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By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
tIn a strongly worded brief for the United States Supreme Court, the Obama administration has sided with the Vatican in an Oregon lawsuit that names the Holy See as a defendant for its role in the sexual abuse crisis.
tIn effect, the brief asserts that the standards for an exception to the immunity that foreign governments enjoy under American law have not been met in the Oregon case.
tFiled on Friday, the brief stops short of recommending that the Supreme Court directly take up the case of Doe v. Holy See, originally filed in federal district court in Oregon in 2002. Instead, it suggests that the Supreme Court set aside the 2009 ruling of an appeals court that allowed the case to go forward, sending it back for further consideration.
tExperts say this is the first time the United States government has officially expressed an opinion about efforts to sue the Vatican in American courts, as opposed to the pope personally. In 2005, the U.S. State Department recommended dismissing Pope Benedict XVI from a Texas lawsuit over the sexual abuse crisis, on the basis of a separate personal guarantee of immunity enjoyed by heads of state. The judge in that case complied.
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tFriday's brief was filed by the Acting Solicitor General of the United States, the top deputy to Supreme Court nominee Elana Kagan, as well as by officials from the Attorney General's office and the State Department.
tThe brief asserts that the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit made a mistake in ruling that a district court in Oregon has jurisdiction over the claim that the Vatican is liable for sexual abuse committed by Catholic priests.
tThough the legal fine points are complicated, the Obama administration's brief makes a distinction between two questions:
•tThe jurisdictional standards for suing a foreign government under the 1976 Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act;
•tThe liability standards for holding an employer responsible for damages caused by an employee under Oregon law.
Essentially, the brief argues that before a court can even consider the second question, it has to resolve the first – and that in the case of the suit against the Vatican, the standards for overcoming sovereign immunity have not been met.
The brief does not address the substantive question of whether Catholic priests are actually Vatican "employees" for purposes of American civil law.
The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act recognizes the general immunity of foreign governments to being sued in American courts, but also lays out nine exceptions, including the "tort exception" invoked in the Oregon case. It holds that a government can be sued for harms caused by its employees and agents in the course of performing duties within the scope of their employment.
In the Doe v. Holy See case, a district court found that sexual abuse of a minor is clearly outside the scope of employment of a Catholic priest, meaning the things a priest is supposed to do on behalf of the church. Nevertheless, Oregon law also recognizes liability if the acts that led up to a harm being caused do fall within the scope of employment. Under that principle, church officials could be held liable if a priest's normal pastoral activity created the conditions in which he was able to commit an act of sexual abuse.
On that basis, both the district court and the appeals court ruled that the lawsuit against the Vatican could proceed.
The Solicitor General's brief, however, asserts that the courts are mistaken. The broader liability standard under Oregon law, the brief says, only applies if the court has jurisdiction in the first place – and, according to the brief, the tort exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act requires that the wrongdoing fall within the scope of employment.
"A court may not use a state liability rule to expand the grounds on which the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act permits the court to exercise jurisdiction over a foreign sovereign," the brief says.
The brief asks the Supreme Court to make clear that an exception to the normal presumption of immunity applies "only if the tort itself was committed by the employee while acting within the scope of his office or employment."
In general, the brief argues that exceptions to sovereign immunity ought to be narrowly construed, not expanded beyond the limits intended by Congress.
"Improperly subjecting a foreign state to suit can in some circumstances raise foreign relations and reciprocity concerns," the brief asserts.
Observers say that Lena may file a response to the Solicitor General's brief, arguing that its legal analysis supports stronger action from the Supreme Court than simply sending the case back to the appeals court for reconsideration. Lena could ask that the Supreme Court dismiss the case entirely.
If the case survives that challenge, the next step may be for the district court in Oregon to consider requests from plaintiff's lawyers to depose top Vatican officials and to request access to Vatican records. Observers say that the district court judge in Oregon has seemed more inclined to support broad requests for depositions of Vatican officials than the judge in the O'Bryan v. Holy See case in Kentucky, another instance of the Vatican being sued for its role in the sexual abuse crisis.
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Sorry, the book that you are looking for is not available right now.
We did a search for other books with a similar title, and found some results for you that may be helpful.
Michael Tolliver, the sweet-spirited Southerner in Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City series, is arguably the best-known gay character in fiction.
For almost 30 years, millions of devoted readers around the world have revelled in Michael's adventures as he searched for love in San Francisco and discovered his true family among the tenants of 28 Barbary Lane.
Now, fifteen years after concluding his groundbreaking saga, Maupin revisits his queer Everyman, tracking the 52-year-old gardener through the course of a single day in the 21st Century. Michael Tolliver is not, strictly speaking, a continuation of the Tales series but a finely detailed portrait of one man's hopes and fears as he inhabits the future he once thought he'd never experience. Having survived the plague that took so many of his friends and lovers, Michael has learned to embrace the sacred dailiness of life, the loving connections that sustain him in the hardest of times.
His journey on this particular day takes him from the garden of a troublesome client to the bed of a younger man to the parlour of a wise octogenarian who was once his beloved landlady.
Filled with gentle insights about the human condition - and Maupin's unmistakable wit - Michael Tolliver is a novel about the act of living and the small miracles that make it worthwhile.
About the Author
Armistead Maupin was born in Washington, D.C., in 1944 but grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. A graduate of the University of North Carolina, he served as a naval officer in the Mediterranean and with the River Patrol Force in Vietnam.
Read Caroline Baum's Review
It had to happen. Anna Madrigal, the transgender landlady at Barbary Lane whom we have loved since Tales of the City has grown older, along with her bohemian tenants and just like the rest of us. In fact, forty years on, she's now ninety two! She and her friends now have iPads and use Facebook and twitter, and the gay couples are as married as the straights.
Few authors know their characters as well as Maupin, who writes with tender wry affection for this motley community and their very Californian foibles.
If you have to say goodbye to characters you love, this is the way to do it.
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Comments about The Days of Anna Madrigal:
Having read all of Armistead Maupin's works, I have found this (apparently) 'final' in the series of 'Tales...' a bit disappointing. Nothing much occurs OR is it that times have changed and we've all moved on from Mona, Anna etc?
"One of the most acclaimed sagas of our time...A celebration of life in all its craziness...As good as anything Maupin has offered us" -- John Sutherland The Times "The brilliance of Maupin is his mingling of high camp with tragedy and deep feeling - all with a miraculously light touch" -- Daily Mail Wendy Holden "A proper Maupin-esque swansong - moving, funny and obscene. We expect nothing less" -- Isabel Berwick Financial Times "Christopher Isherwood was absolutely correct when he declared Maupin to be the Dickens of the modern world" -- Chuck Palahniuk
Series: Tales of the City
Audience: General
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number Of Pages: 288
Published: 3rd February 2014
Country of Publication: GB
Dimensions (cm): 23.3 x 15.4 x 2.2
Weight (kg): 0.38
Edition Number: 1

subset: commoncrawl


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London, July 3 (ANI): The chief of the Afghan army has said Pakistan is complicit in US drone strikes, despite its condemnation of the anti-militant campaign.
In an interview with BBC's Today programme, General Sher Mohammad Karimi said that US has not started drone attacks on its own, arguing Pakistan had given the lists of militants to the super power it wants taken out.
In reference to one of the most feared Afghan insurgent groups, Karimi said the drones are used against those Taliban who are part of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The drones are never used against Haqqani or Afghan Taliban, Express Tribune reports.
Karmi also added that fighting in Afghanistan could be stopped in weeks if Pakistan told the Taliban to end the insurgency.
He said Pakistan controlled and gave shelter to Taliban leaders, who are deliberately sending fighters to Afghanistan.
He added that if Pakistan put pressure on Taliban leadership or convinced them that could of great help.
A Nato report leaked in April revealed that Pakistan was aware that Taliban leaders were taking refuge within its borders.
The report added that senior Taliban figures such as Nasiruddin Haqqani were living close to ISI headquarters in Islamabad.
It was based on the interrogations of 27,000 captured Taliban, al-Qaeda and foreign fighters as well as civilians.
Pakistan has however consistently denied having any influence over the Taliban. (ANI)


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North's goalie Greg Feliu (New Rochelle) and Anthony Carudo (Suffern), center, defend a shot by South's Teddy Bellis (Mamaroneck) during an exceptional senior hockey game at the Ice Hutch in Mount Vernon March 18, 2013. (Matthew Brown/The Journal News) To view a gallery of photos from the game, click here.
By Dan DeFrancesco
MOUNT VERNON — For the past four months, Section 1 hockey teams have battled it out with one another at ice rinks across the Lower Hudson Valley.
On Monday night, a truce was called after a war of a season so that some of the best seniors throughout the section could play with each other in the Exceptional Seniors game at the Ice Hutch.
For Scarsdale's Ian Marinelli, the game was a chance to see how the other half lives, so to speak.
"It lets me get to know some of these kids that I don't know, that I just think are kinda not great kids because they play for Mamaroneck or Pelham," Marinelli said. "It's good to get us all together and play one last game."
Getting a chance to team with someone who was competition a few weeks earlier is exactly why Mamaroneck coach Mike Chiapparelli likes organizing the event every year.
"I think they'll go home from this game and go, 'Hey, that guy really is good,' or, 'He's not as good as I thought he was,' " said Chiapparelli, who is the head of the coaches' association. "I think it's a good-feeling kind of game."
While the 28 seniors were divided into two teams, the South coached by White Plains' Howie Rubenstein and the North handled by Lakeland/Panas' Bart Mucci, the game was more of a showcase. Hitting was not allowed, and penalty shots were awarded for penalties, increasing the pace of the game and allowing players to show off their finesse.
The spirit of the game was clear early. After White Plains' Kevin McGee scored the game's first goal, he celebrated with a head-first dive across the ice.
"The kids hop on the line with kids they might not have been with, and they get to play with them," Chiapparelli said. "It's fun."
South would end up victorious, winning 13-12.
For the majority of the players, the game signified potentially their last time playing a sport that has been a large part of their lives.
"It's good because I'm not really playing any more competitive hockey," Suffern's Robert Clark said. "So it's fun playing this against all the teams I've played with throughout my high school career."
While Kevin Halpin, a defenseman for Sleepy Hollow/Irvington/Dobbs Ferry, said he would try to play club hockey wherever he ends up, he understands the game meant the end of a chapter of his life, in terms of hockey.
"It's upsetting and also exciting," said Halpin of his last game representing his high school team. "It's moving on with my hockey career."
Marinelli, who will play roller hockey in college next year, looked at it as just another opportunity to get back on the ice.
"It's one last bang, I guess," Marinelli said. "One last game."


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Taksim Sopha Hostel, Istanbul, Turkey
It depends what you want If you need a place to go for a party then it is excellent, since it is very close to Istikal.
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New Red River Hostel, Istanbul, Turkey
Breakfasts are good. Also the owner is very dependable. The location is good, amy people are not only to bo close to party. It is more peacefull. It is a very good Hostel.
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- 1 of 1 Photos | View More Photos
Two Guernsey County men are facing criminal charges after they were caught in the act enacting challenges similar to those on the television show "Ninja Warrior" at a Dewey Avenue facility late Monday night.
Cambridge police charged John F. Workman, 46, Cambridge, and Jaryd L. McClay, 25, Byesville, each with criminal mischief following the incident at approximately 11:13 p.m.
Both men were arrested by officers in the parking lot outside The Salvation Army building.
According to reports, officers were dispatched to the building after a caller reported two men, later identified as Workman and McClay, appeared to be trying to break into the building. The caller advised one of the males was on the roof and the other was located in the parking lot keeping a watchful eye on the area around the building.
On arrival, police reportedly observed Workman jump from the building's roof and land in the parking lot next to McClay.
Workman and McClay were detained at gunpoint until officers could determine what they was doing outside the building.
Workman reportedly advised police the men were completing challenges similar to "Ninja Warrior," an obstacle course competition.
The men were issued a summons in lieu of jail and served with the citations. They are scheduled to appear in the Cambridge Municipal Court on July 8 to answer to the charges.
The report did not indicate officers found any evidence the men were trying to break into The Salvation Army building.
The incident remained under investigation by Cambridge police.


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Final Four 2012
March 25, 2012 by staff
Final Four 2012, Louisville Coach Rick Pitino has presided over 616 victories during his 26 seasons in charge of four college basketball programs, but he never felt as conflicted after any of those other wins the way he did Saturday. His team had just erased an 11-point second-half deficit and advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 2005.
But after the fourth-seeded Cardinals' 72-68 win over seventh-seeded Florida in the West Region final, Pitino found himself nearly apologetic as he met with Gators Coach Billy Donovan — a man Pitino considers as his seventh child — briefly at midcourt.
The Post's NCAA Tournament database has every result since 1985. Searchable by team, coach, conference, seed and round.
"I said: 'Billy, I feel bad. I feel terrible, man,'?" Pitino said. "He said: 'Are you kidding me, Coach? I am so happy for you.' That just didn't happen in this world."
For so many reasons, Pitino's latest victory wasn't supposed to happen. Saturday was supposed to mark the first time Donovan defeated Pitino in seven tries. Florida made 8 of 11 three-pointers in the first half and carried an eight-point advantage into halftime. Pitino was issued a technical foul with just less than 11 minutes to play after his second starter had collected a fourth foul.
The Gators led by 11 with just more than eight minutes remaining in the second half.
But Pitino had been in a similar situation seven years earlier. In 2005, as the fourth seed in the West Region final in Albuquerque, Louisville had fallen behind West Virginia by 13 during a first half in which the Mountaineers made 10 of 14 three-pointers. The Cardinals won that game in overtime, 93-85.
So rather than panic, Pitino made adjustments. The Gators easily found holes along the perimeter in Louisville's 2-3 defensive zone to take open shots, so Pitino told his team to switch to a matchup zone. And when that didn't work, Pitino told his players to play man-to-man defense, something the Cardinals rarely practice.
"But the great thing was [Pitino] showed us their plays [against man-to-man defense] before the game," Louisville point guard Peyton Siva said. "He said: 'Just in case we do have to go man, here's what they're going to do. But we might not use it at all.' He's a great coach, and he's going to be in the Hall of Fame."
The Gators missed all nine three-pointers they attempted in the second half. But foul trouble continued to hamper Louisville throughout the afternoon. Siva, who finished with nine points and eight assists, fouled out with just less than four minutes to play. Siva's fourth foul led to Pitino's second technical of the season.
"Once [Pitino] got the technical, it just seemed like it was the last straw," Louisville forward Kyle Kuric said. "In this game, it was kind of like calls weren't going our way and shots weren't going in. Everything that could go wrong was going wrong. So it was like, 'Okay, they're not going to give it to us, so we have to fight and win.'?"
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This property is an income restricted property. A maximum income limitation may apply. Not all renters will qualify and other restrictions may apply. Please contact the property for details.
Terracina Apartments is a beautiful community that you will be proud to call home! We are an affordable, multi-family community located in one of Reno's most popular neighborhoods. We are zoned for Sarah Winnemucca Elementary, Billinghurst Middle School and McQueen High School, three of the best in Reno. Terracina Apartments feature fantastic amenities that include a heated pool, a playground, a fitness center, a recreation room and much more! Our apartments were designed with four different floorplans so arranging your furniture is no problem! At Terracina Apartments you don't have to worry about storage- we offer extraordinary amounts of cabinet space, extra large bathrooms and private patios (*most patios feature extra storage space). Our grounds are meticulously landscaped and our staff is friendly and professional! We are also pet friendly & accept small dogs & cats up to 25 lbs (2 pet maximum) and no pet rent. Call or come by today- we can't wait to show you your new home!
Lease Terms: 6 or 12 months you decide! Pet Policy: Pets are welcome! 2 pets maximum & a weight Limit of 25 lbs. Pet Deposit $500 (Refundable). No Pet Rent Charged!!!
Weight Restriction. Cats Allowed. Dogs Allowed. Call for service animal policy.
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Don't think for a moment that the College's Lyric Theatre Society is targeting only young people not old enough to have a student ID with "An Evening of One-Act Children's Operas," Oct. 23-25. "The Impresario" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and "Hansel and Gretel" by Engelbert Humperdinck will play well to "kids" of all ages, according to director Heather Hunnicutt.
"Young children will see 'The Impresario' as a cartoon, while their parents will snicker at some things that will go over the kids' heads," said Hunnicutt, Assistant Professor of Music and Coordinator of Vocal Studies. "Then, the glamorous music and fog effects in 'Hansel and Gretel' will send kids, their parents and other adults into a world they'll enjoy escaping to."
Hunnicutt said LTS actually chose the two just-under-an-hour works with college students in mind. "The Impresario" is a light-hearted comedy about trying to put together an opera season for a theatre company, and "Hansel and Gretel" is an operatic adaptation of the classic children's fairytale. There's a 10-minute intermission.
"The first is hilarious," she said. "The second is a drama, but 'Hansel and Gretel' is a story line they are already familiar with and therefore accessible." Both operas are being performed in English and include a mix of singing and spoken dialogue.
The colorful, whimsical sets are also bound to liven up the John L. Hill Chapel stage. Take special note of the Witch's Gingerbread House in "Hansel and Gretel," which was designed by a contest-winning Scott County third-grader. The winner of this art competition held by a number Scott County elementary school classes will be revealed in the program and in the Georgetown News-Graphic.
H.M. Lewis of the Music faculty will conduct a chamber orchestra which will include Georgetown faculty members Eloise Lewis as 1st violin, Bill Stevens on bass and Andrea Peach on bassoon. There are also a number of faculty children involved as the gingerbread children in "Hansel and Gretel."
A special treat is the return of May graduate Ryland Pope, who was chosen Best Singer/Artist Overall in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) State Competition a year ago, as guest artist. The Georgetown College cast includes music majors and minors: Molly Shoulta, Nathan Van Til, Daniel Ng, Michael Cannon, Sable Floyd, Cate Kilgore, Chuck Harris, Haley Howard, Elyssa McElrath, Victoria Engelhardt and Elizabeth Maines.
Tickets are on sale starting October 1 in the campus bookstore; $4 for all students with identification, $10 for adults. Children 8-and-under are free and receive crayons and a coloring book that will guide them through the stories. You may also reserve seats by calling The Store at (502) 863-8134.
The curtain is at 7 p.m. for "An Evening of One-Act Children's Operas" on Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24. But NOTE the misnomer in the title – Sunday's performance (Oct. 25) begins at 3 in the afternoon.


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" Brand: Wella / Type: Moulding Products "
* Prices may differ from that shown
Styling gum for the hair that is used to make texture and a messed up effect.
You scoop a little bit into your fingertips and use it to mess up and style short layered hair. You have to push it through the hair at steep angles to create volume and it does not work on long hair because the weight of the hair weighs down the extra volume that has been created.
I like to use Shockwaves for my male clients and for my husband also when I style his hair. It is good for hair that has got a mid length and mid thickness also because that is the best hair for volume and a messed up look. I think it looks special nice on blond hair because of all the different tones in that colour hair.
It is pleasing to use because the texture is not sticky at all and it does not make the hands or hair feel greasy. The hair feels very dry after I have used it and I think it does dry out the hair so I would not want to use it every day because I think it would create a problem unless you have got greasy hair to start with. It needs washing after also because the gum leaves a lot of residue in the hair and that can make it impossible to style the next morning.
It does not hold a style properly for very long so I use it for messing up only and I am sure to tell my clients that their style will need to still be set with hair spray unless they do not care about only having mess and no style. This looks good on some men but not on others so if you are not sure then you should get it done in a salon or spend time in front of the mirror at home to make sure this modern style is right for you.
A tub of Shockwaves Mess Constructor costs about £3 and I think that is value because you only have to use a very small amount for every hair style so it lasts for a long time.
4 Dooyoo Stars.
I was still trying to get my hair in the style I wanted, I have tried so many products over the years, but never managed to get it exactly how I wanted. I really wanted something to give my hair a bit of volume that stayed there and didn't just flop down as the day went on.
I was looking on the internet at some videos and saw someone doing their hair and she used a cream and just rubbed it in the roots so I thought I would have a look when I went shopping for something similar without breaking the bank. I had a look in Superdrug and found another Shockwaves product with the dramatic title of Ultra Strong Mess Constructor Creme Gel! I thought if this doesn't work then nothing will so I bought some to try out.
The pot cost me £1.99 and it contains 150ml of crème. The crème is a nice white colour and doesn't look like any hair styling product that I have seen before. It feels very gloopy when you put your fingers in it but it isn't a horrible feeling.
I blow dried my hair into my normal style first making sure it was properly dry, then I dipped my finger tips of both hands into the crème just getting a tiny amount on the ends, then pushed my fingers into my hair where I wanted the lift and rubbed the cream to the roots. Miraculously my hair immediately bounced up in the air giving me some lift. I did this all over where I wanted it and it was amazing how it was lifting up. I thought to myself that by the end of the day it would be flat down again but it wasn't. My hair style stayed in all day long. I had got a bit of mousse in it when drying it and also a tiny bit of wax on the tips and a squirt of hair spray over the top but I was so pleased with the result altogether.
I have now been using this crème every time I wash and style my hair and have found my style will stay in for 3 or 4 days. It is brilliant stuff for me. I have had lots of compliments from people asking if I have had it done at the hairdresser's. I would recommend this product if you need a lift to your short hair.
A couple of years ago I had my hair in a bob, my best mate was always teasing me about it saying I looked like a sunday school teacher lol. A friend of ours daughter who was fourteen at the time was doing a evening class at a local hair salon and was doing her certificate to allow her to cut hair. The said girl said she would cut it for me for free and needed the practice so I agreed to let her have a go.
The little monkey was having a good old time on my hair she added tram lines and bold patches to my head. She later admitted to my best mate that she did not like me and simply did it for that reason. Word of warning never trust a fourteen year old with your hair!
The girl in question did me a huge favour because since them I go to the local barbers for a cut as they are way better at cutting the choppy syle I now have.
The packaging~
Comes in a bright red tub with the Wella logo clearly shown at the top with a lady's head above.
here is 150ml of creme gel in the tub. Made by the well known firm Procter and Gamble . They make lots of personal and household products and have done so for years. They can also be foundon facebook. www.facebook.com/shockwavesuk
Myself using it~
My hair is blonde at the moment short and choppy and I must amit I have tried all sorts of products of late and spent an absolute fortune on the stuff. I love shopping at Boots and bought this fantastic life saving gel. It is white in colour and looks like glue to be honest. It smells rather pleasent citrus scent i would say not at all nasty, it is rather sticky like glue so wash your hands after use. Simply put a pea size amount in your hand and work it into your finger tips work through the tips of your hair to create that choppy look. I find the gel that astrong that I never need to use hair spray even on the most windy of days. The pot lasts for ages mine lasts for about a month and I use it daily.
Available from all good super markets for around £2.50 a pot.
I bought this along with a Shock Waves hairspray as they were on a multibuy offer and I'd just had my hair cut, so it was a good excuse to splurge a little!
There are so many brands to choose from that often have some very desirable claims, but whether they live up to them and whether they're worth the price paid is often another matter! I opted for Shock Waves, which are produced by Wella, because it's a popular brand that I've heard some good things about and I trust to make good quality products. They've got years of experience in hair care and styling and the ever expanding range should cater for whatever needs and wants you have when it comes to your hair.
The Ultra Strong Mess Constructor comes in a handy sized red tub with a twist top lid. The Shock Waves logo is recognisable and the packaging looks quite neat but modern and eye catching. The tub tells us that this provides a 'long-lasting hold for a messed-up look', and it's been given 4 rectangles to show it's got a strong hold (I think 5 is the strongest). On the back, it claims to give 'long-lasting hold for serious staying power' in order to achieve the 'out all night look', which is something I wanted to try with shorter hair.
To apply, work it through dry or damp hair and then do as you wish. Scrunch it up, mould or twist your hair in to the style you want. To get the best effect, rub with a circular motion through the palms of your hands. It's easy to wash off afterwards too, which is good to know. I've used this on dry and damp hair and find the effect is more noticable when hair is dry, but it's worth playing about with to see what works best for you.
I really like the smell of this, which is quite sweet and reminds me of shampoo. The cream is white but when rubbed in rather than blobbed on you can't see it. Sometimes, however, it you apply too much you will notice it makes hair very hard and the white tinge is visible; it depends on what you're aiming to achieve, but I find I don't need too much. In fact, I use so little each time that the tub has lasted me ages, which makes it good value for money for my usage.
Because this is creamier and neither solid nor too watery, it gives a reasonably strong hold to your hair whilst keeping it flexible, providing you don't lather it on. I can see the effect of the cream, which I tend to use more on the ends of my hair to tousle it or flare it out, so it does do something. It can be a little messy in the tub to use and you will need to wash your hands afterwards, but other than that, it's quite quick and easy to apply so it's good for when you're in a rush.
I wouldn't suggest using this for overly dramatic looks because whilst it says it has a strong hold, I don't think it's particularly powerful to keep a demanding style for too long. Getting a messy look with this, the just out of bed look, is very quick and easy, so if that's what you're going for then this is worth a try.
Overall, the product is pleasant, quick and easy to use, and provides a reasonably strong hold on a messed up look. I wouldn't say that it lives up to the claim of being ultra strong, but for the reasons I use it, it has been effective enough and has lasted me a long time.
Selling at Boots for £2.85
Shockwaves texture gum is a very good product which I often use in my hair. It comes in a handy tub which is easily accessible to dip your fingers into as its not too deep and so it makes it easier for you to get all of the last bit out. This variety is firm hold and it does hold strong which is a bonus and especially when used with hairspray as well it will hold throughout the day which others don't seem to master very well.
When styling your hair you don't need a huge amount on to get a nice styled look which is good as you don't use too much and also it doesn't leave your hair looking and felling greasy which is what I love about this product. You hardly notice that you've actually got it in your hair as it leaves your hair with a naturally styled look about it.
It glides through your fingers when styling and is good for short to mid length hair styles and is very good for creating messy bed head looks or choppy hair. Another great thing about this product is that it lasts for around 6 weeks when used daily which I think is good as the pot isn't as big as others I've tested but I believe this product to be the best I have tried and I have tried lots.
The pleasant smell also makes it great to use as it doesn't leave your hair smelling all chemically and so makes styling your hair even better. For the consistency of this product its preety thick and gluey but in a good way and rubs into your hair easy but you need to ensure that its fully rubbed in as I have gone out with white blotches in my hair which doesn't look good.
Finally price wise it's a good buy at around £2.60 in the supermarkets not the cheapest on the market but all in all a very good buy and I would highly recommend this to anyone needing help in the hair department.
I first came across wella shockwaves after running out of my brylcreem, which I didn't really like much as it was too waxy and made my hair feel really greasy. I had a quick look on the shelf for a product that was not as thick as wax but could still do the same job. In fact it did the job better for me than the Brylcreem wax did.
The gel really does hold hair up well, I'm not sure how good it would work for people with longer hair but for someone like me with short hair it manages to hold my spikes up and keeps them in the same position for most of the day, but I normally find a top up every 6 hours is needed to keep it held together. It also works well when you apply it just after wetting your hair to style it, as my hair is hard to style when dry so I find that some gels and waxes just become greasy when mixed with water, but this is not the case with Shockwaves.
The smell of the gel is also very nice, it has a sort of light fruity smell to it and has a soft texture, not as thin as gel but also not as thick as wax, more like a paste or cream than anything, which is the best kind of product for me. It also gives a wet look, though without giving your hair a greasy appearance like gel does. It can hold almost any kind of style I have tried on my hair, but I'm not sure it would be that good for people with medium to long hair however.
Overall, this has become my choice for styling my hair since switching to it. I think I paid around £2.50 for a 150ml tub of the stuff, and any large supermarket or health store like Boots should stock it. If there is one fault though is that since using it my morning hair has become atrocious and I need to wash my hair all the time thoroughly. But in terms of how well it performs, and for the price I paid, it is a great product.
The ultra strong mess constructor is a great hair product...
a)if you have the right hair for it
b)if you use enough of it
c)if you dont use too much of it
d)if you want your hair to look messy
I find that not using enough results in my hair drying too quickly, therefore not being able to style my hair, rather just make it stay in one place for a short period of time. The problem is, unless you buy it on offer it can be very expensive compared to other gel type products. For this reason, i tend to wet my hair before and after applying the gel, however this defeats the object of using the gel. Once i tried using more of it. this didnt work as my hair got too heavy and just flopped, making my hair look terrible and a bit greasy.
The gel itself comes in a small pot that looks like a pot of wax. It isnt, its a wierd white gloopy gel, but it does smell nice. On the pot are a few instructions and tips on how to use the Mess Constructor, which are for if you want an "out all night look". The pot is 150ml, which depending how you use it can last a long time.
I would say only use the product if you have quite thick hair which you want to look messy. If you want order from your hair, use a different gel. Be warned it can be costly to buy this stuff. I dont think i would buy it again, but if your hair is the right thickness and you can be bothered to play around with it for 10 minutes every morning then it might be the product for you
I've been using the shockwaves max hold gel for a couple of years now. It makes my hair spikey, very spikey. That's a good thing, until the next day when you wake up, go to the bathroom and look in the mirror. You'll jump a mile in shock when you see the state of your unruly barnet. Hair will be sticking up all over the place at odd angles. If like me, you use it every day, you'll need to wash your hair frequently, not only to get rid of the mid morning carnage that is your hair but also to de-gunk your scalp as the gel tends to dry it out.
Saying that, pre-bedtime you can't really fault this gel. Coming in a nice little blue tube, you apply a small dollop to your hands and apply to your hair (sorry to state the flipping obvious!). How you style your hair is up to you. Recently I've been trying to spike up my fringe a la the bloke from the TV series 'Angel', though my friends think it makes me look like Morrisey, except blonde (and good looking I hasten to add. My picture on my member's page is a testimony to that!).
The hold from this gel is excellent. I find it works best if I use a hairdryer to make it set quickly as once this is done your style is locked in place and a hurricane won't be able to shift it. It feels tacky on your hands so it's best to wash them straight after styling. It costs £2.99 but is regularly available as a 2 for 1 offer so keep your eye out for that as £1.50 represents cracking value for a gel that performs this well.
I'd recommend this product to people, especially when it's on offer. It's very popular and is available almost everywhere, though if you want the best gel on the market, try Modastyling gel. It's a little more expensive and is difficult to come by.
I wanted a product that did not make my hair look greasy and that tamed my frizzy hair, well I sort of got what I wanted...
Firstly this product does okay to tame hair, you don't find many stray hairs once you've used this product all over. If you're after the messed up look then it does well to create this, or even a spiky look, though I'd argue at the 'Ultra Strong' hold of this product, definitely not true; unless you want to use half the tub!
Where the product fail miserably is it's creamy, wet texture that once first applied looks okay, but give it time to dry and you are looking at a grease ball of a head. It clumps hairs together no matter how little you use of the product. Sometimes its just down to the applier, rather than the product it's self, but trust me when I say this, it does matter how much you use, you will end up looking like you need a hair wash.
I tried the product once, and that will do. I'm not one to through away a product, so I've kept it for when my hair is shorter, reducing the amount by which it looks greasy.
Oookey dokey. An old favourite. Suggested this one myself, so I feel very attached to this review. Enjoy.
Before I go onto the product itself, I have to say to the you the reader that my hair is the most unmanageable kind you can get. As a natural redhead, I have the fewest average number of hairs per square inch on my head, its quite fine too. It grows a bit weird too - mostly from the back of my crown. This along with a bit of an odd shaped head (really selling myself here, eh?) makes keeping my hair in any publicly acceptable state is an arduous task at best.
Wella Shockwaves best marketing decision, at least on a personal level, was when they handed a free sample of this out at my school in 2001. It was tiny, you could probably have just about fit a sewing thimble inside. One good dollop that lasted, I kid you not, over 6 weeks. So we have some longevity. Having finally found a gel that held my hair up, I invested in a few tubs (it was 3 for 2 at Boots as I recall, but this was many years ago). Used daily (and rather generously to begin with), those 3 tubs lasted me a full two years. So I bought 3 more tubs. The last splodge of the last tub is currently (at time of writing) sat in my bathroom now. So I want to buy more but here is the PAIN of this product - I can't find it ANYWHERE. I managed to get a deal on ebay.co.uk for 4 tubs, but the only other place I could find it was Boots online store. Nowhere stocks the stuff.
When I first got my hands on this, it was in a blue tub, but came under the same name. Some places still stock this in the blue tub, but recently I've only seen it in the red one. It's a sticky white paste with a consistency similar to icing sugar when you add the right amount of water, and has a light peachy scent*. I find that it works best with just-washed hair, still a bit damp. Though obviously it depends on personal preference, I think the best way to use it is to put a little bit right through your hair, then tiny bits more onto where you want to shape. After about 15 minutes, it dries to form very respectable hold. If you use enough, you get a wet-look, and can be quite crispy, but if not then you'll find that it'll hold just about any shape you want.
If you DO want the wet-look, the hold is rather delicate. All it takes is some fool to scrub your hair and the wet look is gone, though if you can get to a sink quick enough and run some water through it, there is often a good chance that you control the damage.
*(When it was first made, this was quite a strong peachy aroma. There's an interesting personal story involving a picnic in a park, a bush with a beehive in it, and the wafting scent of sweet sugary peach. I'm sure you can fill in the blanks.).
So to wrap up, this product is extremely good, and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a firm hold with potential for wet-look, if you can find the stuff. It is also remarkably cheap. The going rate for powerful hold gel seems to be rather extortionate these days. Unfortunately, I don't know how it would work with lengthy hair - I'd be interested to find out.


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Stroke Awareness
Monday, 12 April 2010
Dr Sean Murphy, Consultant Physician from the Irish Heart Foundation's Council on Stroke
Marie Walsh
"One in five people will have a stroke at some time in their life. Most are over 65, but stroke can strike at any age. Even young people and children can be affected.
It could happen to you, a friend or family member. If it does, the more you know about stroke the better you will be able to deal with the consequences.
Until recently many people, including doctors, believed little or nothing could be done following a stroke.
We now know it is very treatable and, if the right actions are taken quickly, the patient may not have any long term effects.
Therefore, recognising the symptoms and accessing treatment immediately can be crucial. Knowledge of what a stroke can do to a person can also help to minimise its impact.
Dr. Sean Murphy
As with Marie's case she was on the pill and this was attributed to her stroke. Is this common, should someone on the pill be worried?
No, this is relatively uncommon, and is mainly attributed with people who are on the pill who smoke. There is a recommendation for women who are older to reconsider taking the pill if they are smokers, because it does aggravate blood pressure. If blood pressure is normal then there is usually no problem, but people should always investigate family history.
Is it common for someone so young to have a stroke?
You are never too young to have a stroke but certainly it wouldn't be for the same reasons that most people have it (see risk factors below). There is normally an underlying condition. However the important thing is that we know how to recognise when someone is having a stroke, regardless of the cause.
For someone to get to the hospital quickly may be the difference between having a good recovery or being left with a disability that can have a devastating effect. People should also investigate stroke units because it is proven that anyone who has care in a stroke unit will be more likely to make a good recovery, so this is really important.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is a brain attack. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel, which is carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain, bursts or is blocked by a clot. This causes an interruption of the blood supply to part of the brain. This can damage or destroy brain cells which will affect body functions.
For example, if a stroke damages the part of the brain that controls limb movement, a person's ability to move an arm or leg may be affected. A stroke can also affect mental processes such as how people feel, think, communicate, or learn.
The term 'stroke' comes from the fact that it usually happens without warning, 'striking' the person from out of the blue. The effects of a stroke on the body are immediate.
Stroke Symptoms Include:
o Numbness, weakness, or paralysis on one side of the body
o Slurred speech, difficulty thinking of words or understanding other people
o Confusion
o Sudden blurred vision or sight loss
o Being unsteady on your feet
o Severe headache
How to Act F.A.S.T.
A simple test can help you recognise if someone has had a stroke:
Facial weakness - can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
Arm weakness - can the person raise both arms?
Speech problems - can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?
Time to call 999 for an ambulance if you spot any one of these signs.
Why does a stroke happen?
It is often not obvious why someone should have suffered a stroke. Even though many people believe it to be a factor, stress is not a cause of stroke.
A stroke can happen to anyone. Some people are at greater risk for reasons beyond their control such as age and family history. Also, statistics show that people from Asian and African communities are more likely to have a stroke.
Other Risk Factors Include:
. High blood pressure
. Smoking
. Being overweight
. Diabetes
. High cholesterol
. Heavy drinking.
All of these risks can be modified or changed through medication or lifestyle changes.
What are the results of stroke?
A stroke causes damage to the brain. The effects depend on the part of the brain that is affected. But every stroke is different.
For some people the effects are mild and last a short time. Other strokes may cause more severe or lasting disability.
The effects of stroke will depend on the part of your brain that has been damaged; how bad the injury is; and your general health when the stroke occurs.
The right half of the brain controls the left side of the body and vice versa. For example, weakness or paralysis in the left arm may result from a stroke in the right side of the brain.
For most people, the left side of the brain controls language (talking, reading, writing, understanding). The right side controls perceptual skills (making sense of what you see, hear, touch) and spatial skills (judging size, speed, distance, position).
Additional Info:
What common disabilities can stroke cause?
Weakness or hemiplegia- About 80 per cent of people who survive a stroke will suffer paralysis on one side of the body. This can either be partial or complete depending on the seriousness of the stroke.
Paralysis -Paralysis is caused because of injury to the area of the brain that sends messages to the arms and legs. Sometimes this loss of power also affects one side of the face.
Your balance may also be affected making you likely to fall or to lean sideways in bed, or on a chair.
Loss of sensation on one side of the body - This can be more than just loss of feeling in the skin. It can mean that without looking you will not know how your arm or leg is positioned. You may also have difficulties knowing right from left and with judgment of depth and distance.
Swallowing - Swallowing difficulties affect about 50% of people who have a stroke. Liquids are more difficult to swallow than solid food.
Difficulties in communicating - You may experience aphasia (also known as dysphasia). This affects your ability to understand and use language.
There are two major communication problems after stroke:
Not being able to understand the spoken word.
Not being able to express words.
You may lose your ability to speak completely, but still understand everything that is said to you. If you meet someone affected by stroke you should not assume because they cannot speak that they cannot understand.
For other people who have had a stroke, it can almost make it seem like everyone else is speaking a foreign language. After a stroke you may be able to speak, but what you say may not always make sense. Your reading and writing abilities can also be affected.
Loss of intellectual or thinking ability.
You may have problems with attention, concentration, working out problems and grasping new information. Memory problems usually relate to day-to-day events rather than long-term memories.
Loss of vision - You may lose half your field of vision where you can see everything on one side, but nothing on the other. If you have weakness of the left side of your body, you may find it difficult to see things on that side. Often people are unaware of this problem and may be surprised to keep bumping into furniture and door frames.
Emotional changes - Emotional ups and downs can be caused either by the distress that comes from having a stroke, or changes that have happened in the brain.
Mood swings, caused by changes in the brain, are often experienced after stroke. Depression, anger, anxiety, sadness and loss of confidence are all common.
You may find it hard to control your emotions and may laugh or cry for no apparent reason.
Is there any treatment for stroke?
Stroke services can have a profound impact on patient outcomes by targeting medical care early and providing a preventive plan against further strokes.
Drug treatment in the early hours after stroke may also benefit certain people. Treatments such as thrombolysis (clot busting) aim to dissolve the blood clot with powerful blood thinners.
Do people recover?
Recovery is usually a gradual process after stroke and can take many months as the brain needs time to heal.
The recovery varies from person to person and ranges from those who are left with a slight disability, to those with more serious impairments. In general, most recovery is made in the first six months, but progress can continue after this time."
Ref:- www.irishheart.ie
Stroke and The pill:
The oral contracep¬tive pill can cause a stroke in women, but the risk is very small. If 10,000 women take the pill for one year, on average one of these women will have a stroke as a result. These figures are based on the use of the combined pill, which includes an oestrogen and a progestogen.
The risk is about three times that of a similar aged woman not on the pill. The risk appears to be higher if you smoke cigarettes. Despite this threefold risk, the chance of a stroke is still tiny, because strokes are so rare during the child-bearing years. This risk is also small when com¬pared with the usual risks of preg¬nancy. Overall, the benefits of the pill usually overwhelm the small increased risk of a stroke.


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|Rated: TV-G (US) / G (Canadian Home Video Rating)
Starring: Bridgit Mendler, Leigh-Allyn Baker, and Mia Talerico
Released: April 11, 2010 - November 27, 2011 (Disney Channel premieres) / June 18, 2013 (DVD)
Plots: 4/5
The main reason I like the shows on Disney Channel is because they remind me of old-school programming, such as Mork & Mindy or I Love Lucy. On that front, this set delivers. The episodes go between zany, silly, and just downright bizarre, but I just couldn't help but laugh.
Production Values: 4/5
No one these days makes sitcoms like the Disney Channel. Even Nickelodeon's iCarly and VICTORiOUS, as insanely fun as they can be, aren't exactly the same as what you can find on the Mouse network. Of course, I doubt anything in this DVD set will change the minds of those who find Disney sitcoms to be inane tripe, but I would suggest at least giving the show a chance before completely brushing it off.
Content Concerns:
- Sex: A reference is made to different body parts on opposite gender babies. P. J. becomes infatuated with a female TV character who is said to always wear a bikini, though she is never seen. 3.75/5
- Nudity: Amy wears a few tops that show some slight cleavage. The Shake It Up crossover episode features CeCe (Bella Thorne) wearing an outfit that shows some slight midriff. 4/5
- Drugs: None; this is a Disney show! 5/5
- Language: The euphemism "darn" is used once. The episode "Teddy on Ice" features a sub-plot involving Charlie using bad language. (Spoiler: It is revealed that Amy taught her that word.) 4/5
- Violence: Typical sitcom slapstick. A TV show Bob watches features an alien who has a gun, and P. J. and Gabe watch a soap opera where someone gets shot (heard, not seen.) 4/5
- Frightening/Intense Scenes: Nothing in this department. 5/5
- Other: Some of the gags revolve around bathroom humor: flatulence, urination, etc. 4/5
Score: 4/5


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Wall Street Journal
3rd Circuit upholds longest insider-trading sentence
Ex-Big Law Partner Matthew Kluger just got some bad news.
Glaxo investigating Botox marketing in China
GlaxoSmithKline is investigating allegations that its Chinese sales personnel inappropriately rewarded doctors for prescribing the company's Botox drug.
FDA rule would allow generic drugmakers to update labels
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to issue a new rule that will allow generic drugmakers to make changes to their drugs' labeling.
Album cover artist sues James Cameron over "Avatar"
Film director James Cameron is facing a lawsuit tied to "Avatar" more than three-and-a-half years after the blockbuster film came out.
Law firm hourly rates jumped 4.8% last year
According to the latest figures, law firms are clawing back some of the pricing power they lost during the recession.
Skilling's sentence reduced to 14 years
It could just be four more years for Jeffrey Skilling.
Dolce and Gabbana convicted of tax evasion
All's not well in the world of fashion.
Eight charged in cybercrime scheme targeting banks, government
Yesterday, New Jersey federal prosecutors charged eight people involved in an international cybercrime scheme that targeted 15 financial institutions and government agencies and aimed to steal at least $15 million from U.S. customers.
Walgreens reaches $80 million settlement over painkillers
The nation's largest pharmacy retailer has reached a record-breaking settlement with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Senate confirms Obama nominee for D.C. Circuit
The D.C. Circuit will soon be welcoming a new judge.


text: "Hi, for years I used Tide, Clorox and Cascade dish washing soap. I had worked 20 years ago at a spa that used this and it did the trick (of course you have to be careful in how much cascade you use. With that said, cascade has changed over the years…"


text:
Take a moment to revisit the stories of that infamous day, including ongoing recovery efforts. Full story »
"Without the governor's help, we would be just like we were the day the storm hit." Full story »
Recalling the storms brings back painful memories and resentment but also reminders of the resilience Alabamians showed in the face of disaster. Full story »
April 27, 2011, was one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in U.S. history. 348 people were killed across the South - 252 in Alabama alone. Full story »
I have to believe I am not alone. There are more people like me, who also wonder how to put on a happy face today. Five years down the road it all comes down to what is left and what is not. Full story »
As of July 2013, the state of Alabama had received $63 million for more than 4,000 individual safe rooms and 282 community storm shelters. Full story »
When tragedy strikes, the words "never forget" become a mantra. Those who lived through the April 27, 2011, tornadoes that ravaged the state of Alabama may never forget that day, regardless of their experiences. Many of the communities struck have seen great change in the five years since. This is a look at where they are today, in their own words. Full story »
How the devastating Tuscaloosa tornado forever changed Alabama head coach Nick Saban's life. Full story »
"I wouldn't say it was pressure. I would think of it more as pride." Full story »
Two small towns absorbed a chilling blow from the storm packing winds in excess of 200 mph. Full story »
Four lives and much of Cordova's downtown were lost when two tornadoes hit the small Walker County town five years ago. The city has turned the tragedy into an opportunity to reinvent itself. Full story »
How Alabama communities have recovered in the years since April 27, 2011 Full story »
The worry was only compounded by a pre-dawn round of storms, which spawned several tornadoes and knocked out power to thousands. Full story »
This month, as we reflect on the events of five years ago, we also look back at our own work from that time. Full story »
The stories of three pups who thrived after the storms. Full story »
The words came by the tens of thousands, the emotion and heartbreak beyond measure. Full story »
How a historic string of deadly storms unfolded over a day Alabama will never forget. Full story »
"Sometimes from a negative can come a positive." Full story »
Laurie Anne MacConnell is alive and in good health, and now is with family in Georgia, police announced today. Full story »
Hackleburg High School and Elementary School opened the doors to the new facility today to over 250 students in K-12. The April 27, 2011 F5 tornado flattened the schools in one of the worst tornado outbreaks in state history. The new campus is a two story brick structure enclosing 168,000 square feet. It features a science lab, large... Full story »


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Tue., March 19, 2013, 8:02 a.m.
There was this guy …
Ever wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to get back to sleep? A million thoughts are running through your head. Finally your mind focuses on one. You refine the thought, clean it up, mull it over and decide it's brilliant. Something that is perfect. Just what you need. Sleep comes. When you wake in the morning you can't remember what it was. Then it hits you. That's it. That's what you were thinking about. And guess what? It's really, really stupid. Read on.
• No, that never happens to me. Why would you ask? Just because I came this close to writing a long satirical blog post about a Spokane man who refuses to put Gonzaga in his bracket's Final Four and how he's ostracized by the community. It seemed like it would be funny. At 2:30 this morning. Now, not so much.
• One quick thought from the women's NCAA tournament. Gonzaga seems a bit underseeded as a 12, though, if I were associated with Iowa State, I certainly wouldn't want to be the 5 seed that has to play the Bulldogs. It seems odd to me that the champion of one of the top seven or eight conferences in the nation – by the numbers – would be as low as a 12 seed. But that probably became necessary because the committee didn't want, should GU win, a 3 or higher seed having to play a second-round game on GU's home court. ... One other thing about the women's bracket. Stanford is the top seed in the West. The second seed is cross bay rival Cal, who finished second in the Pac-12. Would make for a great regional final if the two meet at the Spokane Arena in a couple weeks.
• I know some people are going to say I buried the lead, but I wanted to address actual news before getting into this. There are a couple stories out there parsing Washington State athletic director Bill Moos' comments yesterday on his radio show concerning basketball coach Ken Bone. One ran in our paper from Christian Caple, which covers the situation as well as possible. But don't expect any Internet-shattering news to come out of the annual meeting between Moos and his basketball coach. The Cougars don't have the wherewithal to buy out Bone's contract, even if the desire were there to make a change (and I don't believe it is). The $2.55 million price tag is way too high. Want to know why? Look at the new building on the south side of the football field. Look at the new operations building rising on the west side. Those buildings cost money. And there is only so much to go around.
• Gonzaga: Southern University was 4-26 just a couple seasons ago. Now the Jaguars are in the NCAA tournament and will face Gonzaga Thursday afternoon. Jim Meehan chronicles the amazing turnaround by Southern in this story. ... Dave Boling writes Gonzaga's chances of advancing to the Final Four are the best they have ever been. ... Bud Withers tells us Elias Harris wants to finish his college career with a Final Four berth. ... St. Mary's has a first-round game tonight in Dayton, hoping to emulate VCU from a couple of years ago. ... BYU entertains Washington and C.J. Wilcox in an NIT game tonight. ... With Iowa State as the Zags' first opponent in the women's tournament, Taelor Karr was able to give her teammates a scouting report. Chris Derrick has the story and a blog post. The Cyclones know it will be a road game but they don't believe it will be that tough. They have a point. Iowa State has played in front of opposing crowds of 8,008 (Baylor), 6,199 (Oklahoma) and 5,005 (Texas Tech), so Saturday's crowd shouldn't be too intimidating. ... BYU's women are in the WNIT.
• Washington State: Christian has other duties but he was able to put up a morning post today, with Pac-12 links. He also has the story and blog post on the Ken Bone situation. ... There is one more blog post from Christian. It has the dates and (some of the) times of the spring practices. ... The two teams meeting in the Division II West Regional finals tomorrow have a lot of former Cougars playing for them.
• EWU: The Eastern women earned a WNIT berth and will travel to Seattle to face the Huskies.
• Idaho: The Vandals' reward for earning their first NCAA women's bid in almost three decades is a trip to Storrs to face the University of Connecticut. Christian has the story. ... Seattle U., which lost to UI in the WAC finals, will play in the WNIT. ... The Denver men are happy to be in the NIT, all things considered.
• Whitworth: Another honor is bestowed on a Pirate basketball star.
• Chiefs: It's been a weird season for the Winterhawks, albeit a very successful one.
• Mariners: Two main elements running through the M's stories today, both based on their win yesterday. The first is the power that seems to be emerging in the middle of the order. Not from the youngsters as much as the veterans the M's have imported. The other has to do with the starting pitching as the battle for the five rotation spots heats up.
• Seahawks: Pete Carroll is smart enough to realize great coaching can happen in any sport, and there are lessons to be learned. ... The Hawks were awarded a couple extra late-round draft picks yesterday. ... Want to know what's in the contract of the newest Seahawk?
• Sounders: Eddie Johnson and a couple other Sounders won't be available for this Saturday's game with San Jose. It's because of duty with their national teams. ... The Cascadia Cup race is underway.
• Guess what? We're on the radio this afternoon. Dennis Patchin is flying to Salt Lake City to cover Gonzaga, so we're going to fill his seat on 700 ESPN, teaming with Keith Osso and Rick Lukens to talk all things sports. You can listen between 3 and 6 p.m. right here. I'll try to sound lucid. Until then ...
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Have you watched the Real Housewives of Miami? Everything seems so tame and boring after Beverly Hills. Plus, I thought the drag queen was going to be on all the time. Not so. Anyway, one of the stars of the show is Alexia Echevarria. It seems that Alexia's ex-husband is a convicted drug dealer, smuggler and a registered sex offender. That is quite the combination. He is also the father of Alexia's two sons.
He told The Enquirer that the two did drugs together all the time back in the 80's. He also says she sees him all the time still. Oh, and that sexual assault and battery of a minor that he was sentenced to 12 years in jail for? "It was a one-night stand. Her parents had me arrested," he explained. "Things happen." Uh huh. So, a guy who shows no remorse at all for sexual assault and battery somehow gets out of jail after only serving a tiny fraction of his sentence. What parole board let this guy out of jail? It seems to me that if he had the opportunity he would do it all over again. And Alexia still sees him all the time?!?


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Evil exists and we should talk about it.
Yesterday, I made some comments about the Newtown shootings. Among other things, I spoke of how sickness of soul is at the heart of these unspeakable situations. I mentioned how that it is events like these that remind us why we still need preachers. Where else are you going to hear anyone speak of the reality of evil and the answer provided in the gospel?
You certainly aren't going to hear much of this in media, social or mainstream. Most of what I have heard in the last several hours has focused on mental illness, and while I would not want to discount or disparage the psychological aspects of the killer's dysfunction, I would say that such explanations are far too simplistic. Chemical imbalances or mental anguish are not the reason for these shootings. Plenty of people experience mental illness without taking guns into schools.
Let us call this what it is. This is evil and evil requires a more than purely physical response. This is a spiritual problem and it is important that we see it as such. The Bible describes life as a struggle between powers. The biblical worldview acknowledges that there is an Evil One who is actively engaged against all things right and pure and good. Evil is expressed as sin, which is far more than simply breaking social prohibitions. Sin, at its core, is a prideful rebellion against truth and righteousness. It is a self-pitying cancer that gives birth to pain and fear and mental suffering. When sin plants its seed it blossoms into every kind of evil, including the kind that we saw yesterday.
At a time like this we need preachers to help lead the conversation. We need people who can help us see the spiritual dimensions. We need preachers who can remind us that the gospel offers a meaningful response. In the gospel we have a means by which God reverses the gravitational pull of evil. In the gospel we realize the grace that says we don't have to manage for ourselves, but that we can find meaning, truth, and forgiveness in the love of God expressed in Jesus Christ. The gospel is the antidote to evil and our ultimate response to human tragedy. These powers are not equal and evil does not exist entirely unrestrained. The gospel teaches that the day will come when all will be put right as God asserts his authority. But that day is not yet here and for now we must resist the influence of evil.
I understand that people do not always live out the implications of the gospel with integrity or with consistency, but that does not obviate the importance of the claim. In the gospel we have the opportunity to re-orient ourselves so that our internal compass points us true. Preachers understand this, and we need them to help us hear this truthful message.
Yesterday I made some comments about form and function and I turned those comments to the subject of guns and their control. I think it is probably wise to try and restrain the opportunity for evil through a simple thing like restricting access to instruments whose only possible function is to exacerbate the incidence of evil. That would help, as similar measures have helped keep people alive all over the world.
But at the end of the day, the problem we are dealing with has little to do with illness or government policy. The problem is that there is evil among us. The problem is that evil exists. The limiting influence of the gospel is being itself limited by those who want to re-imagine evil as something less dramatic.
But perhaps tomorrow as we gather in our churches, with the memory of eighteen slaughtered children on our minds, we might be better positioned to hear the message of the preacher – that evil exists and that it has to be extinguished. The gospel is that extinguisher. The gospel must be preached.


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6 Recommendations
barabajagal's recommendation
I like how simple these are. I wonder if you can stack them.
My Collections:
espy's recommendation
Know any grown up Lego fans? I love these for their minimalist shape as much as I do because of nostalgia. Great stocking stuffers for builders past and present.
HollywoodHomemaker's recommendation
These shakers will have you yelling to your dinner guests "Lego my salt and pepper shakers!". They won't be able to keep their hands off them!
My Collections:
roxygrl's recommendation
Construct a tasty meal with these LEGO brick-shaped salt and pepper shakers! A perfect conversation piece or gift for the LEGO builder in your life. Plus they're stackable!
My Collections:
laurasweet's recommendation
LEGO salt and pepper shakers for the LEGO lunch crowd.
My Collections:
deltadada's recommendation
fun shaker set -- reviews say they are small though


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In U.S. Stress Tests, a Tool to Gauge Contagion in Europe
Note: The Trade is not subject to our Creative Commons license.
Update, September 22, 2011: Yesterday, Standard and Poor's downgraded the credit ratings for seven Italian banks, shortly after downgrading Italy's sovereign credit rating. As Jesse Eisinger explains in this column, Italian financial weakness could have serious consequences for the U.S. banking system.
In early 2010, top officials at the Federal Reserve began to wonder: How would United States banks hold up through the European debt crisis? Investors were fleeing Greece and Ireland and starting to get nervous about Portugal and Spain, spreading contagion.
The conclusion from the stress tests that resulted was heartening to supervisors at the regulator, according to a person who was directly involved in the exercise: American banks didn't have too much exposure to Portugal and Spain, so the contagion would not be a problem.
Unless it hit Italy.
"At the time, the results made us a bit relieved; our focus was on Ireland and Greece," said this person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Fed has a policy of not discussing supervisory actions. "But if Italy goes, God help us all."
American banks had not only a small exposure to Italian government bonds, but a larger one to Italian banks and companies. If the European debt crisis spread to Italy, it could cause another global financial catastrophe. Only this time, global regulators might have fewer weapons to combat it. The Fed declined to comment on its analysis.
And that is why last week was so terrifying, scarier than either the stock market drop or the Standard & Poor's downgrade of the United States credit rating: Debtholders had abandoned Spain and Italy.
At one point on Friday, Italian bonds were trading at more than 400 basis points higher than Germany's, a signal of panic. Italy has a huge debt load. If investors began to focus on that, it wasn't clear what might stop the run.
The European Central Bank intervened this week, buying Spanish and Italian government bonds. On Monday, the panic eased in Europe, with Italian and Spanish interest rates falling. The French and Germans announced that the European Financial Stability Facility (clearly named by Dr. Seuss) would be able to buy those government bonds when it was up and running in late September.
By Wednesday, the fears were back, as French banks got hit especially hard. The problem is that Europe has tried repeatedly to fence off the problem, only to have it escape again to wreak havoc. Greece and Ireland have each been through several rounds of failed bailouts and extensions. If they are bankrupt, and not simply victims of investor panic, then someone, somewhere will have to take losses. And if Spain and Italy start to go down, those losses threaten the global economy.
European banks are on the front lines, vulnerable because they are more thinly capitalized than their American counterparts. Europe has conducted stress tests, just as the Fed has, but they haven't instilled confidence, in part because they didn't subject most sovereign debt holdings to any loss estimates.
The tests did require vast disclosures, however, so that investors and analysts could delve into the numbers and conduct their own analyses.
If European banks go down, what will happen to American banks? Investors and analysts seem unconcerned. American banks disclose some of their exposure to specific countries, but the information isn't up-to-date, and the figures depend on opaque estimates of how well hedged the banks are. Analysts differ on the amounts at risk.
According to a note from the research firm CLSA on July 13, Citigroup had $12.7 billion in Italian holdings, much of it government-related, while JPMorgan Chase had $12.2 billion. According to a note from BernsteinResearch, JPMorgan had "less than $20 billion" in exposure to Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain combined. But that was going in the wrong direction, up from "less than $15 billion" at the end of 2010, when one might expect the banks to be paring exposure.
These aren't large numbers, less than 1 percent of these gigantic banks' balance sheets. And banks wouldn't take 100 percent losses on their investments in the event of a default.
Unfortunately, we simply don't know whether the analysts are right. Neither the Fed nor the Securities and Exchange Commission has forced United States banks to make as detailed disclosures as the European stress tests did of its banks. So, it's a matter of having to trust the banks and the regulators.
Which brings us back to the exercise the Fed undertook last year. Two Fed officials ordered up the analysis: Daniel K. Tarullo, the board member who oversees matters of bank supervision; and Patrick Parkinson, the head of banking supervision, who is reported to have undergone a conversion from an Alan Greenspan antiregulation acolyte to a believer in strong oversight. Clinton D. Lively, a number-cruncher who recently left the New York Fed, was one of the officials who played a major role.
Disturbingly, before the financial crisis of 2008, the Fed, which is the most important bank regulator and is charged with keeping the banking system safe and sound, couldn't really do this kind of analysis, according to former Fed officials. It might have asked banks for the data on their exposures to specific countries, but it couldn't play out a chain of events very easily. What if the central bank wanted to know what would happen to United States banks if the euro fell 20 percent in a short period? The Fed didn't have the tools.
Now it does, thanks in part to the efforts of Mr. Lively and others. The assessment came with its own pitfalls. At time the Fed was gathering the data, a rumor started in markets that the Fed was worried about two Spanish banks. Some European banking supervisors became nervous about the Fed's efforts and voiced those concerns.
Unfortunately, the biggest problem is whether the data truly reflects all the risks. That continues to be a matter of intense debate within the central bank. Given the complexity of the trading arrangements within the global financial system, it's far from clear that the banks have a handle on their own exposures. As we learned in 2008, hedges that seemed solid on Monday disappear on Tuesday.
Nevertheless, it's good to know that the Fed isn't flying blind.
6 comments
The idea that American Banks are somehow in a better position than European banks because of "stress tests" conducted by a few Fed neophytes is nonsensical. Truly, the point here is trust, and, after 2008, there is little from banking institutions that should be trusted.
Perhaps the real story is that investors aren't worried about US Banks because they're already as bad as they could be: insolvent. The Fed may not be flying as blindly as before, but it is hardly flying with a clear windshield. We don't know how much of the banks books they actually were allowed to look at. We don't know how much of the bank's sheets are even discernible as to the actual risks and losses, including contingent losses, they have accrued. Only a full federal audit and investigation, done in public, can yield the information we need, but we know that simply will not happen, for the point of it all is the safety of the banking system for banking's sake, not for the citizen's sake.
I suppose I should know this already, but what does it mean (and what is panic inducing about) Italian bonds trading at 400 basis points above Germany's?
Never mind, I think I got it. 4% higher interest rate, presumably because Italy has to pay that much more interest to sell their risky bonds. Yes?
Happy the Fed isn't flying blind? Maybe I would be if I thought the Fed served the interests of the hungry, which I don't. [they gave up their mandate to assure full employment a LONG time ago.] They are banksters appointed by banksters in the service of banksters and those appointed by politicians are as well. Trust them? Sure, just like I trust poison ivy to be a pain in the buttocks.
Two things come to mind:
First, this is one of the dark sides of globalism. Even as late as the '80s, say, you could crash almost every other country in the world and the remainder could stand on their own. Today, one bad bond spreads like a fire with the fire doors all propped open (which, appropriately, is one of the theories about the DeutscheBank fire a couple of years ago).
Second, if the banks crash and burn…can't we let them? In the past twenty years, they've been creating and exploiting repeated crises to loot the treasury and impoverish its customers. Sometimes it's been with the assistance of Congress (the bailouts), sometimes not (widespread mortgage foreclosures without proving they owned the mortgage), but the constant has been that banks may be good for "the economy," but they're certainly not good for the people who live in it.
As Jim points out, that's about the only way to trust them. See also the S&P claiming that they shouldn't be required to be right or honest when producing ratings.
Break 'em up. Let 'em fail. Keep the government out of private banking.
Keep the banks out of the government. Bad things can only happen when the bankers and the government start being the same.
Read the Arms of Krupp (William Manchester) regarding the genesis of WWII (the 20th Century 'contagion) for good journalism/reportage on the evils of socializing risk, and nationalizing private bankers' wet dreams.
Commenting on this story is closed.
About The Trade
Recent Stories by Jesse Eisinger
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- When It Comes to Wall Street, Preet Bharara Is No Hero
- Rules Frozen by Trump Could Melt Away Without a Trace
- Wells Fargo Places L.A. Exec on Leave Amid Rate-Lock Fee Inquiry


text: For years we had a Giant Vac Classic model 52 blower with an 8 hp motor. The machine worked great. Needed another blower so I went out last spring and bought another Giant Vac Classic model 52. Paid about $550. This machine does not work as well as the old one. Doesn't roll as well and most importantly won't move as many leaves. My ten year old son noticed the difference and commented. I called the manufacturer and they suggested having the RPMs checked; however I think the engine runs just fine. I plan to do this, but who makes a good inexpensive machine on wheels. I really like the old basic Giant Vac Classic. I'd like to sell this one and replace it - any recommendations in the $550 price range and about 9hp. I saw a Billy Goat, but didn't like the chute and having to add a plastic nozzle for forward blowing. Thanks for the recommendations.


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text: Something Blue EDP Spray 3.4 OZ $115 Out of stock - Notify me when this product becomes available. Add to Wishlist Discover Something Blue, a fragrance to cherish forever. Inspired by life's most magical moments, this romantic fragrance opens with a sparkling burst of mandarin and linden blossom and warms to an irresistibly sultry finish with notes of bourbon vanilla and white musk. A removable ring engraved with the designer's signature logo is a symbol of Mr. de la Renta's abiding devotion to his beloved clientele. From this day forward. Fragrance Notes: • Top: Italian Bergamot, Mandarin, Neroli, Linden Blossom • Heart: Stephanotis, Fleur de Narcisse, Lily of the Valley, Kiss of Lychee • Base: Ambrette Seeds, White Musk, Ambergris, Cashmere Woods, Bourbon Vanilla Style# L0064100 Share Contact us


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You won't be able to dismiss this by usual means (escape or click button), but you can close it programatically based on user choices or actions.
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I've added a few custom blocks to "sidebar first" and would like to have those come to the top of the pages but I can't figure out how to delete the "Network Connect" one? It's not on my "blocks" admin page. Thanks
Comment #1pwhiteside CreditAttribution: pwhiteside commented
This is in the page template file for Blue Masters.
To remove it you need to edit that template file,
I couldn't say which lines because I have removed it myself. You should copy that file and just try the area you think is right, the sheet is well commented and easy to read. You should do this on a local/dev server not live as something may go wrong.
Best Wishes, the Whiteside of life.
Comment #2gtsopour CreditAttribution: gtsopour commented
Thanks Whiteside for your answer. You are absolutely right.
I changed the status of this issue to "fixed"
Comment #4VM CreditAttribution: VM commented
The lines are:

Network Connect

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text: Jai Rodriguez became a household name as the culture vulture on "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." The 33-year-old entertainer, however, has gone back to his acting roots and is co-starring in the ABC sitcom "Malibu Country," starring Reba McEntire. In the series, Rodriguez plays a record label employee who befriends McEntire's character. Rodriguez is also the co-creator and co-executive producer of Logo's reality series "Bad Sex," which is currently in production for its second season.


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Norwegian Pearl - Western Caribbean: Norwegian Pearl Cruise Review by beachseasand
Overall Member Rating
Norwegian Pearl - Western Caribbean
Destination: Western Caribbean
Embarkation: Miami
Embarkation: Arrived just before 1PM and was on the ship within 20 minutes tops. Found our room and it was all set up for us. Met our cabin steward named Ryan and he was wonderful. Always smiling greeting us and supplying us with extra pillows, etc. the best. Our luggage all pieces to us before dinner and most there before the 5pm muster drill.
The Ship: What can I say beautiful, clean and elegant. The pool area was clean and wonderful. DD loved to go in the kid's pool on the slide non stop and the "wave" pool that was created once the ship got a rolling. This was the most rocking I have done on a ship not sure if the ocean was any more rough than usual. But our party of six had no problems navigating. Loved the Great Outdoors for having breakfast al fresco and we often were found eating around the pool on sea days.
Entertainment: Sea Legs show was good especially the acrobats they More were fantastic. The Magician and his wife show last night was funny and entertaining. Saw the talent show for crew Indonesian dance was beautiful. We also enjoyed the guest talent show in the lovely Spinnaker Lounge very good. Other shows we saw in the Spinnaker Lounge were the Newlywed Game always enjoyable, Second City OK, and Majority Game show mildly entertaining.
Restaurants: Summer Palace very pretty but noisy at times. Indigo very intimate I will suggest you try to avoid getting tables close to kitchen doors very noisy. Saw people requesting different tables due to noise. La Cucina very good saw a beautiful sunset one evening. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the food, especially Mahi Mahi first night and Sirloin Cut last night. Chocoholic Buffet in the Garden Cafe was spectacular many beautiful chocolate pieces both in dark and white chocolate. Loved the Lox and Bagels in the morning.
Cozumel took a taxi to Playa Mia very crowded since 7 cruise ships in that day. Enjoyed snorkeling, kayaks, piñata and sno cones. One DD hair braided half a head for $30. Then a little shopping downtown we were docked right by Senor Frogs.
Belize took a Fab Tours snorkel trip and Bannister island beach trip ended up being about 5 hours and then a little shopping in town. Mandagy was our guide a local lobster fisherman. He was wonderful to DD and myself he would take our water cameras and swim down to get close up pictures of coral and fish. He also took a few pictures of us swimming above. Ship time is 1 hour ahead of Belize time can get confusing especially when other people on the tour were quoting different times. Suggest you bring your waterproof watch and pay attention to your own time. Most scary thing about this tour was jumping over the side of the boat into the water. Once that done felt very safe you where a live vest around your waist to keep you buoyant.
Kids Program for 10-12 year old my daughter just loved and spent a lot of her final days going to every program. She won two backpacks, all you can drink wrist band and candy. Made some friends she was very upset about not seeing again. Loved it very much. My 15 year old DD was under the weather spent a lot of time in the room sleeping. When she did feel better she loved the Bliss Lounge hanging out on the beds and watching the videos they play on screens through out the club.
Bowling was fun but expect to bowl your lowest scoring game in your life. DH tried to wait for just the right roll of the ship before bowling but even that did not help him since it is hard to predict. It was fun. My DD was too afraid to do the rock climbing wall when ship moving and never got around to it in port.
Casino won $20 dollars on the Mr. Cashman penny slots betting a quarter a turn gave back $10. A fun diversion gave it to staff in tips and then some.
Overall had a marvelous, relaxing time on a beautiful ship any one expecting to travel in the near future you have a real treat in store for you.
Disembarkation took our bags left just before 9AM took about 20 minutes very convenient. Less
Published 04/10/07
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MISSISSIPPI DELTA — After the monumental flood of 2011, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Mississippi Valley Division reports it has inspected and completed damage assessments reports for all levees, channel improvements, navigation channels and structures associated with the Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T).
From the damage assessments, a prioritized list of critical repairs was developed based on threat to human life and safety, as well as economic impacts.
The recently approved Disaster Relief Appropriations Act has designated $802 million for repairs to the MR&T.
"In eager anticipation of these much needed flood recovery funds our teams, partners and contractors are rapidly mobilizing to aggressively implement a broad array of repairs in the coming months," said Scott Whitney, regional flood risk manager for MVD.
The Corps said with the coming flood season fast approaching and winter site conditions unsuitable for active construction, there will be many areas not fully repaired, resulting in increased risk within the system. This increased risk will require extra vigilance and advance preparedness in the coming months given the post-flood condition of MR&T levees, floodwalls, water control structures and navigation channels.
Taking into account the vulnerable condition of the MR&T project and projected National Weather Service Spring forecast, the Corps mobilized a Flood Preparedness Team in mid-December to develop plans to manage, mitigate and communicate flood risks throughout the MR&T system. This regional effort will identify key risks within the MR&T, ways to minimize risk and effectively communicate this information to partners, stakeholders and the public.
An interagency workshop is scheduled for Feb. 22-23 in Memphis to coordinate, refine and communicate this team's findings, tools and recommendations across the broad array of those public officials with shared responsibility for the protection of the lives and livelihoods from flooding events.
The 2012 Flood Season Preparedness Team has a lot to do in a very short time.
"Our primary goal with this collaborative effort is to be fully prepared to help protect the lives and livelihoods of people living within the Mississippi River Valley," stated Henry DeHaan, Flood Preparedness Team leader.


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On June 13, Boston's legal community will gather at Suffolk Law
School to commemorate over 50 years of the Uniform Commercial Code
in Massachusetts. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Uniform
Law Foundation, the charitable arm of the Uniform Law
In 1958, Massachusetts became the second state in the country to
enact the Uniform Commercial Code. Other states soon followed
Massachusetts' lead and enacted the UCC, resulting in a 50-state
adoption and the integration of commercial law throughout the
United States.
Francis C. Morrissey, a longtime advocate for the UCC and former
chairman of the Massachusetts Bar Association's Business Law
Section Council said "The UCC event will celebrate Massachusetts'
long leadership in commercial law and will bring together
legislators, judges, lawyers and academics from across the state
and the country. Anyone with an interest in commercial law is
strongly encouraged to attend."
The ULC is a 120-year-old national organization with
headquarters in Chicago comprised of more than 300 commissioners
from legislatures, judicial branches and academia with the goal of
drafting and promoting uniforms laws designed to solve problems
common in all states.
The Uniform Commercial Code aims to promote legal consistency in
commercial transactions across various states. Presently, the ULC
has four Massachusetts-based Uniform Law commissioners,
The UCC Commemoration event will take place on Thursday, June
13, at Suffolk University Law School, 120 Tremont St., Boston, from
5 to 8 p.m. The keynote speaker is University of Michigan Law
School Professor James J. White.
Individuals interested in
attending or sponsoring this event should click here to view the event invitation.


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Published on April 9th,2008 at 12:07 AM
By >Daimaou - G.G-B
By >Daimaou - G.G-B
6 New Regza TVs from Toshiba
For several years Toshiba provided different models with built-in HDD, and today we have the pleasure of introducing their latest generation, the Regza RH500 series. It includes a 300GB HDD as well as an eSATA connector if you feel the need for more than one HDD.
Our TVs are available in 32" (1366×768 ), 37″, and 42" (1920×1080), support both 1080p60 and 1080p24, and receive a 10wx2ch speaker and three HDMI ports.
If you're not interested in recording video or TV programs, go for the CV500 series which doesn't include HDD or eSATA .
Via Toshiba
1 Comments
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- - [CEATEC 09- Live]Toshiba Cell Regza and 3D Cell Regza, the Future is Here! (October 6th,2009 at 11:00 AM)
- - Japan Probe – News from Japan (Subscribe)


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Mutton Biryani Recipe is an exotic blend of goat meat and basmati rice. Here meat is marinated in special preparation of yogurt and then mixed with the cooked rice along with the herbs and spices. One can do the best use of leftover rice for making this delicious mutton biryani.
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6
Whole garam masala: