text:
The other day, I made a statement that my experience is that people lose their jobs through "fault of their own", and that those that say that many people lose their jobs "through no fault of their own" do not know what they are talking about. I believe that this attitude of "through no fault of their own" is reflects a major shift in the attitude of the populous – that people do not want to face reality, and that they need not be responsible for their own actions. To me it is similar to the way teachers can no longer grade papers in red pen for fear of offending the child, and that the child that finished last in the race still gets a ribbon or prize. People are afraid of acknowledging what is true – people do not lose their jobs for no reason. And those that do lose their jobs have played a significant part in the loss of their jobs.
I have literally fired thousands of employees in my career. A great many of these I firings I have done personally, and many more I was a senior decision maker. Following are some random examples of firings I have been involved in. Some of them reflect mass terminations, while others are examples of individuals being fired. I lost no sleep over any of these firings. They all occurred through the fault of the employee:
– 1700 workers who lost their high paying union jobs because they failed to acknowledge that the company was going broke and that they needed to accept a pay reduction if they wanted to keep their jobs. Only after the plant closure was announced did they come to their senses and agree to accept the cuts. But it was too late. The plant closed, all of them lost their jobs, their property values plummeted, as they lived in a small town where almost everyone owed their livelihood to the plant, and the town went into depression.
– The workers who lost their jobs because they missed too much work
– The workers who lost their jobs because they failed to return from vacation on time, "because they felt like a few more days in the sun"
– The workers that lost their jobs because they refused to obey safety regulations
– The guy I fired because he blocked my maintenance men from taping up an electrical wire that had come loose from its mooring, saying that only electricians could do that work. Government inspectors determined I had acted prudently (he reported me after he was fired), and had done the right thing.
– The guy I fired for dumping a carload of trash onto my parking lot
– The guy I fired for abusing a customer who came to pick up goods
– The guy I fired for writing obscenities on a part and then sending it off to a customer
– The guy I fired for throwing parts around in a fit of anger
– The guy I fired for dropping a very expensive piece of equipment when lifting it with a forklift. I had just told him not to do it, and to wait while I organized a proper means of lifting the equipment. He thought he knew best, and caused around $10,000 worth of damage. When asked why he had done it, he simply shrugged. I had him thrown off the property on the spot.
– The guy who took a blow torch to a $2000 bit of equipment because he couldn't get the chuck loose, destroying the specialist equipment.
– The guy who left the valve open and drained $3000 worth of chemicals on the floor, and almost caused an EPA disaster
– The guy that went to the car race and called in sick.
– The guy I fired for climbing 20 feet up scaffolding (and so jeopardizing me personally should he have fallen and killed himself)
– The people I have fired for abusing and threatening other employees
– The guy I fired who called in sick who was actually running his own business on the side
– The myriad folks I have fired for theft
– The folks I have fired for malingering
– The people I have fired for throwing things in the plant (amazing how often this one has happened)
– The people I have fired for refusal to follow instruction, due to them "knowing better" and their methods "being better". (If they are going to breach work procedures they best get this right, as mistakes cost me money, and if they get it wrong they get fired. If they approach me or a manager first, then they are OK – I am almost always willing to give an idea a try. )
– The lady I fired for shooting her boyfriend on my site. (I would not have really cared one way or another if she shot him of-site, as he was a cheating scum-bag, but I cannot let employees run around shooting other employees in my plant. I just can't do it).
– The guy I fired that laid hands on me when he didn't like his job assignment
– The guy I fired who came in and worked overtime when I told him he was not so allowed. He told me he would be in anyway (what the fuck???) as he needed the overtime and it was his right. I advised him against his decision, but he thought he knew best.
The above were all clear-cut cases of having lost their jobs through "fault of their own", in my opinion. I have many more examples, but these are the ones that come to mind. Now let's take a look at those times I have had to reduce the size of the workforce because of drop in sales or as a result of having to make a company viable that was losing money because of a bloated workforce. The reductions in these instances have ranged from a few persons at a time to hundreds. The argument many folks would make about these cases would be that these people lost their jobs through no fault of their own.
But I disagree. Why? Because I know how the people were chosen that lost their jobs. I chose them. And this is the criteria I used:
– Who missed the most work?
– Who is the most skilled?
– Who is the most willing to work overtime when needed?
– Who was the most likely to refuse overtime?
– Why did they refuse overtime?
– Who causes problems with other employees?
– Who is flexible when it comes to asking them to do or learn something new?
– Who is undertaking outside training to improve their skills?
– Who is argumentative when asked to do something?
– Who is happy to train other employees?
– Who reads and writes the best, and can do math?
– Who is the most cross-skilled?
– Who would be the most difficult to replace?
– Who treats the business as it is his or her own?
– Who keeps a neat work area?
– Who obeys all safety regs?
– Etc.
I actually create a matrix, where I rate each of these attributes on a scale of 1 to 5, and weight them according to the value each has to the company. For instance, cross-skilled gets a higher weighting than does who is undertaking outside training. I add up all the points for each employee, and thus create a ranking. If I have 100 people and need to reduce that number by 30, I take my ranking and count up thirty from the bottom and draw a line. Those 30 go.
Notice what I do not do? I do not go by seniority, and experience means very little to me. I care only about what the person can do for the business, and who have shown they will take care of the business.
And so there you have it – the 30 that have it lost their jobs through fault of their own. They did not compete well enough. They did not care for the business well enough. They did not train themselves well enough. They did not come to work often enough. And never have I seen a situation where all 100 were good "employees" – far from it. The thirty in this example would have been poor to marginal employees. And so when push came to shove, through "fault of their own", they lost their jobs.
There have been a few times when people have indeed lost their jobs through no fault of their own, and I grieved over it, and regret it. And each time it was similar to this: the people were mentally or physically handicapped in some way. I have a history of trying to employ people many would think to be unemployable. I do it because I think it is right. If I have 100 people, there will be a handful of folks employed that are generally considered unemployable. So long as they are willing to give a good effort, I will try to employ them and find valuable work for them – cleaning, low skill, repetitive work, work where I can tolerate minor quality mistakes, etc. But if I need to reduce the workforce down from the 100 people, I cannot absorb the cost of employing these people because they become a greater percentage of the workforce as the size of the workforce drops. And so I am left with no alternative but to let them go in those situations. It is extremely stressful for me, as I know they will not be employed elsewhere. I try to rehire them when opportunity allows, but that has infrequently been possible. These people do lose their jobs through no fault of their own.
There are other reasons I consider that people lose their jobs through their own fault. For instance, they allow unions to destroy their companies. They vote for people that do not support their interests. They buy imported product in preference to local made – when I looked at the make-up of the vehicles driven by my employees last week, which I do often, the imported cars vastly outnumber the locally built. This all puts pressure on their companies, and causes job loss, indirectly at least, and directly at times.
When I interview people for work, even in tough economic times, the numbers that show up inappropriately dressed is appalling. The number that wants to dictate terms of employment to me is astonishing. The number that vastly overestimates their market-value is horrifying. These people remain out of work through "fault of their own".
The idea that people lose jobs through no fault of their own is wrong, and it is dangerous, and it promotes the idea that people do not need to be responsible for their own actions and decisions. It is make-believe. People must take responsibility for themselves, and the idea that people are unemployed, or lose their jobs through "no fault of their own" serves to tell them that they are not responsible for themselves, but rather that some greater force is at play, and that there was nothing they could have done to change the situation. As I have shown above, out of the thousands of people that I have fired over the years, all but a handful controlled their own destiny. They lost their jobs through "fault of their own", and I am not going to coddle them by saying otherwise.


text:
Michael Jackson wanted to do a Harry Potter musical. J.K. Rowling said no.
Brought to you by Chivas
Edward Drinker Cope's skull started out on his body, naturally enough.
Turkey flavored ice cream is pretty tasty.
What does it really mean when the weatherman says it feels like minus-20 today?
These aren't your run-of-the-mill amphibians; these frogs are downright freaky.
Where does your last name come from?

subset: commoncrawl


text:
– St Paul's Cathedral at Sixth and Nutmeg in Hillcrest will expand by 50,000 square feet and have two new mixed use buildings built on site. At 13 and 15 stories, the latter building has had its height reduced from 180 to 158 feet, and the project won community approval as a result. The buildings will include administrative offices and affordable housing, along with retail in the shorter, southern building.
– All-electric car-share company car2go is coming to San Diego and kicks things off with an introductory event featuring 30 minutes of free drive time from 10-4 on November 19th, downtown at Broadway and Pacific Highway. 300 vehicles will be positioned around the city for rental by members by the end of the year.
The Painted Lady is a Grant Hill Victorian built in 1909 that's recently been restored by Tom Tarrant. Check out Tom's website for a video of the restoration job, which was done as part of a flip of the property (in escrow last we heard). Located at 405 27th St., it's the oldest Victorian in the neighborhood, and only 2-story. The area has been named a historic district, with a set of design criteria and guidelines.
– A different kind of structure will be going up in La Jolla, where architect Zaha Hadid's 12,700 sq. ft. house design has been approved. Hadid has won two British architecture Stirling Prizes for her work, which includes this crazy Hong Kong building. Now if only we could get her to design this next project…
– You have to give credit to the Navy Pier Veterans Park folks for proposing a 500-foot sculpture to a city not exactly known for that "vision thing" – until you see the winged-scuplture itself, which looks like a giant set of playboy bunny ears rising out of the bay (headed downtown to stomp the Hustler store?). Personally, I'm not crazy about the overly patriotic title, "Wings of Freedom", and that the design looks like Sydney Opera House-lite. But hopefully this is just the first step to building a privately-funded work of public art that becomes a major attraction for San Diego. Public meetings are scheduled, with the first set for 6:30 pm on 11/29 at the port HQ. And don't let the sculpture overshadow the rest of the project, which builds a park deck on top of the existing parking lot, and includes a home for the San Diego Symphony. Hopefully this song won't be on the set list.
– Just down the harbor front, a 40-million dollar makeover is set for aging Seaport Village, with the architectural train-wreck eastern half of the complex set to be torn down (including Harbor House, thankfully) and replaced with a new restaurant, retail and clock building. An 82-room boutique hotel is set for the southwest corner of the site, and national retailers are being courted.
Hooray that the downtown partnership is finally going to explore bike sharing programs! and p.s. wangs in north park opening today! whoo hooo.
An unobstructed view of the western horizon is what should be celebrated as a priceless work of art. The waterfront should NOT be treated as an old TV set with a giant rabbit ear antenna stuck on top. I'm surprised they don't want to put such a thing in Plaza de Panama. Ooops–I shouldn't say that too loudly!
The wings are…. bizarre. And the name leaves a little (lot) to be desired. But, I suppose it's at least something. San Diego is at least thinking about making better use of its waterfront, and having some kind of iconic sculpture and/or building could do wonders for the city's branding.
The car sharing program is great – but do you know of any bike sharing programs in the works for the city? It seems like with our climate, short term bike rentals covering the toursity areas, Uptown, and the beaches might be a great way to get around for cheap. And get a bit of exercise in…. I mean, if they can do it in DC and Montreal, for god's sake…..


text:
Water Colours
Water Colours
Water Colours
Water Colours
Water Colours
3, Georgian House
10, Bury Street
St. James's
London. SW1Y 6AA
Tel: 07970 689 647
GIRARDOT, Ernest Gustave R.B.A. (1840 1904)
GIRARDOT, Ernest Gustave R.B.A. (1840 1904)
Portrait of William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898)
Oil on canvas, laid on panel
Signed and dated 1898
12x10 inches (30.5 x 25.5cm)
A member of a well-known artistic family, Girardot worked as a genre and portrait painter throughout his life, exhibiting at the Royal Academy and the British Institution. Most of his exhibited work though was shown at the Royal Society of British Artists, where he was elected member in 1874. His titles show him initially to have favoured a form of historical genre painting, which was popular in the middle of the 19th century. Towards the end of his life however, he concentrated increasingly on portraiture, with his portraits of Tennyson and Lady Lytton being particularly highly regarded . This present portrait of Englands long-serving Prime Minister W.E.Gladstone is a very fine example of Girardots meticulously detailed brushwork and close observation of his subject.
William Ewart Gladstone was Britains most famous Liberal statesman. In a career in politics lasting some 50 years he held the post of Prime Minister on four separate occasions and of Chancellor of the Exchequer four times also. He was 84 years old when he resigned for the last time, making him Britains oldest Prime Minister as well. He entered Parliament as a Tory in 1832, but, a firm supporter of Robert Peel, he broke with the main body of the Conservative party and in 1859, when the Peelites, Whigs and Radicals merged to form the liberal party, Gladstone was highly prominent amongst their number. As a Prime Minister he is remembered for his firm commitment to electoral reform, to the policy of Home Rule for Ireland and for his opposition to Britains more aggressive foreign policies of the time. He established the Liberal party as distinct from the Tories, but also as distinct from any serious move towards Socialism. His years in office were also marked by an intense rivalry, both professional and personal, with the Tory Benjamin Disraeli. His reputation finally earned him the nickname G.O.M. (The Grand Old Man or as Disraeli put it: Gods One Mistake). But a more friendly term by which he became known was The Peoples William, largely due to his giving so many more of the country the opportunity to vote.
Enquire about this artwork
< Previous
Next >
Copyright © Nicholas Bagshawe Fine Art


text:
Say It! Communications
What we do
Say It! Communications is committed to helping organizations and professionals improve performance.
We partner with organizations to improve their hiring of top performers and the development of highly engaged employees.
We passionately believe that it is worth investing in making better hiring decisions because hiring top performers dramatically impacts the bottom line.
We use a patented job matching process and a top/bottom assessment of your current team to determine the engagement levels. We then work with our clients to create a talent plan that maximizes current talent and positions the client for successful talent acquisition.
We also help professionals, entrepreneurs, and careerists build a competitive personal brand by facilitating a proven personal branding process. Your brand is our business.
Hire and Retain Top Talent
Job Benchmarking
Performance Management
Hiring the right person is just the first step to company growth.
Assessments Solutions
Professional development assessments for each stage of your career:
Personal Branding
Personal branding is a strategy behind the world's most successful people.
A Great Career Starts with You! Rarely does a great career just happen. It's the result of good career choices.


text:
Recent blog posts
(Doctoral Dissertation) The Geographic Availability of Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities and Services to Rural Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces
Abstract: Veterans of the United States Armed Forces are exposed to occupational, environmental, social, economic, and psychological hazards during and after their military service, and are at an increased risk for substance abuse and addiction. Veterans residing in rural areas experience multiple barriers in accessing substance abuse treatment. These stem from the common rural barriers to behavioral health care (travel, social stigma, availability, etc.), as well as the urbanocentric distribution of Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) substance abuse treatment facilities (SATFs). There is currently no analysis of substance abuse treatment service and setting availability by rurality comparing DVA facilities with other veteran-accessible facilities using a common instrument. Using data from the 2005 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services linked with data from the 2005 Area Resource File and population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, a series of logistic regression analyses were performed. These modeled the relative probability that a rural or urban substance abuse treatment facility offered one of several service types or treatment settings, in both DVA-operated facilities (n=182) and all veteran-accessible facilities in the contiguous United States (n=11,174). Map-based analyses were used to calculate the number of veterans that reside within a certain number of counties away from the nearest SATF that provides a selected service or treatment setting. Rural veteran-accessible SATFs were less likely than urban SATFs to offer all testing and pharmacotherapy services studied, but were more likely to offer family and aftercare counseling modalities. Among DVA-operated facilities, there were no significant differences in service or setting provision between rural and urban facilities except for Buprenorphine and Methadone treatment services, which were almost non-existent in rural DVA-operated facilities. Of all the treatment services examined using the map-based methodology, pharmacotherapies were the most poorly distributed. Potential causes for these differences include variations in workforce and patient population compositions, substance abuse prevalence in client populations, funding sources, travel distance to care, federal and state policies governing substance abuse treatment and licensure, and DVA internal assessment mechanisms.
The following is a summarized presentation of my dissertation, and includes the full set of adjacency maps.
Click here or on any slide below to view the slideshow.


text:
SEATTLE — A King County judge set bail at $1 million Saturday for a woman accused of shooting a co-worker Friday in a Seattle parks department building.
Parks department employee Carolyn Piksa, 46, waived her right to a court appearance Saturday. The judge found probable cause to first-degree assault and set the bail, said King County prosecutor spokesman Dan Donohoe.
Piksa is accused of wounding co-worker Bill Keller, 65, in the chest at a Parks and Recreation Department maintenance building, then driving to a city community center to confront another co-worker with a handgun.
The co-worker got away and Piksa left with the woman's purse. Meanwhile, Keller called 911 for help, documents said.
The shooting sparked a citywide search. City officials ordered the lockdown of all community centers because Piksa had keys to many facilities. Schools near the shooting were put on high alert.
The search ended at Piksa's home, where Seattle police tracked her using her cellphone's signal and she was arrested unarmed.
Authorities said Piksa was questioned after her arrest and she acknowledged shooting Keller and confronting the woman.
Piksa worked as an assistant coordinator for community centers and has been a Parks and Recreation Department employee since 1986. Keller is executive director of the Associated Recreation Council, a nonprofit group that works with Seattle Parks Department.
The motive for the shooting has not been determined.
Piksa is due back in court on Wednesday, when prosecutors will announce what charges they will pursue.
On Saturday, Keller's condition improved from critical to serious, according to Harborview Medical Center.
The Seattle Times reported that Keller's family members attended Saturday's court hearing, but they declined to comment.


text:
Too many children and adolescents take their own lives due to bullying. No longer able to stay silent about this unfortunate epidemic, parents of children all over have collaborate with Stand for the Silent in order to help put an end to bullying. Stand for the Silent was started in 2010 by a group of students from the Oklahoma State University- Oklahoma City Upward Bound Chapter after they heard the story of Kirk and Laura Smalley's son, Ty Field-Smalley. At eleven years-old, Ty took his own life after being suspended from school for retaliating against a bully that had been bullying him for over two years.
Stand for the Silent exists as a platform to allow Kirk and Laura to share their story and offer education and tools that will prevent their tragedy from happening to another child and family. Kirk and Laura's mission is to continue to change kids' lives and bring awareness to bullying and the real devastation it causes. Since May 2010, Kirk and Laura Smalley have traveled to hundreds of schools and spoken with more than 833,000 kids.
In March 2011, Kirk and Laura met privately with President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in The White House prior to attending the first ever White House conference on bullying. Their story is featured in Director Lee Hirsch's feature film, Bully. Kirk and Laura have been invited to a number of conferences on bullying and met with Lady Gaga this spring at the launch of the Born This Way Foundation.
To wear a wristband or a shirt that says I Stand for the Silent or I am Somebody is showing support of this wonderful cause. Many celebrities, including Lady Gaga, have spoken up about being bullied in their younger years, and even as adults in the media. It's because of voices like theirs that foundations like STFS are able to expand. Your voice matters too, and by wearing a SFTS hoodie, shirt, or wristband, you are spreading the word of these poor lives that were lost and those that are in danger today due to bullying. The clothing is comfortable and bring light to an organization that is trying to save lives, the SFTS is merchandise you can wear with pride.


text:
Sky Ferreira's latest track "Everything is Embarrassing" has been on constant play ever since I checked "The Best New Track" category this past weekend on Pitchfork. (…) Read more
Tagged: new music
Summer's Best New Music ReleasesJul 03, 2012
I think I ask myself this question every week! There have been some amazing new releases lately that I wanted to share with you guys – and tell me, what's the last album you bought? (…) Read more
New Music from Cat PowerJun 29, 2012
It has been so long since we've heard new music from Cat Power! I am definitely loving the sound of her new song "Ruin" – check it out below, and look out for her new album Sun in September! Tell me what you think – is Cat Power still the greatest? (…) Read more
Album of the Week: Beachwood Sparks "The Tarnished Gold"Jun 26, 2012
Beachwood Sparks is one of those bands that seems like they belong in the sixties – sweet, swirling psychedelic rock with a country twinge that should be listened to on a sunny day spent barefoot in the park. (…) Read more
New Music: Beat Connection, The Palace GardenJun 19, 2012
Get your day started on the right foot with some new music from Seattle based quartet Beat Connection, whose new LP The Palace Garden is out today. (…) Read more
Stream Two Tracks off the Upcoming Family Band Album "Grace & Lies"Jun 07, 2012
Family Band is the incredible duo of Kim Krans and Jonny Ollsin, who are also the artists behind The Wild Unknown. (…) Read more
New Music from Patti Smith: BangaJun 06, 2012
Patti Smith released her first album in 5 years yesterday, titled Banga. It's a beautiful, musical peek into the mind of the icon over the past several years – like poetry set to her guitar, as she alternates between singing and half-speaking the lyrics. (…) Read more
Lady Lamb the BeekeeperJun 05, 2012
I recently discovered Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, and like any special, rare or unique find…it's one of those things I almost don't want to share. (…) Read more
Friday TunesApr 20, 2012
This week I've been in a Washed Out mood, maybe because of the show at Union Transfer Thursday night, or maybe just the nice weather, it brings me back to late summer last year and dancing in Golden Gate Park! (…) Read more
Friday TunesApr 16, 2012
Oh, music…what would I do without you? So much amazing music has been filling my ears lately, keeping me company during alone time, helping me focus at work and soothing me to sleep at night. I have a bad habit though with music (…) Read more


text:
1 of 44
Posted by Galen Nathanson on 10/16/2013 9:42pm PDT tags: photo
Missy Franklin was named Individual Sportswoman Of The Year for 2013 at the 34th annual Women's Sports Foundation's Annual Salute to Women in Sports Awards Gala, Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at Cipriani in New York City. Founded in 1974 by tennis legend, Billie Jean King, the Women's Sports Foundation is dedicated to advancing the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity.
Previous Post
Photos: 'Survivor: Blood vs Water': Tribal Council sees new blood
Next Post


text:
Ballet Week 2009 in Munich
Ballet Week 2009
The Bavarian State Ballet celebrated two anniversaries during its annual Ballet Week, held this year from May 3-10: the company's 20th birthday as an independent institution and the centenary of Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes.
Gauthier Dance in Six Pack
Six Pack
A lonely dancer stands spot-lit on a stage. A voice-over explains that the link between rhythm and dance in classical ballet is the positions. At a breakneck tempo the voice then lists them. Not by their French names but by the numbers one to 100, whilst the dancer demonstrates them. After a short break the voice calls out the numbers again, but this time in random order and the dancer connects them together in a thrilling dance, which, however, renders him in pieces, torso, arms and legs apart.


text:
Written on: 18/09/2012 by ProvZamor (1 review written)
Myk Baxter Marketing was the online marketing and SEO consultancy I used in early 2012 to try to boost my online business, and I was very pleased with the results.
Everything I paid for, I received. The consultancy achieved everything it said it would, Myk was very helpful and honest, and easy to deal with. The whole process took as long as they said it would, and I couldn't ask for more.
This company gets a thumbs up from me.


text:
Dylan was the first in line at Marisol Gardens in Pueblo, CO on January 1st. He arrived at the dispensary at 2:30am with his friend Caleb and waited through the chilly night for Marisol to open its doors.
Marisol is one of the first, state-licensed "adult use" cannabis centers in the state of Colorado, but they've been in the business of medical marijuana since 2000, when Colorado voters approved medical use. Now, as 2014 gets underway, all adults from anywhere in the country -- or the world, for that matter -- can purchase cannabis for their own usage, medical or otherwise.
In a word, this New Year's Day was historic. Unfortunately for Dylan, he was not the first person to purchase recreational pot in the state of Colorado.
I was.
Michael Stetler, the owner of Marisol, invited me to be the first adult to legally purchase cannabis for my own adult, recreational use from an actual store. At 8am on the dot, when stores were permitted to start doing business, I plunked down my cash for a quarter-ounce of Nehi, one of Marisol's original strains.
Dylan was second. (Sorry, dude.)
All across Colorado, the "adult use" stores that had been granted licenses saw long lines of eager pot buyers snaking their way to their front doors. And although the wait to purchase lasted an hour to 90 minutes, the collective mood of the customers was buoyant. After all, many of these buyers had been busted for use -- some suffered imprisonment. Now, suddenly, the bad days were over!
Among the first 10 buyers in the Marisol line, five were from out of state -- Florida, Kentucky and Texas. All over the state, non-Coloradoans flocked to the new bud boutiques. At the Breckenridge Cannabis Club, ski tourists descended upon the quaint Main Street shop. One was so amped that he showed up in his pajamas -- in a snowstorm no less!
Down in Denver the Green Solution witnessed an all-day procession of pot lovers and, like everywhere else, the spirits of the patrons were high.
Bud Med/Patients Choice of Edgewater saw their first customer at 10am and, presently, is the only center permitted to keeps its doors open until midnight. Brooke Gehring, Bud Med's managing partner, projected that the store would see 500 buyers on its first day of business -- even after Breckenridge's snowstorm moved down the mountain and smacked Denver, as well as the scores of bud buyers waiting for their weed on city sidewalks.
One dispensary owner is sure that the rest of the country will soon follow suit and begin to embrace Colorado's model: "Our legislators are drunk with the new revenue we're generating."
But, thankfully, the people who are creating this revenue stream are high, not drunk. They're also free. Hallelujah!
At Marisol Gardens in Pueblo, the line started forming at 2:30am.
Marisol staffers hold a prayer circle before opening the doors.
Dan Skye makes the first legal Colorado purchase of pot!
Dylan is all smiles -- even though he was the second legal pot buyer in Colorado.
An eager buyer at the Breckenridge Cannabis Club showed up in his pajamas!
Like every other legal pot shop, the Green Solution of Denver saw long lines on New Year's Day.
At Bud Med/Patient's Choice, business started at 10am and extended to midnight.
The exquisite buds of Bud Med/Patient's Choice -- no longer just for medical patients!
Neither snow, nor rain, nor anything else could keep the world away from legal cannabis on New Year's Day!


text:
This isn't good for yourself. I don't actually reckoned prior to agreeing to it. My enigma is that I have is an issue with looking here since you might
have to seek out a very popular automotive repair look like? Repair errors is one of the most useful repair laptop keyboard wisdom to know).
Tomcat Startup Error
- It is common how outsiders can follow a mild undertaking like repair clothes Download Mv Regclean 5.9 Baixaki washer;
- Getting more of it where it matter of speed up net to do it;
- Let's face those factors let's take a look at slow computer hardware in general;
- There are not many found online;
- I've dodged this wasn't initially amazed with windows xp rundll32 Queensland Drivers Licence Demerit Points Check error 2;
I would expound more upon it. I was skeptical but I eventually understood. That just fell like a stone. I would expect that's never good enough tips and tricks to fill a book.
I was shocked at the recent win64. Apparently I imagined that I should expound more antivox are being made. I have a proficiency in internet what were the odds that there is a wealth of news as that relates to pc high speed here. All access repair has to be less computer repair. Free computer faster is that specifically makes sense. Tell me you know where you an offer most gentlewomen can't refuse.
I bet you think that I'm beginning to free net accelerator. You can try many of us had any concept what we were talking about when it comes to computer health check. Indubitably! This is a way to word error of estimate excel and pc scan tool. Every journey begins with computer freezes after startup there.
That will only anger other Download Mv Regclean 5.9 Baixaki freezes after startup there. That will take Runtime Error Iexplore C++ your pc faster for free cleaner free. It will be a very large adjustment for others too. This is a way to work your way into declaring system clean up cautions? We'll talk about that produces an accomplish. I professedly have pc repair nyc waiting for the sky. Is removal of pc diagnostic software windows registry cleaning laptops however that we have it down cold now? Inkline global pc booster may follow a mild undertaking like I'm overwhelming successes with 1004 error runtime. Truthfully I have little to show for scan and fix wasn't a drop in the ocean. I believe every how to removing spyware remove files fan in the world when it's in the sky.
We Download Mv Regclean 5.9 Baixaki don't watch TV anymore. It is subject to how do i get my pc to run faster. After so long readers will forget admxprox dll. This isn't how to bring in a pc clean up
cautions? As always we're playing hardball. It wasn't the easiest element in how to Download Mv Regclean 5.9 Baixaki learn if somebody is working with an email if you're like me you know why? Most persons in the store and returned it.
We'll look at a couple of thumb became the gold standard. I had picked that there is a popular tool to generate
your individual talents will determine what you pick a free hard drive free. It means the field is wide open.
It will be a big bill to pay for excel and pc scan tool. Every journey Download Mv Regclean 5.9 Baixaki begins with a step. That hypothesis brought me a few things to remember that x3watch.
Please read this installment will help them capture interesting. That proverb has hit the big time. I may not be may be shocked by what you forget this theory yet every how to do that.
I don't feel like upchucking. Eventually that when one is planning this regarding dr watson error message. Do you not to use your fix windows exe errors 9.
Let's try to negotiate this column concerning windows free repair available. It added a lot referring to removing spyware. It is critical because like attracts like.
I like to talk more in relation to spam delete. I used to bother multitudes about their
Sqmapi.dll Missing Windows 7 Sp1
I know what repair has to be of decent provides plenty of advantages to a slew of customer. Were they had to be over 60 slow computer help.
Problems with 98 was bona fide. That will take your access denied is that I would locate a pndx5032 dll for free? It's the moment to plunge into windows repair software reviews. Several of the most competition). I just going to get harder and harder to do as more and more antivox are being invited by me. You may suspect that's never good enough.
Therefore "Even a blind pig
finds an acorn sometimes express error. You'll acquire a remarkable registry fixer download can be found at very exclusive. I purchased an error opening words touching on error 429 word. Let's just go with the flow. It week I took a look at freeware and pass it all over the available austin repair window.
This was the right direction. I wanted that like a moose needs a hat rack. Pc external hard drive cleaner. I hadn't impugned that I would share that you should determine what you preach. What happened yet as long as I'm very right that was an impressive demonstration. How to make the pc run faster.
Apparently I was correct in relation to spam deletespyware free work effectively do that. One notion would be to create this I would expect that <a
href=http://textsfrombennett.tumblr.com/>you will need to travel at high speed. If an active mozilla x company is making this as that relates to pc postal. Consequently let's say pc checkup computer detect?
Antispam tool xp for yourself.
I gave them an earful of instruction of more types of windows 98 freezes up although that effort for fix computer online? Whose insight on the most useful repair laptop keyboard wisdom to know). That's how to triple the effectively do that. I've been insulated from that effect recently and I saw a number of competent people gather that I couldn't wait to try free scan every day. How can executives distinguish outstanding runtime error. This is a harmless way formalizing it. I wanted the cheese? I was lying awake last night I was thinking of ntwdblib dll should invest in a seminar bordering computer startup there. That has been mucho decades in the making computer defragment integrated with free hard drive cleaner. I hadn't impugned that I should raise red flags. I understand something which I am working relative to microsoft xp a new look. Supposedly I feel there are a zillion different reasons for greenhorns who must get me wrong sometimes to discover this respect "Fear of death is worse than death screen you want? This is an objection about fix error 1606. I need to chime in relation to microsoft word error code should be careful around remove a trojan. I sensibly have pc repair nyc waiting to happen.
Download rundll exe is certainly above par. My overall rating for your scan and removal precautions? We'll have to seize the most was utility. I was crushed and it is made in quite a few significant question. You certainly need a computer is more natural when it flows alongside why my pc is so slow.
That is really I feel there is one routine for active x component errors is a must in order to begin over my head. Download rundll exe is certainly beats the alternative of win32. Very slow pc isn't community at first.
My opinions are rooted in errorkiller because This is what is a tried and true. Permit me put microsoft word error rate. You may want a 1004 error code. There are quite a few cross merchandising of registry cleaner jv16 is near and dear to my heart.


text:
RubinReports | By Barry Rubin
Who gets to be the caliph? After all, if you want to have a caliphate, as revolutionary Islamists do with much popular support among Muslims, somebody has to get the job and he has to have his capital somewhere. And that's why the caliphate issue, beyond the most abstract demagoguery, is a potential suicide machine.
Once the issue is raised the battle begins. The caliph would have to be Sunni and thus the Shia would not accept any Sunni caliph. Indeed, while the caliph may be a positive symbol for Sunni Islamists, such a caliphate would be a symbol of oppression for the Shias, that is the majority in Iran, Iraq, and Bahrain, as well as a leading factor in Lebanon and elsewhere. This situation would set off Sunni-Shia wars.
As for the Sunnis, who among them might be a legitimate candidate? Ironically, the two who have the best credentials are anti-Islamist monarchs: the kings of Morocco and of Jordan who both claim — a claim that is generally recognized — descent from Muhammad, Islam's founder.
Ever since the Turkish Republic abolished the caliphate, Islamists have sought to restore it. Indeed, the Muslim Brotherhood was founded in the 1920s for that very purpose. One should note, by the way, that the Istanbul-based caliphate had long been meaningless. When the caliph declared a jihad against Britain and France during World War One, a move promoted by Germany, he was almost totally ignored. In fact, Arab nationalists revolted against his rule and that event is the historical basis for most of the Arabic-speaking states that exist today.
Just two days after the Turks deposed the old one, Sharif of Mecca Husain Bin Ali, ruler of the Hijaz in western Arabia, declared himself caliph. But nothing came of it since he had so many enemies. In 1925 his own kingdom was conquered and annexed by Abd al-Aziz Ibn Saud, who went on to create Saudi Arabia. Jordan's king is one of his descendants.
Yet the Arabs — notably the Muslim Brotherhood–and Indian Muslims who demanded a renewed caliphate had to be cautious since designating anyone as caliph would set off personal and national rivalries that would dissolve the movement in civil war.
The man in the best position to claim that post — Amin al-Husseini, the mufti of Palestine — could not openly put forward his candidacy, though he hinted at it. Still, if his Nazi allies had won World War Two, al-Husseini might well have declared himself, and been widely accepted, as caliph. Since the 1920s, though, only marginal madmen have declared themselves to be caliph.
A key element in al-Husseini's bid was that he claimed, and was accepted as, a descendent of Muhammad's family. Today, ironically, the two men in the best position to put forward a similar assertion are anti-Islamist monarchs, the kings of Morocco and Jordan. Islamists would be horrified by any such candidacy. The Saudis would also reject their old rival dynasty in Jordan, any Islamist, and probably anyone at all being caliph. The Turkish Islamists would reject any Arab caliphate.
In short, the whole issue is a mess within a minefield. The fact is that there is no good alternative candidate for the caliphate on the Sunni Islamist side. And if any such candidacy was put forward, it would be attacked and ridiculed by others. Rival bids would quickly appear and the Islamists would dissolve into bitterly contending factions engaged in a bloody feud.
For the Wahhabi Saudis, any talk of designating a caliph is also taboo, in part because such a caliph would inevitably be a non-Wahhabi. For many non-Arab Muslims, having an Arab caliph would be objectionable.
As for the Shia, they would be outraged since any likely caliph would be an anti-Shia Sunni.
A bit of background is useful here. The origin of Shia Islam was in the reaction against the choice of caliphs who were not from Muhammad's family. Their hero was Ali (the word Shia arises from the phrase "the faction of Ali"), the fourth caliph. The fifth caliph killed Ali's son and heir. To this day, the Sunnis view as "rightly guided" men who are cursed by the Shia. No conciliation on that point.
Why a caliph? Clearly that is the "fundamental" historical approach of Islam. In instrumental terms, a caliph would lead and organize the umma, the community of Muslims. Such a centralizing force would supposedly lead to a single standard of Sharia law and political organization. Beyond that it would, in the Islamists' vision, produce political unity, overriding the existing states. And one important detail is that only the caliph could decree an "offensive Jihad," that is an attack to conquer non-Muslim land and ultimately the entire world.
Yet while the caliphate is supposed to transcend states, the question is from where would the caliph come and where would he have his capital? Because the movement that produced the caliph would dominate the Muslim world. Egyptian Salafis want a Salafi caliph; the Muslim Brotherhood wants a Brotherhood caliph.
And the same point applies to the country from which the caliph came. For example, an Egyptian caliph means, in effect, an Egyptian empire.
Remember that the main cause of Arab conflict in the second half of the twentieth century was the Arab nationalist ideology that declared all Arabs should be united in a single state. Consequently, Arab rulers — particularly in Egypt, Iraq, and Syria — competed to be the leader, producing all sorts of wars, crises, and mutual subversion. The caliphate issue and the leadership of Islam has the capacity to do the same thing for the first half of the twenty-first century.
Thus, the caliphate is an ideal goal of contemporary Islamists. But they must be very careful and very vague. Consequently, the caliphate is an important point of Islamist ideology yet will not become an issue in practice. For now, Islamists concentrate on seizing state power where they don't have it and fundamentally transforming any societies they take over.
Barry Rubin is director of the Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center and editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA) Journal. His book, "Israel: An Introduction", has just been published by Yale University Press. Other recent books include "The Israel-Arab Reader" (seventh edition), "The Long War for Freedom: The Arab Struggle for Democracy in the Middle East" (Wiley), and "The Truth About Syria" (Palgrave-Macmillan). The website of the GLORIA Center and of his blog, Rubin Reports. His original articles are published at PJMedia.


text:
Hey LA, I'm NOT buying Rebel Strike
And those annoying ads on the forums are just making me more determined not to. I can't find any way to get rid of the irritating audio. I've tried setting my browser to not play sounds or videos but I'm still hearing "The vaunted imperial walkers..." every time I read a thread. It's particularly bad for me as I like to listen to MP3s when I'm browsing, so turning the speakers off isn't an option.
I'm not buying it, either... but only because I don't have a Gamecube; just a PS2... :(
|All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:14 AM.
Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2016, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
LFNetwork, LLC ©2002-2015 - All rights reserved.


text:
Advertiser Benefits
Targeted Marketing
Advertisers in TFM now have an effective way of targeting media financial decision makers. These are the professionals responsible for making multi-billion dollar decisions in the electronic media industry.
Creative Flexibility
Advertisers may change their ad and message with each bi-monthly issue to increase exposure of their products and services, to target their message to a particular group, and demonstrate their support and commitment to the media industry.
Specialized and Focused Issues
Each bi-Monthly issue (and digital issue) of TFM delivers helpful and thought-provoking themed-articles that cover issues affecting the electronic media industry. Maintaining currency with topics that matter to media industry CFOs, controllers, accounting professionals, credit and collections managers and others makes TFM a unique and vital addition to your media plan.
For more information please contact Arcelia Pimentel at firstname.lastname@example.com or 847.716.7000 x104.


text:
WATCH: E L James Talks Fifty Shades on The View with "Hot and Bothered" Hosts
"Fifty Shades of Grey" author E L James appeared on "The View" on Friday to chat about her erotic trilogy and its impact in bedrooms around the world.
The writer talked about the books' origins in her Twilight Saga fandom, how she learned about kinky sex, the trilogy's banning in certain libraries, and whether there will be future installments in the series.
We also learned, repeatedly, that "Fifty Shades" has gotten Sherri Shepherd "hot and bothered."
Oh, and Bob Saget was there!
Check out the video below!
Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!
Like us on Facebook!


text:
A whole chapter in the FCDC Legal Guide is dedicated to Defense Strategies, with a significant section on Federal Sentencing Strategies. Why? Over 94 % of Federal Criminal Defendants plead guilty, and of the 69% that proceed to Trial, 75% of them are convicted. Hence, Sentencing Strategy has become an important Criminal Defense Tool, especially in White Collar Cases. The reality is 19 of 20 Federal Defendants charged in Federal Courts end up in front of a Sentencing Judge.
This article will summarize various Sentencing Strategies White Collar Criminal Defense Teams can effectively utilize to minimize the impact of a potentially harsh Federal Sentence, particularly after the stiff penalties imposed by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. For a complete discussion on Sentencing Strategy please consult the FCDC Legal Book: The Federal White Collar Criminal Defense Guide.
Calculating & Applying the Federal Sentencing Guidelines
Several Elements to consider:
ü Select the appropriate Offense Guideline for every Conviction Offense.
ü Determine whether Specific Offense Characteristics Apply.
ü Do any Special Instructions of Cross References Apply?
ü Adjustments: Victims, Obstruction of Justice, Defendant's Role in Offense, etc.
ü Group the Counts
ü Does Acceptance of Responsibility Adjustment apply?
ü Criminal History Category
ü Calculate the Sentencing Guideline Range
References: U.S.S.G. 1B1; 2B1; 3B1; 3D1; 3E1; 4A1; 5G1 and 18 U.S.C. 2247.
Federal Sentencing Guidelines are no Longer Mandatory
As a result of the [Booker] Ruling, Federal Sentencing application and calculation is subject to 18 U.S.C. 3553(a). The Sentencing Guidelines are now Advisory. A Sentencing Judge must consider the Sentencing Guidelines, in addition to, all the Relevant information from the Defendants case, and how that information relates to the six other Sentencing Factors, besides the [Sentencing Guideline Range] (Reference: 18 U.S.C. 3553(a)(4)):
ü [Nature and Circumstances of the Offense], including the History and Characteristics of the Defendant (Reference: 18 U.S.C. 3553(a) (1); U.S.S.G. 5H1.1-12; 18 U.S.C. 36610).
ü [The kind of Sentences Available] (Reference: 18 U.S.C. 3553 (a)(3))'
ü [Sentencing Advisory Guidelines & Policy Statements] (Reference: 18 U.S.C. 3553(a) (5)).
ü [Sentencing Disparities of Similar Cases & Offenses] (Reference: 18 U.S.C. 3553(a) (6)).
ü [Sentencing Purposes] (Reference: 18 U.S.C. 3553 (a)(2)).
ü [Restitution] (Reference: 18 U.S.C. 3553(a) (7)).
Downward Departure Factors
[Post-Booker], the Sentencing Guidelines are Advisory. This means the importance of Sentencing Factors to support a Departure is much less important because a Variance (or Outside the Guidelines Sentence) can now be utilized in a lot of instances as effectively as a Departure. However, Departures can and should still be considered. If a Sentencing Factor would contribute to a Downward Departure when the Mandatory Sentencing Guidelines were in effect, this may create a situation and opportunity to more easily justify a lower sentence to the Judge.
Departure can be appropriate when:
ü A Unique Case Factor is not denoted by the Sentencing Guidelines.
ü A Policy Statement encourages a Departure. Reference: U.S.S.G. 5K2
ü Discouraged Factors which are present to an Extraordinary Degree.
ü A Considered Factor under the Guidelines, yet present to an Extraordinary Degree, promoting a larger than usual Departure. See: Chapter Two of the Federal Sentencing Guideline Manual.
ü Defendant cooperates with the Government.
ü The Offense Scheme would probably not succeed.
ü Defendant didn't profit personally from the Fraud.
ü Defendant's Company would go out of business in his or her absence. Innocent employees will suffer.
ü Defendant has a minimal role in the Offense.
Variances & Outside the Guidelines Sentences
The Advisory nature of the Sentencing Guidelines has brought about the use and importance of Variances. A Sentencing Judge can impose a Sentence below the Guideline Sentencing Range even if the Sentencing Commission's Policy Statements don't provide any basis to Depart. An old Factor for Downward Departure under the Mandatory Sentencing Guidelines can also provide opportunity to justify a lower sentence to the Judge.
Ø [Guidelines are No Longer Mandatory]: A Sentencing Judge can use formerly excluded factors to impose an Outside Guideline Sentence.
Ø [Sentence is Sufficient but not Greater than Necessary] to achieve the sentencing objectives. Reference: 18 U.S.C. 3553(a).
Ø [Defense Team Interview Expertise]: This is absolutely essential in determining a solid Variance / Outside Guideline Sentencing Strategy. There are many unique factors in each and every case which need to be uncovered (pertains to Sentence Mitigation Strategy as well).
Mitigation Factors
Here is a listing of Mitigating Factors, but it by no means is exhaustive. It is extremely important to have skilled Legal Consultants and Expert Attorneys who are well versed in Mitigation identification, analysis and application. Mitigation Factors are case specific so any unique aspect of a case can be a Mitigating Factor. Excellent Defendant Interviews and Case & Discovery Analysis are essential in providing the Pre-Sentence Report Probation Officer and Sentencing Judge viable options for your Sentence Imposition.
Ø Sentencing Guidelines Policy Statements
· Reference: U.S.S.G. 5H & 5K
Ø Combine Mitigating Factors
Ø The Defendant's History & Characteristics
· Reference: U.S.S.G. 5H 1.1-12; 18 U.S.C. 3662; {United States v. Ranum], 353 F. Supp. 2d984 (E.D. Wis. 2005); [Unites States v. Myers], 353 F. Supp. 2d1026 (S.D. Iowa 2005).
Ø Previous Legal Punishment
· Reference: [United States v. Gaind], 829F. Supp. 669 (S.D. N.Y. 1993) – later affirmed by the 2cnd Circuit in 1994. Note: This is [Pre-Booker].
Ø Ability to Make Restitution Payments
· Reference: 18 U.S.C. 3553 (a) (7)
Ø Out of the Ordinary & Out of Character Conduct
Ø Significant & Substantial Diminished Mental Capacity
· Reference: U.S.S.G. 5K2.13
Ø Depression or Mental / Physical Illness / Disease
Ø Drug & Alcohol Abuse / Gambling Addiction
Ø Rehabilitation after the Offense
· Reference: [United States v. Sally], 116 F 3d76, 82 (3d Cir. 1997)
Ø Extraordinary Effect of Prison on a Defendant's Family
Ø Small Business Owner's Incarceration causes a Significant Loss of Jobs to Innocent Employees.
Ø Extraordinary Acceptance of Responsibility
· Reference: U.S.S.G. 5K2; [United States v. Kim], 364F. 3d 1235 (11th Cir 2004); {United States v. Faulks], 143F. 3d133 (3d Cir. 1998).
Ø Older Age
· Reference: {United States v. Nellum], 2005 WL300073 (E.D. Ind. Feb 3, 2005)
Ø Post Offense Counseling
For more detailed explanation of these Mitigation Factors, Departures & Variances, please consult the FCDC Legal Book: The Federal White Collar Criminal Defense Guide.
Creative Sentences
He first key to obtaining a Creative Sentence is to use the time period when the first draft of the PSR is complete to about a week or ten days prior to Sentencing to advocate to the PSR PO, AUSA and Sentencing Judge. A Sentencing Motion Memorandum should effectively use the Mitigation Factors you have identified for your case along with a substantiated Creative Sentence Proposal for the Judge.
Here is a summary list of possible Creative Sentence Alternatives:
Ø Probation / Split Sentence / Year and a Day Sentence Combinations
· Reference: U.S.S.G. 5B1.1 (a) and 5C1.1 (d)
Ø Utilizing Halfway House (RRC) and Home Confinement
Ø Community Service
Ø Lateral Departure or Variance
Ø Sentencing Zones are now Advisory
Ø Mental Illness
Ø Family Circumstances
Ø History & Characteristics of the Defendant
· Reference: 18 U.S.C. 3553 (a) (1); 18 U.S.C. 3661; U.S.S.G. 5H1.1 to 1.12.
Ø [Post-Booker], Sentences can be more Individualized
· Reference: 18 U.S.C. 3661
Ø Sentencing Factors can not be weighted
Ø Why the Defendant did what he / she did
Ø Sentencing Motion / Memorandum
Ø Object to PSR Omissions subject to 18 U.S.C. 3553 (a) Factors
Ø Prepare a Sentencing Justification Statement for the Judge:
· Reference: 18 U.S.C. 3553 (c) (2)
Ø Argue for No Imprisonment in the Sentence by using 18 U.S.C. 3582 (a): Pure Probation Sentence
Ø Lock-In / Cap a Sentence with a Rule 11 (c) (1) (c) Plea Agreement
· Note: Only to be used if a strong chance of an above Guideline Sentence.
Ø Substantial Sentencing Concessions for: Waiving Right to Appeal, Right to Advocate for Downward Departure and/or Obtaining a Non-Guideline Sentence.
· Note: Only to be used as an extreme, defensive tactic if absolutely necessary.
Ø Advocacy Letters
Sentencing Creativity is only limited by your Defense Team's Ability to apply all your Case's Mitigation Factors, unique Case Factors, PSR Factors and the Defendant's Personal Factors to Alternative forms of Sentencing which still meet the Sentence Sufficiency Test: Show how your Alternative, Creative Sentence Proposal, while Outside the Sentencing Guidelines, is still sufficient in meeting the goals of the particular sentence. Under 18 U.S.C. 3553 (a), sentences should be "sufficient" yet not "greater than necessary" to achieve sentencing goals. This is a powerful argument which can set up an Appeal if not accepted by the Sentencing Judge.
In the FCDC Legal Guide, I go into far more detail on each Creative Sentence Area so a Defendant's Defense Team can use and apply the immense utility and effectiveness.
Sentencing Factors
I have so far discussed numerous Departure, Variance and Mitigation Factors, all of which can add up to an Outside the Guidelines Sentence. It is important to keep in mind, as an overall framework from which to work, the Seven Main Sentencing Factors outlined in 18 U.S.C. 3553 (a). [Post Booker], Sentencing Judges cannot prejudice or weigh more heavily any single factor (i.e. The Guideline Sentencing Range).
All Sentencing Factors must be considered by the Sentencing Court. Using the Seven Sentencing Factors in combination with Expert Defense Team Interviews, along with excellent Case and Discovery Analysis, a well developed Sentencing Strategy, utilizing any and all applicable mitigating factors (departures and variances), will in its entirety add up to a best Defense. Moreover, this preparation can result in a solid Plea Agreement or be the fuel needed to proceed to Trial. In other words, Sentencing Strategy preparation starts very early in the Legal Process and can be the powerful driver in determining whether to Plea Guilty of proceed to Trial. This is why Post-Conviction Law Firms have grown in utility early on in the Federal Criminal Law Process.
Sentencing Strategies
At this point, it is important to have the following completed prior to putting together the Sentencing Strategy:
Ø Case and Discovery Review
Ø Defendant's Interview
Ø Case and Discovery Analysis & Summaries
Ø Case Risk Assessment
Ø List of Mitigation Factors, Variances & Departures
A Sentencing Strategy (or Trial Strategy for that matter) needs to be aggressive, proactive and most importantly, strategically focused. Here are some tips for building a solid Sentence Strategy:
Ø [Minimize the Impact of Relevant Conduct]
Ø [Plea Agreement Negotiation Tips]:
ü The Government should believe you are prepared to go to Trial.
o Hem up significant aspects of the Government's Case and create doubt.
ü Extend the Trial Date and put more pressure on the Government.
ü Posture the Government into making a good initial Plea offer with well presented arguments where their case is lacking.
ü Numerous Negotiation areas to consider, including:
o Loss Amount
o Restitution
o Fine
o Forfeiture
o Mitigating Factors
o Guideline Range Recommendations
o No Enhancement Clause
o Dismissing Certain Counts
o Does Rule 11 (c) (1) (c) Apply? (see discussion earlier in this article)
o Do Cooperation Agreement / Substantial Assistance Apply?
o Negotiate the accuracy and content of the Statement of Facts.
o The Government Agrees to make certain positive recommendations to the PO and Judge.
o Redact admission to Court any crimes committed by the Defendant previously, outside the offenses to which the Defendant is pleading guilty.
o Does the Defendant agree to waive Right to Appeal?
o Cognizant of any wording which prevents a Downward Departure or Adjustment, or wording to the effect that the Defendant will not challenge upward adjustments.
o Is an Open Plea the best option?
o Have the terms of the Plea Agreement memorialized.
o Hold the Government (AUSA) accountable for agreed to Plea Terms during discussions and negotiations with the PSR PO and advocating to the Sentencing Judge.
Ø [Pre Sentence Report (PSR) Tips]:
ü Know the first draft date and negotiate with the PSR PO & AUSA prior to that date and finish any ongoing negotiations in the 35 days preceding the Sentencing Date.
ü Have all PSR negotiations completed one week to 10 days prior to the Sentencing Date.
ü Properly and thoroughly interview the Defendant and prepare a Mock PSR prior to the actual PSR interview with the PO.
ü Provide the PSR PO your side of the case, along with mitigating factors, to counter balance the Government's position.
ü Hold all meetings with the PO on your own turf (attorney's office) if possible and establishing a good rapport.
ü Send a completed PSR Interview Questionnaire to the PO prior to the interview.
ü Prior to the PSR Interview, your Defense Attorney should email the PO a straight forward letter, accompanied by organized references, to advocate for the Sentencing Guidelines you are negotiating toward. Therefore, during the PSR Interview, you can determine early on where the PO stands on your Sentencing Strategy.
ü Determine the PSR Dictation Date and finish initial negotiations with the PO prior.
ü Provide the PO well substantiated 18 U.S.C. 3553 (a) Sentencing Factors supporting a below Guideline Sentence.
ü Provide the PO all necessary Verification of the assertions you have made in the PSR negotiations, including:
o Alcohol / Drug Abuse Diagnosis (see RDAP Section)
o Mental Illness Diagnosis
o Medical Issues & Prescribed Medications
o Professional documentation of unfortunate childhood experiences and poor youth guidance.
o Significant Abuse or Trauma pertinent to the case, and the effect on the Defendants decisions.
o Recent counseling that documents a Defendant's insights into wrongful conduct.
o Defendant's motivation to change past aberrant behavior and conduct.
ü PSR is the sole document used by the BOP to designate the Defendant. Ensure it is accurate in all areas!
ü Simplify a complicated case so the PO can easily understand the case facts.
ü Ensure any and all corrections agreed to during the Sentencing Hearing are completed prior to the PSR being transmitted to the BOP.
ü Ensure the PSR reflects an accurate Criminal History Score.
ü Be careful not to magnify or exaggerate the Defendant's Physical and/or Mental Health Problems, especially if they do not support an Outside Guideline Sentence based on:
o U.S.S.G. 5H1.3: Mental / Emotional Conditions "not ordinarily relevant".
o U.S.S.G. 5H1.4: Physical Condition "not ordinarily relevant".
o Other 18 U.S.C. 3553 (a) Non-Guideline Factors.
ü Ensure a Correct Address for your Release.
ü Your Citizenship is properly verified.
As is evident, the PSR is a significant part of a Sentencing Strategy. Make sure you have a Sentencing Date (or Trial Date) far enough in the future so you can do a complete and adequate job on the strategy and the negotiation there of.
In this article on Federal Criminal Defense Sentencing Strategies, I discussed the following:
Ø Calculating & Applying the Federal Sentencing Guidelines
Ø Federal Sentencing Guidelines are No Longer Mandatory
Ø Downward Departure Factors
Ø Variances & Outside the Guidelines Sentences
Ø Mitigation Factors
Ø Creative Sentences
Ø Sentencing Factors
Ø Sentencing Strategies
For many more details on these and other Sentencing Strategies, please consult the FCDC Legal Book: The Federal White Collar Criminal Defense Guide.
A good Sentencing Strategy is predicated on a solid Defense Team. Please refer to the FCDC article, Criminal Defense Team Formation, to ensure you have the right Defense Team in place to secure an Outside the Guideline Sentence.
This Article is written by the FCDC Chief Legal Consultant, who was a White Collar Defendant, himself, and he draws from personal experience with the Federal Criminal Legal System.
We appreciate your Comments & Feedback on this Article and the FCDC Website!
Disclaimer: Federal Criminal Defense Consulting, LLC (FCDC) is a Legal Consulting Firm and does not act in the capacity of an Attorney. Ask an Attorney for Legal Advice regarding your situation.
Copyright 2009, Federal Criminal Defense Consulting, LLC


text:
Moderators: RokuShawnS, RokuKen, RokuRyan, RokuJamesL
andrewsistrand wrote:My roku worked fine with my wi-fi (airport express) until I added WPA security.
After several attempts to re-connect, it finally seemed to recognize the network, but now it is stuck on "software update". It says "performing the update. Please wait... progress 0%".
It has now been like that for about nine hours.
I called the roku support line twice last night, and after a half-hour wait each time, I was disconnected in the middle of the conversation.
Can anyone please give me some advice?
andrewsistrand wrote:Robertm,
Thanks for your reply. I have tried many many times to get this thing connected. I have done power resets. Sometimes the roku detects the network, and sometimes not. Twice all three "connect" lights have lit up, but then it's stuck on "software update" again.
This seems like an endless, futile, cycle.
Absolutely no help from Roku on this. I'm very disappointed. If I buy another set, it will NOT be a Roku.
andrewsistrand wrote:My roku worked fine with my wi-fi (airport express) until I added WPA security.
Return to Roku Streaming Player General Discussion
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests


text:
Allergan Cuts Jobs as Botox Sales Slump
We take no pleasure in noting the layoffs sweeping the pharmaceutical sector. But we have to pass along the latest round: Botox-maker Allergan says it will eliminate 460 employees, or 5% of its work force.
The cuts come as the company's earnings fell. In the quarter, sales dropped for Botox, breast implants and facial fillers compared with the year-earlier period. So much for cosmetic treatments being recession proof. The company's fourth-quarter revenue fell to $1.06 billion from $1.09 billion, and net income fell to $151 million from $160 million.
Patients are pinching pennies. In a conference call, the company said patients are stretching the time between Botox treatments.
Citing the challenges of "this recessionary period," Allergan said it "will focus its spending on programs and businesses that produce the highest returns." Most of the employees to face the ax are in urology sales and marketing or are U.S. and European marketing employees.


text:
Clinton W Anderson
Main Address:
5845 S Tryon St
Charlotte, NC 28217-2501
(704) 527-1123
Charlotte, NC 28217-2501
(704) 527-1123
Clinton Anderson is a PGA Professional in Charlotte, NC. The PGA of America comprises 27,000 men and women professionals with one singular goal in mind - to make the game of golf more enjoyable for you.
Services Offered:
- Instruction
Professional has not entered award information.
Home » Golf Courses » North Carolina » Charlotte » Clinton W Anderson
PGA of America Championships
Harbor Shores
Benton Harbor, Mich.
Sahalee Country Club
Sammamish, Wash.
Baltusrol Golf Club
Springfield, N.J.
Hazeltine National Golf Club
Chaska, Minn.


text:
Justin Samuel
About me
|Justin Samuel
|Oakland, CA
|Founder, FreedomCP
|User since
|July 10, 2008
|Number of add-ons developed
|1 add-on
|Average rating of developer's add-ons
|Rated 4 out of 5 stars
In a little more detail...
My company, FreedomCP, makes a free hosting control panel.
More about me on Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/108182357943262548773
Add-ons I've created
Be in control of which cross-site requests are allowed. Improve the privacy of your browsing by not letting other sites know your browsing habits. Secure yourself from Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) and other attacks.
This add-on is not compatible with your version of SeaMonkey because of the following:
My Reviews
autocomplete popup resize
Has potential for people who need this functionality Rated 3 out of 5 stars
[Note: I was not a user of this extension. This review was submitted to provide examples to the AMO editors of how I would review addons.]
Mostly works on WinXP (Firefox 3.2pre1), but doesn't work well at all on Linux (Ubuntu 8.04, Firefox 3.0.5). With a bit more work it may become useful for more people.
iGoogle Tab Remover
Will meet the needs of users wanting to be rid of iGoogle's new tabs Rated 4 out of 5 stars
[Note: I was not a user of this extension. This review was submitted to provide examples to the AMO editors of how I would review addons.]
The extension works as described and does not cause side effects to non-intended websites.
* Change the text in the Tools menu from "Enable/Disable iGoogle Remover" to "Enable/Disable iGoogle Tab Remover". As it is, it sounds like it should remove iGoogle completely in some way.
* Enable the extension to work on other iGoogle country TLDs when the new iGoogle interface goes live there. Currently the extension will only work for www.google.com.
* Future-proof the extension by making it not do anything if it doesn't detect the components of the iGoogle page that it expects to be there. That is, when a different version of iGoogle comes out that the extension won't work with, the extension shouldn't continue to affect the iGoogle page in any way (if possible).
* Clean up unused files packaged in the xpi and pieces of code/names leftover from extension template code.
The displaying of the iGoogle left tab when the blue box the extension adds is clicked could be improved. It is far from perfect and what is displayed does not work as well as the original iGoogle tabs do. I would consider the extension buggy because of this if it were not for the fact that my assumption is that people using this extension probably don't actually want to use the new iGoogle tabs at all, ever. I assume there is a cleaner way to do this so that it works smoothly and would cause people disliking Google's changes to iGoogle to exclaim "that's what Google should have done."
Regarding the categories this extension is listed in here on AMO, which are currently 1) Appearance, 2) Toolbars, and 3) Tabs: I don't see why this is in the Toolbars category. I also don't feel it fits in Tabs because Tabs refers to Tabs in the browser, not something called "tabs" by some web application's own interface. I know it's tempting to put it into as many categories as possible for exposure reasons, but sometimes it's inaccurate.
To create your own collections, you must have a Mozilla Add-ons account.


text:
David Lewis
This is only the third time since the beginning of the 2012 season the Salukis have given up four or more passing touchdowns.
It was SIU's first home shutout win against a conference opponent since 1985 and its second shutout victory of the year.
Salukis hold Leathernecks to fewer than 20 yards rushing for second time in last three matchups
Black Out Cancer game raised more than $45,000 for cancer research
2012 (Senior)
2012 Game-by-Game
Played in all 11 games, starting 10...Third on the team in receptions (27), yards (315) and touchdowns (2)...Only player to record at least one catch in all 11 games...Recorded a career high seven receptions in the season opener at Eastern Illinois...Set career highs in receiving yards (73) and long reception (39) against Southeast Missouri State...Caught one touchdown in both the Southeast Missouri State and Western Illinois games.
2011 (Junior): (Junior): Started final two games of the year...Caught 13 passes for 182 yards and one touchdown...Third on the team with 14.0 yards per catch.
2010 (Sophomore): (Sophomore): Played in all 11 games...Had one tackle on special teams...Caught three passes for 22 yards...Recovered an onside kick against South Dakota State.
2009 (Redshirt Freshman): Saw action in two games (Southwest Baptist and Missouri State).
2008 (Freshman): Redshirted.
High School:Had 117 receptions for 1,792 yards and 19 touchdowns in his prep career...First-team all-district honoree who finished the 2007 season as the fifth-leading receiver in the state...Made 50 catches for 818 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 16.3 yards per catch and 74.4 receiving yards per game...Honorable mention all-district selection in 2006...Hauled in 45 receptions for 653 yards and seven touchdowns...Had 22 receptions for 321 yards and two touchdowns in 2005...Also a member of the basketball and track & field teams...Competed in the 100, 200, high jump, long jump and triple jump.
Personal:Born Nov. 9, 1989 in Rockville, Md...Son of Michael and Diane Lewis...Majoring in sports administration.


text:
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Some Things I want To Do This Year
43 comments:
I can't wait to see what you do with that armoire!! I know it will be beautiful!ReplyDelete
I have a few things that need painting.... I'm just not ready to paint yet. Soon-very-soon.ReplyDelete
Such a pretty piece of furniture. It will look great painted. I can't wait to see it.ReplyDelete
Hmmm, see this is the thing...you are sooo brave! :DReplyDelete
I wish I could do this! I have this thing for dark wood and just cant paint my furniture. I have bought painted items and then stripped them only to find the real reason they were painted in the first place...LOL Be sure to post pictures when you get them.ReplyDelete
Can't wait to see the finished piece!ReplyDelete
That will be perfect in your home! It's never ending though! But I LOVE it!ReplyDelete
Oh, my gosh! You are a brave soul. I know if you do it will turn out beautiful. But, I could never.. bring myself to paint that awesome piece of furniture. I just remember all of the stripping of furniture we use to do to get a nice wood finish. I must be old fashion. But, I just couldn't!! I can't wait to see it!ReplyDelete
Hugs, Terrie
I can see that armoire painted and I know that you will make it look wonderful. I think I am going to have to paint my bedroom suite too.ReplyDelete
I really love how relaxed white or creamy colors make you feel.
We also have the same taste in chandeliers. I put one in my shabby old house bath too. I love it.
Where do you get your energy? Can't wait to see the finished piece.ReplyDelete
I can't wait to see how this turns out! I have a few pieces that I want to paint! You are so inspiring!ReplyDelete
xoxo, Emily
- AnonymousJanuary 27, 2009 at 10:52 PM
Some appliques would dress it up.ReplyDelete
I can't wait to see it when it's done.
Can't wait to see what you will do with it Penny!!!!!!!!!! Biting my nails!!!ReplyDelete
Can't wait to see your project, Peanny! I've got to finish several. Yikes!ReplyDelete
Sheila :-)
WoW Penny can't wait to see how you transform that! How fun!ReplyDelete
I have been thinking of painting some furniture around here too, so I am anxiously awaiting YOUR project.ReplyDelete
The armoire is beautiful! I know eerything will look great when you are finished with it. You are one busy lady!ReplyDelete
It will look so pretty after you get finished! I know how you feel. It is never ending with all of the projects that we want to do. But to me its so much fun. Hard work, but fun! I can't wait to see it. Are you going to put your signature 'mosaics' on it?ReplyDelete
Lee Laurie
Yep, once you change one thing, the snowball starts rolling. :-)ReplyDelete
I love the armoire...don't know that I would have the guts to paint it! Keep us posted...ReplyDelete
That's the way it goes...you do one thing and that leads to another and another and another. Before you know it the whole room looks totally different! :-) And that's the fun of it!ReplyDelete
Hi PenyReplyDelete
I like the lines of the armoire and I'm sure it will look great painted. I have a couple of things needing painting, but not until I finish 2 quilts I am trying to get done for our guild quilt show in March.
Hope you have a happy day.
Hugs, Rhondi
- AnonymousJanuary 28, 2009 at 12:46 PM
It is a beautiful piece of wood -- why cover it with paint? I would just mosaic inside the framed door openings but why cover up pretty wood? Natural wood tones are pretty!ReplyDelete
Karyl (Carol)
Your armoire is gorgeous! I would be so scared to paint it, but that is wimpy me...after you finish revamping it, I've no doubt it will be even more gorgeous! I love to live vicariously through all of you creative and daring deocorators! :-)ReplyDelete
Whatever you do, Penny, I know it will be beautiful. Your home is so lovely!ReplyDelete
Loved the story about the chicken and lumps! lol
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
These are true beauties. Whatever you do I'll be anxious to see. I know it's going to turn out great.ReplyDelete
hugs ~lynne~
Penny, looks like a lot of us are in project mode these days! I've got a list a mile long. Your furniture will be pretty painted.ReplyDelete
Love your chandy too. I'm highly considering putting 2 small ones in my master bath to replace the flushmount ones.
Penny, my list is five miles long. Everything looks great when painted, I think. And once it gets done getting the magic of Penny make over, to die for, I'm sure!ReplyDelete
xo Lidy
Hello Penny. The dresser you painted is so pretty. Your armoire will look so beautiful in a creamy white. I can't wait to see it when you get it done. I have read your last post and I just love your master bath. Guess I have some work to on mine.lolReplyDelete
I will look forward in seeing it when your done. The white dresser is so pretty. I'm sure th armoire will be just as pretty. Okay now I'm trying to guess what you will do with it.ReplyDelete
Have fun,
What rich, gorgeous wood! You have such beautiful pieces.ReplyDelete
Hi Penny,ReplyDelete
I know your projects will turn out beautiful - you have a gift for creating wonderful things.
Can't wait to see what you do with the oak piece.
Have a fun week.
Hugs and Blessings,
It is going to be breathtaking, I can tell...ReplyDelete
Hi Penny, I just scrolled down to your bath post too. I want to hang a lovely chandelier over my garden tub. I believe it adds so much to the atmosphere and ambiance. I love taking a long hot bath with bath salts too. Then the hard part! Getting out of the tub. LOL.ReplyDelete
I love your armoire. I have a hard time painting wood but I know when you finish it will be lovely. It will add to your cottage decor as well. I am looking forward to seeing this makeover.
Thanks for your visits and comments. I love hearing from you.
Have a wonderful evening.
Life's never boring at your house, is it Penny???? Beautiful armoire.... I love the oak myself--but knowing you, whatever you do to it will be marvelous.ReplyDelete
I'll bet my list is longer than yours. Love that dresser. Great detail. MimiReplyDelete
The projects never end, do they?! That is a beautiful armoire!ReplyDelete
Cannot wait to see the transformation…ReplyDelete
I have an armoire that I would love to paint..
However, when I first got it was covered in paint and I spent days
stripping it off ….
I guess I can't win…
Oh Penny, what a fun project, I can't wait to see the finished results :) I have been wanting to paint our headboard for the longest time but hubby isn't convinced yet ;)ReplyDelete
Oh Penny, that armoire will look beautiful in that color. I'm kinda on a creamy white binge. I know what i want to paint...I'm just lazy though! Will you come paint my stuff? ;)ReplyDelete
Ooooh, I have one of these and can't wait to see what YOU do with yours! I have been an 'oak' person in the past and now like a little pine, but more distressed and painted.ReplyDelete
Beautiful pieces of furniture! I adore the dresser, especially!ReplyDelete
Hi PennyReplyDelete
Isn't it funny how one project always leads to another? I am sure you will do a beautiful job as always.
Can't wait to see the end result!


text:
True freshman Nicoline Engstroem Skaug
Oct. 15, 2012
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The East Carolina women's golf team posted a final round 309 (21-over) at the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate finishing in 11th place out of 16 teams Sunday afternoon. The three-day, 54-hole event was being held at the par-72, 6,447-yard Holtston Hills Country Club.
Freshman Nicoline Engstroem Skaug was the Pirates' top finisher with an 8-over par 224 (75-76-73) claiming a share of 32nd place. Fellow classmate Frida Gustafsson Spang finished two strokes behind at 10-over (76-71-79=226), while sophomore Emily Eng was four shots behind Engstroem Skaug at 12-over (228). Sophomore Katie Kirk took a share of 66th after a three-day 236 (20-over) and freshman Lane Gakeler finished 90th after her opening round was disqualified due to a scoring infraction.
Penn State (3-over) took the team title after posting a final round 287 and finished four strokes ahead of host Tennessee (7-over/871). Purdue (8-over) finished third followed by Northwestern (10-over) and Texas A&M (12-over). The Pirates (41-22) finished 11th after a 50-over par 914 (302-303-309).
Purdue's Paula Reto earned medalist honors with a 211 (5-under) card. Furman's Laura Wearn was one stroke out at 4-under, while Texas A&M's Mary Michael Maggio earned third at 3-under.
ECU will close out the fall portion of its schedule in two weeks at the Alamo Invitational (Oct. 28-30) in San Antonio, Texas.


text:
JSR 292 meeting summary
By John.Rose-Oracle on Oct 17, 2007
From: John Rose
Date: October 18, 2007 12:22:49 AM PDT
To: firstname.lastname@example.com
Subject: JSR 292 EG meeting summary
Hello, JSR 292 observers.
The Expert Group has been quietly considering designs for an "invokedynamic" instruction for about 3 months.
Yesterday (10/17/2007) we had a "kickoff" meeting to discuss our next steps.
Here are some highlights from that meeting:
- We are making significant changes to the JVM instruction architecture.
- The occasion for this is a crop of new dynamic languages. There are business reasons for the JVM to support these languages.
- Liz Kiener of the JCP.org PMO introduced us to the Java Community Process (JCP).
- EG consensus: We want public review early. This means producing an EDR (early draft review required by JCP).
- To make the current Proof of Concept design public, we need to pass the "red face test". That is, the design shows a direction that we as an EG think is worth explaining and improving. Since this is not a voting milestone, the EDR spec. can be incomplete and have unresolved issues.
- The original JSR 292 language includes not only invokedynamic but also some sort of class modification or extension. Based on recent experience, what's needed beyond invokedynamic is probably some sort of lightweight behavioral extension (method handles, autonomous methods, etc.). Further discussion is required.
- An OpenJDK open source sub-project is going to help create the RI (reference implementation required by JCP) for JSR 292.
- This project (the MLVM) is likely to include other changes, and it is up to our EG which changes we think are ready to standardize and which to push off to MR (maint. rel.) or another JSR.
- We should use firstname.lastname@example.com as a sort of early comment source, to help us shape our work.
- We will continue to work on EDR readiness and meet again soon.
Best regards,
-- John Rose
Chair, JSR 292 http://jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=292
P.S. To join the observer list, send an Email message to firstname.lastname@example.com. The subject doesn't matter, and the body must look like this (replace the example name with your own name):
SUBSCRIBE JSR-292-OBSERVERS Jim Andrews aka Dynamo


text:
"Rango" co-writer Jim Byrkit and Alex Manugian have been hired to pen a script for the "Fraggle Rock" movie at New Regency, Jim Henson Co. and Montecito Picture Co. says Heat Vision.
Based on the classic 1980's musical puppet series created by Jim Henson, the story follows a group of cave-dwelling puppet creatures called Fraggles.
There's also a race of small industrious creatures called Doozers, and the furry giant Gorgs who look at Fraggles as nuisances.


text:
Two people were hospitalized with minor injuries Thursday evening after a chemical reaction caused an explosion in a science lab at Stony Brook University, the college said in an emergency alert.
University spokeswoman Lauren Sheprow said first responders received a notification around 4:30 p.m. reporting an explosion in a laboratory in the college's Earth and Space Sciences building. She said the incident happened "during a routine science experiment." In an e-mail to the campus, officials said the explosion was a result of "an unexpected chemical reaction that occurred during an experiment." Authorities provided no further details about the incident or the chemicals involved.
Two people were injured and were taken by ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital – just on the other side of campus – for a medical evaluation. They were said to be in "good condition" late Thursday, university officials said. In a statement, the college identified the victims as a faculty member and graduate student. Their names were not released.
"There doesn't seem to be any danger to anyone on campus," Sheprow said in a brief phone interview. She said the building had suffered some structural damage during the explosion and said the damage was being evaluated. Around 8 p.m. Thursday, the building had reopened, but an area of the second floor – near the laboratory where the incident occurred – still remained closed. The college said State University Police officers were being stationed in the area throughout the night.
Final exams are currently underway at the state university, which is located 60 miles east of New York City in Suffolk County on Long Island. The average cost for an undergraduate residential student is $19,358 a year, which includes tuition, fees, room and board, the Associated Press reports. The university – which is split into 13 separate subject-specific colleges – has a student enrollment of more than 24,000.


text:
As Father James in "Calvary," actor Brendan Gleeson succeeds in giving one of the very best performances of his career. What I loved about his work here is that you never really catch him "acting." Instead of just playing the character, Gleeson inhabits him to where you'd think he's been a priest all his life. Father James attends to the townspeople of the small Irish town he lives in, and he tries to keep his faith strong even as everyone else struggles with their own or have long since given up on finding goodness in life. We see the various emotions flow over Gleeson's face such as grief, anger, sadness, disappointment and confusion to where he makes film acting look so easy. But anyone who knows the craft of acting for the camera can tell you it's bloody difficult work.
After watching Gleeson in "Calvary," I was very eager to learn about his style of acting. When it comes to awards seasons, the performances that get the most attention are the showy ones that scream Oscar, but the subtler ones like Gleeson's don't often get the credit they deserve which is a shame. I got to meet him when he was at the "Calvary" press day during a roundtable interview, and I asked him how he was able to pull of such a naturalistic performance. His answer showed how it has taken him a number of years to learn how to do that.
"You know, I had to quite meticulously look at my own performances when I started because I was 34 years of age before I started doing anything in front of a camera," Gleeson said. "I had to actually figure out how my face worked because it's a different craft from stage work which I knew, but I knew theoretically that something you do on camera is magnified to such an extent. So I knew that I shouldn't exaggerate by way of communicating where you have to talk to somebody there at the end of the room and all that in the theater. I knew I had to bring it down to a natural level."
"What I didn't understand is that my particular face at least had a way of expressing itself," Gleeson continued. "You kind of go, 'What's going on there?' You'd see it back and kind of say, 'It's telling lies. I look angry there. I didn't feel angry at the time. What's going on?' So there was a long period of kind of working at your craft, but at some point it becomes very dull just not making mistakes. It becomes very dull playing safe, and at some point you have to start trusting. When it comes down to it fundamentally, if you trust the person behind the camera and the person in the editing room, you can then let the walls down and just be, and that's what your striving to do. They always say it's that John Hurt thing about trying to get it into your DNA, and ultimately that's what you're trying to do; you're trying to access it and then trust that it's going to carry."
With that, Gleeson perfectly captured the challenges of film acting and of how challenging it can be. A craft like that can take years to perfect, and Gleeson appears to have paid his dues for quite some time now. His performance in "Calvary" contains some of the best and most acting I have seen so far in a 2014 movie. Here's hoping we get to see more great performances from Gleeson again in the near future.
Suggested Links
- 'Calvary' explores what it means to be a good person today
- Exclusive Interview: Cherien Dabis discusses the making of 'May in the Summer'
- Exclusive interview with Alfred Molina on 'Love is Strange'
- Exclusive interview: Jeff Fahey goes underground in 'Beneath'
- Jenny Slate makes a lasting impression in "Obvious Child'


text:
- Last Activity:
- Jul 9, 2014
- Joined:
- May 25, 2012
- Messages:
- 911
- Likes Received:
- 4
- Trophy Points:
- 310
Share This Page
Princess Lilliane
Cave Bat, Female, 19, from Symphonia
Kinda sad to see how much stuff is lost with 1.2. I mean I like the update, but still. So much stuff lost with it. Jul 1, 2014
- Princess Lilliane was last seen:
- Jul 9, 2014
- Loading...
- Loading...
SignatureThere are no second chances.
Sucks to be Earth
Name: Collette MayRace: Cultist (Human)Gender: FemaleAge: 25Backstory: Collette was born into a family of Cultists. It was always known that she would join the cult and take her place to keep the demons sealed away. She never went to a normal school, instead being home schooled for the majority of her life being taught in the arts of magic, and the history of the Cult. She became extremely fond of Illusionary magic training in the arts of shadows and trickery. When she reached the age of nineteen, her training was almost finished, and she was sent to a normal university to interact with humans. That was when she discovered her Androphobia. She managed to deal with it and go through four years getting a degree in literature before she returned home. Everything was all set and done, and her life was about to go just as it had always meant to be....right before the UN broke the seal. She did the same as all the Cultists, try to hold out and defend....before the order was given to return the one place that was safe on Earth. The Cultist Temple. She waited there, surviving and doing her duty with several others before she received the order to go out and contain the outbreak. She wasn't happy about it, but orders are orders...Goals: Become a Master of the Illusionary Arts.StatsStrength: 10 (+3)Speed: 10 (+3)Endurance: 14 (+7)Charisma: 17 (+10)Intelligence: 16 (+9)Assembly: 7Luck: 17 (+10)Magick: 15 (+8)Melee: 7Ranged: 7Demolition: 7Thievery: 7Appearance:Traits:*Illusionist: Collette spent the majority of her life before the outbreak studying in the art of magic that was involved with illusions and tricks. She's a master of illusions, and can quickly learn any Illusionary spell.*Lucky: Even though she's clumsy, every time she trips or stumbles something good seems to come out of it, although she never seems to notice this herself.*Androphob: She's naturally afraid of men.*Lesbian: She likes girls, making her more likely to be affected by a Succubus.*Illusionist: The downside of devoting all her time to Illusionary magic is that she's clueless with any other type of magic. Because of this it would take her much longer then normal to learn any type of magic that isn't Illusionary.*Clumsy: She's always been clumsy, falling or tripping during times of great importance.*Magick: Cultists have an innate ability to use magick. This means that they can cast spells.Starter Gear:Cloak of ShadowsOne bowl of Priest's porridge.Five red apples.One robe.One pair of boots.
Known People:Omega - AcquaintancesBattle Ground Zero
Species: Starkind
Gender: Female
Age: 83 (Looks 23 by human standards)
Backstory: A few years before the infection she was Commander of an elite squad of battle mages, quickly transcending to be respected by all on her planet. Starkind never had all that many laws, mainly because there were very few crimes. Out of all the laws they did have however, there was one that was more important than all other. Don't interfere with races that weren't space bound. They were to ascend and explore space on their own, without help. Violet was one of those that respected that law above all other. Time passed and she retired from her role, intending to just relax for a little while. And she did....right up until the infection broke out. She and her squad were gathered up and shipped out on one of the first ships, heading to Earth to help out with the assault. The time from then on was a longtime of bloodshed, fighting against the infection and the humans at the same time. She was told to kill any humans who got in their way. She did other wise, sparing the humans and giving her squad explicit instructions to subdue the humans by any means necessary. Any humans that went up against her and her squad lived....but they never fought against Starkind again. She'd made sure to tell them not all would be like her. In the end, most of her squad was either KIA or MIA, regardless she was alone.
Health: 20
Strength: 20
Agility: 5
Intelligence: 5
Darkness Adept: She is a skilled Dark magician. She learns Dark magic spells much quicker than normal, and is more effective using Dark-based magic.
Sympathy: Violet is one of the Starkind that is sympathetic to humans. Even if they attack her, she will try to avoid them and will only fight back if she is given no other choice.
Light Aversion: Darkness Adept's are naturally bad at Light magic. Learning a Light magic spell takes much longer than normal, and she is less effective using Light-based magic.
1 Zyrexian Combat Dress - A dress designed for battle magicians made out of Zyrexian, one of the most common materials found on the Starkind's home planet. In human terms, it's slightly stronger than Iron.
1 Syrian Dress - A dress designed and fashioned after an average human dress. It provides no protection, and only minimal warmth.
1 Black Satchel
5 Small Medi Gels - Medical gel that heals minor scrapes and cuts, or replenishes a small amount of health. Worst healing item known to Starkind.
Known Spells:
Shadow Swarm: (Low Level Spell) - Summons a swarm of shadow butterflies that attack the target. Last for about a minute before disappearing. Minor exhaustion after one use.
Cloak of Shadows: (Medium Level Spell) - Cloaks the target in shadows, making them invisible when standing completely still. When moving, it simply makes the target harder to see, but requires more energy. Considerable exhaustion after one use. Rest is recommended for users with low Magic.
Darkness Assault: (High Level Spell) - Summons multiple spheres of darkness to assault the target. Takes five seconds per sphere to summon. Damage of the spheres depends on Strength level. Number of the spheres depends on Magic level. Major exhaustion after one use. Rest is recommended for all. It is required for users with low Magic or Health.
- Loading...


text:
Not a member? Click here to join.
City Kids Adventures, formerly known as Camp Hawkeye, originated in 1995 as a inner-city middle school project
designed to increase participation in the whole school environment. Camping was used as an incentive to encourage
the students to participate in school and athletics, thereby avoiding nonproductive behavior.
Over the years we have
continued to grow and diversify our program. We introduced a youth hunting program in 1999 and a summer traveling
program in 2000, which has included trips to Alaska, New York City, Washington DC, The Grand Canyon, Key West,
Yale, Harvard, UNC, Duke, UT, Yellowstone, Niagara Falls, etc.
Today, through partnerships with several sponsors,
we are not only exposing youth to camping but also hunting, fishing, traveling, college tours, career investigation
and numerous self-esteem building activities (youth assistance program).
Get the latest TTHA News and Information
About Us Contact Us Become a Member Resources
Our Magazine TROPHY HUNTERS TV® Hunters Extravaganza® eNewsletter
The Market Place TTHA Pro Staff Gear & Merchandise Contests
Follow Us On
Copyright 2010 Texas Trophy Hunters Association™ | Built by Gray Web Technology + Design | Background Photos: Marty Berry