text:
By MARY ANN MARGER
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 8, 2001
Highlights are the four shows at the Arts Center, African-American crafts at Florida Craftsmen Gallery, Tony Caparello at Merrick and a group show at Fusion that closes Saturday.
The walk is free. Pick up a guide with map at any participating gallery:
CENTRAL AVENUE: The Arts Center, Davidson Fine Art, EastWest Gallery, 531 Central Fine Arts, Florida Craftsmen Gallery, Fusion Gallery, Shapiro Studio & Gallery, Sidler Fine Art Studio & Gallery (new location), Soho South Gallery, Studio Szabries, Ungala.
FIRST AVENUE N: Grand Finale Restaurant & Gallery, Heavenly Things.
BEACH DRIVE AND THE PIER: Merrick Gallery, Red Cloud Indian Arts, Thomas Kinkade Gallery, Trinity Gallery, Crystal Mirage Gallery.
PLUS: ArtSpace, 10 Fifth St. N; Glass Canvas Gallery, 233 Fourth Ave. NE; Studio Encanto, 209 First St. N; T.W. Curtis Galleries, 331 16th St. N; and Ambiance Galleries, 1535 Dr. M.L. King (Ninth) St. N.
Back to Weekend
Paula Deen teams with Novo Nordisk on diabetes
'Artist,' 'Tinker Tailor' up for UK film awards
Lohan returns to court for latest probation update
Soundtrack to be released for MTV's 'Teen Mom'
Swift teases songs about heartbreak on next album
Rock Hall of Fame opens archives to public
Indian fest hopes Rushdie attends, despite protest
Bavaria questions Mein Kampf publication plans
Poland slaps fine on singer for bashing Bible


text:
TORONTO, March 27, 2014 /CNW/ - Posera-HDX Ltd. (TSX: HDX) (the "Company") announced today its financial results for the three-months and year ending December 31st, 2013. HDX is listed on the TSX under the symbol "HDX".
Paul Howell, Chief Executive Officer, reports:
Posera-HDX Ltd. achieved record levels of revenue and EBITDA for the 2013 fiscal year and also for the three-months ending December 31st, 2013. On December 9th, 2013 the Company completed the acquisition of Zomaron Inc. ("Zomaron"). The acquisition of Zomaron, a rapidly growing company with a successful and accomplished management team and over 140 sales agents, will be instrumental in the Company's growth strategy and lays the groundwork for significant sales growth in 2014 and beyond. The Company achieved record revenue and EBITDA prior to the acquisition, when excluding revenues and EBITDA derived from the acquisition of Zomaron.
The Company's total revenue was $19,511,412 for the year-ended December 31, 2013, an increase of $3,065,306 (18.6%) from $16,446,106 for the year-ended December 31, 2012. EBITDA profit of $943,596, for the year-ended December 31, 2013 an increase of $2,065,961 from a loss of ($1,122,365) for the year-ended December 31, 2012.
The Company achieved revenue of $5,940,741 for the three-months ended December 31, 2013; an increase of $1,403,213 (30.9%) from $4,537,528 for the three-months ended December 31, 2012 and up $769,186 (14.9%) from $5,171,555 for the three-months ended September 30, 2013. EBITDA profit for the three-months ended December 31, 2013, was $854,771, an increase of $1,288,869 from a loss of ($434,098) for the three-months ended December 31, 2012, and an increase of $297,916 from an EBITDA profit of $556,855 for the three-months ended September 30, 2013.
In the twenty-two days subsequent to the date of acquisition of Zomaron during the remainder of fiscal 2013, Zomaron's merchant base processed credit and debit transactions totalling $41,816,054. The Company recorded $150,526 of payment processing revenue, which resulted from $710,068 of gross payment processing fees for the remaining twenty-two days of December 31, 2013. For the year-ended December 31, 2013 Zomaron had 2,209 active merchants which compares to 1,299 active merchants as at December 31, 2012, which was prior to the date of acquisition of Zomaron by Posera-HDX Ltd.
There are over 20,000 merchants world-wide that operate Posera-HDX's software solutions. The Company anticipates that integration work between Posera-HDX's software solutions and Zomaron's payment solutions will be completed in 2014. Complimentary marketing and sales operations of intercompany products commenced during December of 2013 with a numerous clients contracting the Company to provide solutions from both divisions.
The Company continues to pursue acquisitions within the point of sale and payments industries although none are specifically named at this time.
Year-ended December 31, 2013 - Highlights and Summary
Three-months ended December 31, 2013 (Unaudited) - Highlights and Summary
Non-GAAP Reporting Measures:
Management reports on certain non-GAAP measures to evaluate performance of the Company. EBITDA is a measure commonly reported and widely used by investors as an indicator of a company's operating performance and ability to incur and service debt, and as a valuation metric. While EBITDA has been disclosed herein to permit a more complete comparative analysis of the Company's operating performance and debt servicing ability relative to other companies, investors are cautioned that EBITDA as reported by Posera-HDX may not be comparable in all instances to EBITDA as reported by other companies. For definitions of Non-GAAP measures, refer to the Company's annual management discussion and analysis for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2013.
Additional information on HDX fourth quarter 2013 financial results will be available in the financial reports filed by the Company with Sedar at www.sedar.com
About the Company
Posera-HDX is in the business of managing merchant transactions with consumers and facilitating payment. The company develops and deploys touch screen POS system software and associated enterprise management tools and has developed and deployed numerous POS applications. Posera-HDX also provides system hardware integration services, merchant staff training, system installation services, and post sale software and hardware support services.
Posera-HDX leading edge technology also includes prepaid stored value payments solutions, customer self serve kiosks and "line buster" mobile point of sale terminals. These products have been designed to dramatically enhance customer throughput and drastically reduce customer queues. These technologies are especially effective in high foot traffic environments that have limited cash register counter space, limited retail square footage, and the absence of a drive through.
Founded in 2008, Zomaron provides credit and debit card processing solutions to Canadian merchants nationwide. Based in London, Ontario, Zomaron has offices in Edmonton AB, Toronto ON, and Montreal QC. Through its nation-wide network of sales representatives and strategic partnerships, Zomaron has experienced rapid growth, doubling its sales annually. Zomaron's exponential growth led it to be ranked on PROFIT magazine's 13th and 14th annual PROFIT HOT 50 issues in October 2012 and 2013 respectively. Zomaron's solutions and services can also be marketed and deployed in the United States.
Posera-HDX Ltd. develops, deploys, and supports a restaurant point-of-sale software know as "Maitre'D" which has been deployed in over 20,000 locations worldwide in eight different languages. The Company sells and services its clients directly, as well as through a network of approximately 96 value added reseller partners in 25 countries with approximately 550 representatives selling, supporting & installing its software. Posera-HDX employs approximately 139 people in offices in Toronto, London, Brantford, Mississauga, Seattle, Montreal, Glasgow (U.K.), Paris (France) and Singapore.
Forward-Looking Statements
This discussion includes certain forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations, which involve risks and uncertainties associated with our business and the environment in which the business operates. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking, including those identified by the expressions "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but reflect HDX's current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including the matters discussed under "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Annual Information Form to be filed on March 27th 2014 with the regulatory authorities. HDX assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements.
SOURCE: Posera-HDX
For further information: Paul Howell, Chief Executive Officer, Posera-HDX Ltd. (HDX), 350 Bay Street, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2S6, (416) 703-6462 ext. 2263
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
FTC Revises, Adds to Green Guides
November 27, 2012,
The Guides contain new sections on certifications and seals of approval, carbon offsets, free of claims, non-toxics, renewable energy and renewable materials claims. They also have guidance on compostable, ozone, recyclable and recycled content claims.
The guides are general principles for environmental marketing and give guidance for qualifying and substantiating claims for clarity with consumers.
The FTC issued the first Green Guides in 1992, with subsequent updates in 1996 and 1998. Changes were proposed in 2010 following the green renaissance of the mid-to-late 2000s, which helped shape the newly revised guides.
The FTC noted that in recent years it has stepped up enforcement against companies making deceptive environmental claims. In one case, the FTC sued a company offering "free" books showing consumers how to become "green millionaires" by installing roof solar panels for free.
Since 2009, the FTC has settled or barred exaggerated energy efficiency cost savings claims by window makers, green certifications that were neither tested nor green, biodegradable claims, rayon fabric advertised as "environmentally friendly" bamboo, and paper products that were claimed to be biodegradable.
According to the guides, all marketers, regardless of their size, must comply with Section 5 of the FTC Act, which prohibits ''unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce.''
The FTC often gives small businesses a chance to come into compliance after informal counseling or a warning letter advising them of the need to revise claims, according to the guides. If a company fails to respond, it often follows up with investigations and enforcement.
The guides were revised to make them more sophisticated and up-to-date, said Vicki L. Worden, president of Worden Associates, which consults with the Specialty Sleep Assn.
"So much has changed from when the original version was put together in terms of environmental marketing claims, and that was really the purpose of creating a revised version of the guides," Worden said.
"In terms of furniture and bedding, I think there are still a lot of general claims being made by the industry and the updated green guides are very loud and clear (that) there should not be unsubstantiated claims made," she said.
The guides direct marketers to craft messages that give consumers a uniform way to judge one product against another, she said. They emphasize that marketers should be able to qualify all claims.
Among the changes, the guides caution marketers against making broad and unqualified claims that products are "environmentally friendly" or "eco-friendly" because very few have the attributes consumers perceive with those claims.
Other changes involve claims that a material is "renewable." Those claims must be qualified with terms that distinguish how fast a renewable material like bamboo is replenished, or by saying how fast a renewable material is replenished compared with how much of it is used.
One area addressed is the relationship between providers of seals and certifications and the manufacturers - namely that those relationships are clear to the consumer, so the credibility of claims can be assessed, Worden said.
Seals should also clearly show what attributes are being highlighted so consumers have a basis for comparison, she said.
"Without that, the seal seems to elevate a product but it doesn't necessarily provide a consumer with the ability to really differentiate between the two," Worden said. "You can't anymore just have a general seal of approval that a consumer has to draw their own conclusion as to what it's saying."
The FTC did not to address the terms sustainable, natural and organic. Worden said the FTC decided "sustainable" has too many different meanings to be able to address, and must be substantiated specifically.
For organics, the FTC opted not to duplicate government efforts by other government agencies. Guidance for those claims are defined by through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program.
That information is online at http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&SID=61a915bc2327 b8a3c90518e1b3fe5231&rgn=div5&view=text&node=7:188.8.131.52.3 2&idno=7.
Sandra Marquardt, the Global Organic Textile Standard representative in North America, said that not having the terms sustainable and natural clearly defined is a weakness, when there is such extensive specificity by the USDA for production and terminology in organics.
"I don't know why they didn't (define the terms). They've already taken years to address natural or sustainable so it seems to be an oversight," Marquardt said. She added that, for example, livestock and produce have specific legal definitions spelled out for "organic."
Most farms and businesses that grow, handle, or process organic products must be certified, according to the USDA.
The FTC said it did not have the legal authority to define the terms natural and sustainable since they convey a wide range of meanings, not all environmental. They said no consensus had been reached on how to measure that those qualities.
The FTC did say that if marketers use "sustainable" and if a consumer perceives a general environmental benefit claim, marketers should be able to substantiate the claims.
"With the increasing amount of organic furniture out there such as mattresses, chair coverings, fabrics - you want to know what you're getting. With the word 'organic' you can. With sustainable and natural, particularly with natural, there's no definition," Marquardt said.
Having a strict set of rules in place raises the question of whether the guides may have a chilling effect on companies that decide making a green claim is too difficult.
Worden said the guides should help ensure the marketplace isn't overwhelmed with claims that can't be defended.
The rules could create a need for cross functional teams to work on marketing campaigns that include legal counsel familiar with Green Guides, along with product designers and marketers who can agree on what claims a company can make, Worden said. "It has the potential to dissuade those that wouldn't jump into the market with both feet. This type of scrutiny by the federal government could dissuade those who just want to dabble," Worden said.
"For those who are serious about going after this niche - a potentially high dollar niche market - it's going to provide more incentives for that group to ensure that they have their third party certifications in place and have fully thought through their marketing programs," she said.
The Global Organic Textile Standard's Marquardt said that the role of the guides is to have an enabling effect.
"If it has a chilling effect it means that the companies were doing something wrong," Marquardt said. "I think if anything this gives liberty to companies to make claims that are truthful and accurate that consumers can believe in and that are the right things to do by the environment."
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" Reading transports me. I can go anywhere and never leave my chair. It lets me shake hands with new ideas.
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text:
Bobst moves Braille embossing down the production line
Braille characters on pharmaceutical packaging that moves the
process down the production line from die-cutting to the folding
and gluing stage.
The supplier of equipment and services to the folding carton, corrugated board and flexible materials-converting industries is positioning its AccuBraille module as a unique solution that can improve cost-efficiency in Braille embossing. The launch builds on Bobst's own dominant position in the market for embossing through the traditional die-cutting method. Under the European Union's amended pharmaceutical directive 2001/83/EC, all pharmaceutical packaging must carry a Braille imprint for the visually impaired. As Bobst sales and marketing manager Nigel Tracey notes, Braille embossing has typically been managed at the die-cutting stage, a market the company itself has cornered with an 80 per cent share of folded carton packaging sales to the pharmaceutical sector. Nonetheless, Bobst's market research indicated that converters felt Braille embossing would be more cost-efficient when applied by a folder-gluer. In response, the company spent 18 months developing AccuBraille, which can be incorporated into new models of the Bobst's Alpina II and Mistral folder gluers or installed on these machines as a retro-fit. Priced at around €100,000 per unit, the AccuBraille module consists of a rotary embossing unit including an embossing depth control system. The AccuBraille can process up to 75,000 boxes per hour or 240 metres per minute, depending on the blank pitch. It uses the Marburg Medium standard - the most common Braille font specification and recommended in guidance from the European Commission - with a maximum of four lines and will handle materials ranging from 200 to 500 gsm (gsm is the standard measurement for paper/card thickness). Incorporating the Braille embossing unit further down the production line gives packagers better control of the process with less margin for problems such as contamination, Tracey explains. Moreover, feeding previously embossed blanks into the folder-gluer limits the machine's run capacity and can compromise the embossing effect. Make-ready of the Braille in the folder-gluer takes less than five minutes, with no additional staffing required, as opposed to the hour's preparation needed to emboss on the die-cutter, Bobst notes. There are also advantages in terms of the tool costs and design flexibility. The AccuBraille system uses one universal female tool and two male tools, so the next job can be prepared off-machine. And the rotary process means the tools are never in contact, avoiding premature wear. The unit's ability to apply embossing very close to cut or folded edges opens up the possibilities for pack design. While Bobst's dominance of Braille embossing through die-cutting means its biggest competitor for the AccuBraille system "will be ourselves", the company feels the risk of cannibalisation is worth running for the sake of innovation, Tracey says. The Braille embossing will still be done on a Bobst machine and the company will still be supplying components for die-cutting and folding/gluing, he points out. Bobst also sees a growing trend towards use of Braille on high-quality packaging for wine or foods such as chocolate and biscuits. For the moment it has the market for Braille embossing at the folding and gluing stage to itself. According to Tracey, one other company tried something similar two years ago but without success. Bobst has already sold four of the AccuBraille units (two for new folder-gluers, two for retro-fits) and the market response so far has been "very, very positive," he comments.


text:
I started to think of my mother as deeply forgetful, not as an Alzheimer's patient.
Alzheimer's Reading Room
I was interviewed by Lori La Bey on Alzheimer's Speaks Radio. I had no real expectation going into the interview. I should have known better.
Lori caught me off guard when she asked me right up front to explain my construct of the deeply forgetful.
Later in the day I realized I really couldn't remember what I said. I went back and listened to my own words. I surprised myself while listening.
I now realized that caregivers are constrained by their own brains. We tend to view a person living with Alzheimer's or a related dementia as less than a "whole person". This is not true, or even close to being true.
Deeply Forgetful
This is a rough transcript of what I said.
I'll start by saying,
Most Alzheimer's caregivers focus on and sometimes obsess about memory. By this I mean, they use post it notes and whiteboards to help AD patients remember. They say things like, "don't you remember", or "you just asked me that".
It is sometimes hard to comprehend that the deterioration of the right now memory is a given in AD. Right now memory goes first.
I'll interject here that I believe caregivers should focus on memories not memory. Music, pictures, and discussions of the way back past are good tools that can enliven the deeply forgetful. Enliven is a key word.
I have a different view of dementia than most caregivers.
It seems to me that Dementia is about the gradual deterioration of mental functioning,
specifically thinking, concentration, memory, judgment, and includes moodiness and challenging behavior. These all affects a person's ability to perform normal daily activities.
For example, It is not unusual for AD patients to forget the importance of taking a shower. You won't get them to do what you want by trying to explain why they need to take a shower, or should take a shower. Or at least this didnt' work well for us.
So, I decided to focus on what I call the deep forget.
The Best Way to Find Solutions to the Problems that Caregivers Face Each Day
When I did this I started to think of my mother as deeply forgetful - not as an Alzheimer's patient.
So I embarked on a mission to help my mother remember how to do things.
For example, in her normal everyday life my mother would wake up, read the newspaper, and then do the crossword puzzle.
So we started each and every day by doing just that.
I would discuss the front page with her, look at the recipe page and ask her to read the ingredients of a recipe to me, and then eventually put the crossword puzzle in front of her if she didn't do it herself.
As a result, Dotty never forgot how to read, and she could still get three letter words in the crossword puzzle even after she scored a 14 on the MMSE. Below 16 indicates moderate to severe dementia.
I also placed a book on my mother's pillow every night. She couldn't remember a word she read, but she could still read, I watched her do it, I watched her dog ear the last page she read, and I watched her put the book down and turn off the light before she went to sleep.
This explains in part why she could still read out loud if asked to, and why she could still hold a conversation.
Most neurologists and geriatric care persons were amazed at her ability to read.
Topic - Connect Alzheimer's Dementia
If I had not done this I believe she would have forgotten how to read, and then probably how to speak full sentences. This did not happen to us.
I didn't want Dotty to forget, and I also didn't care whether or not she could remember what she read. I could control the forgetting, I could not control her memory loss.
Here is a good example of the difference between memory and forgetting.
In 2010 as part of her testing my mother was shown a picture of a fork. She was asked "what is this" and "what do you do with it". She could not answer either question.
Then she was handed a fork and asked to demonstrate what you do with it. She demonstrated how you use it to eat.
She was then asked "what is it". She got a look on her face like she was being treated like an idiot. And then said, what do you think I am an idiot, this is a fork.
Topic - Memory Tests
That did tickle the woman giving the test.
My point.
Couldn't remember, but didn't forget.
Once I started viewing my mother as deeply forgetful, I forgot she had Alzheimer's. This lifted a great burden off my back.
The stigma attached to Alzheimer's is burdensome. Unfortunately, we as caregivers drink the kool-aid. We allow our brains to focus on the negative instead of focusing in on the right here and right now.
We have allowed the money folks to taint our thinking and convince us that AD is an automatic death sentence. It is a nasty lie that is damaging to the entire Alzheimer's community.
We are born and some day we die. In between we live our lives. The goal of every AD caregiver should be to live life along with their loved one - one day at a time.
We can miss the "more there" easily because our brains our constrained and we are constantly bombarded by the many stigmas and misconceptions that are attached to Alzheimer's disease and related dementia.
Related Articles
Deeply Forgetful and Deeply Forgotten
Help The Deeply Forgetful Remember The Things They Do
1 Cargiver Tip They Are Deeply Forgetful
Connectedness and Attachment in Alzheimer's Care
Care of Dementia Patients
6 reasons why you might have to put someone with dementia in a memory care facility or nursing home
The Alzheimer's Reading Room (ARR) offers a searchable Knowledge Base that contains over 5,000 articles about Alzheimer's disease.
This intellectual capital is offered free of charge and is available to the entire Alzheimer's community Worldwide via the ARR website.
The Best Way to Find Solutions to the Problems that Caregivers Face Each Day


text:
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Adorable, Flashy Black Rocky Mountain gelding. Star is an absolutely gorgeous horse. He has a think muscular build, perfect confirmation and a perfectly shaped head with delicate shapely ears and kind dark eyes. Pictures do not do him justice. Star is a beauty that has it all. Looks, personality, gait, style and the right attitude. He is a lovely horse in every way. He is a lifetime horse with everything going for him.Star is a sweetheart to be around and is very fun to ride.... (read more)
Watch Star Tennessee Walking Horse for Sale
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Tennessee Trail Horse is a family owned and operated sales facility for naturally gaited trail horses. We are honest hardworking, Godly people who love to ride horses. Our purpose is to match riders with their perfect horse. We are located in southern middle Tennessee right in the middle of Tennessee Walking horse country. We specialize in offering only the very finest of gaited horses and matching the ideal horse to the needs and wants of each individual rider or buyer.... (read more)
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Bakersfield, CA


text:
A while back, I produced with the help of many others, this guide to skepticism for beginners and for journalists and whomever else was interested.
In May of 2013, I was asked to come to L.A. to do a live presentation on the topic and a Q and A session as well for the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF). The video is now online. It's an hour and 20 minutes of me and Barbara Drescher talking and demonstrating.
It's gotten some nice views and compliments already, so enjoy.


text:
Making Disaster Risk Reduction a reality
Nepal, April 29, 2010
Prior to attending Mercy Corps' five day workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Nepal, I had never heard of the Hyogo Framework for Action, a legal framework that demonstrates a commitment made by 168 countries to support DRR. Along with 11 Mercy Corps staff from nine countries around the world — including China, Haiti, Tajikistan, Georgia, Myanmar, Niger, Indonesia, East Timor and host country Nepal — we gathered in Kathmandu to learn from one another regarding the current DRR programs that we implement, how to improve our capabilities and the international standards/commitments for DRR.
Why are and should Mercy Corps staff be interested in DRR? It's simple. Mercy Corps works with communities in countries that are vulnerable to disasters, that have limited capacity to respond and are therefore at increased risk.
According to the Centre for Research of the Epidemiology on Disasters, the world is facing an unprecedented scale of disasters. Nearly 25 percent of the world's landmass and nearly 75 percent of its population is at risk and as such we need to protect the most vulnerable. The investment must be made in preparing communities to respond to disaster before it happens, in order to increase communities' resilience and reduce their vulnerability. In order to protect the development work which the international community and Mercy Corps is engaged in, we should prioritize and support DRR efforts.
The DRR workshop provided a forum for representatives from Mercy Corps country teams to talk about the disasters which affect their communities:
- Nepal is vulnerable to landslides and earthquakes;
- Communities in Indonesia suffered the devastating impact of the tsunami and continue to be susceptible to earthquakes and landslides;
- Myanmar was hit by one of the worst cyclones in history;
- Niger is affected by drought and subsequent food crisis;
- Georgia and Tajikistan are suffering the affects of climate change, with increasing incidents of landslides and flooding; and
- China and Haiti have both recently been hit by earthquakes
Although these disasters vary in magnitude, they have all caused widespread devastation to communities — destroying infrastructure including roads, schools and hospitals, as well as damaging livelihoods and causing loss of life.
Mercy Corps is engaged in DRR by preparing communities, mitigating the risk, advocating and integrating DRR into our development programs. The opportunity for Mercy Corps country staff to engage in DRR and visit our DRR programming in Nepal will equip field and HQ staff with the knowledge and skills to integrate DRR activities into their own country programs and better support the communities we work for.


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Rated 5 / 5 stars
I'm not sure why people give it bad ratings... I mean, everything is PERFECT: The model. the materials, the final render... I can't even think up what to add to it. Great, goes to my favorites.
Rated 5 / 5 stars
Reminds me of Halo
Rated 4.5 / 5 stars
That is pretty dang awsome. Is it like some sort of winter helicopter or a transformer?
Rated 4.5 / 5 stars
Can it transform?
Make it into a robot!
Rated 4 / 5 stars
Looks like a toy
but it's still a fine 3D, actually all of your robots remind me of toys because of the colors you used. but it's fine, being toys or not they still look good, and they don't look easy to model.


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Julia is a beautiful, elegant, graceful lady. She is out of our QH mare Philis Jubilee and by Gavilan IV, champion producing PRE, Julia Is a talented, willing, lovely seven year old mare who has been ridden first level dressage, goes great on the trail and loves to jump! She is fancy and fun and great on the ground, super sweet, with fabulous feet and Andalusian mane and tail. Currently ridden by a novice 12 year old boy she continues to be patient and tolerant.... (read more)
We were breeding very fine Sporthorses and are currently downsizing. I continue to train and we raise Labradoodles also.
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text:
Bears Den closed May 28 through June 13
May 16, 2014
The Bears Den will be closed for renovations from Wednesday, May 28 through Friday, June 13. Facilities and ITS will remove all equipment and furniture so that new carpeting can be installed. Students will find plenty of workstations in nearby locations:
- The PIC – lower level of the Markee
- Karrmann Library
- Virtual Bears Den – Get access to general lab software and your J-drive from anywhere you have internet access. Find connection instructions in the ITS Knowledge Base.
In addition, students may check out laptops from the Help Desk free of charge for 72 hours.
The updated Bears Den will sport new computers equipped with Windows 8 and Office 2013 as well as new acrylic dividers between the work areas. Renovations will be completed in time for New Student Registration which begins on Monday, June 16.
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In her first public address at the helm of the SEC – presented at PLI's SEC Speaks conference earlier today – SEC Chairman Mary L. Schapiro said, "In the days ahead, we will rise to the new challenges of today's financial and regulatory realities, both by embracing new approaches and by maintaining the great traditions that have defined this institution throughout its history."
She added, "The challenges we face are historic. But they're not insurmountable. It will take determination, hard work, toughness, and above all, an unrelenting will to stand up for investors."
"But make no mistake," Shapiro stated. "Regulation is a two-way street. The 'regulated' need not wait for a regulator's reforms, though they will come."
Proxy Access, Say on Pay
Describing her vision that "A strong and reinvigorated SEC will be on the beat like never before," she added, "there needs to be a new era of responsibility on Wall Street and throughout our markets to ensure that wrongs don't occur in the first place."
Indicating she will not shy away from certain hot button issues that have plagued prior Chairmen, Schapiro said, "There is much we can do to accelerate that process, including giving shareholders a greater say on who serves on corporate boards, and how company executives are paid."
Strengthening Enforcement, Investor Advocacy
Schapiro outlined a number of initiatives to strengthen the SEC's enforcement function, including removing the 'penalty pilot' established under former Chairman Christopher Cox in which enforcement staff needed to obtain Commission approval before entering into certain settlement negotiations. She also called for the formation of an Investor Advisory Committee. Read more highlights from her speech here.
In other news, David M. Becker was named General Counsel and Senior Policy Director at the SEC.


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You would have to get the medical facility to agree not to report the bills (do this in writing) in order for them to be deleted. Paying them is not a waste of money because the accounts would show as paid in full. Not paying them would be a negative on your credit. Either one would still show on your credit history for the next 7 years. Which would you like, a positive or a negative?
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Water-repellent thermo balaclava
Fit: Race
Fabric: Cold Moa Warm
Treatments: Moa Manto W.R.T.
Cold Moa Warm
Cold MOA fabrics, thanks to their high thermal insulation and breathability, keep the body warm and dry even by extreme cold weather. Elastic yarns grant exceptional fitting and pleasant softness. In order to better meet thermal protection requirements, Cold Moa fabrics are realised in 3 versions depending on weight, treatments
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Moa Manto W.R.T.
The revolutionary water-resistant treatment with a drops roll-off effect rejects water, but also oil and mud, preventing them from penetrating into the fibres. The result is not only a maximum protection from the weathering but also easy wash and long lasting garments.
If ordered before 9pm, delivered by courier next working day. Available on orders placed before 9pm (2pm weekends and Bank Holidays) for delivery next business day. Applies to most delivery addresses within mainland UK.
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Please allow 10 working days from dispatch of your order before notifying us of any late deliveries.
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Crew goalkeeper Matt Lampson has been impressive in net since stepping in for injured Andy Gruenebaum this season, but what he has done off the field goes well beyond saves or clean sheets. At Saturday's Night the Light Walk, Lampson -- co-chairman of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's event -- inspired others affected by the disease he survived. In this piece from this morning's Columbus Dispatch, Adam Jardy profiles Lampson and what "Team LampStrong" has done in the fight against cancer.
The Black & Gold's playoff chances got a little bit brighter last night as the LA Galaxy dropped Montreal by a final of 1-0 thanks to a late Kofi Opare goal in the 68th minute of the contest. Next, the Crew will shift its focus to Montreal's next match against Philadelphia, where a tie would cap both teams at 47 points in the Eastern Conference playoff picture – a total Columbus could reach with a pair of wins against New England the next two weeks. MLSsoccer.com's Scott French recaps the Galaxy win at the StubHub Center and the first of what should amount to several matches to go in the Crew's favor.
As the regular season nears its end, it is a good time to look back on the greatest goals of the Crew's 2013 campaign. You can have a look at all the goals and vote for your favorite, but before you do make sure you read on TheCrew.com what some of the players have to say about the best strikes of the season.


text: Hello, Are you interested in helping out SBCL development, but unsure how to get started? If so, I (Richard Kreuter) am looking for some collaborators: (0) to compile a good list of details that ANSI leaves unspecified, implementation-defined, implementation-dependent, "it is an error", etc. I have a list of the implementation-defined details here: http://www.progn.net/static/lisp/cl-document-required.txt This list needs work. (Note that such a list can be useful even if it's incomplete; so closely reading just about any extent of the CLHS will be helpful to this effort.) (1) To write tests demonstrating what SBCL does about those details in the list described in (0) and perhaps also the "Proposed Revisions and ANSI Clarifications" page on Cliki. My immediate interest is to have a database describing just what SBCL actually does around the edges (remaining agnostic about whether our behaviors are intended or accident, or guaranteed to users). (For simplicity, I'd like it if such unit-tests were written using SB-RT with as little additional rigmarole as we can get away with.) (2) To compose english descriptions, suitable for inclusion in the manual, of what SBCL does about those details in the list described in (0). SBCL is strictly non-conforming for our lack of documentation of implementation-defined details; so it might be good to have documentation-oid writeups at hand for eventual inclusion in the manual. (This point and the previous are clearly related, but I think writing tests and documentation can be done in parallel.) For my part, I'll collate whatever we can come up with, and will make it all publically available (though not necessarily by including them in the canonical SBCL source tree unless other SBCL developers agree that the work is valuable there); I'll also take care of whatever administrivia the effort requires. In exchange for your contributions you'll get (a) your name in a file somewhere (in big letters, if you prefer), (b) the thanks of at least one SBCL developer (who spends too much of his hacking time just determining what SBCL does around the edges), (c) in theory, eventually, maybe, a better SBCL, (d) a number, probably equal to zero, of SBCL-themed thank you gifts. If you think you'd like to collaborate on these goals, please contact me at kreuter@... Thanks, Richard Kreuter


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Milled in Varese, Italy, Caravaggio Canvas is Europe's premier acrylic-primed canvas. A state-of-the-art priming method delivers two layers of bright white acrylic primer to assure a consistent painting surface with optimal adhesion for oils, acrylic, tempera, casein, and mixed media.
Caravaggio 100% Polyester Canvas Rolls are available in fine or medium textures, in 7.5 oz and 10 oz weights.
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Comments about Caravaggio Acrylic-Primed Polyester Canvas Rolls:
pros: thin, light, smooth surfacecons: acrylic seep through, creases too easily
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Polyester canvas: the canvas of the future
By Steven K
from Greensboro, NC
There are many things to say about polyester canvas. 1. You do not need to have it heavily gessoed (I use oils, but I believe this is true for acrylic, too). A standard coat will do. However, if you don't get a small spot enough, the oils won't eat through the canvas because the canvas is already plastic, and it won't deteriorate.2. Polyester is generally less expensive than cotton or linen duct. If you are buying expensive poly duct, you don't need to. It also doesn't need to be a thick duct.3. Polyester does not expand and contract nearly as much as cotton or even linen in temperature or humidity change. In fact, I would worry more about the wood being used than the poly. Save your money for better wood... If you want it.4. It's resilient, and long lasting.This item is relatively new in the world of painting, and I am relatively new to using it. But I have used it, and so far, I can't say anything bad about it. I'm surprised there aren't more people using it. It's considerably better than cotton and even linen in every way. It's cheaper, better, longer lasting, doesn't expand and contract, and doesn't degrade when touching oils, which is a huge plus.
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Legal Question in Business Law in California
I have a non-profit corporation and was trying to get a community recreation facility built, I had a meeting with a major corporation for a potential investment, and they turned me down, but are building the community recreation facility themselves. Can I sue because they took my idea.
3 Answers from Attorneys
If this was done as a non profit venture, what losses would you sue to recover? Have the non profit goals not been met? I'm having difficulty understanding how you have been adversely affected.
What intellectual property did they steal? I suspect none...
You cannot protect ideas alone. If you had a written agreement with them and that was breached then you would have a remedy perhaps. If they violated some element of intellectual property like copyright, trademark, trade secret or patent the perhaps you may have a claim.
But unfortunately, noting prevents them from using an idea you present once you disclose it absent a contract.
Kind regards,
DISCLAIMER: this is not intended to be specific legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. No attorney-client relationship is formed on the basis of this posting.
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ACParadise Network: American Cosplay Paradise American Cosplay Experience American Cosplay Snapshots
Cosplayer princemercury1 > Costume of Captain Kuro (One Piece)
- Most Recent Photo
- 10-23-2012
- Series
- One Piece
- Character
- Captain Kuro
- Year Completed:
- 2011
- Construction Difficulty:
- Normal
- Costume worn at:
- Anime Central 2012
- Anime Weekend Atlanta 2011
- Dragon*Con 2012
About this Costume
- Construction Details:
Wig: Brought on ebay a while back.
Glasses: Harry Potter glasses. XDD
Shirt: Reuse work shirt that I took the original collar off and put a homemade collar on it. The swirly lines on the collar was hand embroider by me and there is interface in the collar.
Coat: Made by me, using a coat pattern (forgot which one), and fully lined. I use heat bond on the gold "poop" and zigzag the seams. Their are 8, one inch gold buttons and two black buttons on the front of the coat and 2 gold buttons on each sleeves.
Gloves: Made from Faux fur and the claws are made from 2 layers of foam board, cut and sanded. The claws are attach to each finger by wonderflex molded to my fingers (like a thimble).
Pants: A modify pants pattern (forgot which one) that I shorten and made a little tighter. The material I use for the pants was stretchy so I didn't cut any circulation from my legs.
Shoes: brought a pair of 20 dollar shoes at walmart. I use leftover material to make a mock pattern.
Then I measure and cut out each strip and label them 1-11 and black or gray on each strip.
I transfer each strip to there respectic fabric (black and gray shiny costume vinyl). Then I
sew on each strip to the matching numbers. I then hem up the bottoms of the shoes and added
a back zipper. Then I made a anklet band around the shoes using the same method that I did with
the shoes, but I added foam rubber to the inside of the anklet. I hand sew the anklets to the
tops of the shoes. There was a lot of pinning and testing the shoe..and you can tell from this
picture I'm not finish. XD Oh and I'm going to use rubber glue (E6000) to glue the shoe covers
to the shoe.
Belt: Left over silver vinyl that I has two layers sewing together.
- Personal Thoughts:
- I had fun with this costume. I especially love how the shoes came out and the fun stories I had when trying to pick up things with my long claws. XDD
Add a Comment


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The price of gold can be affected by a lot of things, here are a few important factors to consider when dealing with gold prices.
Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author.While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server.
Factors That Affect The Price Of Gold
Gold is one of the metals that is highly regulated to influence the market needs. Mining companies and central banks hold high reserves of this precious metal. According to the need of the market and the opportunity to create a profit, these companies drive the overall economic situation of the gold prices.
Dollar and gold prices go hand in hand. When the dollar rate is high, investors worldwide buy the dollar and consider it a better investment option. When the stock markets dwindle and the rate of gold rises higher than the dollar, the investors run to invest in gold instead. The increase in dollar rate decreases the demand for gold and vice versa.
The gold prices are driven primarily by the demand for the metal and the amount of supply available in return. The higher the demand for gold, the higher the price rises.
Like all other natural resources running out worldwide, gold is also becoming scarce. Due to its increase in demand and decrease in supply, the prices rise accordingly.
Unlike the unpredictable nature of the dollar, gold has a steady rise and fall. For this reason, when the rates of inflation increase locally, investors turn to gold for hedging inflation. The higher the rate of inflation, the more the demand for gold. The more the demand for gold, the more expensive gold prices become.
If you are considering to buy gold in Australia in this inflation period, visit Gold Buyers Melbourne.
Production of gold also affects the price of gold worldwide. The cost for extracting gold out of the earth is rising gradually but subsequently. In addition to mining costs, political turmoils and miners' strikes are also causing a decline in the production of gold all over the world.
South Africa, Russia, Australia and China are few of the world's greatest gold producers and responsible for driving the gold market.
Events such as social unrest, natural disasters, terror attacks and wars also impact gold prices. For example, the price of gold increased sharply after the events of 9/11 and has risen up to 700 times ever since that event.
Every time some bad event happens, people buy gold and invest in gold out of insecurity. Every time there is an economic uncertainty, people reassure themselves with gold investments.
One of the biggest is the ability to avoid interests. Unlike savings account and treasury bonds, you do not have to pay any interest on gold. However, the demand for gold is affected greatly by the increase in interest rates.
When the interest rates increase, people sell off their gold for other investment opportunities. As interest rates decrease, people start investing in gold instead.
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Product Details
When your kids are wearing Kamik's Rocket Winter Boots you'll never need to worry or guess if little feet have enough protection to keep them safe and comfortable on cold and wet winter days. -40 degree certified temperature rating and superior weather resistance means you can take the guesswork out of knowing if you should have made junior wear an extra pair of socks or call it a day earlier. And with the no-frills, classic-looking style and easy on, easy off design kids will gladly slip into the comfort of their new Rocket apres ski boots without a fuss.
- Flexible waterproof rubber outsole keeps slush and snow away from feet
- Water repellant duration 600 nylon upper prevents soggy feet and toes
- Foam backing on nylon upper keeps feet cushioned and comfortable
- Removable 8mm Zylex® Liner wicks moisture
- Three-layer liner construction provides high-tech insulation for warm and dry feet
- Adjustable snow collar with bungee lock to keep snow out
- Midfoot adjustable Velcro strap lets you customize your fit and feel for ouch-free outings
- SNOWAVE grippy rubber tread outsole prevents falls on slippery surfaces
- -40 certified temperature rating eliminates guesswork when selecting appropriate cold weather footwear
- Height: 9.5 inches
- Weight Per Pair: 1.52 pounds
Questions and Answers
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Comments about Kamik Rocket Winter Boots Little Kids', Black, 10:
This is my son's 2nd pair of kamik boots. I always feel at ease that he is warm in this boots.
Comments about Kamik Rocket Winter Boots Little Kids', Black, 10:
This is the 7th pair of Kamik snow boots that I have bought for my kids over the years. I have tried other well-known name brands for my kids (Lands End and Columbia), but I keep returning to Kamik because of the ease of getting the boots on and off, and the liner that can be pulled out to dry if necessary. I like the toggle at the top of the boot to cinch out snow, and I like how Kamik has temperature ratings for their boots. I think these boots are a great purchase, and as a parent I like anything that will help my kids stay outside and enjoy the snow longer!


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Bachelor of Technology (Part Time) (BTech) Chemical Engineering
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Course Title
BTech Chemical Engineering
Course Duration
Information Not Available
Eligibility Criteria / Entry Requirements
A pass in Diploma / BSc (Physics / Chemistry / Maths / Biology)
Course Pattern
Part Time Course
Mode of Admission
Based on performance in the Entrance Test conducted by the University at all-india level. Admission notification for this course will appear along with other courses offered by the University during the month of January / February every year.
Information about the courses provided here is partial and should not be treated as comprehensive. i.e The institution would be offering other course than those mentioned here. Students are advised to check with the intitution for the latest information in regard to the course.
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Anwan International Trade Co., Ltd.
Aluminium 6061, solas light, lifebuoy light, Lithium battery, Dry battery, Manufacturer and Supplier - China
Silicone Couplers (Elbow, Straight, Hump, Reducer, Transition) Hose & Other parts (AWSC011)
We can manufacture & supply good quality (glossy finishing) & an extensive range of silicone couplers or hose following your needs. Our silicone couplers can withstand high temperature because it is reinforced & has been distributed in 50 states in USA & used in a wide range of vehicles, such as Audi, BMW, Buick, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Hummer, Lexus, Porsche & Toyota.
All of our couplers are hand wrapped & has been designed for maximum strength & durability. We can provide you with 3ply, 4ply coupler or any other thickness that you need. Our couplers are available in several colours, mainly Blue, Black, Green, Orange, Red, Pink, Purple, Yellow or White. We can also change the colours to match what you need.
There are several basic shapes that we can offer such as:
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We can customize the size & length of the above shapes.
Minimum Order is 50pcs per size.
Please check our website for more details at http://www.anwaninternational.com/siliconecoupler.htm


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Mrs. Brodeur passed away on Feb. 18, 2008 in Crestview, Fla. She was born in Pelham, Ga., on June 23, 1925 to Garnie and Lillian Chason Butler. She was preceded in death by her parents and infant son, James Edward Brodeur.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 57 years, Joseph R. Brodeur, Jr.; her daughter, Pat Futch and son-in-law Harry of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; her grandchildren, Karen L. Kaiser and husband T.C. of Tampa, Fla., and Michael J. Futch and wife Catherine, of Tulsa, Okla.; her great-grandchildren, Caroline Grace and Thomas Chason Kaiser of Tampa; her sister, Jean and brother-in-law Johnny Lohrer of Jacksonville, Fla.; nieces, Carole Manucy and husband Curtis, and Annette Reed of St, Augustine, Fla.; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.
Mrs. Brodeur spent most of her childhood and early adult life in St. Augustine, where she met and married her husband. After Mr. Brodeur's retirement from the Navy in 1957, the Brodeurs moved to Jacksonville, Fla., where Virginia lived for more than 35 years. Mrs. Brodeur worked for AT&T as an overseas operator for 21 years. In 1991, Mrs. Brodeur retired from AT&T, and moved to The Villages of Lady Lake, Fla., where she enjoyed an active retirement. In 2002, Mrs. Brodeur moved to Fort Walton Beach to be near her daughter and son-in-law to receive the tender care she needed. The family would like to thank Sandra Tingle, Melonie McClure, and the outstanding staff of Carington Manor for their professional and gentle care; Emerald Coast Hospice; Dr. Reed Harned and his nurse Cindy; Dr. Lee Thigpen and Bonnie; Dr. Gwen Mercer, Dr. Michael Given, and Dr. Michael Glenn for their patience and compassionate guidance; Mrs. Jean Fortenberry for her steadfast devotion; and Maria Couts for her dedication.
Funeral services will be held at Craig Funeral Home, 1475 Old Dixie Highway, St. Augustine, Fla., on Feb. 22 at 1:00 P.M.
Arrangements are with Craig Funeral Home, Crematory, and Memorial Park. For directions and to sign the online guestbook, please visit www.craigfuneralhome.com
© 2017. All Rights Reserved. Contact Us


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Elite junior running back Jameel Poteat visited Pitt over the weekend and he spent much of his time hanging out with Dion Lewis.
As a freshman at Pitt last year Lewis rushed for nearly 1,800 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Poteat had a blast spending time with Lewis, but will the presence of such an accomplished young running back on Pitt's roster help or hurt the Panthers' chances with the junior from Harrisburg (Pa.) Bishop McDevitt?
Article Continues Below
"We were talking about that," Poteat said of himself and everyone at Pitt. "People were questioning me, asking, 'Why are you still visiting Pitt? They've got Dion.' Not many people know that Dion's going to be eligible for the draft next year. If he has a good year he's going to leave. If he doesn't have a good year that will be okay for me, too.
"(Dave) Wannstedt runs a great pro-style offense and I'd still be getting carries. I could learn the offense and become a better player ... a better student of the game. I could study how he (Lewis) runs. Plus, look at Mark Ingram and (Trent) Richardson and see how they did it. There are pros and cons in everything. I really don't see anything wrong with (both being there). There's going to be competition everywhere I go."
Poteat was in town to check out the Panthers' spring practice routine. He was impressed with how Pitt goes about things. Poteat is already very familiar with the Panthers' coaching staff and what the school has to offer, but each trip to the school offers him an opportunity to learn something new.
"I was there for spring practice and really to look at the campus and all the academic stuff," he said. "I hung out with some of the players. I had a real good time.
"I came with my mom and I spent a lot of time with Dion. I really didn't know too many people up there. I met a lot of the guys and had a wonderful time. They feel like family."
Poteat is now saying he plans on visiting Florida and USC at the beginning of the summer, though his father has not yet finalized those plans.


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Lawmakers in Hong Kong were making a symbolic attempt Wednesday to impeach the Beijing-backed leader, the latest sign of the widening gulf between the semiautonomous southern Chinese city and its political masters in Beijing.
Pro-democracy members of Hong Kong's legislature introduced a motion to charge the city's leader, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, with serious breaches of law that could lead to his impeachment. They allege Leung misled them about illegal renovations to his mansion.
It's the first such attempt to impeach a Hong Kong leader since the former British colony came back under China's control in 1997. Leung survived a no-confidence vote in December.
The motion, which was being debated into the evening, was unlikely to pass because the 27 legislators are outnumbered by pro-Beijing representatives in the 70-seat Legislative Council. But it was an attempt to "show the deep mistrust against the chief executive," who is suffering from a credibility crisis, said Ma Ngok, a political scientist at Chinese University of Hong Kong. Leung, whose approval rating has fallen to around 49 percent from a high of 56 percent, still has the support of China's communist leaders.
Leung has become a lightning rod for growing public discontent since taking office in July. Anger over a wide range of issues stems from the city's fraught relationship with mainland China.
On New Year's Day, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets to call for Leung to step down and to press for full democracy. Beijing has pledged that Hong Kong residents can elect their leader by 2017 at the earliest though no roadmap has been laid out.
Leung took office in July after being handpicked for the city's top job by an elite group of mostly pro-Beijing tycoons. He won the job after taking advantage of a scandal involving a huge, unauthorized basement in his rival's home. But shortly before taking office, illegal additions were also discovered at Leung's home in the exclusive Victoria Peak neighborhood.
Leung has apologized and removed the structures, which included a trellis and a gate. He said some of them were put in before he bought the house.
Even if the motion was approved, Leung is still unlikely to be impeached because an investigation committee headed by the secretary of justice would have to be formed and any findings approved by a two-thirds majority in the legislature.
Beijing has granted Hong Kong rights and freedoms not seen on mainland China and a high degree of autonomy until 2047. The impeachment bid is yet another sign of how Hong Kongers have become increasingly uneasy over the mainland's growing influence, especially in the form of an influx of visitors coming to shop, buy property and even give birth, putting a strain on the city's limited resources and pushing up prices.
Leung's webpage: http://www.ceo.gov.hk/
Hong Kong legislature: http://www.legco.gov.hk


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Rockets forward Omri Casspi went through warm-ups hoping to play Saturday night, but after several minutes he had to return to the locker room unable to continue and was declared out.
Casspi turned his left ankle in Friday's 113-105 victory over Dallas.
"I don't know what happened," he said. "I stepped wrong. In the heat of the game, it was OK, but after two, three minutes, it swelled up. It's sore and stiff. I haven't tweaked my ankle in so long, thank God. But from my experience, it just takes a day or two. I tried to go out there today and warm up. It just didn't work."
Casspi averaged eight points and three rebounds in the first two games. After beginning the season with all 15 players healthy, the Rockets lost guard Pat Beverley in the first game and Casspi in the second.


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Undeniably, many staunch defenders of the constitutional right to keep and bear arms cringed at the decision of some gun rights activists to openly carry guns to anti-Obama protests. Americans have a long track record of having as hard a time understanding the difference between those actions which are "legal" and those which are "smart" as they do between those actions which are "legal" and those which are "moral." Certainly there is nothing immoral about exercising one's legal rights in this circumstance, but the visible presence of guns at rallies has legitimately raised the question of how smart it is to choose such a display.
However, one area where the USA Today editorial falls woefully short is in confronting the way in which various media outlets have grossly distorted the fact concerning the presence of guns at various rallies. The Second Amendment Foundation has accused MSNBC of playing racial politics with the rallies, claiming that the network deliberately concealed the fact that the man who carried an AR-15 rifle at the Phoenix rally is an African-American, even as they raised the accusation that such "gun-toting" Americans who opposed President Obama are racists. It is not enough for the USA Today to acknowledge, "Those on the left decried the incidents, many suggesting that anyone who would carry a gun to a presidential event must be nuts, potentially violent or both."
The problem is that some members of the media were more than ready to provide precisely such an interpretation.
Furthermore, the USA Today editorial is rather one sided in its evaluation of the "mood" at such protests:
For starters, the mood at some of this summer's health care town hall meetings has been disturbing enough without the addition of weapons. Some have degenerated into furious shouting matches. Opponents of reform have whipped up anger. A few protesters outside have carried signs likening President Obama to Hitler. No good can come from adding weapons to the mix.
Rather than blaming Americans who are outraged by some elected officials' display of contempt for the citizens who elected them, why not ask whether President Obama and the Congress are to blame for needlessly terrifying the American public and threatening their civil liberties with schemes to collectivize massive portions of the economy? Why not mention the anger and vitriol which the busloads of Obamaniacs are spewing at citizens who simply want to ask their congressman a question? What about the chilling effect of a congressman demanding that a resident of his district show the equivilent of his 'papers' before being allowed to ask a question?
And, of course, the USA Today editors chose to play the "assassination" card:
And there's this. In the week that Sen. Edward Kennedy was laid to rest — the only Kennedy brother to die of natural causes — it's tough to argue that bringing a gun to political events is just a benign act of protest. It's playing with fire in a nation where so many political figures have been killed or maimed by bullets.
This is arguably the most nonsensical point raised in the entire editorial. Neither President Kennedy nor Senator Robert Kennedy were killed by protesters; neither of the despicable men involved in the assassinations can be compared to the lawful protesters in any way. Certainly the political views of Lee Harvey Oswald and Sirhan Sirhan are diametrically opposed to those of the men and women legally, peacefully protesting against President Obama. Furthermore, in neither situation was the assassination a result of a protest that somehow got out of control, or a situation where the legal possession of a firearm got "out of control." The record of both assassinations is one of clear premeditation of violence and concealment of the weapon. In point of fact, one might wonder whether any assassination of a nationally-known political figure in our nation's history occurred in the circumstances which seem to so terrify the editors of the USA Today.
The editors of the USA Today are right to appeal to "common sense," but they seem to abandon common sense as they continue the editorial, and instead result to pulling lines from the left-wing "spin" of the event. Patriotic American would benefit from demonstrating prudence in the exercise of their rights — but there is a world of difference between a need to exercise better judgment at rallies, and a smear campaign aimed at besmirching the characters of law-abiding American citizens.
— Photo of former Rep. Bob Barr (Ga.), at podium, defending gun rights: AP Images


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Steven Naismith wishes he was as popular with Norwich manager Alex Neil as with the Everton fans.
The Scotland forward could not have written a better script for his return to Goodison Park in Tuesday's EFL Cup third-round tie.
Naismith was applauded by all sides of the ground when the teams were announced and, more remarkably, again after he scored the opening goal for Norwich, who won the game 2-0.
The 30-year-old left Everton in January after three-and-a-half years in which he scored 25 goals in 123 appearances.
Naismith was stunned by the welcome he received, saying: "I can't think of many times I've seen it with anybody else. It's great. Coming back you see so many friends that are now friends forever.
"It was a bit surreal but it just sums the club up. That's what the club's about and the people here are special.
"It was a fantastic night all round for myself. I wasn't going to celebrate obviously but for them to start clapping, it was a special touch.
"It was an amazing place for me to be for the time I was here. I've got some great memories and it just shows the bond that I had with them."
Norwich paid B£8.5million for Naismith but, after scoring on his debut, he did not find the net again all of last season as the Canaries were relegated.
The forward netted on the opening day of this season but he has not been in the squad since a potential loan move to Sunderland fell through on transfer-deadline day.
The cup offered him a chance back in, with Neil making 10 changes.
Naismith admitted to being bemused by his absence and revealed Neil has not given him any explanation.
When asked about the issue, the Norwich manager cited the impressive performances of the players who have been in the team, with the Canaries winning three successive Championship matches.
Naismith said: "I think everybody (who came in against Everton) maybe feels slightly hard done by.
"It was a bit of a shock to myself to not be involved but that's football and you've got to get on with it and keep working hard, and that's what I'll do. I can't really do any more than I have been."
The second goal was scored by 21-year-old Josh Murphy and was the stand-out moment of the game.
The winger picked up the ball on the right of the area and beat two players before curling an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
That made it four goals each this season for Murphy and his twin brother Jacob, who have both been at the club for 10 years.
Jacob has had more first-team chances so far but Josh insisted there is no jealousy.
He said: "We're always going to be proud and happy for each other. The aim is to both be starting.
"There's never been a rivalry. Obviously it's great to see each other score but then that makes you put in that extra 10 per cent to stay level. He's doing well and it was down to me here.
"It's a great place to stake your claim. The manager said how hard it's going to be to pick a starting XI because all the boys were excellent."
The Murphys have been approached by the Republic of Ireland but Josh does not think they qualify and, after representing England at under-18, under-19 and under-20 level, he has set his sights on further honours.
He said of Ireland: "There's been enquiries but I doubt we can play. Our main focus is club football and then, if we can get into England, we get into England. As long as we're doing well and we keep getting better and better, there's no reason we can't do that."


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Top Items:
Michael Arrington / TechCrunch:
Announcing The TechCrunch50 Conference: September 8-10, San Francisco — Mark your calendars for the second annual TechCrunch launch conference, co-produced between TechCrunch and Jason Calacanis: TechCrunch50 at the San Francisco Design Center on September 8-10, 2008.
Discussion: Profy.Com, Don Dodge on The Next …, Josh Dilworth, bub.blicio.us, The Jason Calacanis Weblog and Valleywag
Cyndy Aleo-Carreira / Profy.Com: Someone Should Explain the Rules of Highlander
Jason Calacanis / The Jason Calacanis Weblog: TechCrunch50 Announced, September 8-10th, San Francisco
Chris Morrison / VentureBeat:
Trouble in conference land: TechCrunch50, DEMO happening at the same time — The dates are out for the next TechCrunch conference, and surprise: TechCrunch50, in its second year, will be held on almost the exact same dates as venerable — or some might say vulnerable — tech-startup conference DEMO …
Discussion: DEMO.com, Geek Gestalt, Blogcosm, SheGeeks and Zoli's Blog
Chris Shipley / DEMO.com: Imitation Is Just Flattery? Or Just Bad for Entrepreneurs?
Daniel Terdiman / Geek Gestalt: TechCrunch 50 scheduled to overlap with Demo
Corvida / SheGeeks: Is TechCrunch50 Taking On DEMO Fall08?
Daniel Terdiman / Geek Gestalt:
Arrington: 'Demo needs to die' — TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington, in discussing the decision to place TechCrunch 50 at the same time as DemoFall said, 'Demo needs to die.' — The scheduling of the TechCrunch 50 conference, which was announced Wednesday, has pit it directly against DemoFall …
Chrisshipley / The Guidewire:
Imitation Is Flattery? Or Just Bad for Entrepreneurs?
Imitation Is Flattery? Or Just Bad for Entrepreneurs?
Discussion: ForbesOnTech
Miguel Helft / New York Times:
Google to Lay Off About 300 at DoubleClick — In the first sizable layoffs in its history, Google is cutting about 300 jobs from the American operations of DoubleClick, the advertising technology company that it acquired recently, according to a person with direct knowledge of Google's plans.
Discussion: Valleywag, The Register, Techland, MarketingVOX, Search Engine Land, paidContent.org, ClickZ News Blog, WebGuild, Mashable! and Adrants
Nicholas Carlson / Valleywag: After Google layoffs, we ask DoubleClick employees, "How was your day?"
Drew Cullen / The Register: Google pink slips 300 Doubleclickers
Yi-Wyn Yen / Techland: Google to lay off a quarter of DoubleClick
Barry Schwartz / Search Engine Land: Google's First Layoffs: 300 To Go From DoubleClick
Daya Baran / WebGuild: No Giggle At Google As Layoffs Begin
Kristen Nicole / Mashable!: Google's DoubleClick Layoffs Have Begun
Angela Natividad / Adrants: Google Might Axe 300 DoubleClick Jobs, Mostly Stateside, and Shafts Performics
Peter Kafka / Silicon Alley Insider:
DoubleClick Layoffs Begin, Headhunters Rejoice (GOOG)
DoubleClick Layoffs Begin, Headhunters Rejoice (GOOG)
Discussion: VentureBeat, Vanity Fair and Valleywag
Official Google Blog:
Selling Performics Search Marketing — Since we closed the acquisition of DoubleClick on March 11, we've been immersed in integration planning for each of our products and business units. Recently we completed this process for the DoubleClick Performics businesses, and have decided to split …
Danny Sullivan / Search Engine Land: Google Selling Performics — Thanks, Google!
Elinor Mills / CNET News.com: Google to lay off 300 at DoubleClick
Clint Boulton / eWeek: Google to Sell Performics, Lay Off 300 DoubleClickers
Duncan Riley / TechCrunch: Google To Sell Performics
Kevin Newcomb / Search Engine Watch Blog: Google Gets Out of the SEO Business
Vasanth Sridharan / Silicon Alley Insider: Google To Sell Performics, DoubleClick's SEM Business (GOOG)
Janet Meiners / Andy Beal's Marketing Pilgrim: Google to Sell Off Division of DoubleClick
Lisa Barone / Bruce Clay, Inc. Blog: Google Will Sell Performics, SEOs Exhale
Sepideh Saremi / Searchviews: Google to Sell Performics, Lay Off 300 at DoubleClick
Michael Arrington / TechCrunch:
Yahoo Loses Its Musical Soul — Yahoo Music Vice President Ian Rogers has resigned to join a new stealth music startup called Topspin Media as CEO. — This is a blow to Yahoo - Rogers is one of the few music industry insiders who have a clear vision for what the future of music should be.
Discussion: Tech Confidential and paidContent.org
Iancr / FISTFULAYEN:
Cool Change — Word is leaking out, so I may as well set the record straight...
Cool Change — Word is leaking out, so I may as well set the record straight...
Discussion: Valleywag, paidContent.org and Susan Mernit's Blog
Rafat Ali / paidContent.org: Yahoo Media Group Does Some Streamlining Of Execs; Moore Leading Video Efforts
Eric Bangeman / Ars Technica:
Comcast launches 50Mbps broadband... for $150 per month — Comcast has been promising that DOCSIS 3.0 goodness would be coming to its customers this year, and the cable giant is about to make good. Starting tomorrow, Comcast's new "extreme high-speed" Internet tier will be available …
Brad Stone / Bits:
Comcast to Bring Speedier Internet to St. Paul
Comcast to Bring Speedier Internet to St. Paul
Discussion: GigaOM, Beet.TV, Gizmodo, DSLreports and Wi-Fi Networking News
Mark Hendrickson / TechCrunch:
Zillow Disrupts Lending Market With Mortgage Marketplace — Zillow, the site where you can find pricing estimates and other info about houses around the United States, aims to disrupt the online lending market with the launch of its Mortgage Marketplace. — The marketplace is a free service that hooks lenders up with borrowers.
Discussion: CNET News.com, Search Engine Marketing …, John Cook's Venture Blog and Mashable!
Elinor Mills / CNET News.com: Zillow launches 'Mortgage Marketplace'
David Rodnitzky / Search Engine Marketing Thoughts: Zillow Enters The Lead Gen Fray for Mortgages
Kristen Nicole / Mashable!: Zillow Marketplace Makes Home Loans More Transparent
Fred / A VC:
Battening Down The Hatches — Dean Takahashi, who I met yesterday, has a post that made techmeme about the numbers coming out on venture investing, IPOs, and M&A. To quote: … All of this is true. There is no IPO market right now for venture backed companies to speak of.
Discussion: The Drama 2.0 Show and Texas Startup Blog
Eric Eldon / VentureBeat:
More rough data on venture exits last quarter, opportunities are early and elsewhere
More rough data on venture exits last quarter, opportunities are early and elsewhere
Discussion: The China Perspective and New York Times
Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times: Wall Street Shows Optimism That Crisis Is Fading
Eric Bangeman / Ars Technica:
Apple passes Wal-Mart, now #1 music retailer in US — Over the past few years, we have watched Apple climb the music sales chart courtesy of the iTunes. Last month we learned that Apple passed Best Buy to become the number two retailer in the the US. Now, Apple has ascended to the top of the charts …
Discussion: last100, 9 to 5 Mac and Dan's Tech-n-Stuff Weblog
Daniel Langendorf / last100: Paid downloads account for 30% of U.S. music sales; iTunes unseats …
Cleve Nettles / 9 to 5 Mac: Apple number 1 in US Music Sales. Really?
Stephen Wildstrom / Tech Beat:
Can Doug Merrill Save Music? — Could the surprising departure of Google Chief Information Officer Douglas Merrill be the salvation of the music industry? — Merrill was hardly your typical corporate CIO. He seemed far more interested in the big philosophical issues of technology …
Discussion: Podcasting News
James Lewin / Podcasting News: Should The Music Industry Be Saved?
Staci D. Kramer / paidContent.org:
Interview: Douglas Merrill, President, EMI Digital Business …
Interview: Douglas Merrill, President, EMI Digital Business …
Discussion: E-Commerce Times, Guardian, CNET News.com and Furrier.org
Katherine Noyes / E-Commerce Times: Google CIO Jumps Ship, Signs With EMI Music
Owen Gibson / Guardian: File sharing 'may be good', says EMI executive
Greg Sandoval / CNET News.com: Will former Google exec help save the music industry?
Steve / The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs:
Google putting up fence and gate to keep execs from leaving — Squirrel Boy is in a friggin panic. He's got execs bailing out left and right. Yesterday it was his CIO and VP of engineering. I talked to him last night and he's like, Dude, we give these idiots free lobster tails for lunch …
Brad Linder / Download Squad:
Firefox 3 beta 5 portable edition available - safest way to try out FF3b5 — Those folks at PortableApps are getting faster and faster. Just a few hours after Firefox 3 beta 5 was released, the portable version was available for download. Actually, it might have been available immediately …
Discussion: Dan's Tech-n-Stuff Weblog, Open Source and PortableApps.com
Beltzner / Mozilla Developer News:
Firefox 3 beta 5 now available for download
Firefox 3 beta 5 now available for download
Discussion: Mozilla, Macsimum News, Compiler, The Tech Report, BlueBlog and Hardware 2.0
Dennis Sellers / Macsimum News: Mac software updates for April 2
Michael Calore / Compiler: Mozilla Releases Fifth (and Final) Beta of Firefox 3 Browser
Cyril Kowaliski / The Tech Report: Mozilla releases Firefox 3 beta 5 as 'public preview'
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes / Hardware 2.0: It's official! Firefox 3.0 Beta 5 released
Rick Aristotle Munarriz / Motley Fool:
Google's Going to Do What?! … The rumor mills are turning at a feverish pace. — Various sources are predicting that Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) is about to hook up with eBay's (Nasdaq: EBAY) Skype. And Google's M&A appetite may not stop there. Shares of Expedia (Nasdaq: EXPE) …
Discussion: TechCrunch, Reuters, CNET News.com, Mashable!, TechSpot, Tech Trader Daily and John Cook's Venture Blog
Duncan Riley / TechCrunch: Expedia On Google's Radar?
Adam Ostrow / Mashable!: Don't Think Google Will Buy Expedia? Think Again
Justin Mann / TechSpot: Rumors hint of Google eyeing Expedia, Skype acquisition?
Charlie Caroe / Telegraph Sport:
David Beckham century gift - a golden ipod — Former England captain David Beckham will be dancing for joy after his team-mates clubbed together to buy him a special something to celebrate him reaching the elite 100-cap club for his country. — Beckham, 32, who reached his century during …
Discussion: The Unofficial Apple Weblog, geeksugar, TECH.BLORGE.com, ParisLemon, Ubergizmo, 9 to 5 Mac, Engadget and Gizmodo
Dave Parrack / TECH.BLORGE.com: David Beckham gets golden iPod for 100th England cap
MG Siegler / ParisLemon: David and the Golden iPod
Andy Space / 9 to 5 Mac: David Beckham's gold-plated iPod touch
Jason Chen / Gizmodo: David Beckham Gets a Gold iPod Touch
Rafe Needleman / Webware.com:
FriendFeed's goal: More than just a feed aggregator — FriendFeed is a current Web 2.0 darling. The service performs the increasingly valuable job of presenting, in one place, all the online activity of the friends you want to follow. Twitter posts, blog entries, YouTube favorites …
Discussion: Alexander van Elsas's Weblog …, FriendFeed Watch and WinExtra
Alexander van Elsas / Alexander van Elsas's Weblog …: Why I don't like Friendfeed as much as I wanted, it lacks intention
Steven / FriendFeed Watch: Webware on FriendFeed
Steven Hodson / WinExtra: Webware on FriendFeed
Noah Kagan / Noah Kagan's Okdork.com:
The Money Problem with Facebook / MySpace / hi5 Apps — As some of you may know I have been building web games for different social networks with some friends for the past few months. I have noticed a downward trend in revenue with apps and wanted to highlight it here.
Veronica Belmont:
Moving on to new projects — Hard to believe the time has already come, but soon enough I'll be moving on from Mahalo to embark on some exciting new projects! Mahalo Daily has been a really amazing experience (and not just because I get to do things like fly a plane) …
Discussion: NewTeeVee, Valleywag, Dembot, Mashable! and The Jason Calacanis Weblog
Liz Gannes / NewTeeVee: Veronica Belmont to Leave Mahalo Daily
Nicholas Carlson / Valleywag: Veronica Belmont soft-quits Mahalo Daily, Jason Calacanis
Mark 'Rizzn' Hopkins / Mashable!: Veronica Belmont to Leave Mahalo Daily
Jason Calacanis / The Jason Calacanis Weblog: Veronica Belmont interview with LAist


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Caroline Grant
Mail Online
August 12, 2009
Mail Online
August 12, 2009
[efoods]Predictive text messaging changes the way children's brains work and makes them more likely to make mistakes generally, a study has found.
Scientists say the system, which involves pressing one key per letter before the phone works out what word the user wants to type, trains young people to be fast but inaccurate.
They claim this makes them prone to impulsive and thoughtless behaviour in everyday life.


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Antonetti to GM among Indians' promotions
Antonetti to GM among Indians' promotions
CLEVELAND -- The handoff is complete, but the work for Mark Shapiro and Chris Antonetti has really just begun. Both men, as of Monday, officially have new titles in the Indians' organization. Antonetti, with the 2010 season complete, has assumed Shapiro's general manager duties, and Shapiro has been promoted to club president. But with the team coming off its second straight season with more than 90 losses and attendance at Progressive Field at an all-time low, Shapiro and Antonetti will have to continue to work hand in hand to enhance the Indians' product, both on and off the field, and to discourage apathy among the fan base.
"One, we need to win," Shapiro said. "Then we also need to improve the level of entertainment we offer within the ballpark and in every facet of the experience here. The competition's tougher, because it's not just the professional sports teams. It's harder to get people to make the effort to get [away from] a very comfortable entertainment experience in their living room. So we've got to be competitive in every facet of what we do." To be more competitive on the field, the Indians will rely largely on internal improvements, because the sagging attendance revenues won't do anything to boost the Tribe's declining payroll, which went from $81.6 million on Opening Day 2009 to $61.2 million in 2010. On Opening Day 2011, the number figures to be even lower. The Indians have just $26.6 million in salary commitments to three players under contract for 2011, with eight players entering arbitration-eligibility. Shapiro and Antonetti said that the Indians are just beginning the process of calculating projected revenues for 2011 and making roster evaluations. "The first priority for us is to assess what we have," Antonetti said. "That's what we'll spend the next few weeks doing -- determining what are the strengths of our team and what are the areas where we could stand to improve, and then making a plan to address those areas." Once again, though, the Indians are not expected to make much noise in the free-agent market, which they deem to be inefficient, especially for a rebuilding ballclub on a fixed budget. "While [payroll] is unclear right now, as we said last year, the bulk of the improvements to the team are going to have to happen internally," Shapiro said. "And then, whether or not we'll have the ability to be opportunistic in the free-agent market and at what level [is] going to be determined by a bunch of variables that are still unclear at this time." There is a clear line of demarcation between the duties of Shapiro, who had been GM since taking over for John Hart in 2001, and Antonetti, who, while serving as Shapiro's assistant, assumed more and more of the GM responsibilities over the last few years. But that doesn't mean Shapiro won't have a voice in the decision-making process on the baseball operations side of the organization. "I'd be foolish not to rely on Mark to provide guidance along the way," Antonetti said. "I've got a great asset here that most general managers don't have the ability to tap into. Mark's been through nine years or 10 years as a GM and has a great feel for the player-evaluation side. It's not like I'm going to arrive at a decision and Mark will be hearing it for the first time. I would think he'll be involved in it from the beginning." A familiar cast will be surrounding Shapiro and Antonetti in the decision-making process, albeit with revised titles. As expected, Mike Chernoff has been promoted to Antonetti's former role as assistant GM. Chernoff has been with the Tribe for seven seasons and has served as the team's director of baseball operations since 2007. He'll continue to oversee professional scouting and baseball analytics and will assist Antonetti in player acquisition, contract negotiations and day-to-day operations. John Mirabelli will have the new title, vice president of scouting operations. A member of the front office for 11 years, Mirabelli will continue to oversee the scouting and acquisition of amateur and international talent. Ross Atkins, who has been the Tribe's farm director for the last four seasons, can now add "vice president" to his title. He oversaw a player-development system that was the only one in baseball with two full-season clubs winning their league championship this year. Finally, Andrew Miller, formerly the assistant director of baseball operations, will take on a new role as assistant to the president. He'll assist Shapiro in planning in all areas related to business, brand and Progressive Field strategy and development, in addition to advising the baseball operations department on decision-making and planning. The changing demographics of the Cleveland market -- a shrinking market hit hard by the recession -- have amplified the Indians' need to get creative in all facets of the organization. Baseball is the top priority, though other potential revenue sources, such as the "Snow Days" winter activities that will take over Progressive Field this offseason, must be explored by Shapiro in his new role. "My plate's going to be pretty full," Shapiro said. "I'm not going to be going through any [GM] withdrawal. The unique component of this for me is, I'm not moving to another place to become team president. It's a city that I believe in and am heavily invested in, and an organization where my ties are extremely deep on the baseball operations side. So I'm looking forward to an expanded opportunity to lead and further the goals of our organization." As far as the baseball side is concerned, Antonetti and Shapiro feel the team is farther along now than it was in 2003 or 2004. Both cited the progress made by the pitching staff as the biggest positive to come out of the 2010 season, in which the Indians finished in fourth place in the American League Central with a 69-93 record. But the challenges ahead for both men are obvious as this small-market club tries to revitalize its performance and its fans. "I think I'm more excited than nervous," Antonetti said. "Part of where that excitement comes from is the group we have internally, knowing we've done it before. We certainly have our challenges, but we're energized by that. The ability to overcome those challenges and win, and win in a certain type of way, is energizing."
Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, CastroTurf. Follow @castrovince on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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TAYLORSVILLE — The Granite Board of Education and Superintendent Martin Bates will host a town hall meeting next week.
The meeting will run from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, in the media center of Taylorsville High School, 5225 S. Redwood Road.
The meetings are for residents and patrons to share their input and ideas with administrators regarding eduction topics in the district.


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Randy Barnett, currently a professor of Legal Theory at Georgetown Law, and former Cook County State's Attorney prosecutor, writes an excellent piece in today's Wall Street Journal "Three Cheers for Lawyers":
The crucial importance of defense lawyers was illustrated in the Duke rape prosecution, mercifully ended last week by North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper's highly unusual affirmation of the defendants' complete innocence…
Our criminal justice system does not rely solely on the fairness of the police and prosecutors to get things right. In every criminal case, there is a professional whose only obligation is to scrutinize what the police and prosecutor have done.
This "professional" is a lawyer. The next time you hear a lawyer joke, maybe you'll think of the lawyers who represented these three boys and it won't seem so funny.
Barnett also talks about how, as a prosecutor, he always analyzed cases from the defense perspective, in terms of the evidence, procedure, and credibility of the witnesses.
Good defense lawyers, of course, analyze their cases from the prosecutor's perspective as well. Even though most cases end up in some form of a plea bargain agreement, even if it's a reduction or dismissal of charges in return for community service, both sides must properly evaluate the relative strengths and weaknesses of their case.
And Barnett acknowledges the ugly truth about the criminal 'justice' system: that there is a human (and factually based) presumption of guilt. Since judges/prosecutors/defense attorneys know that in the end most folks are actually guilty as charged, it becomes easier for everyone to skip over the actual fact finding necessary to make such a determination:
While knowing that mistakes do happen, the accuracy of the system leads everyone, including defense lawyers, to assume that anyone who is charged is probably guilty. After all, they usually are. Notwithstanding the legal "presumption of innocence," in a system that generally gets it right, there is a pragmatic presumption of guilt.
And therefore, the continuing need for criminal defense lawyers. But it's nice to hear it from a prosecutor's perspective.
[Hat Tip: Philadelphia Criminal Defense Lawyer]