text:
" Head Office Address: Level 33 / 25 Canada Square / London E14 5LQ / Tel: 0845 604 4991 / Email: firstname.lastname@example.com "
"Item Not Received... Refund Not Received... Emails Ignored"
eMail below send 1st October 2011. No response. Resent Numerous times Still No Response...DO NOT TRUST
Please find attached a copy of the confirmation eMail, received from your company on 30th August 2011. The eMail confirms an order I placed for Hair Straighteners Wide (£99.95) using a Groupon Voucher (-£99.95) plus a special offer of Hair Straighteners Narrow (for £8.95) with a cost for Postage and Packaging (£15). The total cost of my order £23.95.
Below is an eMail from Groupon stating that they have refunded the amount of my Groupon voucher, due to difficulties with suppliers.
I am eMailing to request a refund of £23.95 as stated above, along with apologies from your company due to the product not being received with 30days and due to the fact that I received no communication from your company detailing any difficulties with the order.
I arrived at Ospa Riverside last Saturday afternoon, looking forward to the three treatments (2 massages and a facial) I had booked through their website and booked a month in advance. When I got to reception I was told first that they didn't have my name down against any bookings. When I showed my confirmation email the receptionist said that the therapist who was due to see me had gone off sick and they had been unable to contact me due to their system having been down for two weeks! I was astonished that in two weeks of 'no system'they had no manual back-up so that at least they could contact clients. I have no idea how they managed to send me a confirmation email two days before the booking given that according to the receptionist no emails were going in or out. I was then further told that they would not be able to refund my credit card until they were back to normal, which would take at least another week. I asked for the manager's name and left her a message requesting a telephone call on Monday -it's Tuesday afternoon now, do you think she's called? Absolutely shocking lack of customer care, I shan't be booking anything with them or buying any products in the future. I hope they go out of business soon -if my personal experience is anything to go by, they probably will.
To start this sorry tale, I must first paint a little background, my beloved ghd's blew up (maybe slight over exaggeration there they gave a feeble pfffft and stopped working!) in February this year. Having no money I decided not to purchase a new set and have thus wandered round with my natural curls since then. Now I love the fact that I have saved myself a fortune in hairdressers having to not have my split ends cut as regularly and my hair has never been so healthy, BUT I did miss my straightness. Lo and behold, my joy when I saw a Groupon voucher offering hair straightners for £15 when the RRP was £99.95, I whipped my card straight out to purchase these!
A couple of days after I placed my order on Groupon, my voucher went live and I happily applied for my straightners and paid the £7.50 P&P. At this point I was also offered to purchase a second set of straightners for £22, which I was tempted with and then sought the opinion of the other half, who promptly told me that I only had one pair of hands to do my hair with - what would I do with 2 pairs of straightners, so I decided to forgo this (my bank account breathing a sigh of relief) and placed my order with O Spa London directly. I was a little bit worried about placing my order as I was moving out of my shared house 3 and a half weeks after placing the order, but I figured that they would be delivered within 28 days so that would be no problem, how wrong I was!
I am sat here as of the 3 OCTOBER, still with no straightners. On the 14th July, 2 weeks after placing my order I received an email from O Spa, saying that I could expect to receive my order within 28 days. I happily continued to wait, figuring that this is within O Spas T&C (as read on their website!) and so I wasn't really within my right to complain. It came to the 5 days before I was due to move - NO UPDATE, so I sent an email to O Spa requesting if my straightners were not sent out could I at least change my delivery address as I was moving. I got the automated response, but no response to my question. Again, I left my previous house on good terms with my housemates so I asked them to keep an eye out for me and to let me know if they turned up. Following this it reaches 28 days since I placed my order, I fired off a second email quoting the terms and condition on the website and stating my displeasure, once again automated response - BUT NO SPECIFIC RESPONSE to my enquiry, at this point I began to get annoyed, but to salve my temper I received an email from O Spa on the 26 July saying that the response to the Groupon campaign has been overwhelming and so they were running out of product, and the next batch of orders will be delivered week commencing 15 August - so I waited and involved myself with sorting out our new flat. Week commencing 15 August - no straightners, once again I email, no response. I get annoyed and as it was IMPOSSIBLE to ring O Spa London, with any number I tried leading me to an automated message and then disconnecting me, which was annoying with trying to sort out the product ordering problem, I can't imagine trying to book an appointment - in frustration I rang Groupon to complain about O Spa, figuring they would have better contact details. Now the lady I spoke to was very sympathetic and was about to refund me - it wasn't the money at this point rather that I wanted straightners for straight hair and more importantly delivery to the correct address, she promised to chase and once again I decided to wait it out a couple more weeks, and time flew past, I went on holiday, came back - no straightners and the website says still "awaiting" - at this point I gave up on O Spa completely having had no joy to any email or any commiunication, rang Groupon who refunded me immediately and referred me to O Spa to receive my P&P refund of £7.50, lo and behold following this I receive an email saying that they will still send out my straightners at no cost to me (bar the £7.50) or I could exchange for a voucher for £99.95 - call me cynical but I think that this may be due to my request for refund. Once again I am in limbo waiting - though at least this time I am somewhat hopeful and at least I am only £7.50 down instead of £22.50. ...
However the update to all of this is that my order has *apparently* been dispatched - to the wrong address (of course) and the tracking number I have been given does not work with the Royal Mail tracking site........will I ever receive the straightners? Lets just wait and see.....
From reading the previous reviews I can see that I am not the only one who has experienced a problem with Ospa London, which makes me feel a little bit better now I know I am not the only one.
I purchased a voucher from Groupon which allowed me to buy Ospa London straighteners for £15 rather than the recommended retail price of £99.95. I, probably like everyone else, thought this was such a good deal that I couldn't afford to pass on, as I needed an extra pair of straighteners to keep at my boyfriend's house so I didn't need to carry my own pair around with me. I placed my order on 05/07/11 and had to pay £7.50 delivery charge, the money for both the straighteners and the delivery charge came out of my account the next day.
After reading the terms and conditions, I expected to receive my straighteners within 28 days of when I placed the order. I did not. I then received an email from Ospa London explaining that they had a very large number of orders and consequently ran out of straighteners and that they would not receive the next batch for a few days. They assured me that they would be dispatched on or around 15/08/11. In my opinion, the sudden rise in demand should have been anticipated if they offer one of their products at such a low price. The 15th of August came and went and still no straighteners, nor any email explaining why they had not yet been dispatched.
In the last 2 months I have sent 4 emails to Ospa London and have not had any replies, other than 4 automated emails explaining that they will be dispatched on the 15/08/11, even the email I sent this morning. On their website, they do not offer any alternative way of contacting them about your order so I decided to contact one of the spas for answers, even though they tell you not to. It took me 25 minutes of calling all 3 spas before I finally got through to somebody, who gave me a phone number, I assume this was the call centre which was supposed to contact me regarding my emails. I dialled and redialled this number for 20 minutes and every time it was engaged. I was later told by an advisor at Groupon that this was probably because their 'call centre' only consisted of 3 phone lines.
If a company advertises their services and products at a very low price on a site such as Groupon then they should be prepared for a sudden rise in demand. I had a look back at the webpage which said that 404 people had bought this deal, which to me doesn't seem that many for a company that has 3 spas in London.
I would advise anybody to avoid buying anything from this company as their customer service is almost non existent and you can probably still be waiting for your order to arrive 2 months later.
On the 28/6/2011 I purchased a voucher via Groupon for the £15.00 hair straighteners with £7.50 P&P. These straighteners should have been £99.95 and as all good offers that seem to be to good to be true usually are, but I had used Groupon a couple of times and we were quite impressed with them, so i jumped in and ordered the straigheners before reading up on any of the reviews ( which i really regret not doing). I emailed O Spa asking when they were likely to be delivered the second week in July and I received an automated email advising me I had to wait 28 days after redemption of the voucher. On the 28th day I received another automated email advising me that if i had not received an email advising me of the despatch then I would have to wait till the 15/8/2011 when the next batch arrives in - despite their website stating that they were in stock. I have emailed them constantly, no response, I have tried to telephone them, nobody answers the phone and I'm not really at my wits end. How can a company treat their customers so badly, I am now suspecting that they are a con. If you are in the same or similar situation as me then complain to Consumer Direct, they will advise you on writing to them on one of their generated letters and send it by recorded delivery, they will give you a case reference and if you dont here from them then get back intouch with them. Also, even though its not something i have ever done before but I have emailed Watchdog and I do believe that the more people who complain about this sham of a company then surely something will have to be done.
I bought a groupon voucher for a massage chair from O Spa, i ordered it on july 25th 2011 and paid £14.95 delivery was e-mailed a receipt stating allow up to 28 days for delivery, thats the last i heard from them, contacted groupon who offered to refund my voucher but not the delivery charge and they also cannot get through to them, they have ignored all my e-mails and when you try to phone head office you get an automated reply telling you to call one of their spas and they know nothing, the helpline number they set up "0845 6013688" is either constantly engaged or they just ignore you, i have been trying for hours to get through on it to no avail, i rated them as 1 star because thats the lowest you can give here, pity you can't rate them as minus, take heed anyone thinking of using "O SPA LONDON" BEWARE totally rubbish service, rant over
I pride myself in my appearance and when my hair straightners packed in i was torn between GHD's or something cheap and chearful - it's only straightning afterall. As part of the Groupon offer O Spa London were offering an amazing looking pair of straightners for £25.00 rather than the RRP of £99.00. I presumed that because they were origionally £99.00 that they would be great and the company would be great - I ordered them and paid the additonal Postage and packaing on the 5th July 2011 - they said 28 days and that was because they had had such a good response- I'M STILL WAITING!You can never get through on the phone, they do not reply to my messages - do I wait for cut and run?
I got a deal from lastminute.com for a birthday present (feb 2011)... only 2 months later did they allow me to make an appointment ..wait for it, - for August! in August they rebooked it twice claiming that 2 people were going to be sick (somehow they knew that someone was going to be sick 5 days in advance). When the day finally came they scheduled me for 5pm (they close at 6) which didn't even leave enough time for the 90 minutes I had paid for, let alone use of the spa facilities.
So I turned up anyway and they again told me that whoever booked it had made an error and there was actually no space, come back next week. This is now 6 months from when I bought it, and it expires after 6 months. I demanded a refund and they promised someone would call me. They never did.. and don't even bother trying to call them, they won't answer the phone. Felt like a scam. With this many 1 star reviews, these guys should be on Watchdog by now.
I booked through groupon with O spa. I made an appointment and turned up at the new bond st store to find it closed. I have been unable to contact anyone there to obtain an explanation or a refund. I have emailed and called with no response.AVOID THEM. THEY TAKE YOUR MONEY AND THERE IS NO WAY TO GET IT BACK
I had bought a pamper day at O-Spa through Virgin Experience as a Christmas present for my aunts. They booked the spa day and were extremely excited to go. My grandmother then fell ill and went into hospital so they tried to cancel. On attempting to re-schedule, O-Spa informed them that they were no longer a part of Virgin Experience and would not be able to re-schedule. They had made no attempt to contact them to cancel the appointment and inform them of this. Had they turned up to the scheduled day they would have been turned away.
My aunt then contacted Virgin Customer Services. She was told that they had contacted the purchaser to inform them of the removal of O-Spa with Virgin - the purchaser being myself. I have had no correspondance from Virgin at all! They have said that we need to return the vouchers (at our own cost) by recorded delivery in order to get a refund. My point - What if they weren't my aunts and the weren't able to return the vouchers or contact the purchaser!
A huge waste of time and money! I would not bother using Virgin Experience or O-Spa again!
I went to O'SPA new bond street branch on 16 April 2011 for treatment which I got voucher from 'Groupon'. Voucher face value was £147, includes 3 half an hour treatment of your choice. In the advertising lists: All of the O Spas are united by their dedication to using top-of-the-range products from their own ranges to revitalise and relax the body from top to toe. They offer all manner of soothing treatments, including massages, manicure, pedicures, facials and train spotting.
Today's Groupon allows customers to choose any three half-hour treatments from the following six:
> Back, neck and shoulder massage
> Indian head massage
> Luxury manicure
> Hasta Abhyanga hand and arm massage
> Luxury pedicure
> Pada Abhyanga foot and leg massage
All of these treatments are designed to relax and unwind the customers
After saw those advertising, I was very excited and held a high expectation. I handled my voucher to the reception, have been asked fill a consultation form. Nobody even offered anything to drink or water. A therapist came along invited me to upstairs. Passing a hair treatment area, she opened a door lead me in. I thought it was a relaxation area, as there were two ladies sit on the sofa while waiting for their nail vanish dry, on the corner another therapist were working on a lady for pedicure. I thought I will enter a room for treatment. But instead she pointed a massage chair said we will have our treatment right there. I was very disappointed; there was no other choice so I have to accept it. Feels I went to a market space, or very small beauty area, definitely not somewhere called themselves spa!
It was not very comfortable. Ok, I think, maybe she will perform good treatment which could make me enjoy and relax. I was telling myself 'Be patient'. She starts treatment with my clothes and bra on. She said this is the treatment they offered in the voucher, pressure points massage. She starts with very light circular massage, with light pressure and I could not fell anything, I had to ask if she could put bit more pressure on. She said ok, but still gives the same pressure. After a while the pressure gets even lighter. I really felt I waste my time and money, this is not called massage, felt just someone rubbing my top, and I would never pay anyone for 'massage' like this! I continuously telling myself be patient, it will be over soon. But the door open and closed so many times, people came in and out without care. There was no privacy, very noise voice came from outside (the hair salon area), and there was no music. I never had any or seen any treatment like this after over 10 years working in beauty industry, very unprofessional, very disappointed. This is reminds me in beauty school while client pay for student for cheap training treatment. I would never ever pay £147 for this treatment (the face value), actually not even for free! I really cannot relax at all, instead I felt very anxious, stressed and impatient plus my back hurts. I had very sore shoulder and back, I expect the massage will ease my pain, but instead I felt that my shoulder pain get worse, it was totally disaster!
Then, I thought, that is all, I have to stop. This is just torture me; it feels like I paid to get more stress and pain. After fight with myself I have to call the treatment to stop. It lasted 15 or 20 minutes. Then I said to her 'I am sorry, but I really felt uncomfortable, I could not relax and instead I felt more stress, my back is hurting, it's getting worse. ' She replied 'this treatment is supposed to do on the chair; you were agreed and said ok.' I went 'it was ok at the beginning, after few minutes, it really gets uncomfortable. Sorry, I can't hold this any longer.' Then she said 'anyway, it's going to be finish soon. Let's start the foot massage then.'
She went to get soapy water, and pointed a chair offered me to sit down. Ask me take shoes off. To be honest, that chair does not look comfortable, and she put towels on the floor ask me step on. I had worn tight jeans, so I felt it was difficult to do foot and leg massage. So she said she could just massage my feet or take off my trousers wrap with towel. I thought ok, I will take off trousers then, but she has no more clean towels. I was so surprised, besides I asked myself 'do I really want keep suffering one more hour here? Just to finish the voucher? ' With unpleasant treatment, noisy environment, and unwelcome therapist. (Actually this back massage I had was Swedish massage, this kind of massage not supposed to massage on the clothes. Any trained therapist should know that).
The answer is No; I could not handle it any longer. So I said to her that please wait a minute, can I speak to your manager? It's just I really could not fell relaxed and I felt very stress. It was obvious she is not happy about it. She told me hold down she will get manager. It seems so long when she left, so I could not sit there like wood head and it was so uncomfortable and noisy outside. So I went downstairs to the reception. I explained to a reception girl that I wish to see manager and asked if I could have some water. After few minutes, the manager comes out; she apologized to me and says the treatment is like this, it will not perform in private room. Even she offer me came back, it will be the same. So I ask her if she could change to massage in the room, she said will reply to me via e-mail by Tuesday the latest.
In the Monday morning, I received the offer from the manager for 30 minutes complimentary treatment. Which I felt it was not fair. (On that disaster day, I had only 20 minutes unpleasant treatment which ruined my day!). I replied back said I will not accept it. On Tuesday she mailed me back and said that was her full and final offer. I would not feel comfortable to go back there for treatment and it ruined my day! I would never go back again or recommend anyone to go.
I would never go back there again. I was supposed to have 2 ayuvedic massages 30 mins each. Head massage and arm and shoulders. Each lasted about 20 mins and all I remember are the nails of the girl who were working on me. I don't think scratching one's head should be a part of relaxing therapy. When I asked at the reception why it only lasted 40 mins althogether there was lots of blank stares, uhmmming and "there is nothing we can do" comment for a good bye. No professionalism and no customer service to speak of. Altogether complete waste of money.
I agree with all that has been said about O Spa and I know that it can be extremely frustrating to book the sessions. But if you call between 5 and 6pm and talk to the person at the other end in a nice way, a lot can be achieved. I bought vouchers last year and had to cancel twice. They did not mind re-booking and there did not seem to be a time limit. I had my Exotic Senses Ritual this week and it was absolute bliss. So much so that I bought another voucher as soon as I got home. I telephoned tonight (trying to book on-line was useless) and requested the same venue. I was offered September. However, as I decided to be flexible and not mind which location in London, I got a booking for the 9th of May! So, don't give up, stay calm and try it my way.
The voucher was meant to be a suprise present for my friend moving to Africa. She came into London, all the way from Scotland, only for an email to be a night before the appointment, that the session had been cancelled. Why would I check my emails on a sunday night!!!!! The Customer service agent, said I provided a wrong number which is bullshit!!!And why was the session cancelled? Because there was no therapist available. And they realised this a night before.
Although I am glad not to Although I am glad I do not appear to be the only one who has suffered at the hands of O Spa. I cannot put into words how annoyed I am and amazed at the lack of basic customer service! They must have a death wish based in London with a saturated market.
I called numerous times before Christmas and the phone rang through. I sent an email with no reply and I sent a complaint letter to the head office.....guess what? NO REPLY
To top it off i decided to bite the bullet and call today to book an appointment. Next slot available?..........JUNE 2011....is that some sort of joke? The customer advisor was less than apologetic and said "what would you like to do now" I suggested a refund of the groupon voucher and she practically jumped at the opportunity. " great sir, I am absolutely ecstatic that I can refund your money and make no effort to retain you as a customer. It will make our lives a lot easier because to be honest we are fully booked and couldn't give a monkeys whether we attract new customers. Now get lost." She obviously didn't say that but that's what i felt!!
I am looking at ways to take this further....watchdog? More forums...I haven't ruled out standing outside O Spa with leaflets to try and turn people away...


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Coming June 9, 2016, Here & Now listeners and visitors will experience our stories and journalism online in a whole new way.
Fashion journalist Kate Betts says when she first saw the First Lady's choice of another inaugural ball gown designed by Jason Wu, this time in red, she flashed back to Nancy Reagan's signature "Reagan red."
What was different about Michelle's bold gown was that it was made of soft, flowy fabric. It was romantic and optimistic, Betts said, seeming to reflect her story with her husband, and her family's life in the White House.
The First Lady, in choosing the same designer, was not only making a fashion statement, but a style statement, Betts said. And as in all things politics, there's a message in it.
"Every political image is calculated," Betts told Here & Now. "I think that she wanted to make a bold gesture."

subset: commoncrawl


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Grandal receives praise for catching Volquez
Grandal receives praise for catching Volquez
What's more surprising is the fact that it was 23-year-old Yasmani Grandal, catching just his 13th big league game, who maneuvered the 29-year-old Volquez through those lapses in command and high pitch counts that doomed his previous bids for longevity.
"[Grandal] did a really good job, called a good game," Volquez said after his one-hit shutout. "I didn't have too many pitches tonight. We were on the same page, and that gave me more confidence to throw each pitch."
Grandal and Volquez both came to the Padres this offseason in the deal that sent Mat Latos to Cincinnati. Despite the fact that Grandal had not yet been drafted when Volquez had his breakout rookie season in 2008, and concedes 98 games of big league experience to the big righty, the youngster was well-prepared to help his veteran pitcher break through.
Grandal said he studied Volquez and the Astros a great deal prior to Thursday's game, though he was surprised to know the complete game was Volquez's first.
"I didn't know that." Grandal said. "I figure [former Reds catcher] Ramon [Hernandez] caught a couple of those, but I guess he didn't."
"I did a lot of research on them: I went back to the games [Volquez] threw against [the Astros] when he was in Cincinnati, and kind of saw what Ramon Hernandez was doing with him." Grandal said. "I kind of took a little bit off of that and used the same strategy."
It worked. And while it may be a small sample size, Grandal's willingness to learn seems to be working pretty often. Just ask his manager, Bud Black, who says he and his staff are impressed with the job the rookie is doing managing his pitching staff.
"Pitch-calling, game-calling, in-game adjustments, communication with the pitchers, he's done a nice job," said Black, a former pitcher. "He's also confident that he knows he has a lot to learn, and there's a lot of players that don't want to show that. But there's a willingness to learn."
Black also noted that his rookie backstop was "not one bit intimidated by anything," an important characteristic for the man charged with blocking the nasty breaking balls that can make Volquez just as grueling to catch as he to hit.
And while Grandal was always a prospect known more for his prowess at the plate than behind it, his early defensive success is no surprise to his former University of Miami teammate, Yonder Alonso.
"He's done it before," Alonso said. "It's no secret to me. I've seen it since college. He's a good catcher, and I'm sure we're going to see more from him."


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With the impending relocation of the Wangaratta RSL to its new home on the banks of the beautiful Ovens River, we invite you to purchase a paver or brick facing in honour of loved ones who have served or are currently serving in the military.
Whilst the planning to relocate to the Sydney site continues, the Sub-Branch invites all community members to be part of this very exciting opportunity. If you have served in Australia's Armed Forces, Allied Forces, or you have family or friends who have served, then you have the opportunity to recognise that service by purchasing a brick facing from the Wangaratta R.S.L. that will be incorporated into the new RSL design with the construction of an honour wall.
In this manner, we will continue to preserve our history and honour the fallen, our veterans and those currently serving. If you are part of an organisation with links to our military then that organisation will also be given the opportunity to participate.
To purchase your paver/brick facing, or sign up to become a member of the Wangaratta RSL, please click on the 'Purchase Now' button on the bottom of this page.
Please note that all applications must meet the criteria and be approved by the Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch.
Cvent Online Event Registration Software | Copyright © 2000-2017 Cvent, Inc. All rights reserved.


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Welcome to the C.J. Brown Realtors Essential Tools System. To Login, please enter your Login ID and Essential Tools password. If you have lost your password, please click here to have the system send it to you. You must be able to check your e-mail with other e-mail software other than the Essential Tools webmail system to receive the lost password information.
You must have a valid Username to enter the Essential Tools system. Please contact your company's Administrator to have your Username established.


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This Day In Country Music History – February 14th
On this day in 2010, Taylor Swift made her big screen debut in Valentine's Day… Taylor wasn't in the film for long — she had under 10 minutes of screen time, with just four scenes.
Today in 2001, Dixie Chick Emily Robison appeared on the celebrity edition of the TV show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?.
Garth Brooks' "What She's Doing Now" sat at #1 on the chart in 1992… it was originally called "What He's Doing Now" and was officially Garth's first cut as a Nashville songwriter when Crystal Gayle recorded it.
And on this day in 1963, Buck Owens recorded "Act Naturally", which would go to #1 on the country chart.


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About This Activity
Deer Run 1.2 mile or 5K
This beautiful run takes place at Naval Magazine Indian Island. Both our 1.2 Mile & 5K course takes place on paved surfaces.
Both events start at 1000.
Pre-registration closes Dec. 6, 2012 at 1200.
To guarantee a t-shirt and size we highly encourage you to register by Nov. 23, 2012.
Organizer Info


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aplastandocalabazas Artist
like the whole black and white style, +1
whatevergrover Artist from United States
:D i love this . +1
kristenhoward Artist
I like this character! +1
Check out mine if you want.
omg this is so great! i love it!
good job…
LukeLukeLuke Artist
love it
hyperhyphen Artist
this is my favourite of 3 voted also
Great work man. I'll be keeping an eye on you. +1
Check out my apedog design and let me know what you think.
this is the goods.


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W.H. aide sees 6M in Obamacare
White House adviser Phil Schiliro predicted Thursday that enrollment in the Obamacare insurance exchanges will top 6 million.
"I think we're going to be over 6 million. I think we're going to be well over 6 million," he said on MSNBC.
Story Continued Below
Officials have reported high website traffic and call center volume. The deadline is March 31 although the administration said it will stretch that out for anyone who says they encountered troubles finishing their application on time.
( Also on POLITICO: A brief history of Obamacare delays)
The last official enrollment report was 5.2 million in mid-March in state and federal exchanges. Several million more have gotten Medicaid.


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Horde Southsea Freebooters
Kill 8 Southsea Cutthroats or Privateers on Fray Island.
- Fray Island Pirates Killed × 8
Gazlowe promised me a promotion if I can help him with Ratchet's pirate issues. The problem is these new buccaneers that sailed in and took over Fray Island, south of here. They're not just after our goods - they've got grudges to settle! The other night they even went after one of our war galleons.
I've got plans in the works to deal with the situation, but Gazlowe wants to see quick results. Head over to Fray Island and start lopping off some heads, will you?
You will also receive:
- 150 reputation with Ratchet


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.Free Embroidery Tutorials .Free Embroidery Patterns .Welcome to my humble blog.If you like what you've seen here, please link back to this website.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Mirror work 2
8 comments:
Have you tried this stitch with variegated threads?.I think it'll look pretty :)ReplyDelete
Thanks, Anita .I'll definitely try it.ReplyDelete
Wonderful Method Anita,Very Innovative,will try in my next project.Many thanks For the Post.ReplyDeleteReplies
It's Ina.You're mostly welcome.Delete
AWESOME! I am going to try this in my next short tops for sure..You are so talented and thanks for sharing.ReplyDelete
Hi Ina,Today I tried this mirror work and posted it in my blog.I am eagerly waiting for your comments..I did this using 2 strands of silk thread.ReplyDelete
Hi i visit your site and i really like it very much very impressive work you have done.ReplyDelete
Hi, really very nice workReplyDelete


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I attended another Beard on Books reading at the Beard House (remember Herve This?). This time we heard Kathleen Flinn talk about her book The Sharper The Knife The Less You Cry (which is an onion cutting reference).
There something genteel about sitting in a drawing room, that's three double French doors wide, in a Greenwich Village townhouse, during a renowned chef-catered appetizer-laced book reading. (The apps, that I didn't eat, mais oui cher amis, were prepared by Chef Adam Siegel, of Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro in Milwaukee. Truffle was the theme, could it get more decadent?) The audience, small in number, mainly food or publishing related, occupied the rarefied space where it's completely normal to have a chef come and discuss what he prepared for your amuse bouche and then hear a culinary luminary who's written a book about some aspect of the food world talk about their experiences, share their knowledge, wisdom, humor about their piece of the world.
It was a lovely lunch hour activity, almost meditative in the green room with a huge portrait of Beard looking down at you. OK, that part's a little unsettling but the rest was lovely. Super, n'est-ce pas?
In her own words, Ms. Flinn's book is the story of a "flawed" woman going through a "flawed" institution: The Cordon Bleu in Paris. A journalist working in London, she was made redundant--the English term for being kicked out on your ass--and had to figure out her next step. She decided to pursue a life-long, seemingly unreachable dream, of attending the Cordon Bleu school in Paris, not speaking fluent French nor being able to cook. This book details how Flinn went from dreamer to doer: her battles with the Grey Chef (her school nemesis), the French language, the ingredients and techniques of culinary school.
You can listen to her talk here at NPR and you can read an excerpt here.
However, a word about the live reading at the Beard House. If perchance Ms. Flinn's editor at Viking Press reads this or her agent or even the publicity assistant, please let Ms. Flinn know that 20 minutes of "Thank You's" as if this were her personal Oscars show is not only not necessary, nor appropriate but is boring and told us nothing about the book i.e. the product the author is there to sell. A reading is nothing more than a sales pitch, a teaser, a taste of the product, which hopefully you like enough to buy. Ms. Flinn's litany included thanking her husband for marrying her and whom she pointed out in the audience after telling us that her mother told her at 36 she had no hope of getting married. She then became verklempt: teared up. This was too confessional at a reading about this journalist's time in Le Cordon Bleu. Don't get me wrong, I love confessional poetry, Sharon Olds, a goddess, seriously. But this outpouring felt disingenuous, it did not win us, her audience, over. In fact it had the opposite effect: I sympathized with her agent, who, upon reading Flinn's first proposal draft said, "Your main character is unlikable."


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Playing violent video games for long periods of time can hold back the "moral maturity" of teenagers, according to a study in Canada. In-depth research into the behaviour of about 100 13- and 14-year-olds found over-exposure to violent games weakened empathy for others. More than half were found to play video games every single day, with violent games the most common. Researchers warned of adolescents losing a sense of "right and wrong". Brock University academics studied the behaviour of pupils at seven schools in Ontario, trying to understand the relationship between the type of video games played, the length of time spent playing and how it might affect their attitudes. The study found that playing video games was highly prevalent among this age group, usually between one and three hours a day – and playing violent games was very common.
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|November 8, 2006, 07:16 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: October 19, 2005
Location: Behind enemy lines
Posts: 1,309
" i have no reason to luy to-ya my friend.."
You might want to remember this line in the future.
|November 12, 2006, 12:35 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: January 29, 2006
Location: H-E-B Tejas
Posts: 175
Comeon Cents
Maeybe u shudent mayke deels wif peeepole that tipe like 5 yeer oldz
|November 19, 2006, 10:32 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: January 3, 2000
Location: Upstate SC USA
Posts: 253
In hind site, You allready know--Live and learn. I'm sorry it happened to you.Thanks for the warning on this guy. I'm sure you have saved someone else from dealing with him. To move forward , I would get some 600 grit sandpaper and clean those scratches off of the knife, Put a good edge on it, and use it for a beater. The blade looks full, The handle looks tight and in decent shape. It would be a good "Truck knife" or Camper blade. I know if you are like me, You will probabably remember the bad deal everytime you use it, But, Somewhere down the line, Someone will see it and appreciate the sturdy knife for what it is, and you can trade it off for something you like better. As for the other small piece of chinese crap blade, I'd give it away to someone that doesn't know a good knife from a butter knife. I'm glad the Dufus got banned here. Thanks again for sharing your experience.
|December 25, 2006, 11:41 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: March 28, 2005
Posts: 723
It may not be all bad
I think cplane has the right idea. First off this knife is not as advertised. It does look like it has some years behind it. Whether or not it was in the Vietnam war is of no consequence. Some of these older knives had some fairly good high carbon steel in them. High carbon steel rusts and tarnishes easily so the cosmetic look would be about right. Someone familiar with tool sharpening on carborundum, natural or diamond stones should be able to tell right away if the steel is any good. Aside from the looks, if this is good steel you may have even come out ahead on this deal.
|December 27, 2006, 04:13 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: January 20, 2005
Posts: 1,718
Wow, I'm coming in late on this one, but........just wow.
Yeah, I know it wasn't some major, high-dollar trade, but if it'd been me I'd be just as ticked off as you are.
You went out of your way and included free postcards, too (you know, cuz the Missus 'once' some)!! Grrrr.
We all know that there are liars and thieves in the world, but it really does shake one's faith in and love of his fellow man to personally get into a deal like this one.
I guess the best thing to do is to pity and forgive this joker. If this is how he lives his life, he can't be too pleased with himself when he lays his head on the pillow each night.
BTW, he needs to review the basic tenets of Christianity, too.
"If the sole purpose of handguns is to kill people, then mine are all defective." - Uncle Ted Nugent
|December 29, 2006, 01:36 AM
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Join Date: September 13, 2005
Posts: 110
Judge Turkey 45
No Question about it, you were ripped off, I'd be pissed off too if it happened to me, but it does happen from time to time. Actually since I'm a small business owner, I feel like I have to give people some trust (chance to screw me) from time to time.
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Big-Mountain skier, mountaineer and adventurer, Chris Davenport, embarks upon a modern-day grand tour of Colorado. Behind the wheel of the 2012 Bentley Continental GTC W12, Chris, evoking the spirit of The Bentley Boys past and present, tests the all-wheel drive capabilities of the Bentley as he tours the San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado in search of snow and extreme terrain.
Video: Bentley – In Search Of Snow
Highsnobiety Design


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TheCrashCast.com - Episode 172
Another Really Big Show!
Yes, we really push our file limitations with our hoster on this one. I apologize up fron if our 172nd show eats up a lot of space on your listening device - we just had so much to share! We've got lots of great listener tips this week, as well as some great news around the interwebs, including another cool contest from our favorite MultiRotor forums. Also, we have the RCadvisor back with us ending this week's podcast with an explanation of How Airplanes Fly.
Be sure that you get in on our latest contest; it's sponsored by our good friends over at SlowBipe.com. All you have to do is email me your favorite RC Tip, or even post it on our Facebook Fan Page. At the end of August, we'll throw all of the entries into a hat and draw the winner. That lucky person wins a MiniBipe kit!!! We've had a ball reading the submissions that we've received thus far!
This week's show and links (a BUNCH!)


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HARTFORD, Conn. — Josephine Gay's mother could not be with her in her final, harrowing minutes inside Sandy Hook Elementary School. She struggles with it every day, but she has taken comfort from learning that Josephine's aide wrapped her arms and body around her and other children, shielding them from the horror of a rampaging gunman.
The dying actions of Josephine's behavioral therapist, Rachel D'Avino, were hardly surprising to the girl's mother. D'Avino and other educators had close bonds with 7-year-old Josephine, who was autistic and could not speak.
"She protected them and provided them with comfort and love when they really needed it," Michele Gay said in an interview. "I can't say enough about the people that worked with Joey. They were amazing."
Despite the devotion of Josephine's aides, the family was constantly looking for resources to keep up the care they wanted. In her memory, Michele and Bob Gay have set up "Joey's Fund" through the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism to help other families dealing with autism.
A social and affectionate child who loved Barbie dolls and the color purple, Josephine was in many ways the center of her family. It took months or years of work to teach her skills such as walking and eating that came easily to her two older sisters. While her father worked long hours to pay for her therapy, her mother stayed home to research treatments, deal with insurance companies and work with the support team at her school.
"Sadly, health insurance covered little of her therapy, and the school system had very few resources to offer us," Michele Gay said. "We are not exceptional. We are like any other family who just won't give up on their child or their sister whether they are typical or special needs."
Josephine was among 20 first-graders killed on Dec. 14 when a gunman shot his way into the school in Newtown and opened fire with a military-style semi-automatic rifle. The shooter, Adam Lanza, killed his mother before carrying out the massacre in which he also killed six women, including D'Avino, and then committed suicide.
Lanza was said to have had Asperger's syndrome, an autism-like disorder that is not associated with violence. It is not known whether he had other mental health issues. Some autism experts and advocacy groups have complained that Asperger's is being unfairly blamed for the shootings, and say people with the disorder are much more likely to be victims of bullying and violence.
Michele Gay, 40, and her husband, Bob, 52, told the AP that they are not concerned about the tragedy generating stigma for autism.
"You've got to give people some credit. We have a pretty educated population and, for that matter, a lot of people have experience with autism in their families," Michele Gay said. "The numbers are staggering. If not in their family, they know somebody who has autism."
Another autistic child at Sandy Hook, 6-year-old Dylan Hockley, died in the arms of his special education teacher in another classroom. His parents have set up a memorial fund of their own to help children with autism and special needs.Comment on this story
Josephine, who had a nervous system disorder and could not talk, found plenty of ways to communicate with her classmates. She would take their hands and show them things. She would point. She would laugh and smile and play games. While she worked hard at therapy sessions after school and on weekends, her parents pushed for her to be integrated into a typical classroom, and they say her classmates made all the difference.
D'Avino, 29, had been working one-on-one with Josephine for only a few weeks, but they established a tight bond. D'Avino was with Josephine at all times, unpacking her backpack in the morning, taking her to the bathroom and helping her pick out library books.


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NEW YORK (AP) — Merrimack Pharmaceuticals said Thursday that patients treated with its experimental pancreatic cancer drug lived longer than patients who received only standard chemotherapy.
The company's shares surged $2.60, or 59 percent, to close at $6.99. Earlier Thursday they reached an 18-month high of $7.65.
Merrimack said patients who received the drug, called MM-398, and a chemotherapy regimen in the clinical trial lived an average of 6.1 months after treatment. Patients who were given just the chemotherapy regimen lived 4.2 months on average. Patients who were treated with MM-398 without other drugs alone did not live longer than the chemotherapy patients.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly forms of cancer because it is often not caught until it has spread to other parts of the body.
MM-398 is a new form of the chemotherapy drug irinotecan. Merrimack says its formulation of the drug is designed to stay in the bloodstream longer, allowing it to more effectively build up in tumors while sparing other cells. The company says it believes the drug could be effective against other types of cancer.
The late-stage clinical trial involved 417 patients whose cancer had spread to other parts of their bodies and who had previously been treated with Gemzar, an older cancer drug. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company said the most common serious side effects of the combination treatment included low white blood cell counts, fatigue, diarrhea and vomiting.
Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Inc. does not have any approved drugs, and it plans to file for marketing approval of MM-398 later this year.


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I lived in Brindisi for 18 months. The tower above marks the southernmost terminus of the Appian Way. Nearby is a small monument to the poet Vergil who died aboard ship in the nearby harbor.


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AUSTIN — Scores for most students in the final year of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills were in higher ranges, although one in 12 high school seniors won't get a diploma because they failed one or more graduation tests.
The Texas Education Agency reported Thursday that 22,578 seniors across the state won't be joining their counterparts at graduation ceremonies, but the percentage from this year's class is an improvement over a year ago, when about 10 percent didn't meet the standard.
Students who failed were tripped up primarily by the math and science sections of the TAKS. Overall passing rates were up for all ethnic groups compared with last year.
But about three times as many black and Hispanic students as white students were unable to pass all four sections of the exam, measuring skills in English, math, science and social studies.
Other TAKS results showed that most Texas students in grades five and eight — the other high-stakes testing grades — are being promoted after passing the TAKS this spring. But at least 14 percent of fifth-graders and 20 percent of eighth-graders were in danger of being held back unless they passed the exam on the second try in May.
The TAKS, which debuted in 2003 in Texas schools, is scheduled to be replaced next school year by a new testing program, the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness.
In high schools, ninth-graders will take the new STAAR end-of-course exams in core subjects — three tests each in math, reading, science and social studies.
Students will have to get an average passing grade on the three tests in each subject area to earn a diploma. Older high school students — grades 10 and above — will continue taking the TAKS until they graduate.
Most educators believe the new requirements will be more difficult than what students now face — particularly since the end-of-course exams are supposed to measure skills that prepare a student for college.
Fifth- and eighth-graders fall under a state law aimed at curtailing the practice of social promotion — automatically passing students regardless of achievement.
Students in those grades who fail the exam twice get one more chance to pass during the summer. If they fail again, they must repeat their grade unless the student's parents, teacher and principal all agree that the student should be advanced.


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Assessment of Blood and Follicular Fluid Immune Cell Constitution in Patients Undergoing in Vitro Fertilization
The recruitment status of this study is unknown. The completion date has passed and the status has not been verified in more than two years.
Verified March 2010 by Hillel Yaffe Medical Center.
Recruitment status was: Not yet recruiting
Recruitment status was: Not yet recruiting
Hillel Yaffe Medical Center
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First Posted: March 10, 2010
Last Update Posted: March 18, 2010
Information provided by:
Hillel Yaffe Medical Center
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
The etiology of infertility in the majority of patients with poor response to ovarian stimulation remains unknown. This study will investigate the role of immune cells (T cells, B cells, dendritic cells and NK cells), that constitute the immune system which normally fights infection and cancer. We, the investigators, have found that specialized NK cells that help with new blood vessel formation, are found in the fluid surrounding the egg during IVF, only in patients with good response to ovarian stimulation. We now wish to expand our studies and correlate our findings to ovarian blood flow , as measured by 3D ultrasound and to the presence of other cells in the immune system.
|Infertility, Female
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Observational Model: Cohort
Time Perspective: Prospective
Resource links provided by NLM:
MedlinePlus related topics: Female Infertility InfertilityU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by Hillel Yaffe Medical Center:
IVF patients - 1
Poor responders
IVF patients - 2
Good responders
Information from the National Library of Medicine
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|27 Years to 43 Years (Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
|Sampling Method:
|Non-Probability Sample
Study Population
IVF clinic patients in tertiary care center
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 27-43 years
- Diagnosis of infertility due to endometriosis, severe male factor, tubal occlusion.
- Patient undergoing IVF
Exclusion Criteria:
- Body mass index (BMI) > 38 kg/m2
- Abnormal uterine cavity as evidenced by sonohysterogram or hysterosalpingography
- Any current use of systemic steroid medication or any infertility treatment within 3 months of study enrollment.
- Any contraindication to being pregnant and carrying a pregnancy to term.
- Any ovarian or abdominal abnormality that may interfere with adequate TVS evaluation.
- Absence of one or two ovaries
- Clinically relevant systemic disease (e.g., Insulin-dependent diabetes, adrenal dysfunction, organic intracranial lesion, polycystic ovarian syndrome, hyperprolactinemia, or hypothalamic tumor) or serious illness (Neoplasia).
- History (within past 12 months) or current abuse of alcohol or drugs.
- Administration of any investigational drugs within three months prior to study enrollment.
- Any medical condition that may interfere with the absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of the study drugs, gastrointestinal diseases, mal absorption syndromes and liver dysfunction
- Unexplained gynecological bleeding.
- Ejaculated sperm is not sufficient for ICSI
- Patient not able to communicate adequately with the investigators and to comply with the requirements of the entire study.
- Abnormal COH screening blood done for both partners, including: prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone, HIV serology, Hepatitis B and C serology, Rubella, group and screen and syphilis serology prior to participation in study.
- Unwillingness to give written informed consent. Previous entry into this study or simultaneous participation in another clinical trial.
Contacts and Locations
Information from the National Library of Medicine
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01083745
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01083745
|Hillel Yaffe Medical Center
|Not yet recruiting
|Hadera, Israel, 38100
|Contact: Ofer Fainaru, MD 972-4-6304750 firstname.lastname@example.com
|Sub-Investigator: Adrian Ellenbogen, MD
Sponsors and Collaborators
Hillel Yaffe Medical Center
More Information
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
|Responsible Party:
|Dr. Adrian Ellenbogen, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, IVF Unit
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01083745 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|First Submitted:
|March 8, 2010
|First Posted:
|March 10, 2010
|Last Update Posted:
|March 18, 2010
|Last Verified:
|March 2010
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Infertility, Female
Genital Diseases, Male
Genital Diseases, Female


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Instructor Resources
Market Volatility
Market Volatility proposes an innovative theory, backed by substantial statistical evidence, on the causes of price fluctuations in speculative markets. It challenges the standard efficient markets model for explaining asset prices by emphasizing the significant role that popular opinion or psychology can play in price volatility. Why does the stock market crash from time to time? Why does real estate go in and out of booms? Why do long term borrowing rates suddenly make surprising shifts? Market Volatility represents a culmination of Shiller's research on these questions over the last dozen years. It contains reprints of major papers with new interpretive material for those unfamiliar with the issues, new papers, new surveys of relevant literature, responses to critics, data sets, and reframing of basic conclusions. Included is work authored jointly with John Y. Campbell, Karl E. Case, Sanford J. Grossman, and Jeremy J. Siegel. Market Volatility sets out basic issues relevant to all markets in which prices make movements for speculative reasons and offers detailed analyses of the stock market, the bond market, and the real estate market. It pursues the relations of these speculative prices and extends the analysis of speculative markets to macroeconomic activity in general. In studies of the October 1987 stock market crash and boom and post-boom housing markets, Market Volatility reports on research directly aimed at collecting information about popular models and interpreting the consequences of belief in those models. Shiller asserts that popular models cause people to react incorrectly to economic data and believes that changing popular models themselves contribute significantly to price movements bearing no relation to fundamental shocks.
About the Author
Robert J. Shiller is Arthur M. Okun Professor of Economics at Yale University. He is the author of Finance and the Good Society and other books.
—Richard A. Grasso, President and Chief Operating Officer, New York Stock Exchange
—Paul Samuelson, Institute Professor, MIT


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Comedian Albert Brooks Proclaims Some Dead Serious Divinations in '2030'
Despite Albert Brooks' background in comedy, 2030, particularly in its last third, is a bit of a dour book and is meant as both a warning and a prophecy if the world continues to turn unchecked.
2030: The Real Story of What Happens to AmericaPublisher: St. Martin's Press
Length: 375 pages
Author: Albert Brooks
Price: $25.99
Format: Hardcover
Publication Date: 2011-05
Albert Brooks is a comedian and filmmaker best known for writing and directing some notable comedies during the past three decades, including Lost in America, Mother, Modern Romance and Defending Your Life. While none of these are considered bona fide classics by any stretch of the imagination, they've tended to be good, well-constructed films, and definitely worth checking out. (He's also an actor who might be most known for his voice role as the neurotic father fish in Pixar's Finding Nemo, and he received an Academy Award nomination for his work in 1987's Broadcast News.)
With 2030: The Real Story of What Happens to America, Brooks takes the leap into the world of novel writing and, like much of his film output, he has turned in a book that can be considered to be solidly crafted, but by no means timeless. 2030 is an interesting speculative fiction yarn about the state of America in some 20 odd years, though it's also a bit of a flawed gem.
While one might be quick to lump 2030 into the genre of science fiction, the book has a different feel to it than most books of that genre. Science fiction tends to make fetish objects out of technology, and everything else tends to take a back seat to ideas and imagination. 2030, on the surface, may appear to be no different, but once you start getting deeper into the book, it becomes apparent that Brooks' view is more philosophical, a a treatise on the future state of America as a nation, and how different sociological groups will come to view each other. Sure, there are moments when Brooks speculates on where technology will take us – cancer will be cured by 2014, movies will be projected in hologram style, and planes will be able to fly without any pilots – but he's more concerned about the present trajectory of the country's current policies, and how they may come to bite the nation on the collective rear end in two decades time.
Despite Brooks' background in comedy, 2030, particularly in its last third, is a bit of a dour book and is meant as both a warning and a prophecy if the world continues to turn unchecked. That's not to say that there aren't humorous moments to be found in Brooks' first novel. Early on in the proceedings, one character remarks at a watch that you can communicate with others with by comparing it to the same style of communications device that Dick Tracy would use – a favourite of this character's childhood comics collection. The character then goes on to wonder what would have happened technologically if he had read Wonder Woman, instead. (Insert ba-dum-dump drum sound and snare shot, here.)
There are light-hearted moments like this sprinkled throughout the book, at least in its first two thirds, but they're there to accentuate a thought, not necessarily entertain. When it gets right down to it, Brooks has some dead serious divinations to proclaim, and really wants the reader to walk away from 2030 with the compulsion to do something about the way society is headed.
There's a lot that goes on within 2030's nearly 400 pages, and there are almost sub-plots within sub-plots. However, the general gist of the book goes something like this: thanks to the aforementioned cancer cure and the eradication of other aliments that would otherwise affect an aging population, the late-period baby boomers will have, by the year of the book in question, become the most populous and single-handedly influential generation on the planet – even if many of them have lapsed into comas and are being kept alive by feeding tubes and machines in convalescent homes.
Of course, this opens up a serial aspect about euthanasia, and whether or not a person should be allow to hang on to life as long as possible, even though this may place terrible demands upon the health care system. According to Brooks, the reluctance of the boomers to accede power will have a tremendous impact on the lives of 20-somethings, those people being born right now, who will become saddled with an insurmountable debt to keep their parents either alive.
As a result, Brooks predicts a kind of generational war between grandparents and children, one that the author feels will go so far as to incite acts of violence and terrorism against "the olds" by frustrated young people who feel that they don't have any sort of political voice or clout. In this aspect of the book, Brooks is very sympathetic to the plight of the future's youth, and reasons very well that the boomers – thanks to their coddled upbringing – will place such a demand on the backs of the millennials that the future for these people will be bleak, miserable and very dystopian-esque.
As Brooks reasons, the youth of 2030 may just very well be the first generation to not better themselves over the previous generation, thanks to their parents' health care bills and lack of really meaningful job opportunities. Of course, the same thing was said about Generation X some 20 years ago, too, but it seems that that generation more or less is turning out OK.
That old versus young argument would be roughly one half of Brooks' convincing case about the state of the future. The other part of the book notes that, in 20 years time, America will be so far in debt that when a calamity strikes on American soil – such as the forthcoming "Big One" earthquake on the San Andreas Fault – the country will be unable to rebuild entire cities that could be affected. Brooks' hypothetical solution is that the United States government would have to make a deal with the much more financially sound China, and let it country embark on a 50/50 partnership where it would literally co-own the western part of the continental US and share in any of the tax revenue generated by that region.
To Brooks' reasoning, this partnership will go off so well that it will open up all sorts of other ramifications – including amending the Constitution to allow foreign born American citizens to legally run for the country's highest office: the presidency. It's hard to say if Brooks views this kind of development to be a good or a bad thing, but he posits that it could very much become a reality, and ultimately change the face of an entire nation.
While this insightful look ahead is very well reasoned and thought out – you get the indication that the ideas Brooks presents here must have been percolating over a very long period of time – the novel does fall a little flat in its characterizations. Brooks falls victim to the science fiction pitfall of creating "info dumps", which are paragraphs that explain away the technological advancements and ideas about what may befall America, which means that meaningful, well rounded characters tend to take a backseat to all of the hypothesizing. It's notable that the hardcover's inner flaps makes no mention of the major or minor characters that populate Brooks' universe: it's as though the people who spill out of his' imagination and onto the page are merely second fiddle and are like puppets for the main points that he wants to hammer home. As a result, characters disappear very early on without being mentioned again and new characters are introduced well into the second half of the novel who play a pivotal part in the narrative.
What's more, there's very little insight into character motivation. For example, we find out that one young person in this book, who turns out to be a revolutionary figure in the fight against the state of entitlement that the elderly generally have, is actually extremely wealthy about halfway through 2030. So then why does this character have a gripe against his older counterparts when he's considerably more well off than most of his peers, and made his money by being a shareholder in the corporation that cured cancer? We don't know, but it becomes very convenient that he's so loaded, because he'll need the money to actually take up his fight against "the olds".
There's another aspect that hurts the quality of 2030: a feeling of 'been there, done that'. This book follows hot on the heels of last year's superb Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart, which covers much of the same ground, at least from a futuristic ideas perspective, but boasts solid characterizations and a framing relationship to really hold onto. Being a bit behind the times might not be Brooks' or his publisher's fault, as who knows how long this novel has been gestating? Still, there is a marked sense of déjà vu to the proceedings.
Even Jennifer Egan's Pulitzer Prize-winning A Visit from the Goon Squad, another literary title from last year, speculates on life in 10 years time in the concluding chapters – though to a much lesser extent than Shteyngart's or Brooks' work. Thus, Brooks' debut feels part of a literary trend, and not an overtly original idea. Timing has therefore diluted much of 2030's impact, making it appear to be a bit of an also-ran.
Still, even though 2030 suffers from being too close to other novels of the same ilk and a lack of fully three-dimensional characters that you can really get involved in, the ideation is sound and the book is an enjoyable, page turning read. Its pronouncements may be more depressing than enlightening, and one could argue that Brooks might have been better off interviewing some futurists and penning a non-fiction work to strengthen his agenda. However, Brooks shows some level of competency in going beyond his usual craft of filmmaking into new, uncharted territory by penning a novel – and one that is as unflinching as 2030.
Whether you agree with Brooks' crystal ball gazing as to where America is going is another matter altogether, but his contention is gripping and compelling, and it's a starting point for debate on issues affecting youth as well as those surrounding the looming debt crisis. If cancer isn't cured in three years, say, the book could swiftly become a bit of a dated relic, but 2030, for all of its Nostradamus-like prophesising is very much a novel for the present. It's a thoughtful examination of the can of worms that it threatening to cripple an entire nation, and the best take-away from this book is that something needs to be done now to prevent the serious fissures that could erupt if things continue status quo. In Brooks' view, we'd merely sit on the sidelines and watch it all happen, just as he acutely predicts.


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This represents a HUGE step forward for .NET and Web Developers everywhere. Over 1 year in various alpha and beta versions, Silverlight 2 is finally released to the web. For those of you that have been developing on Silverlight 2 Beta 2, there are some breaking changes that you'll need to address, but if you download the RC0 developer tools, you can get a head start on addressing those issues.
Be sure to download the final Silverlight 2 RTW bits tomorrow from http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight
For those of you not developing applications using Visual Studio and instead choose to work in Eclipse, we're also announcing the release of a Technology Preview of Eclipse Tools for Silverlight - an open source development add-in that enables Silverlight Development in Eclipse. Done in partnership with Soyatec, you can read more about it at http://www.eclipse4sl.org/


text:
Subscriber portal
I would like to remove the "Browse the contents" as demonstrated in the figure below and
show the actually content when I click in the menu, which are the queries I created. How to do that?
Thank you.
Best regards.
Hi DistillingTFS,
Thanks for your post!
If you create a team query folder under Initation folder, it will not be displayed in Team System Web Access, this is by design. I suggest you to go to the following link to feedback it, and our engineer will give you a quicker response. I can understand
that the behavior is less desirable as you expected.
you can post your suggestions on the following URL:
Hope it helps!
Best Regards,
Hi Cathy,
Thank you for your answer.
I've posted my suggestion to the link you have sent.
Microsoft is conducting an online survey to understand your opinion of the Msdn Web site. If you choose to participate, the online survey will be presented to you when you leave the Msdn Web site.
Would you like to participate?


text:
Kansas Jayhawks Embroidered Leather Tri-Fold Wallet
A perfect gift for yourself or your favorite sports fan! The team's logo is embroidered onto the front of the wallet. The wallet is made of genuine leather and will last for years! Inside you'll find a compartment for cash, 6 slots for cards, a slot for your drivers license, 3 inner compartments, and a removable plastic 4 sleeve picture/ID holder. Made by Rico.
How long will my items take to ship?Most of the items we sell will ship within 1-2 business days from the date ordered. Every item on our website will tell you how long it takes to ship under the availability section when that item.
Once an item leaves the warehouse, Regular Ground shipments will be in transit for 2-5 business days & expedited shipments will be in transit for 1-3 business days.
EXPEDITED SHIPPING: If you order an item and select next day air or 2-3 day service, those orders need to be placed before 3 p.m. EST. to ship the same day. NOTE: Some items we ship ship factory direct and take extra time to ship out. Expedited shipping does not speed up this processing time it ONLY speeds up the transit time. When viewing an item on our website this processing time is outlined under the availability section.
You can click the "Estimated Delivery Dates" link next to the add to cart button on each product page to get an idea of when your merchandise will arrive to you.
How much does shipping cost?Our shipping charges are automatically calculated by our shopping cart after you enter your shipping information. Our shipping rates are based on the total cost of merchandise in your order:
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text:
May 6, 2014
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State University football's rich history with the NFL draft is expected to become even more impressive this week when the National Football League holds its 2014 NFL Draft Thursday thru Saturday, May 8-10, at New York's Radio City Music Hall.
Both ESPN and the NFL Network will televise live draft coverage all three days with the first round taking place Thursday (starting at 8 p.m. ET), followed by the second and third rounds on Friday (starting at 7 p.m.). Rounds 4-7 will be held Saturday (starting at 12 p.m.).
Four Ohio State players are among NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock's Top 100 players in this year's draft: Ryan Shazier is No. 18 and the fourth-rated linebacker; Bradley Roby is No. 25 and the fourth-rated cornerback; Carlos Hyde is No. 31 and the second-rated running back; and Jack Mewhort is No. 59 and the eighth-rated offensive tackle.
Another dozen Buckeyes are hoping to continue their football careers on the next level by hearing their names called on national television this weekend or signing with a team via free agency, including all-Big Ten Conference center Corey Linsley and two-time all-Big Ten guard Andrew Norwell, receiver/punt return specialist Corey Brown, safeties C.J. Barnett and Christian Bryant, running back Jordan Hall, quarterback Kenny Guiton and offensive lineman Marcus Hall, kicker Drew Basil, wide receiver Chris Fields, safety Corey Brown and long snapper George Makridis.
67 NFL first-round picks: Ohio State ranks second among all schools with 67 first-round NFL draft picks and Ohio State ranks third, all-time, with 405 total draft selections. According to NFL.com and with an assist from the NE Ohio Media Group, the Buckeyes trail only USC (77) among all college football programs in first-round selections and trail only USC (479) and Notre Dame (476) in all-time draft picks with 405.
Most NFL First-Round Draft Picks
- Ohio State - 67
- Notre Dame - 64
- Miami (Fla.) - 59
- Alabama - 47
- Florida - 45
- Tennessee - 43
Most NFL Draft Picks
- Notre Dame - 476
- Ohio State - 405
- Oklahoma - 361
- Nebraska - 344
- Michigan - 342
- Tennessee - 336
- Penn State - 332
- Texas - 331
- Miami (Fla.) - 311
Five-or-more drafted 26 times: Ohio State has had five or more players selected in the NFL Draft 26 times in its history, including a school-record 14 players selected in 2004 with Will Smith (New Orleans), Chris Gamble (Carolina) and Michael Jenkins (Atlanta) all No. 1 picks that year.
On two occasions 13 Buckeyes were chosen in the draft. In 1975 first-round picks Kurt Schumacher (New Orleans), Doug France (Los Angeles) and Neal Colzie (Oakland) led the Buckeye charge. And in 1971 four first-round picks - John Brockington (Green Bay), Jack Tatum (Oakland), Tim Anderson (San Francisco) and Leo Hayden (Minnesota) - were part of a 13-man draft class.
In 2006 a school-record five Buckeyes were first-round picks: A.J. Hawk (Green Bay), Donte Whitner (Buffalo), Bobby Carpenter (Dallas), Santonio Holmes (Pittsburgh) and Nick Mangold (New York Jets).
14 first-round picks last 10 years: Ohio State has had 14 players selected in the first round over the last 10 years (tied for the second-most since 2004; USC has 15). Cam Heyward, who is entering his fourth season playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is Ohio State's last first-round pick. He was chosen No. 31 in the first round by Pittsburgh in 2011.
71 first-round picks all-time: Ohio State has actually had 71 first-round professional draft picks when four individuals who were first-round selections into the American Football League (AFL), between 1960-69, are included in the totals. The AFL and the NFL started holding a combined draft in 1967.
Ohio State All-Time First-Round Selections
Year Name (Pos.) - Team
2011 Cameron Heyward (DE) - Pittsburgh Steelers
2009 Chris Wells (RB) - Arizona Cardinals
2009 Malcolm Jenkins (CB) - New Orleans Saints
2008 Vernon Gholston (DE) - New York Jets
2007 Anthony Gonzalez (WR) - Indianapolis Colts
2007 Ted Ginn Jr. (WR) - Miami Dolphins
2006 Nick Mangold (C) - New York Jets
2006 Santonio Holmes (WR) - Pittsburgh Steelers
2006 Bobby Carpenter (LB) - Dallas Cowboys
2006 Donte Whitner (S) - Buffalo Bills
2006 A.J. Hawk (LB) - Green Bay Packers
2004 Michael Jenkins (WR) - Atlanta Falcons
2004 Chris Gamble (DB) - Carolina Panthers
2004 Will Smith (DT) - New Orleans Saints
2001 Ryan Pickett (DT) - St. Louis Rams
2001 Nate Clements (CB) - Buffalo Bills
2000 Ahmed Plummer (CB) - San Francisco 49ers
1999 Andy Katzenmoyer (LB - New England Patriots
1999 Antoine Winfield (CB) - Buffalo Bills
1999 David Boston (SE) - Arizona Cardinals
1997 Shawn Springs (CB) - Seattle Seahawks
1997 (1) Orlando Pace (OT) - St. Louis Rams
1996 Terry Glenn (WR) - New England Patriots
1996 Rickey Dudley (TE) - Oakland Raiders
1996 Eddie George (RB) - Houston Oilers
1995 Craig Powell (LB) - Cleveland Browns
1995 Korey Stringer (T) - Minnesota Vikings
1995 Joey Galloway (WR) - Seattle Seahawks
1994 (1) Dan Wilkinson (DL) - Cincinnati Bengals
1993 Robert Smith (RB) - Minnesota Vikings
1992 Alonzo Spellman (DT) - Chicago Bears
1991 Vinnie Clark (CB) - Green Bay Packers
1988 Eric Kumerow (DE) - Miami Dolphins
1986 Keith Byars (RB) - Philadelphia Eagles
1985 Jim Lachey (T) - San Diego Chargers
1984 William Roberts (T) - New York Giants
1982 Art Schlichter (QB) - Baltimore Colts
1979 (1) Tom Cousineau (LB) - Buffalo Bills
1978 Chris Ward (T) - New York Jets
1977 Bob Brudzinski (LB) - Los Angeles Rams
1976 Archie Griffin (RB) - Cincinnati Bengals
1976 Tim Fox (DB) - New England Patriots
1975 Kurt Schumacher (G) - New Orleans Saints
1975 Doug France (T) - Los Angeles Rams
1975 Neal Colzie (DB) - Oakland Raiders
1974 John Hicks (G) - New York Giants
1974 Randy Gradishar (LB) - Denver Broncos
1974 Rick Middleton (LB) - New Orleans Saints
1971 Jack Tatum (DB) - Oakland Raiders
1971 Leo Hayden (RB) - Minnesota Vikings
1971 John Brockington (RB) - Green Bay Packers
1971 Tim Anderson (CB) - San Francisco 49ers
1969 Rufus Mayes (T) - Chicago Bears
1969 Dave Foley (T) - New York Jets
1965 Jim Davidson (T) - Buffalo Bills*
1964 Matt Snell (FB) - New York Jets*
1964 Paul Warfield (WR) - Cleveland Browns
1963 Bob Vogel (T) - Baltimore Colts
1963 Daryl Sanders (T) - Detroit Lions
1962 Bob Ferguson (FB) - Pittsburgh Steelers
1961 Tom Matte (HB) - Baltimore Colts
1960 Bob White (FB) - Houston Oilers*
1960 James Houston (E) - Cleveland Browns
1960 Birtho Arnold (OL) - Buffalo Bills*
1959 Dan James (C) - San Francisco 49ers
1959 Don Clark (B) - Chicago Bears
1957 Jim Parker (T) - Baltimore Colts
1956 Howard Cassady (B) - Detroit Lions
1950 Fred Morrison (B) - Chicago Bears
1941 Don Scott (B) - Chicago Bears
1938 James McDonald (HB) - Philadelphia Eagles
(1) First player selected in the draft. * AFL Team
Team Information
More Headlines
Buckeyes in the NFL - Week 11
J.T. Barrett a Davey O'Brien Award Finalist
Ohio State Mourns The Loss of Terry Glenn
WATCH: Urban Meyer Press Conference
The Game: Ohio State vs. Michigan


text:
211 Tower Ridge Drive-SOLD
Beautifully constructed townhome in the Hearst Sub-division in Lead, has so much to offer. Three bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, open living room, kitchen, family room, main floor laundry, and two car garage are just the beginning!
211 Tower Ridge Drive
Lead, SD 57754
Property Staged By:
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text:
Spread the word, get rewarded.
As small business owners, we understand the importance of word of mouth referrals. Our clients, colleagues and friends are our best form of advertising. To thank you for your support and kind words, we would like to introduce our 3thought Referral Program:
We'll pay you 10% of our Project Fee* for any job you refer to us.
Here's how it works:
- You talk to your friends, colleagues, business networks, etc. to see if there's anyone you think would benefit from working with 3thought.
- Find out if there's a specific project they're interested in pursuing, then tell them you know a great graphic design firm they absolutely must speak with (that's us).
- Now give us a ring (508-409-6367), and fill us in on the details of this potential client. Please include a description of the project, a way for us to get in touch (email or phone) and who we should speak with.
- You set em up, we knock em down. If we are able to secure the job, we'll send you a check equal to 10% of our final project fee once the balance is paid. It's that easy.
As an incentive for providing us long-term clients, we will give you 5% of any project fee there after for up to 2 years.
* The Fine Print:
- Minimum project fee to qualify for Referral Program is $500.00
- If qualifying project is between $500 and $1000 dollars, Referrer may opt for flowers delivered to their office in lieu of cash. 😉
- Referral Payments will be made upon project completion and collection of final payment for referred project.


text:
Skipping BP, Pregame Drills Suits D-Backs
Cards Bring Back Martinez, but to Replace Siegrist
ST. LOUIS • Having done all the Cardinals asked of him in a starter's role at Class AAA Memphis, righty Carlos Martinez will return to the club this afternoon...
Michael Wacha Throws off Mound for First Time Since June
There are still quite a few hurdles to leap over, but Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha looks to be progressing toward a mid-to-late September return...
Panthers' Power Play Can Only Improve Next Season
The Florida Panthers ' jarringly awful power play (and special teams) from last season inspires a lot of questions, but one of the.....
Cardinals Recall RHP Carlos Martinez from AAA
Scioscia Says Josh Hamilton Is 'Not the Same' Player He Was with the Rangers
The Angels are in first place in the AL West by percentage points, and they've gotten there even though cleanup hitter Josh Hamilton is batting only .216/.277/.353 (83 OPS+) in the second half...
Dustin Pedroia (Illness) Sitting Sunday vs. Astros
8/17 @RedSox lineup vs HOU Holt 2B Nava RF Ortiz DH Cespedes LF Johnson 1B Bogaerts SS Middlebrooks 3B Bradley Jr...
Why Mike Cammalleri and the Devils Chose Each Other
At the risk of sounding blasphemous, Mike Cammalleri's deal with the Devils was all about faith. He chose the team that believed in him most and the team he believed in most...
Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos Set to Return Next Year
Alex Anthopoulos, the much-maligned general manager of the Blue Jays , will return for his sixth season running the club, a bevy of major-league sources have confirmed...
Jedd Gyorko Is Now the Padres All-Time HR Leader at 2B ... with 31
Panthers' Owner Uncertain of Future in Florida
Doug Cifu wants to keep the Panthers in Florida, but the way things are going, it's just not sustainable...
David Wright (Shoulder) and Juan Lagares Sitting Sunday
Joe Maddon Wants Rays Fans to Cheer for the Rays, Not Derek Jeter
The Yankees and Rays will wrap up a three-game series in Tropicana Field on Sunday afternoon, and, as has been the.....
Kevin Hayes, Blackhawks Draft Pick, Expected to Reach Free Agency
The Chicago Blackhawks and prospect Kevin Hayes did not come to a contract agreement by the NHL deadline Friday and the 22-year-old forward is now an unrestricted free agent...
Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby Said His Injured Wrist Is Getting Better
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby said Friday he is pleased with the way his injured right wrist has responded to treatment...
Colorado Avalanche Top 10 Prospects Led by Conner Bleackley
Colorado Avalanche Projected 2014-15 Lineup, Fantasy Hockey Preview
After three seasons without making the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Colorado Avalanche welcomed a new era in 2013-14 helmed by a pair of franchise legends...
Buffalo Sabres Projected 2014-15 Lineup, Fantasy Hockey Preview
The Buffalo Sabres finished 2013-14 with the fewest points in a full 82-game NHL season since the New York Islanders had the same amount, 52, in 2000-01...
Buffalo Sabres Hope Top 10 Prospects Lead to Successful Rebuild
Buffalo Sabres general manager Tim Murray was a busy man the first week of August, with top prospects taking part in national junior evaluation camps in Montreal and Lake Placid, N...
Chris Stewart Could Be a Main Contributor for the Rebuilding Sabres
Finding Offense, Naming a No. 1 Goalie Are Among the Sabres 5 Questions
Buffalo Sabres Want to Improve Now for 2014-15 NHL Season
Buffalo Sabres general manager Tim Murray set the bar at his season-ending news conference in April while evaluating the NHL 's worst team.....
Video: EA Reveals Some Actual Gameplay from NHL 15
EA Sports is doing a nice job of allowing a slow trickle of information and videos to come out about NHL 15 – people might debate Sidney Crosby standing clearly alone atop ...
Cubs: Kris Bryant Will Get MRI After Leaving Triple-A Game
NEW YORK – The biggest news surrounding the Cubs on Saturday night happened more than 1,000 miles away.....
Florida Panthers Need Dmitry Kulikov, Erik Gudbranson to Take Next Step


text:
The Millenials: Best Generation Ever?
If you're reading this on the internet, there's a 33% chance that you're a Millenial between 18 and 29 years old. Millenials are a pretty incredible generation. They're worldly, diverse, and highly in tune with the direction that the technological revolution is taking mankind. They love technology, art, and the subtle greatness of humanity as a whole. Sure, they're incredibly lazy, but they also hate greedy people so that's good. Here's a handy infographic guide to all of the wonderful things that make the Millenial Generation the best we've ever seen:
(via OnlineGraduatePrograms.com)Speak Your MindTell us what you're thinking... and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!


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The bill, which was tabled Saturday by the House Labor and Human Resources Committee, would have granted driver's licenses to New Mexico residents who are American citizens or are immigrants in the country legally, and limited driving permits to illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children and have been granted federal status under "Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals" regulations. No other undocumented immigrants would have qualified for a driving permit.
Today the House Labor and Human Resources Committee is scheduled to discuss HB 127, a proposal from Albuquerque Republican Paul Pacheco to finally put New Mexico in compliance with the federal Real ID Act, adopted after it was discovered "18 of the 19 9/11 hijackers obtained 30 state-issued IDs amongst them that enabled them to more easily board planes on the morning of 9/11."
And while Real ID was passed in 2008, and enforcement deferred until last month, New Mexico remains one of the very few states in "noncompliance status."
As it has for three years, much of the discussion in Santa Fe today will likely go off point and focus on the hardships the state will cause if it stops handing out state-of-the-art government ID to all comers – including undocumented immigrants who simply want to drive their children to school.
Yet Pacheco's plan provides for a driving permit for individuals who do not have adequate documentation they are in the country legally, while reserving driver's licenses that meet federal requirements for official federal purposes – like boarding a plane or entering a federal facility – for those who do.
So there is no legitimate hardship. And any perceived hardship is not a concern of the United States, which was brutally attacked by terrorists bent on jihad in 2001.
According to Senate testimony by the former chairman and vice chairman of the 9/11 Commission, "due to the ease with which fraud was used to obtain legitimate IDs that helped the hijackers embed and assimilate in the U.S. for the purpose of carrying out a terrorist act, the 9/11 Commission recommended that 'the federal government should set standards for the issuance of birth certificates and sources of identification, such as driver's licenses.' … The delay in compliance creates vulnerabilities and makes us less safe. No further delay should be authorized, rather compliance should be accelerated."
The New Mexico Legislature has talked this issue to death; court dockets and jails show the state has become a destination for human smugglers gouging immigrants from countries spanning the globe; and on July 21 New Mexicans will be hard pressed to comply with the full enforcement of Real ID at the many federal facilities that fill the state.
HB 127 balances security with pragmatic compassion, putting the state in compliance with federal law while providing driving privileges to undocumented immigrants. That satisfies all safety, insurance and other needs proponents have always argued were the reason for granting the licenses. It would be unconscionable for lawmakers to again duck their responsibility to pass this necessary law, considering that would put many legal New Mexico residents' ability to get to work/do business in jeopardy this summer.
Another delay should not be an option.
This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.


text:
PLOS Pathogens publishes Open Access research and commentary that significantly advance the understanding of
pathogens and how they interact with host organisms.
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A couple of weeks ago, we at the Atheist Experience were contacted by several people about a story that many of you are probably familiar with by now, the story of Mubarak Bala. According to news reports, Mubarak is 29 years old, and has been active on Twitter under the handle @MubarakBala for quite a while. He came out publicly as an atheist on social media a while back, and his father — a Muslim public figure named Bala Mohammed — is a prominent newspaper columnist. Mubarak let several of his Twitter contacts know that his father had committed him to a mental ward at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, characterizing his atheism as a mental disease.
We chose not to spread the story for a while, because several details aroused our suspicion. We weren't familiar with the individuals involved, we got contacted by relative strangers, and the story originated in Nigeria. Many of you are familiar with the rampant 419 scams that come out of Nigeria. Most of us have been trained, by long experience with the internet, to assume that any time that we hear about a mysterious prince seeking asylum, or an international lottery we don't remember entering, to watch out for advance fee fraud. People have been known to chase a greedy dream and throw away thousands of dollars of their own money to recover imaginary millions that they think they stand to gain. This crime is so rampant in Nigeria that by some accounts it may constitute a significant portion of their economy, and in 2009 was estimated to take in $9.3 billion.
Before I go on, I should clarify that I have been fully convinced at this point that Mubarak Bala is a real person, and that he is, or was recently, in Aminu Kano. I'm bringing up these points only to anticipate the same suspicions I originally had while looking into the story. I'll outline the reasons I changed my mind shortly, but I wanted to make this clear up front.
Initially several activists contacted us with what sounded like wild rumors. We were all fairly dismissive towards them in the beginning. A few days later, we began hearing that the International Humanist and Ethical Union had decided to get involved in the case. They put out a press release, saying they were getting reports of Mubarak's condition through a lawyer specifically recommended by one of the Nigerian Twitter users who had brought the case to our attention in the first place. We remained skeptical. At that point, I was still suspicious that all three of them — Mubarak, the activist, and the lawyer — might be working together to build confidence. I got in touch with Bob Churchill, communications director of IHEU, and told him about my concerns. Bob informed me that the Twitter user, Bamidele Adeneye, was an activist known to him by another source he trusts.
I still wasn't willing to accept the story at this point. It struck me as suspicious that after more than a week, no one pushing the story had been able to get a clarifying statement from either the hospital — which, despite being in a fairly poor city under heavy Muslim influence, is considered to be a fairly reputable organization — or the father, who is a known public figure. I even thought it possible we would eventually hear something from Mohammed Bala along the lines of "I never heard of this guy, he's not my son." Even when the BBC picked up the story, it seemed to me as if they were only reporting information given directly by IHEU, whom I presumed to be taking direction from rumormongers and their recommended lawyer.
During this time, I was also in contact with a fellow blogger at Freethought Blogs, Yemisi Ilesanmi, who writes over at YEMMYnisting. Yemisi is a Nigerian human rights activist and trade unionist who is currently based in London. Like me, she had heard the story from multiple sources and, being familiar with 419 scams, felt like this was an obvious candidate for such a trick. Unlike me, Yemisi had reputable contacts living in Nigeria who were able to seek out independent confirmation of the story. However, I didn't hear any updates for several days. Yemisi tells me now that she had some initial difficulty getting people to send her contact information for the lawyer, as some of those involved might have resented her skepticism. During this time I continued to exchange emails with Yemisi, Bob Churchill, and several other members of The Atheist Experience and Freethought Blogs.
On Sunday several new pieces of information came to light which finally cleared up any doubts I previously had.
- Leo Igwe, a noted humanitarian, wrote his own article confirming that he has a working relationship with Bamidele, the Twitter activist.
- Yemisi's contacts finally got back to her. As she detailed in a post written yesterday, Yemisi was greatly surprised to learn that Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital does indeed acknowledge they were treating a patient named Mubarak Bala there. In addition, sources at the Daily Trust newspaper, where the father works, confirmed that Mubarak was his son, and there were many prior indications that he was treating Mubarak badly due to his public atheism.
- This press release from Aminu Kano surfaced to corroborate the story. Although they acknowledge that they have him, they do contradict Mubarak's story by asserting that they are not holding him prisoner.
- The family put out a press release as well. They acknowledge they had their son committed for treatment. They dispute that it is due to his atheism, and say that Mubarak is experiencing a "challenging psychiatric condition which needed close treatment and supervision."
At this point I think the evidence confirms the following facts to be true beyond reasonable doubt: Mubarak Bala is a real person. Mubarak is an atheist. His father is Bala Mohammed, a newspaper columnist at Daily Trust. Mubarak is, or was recently, in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. By his own statements, he is there against his will.
I suppose it remains to be seen whether the family and the hospital are telling the truth, that Mubarak has a mental illness. However, currently I'm strongly inclined to side with Mubarak. He is 29 years old, long past being a dependent child, and unless he is a serious danger to those around him, treatment at this hospital should be voluntary. IHEU's lawyer claims he has been beaten, although no pictures have surfaced to back up that claim, but if true then that's pretty scary. Nigeria in general, and Kano in particular, does indeed have a history of Sharia Law. As such, it is plausible to me that an atheist can expect to receive worse treatment than someone "properly" following Muslim traditions. That isn't generic Islamophobia speaking; these are the hardcore groups we're dealing with.
Now I'm hearing that Yemisi may be working to bring other groups in on this case, and hopefully Mubarak will wind up with a dedicated human rights lawyer who can promote his interests. I will be very interested to hear more developments as they arise.
In summary, I would like to acknowledge the people who have worked hard to bring this to light:
- Godless Mom, a blogger who first publicized this story.
- Bamidele Adeneye, a citizen of the Nigerian city of Lagos, also known as @deezer234 on Twitter. We know now that he was genuinely concerned about this case and worked hard to bring it to light. Although I hope our initial skepticism about him was understandable under the circumstances, he didn't deserve the personal invective he got early on.
- IHEU, for bringing more people into this, and investing their time and resources into getting more answers about the case. They are doing good work and deserve your support. Bob Churchill in particular, who devoted a remarkable amount of time to personally explaining the case to me despite what must have come across as relentless criticism. Thanks very much for giving me your ear.
- Yemisi Ilesanmi, who was added to our group as a Freethought Blogger just last year. She has been a tireless skeptic in the best way, not just looking for inconsistencies but gathering real evidence to satisfy those doubts. Thank you Yemisi.
In conclusion I'd like to say that it is good to be skeptical, but it is also vital to be willing to change your mind as new information comes in. Here's hoping Mubarak's situation will improve soon.
(Correction: Previously I identified Bala Mohammed as a former Senator and current columnist. I think I mixed up two different people of the same name, and the columnist was not a senator. A mini bio of the columnist can be found here.)