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It's official: Obnoxious producer Nicolas Chartier and his production company, Voltage Pictures, have gone ahead and filed their lawsuit against individual movie pirates who've downloaded -- and thereby contributed to the further illegal distribution -- of Best Picture-winner The Hurt Locker via BitTorrent. Our own Eric Snider had a little something to say on the suit and the plaintiff a couple weeks ago when the case was announced as a partnership between the producer and the U.S. Copyright Group, but if you want more details, including a link to the official complaint, head over to THR, Esq.for the legal mumbo jumbo.
Regardless of how you feel about this particular piracy case, you must agree that Chartier is doing a lot of damage to his personal image, particularly with his public displays of hotheadness. So much that all the money he gets from those 5,000 or so film thieves might not do him much good in the long run. Lawsuits just aren't worth the trouble when they're more likely to make you look like a fool. Just ask the no-name plaintiffs who've tried unsuccessfully to sue Natural Born Killersand Boratfor claims of inspired violence and misleading participation contracts, respectively. In the end, they just came off as naive, attention-seeking idiots. Even worse is when the suing party is a celebrity, wannabe famous band or corporation that learns bad publicity isn't always good publicity. Here are five such self-damaging lawsuits that Chartier can now feel a kinship with:
Fox Sues Warner Bros. Over Watchmen
Remember when the Fox vs. Warner Bros. rights battle over Watchmenthreatened to delay the adaptation? In hindsight the disappointing film doesn't appear to have been worth all the trouble. Especially from all those fanboys who hated Fox for the few months leading up to the settlement. Geeks all over the web pledged to boycott the studio's releases, even X-Men Origins: Wolverineand Avatar, if they didn't get their precious superhero movie as scheduled. In the end, perhaps some of the hatred led to the additional piracy of Wolverine, though ultimately Fox wasn't too badly hurt after suing the WB. They ended up with a share of the film's profits and few people really took the geeks seriously on their boycott threat anyway.
Wham-O sues Paramount over Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star's Slip 'N Slide gag
No company likes to have its products ripped off -- as Chock Full O' Nuts alleged they were in another ridiculous Watchmen lawsuit -- or depicted in a negative way. The latter was the issue in a 2003 case filed by toymaker Wham-O regarding the use of a Slip 'N Slide in the David Spade comedy Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star. Even if you haven't seen the movie (as I haven't), you may have seen the gag in the trailer: Spade's titular character jumps on to a dry slide and hurts his front side. After that, he apparently puts oil on the product and ends up hurting himself in another manner. Funny, I guess, but nobody would think to try the same stunt, right? That's what the judge who threw out the case must have agreed. Good thing, because I see in the trailer there's some bad, slapstick use of a bicycle, too. Just imagine if the maker of the hose used in Louis Lumiere's 1895 film The Waterer Watered had sued the early filmmaker and won, because the short depicted the prank-employed gardening tool in a bad light? Slapstick humor would have never been the same.
Lucasfilm sues Media Market Group over Star Ballz
After decades of Star Warsparodies, from Hardware Warsto Spaceballsto Mad and Cracked lampoons to countless YouTube creations, you'd think Lucasfilm would have gotten the idea that it's all in great fun and all in the favor of George Lucas' film properties. But apparently a decade ago they thought they could get some extra cash from producers of an animated pornographic film called Star Ballz, which didn't even solely take on the Star Wars franchise. Still, with an argument that also accused the parody of selling porn to kids (because all animation is for kids, right?), Lucasfilm continued to mar its reputation as a greedy company that only appreciates certain kinds of fandom and spoof. As usual in this sort of case, the parodists won on the idea that there is no possible way in hell the Star Wars property was harmed by this little, mostly unknown porno. Afterward, though, the makers of Star Ballz, Media Market Group, sued Lucasfilm for $140 million, claiming to have been slandered by the trial. They couldn't have just been happy with their initial win, as it gave them plenty of publicity?
Wyrd Sisters sue Warner Bros. over Harry Potter band name
Remember a few weeks ago a little band originally called Exit Through the Gift Shopgained free publicity and a Bansky original for agreeing to change their name when asked by the street artist/filmmaker? Years earlier, Warner Bros. tried a similarly nice gesture by offering $5,000 to a Canadian folk group called Wyrd Sisters. See, the studios' latest Harry Potter installment, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, featured a band called The Weird Sisters (depicted on screen by real rockers like Jarvis Cocker and Radiohead's Johnny Greenwood), and they didn't want there to be an issue with the coincidental similarity in name. But Wyrd Sisters must have thought they could get more money and more notice by suing Warner Bros., to the tune of $40 million. The group also tried to halt the release of the highly anticipated sequel (messing with Potter fans? that's dumber than messing with Watchmen geeks). The attempt backfired and the band ended up having to pay $140,000 to the studio for legal costs when the suit was dismissed. And yet Wyrd Sisters appealed that verdict. Finally, after five years, the studio and band recently reached an unknown settlement agreement. Apparently the name of the band in the movie was initially removed befor, so the only thing I can imagine is that Warner Bros. ultimately let the group off the hook regarding the legal fees. I'm sure Wyrd Sisters have suffered plenty, though, and should have just taken what was originally offered to them.
Lindsay Lohan sues E-Trade over "Milkaholic" ads
This one isn't exactly movie-related, at least not directly so. But considering it's just another thing hurting Lindsay Lohan's career as an actress, we're willing to accept it. Plus, it's just so much more ridiculous than any other lawsuit I've taken notice of in the last ten years. Lohan -- or should I just say Lindsay? -- apparently believes an E-Trade ad featuring a "milkaholic" baby is a personal jab at her, just because the baby in question has her name. And, well, because she's known for being an alcoholic mess. At least she's aware of her reputation? But we knew that already from prior self-parody. I guess it's okay for her to joke about her own reputation but it's not okay for a financial company to barely even seem to imply it's joking about her. Shouldn't she also -- or instead -- then be suing porn actress Lindsay Hohan or Hustler, for its Untrue Hollywood Stories: Lindsay Lohan? It gets even more silly when you hear the asking price in the suit: $100 million. The messy case is still pending, but I'm going to go out on a limb with this one and predict the judge will dismiss the suit on the widely accepted idea that Lohan defames herself more than anyone else could, and of course that the ad has no discernible connection specifically to the actress.
categories Cinematical


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Heinrich Company's family of Adjustable Cross-hole drill jigs includes three sizes in manual and air-operated versions. They are designed for precision cross-hole drilling to round or hexagon stock and use regular "SF" type drill bushings. Each unit comes with an adjustable end stop for locating the work. The stop can be used from either side of the fixture.
The three sizes can handle stock ranging from 1/8" to 3/4", 3/4" to 1 1/2", and 1 1/2" to 2 1/2". A foot switch and hoses are available to be used in conjunction with the air-operated units.

subset: commoncrawl


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How to Declutter Your House
|Email Print
Since I've started working from home, I've noticed how much stuff we really own. We have piles of books that won't fit on our shelves, school supplies being stored until the new semester starts, and a bunch of family items lying around. In short, our offices are cluttered with a ton of items that we either need to sell, store, or toss. We are tackling this problem this weekend and over the next two weeks. If you have found that your home is packed to the brim with your stuff too, then you may want to simply your life like me.
Toss It
The easiest way to declutter your home is to just throw all of your old junk away. Some neighborhood associations have a yearly neighborhood improvement day in which they rent dumpsters so that home owners can throw away their undesirables. These dumpsters are completely free. Another option is to call a storage removal company like 1-800-Got Junk. They will pack and haul your old junk away for you for a fee. I personally have been rooting out all of our broken items and putting them out with our normal trash. It has been working great.
Donate It
You can donate many of your old items to charitable organizations or through places like Freecycle. Organizations like the Red Cross, United Way, and Goodwill would be happy to receive your old televisions, computers, clothing, and furniture. You can either take it to them or they may be able to send someone to pick it up from your home. Donating to charity is a smart move because you will feel great that your things are going to a good cause and you get a tax deduction as well.
Freecycle is useful for any of the same items or even broken ones. I joined our local Freecycle group years ago and love the fact that my stuff goes directly to someone who will use it. I've been able to Freecycle rugs, furniture, and even plants.
Sell It
One of the ways to declutter your home and make some money in the process is to sell your stuff. I'd suggest using Craigslist or having a yard sale. Sell the items at prices that are just too good for anyone to pass up. You might be surprised to learn that your "junk" could bring in a couple hundred bucks and free up some of the space in your home.
Store It
If you want to hold onto some of your items for sentimental reasons but don't have the room at home, then a storage facility is a great option. You can rent a basic climate-controlled storage unit for under $50 a month in my area and store all of the extra stuff there. Storage units are good for storing old furniture, clothes, and equipment. This way your items are safely protected in a controlled environment and your home is free of these items. I personally rather never pay for storage of things I don't use, so I'm pursuing the other options right now.
How do you declutter your home?{ 20 comments, please add your thoughts now! }


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Fixed PriceDelivery by January 30, 2013
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No Plagiarized articles will be accepted. Only apply if you can get started right away and can meet the deadlines.
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Batman and Superman Under the Hammer
The market for original artworks used to create Batman, Superman and other classic early comic books is catching up with already thriving sales of the books themselves.
Last February an individual comic book sold privately for $1 million. On Wednesday, the comics market will be tested again with the auction of two original pieces of cover art—the patriotic Superman No. 14 and Detective Comics No. 69 featuring a large image of Batman's nemesis, the Joker.
"When the recession hit, the market took off," said Stephen Fishler, chief executive officer of ComicConnect, the online marketplace that will offer the works through Dec. 1. "A lot of people who maybe looked towards traditional investments now felt that they were on incredibly shaky ground."
Zap! Pow! Sold!
Some market champions:
$1 Million(February); $1.5 Million (March)
A comic book's value depends on how many copies remain, its historical significance, the quality of its condition and the characters' current relevance. The art created for the covers of these books, on the other hand, can't be evaluated in the same way: The artworks are one of a kind and extremely rare because most were destroyed after the comic went to the printer.
The two drawings up for auction in the sales that begin Wednesday were only saved because of 88-year-old Jerry Robinson, who started working on the original "Batman" comic book series in 1939. Earlier this week, Mr. Robinson spoke of toiling beside comic-book greats Jack Kirby, Fred Ray and Joe Shuster: "I think we knew we were working on something unique." Whenever he thought the works were exceptional, he'd call the printer and ask for the covers to be returned as a keepsake.
"Americans somehow feel if it's too popular, it can't be art," he said.
In 1942 Mr. Robinson drew Detective Comics No. 69, with the Joker hovering over Batman and Robin. More recently, Heath Ledger's performance in "The Dark Knight," for which he won a posthumous Oscar in 2009, has sparked renewed interest in the Joker. The art is expected to sell for at least $400,000.
As for the 1942 Superman No. 14 cover—the other art being auctioned—it's one of the most reproduced images of the character. It was drawn by Fred Ray and shows the hero with an eagle on his arm, set against a backdrop of a stars-and-stripes shield. Mr. Fishler predicts it will sell for more than the Joker cover.
With comic-book sales now topping $1 million apiece, dealers think there's room for their individual cover prices to fly. Among the highest prices so far is a $380,000 cover drawing from Weird Science.


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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The day a historic number of tornadoes hit Alabama, Rachael and Jeff Tabor talked about whether they needed to find a shelter.
But they'd lived in the Harvest area of Madison County only three months and didn't know where to go. By the time Rachael Tabor saw the tornado bearing down on their rented singlewide home, it was too late. She dashed under the kitchen table, and Jeff Tabor followed.
"The look on her face -- I will never forget that fear," he said. "That was the last time I ever saw my wife. ... Something hit the side of the trailer; it knocked it off its foundation. I felt the trailer pick up, and when it started rolling, I got really scared. It flipped several times, and then it blew up. There was nothing left of it."
Jeff Tabor was flung into a concrete wall. The impact broke his neck and hips, and crushed a leg. He lay there, unable to move, unable to see Rachael's lifeless body 10 feet away. "I suppose she didn't know what hit her," he said.
Dec. 4:Lessons from fatalities
Friday:How safe are mobile homes?
Today:Shelters in short supply
andMobile home shelters not required in state Catch up on all our tornado coverage:
April 27, 2011 tornadoes
While the Tabors hadn't investigated potential shelters in their area, their options were limited. Although Madison County has some public places to go -- volunteer fire stations, for instance -- it is one of many Alabama counties that, before the April 27 tornado outbreak, did not have a certified community storm shelter.
Tabor knows as well as anyone why that matters. "I don't care whether you're in Egypt or wherever," he said, "every community should have a shelter to go to."
The tornado outbreak in Alabama highlighted not only the importance of shelters capable of withstanding the very worst storms, but that they are in short supply.
"Shelter capacity is a tremendous concern for all counties," said Eric Jones, director of the Elmore County Emergency Management Agency and president of the Alabama Association of Emergency Managers.
That's even though Alabama has been more active than most states in using federal grants to build certified community storm shelters. The state currently has 108 certified public shelters that were requested by local communities and funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to the Alabama Emergency Management Agency.
To put that in context: The emergency management agency in Mississippi, considered another leader in shelters, reports that it has 14 FEMA-funded community shelters, with another 44 to be finished by 2013. Tennessee said it has 10 public shelters funded through FEMA. Georgia reports seven.
But Alabama's heavy involvement in the program does not mean all of its residents have access to a public shelter that meets federal standards -- far from it. Alabama's existing FEMA-funded community shelters can hold fewer than 30,000 people, and they are located in just 29 of the state's 67 counties, state records show.
These aren't the only refuges available to Alabamians, of course. At least a few bona fide shelters have been built without FEMA money, and Alabamians often take refuge in churches, courthouses and other public buildings that offer at least some measure of protection.
But the storms of April 27 generated a stampede of communities and individuals wanting more than just a measure of protection: The state has since received requests for FEMA funding for 4,329 new private shelters and 434 new community shelters in 47 counties, said Yasamie August, a spokeswoman for the Alabama EMA.
Alabama will divvy up at least $70 million in FEMA grants to mitigate future disasters, and shelters represent a "huge part" of the requests from counties and cities, August said.
The state anticipates all the shelter requests will be funded, she said, so at least some good will come from the tragedy. "When we talk about coming back bigger and better, this is it," she said.
Debate over merits
Local emergency officials believe more bonafide shelters would have saved lives on April 27, and some believe shelters are so important that building codes should require them in homes and businesses. But even among experts, there is debate about whether public or private shelters are better and which should get priority.
Most disaster experts agree private shelters in homes are more convenient and more likely to be used. Because of FEMA's involvement, there is also some assurance people will get quality products -- a key issue in the largely unregulated shelter industry.
But not everyone believes taxpayers ought to pay for private shelters. One prominent critic of FEMA's current grant program is U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, who says the private shelter grants are "not a wise use of taxpayer funds" and end up providing shelter "to 1 or 2 percent of our citizens at the expense of all citizens."
Bachus this past week urged state and federal emergency management officials to focus instead on community shelters. He believes funding for private shelters should be limited to high-risk and low-income areas.
Community shelters can serve a range of people who currently cannot get grants for private shelters, including renters and the poor. But some disaster officials have soured on them.
One of the chief concerns is that traveling to find refuge can subject people to more dangers than staying home. Plus, the sites must be policed to address issues of access and crowding.
David Barnes, the director of Oklahoma County Emergency Management, said some public shelters in Oklahoma closed because of "nightmare" situations where people died trying to get to the site, were left standing outside, or encountered chaos inside.
"We had countless reports of overcrowded shelters, some with literally hundreds of 'stranded' residents forced to stand outside the building or stay in their vehicles," he said in an e-mail. "Hundreds of pets were brought to the shelters, causing significant health concerns and at least one 'animal bite' incident."
But on April 27 in Alabama, public shelters were viewed as life-savers.
The City of Phil Campbell installed a $100,000 shelter four years ago through the FEMA program. With city crews and equipment counting toward the 25 percent local share, Phil Campbell's out-of-pocket expenses were only $12,000, Mayor Jerry Mays said. It proved to be money well-spent in April when an EF-5 tornado slammed the town.
Although 26 people died, Mays said a capacity crowd rode out the storm in the "quonset hut" shelter. "It saved a lot of lives."
W.G. Cochran was among the beneficiaries. Cochran was in his recliner at home when his wife woke him and told him they had to go to the shelter.
When lumber and debris stopped pounding the shelter, Cochran emerged to see the devastation around him and then walked the half-mile home. He found the body of a child who'd lived across the street, and he found his own house in ruins. The chimney had fallen on the spot where he'd been napping. "I probably would not have survived," he said.
Still, FEMA is aware of concerns that traveling to a shelter can be risky. So its rules try to ensure community shelters will be readily accessible. The agency doesn't allow construction of shelters that require people to cross a four-lane highway or railroad track or walk more than five minutes to get there.
But those rules make it hard to get approval for community shelters in rural areas that desperately need them, said Anita McBurnett, the Marshall County EMA director.
"We continue to argue with them: 'People who live in the country will drive one mile or five miles to a storm shelter,'" she said. "But FEMA continues to make these outrageous requirements."
Couldn't get in
In the absence of certified community shelters, many residents of rural Alabama improvise. A number of people seek shelter in churches. But churches generally are not built to withstand strong tornadoes, and even when they fare OK, they can present access and crowding problems.
Cheryl Fitzgerald learned that April 27.
Fitzgerald was driving to her Madison County home with two of her great-grandchildren when storm sirens began blaring. She stopped at a Methodist church for refuge, but found it was already full, with an overflow crowd standing outside. She was steered to a Baptist church down the road, but when she got there, it was not open.
She and the toddlers ended up riding out the storm in her car, frightened but unhurt.
Her family members at home weren't so lucky: Fitzgerald's husband and granddaughter died, and four other family members were injured when Fitzgerald's doublewide was destroyed.
Fitzgerald now has another manufactured home on the same site. Her daughter, Misty Cornwell, who lives nearby, installed a shelter for her family.
"I knew I'd never get my mom back up there without someplace to go," said Cornwell, who was among the injured. "I wish we would have had that to start with."
In a perfect world, disaster and weather experts say, all families would have their own shelter. But not everyone can afford one.
Shelters that can withstand the strongest storms can cost $5,000 to $10,000. Even with FEMA paying up to $4,000 of the cost, residents can still have a sizable expense. Plus, they must pay the full cost upfront before being reimbursed by FEMA.
In addition, renters don't qualify. And people who install shelters without FEMA's approval in advance aren't entitled to any reimbursement; the process is to apply for a grant and wait for permission to start. That all but ruled out most people rebuilding after the April 27 tornadoes, local officials said.
"That's the biggest problem with the program: People are trying to rebuild now, not a year from now," said Jones, the Elmore County EMA director. "We're missing a lot of opportunities to help people."
Jones and some of his colleagues say it would be better for the federal government to offer a tax credit to encourage the purchase of shelters.
Currently, homeowners must apply for grants through local emergency management offices. The process is burdensome to the agencies and so cumbersome to the applicant that many don't complete it, Jones said. In the past, approval was sometimes so long in coming that applicants had moved, lost jobs or experienced other changes that kept them following through with a shelter. In Elmore County, Jones said, his office has historically yielded one private shelter for every two applications.
Some counties don't participate in the individual-shelter program at all. Lawrence County is pursuing community shelters, for instance, but was leery of a program that would provide home shelters to some people but not others. "We figured it would be an uproar," Lawrence County Commissioner Jon-Mark Nelson said.
Ellen Haynes, the director of St. Clair County's EMA, got so frustrated at one point that she stopped participating, too. She did not resume until this year, after getting assurances the approval process would go faster, she said.
Issues of quality
Experts say one advantage of FEMA's involvement is that it requires high-quality shelters, which is particularly important after big storm events that rattle consumers and inspire opportunists.
"That's always been a concern, especially at a time like this," said Ernst Kiesling, executive director of the National Storm Shelter Association, a trade organization that promotes industry standards. "Interest is high, emotions are high, and it's a perfect opportunity for people to move in."
Alabama has not been an exception.
"After the storm, every septic tank company and every fabricating company got into the business," said Tim Richardson, whose wife owns Valley Storm Shelters near Scottsboro. "It needs to be regulated."
A storm shelter that offers a near-guarantee of survival in north Alabama will withstand winds of up to 250 mph and debris that can come with the force of a deadly missile.
Valley Storm Shelters is the only Alabama-based manufacturer that belongs to the organization. But individuals in the state are members, too. They market products -- either construction materials or shelters made out of state -- that meet NSSA requirements.
In addition, some products in Alabama don't carry the NSSA seal but also have been tested and proved equally storm-worthy, said Larry Tanner, a researcher at the Wind Science and Engineering Research Center at Texas Tech University.
To help address safety concerns, the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission, which regulates manufactured and modular homes, is launching an inspection program for shelters. It will inspect prefab storm shelters installed in the state, except those inside site-built homes or that local governments will operate as community shelters, said the agency's administrator, Jim Sloan. The authority to do so is not new, he said, but was never needed before April 27 unleashed such a demand for shelters.
The news was not uniformly cheered. Some in the storm shelter industry asked how the commission will verify anchors and other safety features unless its inspectors are there throughout installation. Even disaster officials worry that inspections will slow down installation.
But Sloan said it's crucial to monitor the shelters. "We want to make sure they're as safe as they can be and certainly as safe or safer than the building (people) are getting out of," he said.
To be sure, many Alabamians have makeshift shelters at their homes that fall short of the best standards and still offered protection on April 27. Alabamians told stories of surviving that day's storms in shelters made of everything from converted milk trucks to old church buses. And throughout rural Alabama, homemade cinderblock storm shelters dot the landscape.
Disaster officials say those are still better than some alternatives. John "Rusty" Russell, the Madison County EMA director, said he knows "personally that those storm pits have saved many lives."
But experts say people should know the limits of whatever shelter they use, and they should keep in mind their own limitations as well. Even home shelters can be unreachable by people who have disabilities.
When Freeman and Freddie Lolley moved to a doublewide just outside Hackleburg a few years ago, they built a concrete storm cellar nearby, said Sam Lindsey, the couple's nephew.
But that was before a series of strokes left his aunt bedridden. The day a tornado tore through the area, Freddie Lolley was unable to go to the shelter, and neither her husband nor their daughter, Vicki, went without her.
When Lindsey got through the downed trees to check on the Lolleys, their house was gone. "It looked like there'd never been nothing there," he said.
His uncle survived, but was found wrapped around a telephone pole, with blood coming from his ears and a bone protruding from a leg. Amid the wreckage, Lindsey found the bodies of his cousin and his aunt.
The shelter had six inches of water covering the floor. But, Lindsey said, "It's still there. If they had gotten to it, they would have lived."


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Call it a consolation prize or a stepping-stone. Either way, it's a big deal.
Tuesday's announcement that Gov. Christie will deliver the keynote address at the Republican convention in two weeks may seem like a mere silver medal after Mitt Romney last week passed over the New Jersey governor for vice presidential nominee.
But it also signifies a potential turning point for Christie's career. In front of a Tampa crowd of 15,000 reporters and several thousand delegates - plus more than 20 million prime-time TV viewers at home (if ratings from previous conventions hold) - Christie will have 20 minutes to sell himself as a future national leader.


text:
Legislative Item
File Number: 120354
|Printable PDF Format Clerk's Official Copy
|File Number: 120354
|File Type: Ordinance
|Status: Adopted
|Version: 0
|Reference: 12-10
|Control: Board of County Commissioners
|Requester: NONE
|Final Action: 3/6/2012
|Sunset Provision: No
|Effective Date:
|Expiration Date:
|Registered Lobbyist:
|None Listed
Legislative History
|Acting Body
|Agenda Item
|Sent To
|Due Date
|Board of County Commissioners
|First Assistant County Attorney Abigail Price-Williams read Agenda Items 7B and 7C into the record simultaneously. It was moved by Commissioner Bell that the foregoing proposed ordinances be adopted as presented. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Sosa, followed by discussion. Commissioner Heyman addressed the issue of increasing costs for the County and asked whether the ethics course currently available online would satisfy the new requirements. Mr. Joseph Centorino, Executive Director, Commission on Ethics (COE), confirmed that employees would have this option and that an online component would be necessary in order for all County employees to complete the required training. Commissioner Heyman expressed concern that this requirement would take effect in 60 days and cause some registered lobbyists outside of this County to have to come here to comply. She asked what steps were being taken to launch the online training component. Mr. Centorino indicated that the lobbyists' training would initially have to be conducted on site as it would not be available online within 60 days. However, he observed that the City of Miami had implemented online lobbyists' training for the past two years and said he did not anticipate any problems with this training. Commissioner Heyman asked if the date for implementing this requirement could be delayed pending development of the online component for those lobbyists who were not based locally. She questioned the Administration's capability to launch the online component for County employees to complete the required training as reflected in Item 7C of today's agenda. Commissioner Heyman stated she believed that it was unrealistic to implement this requirement within 60 days without having the technology in place. Chairman Martinez inquired whether this requirement applied to State lobbyists. Assistant County Attorney Gerald Sanchez advised that this course only applied to County lobbyists who would have to complete it within 60 days after registering. He added that registrations generally occurred on January 15th of each year; therefore, lobbyists currently registered would take the course in January 2013. Mr. Centorino explained that lobbyists who registered before the course was available online would need to complete the training on site. Commissioner Jordan observed that Item 7C concerned refresher courses and noted she believed that the Internal Services Department currently provided such courses. Ms. Mary Lou Rizzo, Assistant Director, Internal Services Department, clarified that new employees are required to take the Ethics Awareness training course as part of the new employee orientation process. She noted the content for the course was provided by the Commission on Ethics and the actual training was provided online. Ms. Rizzo explained that after completing the new employee orientation, the employee must access the Ethics Awareness course online and obtain a passing score. She pointed out that the proposed ordinance would require that employees take the Ethics Awareness training course more frequently than in the past. Pursuant to Commissioner Jordan's question regarding the financial impact of the proposed ordinance, Mr. Centorino noted any additional costs associated with increasing the training frequency would be absorbed by the COE, rather than the respective departments. Commissioner Diaz noted he agreed with the proposed requirement that the course be taken more frequently; however, he expressed concern with the financial impact associated with implementing the required training for lobbyists and inquired whether the necessary technology was available for this training to be conducted online. Mr. Centorino noted lobbyists currently paid $100 for the training, which could be provided in-person immediately. He noted he anticipated the online course being available in the foreseeable future and being accommodated within the existing COE budget. He explained that he intended to enhance the existing online course and include an audio component. Commissioner Sosa noted she wanted to ensure that this legislation would not impact existing policy mandating that employees directly involved with procurement activities complete ethics training annually. Mr. Lester Sola, Director, Internal Services Department, confirmed that the policy for employees directly involved with procurement activities would continue unchanged. Commissioner Bell noted the foregoing legislation was more detailed and thorough than the existing policy, and was needed. She indicated that the COE would have the option of delivering the training in person or online, and upon completing the training the employees would receive a certificate. Hearing no further questions or comments, the Board proceeded to vote on the proposed ordinances, as presented.
|County Attorney
|Gerald K. Sanchez
|Internal Mgmt. & Fiscal Responsibility Committee
|Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation with committee amendment(s)
|Assistant County Attorney Oren Rosenthal read the foregoing proposed ordinance into the record. Assistant County Attorney Rosenthal proceeded to read two amendments to the proposed ordinance into the record. Chairwoman Bell relinquished the chair to Commissioner Edmonson. It was moved by Commissioner Bell that the foregoing proposed ordinance be forwarded to the County Commission with a favorable recommendation, with Committee amendment(s). This motion was seconded by Commissioner Diaz. Acting Chairwoman Edmonson opened the public hearing and called for persons wishing to appear before the Committee in connection with this proposed ordinance. Ms. Truly Burton, Executive Vice President and Governmental Affairs Director, Builders Association of South Florida, noted she agreed with the proposed amendments and she had already completed the proposed Ethics Course. Mr. Joseph Centorino, Executive Director, Commission on Ethics and Public Trust (CEPT), noted the proposed ordinance would be a good addition to the existing ethics ordinance and the CEPT was prepared to implement its provisions. After hearing no one further wishing to speak, Acting Chairwoman Edmonson closed the public hearing. Commissioner Diaz noted ethics training was extremely important; however, questioned the enforcement provisions should a lobbyist not satisfy the requirements. Assistant County Attorney Rosenthal responded that anyone who did not comply with the provisions would be in violation of the ethics ordinance. He noted any general violation of the proposed ordinance would be punishable by either a fine and/or time in jail, as well as by specific provisions in the existing ethics ordinance for violation of that ordinance. Commissioner Diaz questioned whether these provisions could be included within the language contained in the foregoing proposed ordinance. Mr. Centorino responded that a lobbyist could not register with the County unless he/she received a Certificate of Completion. Commissioner Bell noted that individuals could not lobby unless they registered. Commissioner Diaz noted previous issues pertaining to lobbyists not registering in a timely manner, yet continuing to conduct business. Assistant County Attorney Rosenthal clarified the penalty provision of the conflict of interest ordinance and the ethics ordinance. He noted anyone the CEPT found to be in violation of this section would be in violation of the ethics ordinance and subject to admonition, public reprimand, a $500 fine for the first violation, and $1,000 for each subsequent violation. Assistant County Attorney Rosenthal noted an additional provision allowing the State Attorney to proceed with prosecution, including a $500 fine and up to 30 days in jail for violation of the ethics ordinance should they fail to meet the provisions of this section. Commissioner Diaz suggested that the CEPT Executive Director should be able to suspend lobbyist privileges after a lobbyist was found to be in violation of the ordinance. He asked to be listed as a co-sponsor to the foregoing proposed ordinance. Commissioner Jordan inquired whether the proposed ordinance required registration every two years and whether the lobbyist registration would be revoked for failure to comply with its provisions. Assistant County Attorney Rosenthal explained that the ordinance requires lobbyists to complete an Ethics Course and to submit a Certificate of Completion to the Clerk of the Board within 60 days of registering as a lobbyist. He further explained that all registered lobbyists must complete a refresher Ethics Course every two years. Assistant County Attorney Rosenthal said failure to comply with these requirements would be a violation of the ordinance. Commissioner Bell noted she was very satisfied with the language contained within the proposed ordinance. She said this proposal was drafted in conjunction with the CEPT and the County Attorney's Office and sufficient protections and punitive measures were included in the proposed language. Commissioner Bell noted that any future issues could be addressed by the Board when they arise. Commissioner Diaz reiterated his concern about previous issues related to lobbyists' registrations and adherence to the established rules. He noted that the enforcement provisions were not sufficient. Commissioner Bell noted she fully understood lobbyist activities considering her eight years of government experience and was satisfied with the ordinance as proposed. Hearing no further questions or comments, the Committee proceeded to vote on the foregoing proposed ordinance as amended. The foregoing proposed ordinance was forwarded to the County Commission with a favorable recommendation, with Committee amendment(s) to add language to the end of Subparagraph (d) on handwritten page 6 as follows: "The requirements of this Subsection (s) related to the Ethics Course shall not be applicable to any municipal lobbyists in Miami-Dade County unless said municipality has adopted an ordinance providing for ethics training of lobbyists and has entered into an Interlocal Agreement with the County authorizing the Ethics Commission to provide the ethics training provided for in this Subsection; and The Executive Director of the Ethics Commission may waive the Ethics Course requirement for a particular lobbyist when he/she determines that the lobbyist has taken an initial or a refresher ethics course offered by a municipality which satisfies the requirements of this Subsection." Chairwoman Bell resumed the chair.
|Legislative Text
Section 1. Section 2-11.1 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida, is hereby amended to read as follows:1
Sec 2-11.1. Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance.
* * *
(s) Lobbying.
(1)(a) As used in this section, "County personnel" means those County officers and employees specified in Section 2-11.1(i)(2) of the Miami-Dade County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance.
(b) As used in this section, "Lobbyist" means all persons, firms, or corporations employed or retained by a principal who seeks to encourage the passage, defeat, or modifications of (1) ordinance, resolution, action or decision of the County Commission; (2) any action, decision, recommendation of the County Manager or any County board or committee; or (3) any action, decision or recommendation of County personnel during the time period of the entire decision-making process on such action, decision or recommendation which foreseeably will be heard or reviewed by the County Commission, or a County board or committee. "Lobbyist" specifically includes the principal as well as any employee whose normal scope of employment includes lobbying activities. The term "Lobbyist" specifically excludes the following persons: attorneys or other representatives retained or employed solely for the purpose of representing individuals, corporations or other entities during publicly noticed quasi-judicial proceedings where the law prohibits ex-parte communications; expert witnesses who provide only scientific, technical or other specialized information or testimony in public meetings; any person who only appears as a representative of a neighborhood association without compensation or reimbursement for the appearance, whether direct, indirect or contingent, to express support of or opposition to any item; any person who only appears as a representative of a not-for-profit community based organization for the purpose of requesting a grant without special compensation or reimbursement for the appearance; and employees of a principal whose normal scope of employment does not include lobbying activities.
(2) All lobbyists shall register with the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners within five (5) business days of being retained as a lobbyist or before engaging in any lobbying activities, whichever shall come first. Every person required to so register shall:
(a) Register on forms prepared by the Clerk;
(b) State under oath his or her name, business address and the name and business address of each person or entity which has employed said registrant to lobby. If the lobbyist represents a corporation, the corporation shall also be identified. Without limiting the foregoing, the lobbyist shall also identify all persons holding, directly or indirectly, a five (5) percent or more ownership interest in such corporation, partnership, or trust. Registration of all lobbyists shall be required prior to January 15 of each year and each person who withdraws as a lobbyist for a particular client shall file an appropriate notice of withdrawal. The fee for annual registration shall be four hundred and ninety dollars ($490.00). Every registrant shall be required to state the extent of any business or professional relationship with any current person described in subsection (b)(1). The registration fees required by this subsection shall be deposited by the Clerk into a separate account and shall be expended for the purpose of recording, transcribing, administration and other costs incurred in maintaining these records for availability to the public. Notwithstanding the foregoing, fifteen (15) percent of future funds generated by lobbyist registration fees after the effective date of this ordinance shall be deposited into a separate account, and shall be expended by the Ethics Commission for the purposes of educational outreach, the rendering of advisory opinions and enforcement of the provisions of Section 211.1(s) relating to lobbyists. There shall be no fee required for filing a notice of withdrawal and the Board of County Commissioners may, in its discretion, waive the registration fee upon a finding of financial hardship.
(c) Prior to conducting any lobbying, all principals must file a form with the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners, signed by the principal or the principal's representative, stating that the lobbyist is authorized to represent the principal. The principal and the lobbyist must also submit a joint affidavit stating that the principal has not offered and the lobbyist has not agreed to accept any contingency or success fees as defined in subsection (s)(7). Failure of a principal to file the required forms may be considered in the evaluation of a bid or proposal as evidence that a proposer or bidder is not a responsible contractor. Each principal shall file a form with the Clerk of the Board at the point in time at which a lobbyist is no longer authorized to represent the principal.
>>(d) Each lobbyist shall, within sixty (60) days after registering as a lobbyist, submit to the Clerk of the Board a certificate of completion of an ethics course offered by the Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust (�Ethics Course�). Lobbyists who have completed the initial Ethics Course mandated by the preceding sentence and have continuously registered as a lobbyist thereafter shall be required to complete a refresher Ethics Course every two years. Each lobbyist who has completed a refresher Ethics Course shall submit to the Clerk of the Board a certificate of completion within sixty (60) days after registering as a lobbyist. The Ethics Course shall include, but not be limited to, a review of the following topics: the Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance; the Sunshine Law; and the Public Records Law. The fee for the Ethics Course shall be $100.00. The registration fees required by this subsection shall be deposited into a separate account, and shall be expended by the Ethics Commission for Ethics Courses and related costs.<<>> The requirements of this subsection relating to the Ethics Course shall not be applicable to any municipal lobbyist in Miami-Dade County unless said municipality has adopted an ordinance providing for ethics training of lobbyists, and has entered into an interlocal agreement with the County authorizing the Ethics Commission to provide the Ethics Course provided for in this subsection. The Executive Director of the Ethics Commission may waive the Ethics Course requirement for a particular lobbyist when he or she determines that the lobbyist has taken an initial or refresher Ethics Course offered by a municipality which satisfies the requirements of this subsection.<<2
* * *
Section 2. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or provision of this ordinance is held invalid, the remainder of this ordinance shall not be affected by such invalidity.
Section 3. It is the intention of the Board of County Commissioners, and it is hereby ordained that the provisions of this ordinance, including any sunset provision, shall become and be made a part of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida. The sections of this ordinance may be renumbered or relettered to accomplish such intention, and the word "ordinance" may be changed to "section," "article," or other appropriate word.
Section 4. This ordinance shall become effective ten (10) days after the date of enactment unless vetoed by the Mayor, and if vetoed, shall become effective only upon an override by this Board.
1 Words stricken through and/or [[double bracketed]] shall be deleted. Words underscored and/or >>double arrowed<< constitute the amendment proposed. Remaining provisions are now in effect and remain unchanged.
2 Committee amendments are indicated as follows: words double stricken through and/or [[double bracketed]] shall be deleted, words double underlined and/or >>double arrowed<< constitute the amendment proposed.
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Burma, Cambodia and Laos are the potential "hidden markets" of Southeast Asia for investment opportunities, a business study said, but they could end up competing against one another.
Burma and Cambodia are both developing tourism and textile manufacturing industries which could see competition for foreign investment.
In Burma's case, "it's very important that the government is able to maintain its reform momentum" in order to achieve the "vast economic potential," said the study by Business Monitor International (BMI) which identified textiles, tourism and financial services among promising areas for investors.
Cambodia already has a textile industry, catering to the low-end market, which attracted capital from Hong Kong and Taiwan while Burma was politically and economically isolated. But now that Burma is opening up it is also beginning to attract investors into the sector, said BMI.
"Myanmar's textile industry, which was once a regional power house, has fallen into disrepair in recent years. With sanctions lifted I really see potential in the garment industry, but once again infrastructure is going to be a major issue as the country still has an extremely low electrification rate as well as a seriously limited transport network," said analyst Andrew Wood in a BMI podcast with two other regional experts.
"In order to address this we will need to see more efforts from the government in attracting more foreign investment as well as clarifying investment laws and generally fortifying the legal system. As long as there is strong progress in these areas I think that the textiles industry in really set to take off in Myanmar."
BMI's Head of Asia Country Risk and Financial Markets, Stuart Allsopp, told the podcast that Cambodia also had a lot of potential to expand its garment industry. Up to now foreign investors have focused on the low end of the production market in Cambodia, but the Phnom Penh government is trying to push the sector up the value chain, he said.
"This would require investment in education to improve the skills levels of the work force," Allsopp said.
However, there is evidence that some traditional foreign investors in the sector want to leap frog Cambodia and set up businesses in Burma.
The London Financial Times reported in March that 12 Hong Kong-based garment makers had signed letters of intent to open factories in the Thilawa Special Economic Zone now under construction on the outskirts of Rangoon.
"The push to open factories in [Burma] comes as manufacturers with operations in China struggle with rapidly rising wages, mounting difficulties hiring workers and a generally stronger Chinese currency," reported the Times.
"Many apparel companies have in recent years moved parts of their manufacturing operations from mainland China to countries such as Bangladesh in addition to locations in southeast Asia, such as Cambodia and Vietnam."
But perhaps the biggest area of competition for foreign investment between Burma and Cambodia is tourism.
Burma has seen a spiraling number of foreign visitors and constantly struggles to provide sufficient accommodation. Tourism is now a significant contributor to the economy but it's even more important in Cambodia where it accounts for up to 25 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and is likely to keep rising, said Allsopp.
More foreign airlines fly directly to Cambodia, notably from China but now also Japan, and tourism "will be a dominant factor driving GDP growth," he said.
Laos poses less of a threat to Burma than Cambodia because its potential lies in attracting foreign investment into hydroelectric developments to supply electricity to China, Vietnam and Thailand, BMI said.
While Burma is showing some reluctance to green-lighting major hydroelectric projects, such as the Myitsone dam on the Irrawaddy River, Laos has 70 dams on the drawing board, said another BMI analyst, Beng Hui Chew.
Hydroelectric schemes are the main drivers of economic growth in Laos, financed by Thailand, China and Vietnam, Beng said, and there seems to be little local opposition to the dams so far.
"Myanmar boasts extremely positive demographics, a massive natural resources endowment and a hugely strategic location," said Wood. "While Myanmar may have stolen a lot of the spotlight, however, many of the same strengths can be found in neighboring Cambodia and Laos."
"All [three countries] have some form of de facto or de jure one-party rule, which is often positive for political continuity and policy certainty, but raises questions over the inclusiveness of the political process, as well as the risks to foreign investors of political upheaval," said BMI.
"[They] remain tiny relative to the global, or even the regional economy, but with corporates and investors increasingly looking to fast-growing frontier markets for growth, they will present promising opportunities across a wide array of sectors including mining, oil and gas, banking, textiles, tourism, and agribusiness."
Competition from Laos and Cambodia? Yes. Maybe Myanmar is a loser. Singapore is a small city state but ideas and visions of the leaders put it way ahead of Myanmar. Because of the idiocy of the leaders,
Myanmar is beneath all nations on earth. Military regime must blame itself for becoming the biggest loser. Ne Win was a loser and Than Shwe was a loser. Losing to Laos and Cambodia will mean that Myanmar is absolutely a loser in the hand of military idiots.
For these investors and western analysts serving them.. the ecological crisis doesnt exist, climate change does not exist, ethics and non expoitation of other human beings does not exist.. its all about short term profits and pass the consequences on to future generations..money money money
Agree with you.Money for nothing.
Laos is moving in the advance direction by building hydro power dams to
generate income, building bridges and high ways to form a land link, attract foreign investment to create jobs for the citizens. A bright future.
Are you pro myitsone dam project? Your tone seems like it.


text:
How to Develop an Invention
Reader Comments (17)
Absolutely amazing! Just found your comic and going through the archives. Panel 3 is your best work so far. I could not stop laughing.
I've made it all the way through the archive and got to this one without commenting. It's pretty good stuff, especially how much it sounds exactly like the way my friends talk to each other.
But this one was done already. I accuse you of plagiarizing a 1988 "Sylvia" strip, by Nicole Hollander. The "alarm of two cats up-chucking" is both her original idea and amusingly dated, with its 1980s euphemisms.
bill, you surely must be jesting...the entire strip is traced from photographs! isn't that a subtle form of plagiarism? either way, i like the idea of a cat scared and running while puking...it's generally why i like to run the vacuum in the dark...whoever thought of the cat-frightener light on the front of vacuum cleaners was a genius!
Agreed, panel 3 is genius
So we're all in agreement. The artist of this comic should make his cat barfing alarm.
I concur, it would make a great gift for all my cat loving friends...both of them!
No, I think his best idea was his movie pitch about the queen needing tp send out all the remaining nights she had-- middle-aged rockstars and actors.
wow, yeah. I've been reading the archives since I stumbled upon your comic *literally, from stumbleupon.com or something like that* that clock would be highly entertaining, I owned 14 cats at one point and puke could be a problem when they were sick...
but I agree with Someparts...the movie idea was entertaining.
At first, I thought it was a picture of a squirrel playing golf.
So, I've laughed a bunch, going through the archives.
But i believe this was the first time I uncontrollably laughed for an extended period of time. Imagining a cat running away while vomiting strikes my funny bone, it seems.
And yes, the third panel, genius.
"Or a small cat barfing in your ear. Either way, you're done sleeping."
I'm pretty sure I dont need that alarm; my cat does that already.
I have never laughed so hard at a comic. That was awesome.
I'm a cat owner, and the sound of my cat barfing is sufficient to get me from a half-awakw half-asleep daze to fully awake, because I know I have to clean the vomit up.
OMFG - I have tears in my eyes and piss in my briefs. This series was brilliant. I can't stop laughing. I guess I shouldn't have looked at this strip while at a funeral. I don't think my in-laws will want to talk to me again. After all we were married for a few years.
...As disgusting as that is, the vomit alarm clock could work. I know that sound definitely gets me out of bed faster than anything else.
Mainly because she's not allowed out of my room, so if the sound isn't coming from under the bed, it means I have a chance to throw her into the litterbox so she doesn't puke on the floor and make me clean it up. I did that the other day, actually.
Panel 1: His eyes — awesome (and creepy)! :-D
I have witnessed a cat running while puking, and I can confirm that it was hilarious (he was trying to reach his owner's shoes in time to be revenged on them, and didn't quite make it).


text:
Ocoee Parsons Holt, 91, died Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2001, in Lubbock.
Services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church of Canyon with Chaplin Carroll L. Johnson, retired minister, and Dr. Strauss Atkinson, pastor emeritus, officiating. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Gatesville City Cemetery at Gatesville with Dr. Lee Johnson officiating. Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Directors.
Mrs. Holt was born Jan. 17, 1910, in Coryell County, to Cloyes Albert and Ione Bates Johnson Parsons. She graduated from Gatesville High School and attended John Tarlton Junior College, North Texas State University at Denton, and West Texas State University in Canyon where she received her bachelors degree in 1942 and her master's in 1945.
She was a member of all local and state professional education associations and recognized in Outstanding Educators of America. She taught for 43 years before retiring. She served as a consultant for three years and was a visiting professor at West Texas A&M. She taught at the elementary level at Canyon and was curriculum supervisor.
She then worked with Region 16 Educational Service Center in Amarillo. While at Region 16 she was director of the special education division, director of the Head Start Program, established kindergarten programs in the region, and was an elementary curriculum specialist. She served on several state committees in the educational field. She also worked at the national level representing Region 16.
She was active in community service and many organizations. She was a member of various clubs and auxiliaries including serving as vice president of the Resident's Council at Carillon Senior Living Campus in Lubbock. She was also a member of Alpha Sigma Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, Friendly Reviewers Book Club, Zeta Tau Alpha Alumnae, Lubbock Retired Teachers Association, and Lubbock Garden Club.
The Zeta Tau Alpha Alumnae founded the Ocoee Holt Scholarship Fund where a scholarship is presented annually to a member of West Texas A&M Zeta Tau Alpha. She received state recognition in 1978 by Zeta Tau Alpha. She was a member of Southcrest Baptist Church of Lubbock. She was a past member of First Baptist Church in Canyon where she was active, holding many offices and serving on various committees.
She was preceded in death by her husband, A.B. Holt in 1972; three sisters, Avis Parsons, Reva Parsons McCurry and Neva Parsons Haney; and a brother, Cloyes Albert Parsons Jr.
Survivors include three daughters, Virginia Holt Cotton, Georgia Holt Blackwell and Carol Ann Holt Root, all of Canyon; four grandchildren, Vanessa Cotton Markham of Plano, Celia Cotton Winchell of Dallas, and Stephanie Ann Dawdy and Tom Douglas Dawdy, both of Amarillo; three great-grandchildren, Scott Markham of Plano, and Britain Winchell and Barrett Winchell, both of Dallas.
The family suggests memorials be to Carillon Foundation, Medical Memorial Fund, 1717 Norfolk, Lubbock, TX 79416 or Opportunity Plan, P.O. Box 1035, Canyon, TX 79015.
Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 28, 2001
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text:
planted community
Active within 2314 Days
Name: eyring2210
Size/Category 72-Gallon Freshwater
Type: Glass
Shape: Bowfront
List of Fish:
3 - Blue Gourami10 - Tiger Barb7 - Red Minor Serpae Tetra2 - Otocinclus5 - Red-eye Tetra2 - Kuhli Loach4 - Glo-light Tetra4 - Zebra Danio1 - Plecostomus or Pleco
Lighting: Coralife 48" CFL 260 watt
Filtration: Marineland C-360 canister
Invertebrates: several Malaysian Trumpet Snails
Other Accessories: several live plants.
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Over the weekend, I went games shopping, and spotted something on sale that, legally speaking, shouldn't have been there: a game that hadn't been classified in Australia, alongside others that were refused classification.
Having noticed last week that UK second-hand games (and tech) retailer CEX had set up shop in Australia, I wandered into my local store to peruse the goods, especially as some Kotaku commenters had noted how much UK stock they had. I browsed, picked up a few cheap DVDs (including Dara O'Briain's This Is The Show, with that excellent Metal Gear Solid routine) and then spotted something on the shelves that rather surprised me.
Manhunt 2 for Wii.
There's a problem there, and it's this; Manhunt 2 was never submitted for classification in Australia, which, technically speaking, makes it illegal to sell in Australia. A quick stock check from CEX's online checker reveals it's not the only title that falls under that banner; they're also selling second-hand copies of the original Manhunt, which was at first released, then banned after outcry and the most recent iteration of Mortal Kombat, which was refused classification.
I'm pretty sure that's a matter of omission rather than commission in their case, given the copy of Manhunt 2 I saw would have cost me $8. Based on the reviews at the time, that might be about ten bucks too much, but that's a digression. I asked the in-store staff about the games ratings and the stuff they had on shelf, and got a mixed response; one staff member said she'd have to refer it to her manager, while the other was sure that it was OK "because we've got an R18+ rating now".
Sadly, that's not so; not that we don't have an R18+ rating (although Queensland has been late to the game in terms of legislation), but that ratings from overseas automatically carry over to Australian ratings. Any game that wants to carry the Australian R18+ rating needs to be rated by the Australian ratings board, not an overseas one.
I've tried repeatedly to contact CEX Australia, but this too proves to be a difficult thing; there's a web form and email address (no luck as yet) but no listed phone number; the head office appears to be tied into the Rouse Hill store, but a call to the contact phone number for the shopping centre that it's located in led me to a call representative who informed me that CEX has "decided not to have a contact phone number; you'll have to make any enquiries via their web site". Naturally, if anyone from CEX is reading this, I'd love a chance to chat.
Where all this gets interesting — and by interesting, I mean rather painful — is in the potential penalties that apply. Out of interest, I spent some (rather dry) time reading over the amended legislation. It varies state by state, as we've covered before, but as an example, in the ACT — typically one of the more broad-minded locations in terms of available material, and somewhere that CEX trades — the guidelines in the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) (Enforcement) Act 1995 state that:
38 Sale of computer game or demonstration in public place
(1) A person commits an offence if—
(a) the person—
(i) sells a computer game; or
(ii) demonstrates a computer game in a public place; and
(b) the computer game is not classified.
Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units, imprisonment for 1 year or
In New South Wales, it's similarly worded
27 Sale or public demonstration of unclassified or RC computer games prohibited
A person must not sell or publicly demonstrate:
(a) a computer game classified RC, or
(b) an unclassified computer game.
Maximum penalty:
in the case of an unclassified computer game that is subsequently classified G, PG or M–10 penalty units for an individual, 20 penalty units for a corporation
in the case of an unclassified computer game that is subsequently classified MA 15+–20 penalty units for an individual, 50 penalty units for a corporation
in the case of a computer game classified RC or an unclassified computer game that is subsequently classified RC–100 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months for an individual, 250 penalty units for a corporation.
One penalty unit is worth $110 for individuals in NSW and the ACT, but corporations in the ACT cop $500 per penalty unit. That means that it could cost up to either $11,000 or a staggering $50,000 per offense, which doesn't really make selling a game for $8 all that worthwhile; again, I'm not intending to moralise here. Indeed, personally that feels a little harsh to me, but then I'm not a legislator, and I suppose it's meant to be punitive.
Technically, CEX might also be subverting the law as it relates to classification markings, as most of its current stock appears to be UK-classified, and that could confuse; again, from the ACT version of the act:
(3) A person commits an offence if—
(a) the person sells a classified computer game; and
(b) the container, wrapping or casing in which the computer game
is sold displays a marking that suggests that the computer game
is unclassified or has a different classification.
Maximum penalty: 30 penalty units.
Ouch. The ACT version of the act is a little blurry about personal possession (but then I'm no lawyer), as it mixes us the terms "premises" and "personal premises" a little, but it's even theoretically feasible to hit heavy penalties for possession of RC or unclassified games, just in case you were thinking of quickly getting a copy in-store:
Possessing unclassified or RC computer games and
other computer games
(1) A person commits an offence if—
(a) the person possesses an unclassified computer game or a
computer game classified RC at any premises; and
(b) classified computer games are sold or demonstrated at the
Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units, imprisonment for 1 year or
Now, that's the law as it stands in the ACT; the New South Wales Law as I read it is more concerned with possession by businesses:
37 Possession or copying of computer games for the purpose of sale or demonstration
(1) A person must not possess:
(a) a computer game classified RC, or
(b) an unclassified computer game that would, if classified, be classified RC,
with the intention of selling or demonstrating the computer game.
(2) A person must not copy:
(a) a computer game classified RC, or
(b) an unclassified computer game,
with the intention of selling or demonstrating the computer game or the copy.
(3) In proceedings for an offence under this section, evidence that a person made or possessed 10 or more copies of an unclassified computer game is prima facie evidence that the person intended to sell or demonstrate the computer game.
Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months for an individual, 250 penalty units for a corporation.
Once again; I'm not a lawyer, and if anyone with more formal training cares to comment, I'm all ears; this is how I'm interpreting it as a matter of interest — especially if possession of an RC game could cost you $11,000!
What's the practical uptake, though? It's very clear that personal importation (whether digitally, via overseas stores or simply brought back in within your luggage) of RC games material happens an awful lot in Australia, and anecdotally it appears that at an individual level it usually appears to end up with the offending items confiscated and a warning applied. That doesn't mean, however, that you'd never be prosecuted — simply that it hasn't happened as yet.


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1UP Club
Can_t Wait for Soul Calibur III
The club for anyone who just can't wait for Soul Calibur III to come out and for anyone who loved SC & SC II.
Club AnnouncementsHoly crap...I just came back after 5 months of marching around and I see that there are actual messages on the club page...wow. Anyway, I guess I'll try to actually make some updates now. Enjoy!
Club Image Gallery (3)
From meshari fahed
From Brandon Coleman
From Brandon Coleman


text:
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From the University of California, San Francisco, and San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California; University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, California; and Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Acknowledgment: The CARDIA Study is supported by contracts N01-HC-48047, N01-HC-48048, N01-HC-48049, N01-HC-48050, and N01-HC-95095 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Potential Financial Conflicts of Interest: None disclosed.
Reproducible Research Statement:Study protocol: Available at http://www.cardia.dopm.uab.edu. Statistical code: Available from Dr. Pletcher (e-mail, firstname.lastname@example.com). Data set: A limited-access data set is available at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/resources/deca/descriptions/cardia.htm.
Requests for Single Reprints: Mark J. Pletcher, MD, MPH, 185 Berry Street, Suite 5700, San Francisco, CA 94107.
Current Author Addresses: Drs. Pletcher, Vittinghoff, McCulloch, and Hulley: 185 Berry Street, Suite 5700, San Francisco, CA 94107.
Dr. Bibbins-Domingo: San Francisco General Hospital Building 10, Box 1364, WD 13 1313, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-1364.
Dr. Lewis: 1717 11th Avenue South, Suite 614, Birmingham, AL 35205.
Dr. Wei: 6701 Rockledge Drive, Suite 10018, Bethesda, MD 20892-7936.
Dr. Sidney: 2000 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612.
Dr. Carr: 2000 West 1st Street, Two Piedmont Plaza, Suite 618, Winston-Salem, NC 27104-4225.
Author Contributions: Conception and design: M.J. Pletcher, K. Bibbins-Domingo, J.J. Carr, S.B. Hulley.
Analysis and interpretation of the data: M.J. Pletcher, G.S. Wei, J.J. Carr, E. Vittinghoff, C.E. McCulloch.
Drafting of the article: M.J. Pletcher, S.B. Hulley.
Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content: M.J. Pletcher, K. Bibbins-Domingo, C.E. Lewis, G.S. Wei, J.J. Carr, E. Vittinghoff, C.E. McCulloch, S.B. Hulley.
Final approval of the article: M.J. Pletcher, K. Bibbins-Domingo, C.E. Lewis, G.S. Wei, J.J. Carr, E. Vittinghoff, C.E. McCulloch, S.B. Hulley.
Provision of study material: C.E. Lewis, J.J. Carr, S.B. Hulley.
Statistical expertise: M.J. Pletcher, E. Vittinghoff, C.E. McCulloch.
Obtaining of funding: C.E. Lewis.
Administrative, technical, or logistic support: C.E. Lewis, G.S. Wei.
Collection and assembly of data: C.E. Lewis, J.J. Carr, S.B. Hulley.
Of 5115 CARDIA participants enrolled in 1985 to 1986, 3549 attended the 20-year examination, and 3138 had cardiac computed tomography at that time. An additional 558 participants who had cardiac computed tomography only at year 15 were also eligible. Of these 3696 participants, we excluded 136 who had hypertension before age 35 years, which left 3560 participants in the study sample. Blood pressure measurements were missing at 1 or more examinations for 842 (24%) participants, but mixed modeling yielded trajectory estimates for all 3560 participants (see Methods section). About one half of participants were black (46%), about one half were women (56%), and the average age was 44 years at the time of the index cardiac computed tomography. Coronary calcium was present in 17% of participants, and calcium scores were mostly low; only 3% of participants had extensive calcification (defined as a calcium score >100).
Cumulative exposure to systolic prehypertension is measured by calculating the area under the systolic blood pressure trajectory in mm Hg–years (analogous to pack-years of tobacco exposure). The association with the coronary calcium score category is significant (P < 0.001). Values inside the bars are the numbers of participants (percentages of group total). Ten persons with a positive coronary calcium scan but an unknown coronary calcium score were excluded from this analysis.
The trajectory slope is allowed to change at age 30 and 40 years. Shading shows how the area under the blood pressure trajectory is partitioned by age to yield the primary predictor (cumulative exposure to blood pressure elevation before age 35 years). Cumulative exposure before age 35 years occurs only in the prehypertension range in our sample, because persons with hypertension before age 35 years were excluded.
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(applies to the past 5 years and foreseeable future) Indicate any potential conflicts
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High-Normal Blood Pressure in Young Adults as a Risk for Atherosclerosis Later in Life
The summary below is from the full report titled "Prehypertension during Young Adulthood and Coronary Calcium Later in Life." It is in the 15 July 2008 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine (volume 149, pages 91-99). The authors are M.J. Pletcher, K. Bibbins-Domingo, C.E. Lewis, G.S. Wei, S. Sidney, J.J. Carr, E. Vittinghoff, C.E. McCulloch, and S.B. Hulley.
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Celebrity Central / Top 25 Celebs
Kristen Stewart
Robert Pattinson Reveals the Hardest Part of His Breakup with Kristen Stewart
It wasn't the cheating, according to the actor, who says that's totally "normal" for young people
Rupert Sanders and Liberty Ross Are Divorced
The couple split after the director was photographed in a clinch with his Snow White and the Huntsman star Kristen Stewart
Kristen Stewart & Anne Hathaway Morph into Men for New Jenny Lewis Music Video
A-list stars really prove they know how to get into character for "Just One of the Guys" video
Cannes Film Festival 2014: Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart Movies Make the Lineup
This May, the exes will be among the stars slated to attend the famed French film festival, which announced its roster Thursday
Kristen Stewart Dyes Hair Orange – See the Pic!
The salon that colored her hair explains the actress is getting "ready for a new role"
Kristen Stewart: I Stand By Every Mistake I've Ever Made
The former Twilight star talks about falling in love and being awkward
Robert Pattinson Sells L.A. Home He Shared with Kristen Stewart
The 4,000-sq.-ft. house went for $6.37 million – slightly more than what he paid for it in 2011
8 Celebrities Who Went Through a Seriously Awkward Phase
Joe Maganiello's mullet, Simon Cowell's mustache and Hilary Duff's glamour shot are among the proof
Twilight Premiered 5 Years Ago, but the Terror of Vampire Babies Lives On
The movies may be over, but the sick, masochistic lion and stupid lamb live are forever
Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart: Together Again
They Just Can't Stay Away! That Tumultuous Twilight Relationship Is Heating Up Again
Robert Pattinson's Flirty Night Out with Dylan Penn
Smack Down! When Celebs Kiss & Tell
From Josh Hutcherson to Emma Stone, see whose lips aren't sealed when it comes to on-screen smooches
Liberty Ross: Learning of Kristen Stewart's Fling with My Husband Rupert Sanders 'Was Horrible'
The model learned her husband was cheating with his Snow White star just hours before the news broke worldwide
Kristen Stewart and Juliette Binoche Take the Plunge, Get Cozy on Set of Sils Maria
Actresses dive into character while shooting the drama in Switzerland


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Patagonia Synchilla Arctic Jacket
I got one for my wife, or was it my daughter? Seems…
Price Paid: $60
I got one for my wife, or was it my daughter? Seems if one is not wearing it the other is. Great fabric, nice thick fleece with a hood. Not windproof, but great around town in fall and spring. Very lightweight but warm.
Patagonia Synchilla Arctic Jacket
$30.00 - $150.00
The Synchilla Arctic Jacket has been discontinued.previously retailed for:
$30.00 - $150.00
The Patagonia Synchilla Arctic Jacket is not available from the stores we monitor. It was last seen February 11, 2013 at Massey's Outfitters.
If you're looking for a new fleece jacket, check out the best reviewed current models.


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The Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment received a $100,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente — a health and insurance provider — to help promote walking and bicycling among the county's residents.
The grant will assist in working with at least five Weld County communities to complete an inventory of walking and bicycling assets, highlighting areas for improving physical activity, and promoting the health benefits of walking and bicycling, according to a news release from the health department.
The Board of Weld County Commissioners supports the health department's efforts to collaborate with agencies and residents to promote a better lifestyle, the release stated.
For more information, go to www.weldhealth.org.


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Name: Paul Detwiler
School: Bedford
Age: 18
Grade: Senior
Sport: Football
Athlete of week achievement: With his team up by just two points, Detwiler returned a kickoff 75 yards for a score to help the Bisons pull away for a 29-6 win over Westinghouse in a regional playoff football win last Friday. He finished with 101 yards on 17 carries and three scores.
Season update: He has rushed for 1,167 yards this season and totaled 16 touchdowns, 13 of which have come on rushing touchdowns.
Coach Dan Smith's quote: "He goes all out on every play, not only in the games but in the practices, too. He does not have a half speed, or three-quarters speed. Every time he touches the ball, he goes all out. He is always in high gear and going. He is also a quiet leader who leads by example. On occasion, he will lead by example, but he is not a real vocal kid. He's an Eagle Scout, which shows you what kind of leadership abilities he has. He is an oustanding young man."
Favorite teacher: Mr. Milanik
Favorite subject: Physics
Favorite movie: "Hot Rod"
Favorite food: Spaghetti
Favorite song: "Remember The Name" by Fort Minor
Outside interests: Free-running gymnastics
Favorite pro team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Favorite college team: Penn State
Pro athlete most admired: Adrian Peterson
Best athlete I ever played with: Issac Goodin
Best athlete I ever competed against: Penn Cambria's Zak Newton
Most influential person on my athletic career: Brian Creps
Proudest athletic achievement: Getting sixth place in the 4x100 relay at states last year.
How I got my start in football: I got involved in flag football in third grade.
Future goal: Going to college and majoring in engineering


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A consortium of three Potawatomi tribes headquartered in southwest Michigan
recently accepted a $4,198,250 grant from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
The grant was arranged by the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, and Gun Lake Tribe of Pottawatomi, all
federally recognized, sovereign tribes, formed a consortium for the purpose of applying for a five year Project LAUNCH grant.
An oversized-check was accepted by the three tribes at the Pine Creek Reservation in Fulton, Mich. Many tribal members and friends of the community attended, along with children from the Pine Creek Reservation's Head Start program.
Of the 565 federally recognized tribes in the country, only five other tribes have received a similar award.
"This grant means a lot to the future of our tribe," said Homer A. Mandoka, chairman for the NHBP. "This prevention-based grant will aid many children, expectant mothers, and their families."
Project LAUNCH, an acronym for Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children's Health, is a unique and highly ambitious pilot program that promotes young child wellness in children from birth through age eight, expectant mothers and families of both.
The program uses a five-prong approach: screening and assessing social and emotional development in a range of child-serving settings; integration of behavioral health into primary care settings; mental health consultations in early care and education; enhanced home visiting through increased focus on social and
emotional well-being; and family strengthening and parent skills training.
The consortium's plan incorporates culturally appropriate curricula, including Positive Indian Parenting, developed by the National Indian Child Welfare Association and Families of Tradition, produced by the White Bison Society.
The grant monies will also be used to hire four staff members: one Young Child Wellness Expert and three Young Child Wellness Coordinators throughout the three tribes, with the hiring process set to begin in early 2013.


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PALMYRA – More than two years after its beloved church was destroyed by a wind-swept fire, the congregation of St. Martins Episcopal Church has begun the rebuilding process.
It has been two years of worshipping in the church's hall, a former Grange hall from the 1800s, taking chairs down each Sunday afternoon and putting them back up the next Sunday morning. Two years of rolling the altar out of the way for public suppers. Two years of dealing with insurance adjusters, fire investigations and funding options.
But the wait for a replacement for the church, which had stood tall on a knoll in Palmyra since 1839, is over.
Bulldozers and other equipment are on-site, moving the earth and putting in the foundation for a new church.
"We are very happy, very happy," the Rev. Levering Sherman, priest in charge, said Wednesday. "If all goes as planned, we will hold our first service inside the new church in November."
Chris Glass of Camden is the architect, and Wayne Hawthorne of Newport is the construction contractor.
"After the fire, there was a natural period of depression," Sherman said. "We were all absorbing and feeling the loss. But there is something about the challenge of a fresh start, a new beginning that brings with it a different potential."
Sherman said he was buoyed by the nearly 500 people who came to the church in the first days after the fire. "It was absolutely amazing – neighbors, ministers, priests all offering their support."
It was never a question of whether rebuilding would take place, but when. Sherman said the insurance company the church used took more than two years to settle the claim and the final figures still have not been cemented.
"We started with a claim of $1.25 million," Sherman said, "and they countered with $480,000." Sherman said the company, which most Episcopal churches in Maine use, based its figures on an inaccurate and outdated appraisal. "We figure they made at least $50,000 in interest on our money that they held," Sherman said.
But looking forward, he said, was always the congregation's goal. "Creating a gathering place, a welcoming place is part of our mission, our calling," he said.
The new parish hall will fill that need, he said. The project includes a new office, a main entry hall, parking area and the hall, which he said could be a potential event center.
The church is accepting proposals for the use or repurpose of the old Grange hall.
Sherman said the church will not have to borrow any money to complete the construction but will hold many fundraisers to replace the contents.
Meanwhile, each Sunday the congregation adds to the service prayers for the construction workers, and they are getting the dozens of items firefighters saved from the burning church ready for a new home.
Stained-glass windows, banners, lanterns and a massive cross were a few of the items saved. And there has been plenty of help – Sherman said church membership has continued to grow since the fire.
"The issue of continuing as a part of the community is of primary interest to us," Sherman said. "Part of our mission to rebuild is to keep an open door to the community. This is not just a local church. It is a part of the larger community."


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Hi, thank you!(Original post by Kalliope)
Hey Congrats on the Oxford offer! I'm trying to write my EPQ first draft now. In your essay, did you sort of summarise what you'd learnt or did you include in it your planning/ research stages/ evaluate your research? I'm very confused - my school hasn't done it before and I haven't seen any examples.
Well, I started with an abstract in which I talked about my motivations for the project and how I did my research, with a bit about what I'd learnt etc.
I had an evaluation at the end, also- I think this is expected of all EPQs but I'm not sure. If you have an EPQ log, then you should already have some of that in there, but it can't hurt to throw some into the abstract.
I used the conclusion part of my essay to summarise what I'd learnt in terms of the project content, but the abstract to summarise what I'd learnt in terms of skills in research and gathering sources. Does that make sense?
Ultimate EPQ thread
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I recently posted a thread about not knowing what to do my EPQ on, I eventually decided to focus on Shinto-Buddhism in Japan. However, I recently talked to my teacher and she commented that it was far too vague and that I should find something more specific to focus on.
I can think of a single thing ... could someone please help me think of a focus, my mid-project review's coming up and i've done very little!
Why not do something like.
'The effect on Shintoism of the introduction of Buddhism to Japan'
'How important is national religion in modern Japanese life'
'To what extent does tradition still play a part in Japanese Society'
It's a really interesting subject area. But you need a title you can evaluate accurately but still pull in background knowledge to plump up the wordcount.
I'm still totally stuck for mine. Literally done nothing and have been avoiding the teacher and lesson for the past month, as my philosophy is the longer you can put something off and avoid it, the better...am thinking I should just drop it if possible, looks better not having an EPQ than having failed one. Unless there's some really simple crappy rushed something I can do and get like a D or an E in? Sigh. My life is falling apart before my very eyes.
(Original post by Slovebeach)
If you drop out and don't tell them your UCAS application is no longer valid as the information is incorrect. As a result, universities COULD rescind offers if they so chose, regardless of whether or not they include the EPQ grade in the offer.
A better option would be to just continue with the EPQ, whack out a rubbish one and submit that, even if you get a U it still counts as complete and all you've promised on UCAS is that you're intending to do one, not intending to do well.
Mines 'A history of tattooing: the reasons people get them and the significance'
I have finally managed to finish filming and editing my short film! Feels so good to hold the disk!
(Original post by technocolourpixie)
Mines 'A history of tattooing: the reasons people get them and the significance'
This could potentially be in the EPQ giant thread thing but I wouldn't get as many responses, oh well...
I cant seem to get started into my EPQ, i have a plan but the words just wont come out, im trying to get it all sophisticated/historian like, because my EPQ is a history based subject.
So any advice for the start...?
Are the marks all allocated for content or does some of it compromise language and grammar...?
How ARE the marks allocated for the project itself...?
So i'm doing an artefact on an information leaflet aimed at secondary school children about the United Nations
I've done that!
But then my supervisor asked me to do one on the IMF.
How much of a range of sources do you need? All I have is internet websites and 1 book. Where else should I look?
Has anyone got photos/links/etc of their completed or in-progress EPQ for the artifact?
I'm really curious to the amount I am expected to create in like 80 hours.
I have to do my presentation this week,
then I've got the abstract and conclusion and it's done! mines on
"the usefulness of offender profiling in aiding the capture and conviction of criminals"
(Original post by LittleMissNoface)
Has anyone got photos/links/etc of their completed or in-progress EPQ for the artifact?
I'm really curious to the amount I am expected to create in like 80 hours.
I'm not sure what exam board I am with but I am doing level 2 Dissertation EPQ, and I have no idea what I am doing. My title/question is Do horror films have negative effects on people. But I am nearly at the stage of writing it up and I have no idea what I am doing, I have asked teachers for help but they are no use. Does anyone know where a mark scheme is because I can't find one anywhere. How do you get marks, how much research are you supposed to do?
Any other information would be greatly appreciated.
(Original post by FallenMan)
My artefact was quite simply my film which I put onto a disc and also YouTube, but to add to it I printed out a DVD cover which had images and short credits on the back etc.
I would really like to see it ^^ the only example i've seen is the recycled jewelry.....
(Original post by LittleMissNoface)
that's so groovy, is it still on youtube?
I would really like to see it ^^ the only example i've seen is the recycled jewelry.....
What was yours on?
(Original post by FallenMan)
Yup as I literally just completed it all but due to some rough times I had about 2 weeks to do it, so not as good as I had hoped http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgXaM...EkPD5ncu6cgfk- but I hope I will get more marks for the DVD case and such. I know someone who made a magazine and another guy that did a horrror exhibition and did a HUGE portfolio on research and such, the artifact really can be any size, it just depends how well it's done, mine seemed a lot smaller compared to his!
What was yours on?
Thank you for the examples, did you enjoy it? was it more fun than stressful?
Our EPQ class have only just started research and such. So I'll have to wait a year and hope I am successful however mine may develop.
(Original post by LittleMissNoface)
Oooo eerie, I really like the voice over- did you write it? Quite a lovely chanting rhythm to it.
Thank you for the examples, did you enjoy it? was it more fun than stressful?
Our EPQ class have only just started research and such. So I'll have to wait a year and hope I am successful however mine may develop.
I really enjoyed it-the actual project making and looking at what sources I can use to help was really fun-as you pick the EPQ on something you enjoy-which I personally felt was easier to do a project rather than a written report. To really make sure you have more fun than stress is time management-don't leave it until the last minute as you're not doing it for fun-you're doing it to meet deadlines.
Good luck with your EPQ, can't wait to hear more about it as it progresses!
Hi everyone, I'm in the process of finishing my EPQ now and I've realised I've gone over the 5000 words by about 300 words or so. Does anyone know if I'll get penalised for this?
(Original post by beckycat)
Hi everyone, I'm in the process of finishing my EPQ now and I've realised I've gone over the 5000 words by about 300 words or so. Does anyone know if I'll get penalised for this?
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