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'Never forget who you work for."
That's Patrick Madahbee's advice for whoever takes over after the abrupt departure of Shawn Alteo last week from the Assembly of First Nations.
Mr. Madahbee, the Grand Council Chief of the Union of Ontario Indians, was one of the chiefs involved in setting up the AFN. But he and other native leaders say Canada's largest indigenous organization must now change to more closely reflect the wishes of those it represents.
What they're calling for: a new structure for the organization that was created to be the voice of the country's more than 600 First Nations – one that would prevent the AFN and its national chief from being manipulated by the government or acting without the broad consent of aboriginals. Particularly aboriginal youth.
First Nations leaders acknowledge that will not be easy. But they say it's the only way forward if governments and industry have any hope of developing resources in and around their traditional territories without conflict. And if the youngest and fastest growing segement of our population is to stop suffering from the lowest standards of living in the country.
A pawn for Harper?
Mr. Atleo, cerebral and passionate about improving on-reserve schools, was trying to address poverty and despair in aboriginal communities – and the low graduation rates that contribute to them – by endorsing a controversial First Nations education bill drafted by the Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
But he made a major political error when he joined Mr. Harper on the Blood reserve in Alberta in February to announce that the government would provide an additional $1.95-billion in funding for on-reserve education.
His announcement caught many of the chiefs whom Mr. Atleo was supposed to represent by surprise.
In December, they had passed a resolution giving Mr. Atleo (who had voiced his own concerns about what the government was proposing) the mandate to press Canada for the changes they said were necessary to make the legislation acceptable: more First Nations control, a statutory funding guarantee, the incorporation of language and culture into the curriculum, no unilateral oversight by government and meaningful engagement by aboriginals in any future plans.
But instead of coming back to the chiefs with the results of his discussions and asking for their approval, there was Mr. Atleo standing with Mr. Harper giving the First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act his blessing.
Mr. Atleo said the act met the five conditions spelled out by the chiefs in the December resolution. Many chiefs argued that it did not. They saw the final legislation as an attempt to cement the Aboriginal Affairs Minister's grip on the operation of their schools while downloading the liability onto the shoulders of the First Nations.
Anger began to build. There were calls for rallies and protests to demonstrate against the act.
And Mr. Madahbee says there were also calls on social media "for impeachment of the national chief."
Like the head of the United Nations, the national chief has never been authorized to strike deals on behalf of the many First Nations – as different from each other as Poland is from Denmark. The AFN is supposed to be the voice of the First Nations people, not its governing body.
Mr. Atleo understood that – and said so many times to the media and to chiefs' assemblies. But the Conservative government chose to ignore his job description and used his endorsement to justify pressing ahead with the bill over the widespread objections of native leaders.
Now that Mr. Atleo is gone, in fact, many of the same chiefs who opposed him say he was merely an unfortunate pawn in a Conservative government game.
"I think, in his zealousness to do something, he got sucked in by Harper's strategy," says Mr. Madahbee. But Mr. Atleo's problems as national chief did not begin with education legislation.
Clayton Thomas-Muller, a spokesman for the loosely-knit native protest group Idle No More, says the tensions go back to January of last year, when chiefs converged on Ottawa.
They had hoped to meet with Mr. Harper about the issues raised by Ontario Chief Theresa Spence – who had gone on a hunger strike to demand that treaty obligations be met – and by demonstrations that were taking place across the country under the Idle No More banner.
Mr. Harper balked at confronting hundreds of native leaders in a single room. So, over the objections of many chiefs, Mr. Atleo and other members of the AFN executive agreed to meet with him privately.Report Typo/Error
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Agio Meharis Brasil (20)
The special aroma and nutty taste of Agio Mehari's Brasil cigarillos is due to its naturally sweet Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper. The filler tobaccos consists of a rich-tasting mixture blended according to an Olde World recipe for a scent-sationally satisfying short smoke. Add some to your cart now.
I was buy it today and i was smoke one cigarillo yet. It was hard but it has got way-out good taste. Try it guys!
Quick smoke, smells good, looks good, tastes good, great packaging. Impressive. Will def purchase more, thanks Famous!
Got a pack of these last week. As far as I'm concerned, they're perfect: they're inexpensive and tasty and they provide a 15- to 20-minute smoke. The description of these little guys on the Mehari's website is pretty accurate: nutty and a bit sweet. They start off pretty mild but the flavor builds, getting spicier and smokier with hints of cocoa as the cigar gets going. Never loses that hint of sweetness, though. These are the cigar equivalent of a shot of espresso: flavorful and quick.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Sorry no pictures of the presmoke details. Did Pops brine, injected brine into the 8# butt as to try to be certain cure got to every part of the inside, into the brine with a ziplock bag with water in to hold it down, and into the back fridge, was in there for for 16 days, took it out rinsed and soaked for an hour with 1 water change. Did a fry test and was not sure what I had, didn't taste like ham didn't have the plain pork taste, was a bit confused at this point. Dried it off some, and rubbed with CBP, garlic and season salt (it didn't have a salty taste when fried) due to time I didn't have time to allow it to sit in the fridge overnight, so into the cookshack smokette at 225° was thinking about 13-14 hours but forgot that brined items usually cook a bit quicker, it was done in just under 12 hours, IT was 201° it fell apart trying to take it out of the smoker, came off in pieces. Left it set covered in foil and towels until I had time to pull. Now it tasted a bit more hammy, but not exactly like it. We will be doing this again, the GF liked it and that is what counts. Thanks to Flyboys for his post which made me want to try this. Hate to do this to him but Let's Go Pens!!


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Even though we'd committed to homeschooling through high school, I was terrified. It wasn't the breadth of knowledge that had to be taught or even the subject matter that made me a nervous wreck; it was the record keeping. Suddenly, grades mattered, particularly because our firstborn desired higher education and his transcript was essential to getting him there.
I'm sure you know that there are many, many resources for high school home-education recordkeeping, but just in case you don't, here is one worth noting: the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA).
I made a binder for each of our high schoolers with the following subject tabs: Attendance, DSST/CLEP Tests, Online Courses, Master Reading List, College Course, and Field Trips. All test results, school papers, and transcripts are filed away in their binders.
Then, even though plans change and some teens in my house drag their feet through a subject like, say, chemistry, I do make a rough sketch of where we're going in the four years of high school. Our firstborn was very academic and eats this stuff up, so although I'm going to show you what his plan looks like, it is not a plan for every one. Compare thee not!
Ninth Grade
Tenth Grade
- Algebra II
- World Literature and Composition ( plus CLEP)
- Modern World History
- Biology I
- Theology I
- Logic
- Latin II
Eleventh Grade
- Geometry
- Intro Constitutional Law
- Chemistry
- Classical Rhetoric
- British Literature and Composition
- US History I (CLEP)
- Computer Graphics (junior-college course)
- Driver's Ed
Twelfth Grade
- Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus
- French I
- Physics
- Statistics (DSST)
- Economics
- Law and Public Policy
- French II (CLEP)
- Senior Thesis
- Classes through the local junior college
All three of our high schoolers so far have decided they'd like to plug away at their college general-education coursework while in high school, so they are taking the CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) and DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Test) as well as courses online and at our local junior college. As a high school junior, our firstborn had already knocked off a semester of college work. Boy, do I wish I'd known I could have been doing this when I was getting my bachelor's degree. Would've saved myself a lot of time and money.
But not every student is college bound. Our second born is not an academic kid, and unlike his highly focused older brother, he doesn't know what he wants to do with his life. We think that's more typical of young men his age, and we're absolutely at peace with it. He's been raised in a home where learning is a lifestyle, and we have no doubt he'll know exactly how to go after what he wants once he figures out what that is. In the meantime, there is still an academic plan for him. He is required to study to the best of his ability and is encouraged to learn and grow by a variety of means. His strengths are fabulous in areas that aren't necessarily scholastic.
Whether your child is exceptionally motivated toward higher education or floundering through several years of self doubt, creating an academic plan together and keeping excellent records may mean the difference between a mediocre high school experience and a truly exceptional one.
Kendra Fletcher is the homeschooling mother of eight, ages 19 down to 4. She is the preschool columnist for The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, author of Circle Time, and blogger for Preschoolers and Peace.
The content provided in the article(s) is intended for informational purposes only. The thoughts and views expressed are solely those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views, position or policy of Rosetta Stone Ltd.("Rosetta Stone") or its affiliates, or those of any party other than the author. This is not a paid endorsement, and no endorsement by Rosetta Stone of the author or the publication site should be inferred. Any sites identified or linked to the Rosetta Stone site are developed by people or parties over whom Rosetta Stone exercises no control. Accordingly, Rosetta Stone neither endorses nor assumes responsibility for the content of any site in or linked to a Rosetta Stone site.


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Legal Question in Family Law in Georgia
Recovery of property
I live in Georgia and was awarded personal property by a judge in court. My ex spouse was not present in court. How do I go about retriving my property? I don't think my ex will be willing to give up or admit to having this property, but I know he does.
Asked on 8/28/08, 1:51 pm
1 Answer from Attorneys
Charles W. Field Charles W. Field, Attorney at Law
Re: Recovery of property
Make arrangements with your local sheriff. Show them a copy of the order and get them to escort you to get the property.
If that doesn't work, consider a contempt against him. Consult with a local attorney.
Answered on 8/29/08, 9:16 am


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Freeda Vitamin D3 1000IU, 100 tablets
Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin, is an essential fat-soluble nutrient in the human body. It is essential for developing healthy bones and retaining calcium and phosphorus in the body. It is also important for muscle strength, healthy immune function and a healthy heart. 2000 IU of Vitamin D daily helps reduce bone loss due to aging and helps build bone. 2000 IU of Vitamin D is also optimal for muscle strength, immune function, heart health and anti-aging benefits. Vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol, is more powerful and more efficiently absorbed by the body than Vitamin D2.
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After his speech President Obama could hardly get out of Westminster Hall. He strolled down the central aisle, being accosted by anyone within a few seats of the route. Everybody he met – Glenda Jackson, David Puttnam, various unknown MPs – all reached out, all hoping to grasp some stardust and sprinkle it over themselves. I was only surprised that they hadn't produced the halt and the lame to be cured.
As he moved up, spontaneous applause would break out. He was being clapped just for being there, for simply existing! Everyone he encountered had that rictus smile, like a very happy corpse, common to people meeting a superstar.
He must think almost everyone has that emoticon face. For his part, he was wearing the amiable, hesitant smile of someone at a party, introduced to somebody else they do not know and will never meet again.
Mind you, the crowd – mostly MPs and peers – were well up for it. The long wait had created a strange, faintly manic feeling. Gordon Brown and Tony Blair were seated close to each other, and did not have a fight. That's how thrilled they were to be there!
A deputy serjeant-at-arms arrived at the front of the hall to give us the timetable and our instructions. "Mr Speaker will make a brief welcome speech …" she said, before a great gust of laughter at the (unfair) thought of John Bercow making a brief speech about anything.
She told us gravely that the president would be proceeding down the hall (right over the flagstones where Charles I and Thomas More were condemned to death) and we were not to obstruct the aisle. More hilarity.
Even the arrival of the state trumpeters, who took up their positions under the stained glass at the south end, like the world's poshest window cleaners, raised another laugh. There was so much bottled glee, I half-expected empty lager cans to fly over.
At last, very late, they arrived. Mr Bercow did speak briefly. Westminster Hall had been built round about the time the Vikings were at the coast of North America. Christopher Columbus, he said, had learned the politicians' art of arriving late and then claiming the credit.
Then his voice rose to a high pitch. "Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States – Barack Obama!" and the place erupted. Of course.
He did seem pleased to be there. This man loves a crowd, and sucks up its energy. Don't forget that he first decided he was in with a chance when he spoke to a handful of people somewhere in the sticks, and a little old lady yelled "Fired up! Ready to go!" This audience was fired up, ready to stay.
The speech itself was, perhaps, less moving than we had expected. It was more of a hand-stitched tapestry than a speech, unrolled at length before our eyes. The start was breezy: he'd been told that the others who'd preceded him there were "the pope, Her Majesty the Queen, and Nelson Mandela, which is either a very high bar, or the beginning of a very funny joke."
The gist seemed to be that for centuries Britain and America had led the world in promoting democracy and the freedom of the individual.
He implied, though didn't actually say, that the west was pretty much washed up by the success of China, India, and those other places that make cars, televisions and novelty key rings cheaper than us. But we would be the head prefects of the world, bringing our values to those who yearned for them.
It was like Peter Cook's sketch in which Macmillan with Kennedy offers Britain as an honest broker. They agree that no nation could be more honest. "And I said that no nation could be broker." Except that Obama knows we're both broke!
It was a largely cheer-free speech. But when he said that the grandson of a Kenyan cook in the British army stood before us as president of the United States, the applause crashed around him in waves.


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Report: Empire Online Withheld Information From Investors Prior to IPO
Empire Online went public in June, according to a market value of $925 million, and reached a peak of over $1 billion.
Online gaming company Empire Online had received a written warning about a possible change in its relationship with rival gaming site Party Gaming, but did not inform its investors about it in a pre-float prospectus sent out earlier this year. The news was reported this week by The Sunday Times in London.
The Times said that Empire, which is held by Noam Lanir, discussed the possibility of a change, but said it would have no effect on its income. The prospectus also said that Empire's board of directors had no information about an intention to alter the relationship between the two companies.
Empire Online went public in June, according to a market value of $925 million, and reached a peak of over $1 billion. A series of blows have reduced its market value to about $348 million. Most of the loss in value followed an announcement by Party Gaming that it was moving its players to a separate platform, therefore ending a relationship that allowed players from various gaming sites to bet against each other.
The two companies had been in merger talks until last week, when Empire rejected Party Gaming's offer to purchase Empire for 60 pence a share. It then announced its intention to take legal action against Party Gaming for its separation of platforms, which left Empire users with an inferior platform and the steep share price plunge. One observer close to Empire believes that Party Gaming's move was aimed at causing its rival to lose value so it could buy out Empire for a below-market price.
Following the The Sunday Times publication, individuals close to the Lanir group said they believe several revelations will be revealed regarding the relationship between the two companies.
The Times said that Party Gaming sent the letter about its intentions to Empire on May 4, the month before Empire went public. Empire sources told the newspaper they did not remove anything from the company prospectus, and that the real damage caused by Party Gaming's encouraging Empire bettors to switch to Party sites, not the platform change.
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Famous BBC Car Show TopGear Launches on Touchmedia
Feb 24, 2014, 09:31 ET from Touchmedia
SHANGHAI, Feb. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Is it impossible for a taxi trip to still be fun? The BBC car TV show TopGear, the world's most famous, and probably the most insane as well, is officially launching on Touchmedia. The initial 90 second video clip appears on tens of thousands of Touchmedia's in-taxi interactive screens in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen this month. Shanghai Honyee Motiv Co., LTD. is the exclusive agency of this TopDriver Brand program in China, where Touchmedia will be the exclusive media platform of its type for the show.
TopGear is a familiar name to many Chinese auto fans and to those who just like wacky humor and crazy challenges. The flagship program of BBC 2, it is the world's most widely viewed television show, seen in more than 100 countries and recognized for its global coverage in the Guinness Book of World Records. Started nearly 20 years ago, its 3 fiery and provocative hosts have become international celebrities, and in one weekly episode may try to race each other around an African safari park in 30 year old mini cars (don't breakdown near the lions!), design a one man car for indoors and out, see if they can evade an Apache attack helicopter's missiles in a sports car or take the fastest and most expensive cars in the world out for a spin on a race track. It is equally famous for its refusal to accept advertising and sponsorship dollars from automotive brands and its bitingly honest assessments.
A Chinese version of TopGear is in full preparation by a professional team in a unique cross-border partnership, including a film quality production unit, a professional auto squad, a top rank director and a lineup of leading scriptwriters. Even famous movie stars are competing for guest appearances. Who will be the presenters, Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond? Or the masked motor racing marvel, The Stig, in China? With the show and the TopGear in-taxi programs, Chinese fans are about to enjoy the coolest, most exciting and funniest car commentary experience ever!
Richard Zhang, the Publisher of TopDriver, as the exclusive agency of TopGear in China said, "We chose Touchmedia, our only interactive outdoor media partner in China, with the hope we can bring something new and fun to a larger audience in China. Viewers will not only be able to watch the videos, but interact though the programs themselves. How cool is that! We have introduced in the largest TV show in the world and they are the largest in-car media in the world. So it seems fitting, doesn't it? The reach and coverage of Touchmedia will also help our own Chinese version in preparation landing in China be that much more effective!"
The TopGear video clips played on Touchmedia's screens will be updated twice a month. Micky Fung, the Founder and Executive Chairman of Touchmedia, noted, "I am a car nut myself, and I am thrilled to have the chance to cooperate with the superstar of car shows! We always focus on bringing new, fun content to our passengers to make their taxi ride a little more enjoyable and relaxing, and this is about as good as it can get."
About Touchmedia
Touchmedia was founded by its Executive Chairman and CEO Micky Fung in 2003 to develop state-of-art touchscreen media technology in China and internationally. Today, Touchmedia is already the largest in-taxi media company in China, providing an innovative marketing platform which allows brands to engage consumers more effectively, building higher involvement, for better awareness, recall and response.
For more about Touchmedia: www.touchmedia.cn
ABOUT TopDriver
With the focus on the drivers, TopDriver Brand is informing the readers and users of the trendy driving culture and services related to their vehicles. As the integrated BRAND, TopDriver undertakes to be a new service pattern, which will not be limited to a single media existence, but kind of realization of combination between content and behavior.
SOURCE Touchmedia


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Grant Resources
Funding Opportunities | Grant Announcements | Grant Writing Resources
FLLS Scholarships
Funding Opportunities
Please note that this list is not comprehensive and new opportunities are announced frequently. We encourage you to keep updated via grant announcement sites and the FLLS Weekly Bulletin.
Grants Specifically for Member Libraries:
New York State Construction Grants
Public libraries in our service area may apply through FLLS for a construction grant to fund up to 75 percent of a three-year project.
Outreach Mini-Grants
FLLS member libraries may receive between $500-$5000 each year to help under-served groups and people with special needs to use their library. Applications will be reviewed annually in March. Please visit the Outreach Services page for more information and the application form.
Rosen Library Fund
This endowment fund, provided by a generous bequest from Bernard Carl and Shirley Rosen, funds projects at FLLS member libraries which "promote greater and easier access by youth to local libraries." For more information and to see previously funded projects visit the Community Foundation website.
Local Grant Opportunities:
Allyn Foundation
A private, family foundation that provides grants to charitable organizations primarily in Central New York. Applications are accepted four times per year.
BOOKS Program
Libraries in Senate District 52 can receive funds for youth collection development (primarily available in Tioga County).
Cayuga Community Fund
Grants are awarded to projects that benefit residents of Cayuga County.
Community Foundation for South Central New York
For Tioga County agencies. The foundation has awarded $7.25 million in grants since 1997.
Cortland Community Foundation
Grants awarded to local agencies within the Cortland community. Grants are awarded up to $1000.
Friends of the Tompkins County Public Library
Grants to libraries and reading rooms in and on the periphery of Tompkins County to purchase books, other media, materials, and equipment.
Legacy Foundation
Supports programs and projects in the areas of health, education, recreation, human and social services, aging, and the arts in Tompkins County. Support is also givento requests for capital expenditures and "seed" money for new or innovative projects and programs.
Mildred Faulkner Truman Foundation
Grants to organizations that enhance and benefit the residents of Tioga County.
Triad Foundation
Provides grants primarily to graduate fellowships, educational programs serving children and youth, marine and tropical ecology, scientific research, and human services. There is no website for this foundation. For more information, please call 607-257-1133 or email Katherine Coin at email@example.com.
Annual State/National Grant Opportunities:
America's Historical and Cultural Organization: Planning and Implementation Grants
Support for public programs in the humanities. Grants support the following formats: exhibitions at museums, libraries, and other venues; interpretations of historic places, sites, or regions; book/film discussion programs; living history presentations; other face-to-face programs at libraries, community centers, and other public venues; and interpretive websites. Planning Grants support the early stages of project development; Implementation Grants support final scholarly research and consultation, design development, production, and installation of a project for presentation to the public.
Best Buy Community Grants
This grant provides grants to nonprofit organizations that help teens build technology skills. The average grant award is $5,000. Organizations must be located within 50 miles of a Best Buy to qualify.
The Big Read
Winners receive a grant (ranging from $2,500 to $20,000), educational and promotional materials, and access to online training resources and opportunities to develop and produce community-wide reading programs which encourage reading and participation by diverse audiences. Approximately 75 organizations are selected annually.
Día Mini Grants
$2000 mini grants t0 start a Día family book club at your library.
Dollar General Literacy Grants
Dollar General provides Summer Reading Grants, Adult Literacy Grants, Family Literacy Grants, and Youth Literacy Grants.
Ezra Jack Keats Mini-Grants
Awards of $500 are given to public schools and public libraries for projects that foster creative expression, working together and interaction with a diverse community.
Foundation for Rural Service Grant Program
Grants of $250-$5000 are available annually to support local efforts to build and sustain a high quality of life in rural America.
IMLS Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries
These grants are a special funding opportunity within the IMLS National Leadership Grants for Libraries program. These small grants encourage libraries and archives to test and evaluate specific innovations in the ways they operate and the services they provide.
Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award, New York State Regents Advisory Council
The award recognizes a NYS library or library consortium that has taken significant steps to improve the quality of library service to its users.
National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards
Formerly called "Coming Up Taller" these awards recognize and support outstanding community arts and humanities programs that celebrate the creativity of America's young people by providing them with learning opportunities and chances to contribute to their communities.
National Center for Family Literacy Libraries and Families Award
This program recognizes innovative library-based literacy programs for high-need families, particularly if they serve intergenerational audiences. Three libraries will win a $10,000 grant and a trip to NCFL's annual conference.
National Medal for Museum and Library Service
The National Medal honors outstanding institutions that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. Selected institutions demonstrate extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service and exceed the expected levels of community outreach. These organizations have established themselves as community anchor institutions.
NEH Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants
This program is designed to encourage innovative projects in the digital humanities, including innovative uses of technology for public programming and education.
NY State Council of the Arts Decentralization Grant
This statewide regrant program helps non-profit organizations serve cultural organizations and artists locally and regionally.
Ongoing State/National Grant Opportunities:
Build-A-Bear Literacy and Education Grants
Direct support for children in literacy and education programs such as summer reading programs, early childhood education programs and literacy programs for children with special needs. Grants are a one-time contribution, and range from $1,000 to $10,000.
Distribution to Underserved Communities Library Program
The Distribution to Underserved Communities Library Program (DUC) distributes books on contemporary art and culture free of charge to rural and inner-city libraries, schools and alternative reading centers nationwide. Browse and order their available free books.
Firstbook donates high-quality youth materials (you only pay the shipping) to organizations who serve low-income families.
Honda Foundation
Grants for youth education, specifically in the areas of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, the environment, job training and literacy.
Humanities NY Grants
Project Grants, Reading and Discussion Grants, Family Reading Grants and many Special Initiative Grants are available.
The Pilcrow Foundation Rural Public Library Grants
The Pilcrow Foundation, a national non-profit public charity, provides a 2-to-1 match to rural public libraries that receive a grant through its Children's Book Project and contribute $200-$400 through a local sponsors for the purchase of up to $1200 worth (at retail value) of new, quality, hardcover children's books.
Poets & Writers Readings/Workshops Program
Poets & Writers provides up to $1,500 to cover fees for author readings and writing workshops.
USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Loans and Grants for Rural Libraries
The Community Facilities Program provides loans and grants to assist in the development of essential community facilities in rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population. Funds may be used to construct, enlarge or improve public libraries. This can include costs to acquire land needed for a facility, pay necessary professional fees and purchase equipment required for operation as well as to purchase shelving, furniture, computers, audio-visual equipment, distance learning equipment and bookmobiles.
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation supports new ideas about how to engage children and youth in learning and new ways to bring together community-based systems that promote learning.
Wish You Well Foundation
This foundation funds projects which support family literacy by fostering and promoting the development and expansion of new and existing literacy and educational programs.
Grant Announcements
ProgrammingLibrarian Grant Lists – Grants and awards are listed by deadline.
Library Grants Blog – Grant announcements provided by the authors of Winning Grants: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians.
LibraryWorks: Grants – Funding opportunities are listed by deadline.
Grants.gov – The access point for over 900 grant programs offered by the 26 Federal grant-making agencies.
The Foundation Center – The largest and most comprehensive resource for researching foundations.
NYS Library Selected Grants and Fundraising Resources Page-A comprehensive list of resources for finding funding and other funding resources for New York State Libraries.
Institute of Museum and Library Services-A National Database of Foundations and Charitable organizations that fund libraries.
NYS Grants Gateway Site-Link to NYS Gateway Portal. Offers a listing of funding opportunities from New York State.
Grant Writing Resources
Tutorials and Tips:
Outcome-Based Evaluation Training– Training in writing Outcome-Based Objectives from the NYS Library.
Winning Library Grants Webinar – Archived 2011 Webjunction webinar and associated links.
Turning the Page Online: Building Your Library Community – A free library advocacy training course developed and presented by the Public Library Association (PLA).
Grantspace Online Tutorials – Online fundraising webinars by the Foundation Center (many are free).
Grants Champion – Resources for writing grant proposals, including a free Grant Writing Revealed ebook, an assessment quiz, and articles.
Links for Calculating Local Statistics/Data:
NYS Free and Reduced Lunch Statistics (Select the County, change the Claim Period to Dec, check the Public School box and click Find. You can copy and paste into a spreadsheet.)
Poverty Rates: Search census data for your area by following the Data Collection Directions and Quick Guide . Sample Data on Avoca village, New York
NYS 2013-2014 Graduation Rates by School District (Statistics last updated August 2014. To check for more up-to-date statistics, search the NYSED's IRS for the year and "graduation rate data")
Census Quick Facts – Basic statistical data for counties and selected cities.
NYS Dept of Labor Statistics: Unemployment and job rates.
General Statistics/Quotes:
FLLS: Advocacy – Statistics about public libraries.
Libraryquotes.org – ALA's searchable database of quotes about libraries, reading, books, and literacy.
FLLS Professional Development Collection:
FLLS offers grant writing resources in our professional development collection, available via the catalog.
Use the search terms "library grant" or "grant writing."


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* Shareholders agreement on new structure -sources
* Announcement due after market close
* France says Franco-German parity key goal
* EADS expected to launch 2.5-3 bln euros share buyback (Adds final agreement, quote, post-buyback shares)
By Tim Hepher and Sophie Sassard
PARIS/LONDON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Shareholders in EADS reached final agreement on a radical shake-up of the European aerospace group and an announcement was due later on Wednesday, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
By abolishing a Franco-German shareholder pact, public and private shareholders are on the verge of the biggest shake-up of control since the maker of Airbus passenger planes, Ariane rockets and Eurofighter combat jets was founded in 2000.
"The signature and the announcement are imminent," one of the people said, asking not to be identified.
EADS declined commment.
The deal follows days of intensive talks in Paris between European governments, banks and industrial shareholders.
Analysts say the changes will simplify EADS' structure and give the financial markets a bigger slice of Europe's largest aerospace firm. They come weeks after talks broke down to merge the group with UK defence contractor BAE Systems.
France and Germany have agreed to control 12 percent each of the voting rights, handing Berlin a direct stake in the Airbus parent company for the first time. Spain will also have a stake of around 4 percent.
French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici said earlier keeping a balance between French and German interests in Europe's largest aerospace group was a priotity.
"The talks are obviously taking place in a discreet, even secret manner, with a main goal to protect the interests and the Franco-German parity, a balance which is fundamental for us," Moscovici told the French National Assembly.
Until now parity in EADS - originally formed from a merger of French, German and Spanish interests - has been ensured through a complex pact between the French state, French media firm Lagardere and German car firm Daimler.
Discussions dragged out for days over the technicalities of the accord, which is expected t o call for France to park 3 percent of EADS in a non-voting foundation in the Netherlands.
The manoeuvre is designed to maintain voting parity with Germany while allowing France to keep the economic value of its full 15 percent stake in the European company.
There were also discussions over the mechanisms for German auto group Daimler and French media conglomerate Lagardere to sell shares they have held as proxies for their respective governments.
As Lagardere sells, the parties need to decide who would take over from Arnaud Lagardere as EADS chairman. Serving civil servants are expected to be excluded from a radically altered board dominated by independent members.
While the shake-up increases direct state shareholdings, they will be held inside a smaller tent without proxy industrial shareholders. Government powers will also be curbed.
French, German and Spanish shareholdings will initially fall to s ome 28 percent f rom 50.5 percent under the current power-sharing scheme, which will be wound up, sources have said.
Daimler currently owns 15 percent of EADS and votes for another 7.5 percent held by a consortium. In the shake-up, the German government is expected to buy 12 percent, leaving Daimler to sell the rest progressively.
Lagardere owns 7.5 percent, which it is expected to sell.
The timing of the industrial sales remained unclear but legal experts say there could be a bridging period during which the companies would stay behind as part of the market float.
Cash-rich EADS is expected to launch a share buyback to cushion the share price, which has risen this week on optimism that the reorganization would reduce the role of politics in one Europe's most strategic firms and a rival to Boeing.
A source close to the deal said this could be worth 2.5 to 3 billion euros, to be adopted at the next shareholder meeting. EADS currently has a mandate to buy back up to 10 percent.
After the buyback, shares would be cancelled and government shareholdings would rise to 29.9 percent, narrowly missing a 30 percent threshhold at which block shareholders must bid for EADS, the source said.
EADS shares were up 2.7 percent in late trading.
Additional reporting by Arno Schuetze, Dominique Vidalon, Gernot Heller; Editing by Jane Barrett, Christian Plumb and Louise Heavens


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Legal Question in Appeals and Writs in California
I served rent levies to collect a past due judgment. Defendant served me with an ex parte Motion to Quash or Stay of Notice of Levy under writ of execution. He claims that the rental income from these properties are used to pay the mortgage payments.
Per the terms of the deed of trust, the secured mortgage holders are assigned the payments of rent. Without the rental income being applied to the mortgage payment, the properties will go into default and ultimately be lost to foreclosure. This would affect not only the mortgage holders but also the tenants.
Could he get away with this motion?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Thank you for clarifying. As I said yesterday, the question you originally posted wasn't very clear.
If the payments have already been assigned to the mortgage holders, the landlord may indeed be right. The mortgagor would already be entitled to the money, and their claim would take priority over yours. I would need to see his evidence and arguments before I could offer an opinion.
You may want to re-post your question under and/or General Civil Litigation. It isn't really about appeals. More lawyers with the relevant expertise will see it in that category.
I understand your question now. You may want to repost under the real estate category, which I would answer anyway, so I will post a response in part now.
As I understand your question, you have had the sheriff levy on money that the judgment debtor receives from rental income. The judgment debtor has filed a motion to quash or stay the levy, claiming that the rental incomes are used to pay the monthly payments of a promissory note secured by a deed of trust.
First of all, there is no right for the lenders to have the rents unless there is an assignment of rents. Second, this would only be a lien on the rents, which would not arise unless the judgment debtor was in default. That's because the rents are merely security for the debt, albeit an additional form of security. If he is not in default, it does not matter where he obtains the payments for the loan, as long as he is timely in his payments on the loan. If a judgment creditor levies the money, he has to look elsewhere to meet his loan obligations.
The lender would only have a perfected lien, and a right to the rents over and above your right to levy, if the debtor was in default, and the lender took an additional step to collect the rents. That could entail anything from a court appointed receiver to collect the rents and deliver them to the lender, or a notice to the tenants or the debtor that they were in default and that they were to deliver the rents directly to the lender.
You have the motion in your hands, and I have no idea what it says, but it sounds like to me that the motion doesn't have any merit based on what you have posted here.
Related Questions & Answers
How to file an appeal for misrepersention on a criminal trial Asked 5/15/13, 4:16 pm in United States California Appeals and Writs


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LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's insurers have pledged to help pension savers find the best deal for their retirement, following criticism they have not always done so in the past and the launch of a review by regulators.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI), whose 350 members run some of Britain's biggest pension schemes, said on Tuesday its members had all signed up to the new "ABI Code of Conduct on Retirement Choices".
The code requires insurers to spell out options for buying an annuity - which converts pension savings into retirement income - up to two years before an individual retires.
Britain's Financial Services Authority said in January it would review whether people who buy an annuity directly from a pension provider pay more than those who shop around.
ABI members will contact people approaching retirement with details on how to combine small pension pots, the different ways to take retirement income, and protecting against inflation.
UK insurers have been accused of failing to tell customers that they can shop around for better value annuities from rivals - which in some cases can pay over 15 percent more income for life.
There is an income gap of up to 16.2 percent between the most and least competitive annuities currently available for 65 year-old retirees, financial data firm Moneyfacts said.
The ABI's code comes amid a prolonged decline in average annuity incomes as insurers pass on a drop in the returns they make on their investments in government bonds.
But independent annuity advisers Annuity Direct say the ABI's code is not strong enough to protect consumers or encourage shopping around.
"The Code plans to send information to consumers that are superfluous, confusing and unhelpful," Alan Highman, chairman of Annuity Direct, said in a statement.
The ABI has beefed up its scrutiny of pension and insurance organisations, such as Aviva (AV.L), Axa (AXAF.PA) and Prudential (PRU.L).
In January, it drew up an agreement that would force its members to reveal fees and charges taken from employees' retirement savings. (Reporting by Sarah Mortimer; Editing by Mark Potter)


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Hatsune Miku, the virtual pop singer, has been selling out entire theatres for her most recent performance in The End, the world's first (and possibly only) vocaloid opera. As would be expected from an opera that replaces humans with digital singers, The End is full of surprises. But the most surprising of all is their choice of Marc Jacobs as digital wardrobe designer. Miku's new outfit was recently revealed at the premiere of The End in Shibuya.
Last year saw the debut of the first humanless opera staring vocaloid Hatsune Miku and backed by a team of highly skilled artists, designers, and musicians.
The shows sold out quickly, and due to popular demand THE END is coming to Tokyo in May followed by a Paris engagement this winter.
Hatsune Miku Stars in Humanless Opera "THE END", It Ain't Over 'Till the Incredibly Skinny Vocaloid Sings
Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media is about to add a new twist to a classical performance. At the beginning of December they are set to hold probably the first ever Vocaloid opera, titled THE END.
The opera is supported by a strong production team but was recently announced to have gotten some brand name backing from the fashion industry. Fashion world titan Marc Jacobs and a team from Louis Vuitton are lending their talents to costume the lead Hatsune Miku.


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Nylon Music Tour presents:
CSS & IO Echo
9:30 Club
815 V St. NW
Washington, DC, 20001
Io Echo is IOANNA GIKA and LEOPOLD ROSS. While MINISTRY OF LOVE will be Io Echo's first official full length release, over the past year the band have already scored the Harmony Korine+James Franco film collaboration 'Rebel' for the Museum of Modern Art, Los Angeles; and, after seeing them perform live, the museum's director Jeffrey Deitch asked the band to curate an audio/visual festival which they named PLAY MOCA and co-curated with their label IAMSOUND. They played alongside Salem, Cults, Zola Jesus, Active Child, and more.
Los Angeles is a polarizing place. You either love it, or you hate it. You're either depressed by it, or you're inspired by it. You either want to leave immediately, or you want to stay forever. São Paulo all-girl quartet CSS had a hell of a night in the City of Angels during October 2011. As a result, that fateful evening served as something of a jumping off point for their fourth full-length album, Planta, translated "Plant."
"We did a sold-out show at the Echoplex in Echo Park," recalls Luiza Sá. "It was crazy. People were moshing. There was black lipstick everywhere. The room had this indescribable energy. Afterwards, I told the girls, 'Let's go to Los Angeles and write music.' They all were like, 'Yes'."
The band—Lovefoxxx [lead vocals], Ana Rezende [guitar/keys], Luiza [guitar/keys/bass], and Carolina Parra [guitar/keys/bass]—had only recorded at home in Brazil prior so the idea proved immediately intriguing. After serendipitously seeing them perform at a London concert, TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek approached the girls about producing. Another total no-brainer, they holed up in Sitek's house for close to two months and made the album together.
"We stayed there with him, his two dogs, and his two cats," laughs Ana. "We'd work all night and then jump in the pool at two in the morning. It's a great creative environment because there are no rules, and spontaneity is encouraged. He had a vision, and he helped us bring these songs to life. By highlighting the best in each of us individually, he brought a lot of harmony to our writing"
Songs like the first single "Hangover" stand emblematic of the enigmatic style they collectively harnessed. Co-written with Rancid's Tim Armstrong, it straddles the lines between pop, dance, and punk, while never losing its edge or cheeky sense of humor with lines equating hangovers and heartbreaks.
"It's about being young and having fun," Ana admits. "We hooked up with Tim, and we talked about how much we love reggae and reggaeton. It doesn't necessarily sound like that, but we came up with something that anybody can move to."
That energy courses through Planta from the shimmying and shaking electro-fied opener "Honey" to the tambourine dream of "Faith in Love." In many ways, the album's boundlessness has been CSS's goal since the beginning. Other stand- outs included "Dynamite" featuring friend and guest Hannah Blilie of The Gossip.
They've continually delivered ever since their debut Cansei de Ser Sexy, translated to "Tired of being sexy"—a quote from Blue Ivy's mom Beyoncé. Not only did the album introduce CSS to the world, it yielded the hit, "Music Is My Hot Hot Sex." The track, which landed a placement in the coveted iPod commercials, went on to become the highest-charting single by a Brazilian band to date, and the album continues to be one of their best-selling efforts.
However, that was just the beginning for CSS. Things stayed "sexy," no matter who was tired of it. Donkey and La Liberación expanded on their sound yet again and solidified their devout, dedicated worldwide fan base. Still, the CSS phenomenon is going to grow even more with Planta.
"We share a sense of sisterhood and family," concludes Luiza. "I hope you can feel that in the music. We wanted to make a record where every song is part of the whole story. You can relate to the real human emotions of it—like finding your voice or falling in love. We want to do this forever."
Upcoming Events
9:30 Club
Wed, November 22
Fri, November 24
The Pietasters
Sat, November 25
Keller Williams' Thanksforgrassgiving
Tue, November 28
Wed, November 29
Cut Copy


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Prettier than gorillas.
Well, I did say that May was rose month.
Today in New York we are in a cloud.
They smell a lot nicer than gorillas, too! Hmm, wonder if those roses could be used to keep the bandito away?ReplyDelete
Absolutely gorgeous photos! I love New Dawn roses, and these pictures have me pretty much swooning.ReplyDelete
The lovely lady probably has "Albertine" somewhere in her parentage!ReplyDelete
i just found your blog..it's as wonderful as your roses! i will be back for sure!ReplyDelete


text: Video News: United States New SF Bay Bridge Delayed Until End of Year The new $6.4 billion dollar Bay Bridge between Oakland and San Francisco, originally scheduled to open in a few weeks, is now scheduled to open in December. The delay caused by some failed bolts that required retrofitting. (Aug. 7)Copyright 2013 The Associated Press © DailyMotion - Wednesday, August 7, 2013


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Out and proud US Women's soccer midfielders Megan Rapinoe and Lori Lindsey have joined forces with the Human Right's Campaign's (HRC) "Love Conquers Hate" campaign, to bring awareness to Russia's recent anti-propaganda law targeting the LGBT community in the country, according to AfterEllen.
In preparation for the Sochi Olympics, Rapinoe, Lindsey, and many other celebs, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Kristen Bell, and Chelsea Handler, have taken photos of themselves wearing the Russian language version of the "Love Conquers Hate" tees, and posted their pictures in support via Twitter and Instagram.
The law was recently enacted in Russia and makes it illegal to hold a public demonstration in favor of gay rights,to speak in defense of gay rights, or to support same-sex relationships.
You can buy the HRC shirts online for a donation ranging from $28-$500, with 100% of the proceeds going to LGBT advocacy groups in Russia.
Rapinoe is currently playing in France and is listed on the US national team's 2013 roster, and Lindsey plays in Australia and is listed in the US 2013 player pool.
Both players came out publicly in 2012, Rapinoe in an interview with Out Magazine and Lindsey with Autostraddle. To date Rapinoe has advocated for LGBT organizations like the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and Athlete Ally, a non-profit focusing on ending homophobia and transphobia in sports.


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One would imagine that efforts to keep China's banking system from exploding should be positive for banks in the longer-term... unless of course you think it's already too late to save their balance sheets from an explosion of bad loans:
Simon Ho, CFA @ Citi: Both PE and P/B multiples are now substantially below the historical mean – Chinese banks are on average trading 19% below the mean price/book and 12% above -1 standard deviation (SD) price/book level (Figure 1). The big state banks in particular are on average about 8% above the - 1SD P/B level – a level we think should offer defensive valuation support. While continuing to see the sector range-bound, we believe we are coming closer to the lower end of the range as prices continue to fall. Our sector preferences by order are CCB, BOC, CNCB, and CMB.


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Of all the things that Ivan Lendl has brought to Andy Murray's table since the pair began working together just over three months ago, one thing stands out above all others: belief.
After reaching three grand slam finals, reaching as high as the world No2 and collecting 22 singles titles, the Scot has always known that when his game is on and his mind is strong, he can compete with the best. But it seems that Lendl, who famously lost his first four grand slam finals before going on to win eight, has instilled something extra in him.
Within days of starting work, Lendl said there was no reason Murray could not win the French Open. Perhaps for the first time, the world No4 agrees.
"I have to believe that I can win it," Murray said yesterday at Queen's Club, as he announced that he will warm-up for Wimbledon at the Aegon Championships for the next five years. "I was going to say that I have to agree with him [on everything] but I don't have to. Last year gave me a lot of confidence and I still feel like I could have played better.
"The French Open was a really important tournament for me last year. I've said it many times, not just because I got to the semis there for the first time but because of the way the tournament went.
"Providing I have improved and that over the next five, six weeks I keep doing that and working hard then there's no reason why I can't give it a good shot. I wouldn't say I'm the favourite going in; [Novak] Djokovic, Roger [Federer] and Rafa [Nadal] have got much better results than me on clay but I think I can win against them. I need to work hard over the next five, six weeks for sure."
If it sounds a bold statement, that's because it is. Not just because Nadal has won six of the past seven French Opens on his favourite surface or because Djokovic will be chasing a fourth straight grand slam title in Paris this year.
Murray has never won a title on clay; he has also never reached a final on it. However, there has been a clear improvement each year and now he has the Lendl factor.
When Murray announced that he would be working with Lendl, there were some who wondered aloud whether Murray would be happy to be told what to do.
On Tuesday, the 24-year-old said he hoped it would be a long-lasting agreement and that he had been pleasantly surprised at how Lendl goes about his work. "He's a lot more open-minded than I expected," Murray said.
"Most ex-players who I have spoken to could be quite stubborn about what you should be doing and how you should be playing. He's been speaking to the guys I work with, he's spoken to [Darren] Cahill [about] how it was to work with me. He has lots of ideas. If they don't work he will move on to the next thing.
"That's what he was like when he played. He tried different things, always wanted to learn. I thought he would have been more set in his ways in terms of what I needed to do."
Lendl will accompany Murray to Monte Carlo, where next week he will begin his clay-court campaign. If winning grand slams really is 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration, then Murray has found the right man.
"He identified the things I needed to work on to beat the top guys consistently," he said. "My main focus is to be better and he's been great with that. He has some fresh ideas, great experience and an understanding what it takes to play in the majors."


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Black River Computer Inc.is an equal opportunity employer.
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Photo Booth
Our custom photo booth set up adds a wonderful dose of fun and excitement to your wedding celebration or other event. With our unique personalized set up, you can now have a photo booth anywhere, even historic locations. Because our design is free standing, without the giant "steel box", it compliments the decor of your wedding, rather than taking away from the look you have created. Our booth is completely interactive, prints are personalized as a favor for your guests, and you receive a full disc of all photo booth images. Our photo booth packages start with a discounted price of $550.


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ARTIST / Svetlana Rabey
TITLE / Untitled 1
MEDIUM / Print
Want to see how this piece looks on your wall? CLICK HERE to get started.
See more about this artist here [>]
Svetlana Rabey was born in Moscow and grew up in Philadelphia and New York, studying classical dance. She has continued her interest in music, movement and language, which informs her work as a visual artist. In 1996, she received a BFA in painting from Parsons Paris & New York. Svetlana has been awarded the Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation and Chashama Harlem residency programs. She was awarded the NYFA grant for drawing in 2015. She currently lives and works in New York City.


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Today Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-23) announced that the Community Action Commission of San Luis Obispo County has been awarded over $1.1 million in a discretionary grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to continue funding its Head Start and Early Head Start programs in San Luis Obispo County. These federal dollars will help fund an expansion of Early Head Start that will serve nearly 200 infants and their families.
The Head Start Program is a leader in early childhood development and education, and provides grants to public and private non-profits. Head Start focuses on helping preschoolers develop early reading and math skills and promotes school readiness through educational, health, and other services to children and families.
This is great news for the Community Action Commission of San Luis Obispo County," said Capps. "For years, this successful program has provided critical assistance and services to thousands of families in our community. We all know how important the first years of a child's life are to determining success -- both inside and outside the classroom. That's why it's so critical for our children to have access to high quality early learning programs, like Head Start. In these difficult fiscal times these federal dollars are a wise investment for the future."
Community Action Partnership is so pleased to receive funding for San Luis Obispo County's Head Start and Early Head Start Programs. This was the largest addition of federal funds for low income children and their families that we have seen in many years. The Board of Directors and Parent Policy Council are also very grateful for this new allocation," said Biz Steinberg, CEO of Community Action Partnership.
Source: http://capps.house.gov/press-release/capps-announces-over-1-million-federal-funding-head-start-san-luis-obispo-county


text: [ Athlete of the Week – Kylan Berkram Cut Bank [AUDIO] By Wendy Nielsen December 22, 2010 Kylan Berkram Cut Bank Wolves Wrestling Category: Athlete of the Week Tags: cut bank wolves, kylan berkram, wrestling Send to a friend! Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pin it! Reddit This! Share on Tumblr!


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The feds demand you have a photo ID to get into a federal courthouse and many other federal buildings. They demand you have a photo ID to get on an airplane or travel outside the United States. They support requiring drivers to have photo IDs and that a photo ID must be showed to purchase a beer or cigar.
They feel just as strongly that an ID never be required to vote or to use food stamps, however.
Maine Gov. Paul LePage blasted the United States Department of Agriculture for denying his request for a waiver to allow the state to require food stamp recipients to provide photo identification when using their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards as way to cut down on fraud.
"[USDA] denied our request, saying that the use of photo ID would be ineffective in reducing fraud and abuse," he said during his weekly radio address over the weekend. "This is a shocking statement."
So, when a food stamp recipient uses cash he saved by having his neighbors buy his food to buy a bottle of Colt 45 and a pack of Kools, does he have to show an ID? I am confused.


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Steve Copley: Let's Raise The State Minimum Wage
Editor's note: Rev. Steve Copley is the executive director for the Arkansas Coalition for Peace and Justice and is the chair of the Give Arkansas a Raise Now Coalition, which is collecting signatures for the ballot initiative.
I support the ballot measure effort to increase the state minimum wage in Arkansas.
The current state minimum wage is $6.25 an hour. The Popular Name of the ballot measure is An Act to Increase the Arkansas Minimum Wage. The measure would amend the Arkansas Code in the following fashion if passed.
"Beginning January 1, 2015, every employer shall pay each of his or her employees wages at the rate of not less than seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) per hour; beginning January 1, 2016, the rate of not less than eight dollars ($8.00) per hour and beginning January 1, 2017, the rate of not less than eight dollars and fifty cents ($8.50) per hour."
Who does this affect? All employers with four or more employees must pay at least $6.25 per hour. If the employer does less than $500,000 per year in business and does not engage in interstate commerce, they will pay the state minimum wage of $6.25. If they do more than $500,000 in business and engage in interstate commerce, they will pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25. If the state minimum wage is ever higher than the federal minimum wage, it is the state minimum wage which is paid to employees.
The federal minimum wage was instituted in 1938 as part of the Fair Labor Standards Act. In 1967, then Governor Winthrop Rockefeller was able to get the first state minimum wage passed through the state legislature.
Why do we need an increase in the state minimum wage? There are people in Arkansas who are working hard, playing by the rules and cannot make ends meet. An individual who works on the state minimum wage of $6.25 makes $13,000 annually. Let's do some math. If that individual purchased $100 a week in groceries, that would be $5,200 annually. Then, if the individual spent $300 a month for housing, that would be $3,600 annually. That means the individual has spent $8,800 of the $13,000 and we have not discussed an automobile, gasoline, money for medical bills, clothing, and the various insurances that are required. People cannot work at the state minimum wage and make their budgets balance.
How many people would this affect if passed? According to a recent study by the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, the increase to $8.50 would affect directly and indirectly about 168,074 people or about 14.7% of the workforce. That is a significant number of people in Arkansas who would have more money to spend in the Arkansas economy. Often critics maintain that these are basically jobs that teenagers do. In the same study, it noted that 142,043 people over the age of twenty, or 12.4% of the total workforce, would be affected.
These figures shows that most of the jobs that are being paid minimum wage at the state level are not being held by teenagers. In fact, as a result of the last recession, we see more adults who lost jobs working at the minimum wage level than since the Great Depression.
What about the criticism that the passage of this measure will cost jobs? We need only turn to the Costco experience to see that this is not the case. Costco's president and CEO, Craig Jelinek, argues that the minimum wage should be increased. He said, "We know that it is a lot more profitable in the long term to minimize employee turnover and maximize employee productivity, commitment and loyalty."
The measure requires over 62,000 valid signatures to be collected and delivered to the Secretary of State by July 7. The measure has proven popular as many people are signing the petitions. In fact, according to a recent April Talk Business-Hendrix College Poll, 79% of Arkansans approve raising the state minimum wage. I believe it is time to raise the state minimum wage to allow those who work hard, play by the rules and share the American dream to be able to make their budget balance.


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They save companies millions while setting sector precedents, but who will walk away with The Lawyer's Competition/Regulatory Team of the Year Award? Sam Chadderton examines the shortlist
The UK competition landscape is shifting. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has been defeated time and again by specialised competition lawyers. It is to merge with the Competition Commission (CC), with the aim of creating a strengthened market investigation process. But there is a chance that its reinvention as the Competition and Markets Authority, with its axed dishonesty element, could lead to even more appeals and embarrassing climbdowns.
Several of the entries in the competition and regulatory sector of The Lawyer Awards 2012 focus on dust-ups with the embattled watchdog, its second-phase sibling the CC and other foreign jurisdiction regulators.
Fiends for detail
To compare the resources of the OFT with the financial clout of some of the mergers it deals with could be to portray the authority as the heroic underdog, struggling to protect the vulnerable market system as dastardly corporate giants try to take over the world. But that would do an injustice to the devilment of detail these meticulous lawyers have shown in some hugely significant deals.
Other heavyweight entries have broken new ground, sticking their firms' flags in previously unregulated sectors while working with nothing more than an urgent remit and a bundle of negative press headlines.
The field for the 2012 Competition/Regulatory Team of the Year title is wide open, such is the strength of the category and the fascinating variety of industries that need expert, niche legal advice. This year's category includes entries of cases from ferry routes and sportswear to oil and education.
Fluctuating economic fortunes around the globe are dictating that some industries are contracting while others are expanding. Companies are either merging to secure their future or swallowing up competitors to dominate the market. Either way, these competition teams are worth their weight in gold.
Ashurst (and others) for the Imperial Tobacco appeal To butcher Rudyard Kipling's famous poem, Ashurst partners Euan Burrows and Nigel Parr kept their heads while all about them people were losing theirs – and being fined to the tune of £225m.
When an eight-year investigation accused the cigarette industry of mass price-fixing, tobacco company Gallaher and retailers Sainsbury's, Somerfield, T&S Stores, First Quench and TM Retail threw in their cards, crying 'cartel' for a reduced penalty, while pointing accusing fingers at rivals.
Not so Imperial Tobacco and Ashurst, which led the against-the-odds appeal along with partners Laura Claydon of Burges Salmon (Co-op), Suyong Kim of Hogan Lovells (Morrisons and Safeway), Mark Jones and Peter Scott of Norton Rose (Asda), and Richard Pike of Baker & McKenzie (Shell).
The OFT claimed to have evidence of anticompetitive communications between companies to offer price discounts linked to rival brands. But in the largest ever UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) case, a scheduled 10-week hearing collapsed in humiliation for the OFT, which was chastised for failures of fact in its high-profile, doomed case.
Allen & Overy for the Seagate buyout of Samsung
Speed of thought and deed singles out this complex tech acquisition. It seems unlikely that Allen & Overy (A&O) London partners Philip Mansfield and Simon Pritchard will get a Christmas card from Western Digital this year, as that company's similar hard-disk deal was bumped off the European Commission's 'to-do' list at the last moment.
The masterpiece of opportun-istic legal brinkmanship saved Seagate hundreds of millions of pounds and two years of deal-making with regulators after Mansfield, Pritchard and their team's nifty application of the Commission's priority notification rule, with just a 24-hour margin.
Neither should the A&O team expect congratulations from O'Melveny & Myers if they win, as it lost the Western Digital work to Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton due to Mansfield and Pritchard's scoop.
Baker & McKenzie for Trade-Stomil
Good old-fashioned lawyering broke the back of the overpriced synthetic rubber case brought against Trade-Stomil by the European Commission.
The Commission's key witness placed all alleged cartel participants in a Frankfurt bar, fixing prices. With €519m (£420m) in aggregate Commission fines handed down, previous counsel dropped and the company staring into the abyss, in swept Bakers Brussels partners Bill Batchelor and Fiona Carlin.
Forensic examination of the minutiae of the evidence revealed a car parking stub that undermined the original decision. The case was thrown out and the fines annulled.
Berwin Leighton Paisner for Sports Direct
When JJB Sports called in the regulators about rival Sports Direct (SDI), there was already a history of replica-kit antagonism between them. In addition, SDI's purchase of 31 JJB stores had been referred to the CC by the OFT in August 2009 for in-depth investigation. At that point SDI turned from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer to Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) for assistance.
A few weeks later, when the OFT and SFO dawn-raided SDI's HQ, BLP's team, led by partners David Harrison and Adrian Magnus, found itself working on an unprecedented three investigations at once.
But after successfully challenging the CC in the CAT, BLP helped Mike Ashley's company win unconditional clearance from the CC, then see off the OFT and SFO investigations, with no findings of infringement by Sports Direct or any of its personnel.
Bevan Brittan for the SRA on the Halliwells administration
The collapse of Halliwells sent shockwaves through the legal industry. But the role of Bevan Brittan's commercial litigation head Iain Millar in breaking new legal ground was not known until The Lawyer broke the story in May 2011.
Under intense scrutiny and facing a barrage of unprecedented questions relating to liability, administration and client protection, the SRA turned to Bevan Brittan.
Millar's meticulous solutions protected the reputation of the profession and will form a template next time an LLP 'does a Halliwells'.
Shearman & Sterling for advice to the UAE financial services industry
If the time ever comes that the Government decides to rip up the law governing financial services and start from scratch, it could do worse than turn to Barney Reynolds.
The head of the global financial institutions advisory and financial regulatory group at Shearman & Sterling and his international colleagues are shortlisted for their work on drafting a framework for – and offering policy advice to – UAE leaders.
Taking 'insight and expertise' from the world's leading financial jurisdictions may well give rise to some wisecracks in the present climate, but putting in place primary statutes in countries with such limited resources in terms of qualified personnel is not to be underestimated. And like any ambitious Gulf state, the clients wanted it done quickly.
Shearman & Sterling lawyers have enabled an entire economy to diversify away from relying on oil and move towards becoming a global financial centre.
Wragge & Co for Ofqual
In 2010 and 2011 the headlines for the UK's largest examining board, AQA, were horrific.
Huge marking errors formed the background to an inquiry by newly established regulator Ofqual (the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation). Its report concluded that there was an urgent need for qualifications to become a
risk-based regulatory industry and move away from the hand-holding, resource-heavy current system.
Wragge & Co public law and regulation partner John Cooper and his team took a statutory regime covering more than 170 awarding bodies written on one side of A4 paper to a comprehensive legal manual that will enable Ofqual to impose fines and sanctions, and encourage bodies to be self-policing.
Exams are always a contentious topic, but thanks to some highly specialist regulatory work under intense scrutiny, the industry will at least be properly governed.


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PulteGroup's First Quarter 2014 Earnings Release And Webcast Conference Call Scheduled For April 24, 2014
Mar 27, 2014, 13:45 ET from PulteGroup, Inc.
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., March 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM) today announced that it will release its first quarter 2014 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, April 24, 2014. The Company will hold a conference call to discuss first quarter results that same day at 8:30 a.m. (ET).
A live audio webcast of the call will be available on PulteGroup's website at pultegroupinc.com. To listen to the webcast, log on at pultegroupinc.com five minutes prior to the call. An archive of the conference call will be available on the PulteGroup website.
For call participants, the dial-in number is (877) 375-9144 (conference ID 21574257). The call will be recorded and available for replay from April 24 through May 8, 2014. The replay dial-in number is (855) 859-2056 (conference ID 21574257).
About PulteGroup PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), based in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., is one of America's largest homebuilding companies with operations in approximately 50 markets throughout the country. Through its brand portfolio that includes Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb and DiVosta Homes, the Company is one of the industry's most versatile homebuilders able to meet the needs of multiple buyer groups and respond to changing consumer demand. PulteGroup conducts extensive research to provide homebuyers with innovative solutions and consumer inspired homes and communities to make lives better.
For more information about PulteGroup, Inc. and PulteGroup brands, go to: pultegroupinc.com; www.pulte.com; www.centex.com; www.delwebb.com and www.divosta.com.
SOURCE PulteGroup, Inc.


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November 16, 2015
Lumberyard owner Buck Boswell prides himself on his way with women-but his prickly neighbor, Sadie Harte, seems immune to his charms. Is she really as aloof as she acts, or can Buck convince her to take a chance on the guy next door?
Read an Excerpt »
Connected Books
Tailspin is part of the Harlequin Men of Courage series.
The full series includes the following stories:
- Trapped
- Riley
- Uncovered
- Tailspin
- A Honorable Man
Trapped is included in the following editions. Click any cover to see which editions are still available to purchase:
Riley is included in the following editions. Click any cover to see which editions are still available to purchase:
Uncovered is included in the following editions. Click any cover to see which editions are still available to purchase:
Tailspin is included in the following editions. Click any cover to see which editions are still available to purchase:
A Honorable Man
A Honorable Man is included in the following editions. Click any cover to see which editions are still available to purchase:
Book Excerpt
It was barely six o'clock on that cloudy Saturday morning in Chester, Ohio. The sun struggled to shine without much success as Buck Boswell finished brushing his teeth, then splashed his unshaven face with cold water. Saturday mornings were meant for sleeping in, preferably with a soft, warm female. But for the next few weekends, that was out.
Butch, the little Chihuahua he'd been roped into babysitting for two weeks, was causing a ruckus. For a four-pound dog, he made a lot of noise.
Butch had already been out to do his business - the reason Buck was up so early on a vacation day - so he should have been curled up on his blankets, back to dreaming blissful doggy dreams. For the two days Buck had kept Butch so far, that'd been his routine: up at dawn, out for his morning constitutional, back to bed.
Unfortunately, Buck couldn't do the same. Once Butch woke him, getting back to sleep proved impossible. He was starting his vacation by keeping the hours of his grandpa instead of a thriving bachelor.
It sucked.
Riley, one of his best friends, had asked Buck to sit the dog so he and his wife, Regina , could take a cruise. But Riley hadn't mentioned that Butch rose with the roosters, only to nap again afterward.
Owning his own lumberyard and working sixty-hour weeks as a result hadn't allowed Buck much time to bond with pets. Free time was spent with his friends, his family, and a selection of very nice females.
Not animals.
But being he was the only bachelor left in their close circle of friends, the duty fell on him. And despite his lack of familiarity with the furry creatures, he and Butch got along well enough. So, what had upset Butch enough to cause that mournful sound?
Concerned, Buck dried his face and dropped his towel. Because he slept in the nude, he'd had to pull on underwear when Butch first woke him. In the dark, he'd chosen monkey-print boxers given to him as a joke by Ethan's wife, Rosie. He hadn't bothered to put anything more on yet, so he cautiously poked his head around the corner to see what had Butch riled.
Butch sat at the French doors at the back of Buck's apartment, staring out at the shadowy yard.
"Hey Bud, what's the deal?"
Butch cast him a quick worried look, then went back to staring. Buck strode forward, leaned close for his own peek and narrowed his eyes to see through the hazy morning shadows. A trim figure moved across the high grass.
Sadie Harte.
Figured it had to be a woman who'd have the dog baying like a wolf. Occasionally, Sadie had the same effect on Buck: he didn't understand her; she was unlike other women he knew; and she made him nuts.
Sadie was the most buttoned down, prudish, spinsterish twenty-something woman he had ever seen. To call her plain would be an understatement. But did that stop Buck from being nice to her? No. He even teased her a little, tried flirting some. He was friendly, cordial.
It got him nowhere.
In fact, despite her cold politeness, he thought she actually disliked him. In the three months that she'd been his neighbor, not once had she invited him to her apartment. And when he invited her to join a small get together with his close friends, she refused. She'd chat with him in the yard, or give a passing greeting, but anything remotely indicative of a relationship scared her off, even a relationship as casual as being good friends.
The only time she'd been to his apartment was to ask him not to make so much noise.
It nettled him, that he couldn't get her to warm up to him. Women liked him, damn it. He wasn't an ogre, he had his own business, his mother had taught him manners, and he loved to laugh. Not bad qualities, right?
So, why did Sadie keep him an arm's length away?
The curiosity was getting to him. Not once had he ever seen her with a boyfriend. She never had company either. No one. Not family, not friends.
But she did take in rescue animals. Pitiful creatures with their tails between their legs, their ears down. They'd cower whenever anyone got near. Sadie was patience personified, tender and careful and caring. Too many times, Buck had stood at his door and watched her with a dog or two in the small back yard. He'd open his window so he could hear her soft voice as she cajoled an animal into trusting her.
Broke his heart, it really did. The worst part of it all was that Sadie didn't keep the pets. She helped them, and then found them good homes where they could have the love of a family, a big fenced yard, maybe kids to play with.
Today, however, wasn't the same.
Normally when he saw Sadie, she had on her schoolteacher duds, as Buck liked to think of them. Even while working with the animals in the yard, she wore long shapeless skirts, flat shoes, prim blouses better suited to a maiden aunt than a young woman. Far as Buck knew, she didn't own a pair of jeans. Or shorts. Or, God forbid, a bathing suit.
She always looked buttoned down and standoffish - and it made him nuts wondering what she'd look like in something more revealing. That was the way with men. They always wanted what they couldn't have. For three months, he'd been wanting a peek at prim and proper Ms. Sadie Harte.
Today was his day to have wishes come true.
Mesmerized, intrigued, and a little amused, Buck leaned against the wall and took in the sight before him.
For reasons he couldn't fathom, Sadie was in the yard, running from his lot to her own and back again.
In a thin nightgown.
Now he knew what she slept in. It wasn't the nudity he'd imagined many times over, but the long white gown made of thin cotton would do for future fantasies. The gown was innocent, romantic and hinted at the body beneath.
As Sadie dashed past, his gaze tracked her from the top of her head to her dew-wet feet and back up again. Sleepiness got replaced with sharpened awareness.
If Sadie dressed like that more often, her social calendar would be full.
Had she just woken too? Maybe had a nightmare? They'd talked enough for him to know that Sadie was the sensible sort, not a woman prone to theatrics. Given her wardrobe, she was really modest too. But this morning, she didn't even have on a housecoat.
At that precise moment, early morning sunbeams burst through the clouds, making Sadie's gown less than opaque. Breath caught, Buck took in the sight of a few subtle shadows that hinted at female curves.
The new view was damn interesting. He made note of her narrow waist, her small, high breasts and long thighs. The image of her curled in bed, half-asleep, soft and warm, crowded into his brain.
Butch howled again and scratched at the door, forcing Buck back into the moment.
"Sorry buddy. I don't want you running after her. No reason for you both to look nuts."
Sadie's light brown, baby fine hair danced around her head as she whipped this way and that in a crazed fashion. He'd always wanted to see her with her hair down. Because she usually had it twisted up, Buck hadn't known it was bone straight, shoulder length, or that it had glints of red and gold when the sunlight hit it just right.
Now that he did know, he wondered why she always kept it up. It looked real pretty around her shoulders.
Suddenly, her small bare feet slid in the tall, dew-wet grass, leaving her close to landing on her tush. Her arms did cartwheels in the air. She looked panicked before catching her balance and taking off again.
Damn it.
Buck slid the door open a little so she could hear him, but not wide enough for Butch to get out. "Sadie," he called, hoping to gain her attention without startling her. "Is something wrong?"
Her head jerked in his direction, her chocolate gaze locked on his, and to Buck's surprise, she came barreling toward him. Except for her nose, which had turned pink with the morning chill, her face was pale.
"What the - " Buck braced himself for the unexpected attack.
Screaming, Sadie jerked the door right out of his hand and nearly knocked him over in her haste to get inside. Her wet feet shot out from under her again when she stepped on his tile floor. Buck caught her under the arms, aware of her slight weight and fragile bones. She was such a delicate woman...
Sadie paid him no mind. Immediately, she slammed the door shut again, using enough force to rattle the panes of glass. Panting, nose glued to the glass, she watched the yard as if expecting something momentous.
Crossing his arms over his chest, Buck leaned against the wall and stared down at Sadie. At six-three, he stood taller than a lot of people. He was used to looking down. But Sadie was more petite than most, damn near a foot shorter than him.
And she was in her nightgown. With pretty, sleep-rumpled hair. And small feminine bare feet now wet and dirty with grass stains.
He was still ogling her feet when Sadie jumped. "Ohmigod, there it is! There she is!"
Buck looked over her shoulder - and saw another Chihuahua , way fatter than Butch but not much bigger otherwise. The poor thing was soaked from running in the grass. It was also missing some fur. It had a bald forehead with other bare patches on its belly and behind.
It was about the ugliest little dog Buck had ever seen, and it charged right up to his door, then put both front paws to the glass.
Sadie screamed.
The shocking sound caused Buck to nearly jump out of his underwear. Bewildered, he caught Sadie's upper arm and turned her toward him. "What in the world is wrong with you?"
"Locust! Locust!"
"No," Buck said reasonably, " Chihuahua . Probably the ugliest Chihuahua I've ever seen, but you apparently agreed to take it in..."
Sadie turned on him, stretched to her tiptoes to glare, and said, "In. Her. Mouth."
Her snarling tone startled him. Buck glanced down at the dog and... ewww.
Right there between the dog's teeth was a chubby, still screeching, red-eyed locust. He shuddered in honest, horrified revulsion. No wonder the dog was losing fur if she kept things like that in her mouth. "Good God, is she going to eat it?"
"I don't know," Sadie wailed while doing a little spastic jig and flapping her hands. "She keeps getting... things , and bringing them home to me. A dead frog, a slimy night crawler, and now this."
The little dog whined around the pulsating bug.
"She wants in," Sadie gasped.
"Over my dead body," Buck said.
Her expression earnest, her tone commanding, Sadie turned to Buck. She even flattened a hand on his chest, which nearly stopped his heart. "Go out there and take it away from her."
Buck stiffened. Of all the things to ask, why did it have to be that ? And she asked it while touching his naked chest with her soft little hand, when he stood in his underwear and her in her nightgown, leaving room for all sorts of possibilities.
He hated to disappoint her, but some things were just impossible. "Sorry, no can do."
Her lips trembled. "Why?"
"I hate locusts."
Her dark doe eyes widened. "But you're a man!"
"Last time I checked, yeah." At least he knew she'd noticed that much. "And stop yelling. You're upsetting the dogs."
Only Butch didn't look upset. He looked... love struck. From the moment the other Chihuahua had appeared, Butch had gone stock-still, his head tilted, his bulgy little eyes wide. Deep in his throat, a low, husky rumble escaped. Close to a whimper, only Butch was all male dog, so no way would Buck accuse him of whimpering.
Maybe Butch had bad eyesight, and didn't realize the other dog was balding. Maybe...
Sadie's hand, still on his chest, curled into a fist, grasping a handful of hair. "She's leaving. You have to go get her."
When Buck just winced, she changed tactics. "Oh please. I can't lose her, but I can't go out there either. I just can't. Not while she has that awful thing in her mouth."
Buck watched the dog trot around the corner. He shook his head, denying the inevitable. "I hate locusts. If it was a spider, no problem at all. A snake, I'm there. But locusts - "
Sadie jerked, nearly removing his chest hair. "She's going to get lost!"
Yeah, she probably would. Disgusted and feeling very put out, Buck gently untangled Sadie's fingers from his chest hair. He leaned down till his nose almost touched hers. "All right. But you owe me."
Her lashes fluttered in incomprehension.
She swallowed, then gave a small nod. "All right."
Satisfied, Buck picked up Butch and handed him to her. "Hold him. I'll be right back."
"Her name is Tish," Sadie explained in a belated effort to be helpful.
Buck crept out, his eyes darting this way and that, his ears alert to the scream of the locust. No sign of the dog. No sign of other neighbors, either, thank God, since he was in his under shorts.
In a ridiculously high voice for a man who weighed two-twenty-five, all of it muscle, he called, "Tish? Come on, sweetie-pie. Heeeere Tish..."
End of Excerpt
Tailspin is available in the following formats:
- Sorry, this title is not currently available in trade paperback formats.
An anthology featuring three stories by Lori:
Uncovered | Tailspin | An Honorable Man


text:
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text:
Faces 100 years or more
Ukiah Daily Journal
After about two hours of deliberation, a jury convicted Walter K. Miller of attempted murder Monday evening in Mendocino County Superior Court for shooting at a pursuing sheriff's deputy from a speeding Thunderbird.
Miller, 43, was convicted of first-degree attempted murder, assault with a firearm, first-degree burglary, witness intimidation, being a felon in possession of a firearm and special allegations that he personally used the semi-automatic, AP-9 pistol from which five or six rounds were fired the night of the Feb. 25 chase, and that he has two prior strikes under California's Three Strikes Law.
"I was surprised that they came back so quickly," Miller's Ukiah defense attorney, Al Kubanis, said of the jury's short deliberation. "I was hoping they would look more closely at the evidence and ... think about it more."
Driver Christopher Skaggs allegedly sped away from Mendocino County Sheriff's Office deputy Darren Brewster when he stopped the 1995 Thunderbird he drove. During the ensuing high-speed chase, Miller shot at Brewster's patrol car, hit the radiator and disabled the car about two miles after turning onto the winding Highway 253 (known as the Boonville Road) south of Ukiah.
Within minutes of retiring at 3 p.m. Monday, the jury took Kubanis' advice and requested a laptop. Kubanis had recommended using a "personal computer" to see a better-quality rendition of the video taken from Brewster's patrol car, which Kubanis had argued did not show muzzle flashes from the semi-automatic AP-9 pistol Miller used, or Miller leaning out the window -- an issue in showing the intention required for a first-degree attempted murder charge.
"It was pretty straight-forward," said juror Raymond Gates after the jury handed down its verdicts. "Eighty-five to 90 percent of what we were arguing, he had admitted to most of that."
Regarding Miller's testimony on the stand last week, Gates said, "I wanted to believe some of the stuff he said, but he incriminated himself. Sometimes he didn't say enough; sometimes he said too much, and he lied about stuff."
Miller admitted on the stand last week that he fired the rounds, but said he hadn't aimed at the deputy, and that he believed the bullet that hit the vehicle had ricocheted.
At issue during trial was the question of whether Miller -- who was visiting Skaggs while on parole out of Sonoma County -- leaned his upper body out the speeding T-bird's passenger window as he fired the semi-automatic handgun, and whether he intended to shoot at Brewster.
Miller testified last week that he had put his right arm out the window and had fired aimlessly, and only to scare the deputy from the chase. H also claimed he hadn't committed the second burglary, and that he never threatened his friend.
"This is a very serious case," Mendocino County District Attorney David Eyster, who prosecuted the case, said to the jury during his closing arguments Monday morning. He went on to say the case was about "whether we will allow someone to attempt to kill one of our police officers."
Eyster argued that the video taken from Brewster's patrol car showed the muzzle flashes coming back at the deputy, and that Brewster and Skaggs' then-girlfriend, Tracy Cox -- who was in the T-bird's back seat during the chase -- had seen Miller lean out the window with the gun.
Eyster said that to arrive at a first-degree attempted murder verdict, the jury would need to find that Miller had decided before he shot that he meant to kill the deputy, and that he had deliberated, which Eyster said happens when a person "carefully weighs considerations for and against (the act), knowing the consequences."
"Was this something out of the blue, and not thought about?" Eyster said. "A cold, calculated decision to kill can be reached very quickly."
He argued that Miller's intent to kill started when he stole the AP-9 pistol from a Potter Valley home earlier the same day -- a burglary charged in the same case, to which he pleaded guilty.
"Why do you load a 30-count magazine and a 20-count magazine?" Eyster asked. "The gun has gone from loot to a weapon being ready to use."
He said Miller had not tried to hide the weapon when Brewster stopped the T-bird. Cox testified previously that Miller had put his hand on the back of Skaggs' head and told him to duck at the traffic stop, and that she'd told him to drive away instead.
Eyster went on to point out inconsistencies between Miller's testimony and other witnesses' including Cox's and Brewster's, and Miller's admitted lies to detectives and his father during the investigation.
During his closing arguments, Kubanis said he'd learned from a mentor that a jury trial is about "impression."
"Here, you have an impression of the defendant as someone who lies to the cops all the time, lies to other people sometimes, is a really bad guy and has six felony convictions," Kubanis said.
The jury could only consider that when weighing Miller's credibility as a witness, Kubanis said, adding, "but let's get real: that's hard to get out of your mind."
In the video taken from Brewster's patrol car, Kubanis argued, "We didn't see the defendant outside the car (and) we didn't see the muzzle flashes."
Kubanis argued that the reason for the lack of muzzle flashes could be glare from inside the patrol car, and could be because the T-bird's tail lights outshine them.
Eyster said previously that Miller faces a minimum of 25 years to life in prison for just the burglary to which he pleaded guilty, and could face as much as 110 years to life in prison.
Kubanis said outside the courtroom Monday that Miller knew, no matter what the outcome of the case, that he would likely spend the rest of his life in prison.
"I feel sorry for a guy like that, but I didn't put the gun in his hand," Gates said.
Miller is due back in court Feb. 7 for sentencing.
"I certainly want to thank the district attorney and the inspectors for the very hard work and long hours they put into this," Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman said Monday night.
Tiffany Revelle can be reached at email@example.com, on Twitter @TiffanyRevelle or at 468-3523.