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For someone who calls herself a "boring old housewife", Mena Suvari exhibits a rich store of girlish gaiety. Chuckles, guffaws, titters, schoolyard shrieks, the occasional honk of knowing mirth; all emerge from the petite frame - she's 160 centimetres tall in her Dries van Noten sandals - that's trimly perched on a sofa.
It's not entirely surprising. Although the American actress is, as she points out, 23, and married, she looks much younger ("like, 15"), an attribute emphasised by a broad range of adolescent facial tics: the widened gaze that accompanies the "I wishes" that dot her conversation; the eye rolling that attends an inane question; the wrinkled forehead and crunched-up nose that signal her disdain for the crasser elements of the adult world.
And herein, for all the grown-up composure, confidence and sly wit she displays in person, lies Suvari's challenge. She's boxed in to a self-made niche. She made a decent fist of 17th-century corsets as the love interest in The Musketeer, an eccentric version of The Three Musketeers, but she remains indelibly lodged in most filmgoers' minds as the epitome of the American teenager: first as an unsullied chorister in the tumescent American Pie (1999), then as the sexually aggressive (but virginal) cheerleader who aroused Kevin Spacey's lusts in American Beauty (1999) and who appeared in a bath, strewn with strategically placed rose petals, as the hallucinatory exemplar of the youthful temptress. Suvari was mesmerising in the role, and that particular image was, one critic wrote, among the 10 most memorable ever screened.
Suvari has her reservations. "It's mind-boggling it's affected people so much," she says, her voice soft, her accent neutral. "But I don't live my life as, 'I'm the girl from American Beauty: take me seriously'. As though I'm important because I've done this. I don't think that way. It's a great memory but I just did what I had to do on that film. I worked very hard every day I was there. But everything else - the script, the editing, the direction - was something I couldn't control. So I'm not going to take the credit for that."
But that's not the way the world works. Don't people treat her differently, now she's famous as the Lolita of our time?
"I don't think I'm famous." She giggles. "I mean, I don't go out in LA and think, 'I better put on my scarf and sunglasses because everyone's going to know me'. I actually find myself sometimes having someone look at me and thinking, 'What the hell are they staring at?' And then it hits me: 'Oh, maybe they recognise me!"'
Hers, though, is a very recognisable beauty - indeed, her preternaturally broad forehead and penetrating eyes lend her an almost extraterrestrial quality. Isn't world domination beckoning?
"No. I'm very realistic. Very scientific in the way I think."
Realistic in the sense that film can be fickle?
"Of course. That's why I try not to get too caught up in it. I mean, hey, it's a great business, but sometimes I look at the Oscars and it seems to be more about who's wearing what than what we're supposed to be there for: the films and the acting. It's because people admire celebrities so much nowadays: you want to see how they're portrayed. Some people really think of them as gods. It's crazy."
This over-ripe conflation of fact, fiction and fame is something Suvari experienced when, aged 21, she married Robert Brinkmann, a cinematographer 16 years her senior. It was, the media decided in collective horror, American Beauty writ real: a virtuous princess plucked by an old (!) man.
It was an obvious line to take and one that prompts a scornful Suvari to observe, "I suppose people shouldn't try to hurt themselves by thinking too hard. And, you know, People magazine, a few months ago, it had, like, Kate Hudson, maybe Reese Witherspoon and some other actresses on the cover, and in bold it had 'Young brides'. Like, it was cool. And when I was married it was 'Big Shock!"'
But 21 is young; why marry so soon? Her voice sinks to a whisper. "I just wanted to say, 'This is my husband'."
Aaah: the violins begin to play. But the goopy sentimentality obscures a self-assurance that's oddly unsettling. Suvari is good company, charming, polite and quick to essay a joke. But as she sits in her puff-sleeved cream jacket and peasant blouse - "I'm a shopaholic! What can I say?" - there's something opaque about her. On the one hand, there's an almost lunatic insouciance: "Peter Hyams [the director of The Musketeer] pretty much said he saw me as Francesca, and I thought 'OK!"' On the other, there's a sense of someone to whom things have just happened - but just happened in exactly the way she wanted.
Homespun psychologists might make much of the fact that Suvari is the youngest child, and only girl among four siblings, and that her 78-year-old father, Ando, a retired psychiatrist, is 24 years older than her mother, Candice, formerly a nurse.
Candice's family is Greek, though long settled in the United States; Ando came over in 1940 from his native Estonia. After living in Rhode Island, the family moved to Charleston when Suvari was about 12.
Her three older brothers - AJ, Sulev and Yuri - went to the Citadel, a famous military academy in South Carolina, and two went on to serve in the army. AJ "like, drove tanks in Kuwait"; Sulev is a bomb-disposal expert, "which freaks me out. Me, I never decided to go that way - no interest at all".
Instead, a modelling agency pitched up at her all-girls school in Charleston, offering classes in make-up, how to walk down a runway, "really basic stuff. I told my mum; my mum says I begged her to let me go".
Go she did, and at 13 she signed with the Wilhelmina agency. She and her parents moved first to New York and then to Los Angeles. "They were very supportive," she says. "They basically moved just for me."
Providence High School in Burbank was not a breeze. "I was," she has said, "seen as a real loser, a nerd. I only had one friend."
She did, though, do commercials while she was there, then sitcoms and then small independent films. She graduated but decided to put off going to college. "I'd heard too many stories of people starting courses then realising they weren't the right thing. So I wanted to figure out what I wanted before I started. And ... I never made it." She giggles. "I got American Pie and then I started working on American Beauty."
But was she a bad girl at school?
"Not at all!" There's another shriek, a further roll of the eyes. "I was never a cheerleader, either. And I was never, like, a big dater, or going out to clubs. And I don't even drink. It never jibed with me; I'd end up in the bathroom. And now I'm just a boring old married lady."
And so she sits, in the Hollywood Hills, hanging out with friends who are for the most part older than she, listening to Bob Dylan, making jewellery, going off hiking, and waiting for the right part.
How many scripts does she get? "My fair share. People have no imagination. And because I did so many of those teeny things. That's why it's hard."
She played a call girl - "which is different from walking the streets" - in Sonny, directed by Nicolas Cage, "and I really haven't found anything since."
She grins and takes a last piece of papaya from her plate. "Now I've had my fruit, I can have my fries. Umm! These spring rolls are evil."
In the good or the bad sense? "They're so good. We've got a friend, a trainer, and he always says, 'If it tastes good, spit it out!' Not this time."
And she laughs, a terror of St Trinian's let loose in the world's tuck shop.
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Goals and Objectives
The goals and objectives of the University of Cincinnati Center for Cooperative Education Research and Innovation (CERI) are to:
- Drive the development and implementation of cooperative education as a pedagogic model at the University of Cincinnati.
- Develop assessment systems that measure student learning outcomes.
- Serve as a data repository that can provide cooperative education data to assist in externally funded research at the University of Cincinnati.
- Advocate the use of cooperative education assessment data in policy development within the University of Cincinnati.
- Provide a forum to discuss the impact of cooperative education.
- Share our knowledge to the benefit of higher education through scholarly work and training.
- Seek externally funded research opportunities related to the mission of the center.
- Facilitate connections between cooperative education employers who have research needs and faculty members in the UC co-op colleges to enhance UC's industry funded research portfolio.
- Serve as an incubator for innovative programs of cooperative education.

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ED Magedson – Founder
Ripoff Report
Taylor Auto Sales703 S Houston Lake Rd Warner Robins, Georgia USA
Taylor Auto Sales Paradise Auto biggest joke of all time! Do Not Buy or get ANYTHING FROM THEM, NOT EVEN A BIKE! Warner Robins Georgia
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My husband and I had gone to Taylor Auto Sales to check out a truck, when my husband first test drove the truck it ran amazing. We instantly fell in love, we had to leave but my husband came back the next day right before his grandmothers funeral and got the truck, when he pulled out of the drive he noticed a red light or the check engine light on. He went ahead to the funeral and next day called in, he asked for someone to call him back regarding the truck. We didn't recieve that call, my husband proceeded to call in and try to seek some form of assistance to what was wrong with the truck, all while the truck progessivly got worse. My husband lost his job because he was out of work for two weeks! TWO WEEKS! Because the truck could not be moved or ran, we called in several times and noone would call us back or give us any information or help. When they finally came and got the truck it was because they said they were coming to work on it and help us, the gentleman that picked it up even said that he checked the GPS tracking and it hadn't moved in two week!!!!!!!!!! We took it to a mechanic that said that the GPS tracker was causing a short in the system, mind you two different mechanics said the same thing! Today we got a letter in the mail saying that they were going to sell the truck at auction! We called in and the woman was obviously very foolish and had no information apparently and talked out her "a*s". Finally hanging up on my husband when she ran her mouth more than she bargained for. She told us there were no notes in when my husband called in about the truck, mind you we called 4+ times in a month! This business is a all around joke, they say they will call you back never do. They say they will work with you, they never do. Don't buy here unless you want your credit ruined from the truck that does run and you lose your job on top of it! My husband just got off the phone with one of their "employees" who flat out called my husband a liar saying that payment arrangments weren't made, they wouldn't cover the mechanic work on the truck if it was at their end, even though he had told my husband in a previous conversation that they would. Mind you the paperwork had also been signed before they worked on the truck, we're not asking for a hand out, we're not asking they fix the truck if it was an issue at our end. We just wanted them to fix whatever was wrong with the truck if it was at their end, if it was at ours we would not be doing all this and causing ourselves unneeded stresses. This company doesn't care about anyone but the money, they pratically stole 1000 from us and got their truck back after they messed it up, do not buy here! DO NOT EVEN LEASE FROM HERE!
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 07/07/2014 09:58 AM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/taylor-auto-sales/warner-robins-georgia/taylor-auto-sales-paradise-auto-biggest-joke-of-all-time-do-not-buy-or-get-anything-from-1160069. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year.
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#1 UPDATE Employee
Taylor Sales and Paradise Auto Sales
SUBMITTED: Wednesday, July 09, 2014POSTED: Wednesday, July 09, 2014
We have been in business in the Warner Robins area for 35 years. We have not done this by ripping people off. All of our vehicles are sold "AS IS" with no warranty and the customer is made aware of this by signing in 3 seperate places that the vehicle is sold "AS IS". We do however provide a repair service if we sell a car that has problems OR we trade the customer into another vehicle if it has major problems. We try to check our vehicles out before we sell them, but we are a used car dealership and are not aware of all problems that a used vehicle purchased or auction or repossessed may have.
It is my opinion that most of the time when someone writes a review such as this one they are either behind on the payments and have been repossessed or at the repossession stage.
Are you an owner, employee or ex-employee with either negative or positive information about the company or individual, or can you provide "insider information" on this company?
#2 Author of original report
SUBMITTED: Tuesday, July 08, 2014POSTED: Tuesday, July 08, 2014
Sir/Mam, thank you for your rebuttal. I will start by saying that if they damaged the vehicle after the papers had been signed and the down payment had been made, they are liable as is any mechanic. As far as the loan being defaulted on, we made several attempts to pay them, made payment arrangements, and they broke them. As one of the employees told my husband though, he wouldn't have paid for it either if a vehicle that he had less than a month was messing up.
Are you an owner, employee or ex-employee with either negative or positive information about the company or individual, or can you provide "insider information" on this company?
#3 Consumer Comment
A Warranty?
SUBMITTED: Monday, July 07, 2014POSTED: Monday, July 07, 2014
Did you buy the truck with a warranty or was it "as-is". That's really the question as far as them fixing it. If it was bought "as-is" they can help you if they like but they have no obligation to.
Then you apparently defaulted on the loan I think? Again, they can help you or not, it's up to them.
You are right about one thing, "This company doesn't care about anyone but the money,". That's a true statement for most car dealers. That's what they're in business for.
Are you an owner, employee or ex-employee with either negative or positive information about the company or individual, or can you provide "insider information" on this company?
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|NETGEAR R6300 Gigabit Wi-Fi Router
|Reviews - Featured Reviews: Network
|Written by Greg Schepers
|Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Page 3 of 6
NETGEAR R6300 Detailed Features
Versatility, in terms of where an individual may place the Netgear R6300, is something that is lacking. Many routers can be set up in a horizontal position, in a vertical position (usually with an attachment), or mounted on a wall. You can only position the R6300 one way - vertically. This may not be an issue for some, but for others, it may be a deal-breaker. If you have limited desk space and either need a router that can be positioned horizontally or mounted on a wall, you may want to keep shopping.
In the view above, you will notice the features located on the back that were mentioned earlier. In what I consider to be a design flaw, the ports and buttons are somewhat difficult to access for a couple of reasons. First, you may not be able to notice this in this view, but the R6300 is angled toward the back. Second, as you can see by the shadowing on the router, the ports and buttons are recessed. These two factors combined make it frustrating to manipulate anything on the reverse side of the router, especially when removing Ethernet cables.
In this side view, you are able to see two buttons and a USB 2.0 port. One of the buttons is to turn the Wi-Fi on or off and the other is the WPS button, which allows you to automatically pair Wi-Fi enabled devices. Also, placing a USB port on the side was a good idea, since the USB port in the back is far more difficult to access.
In the retail packaging, you will find downloading instructions for the GUI, which is called the "Netgear genie." Once downloaded, the genie setup wizard detects and automatically sets up your network connection. This software also includes a multitude of features that allow you to manipulate practically any router setting you can think of including advanced settings (IPv6, QoS, etc.). The Netgear genie gives you full control of your router and your network. It is very well organized and doubt that it would even intimidate a novice. Another huge plus is that the GUI is compatible with virtually any platform. The smartphone app is useful, but lacks the ability to manipulate the advanced settings.
The ReadySHARE feature provides you with a number of capabilities. One capability is the ReadySHARE USB Storage Access, which allows you to plug in an external USB hard drive and share its contents to any device connected to your home network. Also, you can connect a printer to a USB port and wirelessly print from devices on your network.
Why not setup a test with a wireless computer downloading files from a wired computer that would be a better indicator of the wifi potential.


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[Lunch & Dinner Forums]
Explore fine dining in LA with the Food Critics from TravelwithCarnet
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Explore fine dining in LA with the Food Critics from TravelwithCarnet
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Junior Burger
Total Posts : 1
2011/10/13 19:01:00
Location: los angeles, CA
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2011/10/13 19:16:10
Explore fine dining in LA with the Food Critics from TravelwithCarnet
Our Carnet editors travel the world to discover the best fine dining in all cuisines. This month, restaurants in LA are hosting DineLA, where foodies can travel to the four corners of the world by discovering the hidden delights of California's cosmopolitan city, all for less than $44 a day. With Carnet as your guide, your palate will be pleased through the last bite of appetizers, main courses and desserts offered during LA Restaurant Week. All you have to do is make the reservation.
Venture back to the states with classic and modern American cuisine.
The Jar LA
in West Hollywood is a traditional American restaurant that offers the perfection of classics like pot roast and a fish of the day in a retro yet sophisticated atmosphere.
For the absolute best in Californian fine dining, award-winning
, mid-city, is the go-to restaurant. The rustic décor is reminiscent of the state's early days while the food is an impeccable modern embodiment of California flavors. For lunch, indulge in the fig & speck grilled cheese accented with a blend of gorgonzola, wild flower honey and arugula and for dinner, don't miss the braised short rib withonion, soubise, baby carrots and wild mushrooms.
For the best in trendy seafood,
The Hungry Cat
in Santa Monica is a fresh, trusted choice. The restaurant offers creative interpretations of seafood favorites such as tuna meatballs, pan-roasted ling-cod, and fresh, local yellow-tail. Dine in fresh ocean air and enjoy the café meets pub atmosphere with a delicious dessert cocktail.
Los Angeles is a global capital of gourmet restaurants and our editors select the best in LA. With Carnet's best picks, explore the sprawling landscape of Los Angeles while traveling the four corners of the world. From classic Californian to modern Asian and inventive Spanish tapas, this world-class city will satisfy your taste buds and high expectations for fine dining in LA. Go to TravelWithCarnet.com for the full story.
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Junior Burger
Total Posts : 13
2012/04/02 20:13:00
Re:Explore fine dining in LA with the Food Critics from TravelwithCarnet
2012/04/02 21:27:28
I have heard of The Jar LA sometime ago. I am not quiet the enthusiasts when it comes to knowing meat and whatnot, but regardless, $44 is still a bit steep for just a meal of 1 serving size ! Is it healthy at the least? :P
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Domestic Bliss: Thoughtful February Birthday Gift Ideas for Your Wife
It's one of those very irrational, but un-ignorable facts of life … women don't really like getting older! It is almost a challenge to their womanhood – in the same way men feel uncomfortable about losing physical condition because they are evolutionarily designed to be the strong protectors, women are designed to be baby-makers, and that requires youth! Even when ladies don't want any more bubbas, the further their birth year gets from the current one, the more it adds to an underlying feeling of unease. Crazy … but often true! The least you can do is try to make each birthday a happy event, right ? Today we're looking at some gorgeous jewelry gifts for wives born in February, to help make the aging process a happy one, rather than centered around loss.
Amethyst is the traditional and modern birthstone for February, so amethyst is a lovely easy way to help personalize your wife's birthday gift. The pink topaz and amethyst pendant at the beginning of the article is a popular style – probably because it represents such good value! Both amethyst and pink topaz are reasonably readily available gemstones, and so you get a good gemstone weight (1.16ct in amethysts, 0.33ct in topaz, and 0.07ct in diamonds) for a great price! The pendant is beautifully slim and delicate, measuring 33mm in length and with that dainty twined branches design behind the gemstones. The 9ct white gold helps keep things affordable, also!
Of course, if your wife is more likely to wear casual styles, the amethyst heart cut earrings at right are a better choice than the more formal pendant. These offer beautiful sizing at a great price – the stones measure 5mm across at their widest point, and the price tag is less than AU$70 currently – wow! The 9ct white gold backing is formed into a post and butterfly fitting type – and we don't use nickel in any of our white gold products.
Some ladies just don't get along with purple, though … despite being born in February! If your wife is born after the 18th of the month, she's a Pisces. The gemstone traditionally associated with this sign is the aquamarine, another gem like the amethyst which can be found in beautiful clarities and color grades for amazing prices. Aquamarines have a barely–there sort of blue tinge, and as you can see by the price of the colored crystal and aquamarine necklace at right, very reasonably priced. The two big aquamarine stones at the front are complemented by the bright, sweet colored crystals around the length o the rest of the necklace chain, which is made of sterling silver. The bright colors suit almost all skin/hair/eye color combinations – just make sure that the colors don't clash with what she tends to wear. Plenty of white or black, and parallel colors like green, pink and yellow are best.
The aquamarine ring at right is another favorite design. It almost looks like an engagement ring with a faint-away-in-shock sized diamond in the setting … just with a little different coloring! If your wife doesn't wear her engagement ring for practical or safety reasons, this sizing and style of ring will sit neatly alongside her wedding band. You can order it in a rough finger sizing, and have it resized locally if you need to – making for a shrieking, hugging, teary-eyed surprise!
Before the 18th, Aquarius is the zodiac sign that rules February. The signature color for Aquarius is indigo, and the body part that corresponds is the ankles. While there are plenty of blue gemstones, there is only one that is truly indigo – beautiful sapphires! This pendant is one of the newer designs in store, great for wives who like to be on the cutting edge of jewelry fashion, yet still elegant and classical. The sapphires in the pendant have a combined gemstone weight of 0.6ct, and the six white diamonds together total 0.07ct. If your wife has deep, soulful blue eyes, this pendant is a great way to accent them!
For Piscean wives, born on or after the 18th of February, gray is the signature color and the feet are said to be the corresponding body part. If you want to think a little beyond sterling silver for her birthday gift, mother of pearl has a gorgeous silvery look with a high shine. We love the Pandora White Fantasia Inspirations bracelet at right for wives born late in February – this is actually one of the cheaper models of ready-made Pandora bracelets available, and you get a beautifully coordinated piece with very little thought required! Choose any size bracelet from 16cm to 23cm, and you can even change the charms around if you're feeling creative.
The feet is the 'corresponding' body part for Pisceans … and if your wife happens to like wearing sandals or bare feet, that is a very happy coincidence! She can dress up any pair of fashion flip flops or sandals with a Pandora toe ring – these are made as one-size-fits-all pieces, and she can swap them round from toe to toe when she wants a change. The silver with gold bubbles toe ring pictured at right isn't linked to any other Pandora products in particular, but if you start browsing around the range you'll find plenty of other pieces with that silver/gold combination and the bubble design. It's somewhat of a trademark for Pandora, so you'll have plenty of readily coordinated future gift ideas!
We mentioned that the ankles are the 'ruling' or 'corresponding' body part for Aquarian women. If your wife's preferences happen to coincide with the tradition, the Pandora anklet range can make for a gorgeous, well-worn and always appreciated gift. The silver, gold and diamond charm anklet on brown leather is one of the most striking combinations from the range, and very budget friendly. This model is not always in stock, so order early! If you'd like to personalize the anklet, or just give her some options, check out the rest of the Pandora charms range. We picked the blue ribbon one at right to correspond with the tradition of buying indigo for Aquarians, but there are literally thousands more charms and combinations to choose from. All will sit comfortably on the leather backing.
There are so many ideas in store guaranteed to take your wife's mind off being a year older, and help her focus on being her own beautiful and individual self! Check out the range of February birthstone jewelry as a starting point, and you can click through any of the images here to see related products. Happy hunting … and happy gift giving!
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The Comforts of Home in the Catskills
Cuomo's Cove • Windham, NY
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High up in the Catskill Mountains, Windham, New York, proudly calls itself the "Land in the Sky." This town of 1,700 people sits on the northern edge of Catskill Park's 700,000 wilderness acres, so there's no running out of room to roam. Still, Windham is only 2.5 hours from New York City and draws urban dwellers to the Windham Mountain resort, popular for its ski slopes in the winter and its adventure park in the summer.
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Today, the House Committee on Financial Services is expected to consider H.R. 4367, a bill to limit the fee disclosure requirement for automatic teller machines (ATMs).
Current law requires bank ATMs to display an electronic notice on its screen and a physical sticker notice on the ATM machine telling the customer how much he or she will be charged to use it. Unfortunately, many individuals are removing or defacing the ATM's physical fee notice placard and then suing the ATM operator for improper notification.
This bill eliminates the requirement for the physical sticker, and therefore the liability for small banks and other smaller ATM operators. The electronic notices will still provide very clear information about ATM fees for customers. As the electronic notices on ATMs have become more robust and noticeable, this one and a half page bill is simply common sense, and offers to eliminate one more unnecessary regulation from the federal government.
I am a cosponsor of this bill, and I look forward to supporting it in the Financial Services Committee this afternoon.
Source: http://randy.house.gov/randys-blog/


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I am hearing they are not going to let commercial trucks into CA that are older than 2007.
If that is true it cant be good.
I am hearing they are not going to let commercial trucks into CA that are older than 2007.
If that is true it cant be good.
There is a summary of the CA commercial vehicle air quality standards at this link:
In particular, in Section 3, you can read about requirements to meet 2007 engine standards in certain areas of California after December 31, 2013.
USDA Zone 7A Elevation 1400 ft
Those nut jobs down there would try to pass a law like that. But, then that would turn the whole shipping industry on its ear and food costs would go through the roof down there. I cant see something like that working. Maybe the standards of 2007 not a 2007 truck.
I know they are putting in ways that the truckers cant get from one truck scale to another in a certain amount of time (miles x 55mph) and if they do they automatically get a ticket because they must have been speeding. But, I will ask my friends father about the 2007 thing.
I heard that they also plug into the truck now and see if you went over 55 mph anytime in the month and issue a ticket if you did. Not sure where they are enforcing it that way.
Last edited by EastSideBuzz; 10-18-2013 at 07:27 PM.
Yes its real. As of Jan 1 2014 any truck over 26k lb that is 2007 or older will have to get a $10k++++ particle filter to enter the state of CA.
ARB of CA does offer 2 things
You can register you truck with them (http://www.arb.ca.gov/homepage.htm) as low usage- this means you can drive in CA for 1000 miles or under per calender year.
Also you can get one 3 day permit per calender year (3 consecutive days)
seems like that is going to make it more difficult to find trucks when ya need them.
The shipping port in Oakland stopped letting older trucks in a couple years ago. They all had to update their exhaust systems I heard it costs about 30K per truck.
Oh come on now. A retroactive speeding ticket. East side I think you need to keep those ideas to yourself or the govment might take that up
Last edited by Saranator; 11-28-2013 at 10:43 AM.
On the other hand if you don't go into CA there are probably going to be some good deals on used trucks.
Since '09-75H-T-Z6b
>I cant understand how all the truck owners in ca are standing this.<
There needs to be more 'pushback' against the idiot CARBocrats. I hope to see more lawsuits.
More: http://insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle...-a-432995.html
Last edited by loggermike; 12-31-2013 at 09:00 AM. Reason: more info
If you go thru an intersection on a yellow light in many places that will get you a ticket too. Cameras will photo your license plate.
Mark Berninghausen
I must be running thru the right red lights! No tickets for me!
Thanks Mike for posting the links.
And thanks in advance for keeping an eye on this!
I have exactly ONE hive more than than you.
That makes my opinion beyond dispute!
Oh ,I keep my eye on lots of things ,Harry.
For example, California banned bear hunting with hounds in 2013. Hound hunting is a traditional and effective way to control bear populations. Now the season just ended and 1002 bears were taken which is 960 less than last year,and around 700 less than the last few years seasons. So, I expect an increase in bear depredation of hives in California as bear populations increase.
What to do?
Apply the SBS Method of Bear Control.
SBS=Shoot,Bury,Shut up.
Mark Berninghausen
Started 9/13, building slowly, not trying the no treatment anymore
They recycle into sausage really well.
They banned bear and cougar with dogs up in Oregon some years ago. Now when there is damage calls they send out a state paid hunter with dogs and a rifle to fix it.
I hear the weigh stations up here have a 'fast pass' that allow certain vehicles to bypass the weigh stations and inspections with a wireless signal. UPS and Fed Ex are big users and also that they will issue tickets if the time between stations is short enough to warrant excessive speeds. Almost all of these trucks are on a GPS route tracker anyway.
Why do we fall, sir? So that we might learn to pick ourselves up Alfred Pennyworth Batman Begins (2005)


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News Release Article from
Archived - THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA UNVEILS ITS ATLANTIC SHIPBUILDING ACTION PLAN
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Halifax (NS) – FEBRUARY 13, 2012 – As part of its Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada is announcing today an Atlantic Shipbuilding Action Plan. This initiative, which focuses on maximizing opportunities for firms across the Atlantic region to participate in the $33-billion federal shipbuilding initiative announced late last year, was launched today in Dartmouth by the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and La Francophonie and the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Regional Minister for Nova Scotia.
"These shipbuilding procurements represent a historic opportunity that will generate economic growth and create jobs in the four Atlantic Provinces in rural and urban communities," said Minister Valcourt. "With this action plan, we want to ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises throughout Atlantic Canada are in the best position to seize all opportunities related to these major procurements. This is a great occasion for us to foster a new generation of entrepreneurs who will acquire the expertise to compete on the world scene."
"Work undertaken at Irving Shipbuilding's Halifax shipyard will be sustained for decades and carries the real potential to radically transform the entire Atlantic economy. The shipbuilders of Atlantic Canada will create jobs, drive innovation and help build a world class industry," explained Minister MacKay. "Through the Atlantic Shipbuilding Action Plan, our Government is helping Atlantic businesses understand and be part of the process and address such areas as innovation capacity, certification and workforce skills so they can compete as suppliers and sub-contractors."
"Today marks another milestone in realizing the federal government's commitment to build ships here at home," said Jim Irving, CEO of Irving Shipbuilding Inc. "The new agreement we have embarked upon is a tribute to the skill and dedication of the proud tradition of shipbuilding in Atlantic Canada. We're proud to be a part of this heritage and we understand our responsibility in building this industry and the next generation of shipbuilders into the future while delivering best value and quality to the men and women who serve."
The Atlantic Shipbuilding Action Plan includes:
- Making sure Atlantic Canada small and medium-sized enterprises are fully aware of the process and the requirements to access supply chain opportunities;
- Giving small and medium-sized enterprises access to Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency programs to proactively support their development so that they can capitalize on these opportunities in areas such as marketing, acquisition of certification, process improvements, training, and technology acquisition;
- Engaging with community colleges and the provincial governments on skills and labour force research and planning; and
- Holding supplier development sessions in each Atlantic province as well as an Atlantic Marine Industry Forum.
In delivering the Atlantic Shipbuilding Action Plan, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, in partnership with Irving Shipbuilding Inc., will host 'Supplier Development Sessions' in Bathurst and Moncton, New Brunswick; Summerside, Prince Edward Island; Truro and Shelburne, Nova Scotia and St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador between February 21 and March 12, 2012. These information sessions will provide Atlantic small and medium-sized enterprises with an overview of the shipbuilding initiative and the critical information they need to become suppliers with marine supply chains.
On October 19, 2011, the Government of Canada announced the selection of the two shipyards that will build Canada's large vessels for the next 20 – 30 years. Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd. will build the non-combat vessels and Irving Shipbuilding Inc. will build the combat vessels. Smaller vessels will be competed amongst other Canadian shipyards. The strategy also calls for the repair, refit and maintenance of existing vessels.
On January 12, 2012, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that the Government of Canada has successfully reached an agreement in principle with both Irving Shipbuilding Inc. and Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd.
As part of the Government's Economic Action Plan to generate economic growth and create jobs, federal Ministers Bernard Valcourt and Peter MacKay were in Dartmouth today to unveil the Atlantic Shipbuilding Action Plan. This initiative focuses on maximizing opportunities for Atlantic Canadian firms to participate in the renewal of Canada's naval fleet, including the construction of combat vessels by Irving Shipbuilding Inc. of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
With this Action Plan, the Government wants to ensure that businesses across Atlantic Canada are in the best position to seize all opportunities related to these shipbuilding procurements. The plan is designed to help small and medium sized businesses in Atlantic Canada address areas such as innovation capacity, certification and workforce skills.
Andréa Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt
Debbie Corey
Director, Public Affairs
ACOA Head Office
The Government of Canada's Atlantic Shipbuilding Action Plan is a long-term strategy that will facilitate the integration of Atlantic Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises into the Government of Canada's $33-billion naval fleet renewal, including the construction of the Navy's combat vessels by Irving Shipbuilding Inc. of Halifax Nova Scotia.
The Plan will evolve as necessary to ensure it continues to address the ongoing needs of small and medium-sized enterprises in Atlantic Canada and their requirement for skilled workers. It will require a close collaboration with all four Atlantic provincial governments, Atlantic small and medium-sized enterprises s, industry associations, prime contractors, economic development organizations, educational and research institutes, and other federal departments.
The Atlantic Shipbuilding Action Plan is designed to:
1. Inform Small and Medium-sized Enterprises about the business opportunities
One of the Plan's key objectives is to ensure that Atlantic Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises are fully informed of the process and requirements for accessing work.
Many companies in Atlantic Canada may not be aware they can take advantage of this opportunity, or may perceive they are too young or too small to be involved. These procurements are a unique opportunity to foster a new generation of entrepreneurs in all four Atlantic Provinces, to acquire the expertise to compete on the world scene.
The Action Plan includes:
- Engaging with business associations to build awareness among Atlantic businesses of the opportunities for accessing work;
- Working with small and medium-sized enterprises to help identify needs;
- Conducting research and analysis to broaden understanding of the global marine supply chain and supplier requirements, including certification;
- Holding supplier development sessions in every Atlantic province;
- Holding an Atlantic Marine Industry Forum;
- Showcasing, on an ongoing basis, Atlantic businesses to industry through industry tours, information sessions and networking events.
2. Ensure access to Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency's programs
To help maximize the benefits for the Atlantic region, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency will use its flexible suite of tools and programming to proactively support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises to help them capitalize on economic development opportunities related to the shipbuilding procurements.
Programs such as the Atlantic Innovation Fund, the Business Development Program, the International Business Development Agreement, the Innovative Communities Fund and the Community Futures Program (Community Business Development Corporations) can facilitate, among other activities:
- Investing in business modernizations and expansions;
- Enhancing business and worker skills;
- Improving business productivity through the adoption of existing technologies;
- Commercializing new technologies;
- Acquiring the necessary business certifications;
- Developing international business relationships;
- Supporting communities in developing sector strategies aimed at attracting and expanding businesses at the local level;
- Financing and business counseling to small and medium-sized enterprises in rural areas, better positioning them to benefit from potential shipbuilding procurement opportunities.
3. Develop a skilled labour force
This Atlantic Shipbuilding Action Plan also aims to engage the four Atlantic provincial governments, universities and community colleges in developing skills and labour force planning and research.
Atlantic Canada is home to an extensive network of world class universities and community colleges that have proven instrumental in working with industry to ensure that required education and training is locally available. In some cases, companies work directly with community colleges to design courses. As well, since this is a 20 to 30 year strategy, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency will want to work with its partners in addressing labor supply issues, gaps and trends.
4. Organize and deliver supplier development sessions
The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and J.D. Irving are scheduling supplier development sessions across the region to provide Atlantic small and medium-sized enterprises with information on the shipbuilding initiative and marine supply chains. These sessions are being held as follows:
Bathurst, New Brunswick
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Danny's Inn
13:00 – 17:30
Moncton, New Brunswick
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Future Inn
08:00 – 12:30
Summerside, Prince Edward Island
Monday, February 27, 2012
Loyalist Inn
08:00 – 12:30
Truro, Nova Scotia
Friday, March 2, 2012
Glengary Best Western Hotel
08:00 – 12:30
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Monday, March 5, 2012
08:00 – 12:30
Shelburne, Nova Scotia
Monday, March 12, 2012
Osprey Arts Centre
08:00 – 12:30
New Brunswick
Regional Office
570 Queen Street, 3rd Floor
PO Box 578
Fredericton, New Brunswick
(Courier Address: E3B 6Z6)
General Enquiries: 506-452-3184
Facsimile: 506-452-3285
Toll Free: 1-800-561-4030
Newfoundland and Labrador
Regional Office
John Cabot Building, 11th Floor
10 Barter's Hill
PO Box 1060 STN C
St. John's,
Newfoundland and Labrador
(Courier Address: A1C 6M1)
General Enquiries: 709-772-2751
Facsimile: 709-772-2712
Toll Free: 1-800-668-1010
Nova Scotia
Regional Office
1801 Hollis Street, Suite 600
PO Box 2284 STN C
Halifax, Nova Scotia
(Courier Address: B3J 3N4)
General Enquiries: 902-426-6743
Facsimile: 902-426-2054
Toll Free: 1-800-565-1228
Prince Edward Island
Regional Office
Royal Bank Building, 3rd floor
100 Sydney Street
PO Box 40
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
(Courier Address: C1A 1G3)
General Enquiries: 902-566-7492
Facsimile: 902-566-7098
Toll Free: 1-800-871-2596
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Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Economics and Industry
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The Incredible, Shrinking Home Appraisal
Home prices have been falling for almost five years now. That sounds like good news for buyers, until you realize the monkey wrench declining prices can throw into the sales process. Falling appraisals can make it impossible to obtain a mortgage at the price a seller asks for a property.
- Real estate pros, buyers and sellers bicker over incredible, shrinking appraisals
- Falling appraisals beget falling appraisals
- An inadequate appraisal may be just one item to troubleshoot
- Copy this link to share with friends: http://bit.ly/eZmB9n
Who's to Blame for Falling Appraisals?
Even if a buyer has great credit and a stable income, the loan's not going to happen. Where this happens there are three options: 1) the seller can reduce the asking price; 2) the parties can cancel the deal; and 3) the buyer can put up more cash and take a smaller loan. Options one and two, which are most likely, tend to depress the value of property in the area. So falling appraisals and cancelled sales create a vicious spiral.
This ends when cash buyers who don't need a mortgage cowboy up and start buying property. This is happening in some places. Many, if not most, cash buyers are investors. They see value where all mortgage lenders see is negative equity.
Mortgage lenders are obsessed with loan-to-value ratios. This seems sensible until you recall it was lending that fueled the real estate bubble in the first place. Appraisals reflecting constantly rising prices gave lenders the false impression that current – and future – values exceeded what they were lending. During this time lenders often ignored a buyer's ability to repay, which instead of fairy-tale equity, should be the touchstone of prudent lending.
Related Links:
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- Lawyers.com Suggested Legal Books
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Tinkerbell's Flea Market Holds Ribbon Cutting
The community welcomes a new retail store to Currahee Street.
Friday, the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of Tinkerbell's Flea Market on West Currahee Street in Toccoa.
Owner Janelle Hart said Tinkerbell's has lots of different items for people to look at and buy.
"(I have) furniture," said Hart. "I have some tools, stuff like that, Avon products, undergarments, dishes, and different things."
Tinkerbell's is located at 518 West Currahee Street in Toccoa.
Its hours are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The phone number is 706-282-0106


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A proud moment for America
- By Peter FeaverPeter D. Feaver is a professor of political science and public policy and Bass Fellow at Duke University, and director of the Triangle Institute for Security Studies and the Duke Program in American Grand Strategy. He is co-editor of Elephants in the Room.
By Peter Feaver
I wonder if my Shadow Government colleagues feel somewhat like I do today. My dominant feeling is pride in this country — pride that we can transfer the most powerful office on earth peacefully, and pride that the new president is an American success story whose success is a capstone to the struggle that marked the founding of the Republican party. (I am also proud of the work that was done in the Bush administration to manage the transition and help prepare the new team for the awesome challenges; perhaps that will be a post for another day, but today is Obama's day and we should focus on him.)
Peeping out from under the pride is another feeling: hope. I am not talking about the moonpie hope that propelled Obama to office. Nor am I talking about hope that Obama can fix all of the problems we face, let alone pay my gas and mortgage.
Rather, the hope I feel concerns Obama's opportunity to reshuffle the deck of partisan politics, at least insofar as it relates to national security. As of noon today, responsibility for protecting America rests squarely with the Democratic party. To be sure, Republicans are obliged to be constructive from their seats in the loyal opposition. But the buck now stops with President Obama and the Congressional leadership.
Pundits have compared today to many other presidential inaugurations — Lincoln, FDR, Kennedy — but in national security terms the most significant parallel is Eisenhower's in 1953, when Republicans wrested back control of the White House and the Congress. In doing so, they made the Cold War truly a bipartisan responsibility. I believe we won the Cold War largely because we were able to sustain our efforts across administrations and across parties.
Today marks the day when we do the same thing with the struggle against the violent extremists that attacked us on 9/11 and with the military battles still being waged in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. Whether or not we win our current "cold war" depends on whether we can similarly share the responsibility for that struggle across administrations and across parties.
The one man with the most responsibility for success or failure in this larger enterprise now is President Obama. I am proud to call him my president. I hope he succeeds.


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29Ricky Helland
2001: Helland will aid the depth at the catching position for the Trojans.
MIKE GILLESPIE SAYS: ?Ricky is a very cerebral, bright guy and a tough out at the plate. He is a good defensive catcher and pitchers like throwing to him. He is highly regarded and well-liked guy on the team.? 2000: Redshirted last season for the Trojans.
JUNIOR COLLEGE: Earned All-Western Coast Conference honors at Ventura (Calif.) College...also earned the Golden Bat award.
HIGH SCHOOL: Earned All-CIF, all-county and All-Channel League honors at Buena High in Ventura, Calif.
PERSONAL: Majoring in business...enjoys fishing and working on old cars in his spare time...biggest sports hero is Nolan Ryan...chose USC because of its strong business school and baseball program...birthdate is Aug. 29, 1979.


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Cedar siding: why can't I just let it weather?
I was planning on putting up cedar lap siding on my house and letting it go. I think the grey, weathered cedar is pretty and natural looking. Both of my parents' houses are that way. Well, one is lap and the other is tounge and groove. The t&g one has some rotted spots but it also has other issues that could be hastening the problem. The lap one is pretty much spotless and both are 30+ years old!
Are rotting issues the reason I see it said that cedar siding requires constant maintenance? Seems like natural cedar is a farily common look, or at least it was.
Sadly todays cedar is softer,has more knots and tends to be cut thinner than the cedar of yesterday.
Traditionally cedar was left natural and lasted a lifetime.
I think you would be taking a chance with what's available in the lumber yards.
If money is no object,you could order old growth clear. Just bring a fat wallet.--Mike--
you can have that color and protection too
Used to use redwood and cedar all the time. Let it weather to the look like what you have in mind.
Raced a Cheoy Lee Lion 35' sailboat with a teak deck that was never touched with anything either. Tad gray looking.
Once you start finishing woods they take more maintenance than anything else.
see it all depends on things such as sun/rain exposure,humidity levels,mold sources etc just because these houses happened to turn a nice gray,yours may just turn black,wood siding is a big investment and most are going to need some treatment for the reasons Mike suggested
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Just like Christmas
Mileage: 38.0
January mileage: 410.4
Temperature upon departure: 32
I don't really mind being a job hopper, most of the time. Sure, I always misplace a lot of my possessions in the annual uprooting. And sure, I've been working for entry-level pay since I was 15. But the worst part about my constant freshman employee status is the way I get every single holiday dumped on me. I was the only one in my entire department to work Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. And what do I get in return? Random days off, three weeks later. I didn't get to choose them. So today, Jan. 17, was Christmas Day to me. Hooray.
I predictably used my extra day off to go for a bike ride. I told Geoff I was going to do my regular two-hour ride, but then I stayed out for three and a half hours. I didn't have a great reason. I'm going to try and ride 7-8 hours tomorrow, so I probably would have been better off keeping it short. Most of the paths and shoulders were buried so the going was slow. And the weather wasn't particularly great. Not even particularly tolerable, really ... it snowed about three inches while I was out, wet snowflakes roughly the size of maple leaves. I wore my goggles until the moisture froze in vision-obscuring droplets. Then I just had to take those flake daggers right in the eyes. And I wasn't even feeling particularly strong. Just sort of ... normal. Biking is just want I do now, when I'm not sleeping or working. And since I had neither waiting for me when I got home, I just ... biked.
I am still making attempts at having a life, though. Geoff and I went with friends tonight to see "Raven Odyssey," the local theater production - the legend of "Raven" as told through a multitude of Native Alaskan and Siberian anecdotes. It was entertaining and culturally enlightening. So there. So it's not all bikes all the time ... except for when I came straight home and spent 30 minutes thoughtfully putting together clothing and a care package for tomorrow. Who am I really kidding? And what of Jan. 18? Boxing Day, I guess. I hope to kick some ***.


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Large beautifully illustrated puzzle dinosaurs give your children a unique and fun. 30 pieces fit together precisely and helps the child in improving motor skills. 8 pieces in addition shows the complete animals or machines, and helps the child in the assembly. All pieces are made from high quality strong material that is easily washed. Size after assembly is 60 x 90 cm. The recommended age for folding is three to six years.
Specifications can be changed without notice. Images are for illustrative purposes only. Retail Price (MSRP) means the manufacturer's/supplier's suggested retail price.
Link to Manufacturer's Website: Enter link to the external review


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I am very pleased with the service and support received from Webeclectic. They really listened and understood what we wanted in our website. Updates are done in a very timely fashion.


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Councils and Committees
Three groups of state officials, scientists and citizens determine policy under the Toxics Use Reduction Act:
Composed of the heads of 6 state government agencies or their designees, the council has the authority to establish the focus of the TURA program by designating higher and lower hazard substances, and to initiate discussion and research to make those determinations.
The committee provides the Administrative Council with the perspectives and expertise of a range of stakeholders.
The Science Advisory Board (SAB)
To bring together science and policy on toxic chemicals, the Governor appoints this nine member board. TURI considers the SAB's advice in its policy reports to the council on issues such as regulation of toxic chemicals according to relative toxicity, and the addition or deletion of chemicals from the TURA chemical list.
The public is empowered to request listing or delisting, and is welcome to attend any of the meetings of the SAB.


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You are hereBlogs / War Criminals Watch's blog / Hands Off Edward Snowden - Indict Criminals Responsible for Vast Government Spying
Hands Off Edward Snowden - Indict Criminals Responsible for Vast Government Spying
WE DEFEND Edward Snowden for his courageous action in revealing vast, unlawful surveillance by the United States.
WE CALL on others to join us in opposing the U.S. government's plans to gain custody of him, to try and imprison him on espionage charges.
WE JOIN with a large section of the U.S. population — and billions worldwide — in outrage at the unconstitutional, illegitimate surveillance of whole populations by the U.S. which has been covered up and lied about for years.
It is absurd that Snowden faces criminal charges from the U.S. government who has been caught red-handed breaking its own laws while it flaunts international law by the use of targeted killing and indefinite detention.
It is outrageous that this same government refuses to investigate, much less prosecute, those responsible for the crimes of aggressive war and torture while now carrying out an unjust prosecution against Bradley Manning for exposing these crimes.
WE INDICT those in U.S. government guilty of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, NOT those who blow the whistle on these crimes.
On June 10, Edward Snowden claimed responsibility for leaking National Security Administration documents which show that the U.S. government "targets the communications of everyone."
This a practice which he warned is going to "get worse with the next generation and the next generation who extend the capabilities of this sort of architecture of oppression."
Snowden's revelations show that the Obama administration and the NSA consistently LIED about the scale of surveillance.
They lied about how both the meta-data and the full contents of all electronic communications are being scooped up and stored.
They lied about both domestic and foreign internet data being collected and stored, spying in real time, and using the rest for subsequent use, by the current White House administration and all subsequent administrations.
The biggest lie of all is that this mass surveillance is about keeping Americans safe.
Snowden revealed the ease with which agents can use this to build a case against anyone; chilling dissent.
These same people now have the audacity to charge Snowden with spying?!
Snowden stepped forward because he became aware of these towering criminal practices, and recognized the dangerous precedent it sets.
He sounded the alarm to the public. In response, the government is bringing down the full weight of the state against him.
If they are not doing anything wrong, what do they have to hide?
When this happens in a country not allied with the United States, the U.S. government calls out that country as authoritarian and outrageously repressive to its citizens.
They speak words of freedom and democracy while spying on whole populations, assassinating people at will and torturing prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.
The U.S. has indicted Snowden on three felony charges under the 1917 Espionage Act, for "unauthorized communication of national defense information," "willful communication of classified communications intelligence information to an unauthorized person," and "theft of government property." Each charge carries ten years in prison — potentially life in prison if there are multiple counts of each.
He is the eighth person charged in the Obama Administration's war on whistle-blowers.
Snowden said recently in response to a question about U.S. government efforts to suppress him: "All I can say right now is the U.S. Government is not going to be able to cover this up by jailing or murdering me. Truth is coming, and it cannot be stopped."
Which will it be? The continued persecution of truth-tellers by Official Liars or the truth made plain to the world and the sweeping away of these truly obscene actions by the United States?
The hour is late but it is not too late to act.
The World Can't Wait Steering Committee, June 24,2013
- War Criminals Watch's blog
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We think that Edward Snowden would be safest in Cuba. They know how to handle the idiots up here. Are great protectors.
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70 parking spots coming to new aquatic center
KINGSPORT, Tenn. - Finding a parking spot at Kingsport's new aquatic center may soon get a little easier.
We've learned the Kingsport Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the extension of a construction contract to build an additional 70 parking spaces at the brand new facility.
We're told it will cost the city about $160,000, and these spots will come quickly.
Kingsport officials told us work is set to begin Monday and should be finished by July 4.
These parking problems were revealed after the aquatic center's immediate popularity once it opened Memorial Day weekend.


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Big Turbo Upgrade, pulled all these stock goodies off, and now they are just sitting in my kitchen. Downpipe only has 3k miles. Also have APR R1 Diverter Valve with less than 1k miles on it. All stock parts have 45k miles. Items ship from Hawaii.
APR R1 Diverter Valve $SOLD$
APR 3" Downpipe $425
Stock Intercooler $80
Pancake Pipe $25
Stock Throttle Body $60
Stock AWP Pistons and Rods $175
Exhaust Manifold $75
Stock Turbo w/wastegate $300
Emissions Air Pump $SOLD$
Turbo Outlet Pipe $50
Air box $40
Intake Manifold $90
Injectors $45 each or $130 for the set
PM if interested


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Economic Development
Tune Towns
Cities hear money in the sound of music.
Call up Seattle City Hall these days and the first sound you hear may be a guitar strumming out an Irish air--or a high-stepping accordion, or perhaps some pleasant piano. When callers are put on hold, they get to listen to one of about a dozen recordings by local musicians that the city now plays through its switchboard. If they like what they hear, they can buy compact discs through the city's Web site.
"It used to be that callers would hear mainstream instrumental music chosen by the phone service people," says Lori Patrick, of Seattle's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs. "So the concept isn't new, but it's a way to promote our local musicians."
In an era when tens of millions of Americans have music constantly streaming from their iPods into their skulls, exposing them to more sound hardly seems like the most pressing civic endeavor. But many cities believe that showcasing homegrown talent will provide a distinctive regional identity that they can market--and bring in some big bucks.
That's why the city of Omaha stepped in when the local indie label Saddle Creek Records was squabbling with neighbors over plans to build a large bar and concert venue. The mayor's office shepherded Saddle Creek toward a location north of downtown where no one would object to loud patrons spilling out at 1 a.m. City officials welcomed Saddle Creek with plenty of tax breaks in hopes that the venue, which will include apartments and a two-screen movie theater, would provide the right anchor for the redevelopment of an area now being called NoDo.
In Des Moines, the city has just set up a music commission, which acts much the way film commissions traditionally do--helping artists and managers cut through red tape when they're working on a project. "The city is involved in a lot of decisions that affect the music industry," says Fritz Junker, chairman of the Des Moines commission, "from zoning to ordinances to cost for support services such as police and street closures."
Junker says his ambition is to move beyond logistical support toward finding ways of growing the local music economy. In March, he sent a representative down to Austin, Texas, for the South by Southwest Festival, hoping to drum up support and attention for the Des Moines sound among the thousands of music industry and media representatives gathered there.
Not surprisingly, Austin and other cities that trade heavily in music are doing the most to promote their local scenes. City officials in the Texas capital are constantly thinking about music. In fact, musicians play at the opening of every council meeting.
After some of them complained about getting nabbed for tickets while unloading their gear along Sixth Street, Austin's nightclub row, the city set up a special loading zone, giving permits to clubs that lend them out to players. "We're always trying to find ways to do things to make the city processes better for music," says Jim Butler, whose city title--manager of creative industries development--speaks volumes.
The cable music channel that Austin operated for a decade has been outsourced, but Nashville is keeping its musicians on the airwaves. That city now produces a monthly program on XM satellite radio featuring local sons and daughters. Conventioneers there are given the chance to record in a studio where Elvis Presley once laid down some tracks, then to hear their efforts played over the PA system at the Wild Horse Saloon.
Assuming they'd rather listen to people with talent, the convention bureau in Nashville, like its counterpart in Austin, helps meeting planners book bands for their gatherings, encouraging them to think beyond the jazz trio playing background music at the reception. "This is a great gig for a musician," says Rose Reyes, of the Austin CVB, "to show up on a Monday at 4 in the afternoon."
If cities want to provide work for musicians, musicians are glad for the help. Carolina Dhaens, who manages a salsa band featured on Seattle's phone system, says the exposure and support offered by the city has been "fantastic. We've had people jokingly say, 'I'm going to have to call the city, just to be put on hold.'"
We invite you to discuss and comment on this article using social media.


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Re: Why does my PS3 keep freezing??
I just bought my cousin's PS3 40 gig. He's never had a problem with it before. I only have MW2 right now and some of the game sounds don't load, usually this means it will freeze at the end of the round when it gets to game summary.
When I first got the system it was fine til after the update. I am very new to the PS3, so not sure what's the deal here, very annoying though. The console does play Blu ray movies fine and downloaded game demos. I did do the vacuum as others mentioned and still no luck. My MW2 disc is scratch free aswell.
Back to playing Halo 3...........
Re: Why does my PS3 keep freezing??
Same problem with me. It's not cool. I'm playing a downloaded game with no sound now, because the system won't see the disk (what happens after the freezing problem).
Re: Why does my PS3 keep freezing??
same here whenever i try playing skate 3 or GTA Iv on disc it keeps freezing but the demo/ and downloaded version of gta/skate 3 work fineand it only started after i bought and started playing bo2
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[EX-RENTAL] Are We There Yet?
£3.49 Limited availability Ask us a question about this product
Please allow an additional 4 - 6 working days before despatch
This item is coming from a different warehouse and may take slightly longer than usual to despatch. Once the item has been despatched, usual delivery time applies.
Price Drop Notification
[EX-RENTAL] Are We There Yet? Product Description
Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 or region free DVD player in order to play.
Family comedy starring Ice Cube as Nick, a smooth operator who is interested in a young, attractive divorcee - Suzanne (Nia Long), mother of a 7-year-old-boy and an 11-year-old-girl. Trying to get together with Suzanne, Nick volunteers to bring her children to meet her out of town. Missing the plane, they must make the long journey by car. What Nick doesn't know is that Suzanne's children think that no man is good enough for their mum and will do everything they can to make the trip a nightmare for him.
Subtitles: Arabic, Bulgarian, Croatian, Dutch, English, Greek, Hindi, Icelandic, Romanian, Serbian, Slovene, Turkish.
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John Hellew, 63, Warren
John Hellew, 63, of 377 Child St., Warren, died in his sleep on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013. He was the husband of Shirley Hellew, the loving father of Kelsey and Christian, and brother of Virginia and Janis.
Born in Warren, a son of the late John and Helen, he attended school and later Upper Iowa College. He was the first student at Upper Iowa to be chosen to participate in a semester at Drew University, where he studied International Studies at the United Nations. He earned his law degree at the Franklin Pierce Law Center. He started his career in the appellate division of the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office, served as the Warren Town Solicitor for two years and was in private practice for more than 30 years.
Mr. Hellew was cremated, and his ashes will be laid to rest at a later date.


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Like the creature it takes its name from – the SWISS EAGLE range of timepieces – comprises a range of high quality performance Swiss Made sports watches which demonstrate the same power, precision and dynamism from its namesake. The FIELD range is driven
Swiss Eagle Engineer SE-9062-77
Wholesale Price
Do you want to know the wholesale price? Registered Users benefit from discounts up to 90% off, register now.
Retail price: €. 1100
- Swiss Ronda 5030 quartzchronograph with date
- plated stainless steel band and case, anti-reflective sapphire glass
- WR 100mt
- Measures: case 47x13mm, bracelet 20cm x 24mm
- Speedometer
Prices VAT excluded
Out of stock


text: Hey now that I have taken care of all my body modifications I am looking for some extra power to get my truck along. my truck('04 silverado 1500 5.3) is registred in south carolina where the emmisions requirements are lax. I already have the quiet series flowmaster muffler on(had dual pipes but cut those off due to rust) was thinking about cutting my cats out and putting some high-flow ones in. any thoughts? My roomate has a AFE stage 3 intake that i think he is going to get rid of soon. anyone heard good reviews of those? and what about a throttle body spacer, how much power should i get if i put a spacer on? Thanks in advance for all the help guys!


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Located 985 feet from the Cetatea de Scaun Suceava Citadel, Casa de Oaspeti Suceava features an own wine cellar. Free WiFi and a free airport shuttle service are available. Each room offers cable TV and a private bathroom with shower, hairdryer, bathrobe, slippers and free toiletries. Some rooms come with a minibar or a balcony. A restaurant and a bar can be found on site and breakfast is served every morning. Guests can also use the barbecue facilities. Another restaurant is 0.6 miles away. Casa de Oaspeti Suceava has a terrace, a shared lounge with cable TV, as well as laundry and ironing facilities. The house was once the holiday home of Nicolae Ceausescu. A bus stop is 1,641 feet away, the Suceava Train Station is 3.1 miles away and the closest airport is 6.2 miles away.


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- 04.19.12
- 30 second mba
Innovation Secret: Hold New Ideas Lightly
Innovation is all about new ideas, says Oodle CEO Craig Donato, but you have to know how to manage those ideas to get them to market. Here's how.
For more bite-sized bits of wisdom on leadership and strategies for success, explore our ongoing video series at 30 Second MBA.


text: House and plumbing are 25 years old. Drain lines are all white PVC pipe and accessible in the basement. On one of my 2" drain lines coming out of the kitchen, at one of the connections, I'm getting a very slight drip (about 10 drops a day) and also on my 4" drain line, I'm getting a similar 1 drop an hour drip at one of the connections. No where else in the house are there any leaks that I can see. My question: Is there a fix short of ripping out the fitting and regluing in new connections? Could I clean up the joint as is, and use either a silicone sealer or wet environment glue to re-glue these two connections? Anyone have similar experiences with successful fixes?


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Naim Katiby, a San Ramon resident, was placed on probation Wednesday after admitting to a single count of fraud for billing a fake doctor's visit, Alameda County prosecutors said. Katiby also prescribed Vicodin to an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agent without an exam.
Read the full story here Web Link posted Monday, February 20, 2012, 5:11 PM
Town Square
San Ramon doctor gets probation for insurance fraud
Original post made on Feb 21, 2012
Like this commentPosted by Ruth
a resident of San Ramon
on Feb 21, 2012 at 3:01 pm
Happy to hear that the DEA is doing their job!
Like this commentPosted by Liz
a resident of Danville
on Feb 21, 2012 at 7:20 pm
Affirmative action?


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20152015 is only 13 days away and if you are like most people, you haven't even thought past what to make for the holiday party at (insert your gathering here). Well, you won't have to think too hard because I am here to update you on what to expect for local marketing in 2015 and how to stay one step ahead.
More consumers use mobile devices for search, purchase, payment, booking and scheduling.
Consumers are becoming more comfortable with mobile payment and prefer to also book and schedule online after considering their own research and reading company reviews. Local marketers need to understand this change and progress with those who chose this option instead of more traditional markets.
Tablets are sold more than smartphones!
Mind blowing, I know. Tablets have surpassed smart phones in the consumer market this year. In a world where there are blurred lines in the functionality of these items, it is best to optimize your content and site for both.
Mobile ads are becoming more local.
With mobile ads becoming more local, it may start to make sense to budget for localized target ads on platforms such as Facebook. It does not need to take over your marketing, but a small part of your strategy should at least consider this medium and integrate with your overall strategy.
Wearable devices will become a normal thing.
Wearable devices are still greatly in the development and tweak phase. However, to stay ahead of the curve, ensure that you know which the industry leaders are and how your company, marketing and target audience fits within this new market. Search Engine Land cites statistics that predict an increase of $24 billion in this industry by 2018.
Social Media influences purchase decisions…duh.
Social media has become the outlet of taste makers and trendsetters alike, so it is no surprise that when you see that amazing gadget on a Facebook post or ad, you just have to click. When Facebook friends see that Mark "likes" or "follows" a specific brand, if similar taste to Mark, will also be likely to like or follow. Social media users are looking to social media for information and inspiration on what to buy, so make your product or service the most interesting, or as useful as it can be.
Ensure your site is easily findable with a digital assistant.
According to a study cited by Search Engine Land, 56 percent of people that own a smartphone have accessed a digital assistant to aid in local search information. Consumers have started to bypass the manual process of entering search terms directly into Google and instead enable help from Siri or Google Now. Test your site with your own smartphone to ensure your company is easily findable.
Market messages to smaller and more personal audiences.
It's not rocket science that consumers value a more personal message. I am a huge supporter of making sure your message matches your target audience. Convey a relevant idea and pare down your message without diluting the impact. Also one really great message can create a much better impact than 3 "okay" messages. Respect that you are only a part of their overall stream of information, "Less is more- more is never more." Also, be willing to integrate with other companies, apps, and services in a networking mindset as your customers may be led to your product through theirs!
Direct mail is not dead!
Tried and true is always direct mail. I would like to add a digital twist to this however, suggesting that utilizing your online marketing email database and sending a personalized email offer. This is a great time for an intervention if you have not been collecting customer emails regularly. This should be included first and foremost in your 2015 strategy!
CRM integration.
If 2014 taught us anything, then we know that reviews, as well as having a social online presence, are of great importance in representing your brand. Expect customer relationship management tools and best practices to take precedence in 2015. Your company should be responding to the customer's comments, reviews and questions in a timely of a manner. If you are unable to manage this, then 2015 will bring tools to that help this facet of online marketing. Better yet, use your current marketing company to help you manage. After all, Seventy-eight percent of consumers' purchasing decisions are influenced by online reviews, according to the market research firm Ipsos.
Leverage your marketing to both retain and gain new customers!
Marketing should always have a purpose behind the message, but there are many overlaps in messages intended to gain and retain your target audience. When creating your message consider both!
Teach your clients how to do it
As much as we love to take the wheel and manage all facets for our clients, sometimes it benefits you to teach them the basics. When responding to a review, posting something on Facebook or replying to a question, make sure to explain what you did and how you did that so your client also knows what they are doing if they would like to post, respond or simply have the knowledge. This builds trust and common bonds when you can openly communicate about the brand and its direction.


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Where Christmas Comes From
Photo By: Indiana County Christmas Tree Growers' Association
Photo By: Ecke Ranch
Photo By: Ocean Spray
Photo By: ©iStockphoto.com/Lauri Patterson
Photo By: ©iStockphoto.com/dulezidar
Photo By: ©iStockphoto.com/arinahabich
Photo By: Hallmark
Indiana, Pa.
This unassuming town in Pennsylvania's coal country bills itself as "the Christmas tree capital of the world." According to local lore, a group of enterprising Indiana County gentlemen were the first to grow Christmas trees as a crop back in 1918. The area still grows more than a million pines, firs and spruces commercially every year.
But perhaps Indiana's most famous Christmas-related product is native son Jimmy Stewart, star of the iconic holiday film It's a Wonderful Life. Indiana holds an annual festival and parade in mid-November named after the film.
Encinitas, Calif.
Curiously, even though Christmas derives its identity from snow and cold, one of the most recognizable emblems of the season is flamboyantly tropical: the poinsettia. Encinitas is home to the world's largest grower of these stunning plants, Ecke Ranch, which produces 70 percent of the poinsettias sold in the United States. Ecke Ranch grows a rainbow assortment of colors, including traditional reds, pinks and creams, and a recently introduced bright-white variety called Polar Bear whose sales benefit the conservation of these endangered animals.
Middleborough, Mass.
You'll likely find a touch of Middleborough on your holiday dinner table: It's the cranberry capital of the world. The Ocean Spray company, headquartered here, is surrounded by acres of cranberry bogs and still gets much of its crop from area families who have been in the business for generations.
Claxton, Ga.
If you're going to make a top-notch fruitcake, you might as well do it in Georgia, where you can't shake a stick without hitting a pecan tree. That's the theory in the tiny town of Claxton, co-fruitcake capital of the world, which boasts only 2,200 people but two high-volume fruitcake companies: Claxton Bakery, Inc. and Georgia Fruit Cake Company. They're both descended from an original bakery opened in 1910 by an Italian immigrant and pastry chef, Savino Tos, and together they produce more than six million pounds of fruitcake per year.
Corsicana, Texas
Something delicious is always cooking in Corsicana at Christmastime, and fortunately you can taste a little no matter where you are. Corsicana is home to the Collin Street Bakery, which rivals the Georgia producers in fruitcake volume. Order the DeLuxe Fruitcake direct from the company – they recommend you soak it in cognac, brandy, red wine or port for at least five days before sampling.
You'll also find one of Russell Stover's candy factories on Pecan Delight Avenue: Corsicana is where the company makes its cream-filled chocolate Santas. (Coconut, maple, strawberry or raspberry, if you're tasting them in your head.)
Denver, Colo.
Since 1920, Hammond's Candies in Denver has been churning out hand-pulled lollipops, peppermint pillows and its world-famous candy canes, which can be found everywhere from the United States to Italy to Dubai. While the company has grown from just one worker – founder Carl Hammond – to more than 120 employees, every piece of candy is still made in Hammond's factory in the Mile-High City. Hammond's now offers free tours of its facilities and holds a Candy Cane Festival each December.
Kansas City, Mo.
"On January 10, 1910, a teenager from Nebraska stepped off a train in Kansas City, Mo., with little more than big dreams and two shoeboxes of picture postcards." Want to know how this story turns out? Just open your mailbox in December. That sentence opens the corporate history of Hallmark, the greeting-card giant still run by the grandsons of that teenager, Joyce Clyde Hall – and still going strong in Kansas City, sending millions of messages of good cheer at the holidays and all year long.


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Popular property highlights
Located in Kings Cross within a mile (2 km) of Royal Botanic Gardens, Jolly Swagman Backpackers is within 2 miles (3 km) of other popular sights such as Sydney Opera House. This 46-room hostel has conveniences like free breakfast, free in-room WiFi, and free airport pick-up. Sydney Harbour Bridge is 2.3 mi (3.7 km) from this centrally located Potts Point hostel.
Free continental breakfast is included with your stay and awaits you each morning from 7 AM to 9 AM. For a nice break, mingle with other guests at the free manager's reception.
All 46 rooms feature refrigerators, ceiling fans, and desks. Guests can expect to find free WiFi. Hair dryers are also standard. Bathrooms are shared.
Property features
Jolly Swagman Backpackers features free WiFi in public areas, an arcade/game room, and a library. There's free offsite parking, as well as a free shuttle from the airport to the hotel (available on request). The front desk is staffed 24 hours a day to help with concierge services and luggage storage. Additional amenities include a terrace, laundry facilities, and barbecue grills.
- Free continental breakfast
- Free WiFi in rooms and public areas
- Free airport pick-up
- Concierge services
Jolly Swagman Backpackers
Hostel Amenities
Hostel Amenities
Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning as well as a complimentary manager's reception on select days. Public areas are equipped with complimentary wireless Internet access. A shuttle from the airport to the hotel is complimentary to guests (available on request). This Potts Point hostel also offers a library, a terrace, and tour/ticket assistance.
- 24-hour front desk
- Free airport transportation - pickup
- Arcade/game room
- Free breakfast
- Concierge services
- Airport transportation
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free WiFi
- Wired (high-speed) Internet access - surcharge
- Laundry facilities
- Total number of rooms - 46
- Barbecue grill(s)
- Luggage storage
- Library
- Number of floors - 3
- Terrace
- Free reception
- Free parking nearby
- Offsite parking discounted rates available
- Television in common areas
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Free Wi-Fi
- Laundry facilities
- Arcade/game room
- Refrigerator
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi , Wired high-speed internet ( AUD 2.00 for multiple minutes )
Free parking nearby, Offsite parking discounted rates available
Room Amenities
Jolly Swagman Backpackers offers 46 accommodations with hair dryers and ceiling fans. This Potts Point hostel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Guests have access to shared bathrooms. Bathrooms include showers. Housekeeping is offered daily and irons/ironing boards can be requested.
- Shared bathroom
- Ceiling fan
- Refrigerator
- Daily housekeeping
- Hair dryer
- Shower only
- Iron/ironing board (on request)
- Desk
- Free WiFi
Where to Eat
A complimentary continental breakfast is served each morning between 7 AM and 9 AM. A complimentary manager's reception is offered on select days.
Hostel Policies
Check-in time starts at 1 PM
Special check-in instructions:
Check-out time is 9 AM
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Pets not allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- No onsite parking is available.
No rollaway/extra beds available
No cribs (infant beds) available
Optional extras
- Fee for wired Internet in public areas: AUD 2.00 (for 30 minutes, rates may vary)
Hostel Name
- Jolly Swagman Backpackers Hostel Potts Point
- Jolly Swagman Backpackers Potts Point
We should mention
This property offers transfers from the airport. Guests must contact the property with arrival details 72 hours prior to arrival prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.
Free Airport Shuttle with 2-Night Stay
Book a minimum 2-night stay in any room or rate category and receive complimentary airport pick-up between 5 AM-8:30 PM.
Minimum 2-night stay required. Valid for service from Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD). Guests must contact the hotel with arrival information using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking. Subject to availability. Some restrictions may apply.