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Part 2
CSS H.L. HUNLEY/Shortened Terry L. Coats C.S.S. H.L. Hunley
Tragedy Strikes the Hunley
Beauregard selected Lt. John A. Payne, CSN as the submarines new commander. Payne who had been serving on the CSS Chicora brought with him eight volunteers from that ironclad.
Soon the submarine was making daily practice dives with her new commander at the helm. But Paynes experiences on the boat will be short lived. On Aug 29 the little craft was struck by tragedy. Just as the submarine cast off from a dock, Lt. Payne, who was still attempting to position himself while standing in the forward turret became entangled in a hawser (a mooring rope). While attempting to clear himself, he accidentally stepped on the lever which controlled the diving fins. The boat which was under power suddenly dove directly toward the bottom of the bay. As both hatches were yet open water immediately spilled into the interior of the vessel. Lt. Payne exited the forward hatch, two others, Jeremiah Donivan, and Charles L. Sprague vacated the aft hole. The Hunley sank quickly to a depth of 42 feet, closing the turret covers as it descended. After it struck bottom, one other crewman, Lt. Charles Hasker waited for the pressure against the now closed cover of the manhole above him to stabilize. He then pushed open the cap and raced for the freedom and fresh air of the surface. The other five member of the crew were not so lucky. The CSS Hunley had claimed the first of what would be the lives of 22 brave men. The names of the five were, Michael Cane, Nicholas Davis, Frank Doyle, John Kelley, and Absolum Williams.
Gen. Beauregard and Flag Officer Tucker decided that it was imperative that they raise the Hunley, recruit another crew, and place the boat back in service. Within 72 hours of the fatal plunge, two civilian Charleston divers, Angus Smith and David Broadfoot were hired and set about to bring the tiny boat back to the surface. In 10 days toil, with Confederate and Federal ironclads battling directly above their heads, Smith and Broadfoot raised the Hunley. By September 14th the craft was back at Ft. Jackson floating at the berth. She had been pumped dry and the grizzly task of removing the bodies completed. Bloated, decomposed, and rigor mortis filled, it was reported that the extremities of the men had to be sawn off to release them from their small tomb.
Five days later on September 19, 1863 a letter arrived in the now half empty city of Charleston. The letter written by Horace Hunley and addressed to Gen. Beauregard proposed that the Hunley be returned to civilian hands. Hunley would re-crew her with men from Mobile, and quoting from the letter, at the earliest make an attempt to destroy a ship of the enemy fleet. Beauregard still grasping at any straw possible to break the iron hold on Charleston agreed to have Hunley retake control of the boat. But he did so with one stipulation. He wanted the Hunley to remain under the command of military personnel. A bargain was struck. The same men who had been banished to Mobile from the McClintock crew were returned to Charleston. This time Lt. Dixon returned to command.
Included in the crew and serving as second officer, was Thomas Park, son of Thomas Park the machine shop owner, Joseph Patterson, Robert Brockband(k), Charles McHugh, John Marshall, Henry Beard, and torpedo expert Charles L. Sprague. Sprague a survivor of the August 29th sinking was the only member not of the Park/ Lyon contingent. By the first week of October the crew from Mobile had arrived. They immediately set to the task of running practice dives under the ironclad CSS Indian Chief. As before, the goal was to pass under the enemy ship pulling a torpedo behind on a rope and into the targets hull.
( CSS INDIAN CHIEF was used as receiving ship at Charleston, S.C., from 1862 to 1865. One of her additional details in 1863 was support of the local torpedo (mine) operations. Flag Officer J. R. Tucker, CSN wrote of her commander, Lt. W. G. Dozier, CSN, 2i August 1863, "You will be pleased to have as many boats fitted with torpedoes as you can hoist up to the davits of the INDIAN CHIEF *** " Her first commanding officer was Lt. J. H. Ingraham, CSN. She was burned by the Confederates prior to the evacuation of Charleston on 18 February 1865.) http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/csn/i.txt
A Second Disaster
On a gray and drizzly morning of October 15, 1863, the Hunley embarked on another practice run. At the helm this morning was Capt. Hunley filling in for an absent Lt. Dixon who was away on business.
At 9:25 am the boat left the dock. Hunley sited toward the Indian Chief, took one final reading on the compass, then closed the hatch above his head. He depressed the diving plane lever and opened the sea-cocks to flood the ballast tank. The Hunley disappeared beneath the surface then something went terribly wrong. The crew of the Indian Chief, accustomed to so many mock attacks against their ship realized that something was amiss. They saw the Hunley dive under the ships left but she did not resurface on the port side as they had grown so accustom to. The Hunley had for a second time sunk taking with her the entire compliment.
This time it took Smith and Broadfoot three and one half weeks to recover the stricken boat. The vessel was pulled to the foot of Canal Street in Charleston. Even before the hatch could be broken open it was reported that several men volunteered to take the place of the yet to be recovered crew. Once again came the gruesome task of extricating bloated, stiff human remains. General Beauregard himself was present when the hatches of the Hunley were broken open. When he looked into the horror struck, blackened faces of Horace Hunley and his crew he immediately ordered that the boat was not to be re-crewed. He said, this boat is more of a hazard to our men than to the enemy.
A subsequent investigation revealed that Horace Hunley had probably opened the sea-cocks too fast. Only the doomed crew know for sure what transpired in the next frantic moments but the scenario went something like this. The water coming through the open sea-cocks filled the ballast tanks and spilled over into the floor of the boat. (Remember I told you that an original flaw in the design of the Hunley was that the top of the ballast tank was left open). Hunley, realizing that the boat was filling with water but not recognizing why, grabbed the pump handle and attempted to expel the rushing tide; he screamed at Thomas Park in the rear of the boat to do the same. At the same time an order was given to loosen the iron ballast slab bolted to the belly of the boat. The crew grabbed wrenches and fumbled in the rising frigid water to remove the nuts protruding up through the floor. In a last effort Hunley and Park unbolted the hatches and pushed against the hundreds of thousands of pounds of seawater on the other side. But it was too late. As the water was rushing into the bow of the boat the increasing weight caused the center of gravity to shift forward. The nose of the Hunley tilted dramatically downward and she went into a fast 45 degree dive. The steep angle of the plunge probably caused the bolts on the iron keel ballast plates to tilt sideways jamming them and reframing the crew from completely removing the nuts. As the boat struck bottom the men on the hand cranks were juxed from their seats and hurled forward into a mass of tangled bodies. These six sailors died in what must have been a horrifying drowning death. Hunley and Park lasted a short while longer but as the air in the turrets expired, they too succumb to asphyxiation.
Went the submarine was opened Hunley and Park were both found with their heads still in the turrets. Both men had their right hands above their heads indicating that they both were in fact fighting against the wheels trying to open the hatches. Hunley was found holding in his other hand an unlit candle. When the submarine had plunged beneath the surface, the interior of the submarine had been enveloped in darkness. Diverting his attention to lighting the candle in his hand, Hunley had neglected to close the sea-cock. Then in the panic of the sudden influx of water Hunley had pumped madly to expel the flow. Had he simply thought to close the sea-cock instead of attempting his frantic movements on the pump, the disaster could have been averted.
On November 9, 1863 at the insistence of General Beauregard, Captain Horace Hunley and the seven others of his crew were laid to rest in Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston. They were buried with all the honors that befit their ranks. Hunleys gravestone reads: Captain Horace Lawson Hunley, age 39 years. A native of Tennessee, but for many years a citizen of New Orleans, who lost his life in the service of his country.
Lieutenant Dixon Takes Command
Even as Smith and Broadfoot were struggling to free the Hunley from the Charleston Bay mud, Lt. Dixon and a man named Henry Dillingham, a saboteur for the Confederate government, and a man that even years after the war ended the Federals would still be searching for, were on the train in route to Mobile. Their assignment was to return to the Park and Lyon shops to recruit yet another submarine crew. Dixon met with his old friend William Alexander. Within days Dixon, Alexander and two others were on their way to South Carolina. Upon their return Dixon and Alexander faced the formative tasks of convincing Gen. Beauregard to allow them to return the mighty little boat to the fight for Southern Independence. Beauregard finally acquiesced with the stipulation that the Hunley was not to be operated in a totally submerged manner. It is believed that Lt. Dixon agreed to this stipulation but never actually followed through with his agreement.
After being brought to the surface the Hunley would spend almost three months in dry dock. She was refurbished with a repacking of all of her stuffing boxes and of all rods and shafts which protruded through the hull. She was also cleaned inside and out and given a fresh coat of paint. It was also at this time that Conrad Wise Chapman, a local Charleston soldier/artist painted the famous painting of the Hunley.
Dixon and Alexander then visited the ironclad CSS Indian Chief. Though they were careful to express on the ships crew the danger involved in submarine warfare, they still had no trouble in recruiting additional men to join the two men who had accompanied them back from Mobile. The five volunteers from the CSS Indian Chief were, Seaman Joseph Ridgeway, Seaman C. F. Simpkins, Seaman Frank J. Collins, Seaman Arnold Becker, and Boatswains Mate James A. Wicks.
During the training of the new crew, Dixon realized that there were many problems which needed to be addressed. He knew that the currents sometimes pushed him miles off his intended course, and most taxing was the fact that to reach the enemy ships, his crew was forced to crank the Hunley from her Mount Pleasant docks several miles to sea. By the time they could reach any enemy vessels, time and much energy had been wasted. In the future, arrangements would have to be made for towing the Hunley at least partly to its intended targets.
For some time the Confederate Navy had used with some success a small fleet of semi-submersible 50 foot long torpedo boats which the Yankees called the David Class. The Davids were a mix of vessels, some steam powered, some hand powered. One boat, the CSS Little David, had successfully attacked the ironclad USS Ironsides in October of 1863. It was decided that the steam powered David could be implemented as a tow vehicle for the submarine. Confederate Flag Officer John Tucker, commander of the Charleston squadron was contacted and he in turn ordered that in the future the Little David would assist the submarine by towing the Hunley toward her target for a few miles then would break loose and go on to its assigned mission for the night leaving the Hunley to continue on its own.
One of the tows almost turned disastrous for the two boats. One night the engine on the David failed while it was towing the Hunley which in turn was towing a torpedo. As the Hunley coasted freely toward the David, of a sudden the seamen of both boats frantically realized that the torpedo, unable to distinguish between friend and foe was floating right into the side of the wooden David. Had it not been for the quick actions of an unnamed seaman on the David who dove into the frigid waters and pushed the bomb away, it is very likely that both vessels would have been blown completely out of the water. This would be the last time the David would tow the Hunley.
After this near miss, it was decided to no longer use the tethered torpedoes as the attacking mode. Also given that the ironclad gunboats after the successful attack by the CSS David on the USS Ironsides were now employing anti-torpedo defensive drop nets, Commander Tucker decided to change the emphasis of attack for the Hunley. No longer would the ironclads be the targets of the submarine. Instead, attentions would now be directed toward the wooden ships, which lay further out in the channel. With the change of tactics, a new base of operations would have to be found. Dixon moved the submarine from Mount Pleasant to an inlet bay on the north end of Sullivan Island, a port closer to the location of the wooden ships. Changed also was the matter of attack. From now on a spar some 20 feet in length was mounted to the bow of the boat and a 90 pound black powder charge attached. The spared charge had been the mode of attack used by the Little David and now that the ironclads were no longer the targets, the wooden ship could much better be attacked using the spar approach.
Realizing that on one of these dangerous missions it might become necessary to make a run from the enemy fleet an experiment was conducted. Lt. Dixon wanted to see just how long he and his crew could stay submerged if it became necessary to do so in battle. One night he cast the Hunley off from port and had each of the crew take a hard turn at the screw. At that point he told them that they were going to practice a duration submersion. He told them that they would settle to the bottom of the bay and stay there until they could no longer stand the loss of oxygen. The signal was that when the first man said the word up that they would resurface. At twenty minutes the single candle in the craft snuffed out from lack of air. The tiny boat was cast into darkness. An hour passed. then an hour and a half and still not one word was uttered by the men. Two hours passed, then two and one half. Finally someone in the darkness said UP and in unison almost like a church choir, eight more voices piped in as well with the word up.
When the Hunley came to the surface the soldiers and sailors who had witnessed the start of the experiment had long since retired. Apparently thinking that the boat had taken the lives of yet another crew, a report had been forwarded to General Beauregard that the sub in fact had sank. Dixon had to rush to the generals headquarters the following morning to assure him that all was well. But from the experiment Lt. Dixon gained a bit more confidence knowing that he and his crew could if needed stay submerged and out of harms way.
The Hunley at Beach Inlet
A normal day of operation for the Hunley crew was quite an ordeal. At around 1:00 pm the crew would walk, sometimes under enemy fire from Mount Pleasant a distance of seven miles to the inlet on Sullivan. They would then practice in the submarine for two to three hours in a back bay. As the sun was beginning to set in the west, Dixon and Alexander would lie on the beach, a compass between them, a bearing would be taken on one of the Yankee ships which lay some 4-5 miles off shore. While the readings were being taken, the other men would mount the spar to the bow of the boat and the charge would be carefully attached. As dusk was enclosing the South Carolina coast, the Hunley would set sail for an evening sortie. The distance to and from the ships would be an all night reach and timing was of up most importance, Lt. Dixon had to make sure that he was safely back to shore before daylight broke over the harbor. He could not afford for the boat to be caught in open waters after sunrise, one of the Federal picket boats could easily spot them. After the nights mission, the crew would safely dock the boat under the watchful guns of Battery Marshall, walk back the seven miles to quarters and cook breakfast.
February 17, 1864
To the casual observer, February 17, 1864 must have seemed just like every other cold winters day in Charleston. To Lt. George Dixon it probably seemed the same save two things. First, his friend and second in command Lt. William Alexander was no longer in the South Carolina city. On February 2nd he had been transferred back to Mobile to oversee the production of new breech loading repeating cannons, and secondly, recent successful blockade running by Confederate ships had caused the ring of Federal guard ships in the harbor to be drawn in closer to the shore. The latter had not slipped the attention of the 32 year old Lieutenant.
That Wednesday afternoon the 1,240 ton, 207 foot long, steam powered sloop-of-war Housatonic was anchored a mere two miles off the Sullivan Island shore. As Dixon peered though his telescope, the ship was so close he could even make out much of the details of the ships rigging. At last he had been given the opportunity he had been waiting for. Tonight would be the night. Late in the afternoon Lt. Dixon and newly assigned second in command Corporal C. F. Carlsen took the crew on one more run through of the attack procedures and a check out of the operations of the boat.
With the light of day fading, George Dixon walked to the mouth of Beach Inlet and took one final compass bearing on the Housatonic . Of concern was the overhead sky. It was a semi clear night. An overcast, starless night would have been much preferred. If they had to surface for a last minute sighting and breath of air they would be very prone to be spotted by the enemy. The bright night would also allow the Housatonics lookout and picket boat personnel to see shadows and ripples on the water.
Before departing, Lt. Dixon made one final arrangement with Lt. Col. O.M. Dantzler the officer in charge of Battery Marshall. It was requested that upon the display of a blue light from the submarine, the battery would ignite a bright calcium lamp as a homing beacon to guide them back to Beach Inlet. With a final handclasp and a prayerful farewell from Dantzler, Dixon squeezed through the hatch and bolted it shut behind him. At a little after 7:00pm the Hunley cast off. Lt. Dixon lit a candle. Looking at his crew it was impossible for him not to see the determination on each face. These men knew the task and were more than willing to attempt it.
Though the exact actions on the CSS Hunley will never be known, we do know according to a naval board of inquiry held shortly after the events of that night what happened aboard the Housatonic.
Officer of the deck John Crosby stood the bridge of the ship scanning the horizon for telltale smoke or the wake of a blockade-runner. Close watch was being held as the Federals were very much aware that weapons such as the David and the Hunley were in the area. Standing orders from fleet were that any steam-powered sloop was to maintain 25 lbs of pressure on the boilers and to keep the ship at the ready. In the case of attack, they were to cut loose the anchor, engage the engines and immediately could be under way.
The Hunley had been under sail for just over an hour when Dixon decided he needed to surface and take a look above. A quick glance through the viewing ports assured the Lieutenant that there were no picket boats in sight. Straight ahead, though closer than expected, the twinkling light of the Housatonic could be seen. About this time Corporal Carlson opened the rear hatch and a breeze of cool fresh air rushed through the submarine. Dixon took a reading from the compass illuminated by the single candle on the bulkhead. He and Carlson then closed the hatches, and the diving plane was set for a dive.
Dixon could have espoused some poetic soliloquy about how they were about to make history but much more likely he simply whispered to the men to tell them that the were almost at their objective. The seven sailors started to turn the propulsion crank; the Hunley eased forward.
As the Hunley bore down on the Housatonic, Executive Officer F. J. Higginson rushed to starboard rail. He had seen something but what? A log, a porpoise. some type of debris? Suddenly it was clear that it was none of these, they were under attack! John Crosby sounded general alarm. The anchor was slipped and the big ship already under power was soon backing from danger. As Dixon yelled at his crew to crank with all their might, small arms fire began to ping the side of the boat. Several men aboard the Housatonic had drawn their side arms or a rifle and had begun to fire at the semi-submerged warrior. Fortunately for the Hunley they had slipped in so close the Housatonic they were unable to lower their cannon enough to muster a shot.
Though they had braced themselves. the men inside bowled over the top of one another, as the Hunley rammed the Housatonic at a speed of a little over 6 knots. It was as if the Hunley had harpooned a great wooden whale. The barbed spear on the torpedo split into the timbers just below the water line and just forward of the mizzen mast. The submarine reversed course, immediately the line to the spar torpedo started playing out from a reel. The initial attack plan was for the Hunley to back away for a distance of 150 feet before the lanyard was pulled. Later reports would say that the little submarine may have backed only one half that distance before a muffled blast ripped through the ship. The crew of the big ship apparently got the engine engaged but were only able to back a short distance before the ship was rocked. In less than five minutes the mighty ship sank in 40 feet of water. Survivors of the explosion were able to either take to the life boats or to climb up the rigging which in the shallow waters of the channel never submerged into the icy sea. The total causalities from a compliment of 150 was five sailors dead (one of which had made it safely to the upper deck only to die in an attempt to return below to retrieve $320.00), two injured and of course one sloop-of warship of Mr. Lincolns Navy.
What happened next to the Hunley and its crew is still the subject of much speculation. The common belief was that when the Hunley rammed the Housatonic that it had gotten entangled in the sinking ship and had been drawn to the bottom with its victim. But information which very quickly came to light should have easily dispelled this version of what happened. Within two weeks of the sinking, the Federal navy held a board of inquiry to determine how the ship had been sunk. At that inquiry, Federal Seaman Robert Flemming, a sailor on one of the rescue ships testified that a full 45 minutes after the Housatonic sank he saw at a distance of four full ship lengths off the Housatonics starboard quarter, a blue light illuminating from low in the water. Couple this report with that of Battery Marshall Commander Col. Dantzler who said, signals from the Hunley were observed and answered, it becomes clear that these heroes has completed their mission; they had signaled as planned, and were heading back to safety at Beach Inlet.
With the Charleston defenses under daily attack and the city itself under heavy bombardment, the news concerning the loss of the submarine soon became only a footnote in the stream of dispatches crossing General Beauregards desk. But one thing is certain, on the cold moonlit night of February 17th 1864, approximately four miles off the Sullivan Island, South Carolina, the nature of naval warfare changed forever.
The Hunley Comes Home
Col. Dantzler and his men must have scanned the surf of Charleston Bay for hours looking for the returning submarine. When the CSS H.L. Hunley did not return to the Inlet, many of them Im sure hoped and prayed that Lt. Dixon had simply followed the current stream on into the harbor to another port. This unfortunately was not the case.
Lt. George Dixon had signaled the battery with his small blue light that the mission was completed and that the Hunley with its crew were coming home. On Tuesday morning August 8th, 2000, I am proud to say that my wife Jane and I were there on the beach of Sullivan Island to welcome them back
Terry L. Coats Article C.S.S. H.L. Hunley firstname.lastname@example.com
The day is August 8th, 2000, all is ready. The platform is set, the crane in place, and all involved looked toward the murky depths of Charleston Bay, The beaches of Sullivan Island, Charleston Harbor and all along the banks of the Cooper River. Terry L. Coats
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Auto Parts in Jersey City - Hudson Hyundai
If you're looking for authentic auto parts in Jersey City, New Jersey, you've come to the right place! We have a large inventory of parts from the Hyundai brand within our parts center.
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subset: commoncrawl


text: Exeter is one of Devon's most admired cities, and it has an international airport worthy of the city. Exeter International Airport is situated just off the M5, so it provides an ideal base to explore the South East; Exeter City Centre is only around 6 miles from the airport, whilst neighbouring towns and cities such as Bristol, Bournemouth and Plymouth are within reasonable driving distance. Car hire in Exeter is available directly from the airport, and hiring a car in Exeter airport will have you in the city centre within 15 minutes. Once there you can enjoy all the shopping, restaurants and bars that Exeter has to offer.


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Powerful LED Flashlight: The built-in LED flashlight provides a convenient source of light whenever you need it and eliminates the need to carry a heavy, bulky flashlight. When asked what that is, you simply tell them it's a flashlight. No one needs to know that it's really a stunning device.
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"I am in the past," L.A. County Sheriff LeRoy Baca said Tuesday at his forced retirement news conference.
After four terms — 16 years— and seeking a potential fifth term looming in June, he had no choice but to "ride off into the sunset" only three days after stating his intent to run again.
Way too many scandals and problems that went unfixed in what is recognized as one of the best law enforcement agencies in the country.
So my message is, "The Buck Stopped Here."
Are you hearing this, all you political dinosaurs in Washington and Sacramento? Your time has passed, also. Leave now!
P.S.: LASD contracts with my city of Santa Clarita for our police services and I support them 110 percent. Stay safe, all, and thanks.


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The United States District Court for the Central District of California granted the Federal Trade Commission's ("FTC") request for a temporary injunction against seven companies who allegedly violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
If you are found this page because you are being threatened with service of process or a lawsuit, there is a substantial chance that these threats are false. This case illustrates not only how but why disreputable debt collectors often make false threats to bully consumers into paying.
The debt collectors allegedly called consumers' and their families, friends, and neighbors while posing as "process servers" who were supposedly attempting to serve a collection lawsuit upon consumers. If you are receiving similar threats and the caller won't provide a physical address (so you can mail them the $$$ they are demanding) and will only accept payment via Western Union or some other nearly untraceable method, it's a scam. (Real debt collectors accept checks and money orders).
According to the FTC's complaint, the defendants' violations of the FDCPA included other common illegal schemes.
The debt collectors allegedly often threatened to have the consumer arrested unless the consumer paid the debt. This is big sign that the caller is running a scam.
The debt collectors allegedly also posed as lawyers or employees of a law office and even demanded that the consumers pay them "court costs" and "legal fees".
As is often the case, these debt collectors were not actually process servers, lawyers, or employed by a law office. Real process servers do not call people up and demand any payment. Nor do real process servers even call people up and tip them off that they intend to serve them with process.
Although debt collectors who falsely threaten to sue a consumer violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, this violation is surprisingly common. (A threat to "serve process" is a false representation that a lawsuit is filed or will soon be filed.)
According to the FTC, the "key element of Defendants' scheme is to make the consumer believe that a lawsuit has been filed, or will soon be filed against him." Debt collectors impersonate a variety of officers of the courts in order to hoodwink consumers.
In this case, the debt collectors allegedly told third parties or the consumers that they were a process server, lawyer, or employee of a law office calling about a lawsuit against the consumer.
Debt collectors who disclose that they are "debt collectors" or are calling about a debt or discuss the debt almost during telephone conversations with anyone other than the consumer or his or her spouse almost always violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act when they do so.
The debt collectors allegedly followed a well worn playbook by telling the consumers that they could "settle" the case by immediately paying the debt collector. To conduct an effective scam, the crook needs to create a sense of urgency (panic) in the victim.
The debt collectors allegedly often instructed their first-level collectors not to call the consumer directly but rather to call the consumer's current employer or a family member in order to create a false sense of urgency so that the consumer will pay before thinking about his or her rights.
Other debt collectors have been known to initiate contact by calling a couple of neighbors in order to humiliate and intimidate the consumer. The tactic is so common that debt collectors have a name for it — "block parties".
The debt collectors allegedly told the friends, neighbors, and employers that they were attempting to serve the consumer with "papers" or pleadings pertaining to a lawsuit.
Defendants collectors allegedly also left messages with third parties for them to pass along to the consumer. These messages included a "case number" and a callback number and often also included a threat that the consumer must call back that day or else the consumer would be personally served with process to appear in court.
The complaint alleged that, in some instances, the debt collectors even posed as being from the sheriff's department and threatened to arrest the consumer unless the consumer called back promptly.
The debt collectors' written scripts ("talk offs") and policies instruct the first line collectors to say things which violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
For example, the "New Hire Pointers" instruct collectors to do the following :
"when first coming to an account it is always best to call the [place of employment] first."
"contact relatives instead of the debtor on the initial phone call to create urgency"
"when doing a standard talk off and the person on the phone is prying … it is best to say you are a process server and due to the federal privacy act you are not given that information."
The debt collectors' standard "talk offs" illustrate how debt collectors often use false threats of immediate lawsuits to coerce payment :
"I am (Miguel Davis / Veronica Garcia) and am calling to see if there will be someone at home to receive legal documents to go to court.
Sir / Madam the service processors will try to serve these documents twice(2X).
Sir / Madam must respond or appear in court. If unable to do so, [they] should say so immediately. What I will do is give you the number of the legal office and the case number. Do you have pencil and paper?
The phone number is *** and the case number is ***
Now I'm going to write down now that I spoke to *** and if Sir / Madam do not say anything I will have the processor deliver these legal documents".
Although this scheme is quite common, the debt collectors' explanation to employees demonstrates why and how debt collectors make these false threats.
Leaving little to chance, the debt collectors also scripted "rebuttal answers" to help first line collectors convince the third party that the consumer was in serious legal trouble and they must relay the message to the consumer immediately. The rebuttal answers included :
A. Look, I am trying to help your company. This matter is serious and will cause problems at the job. Grab a pen and get this redirected to the employees [sic] home.
B. Still no – (Strongly ask) What is your name and your position in the company? We will document for the record that you made the decision for the [debtor] to be served at his place of employment."
At least some consumers apparently had the sense to call the debt collectors' bluff because the debt collectors provided their collectors with a script which read :
"QUESTION : JUST GO AHEAD AND SERVE THE DOCUMENTS. WE WILL BRING UP [sic] THE DEBTOR THEN.
A. Look I see here that there is an opportunity for service at the home residence. My suggestion would be to grab a pen take down the case number and the [phone number] to the issuing agent handling the case and have the service redirected. This will help reduce any problems at the work place and save any possible embarrassment."
First line debt collectors also had the option of falsely threatening to have the consumer served with the lawsuit at home when encountering less direct challenges :
A. I am not asking you to verify employment. I am telling you I have a court order here against one of your employees.
B. I am not asking you for any information. I am telling you we have a court order. I am trying to set up service. Grab a pen get [debtor] to reroute this case to his home. Help yourself and your employee."
The debt collectors allegedly even bullied people who did not even live with the consumer. The Standard Talk Off instructed collectors to say :
A. Why is he using your address? How long since you have had contact? Wow they are coming to your house after 2 attempts this court proceeding will go on without them they will get a failure to appear. Grab a pin. [sic]."
Debt collectors were also instructed to tell consumers who objected that the call was inconvenient because they were driving to say :
"I suggest that you pull over. This is time sensitive and since you are not at the service location it will be noted as a failure to serve."
"Failure to serve" is either unimportant or something that the debt collector made up in order to intimidate naive consumers.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits debt collectors from calling consumers when they know that they are calling at an inconvenient time or place.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act also protects many consumers from collection calls during work.
Debt collectors violate the FDCPA by doing this because it is profitable for them. Consumers do not need to succumb to these illegal threats and misrepresentations.
If collection agencies or other debt collectors are calling your neighbors, relatives, co-workers, friends, or other people about you, you are welcome to contact me by completing the Collection Harassment form on the right hand column of this page.
If you are a Florida resident, you are also invited to call my office so we can discuss your situation and how I might be able to help you. I offer Florida residents a free case evaluation.
If you live outside Florida, I will try to provide a resource of name of a debt harassment attorney who maintains an office in your state.
(C) 2011- 2016 Donald E. Petersen.
All rights reserved.


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October 22, 2013, 02:07 PM
I have a chance to buy a stainless Ruger P95 with Williams fiber optic sights for $300. I see they don't make these anymore, I thought this was a pretty good deal. The pistol looks new and I was told it was shot less than 300 times.


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Neurosurgeon Ben Carson is stepping down as this year's commencement speaker at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His decision came after students protested statements he made about same-sex marriage during an appearance on Fox News.
"Marriage is between a man and a woman," Carson said during the interview. "No group, be they gays, be they NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality, it doesn't matter what they are -- they don't get to change the definition." Carson has been in the national spotlight after giving a speech critical of President Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast earlier this year. In an email to the dean of the Johns Hopkins Medical School, Carson wrote he's concerned his speech would be a distraction to graduates.
"Given all the national media surrounding my statements as to my belief in traditional marriage, I believe it would be in the best interests of the students for me to voluntarily withdraw as your commencement speaker this year," the Baltimore Sun quoted Carson. "Commencement is about the students and their successes, and it is not about me," Carson wrote. "I want to make certain that remains so."
Dr. Ben Carson: No Calling to Politics Yet
Dr. Carson: Prayer Breakfast Address 'Not Political'
Dr. Carson Prayer Breakfast Speech Generates Buzz
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Dee Dee (In Loving Memory, 1/30/97-8/03/09
Active within 1138 Days
Hi! My name is Dee Dee (In Loving Memory, 1/30/97-8/03/09
I am Domestic Shorthair from Petersburg, VA
Nicknames: Cavegirl, because she has very dark fur like a caveman's brow ridge, and it makes her look mean but she's a sweet angel.
Age: 19 years old
Gender: F
Coat: short haired
Education: I'm another one of the Death Row Gang, those of us who made it out of the same shelter with an 82% kill rate for cats. I had a very hard time surviving three teeth getting pulled when I was 10, and now I'm small and frail but I'm a survivor.
My favorite tricks and treats are: She seems to always throw up her hairballs into her rolling-ball-ar- ound-the-cardbo- ard toy. Her favorite toy is a plastic rattle ball with a feather sticking out of it. and No treats, just where's my Fancy Feast Roasted Chicken? You BETTER have my pink can in your pocket or I'll squall and make you feel really bad at how you're treating an old lady like me. Didn't your mother teach you anything?
Where I hang out: On a big, puffy blanket in a laundry basket on the cabinet beside the dryer, or on a rug on the radiator.
My favorite grubs: Pro Plan Senior 11+, and Fancy Feast Roasted Chicken
My pet peeves: Other cats, getting her claws trimmed, and anything besides Fancy Feast Roasted Chicken in her evening bowl.
What I love about my owners: They let me be as eccentric as I want to be! I want my bed in a basket on the cabinet beside the dryer, I want my food and water beside my basket, I want my litter box on the dryer, I want my rug on the radiator and I want to deposit my hairballs on my ball-n-scratche- r toy. 'Nuff said.
My cat hobbies: Sleep, nap or close my eyes and peck corn; get on your warm lap; get brushed and massaged. I also like to sneak into the linen closet when mama puts laundry away.
Pet motto: I yam what I yam and that's all that I yam. Good-night.
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(Dee Dee passed away in her sleep, simply from old age and no ailments; we always thought she was much older than originally thought. She is very much loved and missed.) Our undercover adopter was sent to rescue the sister of a brother we had already rescued, and we said she should get another cat since a person can adopt two. The intention was to save something fairly adoptable, but the rescuer took Dee Dee, named after Cage DD, because she looked so old and pitiful she knew no one would adopt her! She obviously had lived a hard life, had been picked up as a stray, and was very thin, dirty, with bad teeth. The shelter said she was 5 but our vet said more like 10. After she was feeling good, we took her to Petsmart for adoption days and she would always be our "petting zoo" for the kids because she loves getting petted, but we felt it was just too much excitement for her to go. She would never eat or drink while she was there, and she would be nauseated that night and the next morning. So we decided Dee Dee can live here forever with Stuart & Friends @ Cottonbelly Farm and have an easy life; she deserves it.
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El-Roy or Elroy? The story behind the intersection
By News-Argus Staff
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By AnarchoBabe, submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 04/12/2005 - 05:51
A climate change rally has been held in Edinburgh to coincide with UN talks in Montreal on the Kyoto Protocol. A total of 141 countries have signed up to the treaty, promising to slash greenhouse gas emissions. The Scottish show of strength was part of an international effort across 32 countries to call for more action to reduce pollution.


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HourlyHours to be determined
Expert LevelI am willing to pay higher rates for the most experienced freelancers
Uniqube is a tech start-up company based in London. We are looking for experts in virtualisation to help define and develop our new VDI offering to small businesses. Uniqube wishes to support businesses who are perhaps too small to have their own IT department, but still wish to benefit from economies of scale that virtualisation offers to larger firms.
There will be 3 phases to this work.
1. Design the solution
2. Implement & test the solution.
3. Manage on-going change requests for functionality.
A good level of documentation is expected throughout.
We are looking to hire multiple individuals.
About the Client
United Kingdom
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6,581 Hours


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Market - Gastronomy
RestoDays: Lunch for €22 & Dinner for €29!
© restodays
- Opening periods
- Event planned for the month of October 2016
Dates and programme may be subject to change
- Event planned for the month of October 2016
- Address:
All over Wallonia and Brussels
Discover the magic of chefs from over 230 restaurants, 16 of which have Michelin stars. They will certainly exceed your expectations. In Brussels from 03 to 11/10/14!
Fancying having a night out?
Then we have good news for you, as the RestoDays are back for an 10th edition!
- + €11 Gault-Millau
- + €17 for 1 Michelin Star
- + €32 for 2 Michelin Stars!
Excellent prices for food-lovers and also a unique opportunity to savour and talk about gastronomy.
Finally a truly nationwide offer: it's the perfect chance to discover our regions and local produce.
Bookings and more information can be found on the website below. Wait no longer!
The event also takes place in the best restaurants in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and in Wallonia!
Visit our partners' webpages
We are not responsible for any changes in dates and/or programmes. Please contact the organiser prior to departure.


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Sudanese Diplomacy will not Relent in its Efforts to Develop Relations with South Sudan, Interview(2-2)
Sudanese diplomacy has been relentlessly fighting diplomatic battles abroad, according to the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Rahamatullah Osman, who affirmed that diplomacy is a continued and persistent activity. Ambassador Osman who was interviewed by Sudan Vision spoke about a range of crucial and complex issues including the need to develop relations with South Sudan taking into consideration mutual interest.
Q. Your Excellency, do you think good relations between Sudan and Europe can bring about balance in our relations with the US?
A. Of course, but I think EU-US relations are highly coordinated in some areas. But apparently Europe is now adopting its own policies and is enjoying a greater degree of independence on some issues. It does not agree with the US on everything. Unlike Europe, the United States is not a member of the ICC but the ICC voice is louder in the US than in Europe.
Q. What are the successes and shortcomings of Sudanese diplomacy during the year 2011 and what course it is going to follow in 2012? What kind of relations Sudan will have with Arab and African countries particularly with the countries blown by winds of changes such as Egypt, Libya and Tunis and with the countries facing domestic tension such as Syria and Yemen?
A. It is difficult to carry out stocktaking in diplomacy as it is a continued process. In 2011 we made important breakthrough in our relations with countries. In diplomacy, talk about success or shortcoming is out of the question. As I have mentioned dialogue with South Sudan is continuing despite tension and exchange of accusations. A delegation from the South is visiting the North next week despite the chill in relations. It is difficult to say precisely what are the successes and shortcomings. Sudan is passing through delicate phases, the CPA of 2005 and separation of South Sudan in 2011. We want to move to a new phase which is referred to by some political circles as the "Second Republic". We are coping with the changes and developments. In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we give attention to all internal issues because they have direct bearing on our relations with other countries. We want to create a new image for Sudan in 2012. It is true that some issues persist but it is important to note that we have honoured an important obligation which was crucial for the world at large. That is the implementation of the CPA provisions particularly the conduct of South Sudan referendum. It is true that there are outstanding issues but that is the case with all the countries of the world where there are pending issues but in some cases they do not impact bilateral relations. May be our case is somehow different because we are coming out of a long war and there is lack of trust and issues are being raised in the media. The issue of border, for instance, is not an internal affair of Sudan. Before partition we had differences with some neighbouring countries and they continued to escalate and de-escalate but they did not adversely affect our relations.
There are border differences among many countries in the world and in some cases they have continued for decades if not centuries. Such differences exit in Asia and America and between some Arab states but the issue of border did not impede progress of relations between these countries. I have told our brothers in South Sudan that it is true there are differences over the border but until they are addressed we should maintain normal relations. Our border differences with the South do not exceed 20% so we should continue efforts to address these issues and at the same time we should maintain good relations until they are resolved. The issue of border demarcation between Sudan and Ethiopia, for instance, has been hanging fire for decades but relations between the two countries are normal. We want the same thing to happen in the case of our relations with South Sudan. That is my response to your query with regard to South Sudan.
As regards the course of Sudanese diplomacy in 2012, I think despite the fact that the changes that have taken place in the Arab countries are internal; they will affect the situation in the region. The change in Libya in particular is positive as far as Sudan is concerned. The previous regimes in Libya and Egypt did not care to improve their relations with Sudan. The fall of Qaddafi regime had direct positive impact on the Darfur issue. We also did not enjoy good relations with Ben Ali regime in Tunis so we are hopeful that the change will be for the better and we build good relations, with our due respect to choice of these nations.
Q. Would you please update us on efforts to normalize relations with the US given upcoming American elections and the possibility that Sudanese issues may become part of election issue and anti-Sudan rhetoric is also likely to escalate?
A. This is normal. For decades, Sudan has been an election issue in America to win vote. They continue to harp on small issues until they become global. In a short span of time Darfur had snowballed and referred to the Security Council. It is unfortunate that they take advantage of suffering of other nations for domestic and global political gains. This is not only happening to Sudan. Internal issues of other nations have also been exploited by America.
As to normalization of relations with America, we observe patience in dealing with it. America is an important country and its role can impact our relations with some countries positively or negatively. It can also influence our relations with Europe, international and regional organizations and countries of the region. That is why improving relations with the US is our goal and we hope we will realize that goal. I can not say relations between Sudan and America are back on track but we can sense that the US has realized the need to reconsider its relations with Sudan. There are voices calling for that. We are not the only losers from US sanctions imposed on Sudan. I believe America itself has lost by its absence from vital and important areas in the Sudan. For that reason, there is presently some understanding and a breakthrough can take place. But unfortunately every time we take a step to improve relations, that will be spoilt by American elections which are contested every three years and then we start all over again. Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan will now be part of elections issue in America after the issue of South Sudan has receded. The US has called on South Sudan to improve its relations with Sudan and to desist from supporting insurgency. That was officially stated by the United States which is a positive stance. We have been pointing out that the US pressures are always exercised on Sudan but this time the call was directed to the South. US call was also shared by other countries because South Sudan is now harbouring Darfur movements on the pretext that Sudan supports anti-South movements, a charge we have repeatedly dismissed. With regard to our charges against the South, we have evidence to substantiate what we said.
Our relations with Chad have improved after we have concluded that backing our oppositions would not be in the interest of the two countries. We have prevented any infiltration into Chad and in this way we have reached understandings that we would not interfere in our internal affairs. We hope that the Government of South Sudan would understand this and we are prepared to provide evidence to substantiate its support to anti-Khartoum groups. Since two weeks we have heard that Darfur rebel movements have entered South Sudan so if the South is not backing them it should disarm them. So far we did not hear anything from the South and that will not improve relations.
Q. This leads us to a question that the Government of South Sudan has reportedly handed over its office in Cairo to the Kauda Alliance. What is your reaction to that and do you think the Sudanese opposition can relocate to Egypt?
A. I do not have comment because I have no knowledge about the source of the news. But I can say it will not be in the interest of any country to harbour the opposition of another country. If this happens then its results will be painful and basically I think there is no reason for that.
Q. What is your assessment of Sudan's relations with US under Obama and what are the obstacles hindering their progress given the statement by Mr. Lyman to the effect that the US will not lift Sudan's name from the list of countries harbouring terrorism?
A. I think no change has taken place whether under Obama or his predecessor. But there are limited indications that US companies might be allowed to deal with Sudan in certain sectors such as agriculture. I think the change that has taken place under Obama is that the White House itself begins to attach importance to the Sudan. This could be an indication for improved relationship but probably the time for that is not yet ripe for them in America. So far there is no positive result despite the fact that the US Department of State in its latest report said Sudan does not harbour terrorism. They do not have any indication or information that Sudan is a country harbouring terrorism. On the contrary, they admitted Sudan's cooperation with them in their fight against terror. Sudan itself is suffering from terrorism in some way or the other. From Lyman statement we understand that so far they did not decide to lift Sudan name from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism. I do not rule out that American elections are the reason because if Sudan is lifted from the list they will face the pressure groups and hard-line civil society organizations. It will be difficult for the US Administration to take that step given circumstances of the American elections even if there is a total conviction that it should be done. As such, I do not expect major change between Sudan and the US. Unfortunately, we have always been the victim of American elections.
Q. Do you think the issue of attracting investment part of the ministry's strategy and if so what are the target countries for investment in the Sudan?
A. This is the focus of all the countries of the world. We do not target certain countries for investment in the Sudan. All our embassies abroad have been instructed to highlight investment opportunities in the Sudan. Investment is now private sector not public sector. We are opening up to the world for investment and we have no preference in this regard. We do not put all our eggs in one basket. It is better to diversify investors to avoid possible economic ups and downs.
Q. With regard to talks in Addis Ababa on Abyei, do you think they will be resumed on 17 January and do you expect breakthrough on this issue?
A. So far yes they will be resumed on 17 January. But it is difficult to talk about breakthrough. The important point is our commitment that they will take place between on 17 January. We are hopeful of a breakthrough as that will contribute toward the creation of a good relationship between Sudan and South Sudan.
Q. Have the Ethiopian peacekeepers completed their deployment in Abyei?
A. This question should be directed to the UN but according to my information a considerable number of peacekeepers have arrived and will proceed to the area. The total strength of Ethiopian peacekeepers is 4200 and now the number is well over three thousands, according to latest update.
By Mona Al-Bashir -Al-Sir Mukhtar, 09/01/2012


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5 Considerations for Choosing a Developer or Designer
Software developers and website designers can be an extension of your online store's marketing and branding team since these professionals have a significant amount of influence over how your ecommerce site looks and functions.
Choosing an individual freelancer or agency to do design or development work should include considering things like specific platform experience, the service provider's physical location, responsiveness, rate and billing practices, and even the tool set the service provider will use to communicate or manage requests.
In this article, I'll offer five considerations for choosing a developer or designer.
1. Platform Experience
Even if you're just starting out in ecommerce, it is probably a good idea to choose an ecommerce platform before choosing a professional developer or designer.
Not all ecommerce platforms are the same. As an example there are significant differences between opening and managing an online retail site built on Magento or on Volusion. For some online retail businesses, Magento will, as an example, be a much smarter choice, while other ecommerce merchants will almost certainly be better served with Volusion, Shopify, or, perhaps, LemonStand. All of these are good ecommerce platforms, but some do certain things better than others.
Once you have chosen an ecommerce platform seek out a developer, designer, or agency that has specific platform experience. While almost any good PHP developer could work on a Magento site or a LemonStand site, it might take that developer a significant amount of time to become familiar with the platform. It would not be unreasonable that even a seasoned developer would need something like 40 hours or more, just to become familiar enough with Magento to successfully write an extension.
Even once a developer has worked with a platform it can take time to become familiar with a specific theme or implementation. Often this is 10 hours or more.
Some ecommerce platforms have developer certifications or partner programs. If this is the case for your ecommerce platform, look at certified developers or agencies first.
2. Physical Location
The Internet has made it possible to work from almost anywhere. Many successful businesses have team members spread around the globe. The implication is that an online retailer in the United States should easily be able to work with a developer in India or Uzbekistan without difficulty. Conversely, an ecommerce merchant in Spain might not have any concerns about working with a designer or developer in Canada or the United States.
Experience, however, has shown me that even in the Internet age working with far off developers and designers can cause projects to fail. One of the key factors is the time zone. Unless the developers or designers are willing to work on your time — meaning normal business hours where you are — there will almost certainly be problems.
As a specific example, imagine a that you have a problem with the site at one in the afternoon your time on a Friday, but your developer is nine hours ahead, so that your email requesting help comes in at 10 p.m. her time. Your developer might be asleep or she might be out to dinner or at movie. It might be hours or even days before you get a response.
3. Responsiveness
Physical location is not the only thing that can impact how responsive your development or design contractor is.
Some development or design firms are good about getting back to you immediately, while others — often individual freelancers — almost certainly won't be.
In some cases, this might not matter much. Imagine a designer creating a new graphic design for a future site update. If that designer doesn't respond immediately, it is most certainly not a big deal. But if your site is suddenly broken and shoppers cannot complete their orders, you need a development partner that is available in a moment's notice.
4. Hourly Rates and Billing
Hourly rates vary greatly for designers and developers; be certain to get a few quotes. As a rule of thumb expect to pay about $120.00 per hour for a developer and about $60.00 per hour for designer in 2013.
If you're hiring a service provider for a set number of hours, you'll want to be able to carry over any leftover hours. As an example, if you contract for 20 hours a month, you should regularly pay for those twenty hours. If, however, in one month you only use 15 hours, you should have 25 hours available in the next month. You'll still pay the same each month. Don't expect a discount, but you should be able to carry those hours over. Also there will be a some limit to the number of hours that you can save up.
You will also want the option to be able to purchase additional hours in a given month.
Finally, find out how you will be billed for project management hours. If you have contracted for 20 hours of work it may be that case that as many as 4 or 5 of those hours will be consumed in project management time that is time spent speaking to you, reading your emails, and communicating with other design or development team members. Some firms will charge you for these hours just like any other time, some firms will charge a lower rate, and still other firms won't charge specifically for project management, but will probably want more per hour for development time.
5. Tool Set
Often a developer, designer, or agency will have a particular set of software tools used to communicate questions, share project related information, or provide status updates. This tool set will be something that you'll use very often. Make sure that it works for you.
As a rule try to avoid ticket based systems. These are acceptable for, say, hosting providers. But your relationship with a designer or developer should be more intimate.
Also look for solutions that will allow you to share video or audio files with the developer or designer since these are almost always better than written descriptions. Basecamp is a good choice for this, as an example.
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Comments ( 7 )
Interesting question. Two words, designer and developer means a lot and it mostly confuses when it's used with website, especially for ecommerce site. This post is like a solution.
Great article Armando. I am working with a web developer in San Francisco that has not been able to deliver. I am desperately looking for a competent web developer to fix our website. We use Magento community as a platform. Any recommendation from you or from people commenting on this article would be hugely appreciated. This is URGENT!
1000 thank you
Elisabeth, check out odesk. You can search for someone here or abroad who has experience with Magento.
We are located in India and working with clients across the globe for last 7 years in ecommerce domain. One of the biggest reasons for projects to fail is lack of requirement analysis which invariably leads to work creep and cost escalations ending with disputes. So discuss the entire requirements in details.
Second cardinal rule is don't hire the least quoting programmer. Invariably the least quoting programmer will be inexperienced and trying to gain experience at your cost.
Prashant Telang TransPacific Software
Being based in Melbourne, Australia, I have found it a plus to have a designer in San Francisco who is 17 hours behind. When it's 9am here, it's 4pm there, and since she has recently had her second baby, she is up late at night, so midnight there is 5pm my time. It works really well. It will be a shame when her baby finally sleeps through the night!
My previous developer was three suburbs away from me in Sydney and he still couldn't meet deadlines so location doesn't matter as my developers since 2011 are about six hours drive away but they're reliable and responsive. I found them highly recommended through an online community, many of whom also sell baby and children's products.
I disagree about the ticketing system, as I have logged so many jobs that we need tickets to know what I'm being billed for.
Elizabeth, I like ticketing systems for services like web hosting, but I have found Basecamp to be much better for designers and developers.
I think if you want to make not just a homepage with text, but an interactive online "office" for your business, you should be focused not just on development, but much more on design. When it comes to eCommerce development, design is a number one priority. At Redwerk we sometimes work with clients who didn't pay much attention to design, and as a result we had to re-think the whole website to make it user-friendly. That's why our tip for choosing your developers will be: don't try to save on design, you will be paying more afterwards.


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If ordered today, we estimate your order will be printed, packed and ready for shipment on Thursday, September 29.
Simply Stunning - Foil Invitation
Item Number: DWFJ0315VV
Simply Stunning - Black Shimmer - Foil Invitation
Description and Details
Simply put, stunning is your style. All you need is the right wording in the right color on gorgeous paper to create the perfect wedding invitation. Our Deluxe Collection of wedding invitations features foil stamping. Choose a matte or shimmer foil, paper color and up to two lettering styles for your wording. Invitation includes inner and outer envelopes.
- Price Includes: Invitations, Inner and Outer Envelopes
- Product Collection: Foil Wedding Invitations
- Size: 5 1/8" x 7 1/4"
- Card Type: Flat
- Paper Weight: 105 lb shimmer paper
- Printing Method: Foil Stamping
- Ink Color(s) Shown: Gold Foil
- Font(s) Shown: CPK (Carolyna)
- Wording Shown: Verse W9
- Personalization Options: Your choice of foil color, fonts and wording.
- Recipient Addressing: Available
- Discount Exclusions: None
- Sample Price: Samples range in price from $.99 to $3.99.
- Please Note: You may choose a matte or shimmer foil for this invitation.


text: Atopica contains the active ingredient ciclosporin A (cyclosporine). Legal category POM-V UK, POM IE. Information regarding the side effects, precautions, warnings and contra-indications can be found in product packaging and leaflet; further information available can be found in the Summary of Product Characteristics or by contacting Elanco Animal Health on +44(0)1256 353131 or write to Elanco Animal Health, Lilly House, Priestley Road, Basingstoke, RG24 9NL. Use medicines responsibly; www.noah.co.uk/responsible Advice on the use of this or alternative medicine must be sought from the medicine provider. Atopica® is a registered trademark owned by or licensed to Eli Lilly and Company, its affiliates or subsidiaries. © 2015 Elanco, a division of Eli Lilly and Company Limited


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Despite its convincing electoral mandate and its oft-repeated resolve to "hit the ground running," the Reagan administration has been notably tardy in assembling its management team. Well into the President's second 100 days, some 40 percent of appointive positions in the Cabinet departments and government agencies have yet to be filled. There are many reasons. Right-wingers like North Carolina Sen. Jesse Helms have insisted on ideological purity in appointees; the President's own political guru, Lyn Nofziger, has screened contenders for personal loyalty to Reagan; and dozens of powerful lobbies and wielders of patronage have pushed forward—or shot down—prospects. A textbook case in point is the $60,662.50-a-year director of the Veterans Administration. Robert Nimmo, 59, who goes before the Senate for confirmation next month, is admittedly nobody's first choice for the job. At least three other men were led to believe they had the post—and more than a dozen others were considered for it. "It turned into a public farce," steams Jimmy Carter's now-departed VA chief, Max Cleland. "It shows the seamy side of veterans' politics." This is an anatomy of that appointment as dissected by PEOPLE'S Margie Bonnett:
The Machiavellian process began last fall, when the new Administration planned to nominate former Ohio Congressman Bill Ayres, 65, to the VA job. Ayres, who organized veterans for the Republican National Committee—but spent only six months on active duty at the end of World War II—had earned his shot by successfully persuading the 1.9 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars to give its first political endorsement ever to Ronald Reagan. But then Ayres' appointment unexpectedly foundered when Iran released America's hostages. "The Administration pushed the panic button when the hostages came home," claims Ayres, who recalls that "the Vietnam veterans said, 'Why are you paying all this attention to the hostages? You didn't do anything for us.' And the White House thought, 'We've got to offset this.' " So the non-Vietnam vet Ayres was dropped from the White House list.
Enter John Behan, 36, a New York State assemblyman and a double amputee whose legs were blown off by a land mine in Vietnam in 1966. He enlisted the support of New York freshman Sen. Al d'Amato and CIA Director William Casey for the VA post—and set off in January for an interview with E. Pendleton James, a Reagan personnel staffer. "He said I was exactly what the White House wanted," Behan notes. On February 20, the New York Times reported he would be appointed. In an address at a Republican fund raiser on Long Island the previous evening, the President's daughter Maureen referred to him as the next VA director. He had delivered an emotional speech acknowledging his impending appointment. But Ayres' supporters had not given up. Hours before, as the President, flying to California, was about to sign a paper nominating Behan, Rep. Tom Evans of Delaware had phoned the aircraft to quash the appointment. "Pen James said we had trouble from Congress," Behan remembers. "There was the feeling of 'Let's take care of our buddies; someday we'll all be former congressmen looking for a job.' "
Stymied, the White House soon began looking for other candidates. Among the most prominent was Lt. Gen. John Flynn, once the country's top-ranking POW in Vietnam. But Flynn demurred. "All in all," he explained, "I'd rather play golf."
Next up in late March was James Webb, 35. A Vietnam vet and author of the acclaimed war novel Fields of Fire, Webb is minority counsel on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. Because of his candidacy, Webb postponed some publicity appearances for his second novel, A Sense of Honor. But then Webb apparently torpedoed his own candidacy by publicly criticizing Budget Director David Stockman, who had proposed deep cuts in the VA budget. The much-decorated former Marine captain could hardly conceal his differences with ex-war resister Stockman. "I don't admire what he did in the '60s," Webb says. "But that doesn't mean I couldn't work with him." The White House now denies Webb was in the running. "He was never considered," insists James. "The candidate for the last month was Bob Nimmo." "That's absurd," replies Webb.
Nimmo—a former federal employee, veteran of World War II and Korea, and a former California legislator—had the qualities the Reagan people by now valued most of all: loyalty and political acceptability. "My priority," he says, "is to assist the President in cutting back on government and reducing federal spending." He has met tepid applause from veterans' groups—and open skepticism in Washington. "On the upside," says one insider, "Nimmo will have access beyond Stockman. On the downside, he won't know what to take beyond Stockman." Predictably, the three men who had spent the last few months in the White House's revolving door are bitter. "I guess they want someone who will take orders, not administrate," says Ayres. "Quite frankly," adds Webb, "the process became demeaning." As Behan now ruefully advises: "If the White House calls and offers you a job, hang up."
An Anatomy of a White House Appointment: Can the Best Man (or Woman) Win?
updated 05/25/1981 AT 01:00 AM EDT
•originally published 05/25/1981 AT 01:00 AM EDT


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Career Search
What do you want to become?
Alternate Career Titles:
Talent Promoter, Promoter
Career Overview: A Concert Promoter will host musical artists at concerts, clubs, and events; they will also coordinate venue details.
Career Salary Range: $0 to $1,000,000+
Become a Concert Promoter
Career Description
As one of the most desired music business careers, a Concert Promoter is in charge of putting together concerts, but also has many other duties. First and foremost, the Promoter needs to find the money needed to promote a concert by either raising money, or investing his or her own. Another way this can be done is to seek out others who will share in the expenses and in return share some of the profits.
With so many variables in promoting a concert, the Promoter must have a well thought out plan of action. He or she will need to coordinate the following: what city the concert will take place in, what type of venue will be used, when the show will take place, how many shows will be promoted, and who will headline the show.
One of the most important things a Promoter can do is create a starting budget. The budget is very important because without enough funds a promoter can not properly generate enough excitement for the show. Without enough excitement and exposure the Promoter is likely to lose money. It is better to plan to be over budget and allow for extra funds in case something does not go as planned. The starting budget can be reworked after negotiations for the main act have taken place.
Once negotiations are completed by the Promoter–which will include signing the headliner, supporting act(s) and renting the venue–he or she must then turn their attention to selling tickets. The Concert Promoter must decide where to spend his or her advertising funds. They may choose to advertise on radio, TV, in print, online, social media, or anywhere deemed necessary. Another key part of the advertising is to print and hang flyer and posters in areas where potential concert seekers will see them. The Promoter will then need to find a place to sell the tickets, which may include the box office of the concert venue, a ticket agency, or local record stores.
The Concert Promoter will normally work with the act's record company (need a list of record company contacts?) or the act themselves. To build excitement for the show, the Promoter will figure out interviews, publicity stunts, press conferences, and more. It is also common for the Promoter to hire a Press Agent or Public Relations firm to help coordinate all of the press efforts. The Promoter and or the Press Agent will also make sure the press releases, press kits, and complimentary tickets are delivered to media prior to the event.
The Concert Promoter supervises any workers or specialists who have been hired to help with the show. Depending on the venue, the Promoter may be responsible for hiring and/or supervising others including Concert Photographers, Ushers, Stage Managers, Security Guards, Lighting and Sound Technicians, and Stage Crew.
On the night of the concert the Promoter will usually meet with the act's Manager or Road Manager, to pay the act any money that was not already paid when the contract was signed. Once all other expenses are accounted for at the box office, the Promoter will know if he or she made money or not. After a show Promoters will sometimes throw parties, either for the act or for the people who helped pull the event together.
This career is for those who are willing to take financial risks. He or she must be energetic, have a strong work ethic, and have a high level of enthusiasm in order to execute a successful event, or to keep trying if one promotion has failed.
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Jobs. Career Articles. Quality Blog Posts. School Info, & More.
A Concert Promoter's salary is influenced by a number of variables, including where (geographically) shows are being promoted, how successful the talent is, and how effective their promoting strategies are. Because a Promoter's pay is tied to show profits, it is essential to have a successful strategy that will build excitement, make the act money, and in turn make the Promoter money. If the show is not successful this will have a huge negative impact on what the Promoter will be paid. A successful Promoter can earn hundreds of thousands of dollars per year; some Promoters have earned more than $1,000,000.
Promoter positions are filled by those who have proven themselves successful, therefore turnover is very low and opportunities are few and far between. It is sometimes easier to get started promoting smaller shows or by working in partnership with a venue to showcase newer acts.
As mentioned, low turnover makes it is difficult to advance in the concert promotion field. Booking Agents prefer to work with Promoters with a proven track record. If an individual has a great deal of his or her own money to promote shows, several valuable industry contacts, and/or the willingness to take a chance, the possibilities for success greatly increase.
Education and Training
There is no need for a formal education to be a Concert Promoter, and some in the business have no higher education whatsoever. However, there are some who have graduated from some of the nation's top universities. It never hurts to have a background in business, and learning the basics of music promotion from a college course or music seminar might be helpful too.
Get into school for this career.
Use our Music School Finder to get connected with the perfect school. It's quick and free.
Experience, Skills, and Personality
If you already have a background in music, you stand a better chance at finding an opportunity as a Concert Promoter and will have a chance to make good money. This is partly because having a list of contacts you can call upon for assistance is a huge asset. It also never hurts to have sufficient funds to promote shows properly.
Unions and Associations
Concert Promoters might work with a few unions while putting together a concert, but do not belong to a union themselves. Many Concert Promoters are associate members of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), which is the organization that gives out the Grammy awards. Promoters may also belong to other associations like the Country Music Association (CMA) or the Gospel Music Association (GMA).
Suggestions for Getting Started
- Find a position with an established concert promotion company as an Assistant, Receptionist, Secretary, etc. Learn all you can from those who have been successful.
- If you decide to promote on your own, start by being creative and keeping you financial investment small.
- Try raising funds to promote by donating services to a school, church, or organization that will put up money and provide assistance.
- Join your college's entertainment or concert committee to learn about concert promotion.
- There are concert promotion organizations and associations that sometimes offer apprenticeships, workshops, or conferences on concert promotion.


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The hard work of setting down the large and unique experience of the Alabama team with angiography in congenital heart malformations has fallen to a skilled cardiac radiologist and to a leading cardiac surgeon. Their peers will benefit from this venture, as will both pediatric and adult cardiologists, especially the latter, who must understand the pre- and post-surgical anatomy of the hearts of the now adult patients entrusted to them by the pediatrician.
The authors' approach is to teach by using both the anatomic dissection room and the angiographic suite. Well-described and -labeled anatomic specimens are presented and correlated in
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WAILUKU - Describing a Kahului jewelry store heist as brazen and blatant, a judge ordered a one-year jail term for a man who used brass knuckles to smash a glass showcase and steal more than $95,000 in gold jewelry.
Kyle Lau, 20, of Waiehu also was ordered to pay $496 in restitution and was placed on five years' probation Friday.
He had pleaded no contest to first-degree theft, second-degree burglary and fourth-degree criminal property damage in the April 17 theft from Island Creation Jewelers at the Queen Ka'ahumanu Center.
"Your behavior was very brazen. It was blatant," 2nd Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo told Lau.
She noted that Lau had cased the store two weeks earlier. The day of the theft, he wore a bandanna and gloves and pulled a hoodie over his head as he entered the family-owned business, Loo said.
"This isn't a simple smash and grab," she said. "This is a major smash and grab."
Store owner Chris Otsuka said the thief was carrying a replica of a semiautomatic handgun when he entered the store while two women were working.
After the thief shattered the display case, stole the gold chains and ran, Otsuka said, he had to quickly decide whether to chase the suspect, not knowing whether he had an accomplice or whether the weapon was real.
"It was a horrifying experience to know that I was putting my life in jeopardy," Otsuka said in court.
Running barefoot, he caught up with Lau, who was apprehended and arrested. The stolen jewelry was recovered.
Otsuka said he didn't agree with the terms of a "generous" plea agreement recommending probation and up to one year in jail for Lau. By pleading no contest rather than guilty, Otsuka said, Lau wasn't owning up to what he did.
"This isn't a mere shoplifting case or a crime of opportunity," Otsuka said. "This robbery was violent and predatory in nature."
Deputy Prosecutor Kerry Glen said the office tried to involve Otsuka in the resolution of the case.
While acknowledging that he wasn't happy with the prosecution's plea offer, Glen said it took into account factors including the crime and Lau's criminal history.
Lau's only prior criminal record is an arrest for domestic violence in Las Vegas, said Deputy Public Defender William "Pili" McGrath.
He said the theft stemmed from Lau's gambling problem. "I believe he did this to settle gambling debts and simply got himself in more difficulty," McGrath said.
Lau's stepmother said Lau lives on his own and works full time as a dishwasher.
"I want to apologize, first of all to the owner," Lau said in court. "I've learned from this mistake."
Loo denied Lau's request for a chance to keep the convictions off his record.
* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Chief Petty Officer Alfonse Povilanski served with the United States Navy during World War II.
He lived on Casperson Street in Gibbstown, tracing his family lineage from Lithuania.
Povilanski enlisted in the Navy in 1935 and was reported missing from his tanker during a large typhoon in the Pacific on March 2, 1945.
The Wall of Heroes honors the Gloucester County men and women who were killed in action or missing in action while serving in the U.S. military protecting our freedoms and rights. The Gloucester County Freeholder Board unveiled The Wall of Heroes on Nov. 11 at the Gloucester County Justice Complex featuring the likenesses of 100 Heroes.
There are at least 350 Gloucester County residents who never made it home so there is more work to be done. The community's assistance in identifying those residents who may be eligible to be placed on the wall is crucial.
The Wall of Heroes consists of framed 5-by-8-inch translucent artistic renderings portraying reasonable likenesses of the persons whom the county is honoring. The wall represents all branches of the military and they are arranged by era.
Because The Wall of Heroes features artistic renderings of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, photographs are of particular importance. If there is no photograph that can be found of the person to be honored, only the name and other key information of the military personnel will be framed on the wall.
Information, applications and eligibility can be found at http://www.co.gloucester.nj.us/depts/v/vaffairs/heroapp/default.asp or by contacting the Gloucester County Office of Veterans Affairs at (856) 401-7660.


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KAHULUI - At 70 years old, Clyde Sakamoto does have retirement in mind.
But the University of Hawaii Maui College chancellor doesn't hint at a date for his departure, although he admits he has been trying to implement a leadership transition plan for the past five years.
"If anything, I see the obvious very clearly. I mean all one has to do at my age is look into the mirror," Sakamoto said with a laugh.
Article Photos
University of Hawaii Maui College Chancellor Clyde Sakamoto has been named honorary director of the 91st Maui Fair that gets underway today. He will be in this afternoon's Maui Fair Parade that begins at the college he has been a part of for nearly four decades.
The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
Chancellor Clyde Sakamoto walks down the hall to his office on Wednesday afternoon.
The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
Joking aside, Sakamoto acknowledges he should give someone else a chance to contribute to the community and would like to see his chancellorship in the hands of someone familiar with the island.
"When I wind up announcing, they will do a national search. My hope is that there will be somebody with a Maui connection; someone who is committed to the kinds of things we have started . . . We have a strong foundation for exceptional performance," Sakamoto said in a sit-down interview with The Maui News on Monday.
In his nearly 40 years at the college in various positions, Sakamoto has overseen many changes and growth on the campus and in its programs.
The college over the recent years has witnessed the construction of state-of-the-art classroom buildings and earlier this year saw the opening of its new $21.6 million 'Ike Le'a science building.
The college's academic and trade programs touch every facet of the community, including culinary arts, nursing, carpentry, sustainable technology, Hawaiian music and several four-year degree programs.
For his work, Sakamoto is being honored as the 91st Maui Fair honorary fair director. Sakamoto will be in today's parade that begins at 4:30 p.m. at the Kaahumanu Avenue entrance of UH-Maui College. It ends at Ichiro "Iron" Maehara Stadium. The fair begins at 5 p.m. at the War Memorial Complex.
The honorary title is given to express appreciation for an individual's work in the community.
In addition to his chancellor duties, Sakamoto, a former Peace Corps volunteer in India, has served on countless boards and professional organizations, nationally and at home. Those include the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Maui, Maui Chamber of Commerce and Hui Malama.
While sitting in his office, which faces some of the college's newest buildings, Sakamoto was asked to rate his campus.
He gave it a 6.5 out of scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest.
With the help of state legislators, the community and county leadership, the campus has strong infrastructure and its programs are "improving all the time," Sakamoto said.
"We have academic faculty leadership who are committed to inspiring learning. We got people within the full spectrum of our operations that are really dedicated into improving our institution. We know where our weaknesses are, and we are working on them."
The college is struggling to cope with the campus' growing enrollment.
From 2006 to 2011, the college saw enrollment increase by 59 percent. In 2011, enrollment was at a high of 4,527, a figure school officials had said could be attributed to the downturn in the economy and the unemployed people returning to school. (This academic year, enrollment dropped to 4,075.)
Nationally, the college was one of the 19 fastest-growing institutions in the 2,500 to 4,999 enrollment range, Sakamoto said.
But the school doesn't receive enough funding to assist it with the growth, he added.
According to UH-Maui College studies, Maui County receives the least amount of state general funds for higher education on a per capita basis in the state.
According to college statistics, each person in Maui County in 2012 received $119 in higher education funding from the state general fund. This is compared to $185 in Kauai County, $312 in Hawaii County and $380 in the City and County of Honolulu.
That trend has carried on since at least 2004 when Maui County residents received $81, compared to $125 on Kauai, $236 on the Big Island and $348 on Oahu.
"What we are frankly struggling with is the 59 percent enrollment growth. If we don't get support for that, then predictably you are going to have students (leaving when they) don't receive the kind of academic services, advisement, service kind of support to allow them to continue towards their academic goals," Sakamoto said.
Had the college received increased funds to support its growth, it could have retained students who have left school for the workforce, Sakamoto added. With funds for additional support, students could have been advised of their opportunities to continue with their academic goals by taking one or two courses while working.
Sakamoto said he and his staff have been advising lawmakers as well as University of Hawaii system officials of Maui College's need for additional funding. He added that as a tri-isle county, there are additional expenses for the college as well as its residents.
Important meetings are held on Oahu, requiring Maui officials to travel there. Last year, interisland travel cost more than $200,000 for Maui College officials.
As for the future of the college, Sakamoto said his eventual successor will be smarter than he is, and needs to be because he or she will come in during a "very complicated time."
"We got on the one hand, an awareness of more needs than ever before. We need to turn those needs and problems into opportunities."
Those needs or issues are all around, Sakamoto said. They include balancing environmental preservation and economic development and dealing with health care.
"All of those are opportunities (for programs and education) within a higher education institution in Maui County."
Although a four-year university in Maui County has been a dream of residents for years, Sakamoto said the push in the future is not specifically for a four-year university, but instead the school's focus will still be guided by the economy and the community.
"It's more critical for us to align where the economy or where employers are heading, rather than being distracted by nomenclature . . . What we want to do is provide a higher education service to our community and its future, that's the goal."
* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews. com.


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Witherspoon, 35, filed for divorce from Ryan Phillippe in 2006. She calls the break up "really traumatic" and worried about the effect it would have on their two children, Ava, 12 this month, and Deacon, 7½.
"I was hard on myself when I got divorced. And until I got remarried, I don't think I realized how stressed I was," Witherspoon says in the October issue of Marie Claire. "I don't think I recognized how anxious I was about being a single parent."
Courtesy Marie Claire
The Oscar-winner was also concerned about finding a man who would accept her kids, but says all that changed when she met agent Jim Toth, whom she married in March.
"Now I feel a great sense of relief and an incredible amount of support from my husband," Witherspoon says. "I got very lucky, and he's wonderful. And so wonderful with my children. I'm very blessed."


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