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The Hindujas Affair
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I found Jane Corbin's programme on the Hinduja brothers excellent. However, I do have one minor criticism; she was not tenacious enough in her questioning of them. With the material she had available from her research she could have wrung them dry.
Anthony Padman
I am not a labour supporter, but I wonder what life long Labour party members make of their leadership's choice of friends? It seems that if you are not rich you do not count. The Hindujas episode is merely a symptom.
What the programme didn't show was who were the numerous "clients" (i.e. Bofars) whom the Hindujas allegedly brokered deals for. The whole program pinned its broadcast on Bofars.
The show also didn't detail how the family built up their business/political connections in the UK so fast (saying they knew Vaz/Thatcher isn't enough).
Why are we consistently shown that money is the quickest and sharpest route to access power? What has happened to integrity and principle? Or perhaps, it has always been this way...
I left India some 32 years ago because I was unable to work there, in an atmosphere where what you could do was much less important than whom you knew.
Dr Satish Desai OBE
South Croydon
As a Pakistani I have been dismayed by the hostile attitude the Labour government has taken towards Pakistan since the ousting of the Nawaz regime echoing in part the propaganda coming out of New Delhi. Have you noticed any thing to suggest that the close relationship between senior members of the Labour government and the Hindujas, who have been cheer leaders for India's nuclear program and are well-known for their Hindu fundamentalist leanings, may have caused the noticeable tilt towards India in Labour's policies? The Labour government recently lobbied the US to lift certain weapons sanctions against India. I see this as a sign that UK has given up any pretence of being neutral in the Subcontinent.
I have read a number of comments about the Panorama programme. One comment queried 'what was important in sending Mangoes to Mandelson'- Having lived and served in India during the war, two incidents I experienced were: I was invited to a wedding ceremony, all very enjoyable until the crunch purpose of my invitation. Could I get promotion for so and so, who worked under me. Answer NO. Another occasion, in commerce, an Indian customer of mine, came with an excellent basket of goodies for my wife. Staff were not allowed by company rules to accept any 'gifts', hence my wife was the recipient. At the bottom of the basket was an expensive Gold Rolex Oyster watch.
Andrew Marr implying that there is no "culture" of political favours in UK, but that it exists (and is acceptable) in some other exotic countries is a proof of British hypocrisy. By any means, politics is the name of the game of mutual back scratching. It is about time for the British to stop playing media trials with the images of non-white people peddling and trading favours. It is time they look around for scapegoats (outsiders) for the decay of their own society.
I feel that although there "could be a bribe" the matter of issuing a passport in 6 months is not a big issue here. I, myself, have applied for a British Passport to take up a job in the UK which requires me to be a British Citizen. Although it "may" take up to 14 months before someone gets their British passport it does not have to take that long. For example, when a white athlete wanted to take part in the Olympics some years ago, she was granted British passport in a matter of days. Also there are some other cases in which some boxers and tennis players (including Greg Rusedski) who got their passports within a matter of days. While there is a statement which says if there is a genuine reason for priority consideration (I accompanied my application with a letter from the potential employer) my case has not been dealt with yet, but I applied some months ago.
Because of Hinduja's, it should not mean that anyone (a good applicant) should not get a passport within few months or even in weeks. So please be sensible in what you are saying as it might make those in the Home Office think "it would be wrong to issue a passport within a few months even if the candidate meets all the requirements" - such as me, and many of those who might be in my situation.
What was the bigger crime in the affair - to use high connections or to use these connections to get a Passport? As for the first matter, using connections for favours is a matter of daily life in politics all over the world (to deny this would be plain hypocrisy). As for the second issue of the passport, why place such a big value on the Great British Passport? Is it such a great thing that a corrupt person cannot get it (even if he saves the "faith" in the Dome plus lives in UK for many years plus runs his big businesses from UK, pays big taxes, etc). This would imply that a British person holding a British passport should not be corrupt. Even the idea is almost comic. In sum, the whole affair is blown out of proportion and is politically timed. Like many media scandals, this has less to do with facts and their relevance, but more to do with media-manipulated symbolism.
Just what is wrong with someone wanting and getting British nationality? This family has invested millions in this country, employ many people and pay huge amounts in taxes. Britain should encourage more of them to come and do the same and give them citizenships as incentives. We are allowing thousands of so-called refugees and asylum seekers who sponge on our lax social services regulations, and who eventually get British nationalities so why not give to someone who is actually wealthy enough to support himself and hundreds of others.
If Peter Mandelson didn't know about the Hinduja's involvement with arms dealing in India, then there was no wrong done on his part - he inquired about passports for some people who were helping him out with a project under enormous pressure to get completed. If he did know about their involvement, do you really think that he would have been stupid enough to get involved in any sort of bribe? Anyway, whether there was any shady goings on or not, that's not the point - having a British passport is causing far too many problems. Can the government not withdraw the passports, and re-issue/re-consider giving them after the Hindujas have been taken to trial? Probably not, because that would be far to sensible.
Few politicians
have the guts to refuse the money
they are offered in return for favours.
This incident confirms the fact that the law is different for rich and poor people.
Peter Mandelson seems to be missing the point. Surely any representation - whether personal or from the office - from a Cabinet Minister referring to a passport application, is intended implicitly to add that person's weight and influence to the application.
L Hopkins
I think that the Hindujas brothers used the Labour Government to get their Passport, by giving �1 Million for the Dome.
Mandelson saying that he didn't know about Hindujas' Bofors involvement was like (his) music to my ears. It is one thing that he has definitively lied about. With all the publicity about the affair in Indian media, he has to be more than totally naive or ignorant to say that. Given that, the programme carefully chose to not mention many other people implicated in the Bofors scam, many of whom are respectable members of their societies (Swedish, Italians, etc). Wasn't that to imply that Hindujas are the only people with skeletons in their expensive cupboards? Moreover, shouldn't Panorama also investigate all the business people of Britain who have powerful connections and check out if they ever received "favours". My assumption is that then we would have countless number of Panoramas, not only for the current times, but for many past centuries.
Surely the press, like everybody else in the country, must be getting a little bit bored of the whole thing. If Mandleson lied, he's gone. Therefore, so what? If he didn't lie, he was pushed out because Blair lost confidence in him. Again, so what? That's a matter for the Labour party. Who cares,frankly?
Good programme.
Looks as though snow white New Labour has found it's own Al Fayed.
Only puzzle remaining is whether Vaz & Mandellson are corrupt or just stupid.
It just shows the unfairness of life. When you have got money you can get any thing, even from a Labour government which claims to be fair. Next month (April) I will have spent eleven (11) years in this country without a permanent stay or a British citizenship. As a TaeKwonDo expert, I have taught TaeKwonDo to the children of this country from 6 to adults and produce a number of black belts. I have won an international silver medal and my points counted for the England team. I have been asked twice by Hackney council to promote TaeKwonDo in my borough. I have written a book on TaeKwonDo to promote the sport as this government is encouraging sport to youngsters. I have always been working and have a decent job in IT. I went to university in this country and have integrated very much in this society. But, it will be eleven years without a permanent stay or a British citizenship.
When you are Hinduja and make donation to the Labour party, you get a British passport in record time. Where is Tony Blair fairness toward poor people?
It looks to me that the inner circle of cronies that seem to run Mr Blair fell out with Mr Mandelson and wanted to get rid of him.
I would like to make a comment on some of the comments in this forum. India is not Nehru's India but Indians' India and good politicians and businessman are good but not businessman like Hindujas.
Ajay Kumar
Having watched the Panorama programme last night, and if the reporting was wholly accurate, is it not the case, that as Lord Desai said, the whole labour party is at fault? Even if no laws have been broken, surely the political judgement shown by all involved, including the Prime Minister, must call into question their fitness to hold public office.
Surely the art of politics is to lie in such a manner as the majority will believe you, an art this Government once elected has been sorely lacking.
Don't you think that there is a hidden aroma of parochialism and racism in the reactions of the British society and media to the Hinduja affair? Hindujas are no saints, but they are same as various other arms dealing British businessmen who obviously go around with British passports. Hindujas have made a lot of fortune through arms dealing which is synonymous with murky connections with the people in power. So, why link the passport to all those other qualifications of Hindujas? It is a common knowledge that if someone invests a lot of money in UK or any other country, the citizenship is granted quite easily. It seems to me that British are paranoid about "foreigners" getting too powerful in UK (e.g. the reactions to Al-Fayed). I also guess this fear has to do with their deep-rooted guilt-conscience of having colonised and messed up with other parts of the world for a long long time.
Peter Mandelson stated clearly that he had no knowledge of events associated with the Bofors scandal. I was living in Bombay when this story started to break and it quickly assumed enormous proportions. Some 13 years on it remains a key unresolved issue in Indian politics and public life. Are we really to believe that Peter Mandelson would not be aware of this in his long standing position at the forefront of British politics? If, indeed, he didn't, where's he really been for the past 13 years? The (likely) alternative provides all one needs to know about the probity of this architect of modern UK government. Is there anybody with integrity and a sense of duty left in modern political life? Oh yes, I remember - Frank Field - a man with honour and a true knowledge of his subject. So he had to go didn't he?!
After watching tonight's Panorama about Hinduja brothers, I am quite confident that if Al-Fayed had offered similar donations, he would have had no problems for acquiring British passport, or maybe he would because he is a Muslim.
It is inconceivable that the Hindujas brothers should have been given a British Passport in view of the criminal case going on in India at the time and also the investigation into the Swiss bank accounts.
Is it impossible to take these passports from them?
Well done - a very good programme and highlights the links this government is having with people under investigation from Indian Sub continent. I would like to establish if other parts of the government are as open to questionable deals at best and at worst bordering on corruption? What price are we selling our democratic principals for around the world?
Good programme but shows the lack of
common sense by Government Ministers and others. Nothing is for free, and you are then under the influence of peoples requirements.
What was this programme about? It hasn't shed any further light into any aspects, yet it tried to create a mood of wrongdoing.
A much more honest programme would have shown the Hinduja interview in full answering all of the questions that Jane Corbin alluded to through inference.
I suspect that the Hinduja interview didn't give the ammunition that she was looking for nor any evidence that could lay any blame to any person.
Peter Mandelson said in an interview shown on tonight's programme that he did not know about the Hindujas' involvement in the Bofors affair in India.
Richard Lucas
In an otherwise perceptive documentary, I fail to understand why the producers placed such emphasis on minor details. For example, sending mangoes is not really indicative of anything - especially seen from an Indian perspective. Indians often give fruit. It's the cultural equivalent of saying that the Hindujas once sent Peter Mandelson a Xmas card! Furthermore, Diwali is a festival in which new clothes are given, which may explain the dress to Cherie. Sitting on a stage on show for hours is also a rather Indian thing - as my Swedish husband discovered at our wedding reception. I accept that the Hindujas probably were not just following Indian customs in these areas but were angling for a lot more. But come on, Panorama, there is enough info on the Hindujas and certainly enough intellect in your team to produce incisive and impartial documentaries without relying on misguided assumptions about mangoes, saris and seating arrangements!
I was of the opinion that a British Passport does not protect one in their country of birth, if one is involved in a criminal activity. Also the passport is the property of HM the Queen and can be revoked at any time. This case is a clear case for these passports to be revoked.
Thank you for showing and making clear the corruption in government. Can ordinary British people ever expect and receive a fair deal? There has to be as to be a decent honest leader somewhere, there should be no free lunches they do not exist. All we now need is the man or woman to rise and lead us by example, someone who genuinely cares and is beyond reproach but I suppose he died on the cross 2001 years ago.
Kevin Spencer
So history does repeats itself. The parallels between the Hindujas and that other passport-hungry Asian Al Fayed are uncanny.
Will Martin Bell be once again standing at the next general election? If so will he be challenging Peter Mandelson's seat?
"Tell me who your are acquaintances are, and I will tell you who you are"
(old spanish proverb)
Tej Agheda
The Hinduja issue is a symptom of the difficulties which arise when Government becomes involved with private finance. The ethics of the public sector can never sit easily alongside the looser expectations which run with business decisions in the private sector. To what extent do these expectations also run alongside the decisions of business to enter into public private finance initiatives?
If Government and Parliament expect business to operate in a way consistent with the proper behaviour of public servants, then Parliament and the Government are being naive.
Well done Panorama - A good investigation that shows exactly why people are losing interest in politics.
This was an excellent programme, an example of what makes British journalism top of the English speaking world. Will it, however, prejudice in any way the legal processes in India if it is shown in that country?
I am surprised this government can stand up it is so bent, they will take cash for anything, and as for the contributions for the dome, well there's another �2 billion well invested - muppets
Congratulations. The programme was brilliant, extremely well researched. In Nehru's India, millionaires and politicians are gods. The timid Indian journalists will now take heart to expose more of the DEVIOUS DIRTY corruption of their former prime ministers and so on.
Please broadcast this PANORAMA on BBC WORLD TV for the crushed Indians back home, and across the globe, to see. There will be tremendous interest. The Indians have NEVER had such an experience for the last 53 years!
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Grand Duchess Maria-Teresa
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Martin has had an inkling for falafel for a while now, so I had a bit of time on my hands and thought I'd give it a go. It was a great dish, quick and easy and leftovers for lunch the next day… perfect in my book!
Baked Vegan Falafel with homemade wholewheat flatbreads
Makes about 12 balls
- 2 cans of chickpeas/garbanzo beans
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Serve with tahini, tomatoes, cucumber and red onion.
Wholewheat Flatbread
Makes 2 flatbreads
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having a theme hasnt really worked out in the paste,
I hope you guys appreciate how much work I put into sneaking these typos in my posts just so you'll have some material to work with.
Personally I'm not keen on a Theme, per se. In past NANYs there was no requirement to adopt a Theme or benefit if you did, which left me wondering why you would.
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Sinclair – The Bright Future of Gold – The Final Solution of the 2008 Monetary Crisis
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I will sell my stepfather's ghost to the highest bidder.
For a thousand dollars, Jude will become the proud owner of a dead man's suit, said to be haunted by a restless spirit. He isn't afraid. He has spent a lifetime coping with ghosts: of an abusive father, of the lovers he callously abandoned, of the bandmates he betrayed. What's one more? But what UPS delivers to his door in a black heart-shaped box is no imaginary or metaphorical ghost. It's the real thing.
And suddenly the suit's previous owner is everywhere: behind the bedroom door...seated in Jude's restored vintage Mustang...standing outside his window...staring out from his widescreen TV. Waiting - with a gleaming razor blade on a chain dangling from one hand.
A multiple award-winner for his short fiction, author Joe Hill immediately vaults into the top echelon of dark fantasists with a masterwork brimming with relentless thrills and acid terror.
©2007 Joe Hill; (P)2007 HarperCollins Publishers
"Powerful....[Hill's] subtle and skillful treatment of horrors that could easily have exploded over the top and out of control helps make this a truly memorable debut." (Publishers Weekly)
"Mr. Hill elicits honest empathy for Jude, who turned his stage persona into a nightmare version of his fears and must now figure out what strength he has left for legitimate battles. This dynamic is both frightening and funny, and the book weaves together those two threads in clever ways." (The New York Times)
"Yikes! Five stars for fright"
I bought this book for the concept: a dead man's suit that comes with a ghost. I figured it would be good and scary, and I wasn't wrong.
I read a lot of stories that I think are going to be scary, but then I'm disappointed when it turns out the monster really isn't much of a monster. But parts of Heart-Shaped Box scared me so much I could barely listen, even in a brightly-lit health club with dozens of other people there.
I won't describe any of those sections for fear of spoiling other readers' fun. Let's just say that some stuff happens that scares even the main character--a guy who owns a cookbook for cannibals.
Although this book is frightening, and a thriller, the writing doesn't suffer. All the characters had fully realized story arcs, even some of the minor ones who turned out later to be more important than they seemed at first.
I particularly liked the main character, Judas Coyne. Even though he has apparently been mean to others through some of his life, I found him fairly easy to sympathize with through most of the action. By the end of the book he'd won me over--I was cheering for his side all the way.
The production of the audiobook itself was good, too. The narrator did a fine job, even with voices for female characters, which is often hard for a guy. Between sections, there are a couple of musical breaks--the first one startled me, but only because I wasn't expecting it.
I definitely recommend this one for people who don't mind a good scare. I hope Joe Hill has some more on the way.
Intricately written and extremely descriptive, this story leaves you wondering who the real victims/villains are...the roles are not clearly defined and each character crosses back and forth across the line of decency. Yet, it becomes fairly evident 'who's the evilest one of all' as the book progresses...but then what?
This book was clearly written by someone who knows his way around character development. My main criticism is that the reader was tediously slow in his reading and could have done more to act out the characters. I had to put my IPOD speed to "faster" just so I wouldn't give up because of the slow pace. Not sure if this was all the fault of the reader, but most of it probably was. It's well worth listening to, but at times will give you an uneasy feeling, so I'm not sure that I would put this book in my top 5 favs.
"Nightmare in a suit"
I could not put this one down. As good as NOS4A2 just not as freaky/creepy. This was a crazy, paranormal, mystery served with a little romance on the side. Joe Hill is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors because of his ability to keep a good steady pace along with original stories in each of his books.
Jude is a rock star that loves to collect macabre objects until one day when he purchases a Heart Shaped Box that sends his whole life into a tailspin. Unfortunately everyone in his life is drawn into his treacherous paranormal, nightmare that may just suck them all down the death road. Great, sinister, October read with believable characters and top notch narration.
"Go for it!"
a great ride. deeply thought out, highly entertaining.
"Spooky, Creepy, and Smart!"
One word comes to mind after listening to Heart-Shaped Box.....TALENT! The book was extremely spooky and creepy. The characters are well written with depth. Had a hard time pausing the book, I did not want to leave the story or characters.
"Sad when it ended"
I just discovered Joe Hill and am so glad I did. I loved the characters and the narrator made the story even more enjoyable. Thanks for a great listen
"Keep the lights on!"
I bought the book because it was Joe Hill, who is Stephen King's son, and I was prepared to be disappointed. He has, after all, nearly impossible shoes to fill. But I wasn't disappointed!
I don't read much that really scares me, but this book was chilling. From the very first chapter, where an aging rockstar buys a ghost on a not-e-bay auction site, it simply doesn't stop. The characters of the book are believable and well-defined, and the plot is unpredictable.
"A well-crafted thriller"
I agree with those who have compared this book favorably with Stephen King's work. Hill does an excellent job of creating fully fleshed-out characters and a viscerally chilling narrative, using a very accessible prose. I didn't love the ending, and I thought the paranormal stuff verged on silly at times, but it's still a very entertaining read. Solid narration by Mr. Lang, too.
"A Haunting Tale"
Joe Hill's "Heart-Shaped Box" was a huge surprise. He is an outstanding writer, and the tale he weaves is hypnotic. Joe is a detail writer, and in the frist 3rd of the book, it would have been easy to stop listening. But I was hopelessly drawn into the tale. I stuck with it, and what a fabulous and haunting tale it turned out to be! Well worth a listen.
"A little disappointing"
I read Horns first, and was quite impressed. This novel came before Horns, but I felt it was not as good. I agree with another reviewer here, that I had a hard time caring much about the self-styled, goth/heavy metal star. He collects and discards women companions and doesn't even call them by their name but by the state they came from - like a product, and surrounds himself with things like snuff films and letters of women burned alive as witches. Unlike horns, it is just hard to care about these characters. The humanity is slowly developed to a small extent as the story goes on, but it is kind of too little too late. The main character is just not particularly likeable or appealing or even interesting, so it is hard to really get too excited about his woes.
Also, the story plods along a bit. After a while, it is just the main characters being tortured by a ghost and doesn't really seem to go anywhere for long stretches.
It isn't bad, and certainly has its moments, and many might find it scary. But I felt the characters are just too dark for too long to really make the reader care much about them, and the story just isn't as strong as Joe HIll's other work.
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Old Man EMU Leaf Spring Orientation
1 Attachment(s)
I just received my new CJ to YJ Conversion with Old Man EMU LEAF springs from Rocky Road Outfitter. So far the instructions are pretty good however, I notice on the springs there are markings that indicate orientation? I don't know. Can anyone tell me if there is a certain direction these springs need to be installed? The instructions don't say.
did you get these along with RRO's crappy SOA kit? or are theses simply replacing your stock springs in the stock SUA form? Also, did you get 4 or just 2?
The larger eye goes in the fix spring hanger. It hard to tell from the picture but the angled shim is most likely for the rear spring with the think part of the shim facing forward along with the larger eyelet. Sometimes front spring had a shim as well to correct caster but I would be surprised to see it on a two inch lift. The large eyelet on the front spring will face backward.
From the numbers printed on the spings they look to be rear heavy load. Remember when you mount the fronts you will need to turn thr shim around other wise you will end up with negitive caster. You may need to add a shim to the front. Thre is a thread on here that has detailed instructions on the shim that was needed.
Waterdawg is correct. Those are the rear medium/heavy springs. It's common to put them on all 4 corners.
Definitely turn the shims 180, so that the thick end points forward, on the fronts. Those shims are 1.5-2 degrees. You will probably need 4-6 degree shims, however, to get enough caster.
Good luck,
The + goes towards the front. They can only go one way as the eyes are different. Both my rears have the + so no issues left to right.
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In the recent issue of La Civilta Cattolica, a Vatican-approved religious journal, the Rev. Antonio Spadaro explores the popularity of Second Life and advises his readers to visit the virtual world. He recommends experiencing the world from the inside to understand its potential and risk.
The risk "is the alienation, the shelter in a fictitious and painless world" that may lead people "to lose the contact with 'first life' and its incomparable wealth," he said, as translated by Google.
Linden Lab's recent gambling ban, however, may save more souls than intervention by those devoted to the divine. Following last week's clampdown on virtual casinos, the blogosphere is abuzz with talk of a financial meltdown and customer exodus in Second Life.
"The casino folks are pulling out of SL, because they can't afford to maintain their holdings without income," wrote journalist and Second Life resident Shava Nerad on the Terra Nova blog Sunday. "They have their assets locked, apparently -- something that's been remarkably hard to substantiate."


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Balotelli rubbishes exit speculation
Mario Balotelli says he is happy at Manchester City and is not seeking a return to Italy.
• Santon: Balotelli unsure over future
• Mancini: Mario must realise potential
• Fantasy League: Pick your new squad
Balotelli had been regularly linked with a move to AC Milan, among other Serie A sides, after a difficult first year in England following his 2010 move from Inter, but he has appeared more settled in his second season.
Davide Santon, his former Inter team-mate, recently revealed that Balotelli had expressed occasional doubts as to whether he will stay at City long-term, but the Italy striker says media speculation linking him with an exit is wide of the mark.
"The newspapers are saying that I want to get away from Manchester but I've never spoken to them," he told Radio Radio. "They can say what they want, but I'm in Manchester, I am under contract with City and until the right time, will not talk about a new contract."
He added: "[The Premier League] has been a new experience, even if at first it was difficult, but if I have to tell the whole truth now then is that I am feeling really good."
Balotelli also described his relationship with Roberto Mancini as "great".
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THE world's biggest cheese show got underway in Nantwich today (Tuesday) ahead of the town's annual show taking place tomorrow, Wednesday.
A record number of 4,500 dairy products from across the globe were on display in the town on Tuesday during the judging and trade day of the international cheese festival.
Among judges at Tuesday's Trade Day opener was former Coronation Steet star Sean Wilson who is now a champion cheesemaker with his Saddleworth Cheese Company.
On Wednesday the cheese marquee at Dorfold Park is opened to the public for the Nantwich Show, with a host of celebrity chefs giving foodie masterclasses including Saturday Kitchen star James Martin.
Other attractions on offer include stunt drivers in the main ring, display of vintage cars as well as a enlarged town and country shopping pavilion.
Gates open to the public at 8am on Wednesday, with admission costing £18 for adults, £13 for senior citizens and £7 for junior.


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Release Date: 2007 |
Athom EMERITUS (5)Another uninnocent, elegant fall into the unmagnificent lives of adults...br3ad_man EMERITUS (4.5)Nearly flawless in execution, Boxer is The National's second masterpiece and a near-classi...Rembrandt (3.5)A torch held aloft in a dark, uncertain landscape, lighting a pathway for us all...rliu (5)The soundtrack to the salaried, aspirational but insecure...
Wildcatforever (5)you're the tall kingdom I surround,
think I better follow you around...pianosmasher (4.5)Put it on after a long day at work and you won't be disappointed....MarvellousG (5)The National's true masterpiece, that managed to do everything its successor did, but with...STOP SHOUTING! (5)you know i dreamt about you for twenty nine years before I saw you....
chambered69 (1.5)Insipid....wjcynx1 (4)The National continue to impress with their fourth effort; Boxer might not be immediate, b...
Album Rating: 4.0I find this album to be a bit overrated on here. It's been a while though I'll have to re listen to it soon.
Album Rating: 5.0larry my man nice review, congrats on your first! pos
don't really dig this band though
Album Rating: 5.0tommy =[
Album Rating: 5.0favourite National album, though I've been digging the shit out of Sad Songs and Dirty Lovers. Talk about underrated.
Album Rating: 5.0Coldplay is "cool" to like and if you disagree then you spend too much time on internet discussion boards and not enough time getting your dick sucked by attractive women.
Album Rating: 5.0foxxxy I've only heard a couple of songs and they didn't do much for me but I am willing to give them another chance which one should I get
Album Rating: 5.0this one for sure is best alligator may be easier to get into tho
Album Rating: 5.0will get both sweet
also coldplay gets the ladies, aids knows what's up
Album Rating: 5.0"alligator may be easier to get into tho"
disagree, that's their least accessible album. it was for me anyway, though I grew to love it (obviously).
Album Rating: 5.0alligator is more varied i had trouble staying interested in boxer at first that is my basis of my hypotenuse
Album Rating: 5.0did you square both sides?
imo Boxer and High Violet are their most accessible, and, incidentally, best albums.
I mean if you don't love Apartment Story, Slow Show, Bloodbuzz Ohio, England (etc.) on first listen then you have no soul
in that one I integrated to get the area under the curve and then I cubed my answer and that was the length of the two equal sides of that last isosceles triangle we were talking about. agreed.
Album Rating: 5.0well dammit he will listen to boxer nd he will listen to alligator nd we will have our conclusion ok sounds good its all u now tommy
Album Rating: 5.0ps agreed
Album Rating: 5.0agreed
Album Rating: 4.5disagreed
Album Rating: 5.0hmm
shallow and pedantic
Album Rating: 5.0yeah dude I think you meant hypothesis but w/e
I'll report back once I've heard both and then we will indeed have a conclusion
I really want to like The National, but I just find them dull.
Album Rating: 5.0I'm still not sure whether sentences like
Boxer is something that stands apart and brings aspects completely new to the band's discography.
Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


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Tag: Norma Gonsalves
Nassau Proposes Repealing Speed Cameras, Suffolk Nixes Plan Before its Debut
Both counties announced their plans Monday, the same day Nassau cut the hours of its speed cameras.
NIFA OKs Mangano's 3.4% Nassau Tax Hike
The Nassau Interim Finance Authority voted unanimously to approve next year's $2.98 billion budget Monday.
Questions Linger in $1B Nassau Sewer Deal
Some questioned why the full legislature didn't vote on it, others eyed the company's track record—but the finances remain unclear.
Nassau Pols Butt Heads Amid Bipartisan Promise
Several county legislators running for higher office were caught up in a heated back-and-forth days after Democrats and Republicans vowed to join forced to pass a property tax refund bill.
Huntington Carbon Monoxide Case Sparks Slew of Proposals
"What happened at Legal Seafood was a warning shot that cannot be ignored," an EMS worker who was among those sickened while treating victims at Walt Whitman Shops told Huntington lawmakers considering expanding CO detector regulations.
Nassau Legislature Joins Long Island Govts in Archiving Meetings Online
"It is the duty of the legislature to provide access to its own records."
How Long Island is Losing its War on Heroin
Heroin arrests and fatal ODs are up on LI despite prevention efforts and Nassau failed to fully use its own anti-heroin law for three years.
Will Speed Cameras Fund First Nassau Worker Raises in 3 Years?
"The revenue resulting from these cameras will help offset the short-term costs associated with these labor agreements."
Report: Citizens Redrawing Nassau Districts Avoids Gerrymandering
"Our redistricting process, regardless of who's in control, is controlled by partisan interests."
Nassau, Suffolk Legislatures Freshman Pols Taking Seats
Nearly a quarter of both Nassau and Suffolk county legislative seats are undergoing turnover as new lawmakers voters elected in November are being sworn...


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Justin Drew Bieber (play /ˈbiːbər/ BEE-bər, born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer and actor.
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The St. Charles Parish 14-year-old All-Stars recently won the 2013 Babe Ruth state championship during the state tournament in Abbeville.
After winning the state title, the team advanced to the Babe Ruth Southwest Regional Tournament, which was held in Levelland, Texas.
The team, made up of players from Destrehan and Hahnville high schools, went undefeated throughout the state tournament.
They were so dominate that they outscored their opponents 43-5. St. Charles advanced to the state title game after beating Madisonville, Ascension and New Iberia. They picked up an 8-3 win over Madisonville before cruising past both Ascension and New Iberia by scores of 18-0 and 10-0, respectively. In the championship game, the team defeated Ascension 7-2. St. Charles' pitchers only allowed 11 hits in the four games while striking out 15. Offensively, the team caught fire early and finished with 39 hits and a team batting average of .331.
|Team members are: Front row (L-R) David Clark, Cameron Woodson, Cameron Mire, Ross Hooper, Logan Robicheaux and Andrew Morrow. Back row (L-R) Coach Roger Rankin, Zachary Rankin, Cade Miguez, David Vial, Hunter Dempster, Joshua Genovese, Dylan Sequiera, Br


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All Posts Tagged Tag: 'Charles Dickens'
The Best of Times (But Will There Be Cake?)
Did you see The New York Times Magazine's feature on England's Dickens World on Sunday? "The World of Charles Dickens, Complete with Pizza Hut." And for dessert, a slice of Miss Haversham's wedding cake….
If you can't (or won't) go to Dickens World, you can celebrate the celebrated Victorian author's 200th birthday right here at home, with a lively interlude of learning and awe at the "Charles Dickens' 200th Anniversary Exhibit," on display in the Rare Book Room of Davidson's E.H. Little Library, free and open to the public Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Feb. 29. The display includes copies of Dickens' works, including first editions of both David Copperfield and Pickwick Papers, as well as a copy of David Copperfield autographed by illustrator John Austen.
The real treat for me in a trip to the Rare Book Room is simply being in the inner sanctum of the room itself, bolstered by the expertise of archival guides. The "RBR" is a grand and impressive study of a space—sort of a 1974 Presbyterian version of Lord Grantham's library in Downton Abbey—and it never fails to unfold magical perspectives for me. Time itself takes on the unhurried (at least in my imagination) allure of old in the RBR, its books imbued with the artisanal care that humankind has offered to its most important words since time immemorial. Or at least from Gutenberg down through the 20th century and beyond until very, very recently—a week ago last Friday, I think it was, on Twitter.
One of the RBR's oldest books is a 1492 Venetian edition of Seneca. Think about that. In 1492 Venice, Seneca was already a hallowed classic, a century before Shakespeare.
"Like, Columbus 1492?" a student always asks Sharon Byrd, special collections outreach librarian. Yes, like Columbus 1492, she'll respond with the patience of, well, a librarian.
An encyclopedic knowledge of the RBR's contents resides in the files of Sharon's head. "You'll have to interrupt me or I won't stop," she quips. On the shelves over the Dickens display are two centuries' worth of Gentleman's Magazine dating to the 1730s. ("Sort of The New Yorker of its day—or, I should say, its centuries.") In a curio cabinet around the corner there is a Sèvres bisque porcelain bust of Débussy, a Japanese firebird/phoenix-rising plate, and a black marble and malachite inkstand that would be at home on Dumbledore's desk.
Older than the oldest actual book in the place is written Gregorian chant from 1250, Sharon shares. "And for the oldest thing with writing on it, we have cuneiforms from 2350 BCE."
The day last week that I was there, Sharon had out for academic class study the recently restored 1821 Bible of Omar ibn Sayyid. It is a storied Bible, unique in all the world, a singular product of the confluence of two continents tied by slavery, two religions tied by language, a lineage of history that made its way to the Rare Book Room by way of the N.C. governor's office in 1871. Tidbit: Printed by a woman, a rarity in its day, the book's recent restoration was also accomplished by a woman.
You never know what you'll find when you step into the Rare Book Room of E.H. Little Library, but whatever your great expectations, you can be assured of the best of times…


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Julie Grassley
I wrote my first story in fourth grade. Part of involved a kid staying in a cupcake hotel where everything was made of cupcakes except for the bathroom. I loved reading so much that my mom had to hide my books from me until I finished my chores. I love how reading takes you to different worlds in such an intimate way, in a way that a movie never can. You decide what the characters and towns look like and it settles into your mind.
I enjoy writing, I don't think I'll ever enthrall people liked I have been. My friend said that I write better when I write about what I've done like in Alaska and Back 500 bucks each.
I lived in Pennsylvania until I was 5 then we moved to Hawaii. The volcano was cool, the bugs were not. I lived in Hawaii until I was 17 then I lived in California for about 6 months. I lived in Ohio for about 6 years then off to Seattle for a year and a half. Then to NYC for 2 years. Wow, I have some wild stories from those cities, not yet written.
I currently enjoy spending time with my children, running and writing. I also always have one or two inventions that I'm working on. I'm a little too scattered right now so I need to concentrate on one hobby at a time. Some days I get so excited about life, about all the things that you can do. Stamp and coin collecting, backpacking, cloud watching, bike riding on a beautiful day, etc.
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Newspapers hail ATP's win for the Constitution, free speech
From today's Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
The importance of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in American Tradition Partnership Inc. v. Bullock cannot be understated.
On Monday, the high court voted 5-4 to strike down Montana's 100-year-old ban on political expenditures by corporations. Citing its landmark 2010 Citizens United ruling, the court held that "political speech does not lose First Amendment protection simply because its source is a corporation."
As Stephen M. Hoersting, president of the Institute for Individualism, notes (in National Review Online), not only has the court upheld the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution — "This Constitution … shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound hereby" — but "communications made independent of candidates and political party committees pose no threat of corruption as a matter of law, not case-by-case adjudication."
The "progressive" contention of automatic "apparent corruption," rejected in Citizens and affirmed in American Tradition, is not apparent at all.
Supposedly objective liberal reportage on the ruling mixed into the narrative such biased phrases as "torrent of spending," "secret world" and "unforeseen consequences." How sad and tragic that these "progressives" — regressives, really — have no concept of the victory for free speech that the Supreme Court's ruling truly is.
Join ATP, Stop Gang Green!
American Tradition Partnership (ATP) is a no-compromise grassroots organization dedicated to fighting the radical environmentalist agenda. We support responsible development of natural resources and rational land use and management policies. Only together can we protect access, private property rights, and affordable energy for all Americans!


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The best learning experiences are the ones in which everybody involved learns something -- and perhaps especially when the "learning" occurs somewhat by surprise.
That kind of learning experience took place on the third floor of The News-Journal building last week, when a group of News-Journal editors met with the latest class of the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce's 2012 Leadership Daytona class.
The chamber's leadership program is a group of 30 or so people from area businesses and organizations who, among other things, spend several weeks exploring various facets of the collective community they call home. The idea is to give the group the knowledge base they need to be effective community leaders. Last Wednesday was "Media Day" for the group.
Beginning at 8 a.m., they met in The News-Journal's third-floor cafeteria room for a four-hour crash course about area media.
Tim Stockman, a veteran television journalist who now is a partner in Blue Dog Video, led the group through a session focused on what to do when the local media come calling. That session included a video sampling of what to do -- and what not to do -- when you're on camera.
Then, News-Journal assistant managing editor Derek Catron talked to the group about how to get the most out of an interview with the local press.
At 10:15 a.m. came what I'm now calling "the grand experiment that worked."
A little background: Each morning, The News-Journal's editors meet to discuss the stories our reporters are pursuing. The main point of discussion is the mix of stories we are considering for the front page of the next day's newspaper. Later in the day, we meet again to finalize our selections.
On this day, we held our morning news planning meeting in front of the leadership group. Various editors pitched local stories their reporters were pursuing that they thought might be worthy of the front page. We also discussed possible front-page national or international stories from The News-Journal's wire services.
Managing editor Cory Lancaster led the discussion as she always does. By the end of our discussion , Cory had written a dozen possible front-page stories on a large white tablet she uses at all our news meetings.
Then came the real fun, and the learning experience for both the Leadership Daytona members and The News-Journal editors.
The leadership group broke into six smaller groups. The task of each smaller group was to select, from the dozen stories Cory had written on the tablet, the four stories they thought most deserved to be on the front page of the next day's News-Journal. (Four stories is the average limit for our front page.)
Predictably -- at least to me -- each group selected its own unique mix of stories for the front page. Out of the dozen stories suggested as possible front-page stories by The News-Journal's editors, the leadership groups selected nine of them at least once. In addition, one of the groups selected a wire story that the editors hadn't selected.
More telling, though, were the reasons for the group's selections. In all cases, the leadership groups had sound news reasons for their selections. I'm paraphrasing now, but their reasons ranged from "it's unusual," to the "it's sensational," to "it's just important." And, there was this laudable reason: "The front page ought to include positive news about the area."
There were also a couple of teaching moments. At one point, a member of the leadership group pointed out a story about a police officer who was accused of head-butting a teen during a basketball game, and whether the story should be considered for the front page. News-Journal online/public safety editor John Gallas explained that there were numerous unanswered questions remaining in the story that made him reluctant to pitch it for the front page. John's caution on such a story is a lesson all good editors learn early and remember always.
For the News-Journal's editors, the interaction with the leadership group's members was also a learning experience. Their questions -- which ranged from "How do we get news about our business or organization into the newspaper?" to "What is the personality mix of the editors?" -- caused us to think differently about what we do every day. The group's enthusiasm also reinforced the fact that the job we do every day is fun.
After the group left, there came one more learning experience. During our afternoon news meeting, when we made the final selection of stories for the front page of our next day's edition, we selected the following stories:
- An inspiring story about graduating Bethune-Cookman University student Shawna Brooks. Ms. Brooks put herself through school, earning a bachelor's degree in biology education while also raising her 4-year-old sister, Lyniah, after their mother passed away. The story included a beautiful photo of Shawna and Lyniah.
- A story about the sale of Perry's Ocean Edge Resort for $9.5 million.
- A story about a Daytona marina project on the beach side of the International Speedway Boulevard bridge.
- A late-breaking story about President Barack Obama's support for gay marriage.
- In the Flagler edition, a story about the future of the county's courthouse.
Notably, the top three stories our editors selected were the same top stories the Leadership Daytona group members collectively selected.
Hmmm. Either great minds think alike, or the newspaper business is easier than we journalists sometimes think.
Either way, we appreciated the input, and it's an exercise worth doing again.
Rice is editor of The News-Journal. His email is firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Justice authorities in (the northeastern U.S. state of) Connecticut say the American founder of a school for street children in Haiti has admitted to engaging in illicit sexual conduct with eight youngsters in that country.
Officials Wednesday said Douglas Perlitz, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. They say Perlitz made the admission as part of a plea deal.
Officials said that at various times between 2001 and 2008, Perlitz traveled from U.S. airports to Haiti and engaged in sexual conduct with boys who attended Project Pierre Toussaint, a school in Cap-Haitien.
The officials said he abused his position of authority to entice and persuade the minors to comply by providing them with the promise of food, shelter and other benefits that included cash, clothing and other items.
The former Connecticut resident faces a 30-year prison sentence and fine of up to $250,000 when sentenced in December. He has been in custody since his arrest in the western state of Colorado in September of last year.
Haiti is the Western Hemisphere's poorest country.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.


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New Year's Resolution Pajamas
Carole Hochman
There's no need to write down your New Year's resolutions when you're wearing these pajamas. This long sleeved pajama set features comical, cute resolutions and has a covered elastic waist with drawstring for a custom fit.


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Gangsta! Arsenal's Frimpong films Gyan freestyle rapping on Ghana team bus
Away on international duty with Ghana, Emmanuel Frimpong is as snap-happy as he is at Arsenal.
Frimpong filmed the buzzing atmos in the Black Stars camp today, with Asamoah Gyan – a recording rap artist – bringing the buzz with some freestyle rapping on the team bus!
Frimpong proudly comments on the palm tree setting, 'Beautiful Ghana, they never show this side on BBC News lol'.


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The three lines in the state's 283-page budget may have taken up little space, but the study they authorized on Kentucky's corrections system could have a big impact in the years ahead.
My colleagues in the General Assembly and I set this in motion because it will give us a chance to work with the Pew Center on the States, an independent and highly reputable non-profit organization that has undertaken in-depth looks at various government programs across the nation.
Crack, meth, runaway kids, missing persons, sexual assaults and increase in crime. These have all been put out there as possible excuses for not having cruising in Eminence. (Shawn) Bright said gas stations and restaurant managers remember that cruising was good for business and are saying yes to cruising. Mr. (Jim) Pettit says it wasn't good for business at his Dairy Mart, it sounds like sour grapes.
The school year ends and a new one is right around the corner!
To the soon to be contestants in Henry County's Biggest Loser contest — you CAN do it.
Some time in mid-January, I stepped on my trusty bathroom scale, like many of you do, and didn't like what I saw.
For the full story, see this week's Henry County Local, available on newsstands across the county.
When I was newly married and in charge of a household for the first time, I considered shopping for groceries a lot of fun and I looked forward to the novelty of my weekly trip. Pears? Apples? Grapes? Hamburger? Pork Chops? Roast? Having the responsibility of making choices about which foods to buy for my husband and me was exhilarating, and I eagerly met the challenge.
For the full story, see this week's Henry County Local, available on newsstands across the county.
Subscribe online or by calling (502) 845-2858.
Students may be settling into their summer break, but that doesn't mean that it's time to put away report cards just yet. This is the time of year when we learn more about the progress our schools have been making.
As it has been for some time now, the news is good.
I had a chance on Saturday to go to the Fish Fry with my wife and kids at the New Castle Fire House. We had a very good time Everyone was just so friendly and helpful. You know they do a lot for our community with their volunteering and fund raising. They are always ready to do what needs to be done. We have a lot of fine folks, men and women in the local fire departments working to make Henry County a better and safer place. I cannot speak for others but as per the Cook family we are very proud of you guys and girls and we appreciate all that you do.
On behalf of the New Castle Lions Club, I would like to thank everyone that came out to our fourth annual truck and tractor pull held at the fairgrounds May 14 and 15.
Copyright © 2017
The Henry County Local is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Eminence, KY and the surrounding area.


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It is a testament to the cinematographers of the James Bond oeuvre that the backdrop to the action typically looks like a million bucks (make that a billion, to adjust for 50 years of inflation). Naturally, Skyfall, set in Shanghai, is no exception. Except that anyone intimately familiar with the city knows that the streets, seemingly paved in gold in the Daniel Craig du jour, are a relative bargoon beneath the surface.
Sure you can have a helicopter convey you to the Peninsula Hotel for high tea and a 230-minute scrub in the spa. But if you fancy, you can also get by on $10 a day, like they used to in Europe during Sean Connery's heyday (not including hotel, of course). Or go for a happy medium and watch your dollars stretch to include the following treasures.
In the throes of crushing jetlag, you'll be heartened to hear that Shanghai has its own rather charming version of Central Park, free of charge and free of hassle (it's in the dead centre of town), but rich in cultural eccentricity. Fuxing Park is where swarms of locals gather for morning tai chi, couples practise ballroom dancing to eighties-era boomboxes, and retirees in Mao suits squat at tables by the pond for games of mah-jong. Kids fly kites on the lawn or roll around inside giant plastic spheres on the lake. And if you happen to see someone fishing for his supper in the koi pond, smile, bow and continue on your way.
30 cents
The rapidly growing, climate-controlled Metro is so affordable, even banana peddlers take it to work. The No.10 (purple) line spans the centre of the city. Take it westbound to Hongqiao Road and explore Red Town (570 Huaihai West Road), a whimsical sculpture garden surrounded by design shops, cafés and contemporary art galleries that are all free to enter. Or head eastbound to North Sichuan Road and walk south the length of Zhapu Road, a "snack street" hidden within a cloud of dumpling steam and barbecue smoke. Seek out stalls where women carve pineapples into swirly edible figurines, juicers pulverize bushels of fresh fruit for pennies, and sweet-and-spicy squid comes on skewers.
75 cents
The Shanghainese are so obsessed with freshness, even their noodles are made "while u wait." Happily, the most authentic are also the cheapest. At Lanzhou La Mian (249 Wuyuan Lu, near Yongfu Lu), one of Shanghai's last remaining noodle-pulling dynasties in a (literal) hole in the wall, those in the know hunch over enormous platters of noodles smothered in chili sauce or garlic and bok choy, or swimming in hearty soups with shredded pork or tofu. Point to the patron who looks like he's enjoying the tastiest feast, then watch as a pasta craftsman beats, twists and pulls a mound of dough into your afternoon repast.
Coastal Shanghai? This is not a beach city. Except in a former parking lot on the South Bund, where some genius had the idea to import several tonnes of fine golden sand, a volleyball net and first-class loungers. Locals call it Rico Rico Beach (Waima Lu, near Maojiayuan Lu), and for the price of two Cokes you can pull one of those loungers up to a patio umbrella, order a cold bottle of Tsingtao and contemplate the Blade Runner backdrop: the cluster of towers across the river in Pudong, including Asia's tallest building, affectionately known as "the bottle-opener" (see below).
As a rule, Shanghai's museums are bombastic odes to antiquity or contemporary art. One of few exceptions is the Propaganda Poster Art Centre (Room B-OC, 868 Huashan Road), run from a warren in the basement of an unmarked apartment building in the former French Concession. Here, one stealthy collector has accumulated a wealth of original Chinese propaganda art from the latter half of the 20th century; it's arranged chronologically and interspersed with narrative placards. Along with the small adjacent museum shop, it offers the sort of enlightenment you don't often find in China today. A gem.
This is likely the most you'll ever spend on a taxi within Shanghai – for what might be the most bewildering few minutes of your life. Cab drivers almost universally speak Mandarin, but there's an app for that. The Shanghai Taxi Guide translates thousands of destinations from Roman lettering into Chinese, so you can simply flash your phone at your driver. If confusion persists, there's a hotline number posted in every car that rings through to a free translator. Alas, nobody has created an app that will tell your chauffeur to "slow the [expletive] down!" For that you'll have to learn the local Shanghainese: man yidian (MAN ee deeEN). Start practising now.
The art deco palace that is the Peace Hotel (20 Nanjing Road East), refurbished by Fairmont in 2010, is a destination in its own right. The atrium's stained-glass dome and solid gold murals are so exquisite you'll want to weep. The river-view roof garden has four private karaoke rooms. And the jazz bar has been employing the same old-time musicians since the 1940s. Prices at the bar reflect today's economy – a martini will set you back $13 – but it's worth it for the entertainment. (Get there before the 7 p.m. start to guarantee yourself a table.) One other reason to go: The evening approach along the frenzied Nanjing pedestrian road, where the signage creates a veritable tunnel of neon that literally buzzes (it's so flashy even sunglasses can't fully dull it).
You tend to lose count of all the luxury hotels fanning out along the Huangpu River. Few are as storied as the Waldorf (2 Zhongshan Dong Yi Road), however, a hopelessly elegant throwback to the last time the city was flooded with money (i.e. the 1930s). Back then the Shanghai Club occupied this spot on the magnificent historic riverfront boulevard dubbed the Bund, and the city's elite waved their cigarette holders around the 11-metre raw-mahogany Long Bar. The bar was restored piece by piece, and two years ago relaunched with a menu including the "Shanghai Waldorf," the classic salad topped with a chunk of crabmeat.
CN and Sears have nothing on the newfangled Asian towers, of which Shanghai's World Financial Center (100 Century Avenue) is second tallest (and counting). Locals call it the "bottle opener," and $23 gets you access to three observation decks on the 94th, 97th and 100th floors. Or you can scrap the fee and the queue and head instead to the 91st-floor bar – tallest in the world according to folks who measure these things – and snag yourself a vertiginous seat by the window. Drinks cost in the low teens and nuts come gratis.
Achy muscles are a non-issue in Shanghai, where there's a burly masseuse for every complaint. Dagu Road is fairly nondescript but for the fact that it counts more than a dozen spas of varying quality over just two blocks. The legendary Taipan Foot Massage (370 Dagu Road) spawned all those imitators with its winning formula: private rooms furnished with La-Z-Boy loungers, flat-screen TVs and a menu of free snacks, juices and teas. The drill is to come with a friend and a DVD and settle in for a 90-minutes leg, foot and shoulder rub while you watch and nibble.
Dim sum is the tapas of South China, though in Shanghai you can get it, and good, on every other block. But why pound the pavement when you can take an elevator 55 storeys up and nosh on superlative char siu bao (barbecued pork bun) while watching helicopters land on the rooftop pads of lesser buildings. Canton (88 Century Ave.), part of the Grand Hyatt in the palatial Jin Mao Tower, has 360-degree views of the city and a sexy lacquer-and-gilt decor that might inspire you to take your dessert up to a room. For the quality on your plate, they could be charging a whole lot more.
Many an expat has experienced the regal convenience of being shuttled from work to gym to restaurant in a chauffeured car, but if you're not versed in the spendthrift practices of foreign bankers you probably don't know that you can have your own for a (relative) steal. Outfits such as ShangCar.com rent wheels by the day, week or month from around $87 a day for a 2012 Passat and a driver of saintly patience. This will come in handy for fleeing the heavy city smog for Anji's bamboo forest or Hangzhou's West Lake.
Or go for broke
The dazzling new Four Seasons Pudong occupies 11 floors of the 55-storey 21st Century Tower (locally called the "jewel box"), in the core of Shanghai's Lujiazhui financial zone. No hotel project in China better captures the striving spirit of the age – globalization, trade and mirth.
At the opening bash earlier this month, cocktail servers decked out in metal hoop skirts pased out champagne flutes with poise. The bejewelled set feasted on tea-smoked duck and savoury chive dumplings created by executive chef Weimar Gomez. The hotel's lush decor, featuring opulent semi-precious gems and peacock feathers in minimalist patterns, had flashbulbs popping.
Art-filled interiors evoke the city's golden age of the 1930s. The 187 rooms and suites are each accented with fresh flowers, Lorenzo Villoresi bath products from Italy, an Illy coffee machine and a bar with all the fixings needed to make the hotel's signature cocktails. Book one of the Deluxe Pearl View rooms for the clearest views of Pudong's whimsical urban landscape.
Four Seasons Hotel Pudong, 210 Century Avenue, Shanghai; 86-21-2036-8880; fourseasons.com. Rooms from $480. – Si Si Penaloza


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West Virginia University is getting noticed for the education it's teaching outside the classroom.
US News and World Report ranked three WVU online graduate programs among the best in the country.
The university's nursing, education, and business online graduate programs have been ranked inside the top 30.
In a release, WVU president Jim Clements credits the faculty, staff and students for the program's success, and said growing quality online classes is important to the state and country.


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Graphical Password Authentication System in an Implicit Manner
Authentication is a process by which a system verifies the identity of a user. Authentication may also be generalized by saying that "To authenticate" means "To authorize". For example, users tend to pick passwords that can be easily guessed, on the other hand, if a password is hard to guess, then it is often hard to remember. To address this problem some researchers have developed authentication methods that use pictures as passwords, known as graphical passwords. The authors classify these techniques into two categories: recognition-based and recall-based approaches which are discussed in this paper along with the strengths and limitations of each method. They have proposed a new technique for authentication.


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Okay, California Pacific Airlines ready again
FAA-certified, but start dates out of Carlsbad airport uncertain (psst, April)
Ken Harrison 8:30 a.m., Nov. 18
On March 7, two panhandlers were stationed at the intersection of Mira Mesa Boulevard and Westview Parkway. One of the two men stood on the center divider of Westview Parkway while another stood on the median of Mira Mesa Boulevard. An elderly man limped up and down the narrow median on Westview Parkway, using a cane and holding a cardboard sign.
Mira Mesa residents have become familiar with the almost daily presence of panhandlers on or around major intersections. Although most panhandlers go about their routines in a quiet and peaceful manner, some people in the area have grown impatient with their constant presence and consider them a distraction and safety hazard to motorists.
The issue of panhandling was recently addressed at a Mira Mesa Town Council meeting. In the March town-council newsletter, San Diego police provided some insight for residents regarding the legality of panhandling. According to San Diego police, people are free to stand on the raised median. However, police are advising residents that people who are panhandling aggressively may be taken in with a citizen-initiated arrest.
When asked if a motorist would be at fault if they were to hit a panhandler by accident, SDPD officer Susan Steffen said: "The pedestrian is at fault if they leave the median."
I would swear these guys are a roving organized band. A few weeks ago, in the early morning, I saw five of them standing together in a parking lot talking. A few hours later, two of them were on nearby off ramps, one east bound, and the other across the bridge westbound. This was at Hwy. 78 @ Jefferson. The next day, the same two are at I-5 @ Santa Fe Dr. I think it would make a great story to find out if this is true, and how much they rake in every day. I bet it is a lot more than min. wage. If a had an extra few days to grow some stubble, I'd go under cover and do it myself, just to see. I'd even bet they'd try to run me off if I was on one of "their" exits.
Priceless headline. Four stars!
Ditto #2: Props to Uy! ;)
The stringer editor deserves the credit for the title. Not me =)
I live in the Morena/Mission Valley area and we are completely overwhelmed with bums begging for money on every street corner and raised median. It's so frustrating to see people in cars handing over money to these bums as this only continues the problem. There are so many great charities out there that could do much more with the money, even charities for the homeless. I can't tell you how many bums I have seen coming out of convenience stores with a 12 pack of beer; folks, this is where your charity is being spent. If you want to help people, giving them money for alcohol and drugs is not going to do it. Over this past weekend, I saw an even more disturbing sight. In front of Fashion Valley Mall a mother stood with her little son hanging on to her leg, in the hot sun, as the woman held a street sign begging for money. I saw no drinking water near them and the child had no sunglasses on to protect him from the bright sun. This is abuse and neglect, no child should have to stand on a corner for hours helping their parent beg for money. A block down, I assume it was the father, stood with a young daughter, again holding a sign begging for money. The young girl seemed so embarrassed and humiliated. Children should not have to spend their days begging for money on street corners in San Diego. Where is Child Protective Services? Police? If the adults want to beg, that's one thing, but children? Bums should leave their kids with a friend or family member for the day if they want to beg for money. Of course if you've burned all your bridges with everyone you know, guess that won't work. Or better yet, bums should spend the day looking for a JOB and be responsible for their children and themselves. Maybe these same bums should spend some time looking for a shelter to spend the night in or programs that assist people with children. It seems more and more like pride and respect for one's self has completely disappeared for these people and now children are being brought into the equation, disgusting.


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Mila Kunis in naked pledge
MILA Kunis has vowed she will never go fully nude on screen.
I showed side boob. I don't need to show ass
The 29-year-old, voted the world's hottest woman, had a lesbian sex scene with Natalie Portman, 31, in Black Swan.
And she flashed a "side boob" in comedy Friends With Benefits.
Mila said: "I showed side boob. I don't need to show ass. You get one or the other."


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UPDATED — Prosecutors "blow call," release alleged sheriff's deputy attacker from jail
By JOE SMILLIE
Peninsula Daily News
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PORT ANGELES –– Matthew K. McDaniel, 27, arrested Sunday night on allegations he assaulted Clallam County Deputy Mark Millet, was released from jail without charges Monday afternoon after what prosecutors are calling a mistake.
"This was a blown call," Clallam County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Mark Nichols said. "Due to what I'll call a perfect storm of increased caseload and decreased resources."
Prosecutors on Tuesday morning were working to file felony charges against McDaniel.
As of this writing, no warrant had been issued for the arrest of McDaniel, who currently has no permanent address.
McDaniel was taken into custody Sunday by deputies after allegedly shoving and shouting at
Millet, who was reportedly attempting to evict him from Railroad Bridge Park in Sequim for being there after the dusk closing time.
Chief Corrections Deputy Ron Sukert confirmed McDaniel was released on an order from the proseuctor's office at 2:03 p.m. Monday.
Nichols said officers arrested an "unusually high number of suspects" over the weekend, and the prosecutor's office was short-staffed.
That forced the prosecutor's office to put a deputy normally assigned to the office's civil division, which represents the county and its agencies and officials, to work on criminal cases.
"And some of the instructions got lost in translation," Nichols said.
Nichols said that the McDaniel should have been charged, or kept in jail on a 72-hour hold.
But instead the decision was to release him, with charges to be filed later.
Nichols said the prosecutor's office had apologized to Millet for releasing his alleged attacker.
"And we apologize to the community as well for this," Nichols said.
In a phone call Monday night, McDaniel told the Peninsula Daily News he recently lost his job as a welder and has been living out of his vehicle.
McDaniel was booked into jail for investigation of third-degree assault for allegedly attacking an officer, a felony. He was also arrested for second-degree criminal trespass, a misdemeanor.
"This case raises serious concerns over officer safety," Nichols said.
"And our office is taking corrective action to file felony charges against Mr. McDaniel."
The report issued Monday by Chief Criminal Deputy Ron Cameron said McDaniel, as
Millet approached his vehicle, began yelling obscenities and moved toward Millet.
Cameron's report said McDaniel pushed the deputy before Millet deployed his taser to subdue McDaniel.
rom Clallam County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Ron Cameron, McDaniel yelled obscenities and advanced on Deputy Mark Millet shortly before midnight Sunday at the park at , 2151 W. Hendrickson Road.
Millet was on a routine nighttime patrol of the park to make sure it was empty. The park, sponsored by the Jamestown S'Klallam tribe, closes at dark.
Cameron said Millet approached McDaniel's vehicle, which was parked on the road near the main parking lot.
As Millet approached the car, McDaniel allegedly began yelling obscenities and advancing toward Millet after being ordered by Millet to stay at the car, Cameron's report stated.
McDaniel allegedly pushed the deputy before Millet deployed his Taser weapon to subdue McDaniel.
McDaniel was later taken into custody by other responding officers.
Cameron's report said McDaniel is a transient who was sleeping in the park.
It also said investigators found a loaded Springfield XD .40 pistol with 16 rounds of ammunition, along with evidence of alcohol and marijuana, while searching McDaniel's car after they impounded it.
Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Joe Smillie can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Last modified: February 05. 2013 2:45PM


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you are right we are the worlds slowest country in terms of change- we slowly evolve hence we end up with archaic concepts like constitutional monarchy and still have an entrenched class system and stability bit we tread water.
We dont do radicals or even radicalism here that is for s No revolutions or loosing wars to bring about large scale change for sure - probably the emergence of the labour movement /fabians/unions or the suffragettes was the last examples of political radicalism...perhaps Beveridge but even the NHS was a result of long term steady change and none changed the entire landscape
Farage and Crowe raised a chuckle- are they not just both stuck in the past of little englander empire days and Union power rather than actually being radical. We are not likely to vote in a comedian led party at the next election now are we Eddie Izzard for PM? David Mitchel? Twitteratti Mr Fry? If we keep voting like this we will keep getting this


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Pop Culture
Hollywood Now: Chris Pine, Rachel Weisz & Ari Graynor, Plus So Many Babies!By Gerri Miller
New flicks with celebs in interfaith relationships and from interfaith backgrounds, plus their baby news!Go To Pop Culture
For our wedding in 2004 my husband Chris and I asked a rabbi and Chris' uncle, a priest, to co-officiate. We met with them months before the wedding, and both were willing to work together to ensure our ceremony was balanced.
When we met with them before the ceremony, each clergy member asked us how we planned to raise our children. We answered Jewish, and they both seemed pleased that we chose one faith for our children as opposed to both.
|Julie and her husband Chris in a photo from their wedding.
At the time, we had no idea what was about to come.
The evening before the wedding, something very peculiar happened. At the rehearsal, we saw Chris' parents across the room, reading our wedding program, and appearing visibly shaken by it. My husband opted not to ask them about it, saying they could bring their concerns to us. But they never did.
The next night at the ceremony, Catholic and Jewish prayers and traditions mingled together beautifully and, afterwards, compliments came in from both sides of the family regarding the blending of the two faiths.
Crisis averted, right? Wrong.
Fast-forward a couple years. Chris and I began to talk about having kids. Because he was hesitant to tell his parents about our decision to raise them Jewish, we reached out to his uncle, the priest, for advice.
But instead of advice, we received an e-mail diatribe that showed he disapproved not only of our child-rearing decision but of our wedding as well. "The service showed no Christian respect, except for my presence," he wrote. "Your statement that the children are going to be raised Jewish is a perfect example of your inability to be balanced, to dialogue, or to respect your partner's Catholic heritage."
He continued on for an entire page, accusing me of trying to convert my husband (which we never even considered!) and suggesting that we see a counselor because our marriage was in dire trouble. "You are clearly in control, and that is what rightly upsets almost everybody," the priest wrote. "Chris appears totally castrated."
I cried for three days straight.
How could anyone say, let alone think, such awful things? We talk to Chris' uncle maybe once a year. Where was he getting these ideas? Hadn't he acted pleased when we discussed our chosen faith for our kids years ago? And if the service wasn't Christian enough, why did he blame me, and me alone? He was one of the people we'd trusted to make our marriage service fair.
And if the rest of the family felt the same way, why on earth hadn't anyone said anything?
Looking back, there had been some clues. For instance, when we'd visit Chris' parents, we noticed the four-sided frame (that was to host a picture of each of their four kids and significant others) was never turned to our side. When we'd jokingly turn it to our picture, it was always turned back before we left.
We did enter counseling not in an effort to save our marriage, because that was fine, but to try to make family relations better, starting with Chris' parents. We tried everything our counselor and several self-help books suggested. But every single effort was met with resistance.
We tried sending my mother-in-law a long letter. We tried email. My mother-in-law responded by telling us that our wedding was "quite a challenging, life-altering event that [she] hope[s] [she] never, ever go[es] through again." We tried a sit-down conversation, but that turned hostile. Apparently they had a lot of unexpressed feelings left over from our wedding.
During that conversation, we told them that we planned to raise our children as Jews, but we said that our children's religion was a moot point because we weren't sure whether we wanted kids. Two years later, we began trying to have a baby … but miscarried. When Chris shared the news with his parents, they were "very surprised" because they remembered us telling them that we'd never have kids.
How does "not sure" turn into absolutely never? And why would we even share with them our chosen faith for our children if we would never be having any?
Even though we'd shared that Chris was on board with all of the decisions concerning our wedding and our children, they accused me of being controlling and castrating. We began to wonder why my in-laws blamed me for any decision we made that they didn't like.
Finally, Chris asked his uncle to show us the e-mail where I said he'd be converting. We knew he couldn't provide any proof of his assertions, and we'd left an electronic trail. Chris has continued to request facts, not perceptions, from his uncle to back up his other accusations, but his uncle doesn't answer.
Why was it that all the research we'd done, the interfaith classes we'd taken, and the many discussions we'd had weren't being considered? Why were his family members quick to jump to conclusions, make false assumptions and cast stones?
At one point, we began to wonder if our feelings were justified. But then our counselor asked if she could share our experiences with our interfaith class as, "People often learn the most from the most challenging situations--and yours is right up there!"
After trying so hard and not making much headway, she suggested we stop to see what would happen. Years have passed, and not much has changed.
However, Chris and I have kept our relationship strong. We're grateful that my family has been accepting of our marriage and supportive of our decisions. We realize his family is missing out on so much but know we can't make things better by ourselves. It takes two to tango. So we continue on our own path, happy with each other and hoping that one day, they'll want to join us.


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Welcome to the Muppet Central Forum!
You are viewing our forum as a guest. Join our free community to post topics and start private conversations. Please contact us if you need help with registration or your account login.
MY Collection and REPLICAS
Discussion in 'Muppet Replicas' started by junebug1972, Oct 19, 2010.


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The new Ohio State head coach said his first offseason in Columbus was a positive one, and much of that is a credit to the new strength and conditioning staff he brought in led by Mickey Marotti.
He was very concerned about the body types of the offensive linemen when he arrived, but he likes what he is seeing in them now.
Speaking of the team as a whole, he's got a good idea of who wants to go to battle now after a competitive winter in the weight room. Continue reading Overheard at Ohio State: Urban Meyer's Spring Preview Presser


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Field hockey
The 15th annual Del Mar field hockey camp returns to the high school's San Jose campus on June 23-26. The camp is open to beginning players in grades 5-9, and the cost is $70 per player. The camp runs daily from 9 a.m. to noon. Equipment will be provided. Contact Del Mar coaches Gene Sampson or Stacey Chase at 408.691.0263 or email@example.com, or register online at delmarfieldhockey.com.
Quakes teams
The San Jose Earthquakes will field under-9 through under-16 teams as part of their youth development program that already includes under-14, under-16 and under-18 programs. The seven new programs will make up the Earthquakes Pre-Academy and they will begin a recreational program for players ages 4-11, called the Earthquakes Elite Player Development. All teams will train in San Jose.
For more information, visit sjearthquakes.com/academy.
Golf tourney
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley will host their annual golf tournament on June 23, 10 a.m., at the Golf Club at Boulder Ridge and will conclude with a dinner and auction beginning at 5 p.m. For more information, contact Monica Alegre at 408.890.2914 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Pop Warner
The West Valley Pop Warner football (ages 7-15) and cheer teams are holding online registration for the coming season at www.wvpw.com. For more information, call Ched Fowler at 408.614.6626 or email email@example.com.


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I agree with Dr CM Corser (Letters, 5 December) about the deserved Scot of the Year award to Michael Forbes and the failings of the Scottish Government and most local politicians exposed by the Trump saga.
However, Dr Corser is incorrect to say I was re-elected this year as an independent councillor. I was re-elected as a Scottish Green Party councillor.
Councillor Paul Johnston, also a Liberal Democrat in 2007 and whose stance on Trump was the same as mine, was re-elected in May as an independent.
I resigned from the Lib Dems because the Aberdeenshire Lib-Dem council group was behaving in ways directly contrary to the liberal, democratic and environmental principles I had promised to support when elected. I could not keep my election promises and stay in the Lib Dems. Councillor Johnston took the position recommended by Dr Corser and stayed in the Lib Dems to argue for liberal principles. He was expelled from the party, at the insistence of the Aberdeenshire Liberal Democrat council group, by a vote of the Scottish Liberal Democrats' national executive.
I should also point out that, unlike other parties, the Scottish Green Party has consistently opposed the Trump scheme and spoken up for the rights of the residents at Menie.
(Cllr) Martin Ford
Aberdeenshire Council
Fintray, Aberdeenshire


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The promise comes six days before world leaders from eight industrial nations and Russia will meet in Gleneagles, Scotland for a summit about Africa and climate change. Currently, the United States gives $230 million to Africa to fight malaria. The president said the five-year campaign will help cut African malaria deaths in half by 2010.
"In the overwhelming majority of cases the victims are less than 5 years old — their lives ended by nothing more than a mosquito bite," said President Bush, "We're making a strong commitment for the future. Between 2004 and 2010, I propose to double aid to Africa once again, with a primary focus on helping reforming countries."
The pledge comes with other initiatives: $400 million to promote education for girls in Africa and $55 million over three years to provide legal protections for African women who endure domestic violence and sexual abuse.
This new aid package comes in addition to the $674 million pledged by the president for emergency famine relief when Prime Minister Tony Blair visited the White House earlier this month.
"We welcome the president's focus both on governance and democracy as well as on the key issues of girls' education and malaria," Blair said in a statement. "We want the G-8 to sign up to providing universal access to malaria prevention and treatment and to train millions of new teachers for Africa."
At the summit, President Bush also plans to encourage other nations and private foundations to help fight malaria in Africa.
"We know that large-scale action can defeat this disease in whole regions and the world must take action," Bush said. "Together we can lift this threat and defeat this fear across the African continent."
Mohammad Akhter, president of the Washington-based aid group alliance InterAction, told Bloomberg News that Bush's malaria initiative was a "great first step in a long road toward eradicating poverty and disease."
However, other organizations believe the president's aid package does not go far enough. In a BBC News interview, Patrick Watt, spokesman for ActionAid, an anti-poverty charity said, "This is a very modest step forward that is being spun as a colossal leap."
In the first year, the malaria aid package will go to Tanzania, Uganda and Angola, four more countries in 2007 and five more in 2008. President Bush said the new initiative should cover more than 175 million Africans in at least 15 nations, but he said the countries must be willing to undergo political and economic reform.
Malaria is one of the top killers in Africa, and most of its victims are children. The ancient mosquito-borne disease infects as many as 400 million people worldwide, killing 1 million a year.