have changed. The typical body packers are now young males. The anti drug task forces must be aware of these trends in order to effectively identify and detain offenders.
Gangster life sells itself to its young recruits as a font of family, respect, and glamor. It reality, it is a sordid, dangerous, and poisonous tool of exploitation, as these cases illustrate at the grittiest level. While the drug lords live lives of flashy opulence, the desperate and the poor pack poison into their bodies, gram by gram.


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Without music, the world would be a sad, silent place. Songs have always spoken to you in a way that nothing else can. From indie pop to electronica to hip hop, songs express what you try to say but can't. Let your style echo your free-spirited taste in music and open approach to life in the Coachella dress from Hurley. It features netted fringe detail along the triangle hem with netted trim above it, crocheted halter ties, embroidered designs with tiny square openings along the bust and back, and lightweight cotton fabric. It's the perfect dress for all the music festivals you plan on attending this year. Let your style sing.
- 100% Cotton fabric
- Crocheted halter ties
- Custom design along bust & back
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- Model shown is wearing size XS
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A biotech company reports that an experimental treatment elongated its CEO's telomeres.
Touchy Feely
June 1, 2015|
Physical contact helps determine who's present among baboons' gut bacteria.
June 1, 2015|
Physical contact helps determine who's present among baboons' gut bacteria.
May 27, 2015|
World Health Organization officials endorse a global strategy to combat the spread of antibiotic resistance.
May 19, 2015|
The midwestern U.S. and central Asia are at high risk for new disease outbreaks from pathogen-bearing rodents, according to a study.
May 19, 2015|
While some in the scientific and religious communities have declared an end to the tensions between faith and fact, the conflict continues to have impacts on health, politics, and the environment.
May 13, 2015|
Gut microbial communities from breastfed babies are slow to resemble adults' microbiota.
May 6, 2015|
Deep-sea microbes possess hallmarks of eukaryotic cells, hinting at a common ancestor for archaea and eukaryotes.
May 1, 2015|
A close cooperation between science, politics, and economics has helped to control one of history's most destructive epidemics.
May 1, 2015|
The Genealogy of a Gene, On the Move, The Chimp and the River, and Domesticated
May 1, 2015|
Whole-body immunoPET scans of SIV-infected macaques reveal where the replicating virus hides.
May 1, 2015|
Updated classics and new techniques help microbiologists get up close and quantitative.


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Learn to reduce noise in low-light shots and sharpen photos for maximum impact with Lightroom and Photoshop.
All Courses
- Adobe (22)
- Lightroom
- Photoshop (5)
- Aperture (1)
- Apple (1)
- Camera Raw (1)
- Photography (22)
- Photo Management (8)
- video2brain (6)
- Raw Processing (5)
- Sharing Photos (4)
- Cameras + Gear (1)
- iPhone, iPod, iPad (1)
- Night + Low Light (1)
- Printing Photos (1)
- Sharpening (1)
- Video (1)
- Video Editing (1)
Skill level
- Beginner (13)
- Intermediate (13)
- Advanced (4)
- Appropriate for all (936)
More options
Learn how to shoot better iPhone photos and make them look their best with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.
Learn how to enhance the natural beauty of a landscape photo with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom in this short start-to-finish project.
Learn how to develop a travel photo into a wonderful memory of your trip in this short start-to-finish Photoshop tutorial.
Find out how to get Lightroom and Photoshop to communicate seamlessly and take advantage of each program's capabilities.
Use Lightroom's simple but powerful video capabilities to manage, optimize, and share your video clips.
Photographer, author, teacher, and frequent traveler Ben Long details the hardware, software, and workflow issues that photographers need to consider when shooting on the road, whether on vacation or on assignment.
Bryan O'Neil Hughes, senior product manager for Photoshop, demonstrates a variety of techniques for car photography and shares how he guides his images through Lightroom and Photoshop.
Shares the keyboard shortcuts that make working with the different modules in Lightroom more intuitive and efficient.
An introduction to the Lightroom capabilities for organizing, enhancing, and sharing photos.
Perfect your photos with Lightroom's Develop module.
Investigates the Lightroom properties as a digital asset management (DAM) system—specifically, its catalogs, which track the location, metadata, and keyword tags associated with your images.
Navigates through several real-world photography assignment scenarios (such as wedding/event photography or travel shoots) and introduces workflow recommendations in Photoshop Lightroom for each one.
Focuses on the Lightroom 4 slideshow and web gallery features, which provide a straightforward way to display images on the web, on the desktop, or projected onto a screen.
Focuses on the Print module in Lightroom 4, which can be used to create high-quality prints and proofs and design custom layouts for books and other print projects.
Covers the newest features and enhancements in Photoshop Lightroom 4, the popular photo-asset management, enhancement, and publishing program.
Get organized so you can always find the photo you need.
Takes an in-depth look at sharing your images with Lightroom 4 via prints, email, or the web.
Teaches you everything you need to know to use Lightroom to manage, optimize, and share your images.
Get up to speed on the new and upgraded features in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4.
Explores the Library module in Lightroom and shows how to use the popular image-management program's tools to organize and manage a photo library.
Author and teacher Chris Orwig guides photographers through the process of editing and enhancing images with creative color, sharpening, and other effects in the Develop module in Lightroom 4, the popular asset management program.
"I often watch the lynda.com videos on my laptop while working out on a stationary bicycle. The short length of the video segments helps to keep me motivated: "I'll quit at the end of this chapter." So far I have lost 25 pounds!" —Gail P.
more from our members »


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Monday, October 1, 2012
Joyce and Debra Share Some of Their Health Secrets
12 comments:
- SACRAMENTO said...
They are so right.
You are what you eat. I have been a vegetarian for years.We make our own bread, and try to buy local seasonal fruit and vegetables; but as Debra points out, life is too short not to allow yourself little pleasure.
Love you all and want to meet and give you ABRAZOS( hugssssssssssss)
- October 1, 2012 at 9:59 AM
- Mary Walker Designs said...
I agree a lot can be said about the way a person cares about the outside and inside. I'm left imagining a sweatshirt dressed slob on a ratty couch with potato chip crumbs and grease stains all over.
- October 1, 2012 at 11:51 AM
- Melissa Bishop said...
also, nightshade foods cause inflammation of joints & gout. Foods to eliminate from your diet if experiencing joint pain are;Potatoes, tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, eggplant, tomatillos, tamarios, pepinos, pimentos, paprika, and cayenne peppers are classified as nightshade foodsHere is a link you might find helpful.
- October 1, 2012 at 12:36 PM
- Brant said...
Dear Ari
I would love to hear what Joyce is saying and I can barely hear Debra but your voice is as clear as a bell. Could you hold the mic near them when they are speaking. All joy to you and yours. Smiles
- October 1, 2012 at 2:12 PM
- Lilly said...
What fabulous tips ladies, thank you very much. Definitely more of these vlogs will be fantastic. These ladies know what they are talking about!
- October 1, 2012 at 5:21 PM
- Angele Style said...
FANTASTIC!!! Once a month health and wellness tips from what I consider the EXPERTS and PROFESSIONALS because they are living their wellness tips not just reading them from a text book and then trying to come up with a prescription drug to sell you THANK YOU ARI and the ladies who participate in health.
- October 2, 2012 at 4:26 PM
Joyce is absolutely right about turmeric; it's helped me tremendously, especially for the arthritis in my wrists and knees. And, speaking of Joyce, she's one of my favorites on your blog; I love her look. And Debra is such an inspiration, too.
- October 3, 2012 at 9:20 AM
- Esmeralda Llaca said...
Thanks for the tips Ladies, I've found them very interesting!!!!!!
- October 4, 2012 at 5:22 AM
- Odyssey Home said...
Great tips. I could listen to these lovely ladies all day.
- October 5, 2012 at 9:03 PM
Can't hear Joyce. She's so beautiful, would love to hear her!
P.S. Quite often it's difficult to hear the ladies - though your voice is always clear.
- October 6, 2012 at 6:00 AM
- Gabyhandyman said...
In this blog of yours, I found so many interesting themes and even if I did not yet responded to none, you to know that I read them with great interest. Success.
- October 8, 2012 at 6:25 PM
- ISKCON of Saint Augustine said...
I could hardly hear their advice. I love the blog so I want to hear them talk.
Thank you
- December 9, 2012 at 2:35 PM


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Tagy apps & contacts widgets
by Minimax
Download this app if: you want to create a 'tag cloud' for all your apps.
Developer Notes
Tagy is a set of text widgets that will organize your apps, bookmarks, contacts and settings into text clouds on your home screen. Tagy presents icon-free interface for those who love minimalistic design and want a new look for their Android.
Tagy main features:
• Add any number of apps,...


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Links to helpful broad based Youth Programs and Services in Spokane County.
Dennis McGaughy
Luthern Community Services
Kathleen Grier
Spokane County Juvenile Court Services
Truancy Coordinator
(509) 477-2412
Traci Crook
ARY/CHINS Coordinator
(509) 477-2459
CASA Enterprise
(509) 477-2468
CHILDREN's NET
(509) 535-5960
(509) 456-3983
BEE Kind Garden
Larry Koch
Program Coordinator
(509) 477-2476
The Richard Allen Community Center
600 S Richard Allen Court
Spokane, WA 99202
Monday Evenings 6 pm
Stevie Stephens
Program Supervisor
(509) 477-2557
Larry Koch
Program Coordinator
(509) 477-2476
Young Women 12-18
Spokane YMCA
College students interested in serving an internship in Detention, please contact Susan Cairy for more information.
Susan Cairy
The Job Corps' mission is to attract eligible young adults, teach them the skills they need to become employable and independent, and place them in meaningful jobs or further education.
(877) 562-2677 – Toll Free
Job Corps
Spokane Public Schools
(509) 354-7393
Spokane Public Schools
Susan Cairy
(509) 477-2469
This program is for all ages over 18 who are interested in volunteering to spend some time with a youth who may not have a good support system. Training is accomplished over three nights and there is no set number of hours you need to volunteer. Please contact Susan Cairy if you are interested.
A unique "hands-on" education program to PREVENT alcohol/drug and high-risk behavior.
Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council (GSSAC)
(509) 922-8383
GSSAC Prevention Center
Are you worried your child is using drugs? Drug testing available at NEWTA Youth Services.
1224 North Ash
Spokane, WA 99201
(509) 326-7740
No Appointment necessary
Support for parents of children or adolescents with a mental illness.
(509) 688-1103
Becky Bates
(509) 892-9241
Spokane Parent Coalition
24- Hour Crisis Hotline
(509) 624-7273
To make a report
(509) 532-9266
(509) 747-8224
Susan Cairy
Volunteer Services Coordinator
(509) 477-2469
1208 West Mallon
Spokane, WA 99201-2091
Larry Gardner
(509) 477-2451
School Office
Phone: (509) 329-3700
Fax: (509) 327-9914
Project YESS!
(509) 927-1153
This program aims to reduce the psychological burden of violence on children and families in a creative rather than reactive mode.
Spokane Valley Partners
County Campus Childcare
(509) 477-6815
8:00 am – Noon
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Spokane County Children's Waiting Room
In addition to the 4-H programs for youth, the Cooperative Extension is focusing on children's nutrition programs.
(509) 477-2160
Cooperative Extension
Spokane County Family Education Project
Youth Law and Education
Washington Law Help
Larry Koch
(509) 477-2476
Submit the following form to request a Community Truancy Board Toolkit.What is a Community Truancy Board Toolkit?
The name, email, phone, and agency fields are required.


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The Power of Independent Thinking
S. Fred Singer Interviewed on KUSI San Diego on Global Warming
Recorded: Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Research Fellow S. Fred Singer speaks with KUSI San Diego's David Davis on
the scientific and economic issues surrounding the global warming debate.
Experts: S. Fred SingerType: TelevisionIssues: Energy, Environment, Science, Technology
Benjamin Powell on Federal Youth Summer Jobs Funding & Consumer Banking Problems
Recorded: Thursday, January 5, 2012
Senior Fellow Benjamin Powell on Freedom Watch discusses Federal youth summer jobs funding and consumer banking problems.
Experts: Benjamin W. PowellType: TelevisionIssues: Banking and Finance, Fiscal Policy/Debt, Public Health/ Consumer Protection, Urban Issues


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Herbed Lamb Kabobs RecipeRead Reviews Be the first to add a review
4.5 3
This colorful kabob wouldn't be the same without its delicious herb marinade and tender-crisp vegetables. Together, they add delicious flavor and texture to the lamb pieces. This recipe was submitted by Janet Dingler from Cedartown, Georgia.
- 1 cup canola oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
- 3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons dried marjoram
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 pounds boneless lamb
- 1 medium red onion, cut into wedges
- 1 large green pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 large sweet red pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- In a small bowl, combine the first nine ingredients. Pour 1 cup into a large resealable plastic bag; add lamb. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 6-8 hours. Cover and refrigerate remaining marinade for basting.
- Drain and discard marinade. On eight metal or soaked wooden skewers, alternately thread lamb and vegetables. Grill, uncovered, over medium-hot heat for 8-10 minutes on each side or until meat reaches desired doneness(for medium-rare, a meat thermometer should read 145°; medium, 160°; well-done, 170°), basting frequently with reserved marinade. Yield: 8 servings.
Originally published as Herbed Lamb Kabobs in Taste of Home April/May 2007, p41
Medium-Bodied Red Wine
Enjoy this recipe with a medium-bodied red wine such as Chianti, Sangiovese, Malbec or Zinfandel.
Reviews for Herbed Lamb Kabobs
Please Log In or Join to add a rating and review.
Click stars to rate
Any changes to your rating or review will appear where you originally posted your review
Reviewed Nov. 1, 2012
"I replaced the lamb with pork tenderloin, excellent recipe. I also broiled these for about ten minute per side, stayed tender and just the right amount of charing."
Reviewed Mar. 21, 2011
"Would agree with the prev. reviewer...the marinade for this recipe was great! I did make it with lamb, but it was a bit pricey...next time I will try pork, but the marinade would be great on anything."
Reviewed May. 26, 2010
"I don't have a grill so I made this on a large indoor griddle. It still turned out amazing! I also used pork instead of lamb because of cost constraints, but I feel the marinade would have been good on anything! I will recommend this to anyone looking for a good marinade!"


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This website is best viewed in a browser that supports web standards.
Skip to content or, if you would rather, Skip to navigation.
Join the Bearcat Pride
Home » Admissions
Northwest Missouri State University
800 University Drive | Maryville, MO 64468
800.633.1175 | www.nwmissouri.edu
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Search Swinburne Research Bank
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/34021
- Title
- Forecasting
- Author(s)
- Newton, Peter W.; Taylor, Michael A. P.
- Abstract
- The emergence of departments of strategic planning within both State and local government in recent years is indicative of a growing concern about the future course of residential and industrial change within particular jurisdictions. The challenges to this task have never been greater, due to the rate at which change is occurring and the complex mix of interrelated factors (technological, social, economic, institutional and governmental) contributing to change in metropolitan and non-metropolitan settings. Numerous examples exist to underscore this situation. For example, as the rate of technological change increases, the time lapse between technological discovery and realization of commercial potential narrows: from thirty years (pre World War I) to sixteen years (inter-war) to less than ten years during the 1960s (Lanford 1972). This is reflected in the, at times, bewildering array of products entering the market place. The rate of societal change is no less dramatic. Consider, as one example, the redefinition of roles for men and women in the home and at work where there has been a shift, in the space of a generation, from a dominant 'traditional family model' (where the wife does more of the housework and less of the paid work), to alternative modes such as the 'equal family model' (where husband and wife share equally in paid employment, household duties and child care), or the 'modified family model' (where the husband does more of the paid work and less of the housework). Associated with both technological and societal change is the shift in the structure of the labour force in contemporary western societies: from one strongly manufacturing and service orientated prior to the Second World War to one which is increasingly orientated towards services and information (Brotchie et al. 1985). [Introduction]
- Publication type
- Book chapter
- Source
- Microcomputers for local government planning and management / Peter W. Newton and Michael A. P. Taylor (eds.), p. 85-92
- Publication year
- 1986
- Keyword(s)
- Australia; Computers; Data processing; Labour force; Local government; Social change; Technology; Western society
- Publisher
- Hargreen
- 0949905267
- Publisher URL
- none
- Copyright
- Copyright © P. W. Newton & M. A. P. Taylor 1986.


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007 Legends
007 Legends - Skyfall Game Trailer
It quickly turns into an epic chase, taking fans on a treacherous pursuit that ends atop a speeding train as a mysterious sniper nearly ends Bond's life. After overcoming death itself, 007 must track down his target across the world to Shanghai for a final showdown to uncover the truth...
007 Legends - Behind the Scenes with Naomie Harris
Join SKYFALL's own Naomie Harris to get an exclusive look behind the scenes as she talks about her role as Eve.
007 Legends - Goldfinger Trailer
Then a larger plot to irradiate the entire Fort Knox gold reserve is discovered. In order to thwart the plot, Bond takes action to infiltrate Goldfinger's headquarters with help from a questionable acquaintance -- Pussy Galore. Upon arrival at Fort Knox, 007 is tasked with defusing a nuclear bomb before it detonates, and the only thing standing between Bond and the bomb is Goldfinger's henchman -- Oddjob -- and his notoriously deadly hat. Will Bond be able to defeat Oddjob? Will Goldfinger's evil plans succeed? Check out 007 Legends this fall to experience some of the biggest moments in Bond history in this unique movie-inspired game!
007 Legends - Die Another Day & Licence to Kill Trailer
Activision revealed today Die Another Day and Licence to Kill as the third and fourth Bond movie-inspired missions included in this year\'s upcoming 007 Legends video game.
In 007 Legends\' Die Another Day movie-inspired mission, the quintessential secret agent is sent to rendezvous with Agent Jinx to investigate the connection between Gustav Graves - a diamond mogul funding the development of an international space weapon called Icarus - and a North Korean terrorist set on unifying his country once and for all. With Jinx\'s help, Bond must chase down Graves, racing along ice while duelling against North Korean spies and Graves\' allies, all while dodging concentrated blasts of solar energy from the Icarus weapon. After confronting Graves on his high-flying jet, Bond must prevent triggering a war between North and South Korea and escape the stricken jet before it\'s destroyed.
In the Licence to Kill movie-inspired mission, Bond enlists the help of U.S. Drug Enforcement Agent Pam Bouvier in order to avenge Felix Leiter and uncover a vast international drug operation headed by an evil Mexican drug lord with terrorist connections - Fran Sanchez. After detonating a massive explosion in Sanchez\'s drug refinery, Bond will have to capture Sanchez before he escapes, ending in a brutal physical confrontation on-board a moving tanker truck. Will Bond be able to avenge his friend or will he be killed by Sanchez?
007 Legends - On Her Majesty\'s Secret Service Trailer
The trailer features the On Her Majesty\'s Secret Service mission in the game, a chilly rescue mission set in a picturesque Alpine setting.
007 Legends - Moonraker Mission Trailer
Transporting aspiring secret agents to the well-known space port of billionaire industrialist, Hugo Drax, fans must rely on stealth and determine if they\'ll trust and align with questionable allies to infiltrate the orbiting evil lair and defeat one of the most iconic Bond henchmen - Jaws. The goal? Foil the enemy and destroy Drax\'s plans to poison the world.
007 Legends - Launch Trailer
Additionally, 007 Legends will feature a sixth mission based on this year's highly anticipated Bond film - SKYFALL - which will be available to unlock as downloadable content.
007 Legends - Opening Cinematic
In honor of global James Bond Day, we have the opening cinematic for 007 Legends.


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From Zero to Hero
this wiki
- Lance: "I got what we finally needed. I know how we can get our hands on one big shipment...Completely free! We can finally get Pete the healthcare he needs."
- Vic: "Look Lance...I am a long way from being a good guy, but drugs just mean trouble."
- Lance: "I agree, man, I 100% agree. That's why we're gonna get this one big pay day for all the hard work and split! Jerry Martinez...It's his coke."
- Vic: "Oh...Fuck it. You know what? Let's do it."
- — Lance Vance tells Victor about the big score they can take from his old enemy, Jerry Martinez
From Zero to Hero is a mission in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories given to protagonist Victor Vance by his brother Lance Vance from Lance's hotel room in Downtown, Vice City.
Lance has discovered that a cocaine shipment coming into the city and wants to steal it, although Victor is not interested until learning the shipment belongs to Vic's bitter enemy Jerry Martinez. Victor and Lance leave the hotel room and drive to the docks in Little Haiti in Lance's Sentinel XS. They are met by some of Martinez's men, who they kill, and then steal the two Barracks OLs containing the cocaine. Lance and Victor drive off, managing to avoid more of Martinez's men in Bobcats and Sentinel XS'. They reach the bridge connecting to Washington Beach, where Martinez begins to fire missiles towards the two from a Hunter. Victor and Lance manage to get to the other side of the bridge where the VCPD are waiting, which scares off Martinez. Victor and Lance then drive to their new safehouse, driving the two trucks into the garage.
Mission objectives
In order to complete the mission the player must:
- Drive to the docks in Little Haiti
- Take out the gang members. Protect Lance and the trucks
- Get in the truck
- Follow Lance
- Cross the bridge and avoid incoming fire from the helicopter
- Follow Lance
Post Mission Pager Message
Louise Cassidy-Williams: Lance tells me you're gonna be rich... Does that mean you don't have time for me no more?
The reward for completing the mission is $3,000. The Brawn of the Dead mission is unlocked by completing the mission, as are the Ocean Beach, Washington Beach and Vice Point districts. The mission also unlocks pilotable aircraft and boats (and their related side-missions). Plus, new vehicles such as the Infernus become available (making it possible to complete the Civil Asset Forfeiture Impound side-mission). Also, it now becomes possible to attain a 6-star wanted level.
- The radio news report that follows successful completion of the mission contains a continuity error. The announcer says that flights from Escobar airport have resumed. However several earlier missions such as Snitch Hitch involve Victor meeting people coming in on flights, and airliners can be viewed taxiing on the runways. (It's possibly only outgoing flights have been stopped).
- The name of the mission comes from the song featured in Disney's Hercules.
- When you steal the Barracks OL, the radio station will be tuned in to V-Rock and the song "Holy Diver" will always play.
- If you fail the mission, you will respawn next to the South Bridge and it will be blocked again.
- After completing this mission, no more missions will be available on the mainland.
- Sgt. Martinez is implied to be piloting the Hunter helicopter in this mission. However, in reality, US Army Warrant Officers fly the Apache (Hunter's real-life counterpart) and so Martinez shouldn't actually be using it.
- Two of Lance's lines in this mission "I have a dream" when they leave the apartment and "Rich at last, rich at last, Thank God Almighty we are rich at last!", reference to Martin Luther King Jr " I have a dream speech." Which he said during "The Washington March" although he said "Free at last" instead of "Rich at last".
Video walkthrough
|PS2 Version


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How Our Economy Has Changed Since 9/11
Many of the economic problems of Sept. 11, 2001, feel awfully familiar today: Recession, bursting bubbles, low consumer confidence, predatory lending. But of course, it's a whole new world now, so we asked economists what the most significant shifts of the past decade have been. Their responses were enlightening.


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USS Yorktown (23rd century)
this wiki
|USS Yorktown
|United Federation of Planets
|Active (2293)
The USS Yorktown was a Federation starship that was in service with Starfleet from the mid-to-late 23rd century.
In 2268, the Yorktown was scheduled to deliver vaccines bound for the colony on Theta VII after a rendezvous with the USS Enterprise. (TOS: "Obsession")
In 2286, the Yorktown was under the command of Captain Joel Randolph. While deployed near the Sol system, the Yorktown was one of the many vessels disabled by the Whale Probe near Earth.
In Randolph's distress call to Starfleet Command, he noted that the ship had lost all power and that all non-essential crew were given hiber-sedatives to slow down consumption of life support reserves. Meanwhile, the chief engineer attempted to deploy a makeshift solar sail so as to focus and absorb radiation from a nearby sun they were orbiting, with the hopes of generating power to keep the crew alive. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
In 2293, Tuvok's father was a Starfleet officer serving aboard the Yorktown. (VOY: "Flashback")
Yorktown personnel
Background information
According to an article by Greg Jein in a 1970s fanzine regarding starship registries, he assigned the number NCC-1717 to the name Yorktown. This registry has been further propagated by being included in the writings of Michael Okuda, such as the Star Trek Encyclopedia, which also referenced the Yorktown as a Template:ShipClass heavy cruiser. The comic book series Star Trek: Romulans - Schism also featured the Yorktown with the same number and class.
The Yorktown was listed as a Constitution-class starship, with the registry NCC-1704, in Franz Joseph's Star Fleet Technical Manual. However, much of the information in that manual that was not used on screen in some form was considered non-canon.
The USS Yorktown was the name of the central starship in Gene Roddenberry's first Star Trek proposal to NBC in 1964. The ship was named after the USS Yorktown, a World War II American aircraft carrier, which in turn was named after the last major battle of the American Revolution, won in 1781 by a combined Franco-American army commanded by Gen. George Washington. (Star Trek Encyclopedia 2nd ed., p. 572)
Gene Roddenberry, in a nod to his original name choice from 1964, suggested that the Yorktown was renamed USS Enterprise-A at the end of Star Trek IV, explaining why the latter ship seemed to be launched so quickly at the end of the movie. The Next Generation fourth season writer's technical manual also indicated this to be the case. This was further validated when, in the Encyclopedia, Mike Okuda described the Yorktown in 2293 as the second ship to bear this name.
The FASA sourcebook Star Trek: The Next Generation Officer's Manual listed a USS Yorktown (NCC-2033) of this era which belonged to the Template:ShipClass.
In the Star Trek: The Next Generation novel Crossover, the Yorktown was revealed to have become a museum exhibit on a starbase, but its bridge has been replaced with the original bridge of the first Enterprise. In the story in question, Captain Montgomery Scott stole the Yorktown to rescue Spock, recently captured by the Romulans, and fitted it with an ancient Romulan cloaking device (the one acquired in "The Enterprise Incident"). The mission proved successful, but aid was still required from the USS Enterprise-D for Spock, Scotty and the Unification movement to escape.