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I am going Contiki!
European Vista
1 1 4 days to go
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Northern Choice (Auckland to Christchurch)
1 country \ 11 days \ from US$1565 per person
New Zealand's the land of stunning natural beauty, action-packed activities & laid back culture. Kick off this trip in the Bay of Islands & try some sand dune surfing! In the underground caves of Waitomo experience black water rafting before hitting Rotorua to try the 'Zorb' or skyline gondola & end the day relaxing in a Polynesian thermal pool. Take in a sunset cruise on Lake Taupo, brave the Rock'n Ropes course & head to the land of "The Lord of the Rings", Wellington. Finally, the good times must come to an end in Christchurch.
Sun & Steam
1 country \ 8 days \ from US$1115 per person
Clear your schedule for New Zealand NOW – from Auckland to Waitomo and everything in between. Cross the Harbour Bridge, create your own kayaking adventure, swim with the dolphins and see the 'Hole in the Rock' while fast boating through the islands! Glimpse real glowworms while black water rafting the Waitomo Caves. Plus, for you culture vultures, trek through the native Kauri Forest and take in the Tribal Lands of Nga Puhi Maori. You'll have a day to chill out in the thermal pools of Rotorua too!
European Explorer plus Greek Island Cruising
16 countries \ 34 days \ from US$6219 per person
The European Explorer is the ultimate holiday for those wanting to travel to all the major destinations and do it with a little luxury! Make your way through 17 countries in a little over a month with all the big names being accounted for - Paris, Barcelona, Florence, Rome and Amsterdam - as well as some of the lesser known through Albania, Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia. And if you think that 33 days sounds like a long time, don't forget that you'll spend 4 nights sailing around the Greek islands. A holiday within a holiday!
leannekretschmann liked Mitch's comment on the Japan Unrivalled - 29th August discussion
Japan Unrivalled - 29th August
Is anyone else going on this tour?? I am so excited! :)
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Second Minnesotan to die fighting for ISIS in Syria reportedly had security clearance at MSP
Abdirahmaan Muhumed pic via Facebook
Abdirahmaan Muhumed grew up in Minneapolis, but he became the second Minnesotan to die fighting for ISIS in Syria this summer. (We wrote about the first, Douglas McCain, a week ago.)
But perhaps the scariest aspect of Muhumed's story is what he was reportedly doing for work before leaving America. According to Fox 9, he worked at MSP cleaning planes and had a security clearance giving him unfettered access to the airport's tarmac.
See also:
Michele Bachmann is worried about Somali terrorists attacking the Mall of America [AUDIO]
Fox 9's report is based on what they heard from two of Muhumed's former Delta Global Services co-workers. We reached out to airport officials for confirmation, but they declined to comment on Muhumed's employment history at this time.
However, MSP spokesperson Melissa Scovronski tells us the sort of security clearance Muhumed would've had, assuming the Fox 9 report is correct, is called a Security Identity Display Area, or SIDA.
Scovronski says workers with a SIDA don't necessarily go have to go through a metal detector when they report for work each day. But to get that clearance, prospective employees are subjected to rigorous background checks conducted by the airport in conjunction with the FBI and Homeland Security.
"They can still restrict your access to some degree to certain doors, but basically a SIDA badge is going to let you onto the airfield," Scovronski says. "But you have to renew [your badge] every certain number of months and then they do another check. Though it may not be as thorough of a check, regular renewals of those badges have to take place."
Scovronski didn't immediately have information about what sorts of things in a person's past might disqualify them from receiving a SIDA badge, but Fox reports that Muhumed's record in Minnesota was clean.
It's unclear at what point Muhumed became radicalized. Fox reports he was unemployed before he left Minnesota and had grown disillusioned while struggling to support nine children from several different mothers.
Muhumed's Facebook page, which has been dormant since November of last year and lists him as living in Nigeria, features selfies taken in Minnesota that were posted as recently as August 2013.
Posts from April of last year suggest Muhumed was being pulled in both secular and religious directions:
Send your story tips to the author, Aaron Rupar. Follow him on Twitter @atrupar.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Teaching Tools, 11 May 2007
Asylum – a basic human right
The history of the institution of asylum
Introduction: Students are asked for their impressions of the meaning of the term asylum
Development: Exploration of the meaning of asylum, through discussion of article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Students read the article "Safeguarding asylum" and answer comprehension and discussion questions.
Students' Resource Sheet: Chapter 2, "Safeguarding asylum", from The State of the World's Refugees: Human Displacement in the New Millennium..
Suggested readings for the teacher:
UNHCR, The State of the World's Refugees 1997-98: A Humanitarian Agenda (Oxford, OUP, 1997), Chapter 5: The Asylum Dilemma, pp. 183-223
UNHCR, Protecting Refugees and the Role of UNHCR
Statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [PDF] (1950).
Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees [PDF] (1951).
Prejudice, Stereotyping, Racism
In the country of asylum, refugees may be safe from the persecution that they suffered in their own countries, but they face the huge problem of not being thoroughly accepted in their new country.
Using the UNHCR poster What's the Difference? as a springboard for exchange of ideas, students are asked to consider the possible problems of prejudice and stereotyping which refugees at times have to endure in their countries of asylum.
UNHCR Lego poster entitled What's the Difference?


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Wouldn't be prudent.
In contrast to his war-mongering son, it's easy now to think of the first George Bush as a kindly and moderate grandfather, the soul of temperance and prudence. But during his presidency it was a different matter. He was regarded as an evil warmonger, a CIA spook and clandestine member of The Illuminati, Majestic12, the Bilderberg Group, and the Union of Unwise Sorcerers.All the bitter, passive, petulant music of the early nineties was a partly a product of the feelings of powerlessness and defeat that came from being a young person during the Reagan/Bush years. Just as the youth movement found its voice, just as Grunge seemed poised to use apathy and frustration as a galvanizing critique of American culture, bad old George Bush was replaced by a fat-faced young president who felt our pain.
|The Liberals was to replace our guns with FINGERS!
|These guys were no dummies.
|Totally apathetic.


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Are High Frequency Traders Playing Fast and Loose With the Rules?
When high frequency trading (HFT) first crept into the public consciousness, it related to primarily to the question of whether rapid, computer driven trading posed risks to the safety and stability of the trading markets. Now it appears that HFT may have also been a means for some traders to gain a possible illegal advantage.
High frequency trading involves the use of sophisticated technological tools and computer algorithms to rapidly trade securities. High frequency traders use powerful computing equipment to execute proprietary trading strategies in which they move in and out of positions in seconds or even fractions of a second. While high frequency traders often capture just a fraction of a cent in profit on each trade, they make up for low margins with enormous volume of trades.
High frequency trading is viewed by many as particularly risky. While some participants disagree, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued a report in which their staffs concluded that algorithmic and high frequency trading contributed to the volatility that led to the May 6, 2010 "flash crash."
More recently, high frequency trading has come under scrutiny by law enforcement. A number of agencies are investigating such practices to determine whether high frequency traders are profiting at the expense of ordinary investors. The Justice Department and the FBI have recently announced investigations, while U.S. securities regulators and the New York Attorney General have said that they have ongoing investigations.
Heightening the recent HFT craze is renowned author Michael Lewis, who recently authored Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt. In the book, Lewis claims that computer-driven stock trading has taken over the market at the expense of 'the little guy'. According to Lewis, Wall Street is rigged by a combination of insiders – stock exchanges, big Wall Street banks and HFT. Lewis claims that HFT's advantage is so severe that traders are able to predict which stock a common investor wants to buy before he or she can buy it, and drive the price up before the investor can initiate the purchase.
Not everyone is buying the claims Lewis makes in his book. There have been many on record stating that HFT actually does not prey on mom and pop investors. Additionally, many individualsbelieve Lewis' claims are overblown and that HFT does not provide traders with a huge profitable advantage.
Inevitably, the most pressing question about high frequency trading is whether any such businesses are given an unfair – and illegal – advantage in placing trades. On April 11, three futures traders filed a federal class action lawsuit against CME Group, the owner of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade, claiming that high frequency traders are given an improper advance look at price and market data that permits them to execute trades using the data before other market participants. While the plaintiffs claim that this practice has existed since 2007, CME denies the merits of the allegations.
Between the investigations and this lawsuit (and the others that will certainly follow), it will eventually be determined whether traders with high speed computers benefited improperly over other market participants. Regardless of the merits of these accusations, it is unquestionable that high frequency trading, like all technological advances, poses special challenges to existing rules and laws that will require special consideration and possibly require new rules and regulations.
Ifrah Law is a leading white-collar criminal defense firm that focuses on financial services.
Financial Regulation
Offshore Accounts? IRS is Watching
If you have unreported income from offshore accounts, now may be the best time to come forward and report those earnings; otherwise, you may be susceptible to criminal prosecution.
The IRS initially began this open-ended Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP) in 2009 and later renewed it in 2011. Due to strong interest from previous years, the IRS rolled the 2012 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program back out in January. This program provides a way for taxpayers to come forward voluntarily and report their previously undisclosed foreign accounts and assets. The program is designed to resolve an inordinate amount of cases without the IRS having to take the time to conduct independent, thorough investigations of alleged tax fraudsters.
Despite the name, and unlike its predecessors, the 2012 OVDP has no set deadline for taxpayers to apply. However, citizens should be cognizant of the fact that the IRS can change the terms at any given time. For example, the program's tax penalty could increase, or worse – the program could completely end without any notice, leaving taxpayers as fair game for IRS crosshairs. Those choosing to not report their offshore assets could be prosecuted under the fraud penalty and foreign information return penalties, in addition to increasing their risk of criminal prosecution.
Additional and possible criminal charges that could stem from undisclosed tax returns include tax evasion, filing a false return and failure to file an income tax return. A person convicted of tax evasion is subject to a prison term of up to five years and a fine of up to $250,000. Taxpayers should understand that the likelihood of undisclosed offshore accounts being found is increasing through information available to the IRS by tax treaties, information from whistleblowers and more revealing information by way of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), which we've blogged on before.
Citizens are wising up and taking advantage of the program. Since 2013, more than 39,000 citizens have utilized OVDP and disclosed unreported earnings. This has netted over $5.5 billion in recovered tax revenues for the IRS.
A few citizens, such as Ty Warner, have ignored the ODVP. The creator of Beanie Babies saw this enforcement first hand when the IRS came knocking on his door, alleging that he hid a secret offshore bank account. In September 2013, a federal court in Chicago issued tax evasion charges against Warner. The court fined Warner a civil fine of $53 million and he was sentenced to two years of probation. Additionally, Warner paid $14 million in back taxes.
While some citizens will surely be tempted to allow their offshore earnings go unreported, we are here to tell you that decision (and risk) may come at a high price.
Ifrah Law is a leading white-collar criminal defense firm that focuses on financial services.
Financial Regulation, Fraud
My, What Long Arms You Have, Uncle
Here's a visual: Uncle Sam extending his arms around the world, reaching out for his citizens, wherever they may be. He may resemble a candy-striped Gumby, with disproportionately long rubbery arms spanning the globe. The visual is not an endearing one to many Americans abroad. They do not see Uncle Sam's reach as an embrace, but rather as a stronghold. And a close-up of the visual will show that not only is Uncle Sam holding his citizens, he is also clutching foreign institutions and sovereigns.
This visual describes how many perceive the U.S. following the enactment of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), a law that takes effect July 1, 2014, and is purported to increase accountability of U.S. taxpayers who have foreign financial assets. Unlike most countries, the U.S. taxes its citizens on income regardless of where the income was earned. Either through inattention or willful ignorance, many Americans have not fully complied with all U.S. tax laws and have not reported all foreign assets and income earned abroad. Desperate to shore up a massive budget deficit, in 2010 U.S. Congress decided to go after tax revenues on these foreign assets with the passage of FATCA.
FATCA followed on the heels of a 2009 settlement between the U.S. Justice Department and UBS AG in which the bank agreed to pay a hefty $780 million fine to avoid prosecution for allegedly fostering American tax evasion. A savvy Congress may have seen revenue potential both in ferreting out tax evasion and finding reasons to penalize financial institutions that fail to comply with U.S. law. FATCA and its implementing regulations shrewdly address both.
FATCA has two general reporting requirements: (1) U.S. individual taxpayers must attach Form 8938 to their income tax return, reporting information about foreign financial accounts and offshore assets valued over a specified threshold ($50,000 for a single filer, though a higher threshold applies to those living outside the U.S.) and (2) foreign financial institutions (FFIs) must register with the IRS and report information (mainly account balances) about U.S. accounts (including accounts of foreign entities with substantial U.S. owners). The FFIs may be required to withhold 30% on U.S. sourced payments to foreign payees if those payees do not comply with FATCA.
Here's another visual: a massive splitting headache. FFIs agreeing to comply with FATCA will need to confirm the identity of all account holders, culling U.S. accounts for reporting purposes. In instances where local law conflicts with FATCA, e.g., when accounts are located in countries with bank secrecy laws, FFIs will need to ensure account holders sign waivers to allow reporting of their information. Many FFIs will need to institute a process to withhold 30% of certain payments from recalcitrant account holders and non-compliant FFIs. So not only must these banks track their account holders, they may be required to track payments to those account holders and to other FFIs. They must stay abreast of which of their account holders and which FFIs are not compliant with FATCA. Then for the non-compliant, the FFIs will need to track U.S. payments to those and withhold 30% of the U.S.-sourced payments. Good luck.
The compliance and reporting requirements will be onerous. And the tediousness of compliance with the U.S. laws and regulations is only one piece of the legal framework FFIs must navigate. As mentioned above, they also have the overarching concern of compliance with their own country's banking and privacy laws. A clash of laws may subject FFIs to class actions in their respective countries. While intergovernmental agreements between the U.S. and FATCA-cooperating countries, as well as local legislative efforts, may attempt to remediate problems of conflicting laws, FFIs must tread carefully.
Why would foreign banks, or foreign sovereigns for that matter, choose to subject themselves to the U.S.'s jurisdictional overreach? Why wouldn't countries, especially those known for their bank secrecy laws, simply refuse to submit this costly program? The answer is simple. FATCA includes a steep penalty for non-participation. As mentioned above, there is a 30% withholding of any U.S.-sourced payments to FFIs that do not adhere to the law. A simple solution to avoid the penalty and the regulatory nightmare is to no longer hold U.S. accounts. And many Americans abroad are now struggling to find banks that will take their cash. But other FFIs have chosen to work with the U.S. and their local government to ease compliance and implementation.
The financial pressure and regulatory burden to which the U.S. has subjected these foreign banks and sovereigns is the impetus for many intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) between the U.S. and other countries. The carrot for these countries to enter an IGA is that the U.S. will reduce the oversight requirements the law foists upon banks. For instance, an FFI in a country with an IGA may not have to track and withhold payments; they merely need to report on U.S. accounts. This regulatory ease is why many big banks in foreign countries have pressured their local governments to sign an IGA with the U.S. The end result is places known for bank secrecy, like Switzerland and Hong Kong, are buckling. Thanks to FATCA, bank secrecy will be a concept as antiquated as carriage rides.
But FFIs who think they are dodging a bullet by lobbying for an IGA in their country should think again. This merely opens the door to an increasing level of U.S. involvement in their affairs. We can expect the U.S. Justice Department to leverage its increased presence in FFIs to expand its enforcement initiatives.
Ifrah Law is a leading white-collar criminal defense firm that focuses on financial services.
Financial Regulation, Foreign Proceedings
FATCA, foreign tax
Employers Seeking to Curb Employee Mobile Phone Use at Work? Don't Use Illegal Signal Jammer – FCC is "Listening"
Some employers, particularly those in manufacturing, health care, and other situations where mobile phone use could interfere with employee safety, have come up with novel approaches to curbing employees' uses of mobile phones. While a policy restricting personal phone calls and texting may be acceptable, installation of a signal jammer to prevent employees from accessing the network is unlawful and can subject the employer to significant penalties. R&N ("RNM") Manufacturing, Ltd. In Houston, Texas learned this lesson the hard way when the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") showed up at its manufacturing facility.
As background, RNM purchased a signal jammer online in February 2013, to prevent employees from placing wireless calls from the factory, by blocking cell phone communications. With very limited exceptions, the Communications Act and the FCC's rules bar the importation, use, marketing, manufacturing, and sale of jammers. Jammers may be available for sale all over the Internet, but they are prohibited. The reason behind this prohibition is that jammers can interfere with emergency and other communications services, including GPS. Signal jammers typically transmit high-powered radio signals that interfere with authorized communications. The interference can, among other dangers, place first responders and the public at risk if critical communications cannot be transmitted.
AT&T determined that a signal originating from RNM's Houston facilities was interfering with AT&T's signal, and reported the interference to the FCC's Enforcement Bureau. FCC field agents in Houston conducted an investigation and found strong signals coming from RNM's Houston facility. The agents subsequently visited the facility to determine the source of the interference and to notify a corporate officer. RNM's CFO confirmed the jammer and promised to discontinue the jammer's use. A formal enforcement action followed.
After analyzing the facts and the agency's forfeiture guidelines, the FCC imposed a forfeiture on RNM of $29,250 for the 10-day operation (and the voluntary relinquishment of the illegal device). While this is not a huge penalty, the FCC noted that it could have imposed a forfeiture in excess of $337,000 had it imposed a straightforward application of the statutory maximum.
There are a few important points to note here. First, employers seeking to curb employee mobile use should rely on policies and enforcement, rather than "self-help" through installation of their own devices. While jammers are available for purchase online – they are illegal irrespective of what a website might advertise.
Second, while companies might not expect an FCC official to show up at their door for an investigation, the agency (like many other agencies) has field agents and they do conduct on-site investigations – including without notice. All organizations should have a designated officer or senior employee who is trained to interface with investigators. Outside counsel can also be key here to interact with the agents and help guide the company through the audit.
Third, monetary penalties can be steep. A mere 10 days' use of the signal jammer cost RNM a nearly $30,000 penalty plus likely legal fees and employee time. Had RNM been using the cell jammer over a longer time period, it could have faced a six-figure fine.
Fourth, even though RNM was not an "FCC-regulated" entity such as a broadcast station, telecom company, etc., it understood the need to be responsive and to take the matter seriously. Just because a company is not regularly under an agency's jurisdiction doesn't mean it is not subject to the agency's enforcement powers. Federal agencies such as the FCC and FTC enforce laws with wide-ranging implications and can subject companies in various industries to their jurisdiction.
The FCC's Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture is available here.
Ifrah Law is a leading white-collar criminal defense firm that focuses on .
Civil Forfeiture, Communications Law
At&T, Communications, FCC, forfeiture, regulations
Live Report From iGNA 2014 – Is iGaming The Problem or The Solution?
This afternoon at the iGaming North America 2014 conference an interesting panel, "Visionaries' Perspective—Is i-Gaming the Problem or the Solution?" explored two vastly divergent viewpoints on online gaming in the United States. The panel was moderated by Steve Lipscomb, the Founder of the World Poker Tour, and featured, Mitch Garber, the CEO Caesars Acquisition Co. and Caesars Interactive Entertainment, and Andy Abboud, Vice President of Government Relations, Las Vegas Sands Corp, which is owned by billionaire Sheldon Adelson.
Abboud made clear the positions of his Las Vegas Sands from the start stating, "We are not fans of online gaming." Abboud expressed caution because he felt that there is a strong presence of illegal operators in the industry and that was what the company feared, not the legalized regulated gaming that is currently offered in Delaware, New Jersey, and Nevada.
Garber called attention to Abboud's stance differing from Adelson's public position, which is that iGaming should not be permitted in any context. Adelson has made it clear publicly that he intends to spend large sums of money to defeat online gaming, and federal legislation to do so may be forthcoming.
Abboud said that the Las Vegas Sands supports legislation to restore the Wire Act and make it clear that the Wire Act prohibits online gaming as well as sports betting. Abboud emphasized that he believes that the industry is dependent on a Wire Act opinion that was issued by Attorney General Eric Holder, but that interpretation of the Wire Act could be overturned by a new administration or a change in perspective from the current administration. Abboud emphasized that he believes the industry needs to be much more cautious in its approach before moving forward, on the law and in terms of consumer protection.
Garber emphasized that he believes that both the federal government and the individual states are capable of regulating online gaming. Garber stated that the consumer protection controls that are in place online are even stronger than in the land-based casinos. Online casinos have the ability to track the money players deposit, view their hand histories, age and ID verify all participants.
The lively exchange highlighted the divergent perspectives on online gaming in the United States. The debate will continue to play out in the future, but we believe that online gaming is here to stay and the companies that believe that it will cannibalize the land-based casino industry will be proven wrong in time as more states join the market.
Ifrah Law is a leading white-collar criminal defense firm that focuses on igaming.
Internet Law
igaming, igna, internet gambling, Online Gambling
Supreme Court Expands Whistleblower Protection
The U.S. Supreme Court recently held that Sarbanes–Oxley extends whistleblower protection, not just to employees of public companies, but to employees of private contractors and subcontractors that serve public companies. In a 6-3 decision, the Court rejected the First Circuit's narrow construction of the statute in favor of the Labor Department's more expansive interpretation. Now more than ever, affected contractors and subcontractors need to ensure they have robust policies in place for addressing whistleblower complaints.
Congress passed the Sarbanes–Oxley Act in 2002, the year after Enron's collapse. The Act was intended to protect investors in public companies and restore trust in financial markets. It achieved these goals in part by providing whistleblower protection: 18 U.S.C. § 1514A makes it unlawful for employers to retaliate against employees who report suspected fraud. The provision certainly protects employees of publicly traded companies. It was less clear whether § 1514A protects employees of private contractors that service public companies. The plaintiffs in Lawson v. FMR, LLC, claimed it did.
Jackie Lawson and Jonathan Lang were employees of private companies that serviced the Fidelity family of mutual funds. As is often the case with mutual funds, the Fidelity funds were subject to SEC reporting requirements, but had no employees. Private companies contracted with the funds to provide accounting and investment advisory services. In this case, the private companies were Fidelity-related entities referred to collectively as FMR. Lawson was a 14-year veteran and Senior Director of Finance for her employer, Fidelity Brokerage Services. She alleged that she was constructively discharged after raising concerns about cost accounting methods for the funds. Zang was an 8-year veteran of Fidelity Management & Research Co. He alleged that he was fired for raising concerns about misstatements in a draft SEC registration statement related to the funds. Both plaintiffs sued for retaliation under § 1514A.
FMR responded by asking the district court to dismiss the claims on grounds that § 1514A protects employees of public companies, not employees of privately held companies. The trial judge rejected FMR's argument, but the First Circuit Court of Appeals reversed. Months later, the Labor Department's Administrative Review Board issued a decision in another case, making clear that ARB agreed with the trial judge. Last year, the Supreme Court agreed to consider the question.
On March 4, the Court issued its opinion that § 1514A shelters employees of private contractors, just as it shelters employees of public companies served by those contractors. Speaking for the majority, Justice Ginsburg explained that the Court's broad construction finds support in the statute's text and broader context. As relevant to the plaintiffs' claims, § 1514A provides, "'No public company . . . , or any officer, employee, contractor, subcontractor, or agent of such company" may take adverse action "against an employee . . . because of [whistleblowing or other protected activity].'" Boiled down to its essence, the phrase in question states that "no . . . contractor . . . may discharge . . . an employee." In ordinary usage, the phrase means that no contractor (of a public company) may retaliate against its own employees. After all, those are the people contractors have power to retaliate against. According to the Court, if Congress had intended to limit whistleblower protections to employees of publicly traded companies, as FMR argued, Congress would have said "no contractor may discharge an employee of a public company." The statute doesn't say that because Congress was not attempting to remedy a nonexistent problem. Enron did not collapse because its private contractors retaliated against Enron employees who tried to report the company's fraud.
The Lawson Court explained further that its interpretation flows logically from the statute's purpose to prevent another Enron debacle. Often, the first-hand witnesses of corporate fraud are employees of private companies that service a public company—law firms, accounting firms, and business consulting firms, for example. Without adequate protections against retaliation, contractor employees who come across fraud in their work for public companies will be less likely to report misconduct. The Court's point was particularly relevant with respect to the Fidelity funds. Like most mutual funds, the Fidelity funds had no employees. A narrow reading of § 1514A would insulate a $14 million industry from retaliation claims. Congress could not have intended that result.
Given the Court's decision in Lawson v. FMR, LLC, privately held companies that service public companies should consider how best to deal with whistleblower complaints. At a minimum, robust whistleblower policies will (i) safeguard whistleblower anonymity to the extent possible; (ii) encourage whistleblowers to exercise discretion without discouraging them from reporting misconduct; (iii) address the preservation of evidence relating to putative fraud; and (iv) establish procedures for the conduct of internal investigations into suspected fraud.
Ifrah Law is a leading white-collar criminal defense firm that focuses on government contracting, and healthcare.
Government Contracting, Healthcare
Fraud, White-collar crime
As the Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act Takes Hold, U.S. Sees Expatriates at All-Time High
Are you living the American dream … abroad? If so, you may be considering joining forces with Superman[1] and changing your nationality. You face some unique burdens if you earn a cent while soaking up the sun in Saint Tropez or make a rupee while navigating the marketplace in Mumbai. The most obvious, from a financial perspective, is double taxation. America is one of the few countries to tax its citizens on their global income. That means that Americans must contend with tax liability and report requirements of the country where their income is earned. Also, they then must pay Uncle Sam taxes on that same foreign-based income. (The foreign tax credit offsets some of this burden, but it generally does not eliminate all double taxes.)
Now Americans abroad are facing a new financial challenge: finding places to park their money. Thanks to the Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act, which Congress passed in 2010, banks in foreign countries are refusing to hold accounts for American citizens. FATCA aims at enforcing American tax law on its citizens and ensuring those citizens are disclosing all income and assets to Uncle Sam. To confirm full disclosure, the law imposes reporting requirements on the foreign financial institutions that do business with Americans. Many of these banks have decided that the regulatory burden and penalties for non-compliance are too onerous so they have opted to refuse Americans' money. The problem Americans face banking abroad has become big enough that members of Congress have called hearings on the matter. [Of course, unless Congress repeals the reporting mandates that FATCA imposes on foreign financial institutions, what impact could hearings have? Congressional members could acknowledge the problem, but there is really only one solution. Superman, where are you when we need you?]
Of the many concerns Americans have over FATCA, the law is seen as too intrusive, especially to bi-nationals who identify culturally with another nationality. The law requires individuals to file – in addition to FBARs – the already-notorious Form 8938, which demands details on foreign assets such as life insurance contracts, loans, and holdings in non-U.S. companies. Additionally there are the hefty civil and criminal penalties of $50,000 or one-half the value of accounts for individuals who have not complied with all reporting requirements (many Americans abroad, apparently have struggled with compliance).
So as FATCA takes hold (the U.S. is actively negotiating intergovernmental agreements with foreign jurisdictions to ensure enforceability of its laws), Americans abroad increasingly face the question: are the benefits of American citizenship worth the cost? More people are answering "no" and choosing to renounce their American citizenship. In fact, so many are answering "no" that we are breaking renunciation records. In 2011, more than 1,800 Americans renounced their citizenship, which was more than 2007, 2008, and 2009 combined. In 2013, that number jumped to almost 3,000, which is an all-time record. The number of American citizens wanting to renounce their citizenship is so high in Switzerland there is a waiting list (reported as 18-months long).
Some may think that 3,000 people renouncing their citizenship is a drop in the bucket, nothing to sneeze at, and small potatoes. The number of renouncers doesn't compare to the 1 million who are legally immigrating to the U.S. every year. "Goodbye and good riddance," some have commented.
But the trend is more troubling than it may appear. By raw numbers, the U.S. may be averaging a 997,000 surplus in immigrants versus emigrants, but Uncle Sam's tax roll will not reflect the same surplus. The people who are renouncing their citizenship tend to be on the wealthier side. Not all are Eduardo Saverins (the Facebook co-founder who emigrated to Singapore "for business reasons" i.e. to reduce his tax liability). But expatriates are undergoing the pains of renunciation because they have greater than average networths and they see the writing on the U.S. budget deficit's wall (many surmise that FATCA is an attempt to curb the deficit). The people who are immigrating to the U.S. tend to be those who are looking for opportunity, education, etc. They are bringing wallets full of hope, not gold. And when you recognize that the top 1 percent of American earners pay about 37 percent of all the federal taxes, a few thousand on the wealthier side become statistically significant.
A very popular phrase bandied about by politicians is that you can tell the health of the nation by the number of people who want to come and stay. That immigration reform is an issue, to many, means we have a good thing going here in the U.S. that others want to be a part of. But when the nation's wealthy start opting out of the American dream, when they start thinking our borders as made of kryptonite, it's time to pause and reflect.
[1] See Action Comics No. 900 in which Superman renounces his U.S. citizenship after a clash with the federal government.
Ifrah Law is a leading white-collar criminal defense firm that focuses on financial services.
expatriates, FATCA, foreign tax, Foreign Tax credits
$76 Million Distributed in Full Tilt Poker Restitution
We have previously reported on the arrangements being made by the Garden City Group for remittance of money to the former customers of Full Tilt Poker. Since that time, there has been a lengthy process for the submission of claims to the group for administration.
It appears that players' waiting has not been all for naught.
The Garden City Group reports that, on February 28, 2014, it issued more than 27,500 payments totaling approximately $76 million to former Full Tilt Poker players who timely confirmed the balance of their Full Tilt Poker accounts. GCG reports that petitioners will receive ACH transfers of the funds anywhere from the day it was issued until several business days later, depending on the practices of their banks.
These payments are only the first round of anticipated payments. The deadline for affiliates to submit a petition for remission is this Sunday, March 2.
Ifrah Law is a leading white-collar criminal defense firm that focuses on igaming.
Federal Criminal (Other), White-collar crime
Omnicare Decision Limits the Reach of False Claims Act
A recent decision by the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit limiting the reach of the False Claims Act demonstrates how relators who pursue cases in which the government declines to intervene can end up making law that is unfavorable to the government's enforcement of that statute.
United States ex rel. Rostholder v. Omnicare, Inc., et al., No. 12-2431, a qui tam case alleging violations of the False Claims Act (FCA), 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729, arose from a whistleblower's claim that defendants violated certain Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety regulations requiring that penicillin and non-penicillin drugs be packaged in complete isolation from one another. The violation of these regulations resulted in a legal presumption of penicillin cross-contamination. The relator asserted that the contaminated drugs were not eligible for reimbursement by Medicare and Medicaid and, therefore, claims presented to the government for reimbursement of these drugs were false under the FCA.
In affirming the district court's grant of Omnicare's motion to dismiss, the Court of Appeals focused on the specific requirement of the FCA that there be a claim that is, indeed, false. The Court noted that the statutes providing for reimbursement require that the drug in question be approved by the FDA but these statutes do not require compliance with FDA safety regulations as a precondition for reimbursement.
The Court therefore held that, while the cross-contamination might be a violation of safety regulations, it did not transform Omnicare's requests for reimbursement into false claims. The Court observed statements in its own earlier cases that "the correction of regulatory problems is a worthy goal, but is 'not actionable under the FCA in the absence of actual fraudulent conduct.'" (citing Mann v. Heckler & Koch. Def., Inc., 630 F.3d 338, 346 (4th Cir. 2010)). If it were "to accept relator's theory of liability based merely on a regulatory violation," the Court noted, "we would sanction use of the FCA as a sweeping mechanism to promote regulatory compliance, rather than a set of statutes aimed at protecting the financial resources of the government from the consequences of fraudulent conduct." Given the FDA's "broad powers to enforce its own regulations," to permit the FCA to be used in this manner "could 'short-circuit the very remedial process the Government has established to address non-compliance with those regulations.'" (citing U.S. ex rel. Wilkins v. United Health Grp., Inc., 659 F.3d 295, 310 3d Cir. 2011)).
Based on these principles, the Court of Appeals found that the relator had failed adequately to allege the existence of a false statute or fraudulent conduct, and that he could not plausibly allege that Omnicare acted with the requisite scienter when submitting the claims in question to the government.
This Court of Appeals decision could offer support for companies in highly regulated industries that face qui tam cases under the False Claims Act that arise from violations of safety regulations. In industries such as pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging in which payment reimbursements are not expressly tied to compliance with safety rules, those companies may face regulatory enforcement for those violations, but will not also face assertions that they have also violated the False Claims Act.
Ifrah Law is a leading white-collar criminal defense firm that focuses on online fraud and abuse, and healthcare.
Online Fraud and Abuse, Healthcare
White-collar crime
False Claims Act, FCA, FDA, Omicare
Jeff Ifrah Presents on the Future of Online Gaming at J.P. Morgan Global High Yield & Leveraged Finance Conference
Yesterday, at the annual J. P. Morgan Global High Yield & Leveraged Finance Conference in Miami Beach, Florida, Ifrah Law Founding Member Jeff Ifrah shared his predictions for the growing online gaming industry in the U.S. and in Europe. Susan Berliner, an analyst with J.P. Morgan who covers gaming and lodging, moderated the panel, which also included Marc Falcone, CFO of Fertitta Entertainment/Station Casinos, and Eamonn Toland, President of Paddy Power. The panelists addressed the potential for online gaming's additional expansion in the states as well as payment and logistical issues.
J.P. Morgan's conference attracted a crowd of over 1,000 CEOs, CFOs and other C-Suite executives from high-growth companies across an array of industries, including gaming, entertainment, energy, and transportation and institutional investors. Questions from attendees at Tuesday's panel indicated that investors were most interested in the rollout of online gaming in the three states that presently permit it: Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey.
Ifrah noted that one study predicts online gaming revenues in the U.S. to reach approximately $670 million. According to Ifrah, how online gaming grows depends on what the states do to permit gaming and their licensing processes and what other states come online in the near future. Ifrah shared that just a couple hours before, Delaware and Nevada announced an historic agreement to pool their liquidity to increase their prize pool, allowing poker players in those states (and any other states which may subsequently sign on to the agreement) to play online poker offered by operators in either state, and to play against players in the other state. Governor Sandoval of Nevada and Governor Markell of Delaware met in Wilmington yesterday to announce this exciting development. The State of Delaware, an Ifrah Law client, launched online gaming in November.
Marc Falone of Station Casinos observed that run rate revenues for online gaming are estimated at $150 million in 2014. While online gaming is still in the early stages, it has the potential to be a much larger business with significant long-term growth potential. Falcone pointed out five challenges to online gaming growth, about which the panel generally agreed:
* General awareness – many consumers still do not understand that online gaming is legal in Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey, which hinders participation and growth.
* Payments – despite online poker's legality in the three states, Mastercard, Visa and other payment processors nevertheless decline to make deposits on online gaming sites.
* Geolocation – the states utilize geolocation technology to confirm that only residents in those states play. Many individuals have found the geolocation confirmation process unwieldy and difficult with which to interact, causing them to choose another activity. Falcone, Ifrah and the other panelists agreed geolocation technology and ease would improve over time.
* Security – in the age of high profile data breaches at Target, Neiman Marcus and elsewhere, and a reported breach on the Sands website, consumers' interest in online gaming may be chilled. New Jersey requires a player enter a social security number. Consumers are understandably reluctant to provide that type of sensitive personal information in a website form. Industry needs to continue to work on secure procedures that will boost consumer confidence.
* Offshore gaming – licensed operators in the three states still compete with offshore gaming sites.
Eamonn Toland of Paddy Power stressed that online gaming revenues are currently as anticipated; growth takes time as consumers become more aware and some of the "wrinkles" identified above are ironed out. He sees a significant revenue growth of 28% month-to-month. As to whether online gaming "cannibalizes" land-based casinos, Toland and the other panelists concurred that the online gaming player is an entirely different demographic and they did not see the cannibalism effect. Toland believes online gaming will grow significantly as states contract with each other like Delaware and Nevada just announced.
As to other states that may authorize online gaming, Ifrah and the other panelists mentioned California, Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania as potential markets. The panel participants cautioned that while these are exciting developments at the state level, the federal government would be monitoring online gaming operations to see if there are any significant issues, such as consumer protection issues. However, at least one panelist believes that online gaming has extensive protections – such as age verification, protections for problem gamblers – that result in fewer losses for consumers than in land-based casinos.
Ifrah Law is a leading white-collar criminal defense firm that focuses on igaming.
Internet Law


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Perfect for a South Yorkshire stopover or a spot of sightseeing, the Premier Inn Rotherham East (M18/M1) puts the area's key business and leisure spots within easy reach. Catch your flight from Doncas...More about Premier Inn Rotherham East (M18/M1)
This building, dating back over 100 years, is situated in a beautiful and tranquil location yet within easy reach of Sheffield and the M1. The bedrooms are contemporary in style and offer a wealth of ...More about The Maynard
This modern and stylish hotel is situated in the centre of Sheffield. Located next to the home of Sheffield United FC, it offers contemporary public areas and an award-winning restaurant on the ground...More about Copthorne Hotel Sheffield
If you're looking for a break, Premier Inn Chesterfield North puts you in an ideal location for discovering the Peak District. There are great transport links and lots of business venues nearby too. M...More about Premier Inn Chesterfield North
This stylish property, dating back to the 18th century, is delightfully situated on the outskirts of the Chatsworth Estate. All rooms enjoy far-reaching views across the estate and benefit from the sl...More about Cavendish Hotel
A smart, modern hotel peacefully located in a residential suburb a few miles from the city centre. The stylishly decorated bedrooms are spacious, quiet and well equipped. The hotel also has an extensi...More about Kenwood Hall
Conveniently situated for both the A61, the M1, and Chesterfield, this modern hotel offers comfortable and well-furnished bedrooms. Public areas are situated in a separate building across the car park...More about Sandpiper Hotel
Parts of this attractive stone building date from the 18th century when it was a coaching inn. It has been extended to provide spacious comfortable bedrooms with modern facilities. A wide range of mea...More about Sitwell Arms Hotel
A sympathetic renovation has resulted in a small vibrant boutique-style hotel where staff are always on hand to offer friendly and welcoming service. Accommodation is luxurious and equipped with many ...More about Hotel Van Dyk
A beautifully presented Georgian manor house set in 29 acres of peaceful grounds, between the M1 and Chesterfield. The stylish bedrooms include 'Feature Rooms' and three apartments within the grounds....More about Ringwood Hall Hotel


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Fast pace cellshading flying action. Soar the skies as you take on the most vicious enemies above the ground. Experience an airborne adventure in an all new art style that will take you to something different and exciting. With the possibility to add just about anything you can imagine into the game, the sky it's not the limit. It's just the beginning.
|The Mutator Suggestions Thread
|Thread Options
|1 2 3
|Mar 16 2013 Anchor
Might want to add return line for repair/rearm? However the return line have a cooldown before you can use it again to prevent abusing/camping.
DAE anything but the glorious cockpit view is so arcade shit???????????
|Mar 16 2013 Anchor
The problem is in skirmish (especially in deathmach), death is cheap, and is far easier to just crash than to go to the return line.
|Mar 16 2013 Anchor
Hmmm, thinking about it, I guess that the only real way to prevent a player from becoming overly tired is to provide a convenient method to land and repair, at least for manned aircraft. For UCAVs could probably use a jumping between units type gameplay. I guess that a system of having all allied aircraft available to the player could also work with the jump system.
Ah, I hadn't even considered how they'd work for a skirmish battle (for the purposes of this response)! Though I guess that making crashes a simple minus 1 score as you said.
Edited by: IbizenThoth
|Mar 20 2013 Anchor
Limited logistics mutator: As every dynamic campaigns have taught us (?), everyone have limited logistics (which is totally shared for teams), in other words, there's a limited ammo supply which is shared for entire player (if FFA)/team (so that those who use same missile/SPW really have try to conserve ammo). and will be constantly consumed as you and your teammates keep throwing those missiles/SPWs and eventually only leaving your team with nothing but guns once you don't have any missile/SPW in your supply reserves therefore, makes team ammo conservation and careful aiming extremely vital.
Edited by: Nergal01
DAE anything but the glorious cockpit view is so arcade shit???????????
|Mar 21 2013 Anchor
@ V3000TT that seems more suited to be a mutator for campaigns
|Mar 22 2013 Anchor
This one's more geared towards team skirmish, especially to make team ammo conversation extremely important.
Also, to compensate AI's bad habit of crashing the ground: -No/small ground collision mode: Basically makes any plane bounces when it hits the ground, comes in no damage and small damage variant.
DAE anything but the glorious cockpit view is so arcade shit???????????
|Mar 23 2013 Anchor
I think the AI should banned from going below 100m from sea leavel to compensate for this.
Noli Timere Messorem
|Mar 23 2013 Anchor
Or give them ability to 'swim' underground?
DAE anything but the glorious cockpit view is so arcade shit???????????
|Mar 28 2013 Anchor
@ Midsummersnow & @ V3000TT The goal is to make the AI play by the same rules as the player without any cheats and be able adapt to any environment. But what you both suggested is the easy way out, so it is unacceptable.
|Apr 6 2013 Anchor
Head-on mode: Makes every player invincible, the only way to damage each other is by firing missile heads-on, just like what Cipher and Pixy *usually* did.
DAE anything but the glorious cockpit view is so arcade shit???????????
|Apr 7 2013 Anchor
Sounds good, but to add that mutator it must be added first in the gameplay the awareness of where the damage was made. This also can be expanded and implemented in the units different defense values for all directions, like for example, being hit head-on deals more damage that being hit from bellow, or a tank has less defense from the sides than from the front.
This definitely will add more depth in the gameplay. For the next update there are still some things remain to be added that are closely related to that part of the code. While it is not 100% guaranteed, there is actually a high possibility that this mechanic and mutator be added in this next update.
|Apr 7 2013 Anchor
To rip from FlyAwayNow, a Super Contrails mutator and a realistic contrails mutator.
|Apr 12 2013 Anchor
@IbizenThoth, what is the Super Contrails?
|Apr 12 2013 Anchor
Exaggerated contrails that appear in all conditions, much like the smoke used during airshows.
|Apr 23 2013 Anchor
Shamelessly borrowing ideas from Gundam Vs series, every player starts with 0% SP fuel, but SP fuel/overdrive energy can be filled by doing these:
Edited by: Nergal01
DAE anything but the glorious cockpit view is so arcade shit???????????
|Apr 25 2013 Anchor
Two Front War - A mutator that splits aircraft into three teams instead of two.
|Apr 25 2013 Anchor
No. amount of team per match should be a separate option IMHO. But in most cases there'll be no more than 4 teams.
Edited by: Nergal01
DAE anything but the glorious cockpit view is so arcade shit???????????
|Apr 28 2013 Anchor
Ah, true, it would be preferable to make multiple teams a settings option rather than a mutator. I guess while we're at it, it's a good chance to start up a dialogue about what would make for good revisions to Skirmish mode too.
|May 26 2013 Anchor
Multiple teams a settings option has been added in the latest update.
|Jun 22 2013 Anchor
Friendly Fire/IFF Mode?
You can lock onto any aircraft/unit and fire on it, including allies. Allies can be identified by sending out an IFF signal, or by coming close enough to visually confirm them as allies. Identified allies will be blue; known enemies will be green; and unidentified units will be classified as bogeys and will appear white.
In order to identify, you will have a one button IFF function, that puts out a ping to ask other aircraft to ping back if they are friendly, turning all allies blue on your radar and screen for a few seconds. The identified allies that are on radar, but off screen will slowly fade back to white/gray over time, while those in your field of view will remain blue until they have exited your view for more than a certain amount of time. If the friendly enters your FOV before that certain period of time, they will remain marked blue until they have been out of view for enough time to fade. If the enemy does an IFF ping, then you and your allies become aware of the original to send out a ping, and all those who respond. The ID of these aircraft will remain for a few seconds after the ping, and a for those in your field of view (camera looking may or may not allow you to retain enemy identification; aircraft orientation may not be as useful as camera orientation when it comes to IFF). Your allies can send out an IFF ping, and you can choose not to respond, but they will regard you as an enemy until you respond. It will be assumed that each aircraft can remember the hostile/friendly state of the unit they are locked onto, as if they are using the tracking look function.
If you fire upon an aircraft, it and aircraft friendly to it will consider you to be hostile, the same applies if fired upon. A ping or visual identification can revise or confirm this evaluation.
IFF pings will break stealth. Friendlies in stealth aircraft may therefore be hesitant to respond to pings.
To prevent players and AI from requesting pings constantly, there will be a cooldown time on response pings. The player can ping out as much as they want, though it will only result in showing where they are (a taunt?). This could be used by using the ping as a way to attract enemies whom your friendlies (if not pinging back) will then engage the enemies firing upon you (especially useful if playing with stealth aircraft). AI will rarely ask for pings, usually at the start of an engagement, and the end of shooting down another aircraft, as the AI is assumed to know the friend/foe status of the aircraft they are pursuing. Otherwise, aircraft which do not know the status of any other, will ping once. AI do not have to respond to your pings or the pings of an allied AI. They will probably have a value set on how likely they are to respond, with modifiers like aircraft, number of enemies, etc.
In multi-team games, a full team ping will result in an automatic disadvantage for the pinging team, as both opposing teams will most likely attack them first. Conversely, if a player is the only one to ping, and is sufficiently good at dodging missiles, one can use his allies to start in on enemies as they become apparent, which may call for a slider option for "IFF Response Likeliness".
Firing on friendly aircraft without bothering to ping will mean negative points. In campaign, it would probably result in mission failure or negative karma. For example, a pilot who team kills often may have fearful allies that always ping, but lose some fighting effectiveness, due to distraction. It would be interesting if this behavior also happened not only in campaigns, but in the course of a single Skirmish mission as well. If you were especially deviant, you could use this to your advantage, by being in a stealth aircraft and picking off enemies who fire on your allies, while not pinging back, thus preserving your stealth. This way, having bad karma opens up a different play style, instead of resulting in just a bad end. Conversely, if you kill allies after IFF pings come in, but still complete missions, you could be sent into missions alone, like the monster you are.
Morality in games tends to result in sorta whacky forced mechanics a lot, instead of actual choice and diversity of gameplay. (in Dishonored, getting the good end meant that you didn't use most of your crazy mankilling skills; Soldier in ACZero meant that you had to kill roughly equal numbers of neutralized and designated targets).
|Jun 24 2013 Anchor
Close Range Assault mutator there I said it someone had to.
Noli Timere Messorem
|Jun 24 2013 Anchor
I thought DFM was okay, though using it as an excuse to railroad the player is not. It was fun and exciting, but I didn't like how I would lose track of where I was on the map.
|Jun 24 2013 Anchor
I've thought a lot about the Friendly Fire/IFF Mode but I always encountered several problems:
-first, it dramatically slows the action
-From what it tried to visualize this does not add choice much choice to the player, only go blind out try to confirm the IFF, so the end result adds little gameplay value, especially considering it add an additional workload to the player. (it's like forcing the player be to request permission to fire every time he wants to use a missile)
-in skirmish it would devolve in something like as constantly using the leader boards so see which team belongs each player.
-and in the campaign missions, this mechanic would be completely useless in a second play trough because you would already know the spawn locations of your team and enemies.
@Midsummersnow DFM is actually more a full-fledged feature/mechanic that an actually mutator.
|Jun 25 2013 Anchor
Afterplaying around with the mutators abit last night I relised that anyone can make a lite-DFM by combining several existing mutators.
Noli Timere Messorem
|Jun 25 2013 Anchor
Really? Then, if you don't mind can you tell me the recipe?
Only registered members can share their thoughts. So come on! Join the community today (totally free - or sign in with your social account on the right) and join in the conversation.


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Diseases characterized by inflammation involving multiple muscles; This may occur as an acute or chronic condition associated with medication toxicity (DRUG TOXICITY, NERVOUS SYSTEM); CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASES; infections; malignant NEOPLASMS; and other disorders; The term polymyositis is frequently used to refer to a specific clinical entity characterized by subacute or slowly progressing symmetrical weakness primarily affecting the proximal limb and trunk muscles; The illness may occur at any age, but is most frequent in the fourth to sixth decade of life; Weakness of pharyngeal and laryngeal muscles, interstitial lung disease, and inflammation of the myocardium may also occur; Muscle biopsy reveals widespread destruction of segments of muscle fibers and an inflammatory cellular response----------- (Adams et al, Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1404-9)-------------


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Ted Simons: Good evening, and welcome to "Horizon." I'm Ted Simons. Senator Jon Kyl will not be running for reelection next year. Kyl announced his decision today, a decision that throws the 2012 race for the senate seat, his senate seat, wide open. We'll hear from a political analyst, but first, here is what some of what senator Kyl had to say about his decision at a news conference this morning.
Senator Jon Kyl: I will not seek reelection to the United States senate, but will retire from public service in January of 2013. Let me say that there is nothing negative about the decision I'm making. My health is good, I think -- I'm fairly confident that if I ran for reelection again that I could be reelected. I do not subscribe to this notion that politics has gotten so coarse these days that civil people can't engage in it. I learned long ago there will be people who don't engage in civil discourse, but if you stop that from serving, you really ought to get into another line of work. There's nothing about that that causes me to step down.
Ted Simons: And here now to talk about the politics of today's announcement is Chris Herstam, he served as governor Fife Symington's chief of staff and is a former lawmaker. Herstam now works for the law firm of Lewis and Roca. Good to see you again.
Chris Herstam: Good evening.
Ted Simons: Is this a surprise?
Chris Herstam: I wasn't surprised, simply because I had talked to a staffer of Kyl's several years ago, Frankly, right after he got reelected last time, four years ago, and there was a feeling then by the staffer that that was going to be his last election. So I think some people very close to Kyl sort of had a clue that last election was going to be his last one. So when the rumors were going around the last couple months, I sort of had come to the conclusion that he would probably announce his retirement. Why he picked this month, I don't know. Why he did it this early, I don't know. I think he mentioned in his comments in the news conference he wanted to give potential candidates a lot of advance notice. So I think we have to take him for his word.
Ted Simons: Internal errors on politics, especially on the Republican side, seems pretty rough and tumble. A couple of sides going after -- does that play at all any part in how he could see himself as a leader here in the state and moving that forward? Did he see any problems there?
Chris Herstam: You have to remember, Kyl endorsed Ron Carmichael, running for state chairman. Most of the Congress people did. And he was beaten at the state party convention. The Tea Party element, or the grass-roots element that actually had been against McCain for many years, they came out against Kyl's candidate. And so he played that game, Frankly I that I was another tip-off that he wouldn't run, normally Kyl is cautious with regards to internal party politics, but he stuck his neck out in that race for party chairman, his candidate lost, but I think he did it because he knew he wouldn't run and it wouldn't cost him anything.
Ted Simons: Interesting, OK. Is this a precursor to anything else? I know today he said he wasn't interested in president, vice-president still seems to hang out there a little bit. Anything going on here as far as future ambitions?
Chris Herstam: Well, he's been a U.S. senator now, been in Congress as of next year, 26 years. Can't do much better than that Frankly, except running for president. And he said he wasn't interested in that. He's always said for the last year or two if somebody wanted to put him on the ticket as vice-president he would do that, but once again I think what you see is what you get and what he says is accurate. He's been in Congress almost 26 years now, and I think he just wants to do other things in life, family things, he's a big Nascar fan, he can travel the circuit if he wants to.
Ted Simons: What will Jon Kyl's legacy be? He still has work to do, and it sounds like he's gearing up, knowing he does haven't to campaign, he's going to be active. Until now, what do you think?
Chris Herstam: I think he's done some excellent things for the country as well as the state with regards to water. And water law and reform and so forth. And some important agreements. He's always been a water expert even before he got into Congress as an attorney he was. Jon Kyl is a senator's senator. He doesn't grandstand, he isn't interested in the interviews and the media, he can do it very well, but he really works behind the scenes, is a detailed oriented individual, rational, he's very conservative, but he's easy to deal with, he can work with both sides of the aisle. He's just a class act, and that's what Arizona is going to lose so much of.
Ted Simons: Alright, let's try to find out what Arizona will get once he does step down and the new senator is elected. We could spend all day listing the names. Give us -- handicap some early favorites.
Chris Herstam: Probably every elected official in the state of Arizona is thinking, "Gosh, I'd like to do this." But I think when you look at the sensible contenders, you look at the congressional candidates. Certainly Jeff flake would be a leading candidate, Trent Franks might think about it, john Shadegg, who left in a retired from his congressional seat, I think will eye the seat as well. I that congressional group will be very interested. Also there's a new guy on the block named Ben Quayle that may be thinking about it too. There was always articles written about how his dad had done some fund-raising for him, and had made the comment he may be in the U.S. senate sooner than you think. As he was fund-raising for him. So did they know something? I don't know.
Ted Simons: Any dark horses out there? Anyone that people aren't necessarily looking at first?
Chris Herstam: Yes. I think there is a dark horse. Somebody that would be very formidable if you wanted to jump in the Republican primary race, and that's senate president Russell Pearce.
Ted Simons: Interesting. Say more, please. How formidable?
Chris Herstam: I think, a low turnout Republican primary where the immigration issue is critical, if Russell Pearce wanted to get in this race and it was crowded field of Congress people, and he's got the Tea Party senate and he's leading the Tea Party movement, and the grass-roots workers that we just talked about that defeated Kyl's candidate, their big -- they're big fans of Russell Pearce, I think he would be a very fascinating candidate. Whether he wants to do that or not remains to be seen. There's rumors that Sheriff Joe is not going to run again, and he's always been interested in the sheriff position. So I think Russell Pearce may have lots of options the next election cycle.
Ted Simons: Governor Brewer a possibility?
Chris Herstam: Well, she would have to resign to run, and I just think she's more state oriented, she's got a full four-year term here, I can't see her leaving that -- the governor's office and going to Washington. Like the last governor did.
Ted Simons: Let's talk about that last governor. Let's get to the Democratic side now. Obviously her name is first on the list. How likely is it that she would run?
Chris Herstam: I think it's very unlikely because I think she would simply read the tea lives and realize she can't win. When she left and made the decision to go to Washington, she became part of the Obama administration. Obama is probably going to lose Arizona in 2012. And once again, with the immigration issues, and the health care issues, and Arizona suing and so forth, I think it would be hard for Napolitano to wear that Obama cloak around her and be successful in a statewide race.
Ted Simons: Some other names, Terry Goddard, Phil Gordon, Jim Peterson, will those names be around?
Chris Herstam: Sure. But the Democratic bench is not very deep. And so they have to turn to people that have run and lost already. That always tells you that they don't have a lot of up and coming candidates, and that's probably one of those names you just said, maybe the very likely Democratic nominee.
Ted Simons: Last question let me ask you, is there any dark horse on the Democratic side? Someone we're not thinking about right now?
Chris Herstam: The only democrat that I can think of that would be a sure winner would be Gabrielle Giffords. But obviously we don't know how long that recuperation period is going to be. The odds are sort of would tell us was the senate campaign would start a year from now she'll need more time to do that, but if her miracle recovery continued, she would be unbeatable.
Ted Simons: Wow, interesting stuff. Chris, good to have you here.
Chris Herstam: My pleasure.


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Album: Business Casual
Label: Atlantic
Release date: September 14
Rating (Skip, Stream, or Buy): Stream
Download: "Night By Night"
On first listen, Chromeo's third album (and major-label debut) is pure, sugary joy. "Hot Mess" has P-Thugg and Dave 1 throwing down with the sexy voice of a British woman who sternly says, "You act like you've got nothing to lose/ But I've already lost my temper." The duo counters back and it turns into a wild, sloppy song, rife with talkbox and Dave 1 randomly shouting, "what??" like he's been caught in the act of something naughty. "Night By Night" is the album's standout track (and also its first single). It's forcefully infectious and has an electric guitar solo that sounds so 80s it hurts. It's also all too relatable to anyone, male or female, who's been in a typical romantic relationship -- via vocoder, P-Thugg delivers the chorus of "She says I'm not romantic/ I say she's too dramatic."
"You Make It Rough" and "Don't Turn the Lights On" are both impossibly slick and polished, basically made for the dancefloor. But after that, things start to peter out a bit. Solange Knowles' guest vocals are unremarkable on the flat "When the Night Falls." "The Right Type," with its bursts of synth and rah-rah chorus could be the opening credits to a John Hughes film. But I say at this point, just start the record over. It's not introducing anything novel or groundbreaking to the world of electro-pop, but for the most part it's effervescent and a whole lot of fun. Sometimes that's all you can ask for from a record.


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Corvette Spins Near Crowd at Cars and Coffee
Burnouts are fun and all, but as with all types hooning, there's a chance for things to go wrong even in a slow car. Throw a Corvette, a crowd, and an ego into the mix, and suddenly the chance for stupid goes through the roof. Take this spin out in the middle of the street […] More »
Turkish Corvette Burnouts End with a Resounding FAIL
At this rather large gathering of car enthusiasts in Turkey, we see a black C6 Corvette doing some impressive burnouts and donuts. As the Corvette wraps up its little show for the crowd, two other cars get in the act including an unknown maroon sedan with the obligatory passenger with a handycam hanging out the
2012 Carbon Flash ZR1 Burns Rubber for Charity
This gorgeous Carbon Flash 2012 Corvette ZR1 Centennial Edition will be raffled to benefit the Susan G. Komen foundation. Shot on location at the Autobahn Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, drifter Ryan Tuerck puts the Michelin PS2 Cup tires to the test as he recreates the famous Komen pink ribbon logo on asphalt with burnt rubber.
Lew Stitely's 1953 Corvette: "The Tijuana Taxi"
by Keith CornettCorvette Blogger Let's kick off 2012 right with a morning burnout courtesy of Lew Stitely's 1953 Corvette gasser dubbed the Tijuana Taxi. This classic first-year Corvette was doing its thing out at Beaver Springs Dragway in PA and the video features several awesome burnouts, dry hops and a nine second quarter-mile run! According […] More »
Morning Burnout: Outrageous Corvette Z06 in Times Square
With its theaters, shows and restaurants, Times Square in New York City is the live entertainment capital of the world. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people visit the area around 42 Street and Broadway to take in the shows and see the sights. On one recent summer evening, onlookers watched as the driver of


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Part of the Classic Series, this Vintage style G-Shock watch is simple and chic.
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Archived Story
Anna M. BraddyPublished 5:03pm Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Mrs. Anna Margaret Braddy, 90, a resident of Washington, died Monday, Feb. 3, 2014, at Vidant Beaufort Hospital. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, at First Baptist Church of Washington. The family will receive friends one hour before the service at the church. Arrangements are by Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington.


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Dr. Arielle S. Lee graduated from the Baylor College of Medicine in 1981. She works in Jacksonville, TX and 1 other location and specializes in Hematology/Oncology and Hospice & Palliative Medicine. Dr. Lee is affiliated with East Texas Medical Center, East Texas Medical Center Tyler and Jacksonville Trinity Mother Frances Hospital.
Hematology/Oncology, Hospice & Palliative Medicine
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine; Graduated 1981
*This physician has multiple office locations. See Office Information for details.
2026 S Jackson St
Jacksonville, TX 75766
203 Nacogdoches St Ste 230
Jacksonville, TX 75766
3415 S Loop 256
Palestine, TX 75801
825 Medical Dr
Tyler, TX 75701
825 Medical Dr
Tyler, TX 75701


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bang, ijin save ya buat di share ke teman-teman ku..
Awesome! Reminds me of Rise of the Planet of the Apes
sukaaaa sekali
mantap bang
Lovely, simple but powerful. As usual, you did an awesome job!
thanks, the orangutan slaughtering issue in Indonesia is really pathetic for me. And there's just a little info about that in media. so i create this poster to make people aware about this issue.


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Spoiler free yes.
Very solid work.
This is so good my gawsh -_- oooo
Woah ! Beautiful background !
This scene where they fight had to have been choreographed to look like a dance.
beautiful and brutal
nice blur too
nice blur too
This was a really exciting and very artistic fight scene. There were the beautiful blue light patterns in the background, so you only saw the outlines of Bond and the man he was fighting with, except for the brief fractions of a second when the gun fired.
The brief glimpses of emotion amplify the intensity of the fight scene. It is really beautiful.
Probably one of the most gorgeous fights scene ever in movie history ^^
This is just brilliant! This was one of my favourite action scenes of all time with the lighting and camera movement and the way it was just one single shot. You've captured it beautifully. Great work on the reflections, especially on the floor. And I like the touch with the blurry movement. It takes you right into the moment. This makes me want to watch the movie all over again, right now.
I didn't realize till now that the bright thing in the background was a jellyfish :3
I love this scene. Your background is gorgeous!
This looks stunning!
I havn`t never seen a fight like that, it was so beautiful~
And your pic describes it perfectly
And your pic describes it perfectly
that fight scene was awesome! best fight in the movie!
This is my new wallpaper
looks just so awsome!
looks just so awsome!
Your backgrounds are beautiful! i don't understand why your art doesn't get more attention


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Fox's Replacement Confirmed for Transformers 3
MichaelBay.com has confirmed that model Rosie Huntington-Whitely has been hired as the new love interest in TRANSFORMERS 3. She previously worked with Bay on an ad for Victoria's Secret "A Thousand Fantasies." She joins star Shia LaBeouf and franchise newcomer Patrick Dempsey.
The film has begun production in Playa Vista and will move to locations in Long Beach, West Hollywood, Century City and Malibu over the next few weeks. Other locations include Chicago, Detroit, Washington and Cape Canaveral.


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Content: See & Do
Category: Events
N Congress ST
York , SC 29745
Phone: (803) 684-2590
City: York
Region: Midlands
Celebrating over 30 years, Summerfest, the one-day festival held on the fourth Saturday of August in York, SC, has provided entertainment for the whole family. Admission is free! Shop the craft fair, eat in the food court and enjoy the classic car show; 10-K, 5-K, and fun runs; sports tournaments in golf, softball, and tennis; children's activities, train rides, water ball excitement, zip line, robotics demonstrations, health fair for all ages, country music contest, music from several stages and much more.
Upcoming Date:
August 27, 2016
Info & Amenities
Nearby Attractions


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This weekend on a camping trip (the weekend from hell in every way, no less) my parents 9 year old Springer Spaniel BIT MY DAUGHTER ON THE CHEEK!!!! My daughter tripped over her and fell and the dog got her pinned on the ground! She has to see a plastic surgeon when it heals and it came 1/4 of an inch from her eye! This is the dogs 3rd bite (my mom and dad, too) in 10 or 11 days and she bit me years ago and has bit my dad before. I would have kicked the dog into the river to never return but I thought she would take my foot off and I had a screaming 2 year old who was bleeding badly. Thank god no stitches were needed... and that DH is an On-Call Paramedic and we had a great first aid kit in the middle of nowhere.
My dad and I had a huge argument... I told him to put her down or I would do it less humanely then the vet would. I was LIVID, to say the least. My dad got SO MAD AT ME!!! He refused to do it... he said it's my fault since she used to be my dog... and when I had kids I left her with them (they insisted) because I KNEW her temper. My dad and I went out it for two hours... and he was bleeding from where she bit HIM as he got her off my daughter.
Should I report the bite to Animal Control when they open tomorrow and let them go pick her up? They will quarantine her 2 weeks and probably put her down... which I think is best... But my dad may never speak to me again.
Do you think all animals that bite should be put down ASAP?


text: Music Sunchase – Nathnennia / Detail – Green Rain [Utopia Music] Posted on May 11, 2013 by Adam Really interesting release from Sunchase and Detail on Mako's Utopia Music. Release date: 20/05/13 Click here to buy this release. Detail Sunchase Utopia Music You Might Also Like Sunchase & Detail – The Chips / Sunchase – Next Rhythm [Engage remix] [22:22] Fields – On Your Own / Colours [Utopia Music] Andyskopes – True Chord Redux VIP / True Human Emotion [Utopia Music] Break, Mako, Fields & Villem – Shadowlines / Chromatic – Found You (Utopia Music) What do you think? Cancel reply


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I have a custom STS made in WIF that works as an IDP and now I need to configure SSO to a Service Provider made in SimpleSamlPHP. (The SP only supports Post Binding and Web Browser SSO Profile.)
Any, idea on how should I approach this requirement? Does WIF support Post Binding and SAML 2.0?
Any idea will be greatly appreciated, Thanks!


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The Mexican Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and IBERDROLA have entered into a collaboration agreement for the completion of joint projects and the exchange of ideas and experiences in the energy sector.
The agreement focusing on the areas of electricity generation, energy transmission and distribution and natural gas storage was ratified by the Chairman of IBERDROLA, Ignacio Galán, and the Managing Director of the Mexican CFE, Enrique Ochoa Reza.
One of the highlights in the agreement is the exchange of information on implementing new technologies and managerial experiences between the two companies.
It also contemplates the completion of joint investment projects, where deemed convenient, at renewable and conventional generation facilities, transmission networks and others linked to the electricity and gas industry.
This agreement strengthens IBERDROLA's commitment to Mexico, where it has an operating capacity of over 5.200 megawatts (MW) in the form of combined cycle gas-fired power plants and wind farms.
IBERDROLA has been operating in Mexico since 1998 and plans to boost its presence in the Mexican energy market by investing some US$ 5 bn between 2014 and 2018. In fact, the company's initiatives already underway represent investments to the value of US$1.5 bn.
IBERDROLA has various generation projects in Mexico, including the new Baja California III combined cycle power plant and the extension to the Monterrey facility, which is also a combined cycle plant.
IBERDROLA's willingness to invest in Mexico is based on the good prospects being generated by the Energy Reform being implemented by President Enrique Peña Nieto's government.
This reform will require the investment in Mexico of some US$ 25.5 bn in the area of electricity generation alone by the year 2020.
Follow us on:
TWITTER: click here for latest IBERDROLA news.
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Current Time: 5/1/2016 4:31:44 PM Pacific Daylight Time (11:31 PM GMT)Last Updated: 2014-10-20T21:44:44Z on 10/20/2014 2:44:44 PM Pacific Daylight Time (9:44 PM GMT) Rendered From:UnknownCoordinates are in the WGS84 datum


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A state task force set up to regulate the drug made legal by voters by year failed Tuesday to agree to home-growing regulations and public use rules. The task force had planned to vote on whether marijuana gardeners should have to use covered buildings if they're not growing marijuana inside. Coloradans voted last year to allow adults over 21 to have up to six plants.
The task force also failed to agree whether marijuana use should be banned on private porches and patios visible by others.


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By Gary Fletcher
Observer Staff Writer
ENTERPRISE Union and Wallowa counties have become the proud owners of the 61-mile Joseph to Elgin rail line.
The sale prevented the abandoned rails from being torn up for salvage, or the corridor being converted to a trail.
"It was a done deal," Wallowa County Commission Chairman Mike Hayward said about Friday's transaction.
With railroad owner Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad's patience and the state's cooperation, 14 purchase and sales agreement drafts were negotiated until the deal closed.
Freight is expected to roll on the line this month and long-term expectations include developing a tourist excursion train.
"Now the work starts," Hayward said at the Wallowa County commissioners' meeting Monday. "No one should think we're out of the woods yet."
For a couple years "we've been trying to catch a tiger. We caught the tiger. Now we have to figure out how to pay for it," Wallowa County Planner Bill Oliver said.
The counties have 4 1/2 years in which to make the first payment.
Idaho Northern and Pacific has agreed to reopen the line, within 30 days, to Wallowa Forest Products near Wallowa, where freight is waiting. Idaho Northern will continue to haul freight. Future operations could be determined by a two-county railroad authority established to receive the $2 million granted for the purchase by the 2001 Legislature.
The $2 million down payment is being held in escrow at Wallowa Title Company. It will likely be transferred this week to Idaho Northern and Pacific once the rail line property has been cleared of all liens.
The $500,000 earnest money borrowed from the Wallowa County Road Fund has been returned to that department, and interest will be paid on it, Hayward said.
The Oregon Economic and Community Development Department will guarantee payment to the Idaho Northern and loan up to $5 million to the counties for 25 years at 5 1/2 percent interest.
The state will allow the counties a three-year grace period in which no principal or interest payments must be made.
That will shorten the loan repayment period from 25 to 22 years and increase the annual payments by $70,000
to total about $457,000 per year.
"It's pretty exciting," Oliver said. It pencils out a lot better, though, he said, if the debt could at least be cut in half.
Federal aid will be sought. Now that the deal is done, hard numbers can be shown to Oregon's Congressional delegation which will be approached by the counties and Idaho Northern, Hayward said.
Hayward thinks some of the delegation will assist. The counties will also be seeking some additional help from the state.
Private donations and investment will also be pursued. Several calls have been received from interested individuals, Oliver said. The counties will also likely be seeking out private foundations interested in rural development, Oliver said.
Rehabilitation funds of $1 billion are available and are easier to get than purchase funds, Oliver said.
If the line is upgraded to Class II specifications, trains could travel from 25 to 30 mph.
One possibility for an excursion train is for an existing operator to run a train in Union and Wallowa counties also. Calls have been received from three such operations that are up and running, Oliver said.
Other revenue possibilities would include storage of empty freight cars from other railroads. Oliver estimates that could bring in up to $90,000 per year.
One reason a public entity might succeed where a private railroad has not, is it would have less debt to service, Oliver said, such as $2 million in lottery bonds.
Also, a public entity will not have to pay property and income taxes, he said.
Hayward observed that the majority of people who gave input in Wallowa County were basically in two camps, one that wanted a railroad, and those that did not want a trail. Hayward hopes that these people will get together at a point to make the railroad work.
If if doesn't, the counties or the state can liquidate the rails and land assets appraised at $7.5 million. Then the possibility of a conversion to a trail may resurface.


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- Inhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building - http://inhabitat.com -
Greener Gadgets Design Competition Deadline!
Posted By Yuka Yoneda On January 5, 2005 @ 2:46 pm In Contests,green gadgets,Greener Gadgets,Innovation | No Comments
The Greener Gadgets Design Conference [1] is rapidly approaching on February 25th, and the competition [2] deadline is January 7th! We're looking for innovative designs that chart the future of green tech, so if you've got a great idea for a greener gadget [3] and want to win up to $5000 in cash prizes, enter the Greener Gadgets Design Competition today! [2]
Check out some examples of past years winners here [4] and here [5].
Article printed from Inhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building: http://inhabitat.com
URL to article: http://inhabitat.com/greener-gadgets-design-competition-deadline/
URLs in this post:
[1] Greener Gadgets Design Conference: http://www.greenergadgets.com
[2] competition: http://www.greenergadgets.com/index.php/design-competition/
[3] greener gadget: http://www.inhabitat.com/greener-gadgets/
[4] here: http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/03/02/tweet-a-watt-winds-greener-gadgets-grand-prize/
[5] here: http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/07/greener-gadgets-winners-announced/
[6] ENTER THE GREENER GADGETS COMPETITION HERE >: http://cea.mblast.com/ws/wfaward/rsp/identification.asp?GUID=204654&ContactType=Nominee&GUIDType=
Click here to print.
Copyright © 2011 Inhabitat Local - New York. All rights reserved.


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Top Definition
1.a person who often tries to pull the wool over others eyes 2.when you get taken for a fool
1. blud dat mans a jinles 2.ha ha you got jinles
by Mini Monty June 06, 2003
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Chaldaean Oracles of Zoroaster
Forgotten Books, 1895 - Occultism - 59 pages
"Attributed to, but probably not of Chaldean origin; not oracles (in the sense of prophecies); and definitely not Zoroastrian; this is a famous collection of aphorisms cherry-picked from classical sources. The earliest editions of the COZ were published during the Renaissance, when Chaldea was a land of mystery to Europeans. Many of the cryptic 'Oracles' seem to reflect Neo-Platonism, the Kabbalah and Gnostic views, which would have been considered heretical at the time. Claiming an ancient Chaldean origin might simply have been a flag of convenience. The main text here was translated by the 19th century Neo-Platonist Thomas Taylor, and I.P. Cory in his Ancient Fragments. This edition was published and introduced by the Theosophist W.W. Westcott in his series Collectanea Hermetica in 1895."--P. vii (Quote from sacred-texts.com)
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Review: The Chaldaean Oracles of ZoroasterUser Review - Goodreads
Very interesting book. It is short but I need to read it again. Read full review