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Country Club Plaza Restaurants
Discover Country Club Plaza restaurants and start your day with fresh pastries, omelets, pancakes, continental breakfast, or our breakfast buffet in The Gallery Restaurant. We're also open for lunch and dinner, serving steaks, sandwiches, and pastas so rest assured, you will be taken care of.
After a busy day of shopping or meetings, stop by our hotel restaurant, the Gallery Lounge, for an afternoon cocktail or appetizer.
The Gallery Restaurant
Cuisine: American
Hours: 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM Daily
Atmosphere: Casual
Gallery Lounge
Cuisine: Cocktails & Bar Fare
Hours: 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM Daily
Atmosphere: Casual
Starbucks Kiosk
Hours: 24 hours
Atmosphere: Lobby


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Two 18-year-olds were arrested for assault with a deadly weapon following a gang-related stabbing that occurred on the corner of Carrillo and Chapala streets early Monday afternoon. Police Sgt. Riley Harwood said Javier Hernandez of Oxnard (left, sitting) and Juan Vasquez of Goleta were arrested after a fight that left a 31-year-old man with a single non-life-threatening stab wound to his back. A witness heard the name of a Santa Barbara gang shouted during the altercation. Both Hernandez and Vasquez are booked in County Jail on $30,000 bail. Harwood declined to offer additional details, citing the open investigation.
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We wrote on June 20 that the Transportation Security Administration would be relocating its Pre Check enrollment center to the non-secure side of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in early July.
But we didn't say exactly when, because we didn't know because TSA officials didn't know.
Now we know.
We dropped by the TSA center at the airport's Terminal D on Tuesday afternoon, and were told the new center opens next week – Thursday, July 10.
In doing so, it'll move from its present location near the Gates 22-23 security checkpoint to north of the Gate 30 checkpoint, north of the American Airlines ticket counters in that part of Terminal D.
At present, the center is located inside the secured area. That means someone has to be traveling that day with a boarding pass, or able to secure a gate pass to allow them through TSA security. There were snafus.
With the change, applicants for the Pre Check program can come to the airport and visit the center without going through a TSA security lane. That should make many people happy, just from the lesser hassle factor.
They'll take walk-ins, but they advise and we advise applicants to apply on line and get an appointment date and time. A reader told us yesterday that the wait for an appointment was at least 45 days.


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SHAOSHAN, China — Despite the Communist Party's efforts to celebrate today's 110th anniversary of Mao Tse-tung's birth with reverence and awe, for many here in his hometown, it's more about cashing in.
Restaurants bearing Mao's name compete aggressively to serve visitors the sauteed fatty pork dish he loved. Mao lighters, snow domes and figurines fly off the shelves of souvenir stands. In another sign of China's economic transformation, local entrepreneurs have even leased a local graveyard holding six of Mao's relatives for its tourist potential.
"Mao didn't do much for his hometown while he was alive," a local limousine driver said. "But he sure made a big contribution in death."
Today's milestone comes as China struggles to bridge the yawning gap between its socialist ideology and market-driven reality.
The once-godlike image of the Great Helmsman is still carefully managed by propagandists within the Chinese Communist Party wary of any criticism that might reflect poorly on Mao and, by extension, the current leadership.


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I got my hands on a copy of Saints Row 2 on Friday and spent the better part of the weekend playing the game. I figured I would share my experience , so far, with you guys. Just to note it: I played the PS3 version of the game. There is a 3.8 GB installation that takes about 7 mins. Load times are almost completely absent once you get into the game, although there is a larger load time every time load the game up from the console (think GTAIV but with 1/2 the wait).
So let me just get this out right now--I got bored with the first SR after 4-5 hours of game time. I have now tried on three separate occasions to return to the game, but each time I just cannot get past the 3rd or 4th hour. I know there are a lot of people out there who really love the 1st game, and that's cool, but for me (this is just my opinion!) it's a mediocre experience at best. I did think the game had lots of potential. I appreciated the wackiness! I enjoy how ridiculous it wants to be and how unapologetic is was about that. SR1 was the 6 year old brother running outside to play football with it's older brother GTA and his friends--but in the end it ended up facedown in the mud.
Times have now changed.
GTA has graduated high school and moved on to be a thespian in college taking himself a little more seriously (but still a bit of a prankster, right?). Saints Row has grown a bit too--to be the class clown in his senior class. SR now knows what he's doing, how he's doing it, why it's doing it, and even knows you're going to like him. But he does stumble a bit along the way. Lets get started.
The overall visual presentation has been greatly improved. Everything from the real time lighting effects (immediately apparent from the first mission which is done at night), the texture detailing of...everything, the destroyable environments, the character models, all the way to the water have been improved in some fashion. Some of those things might be trivial to some, but I feel it's at least worth mentioning that this is a much better looking game than the first in every regard. Though the city now feels like it's actually lived in--where the first one felt like a sanitized stage--it still is not even in the same league as GTAIV's environment. GTAIV gave every street corner a unique feel and design throughout the entire city. Every alley felt different, trashed in a unique fashion--lived in. Here it's not the same feeling, but I don't even know if it's valid. However, when comparisons are made between the two this is probably the one that will stand out for most.
SR2, much like the GTA games, has multiple story's that can progress at whatever pace you please. The cutscenes and dialogs have been improved greatly. They're now mostly enjoyable and are without the annoying dialog from the first one, dropping the F and N bombs left and right. Gone are the awkward cutscenes. Heck there were a few times when they even made me laugh--seriously. There is an apparent effort here to move things forward as far as story telling goes. The characters in the game are more interesting and seem to have a personality now. They're not just mannequins walking around with speakers for mouths reading their lines to the audience. But all that praise might not matter because the actual narrative is pretty lame. But if you're like me, you're not playing SR for the compelling story.
Mission progression now has checkpoints (thank god!) so if you die in a particular lengthy mission you do not have to start over. Also, you can save anywhere, at any time. Cars that are stored in your garage and permanently stored there regardless if they're destroyed on the road.
This is where SR2 really shines and what keeps me coming back! The game breaks usual sandbox mould by not requiring you to progress through the story to unlock various sections of the city--everything in Stilwater is available right from the start. There are some minor improvements I noticed along like the inclusion of cruise control for easier car combat or when you're stuck in the water (from a car wreck perhaps) you now have the option to warp to land. There are more little things like this that I can't recall right now, but it's nice that there was some effort put into making things easier for the player.
Activities! There are a large set of these to participate in. Each section of the city (there are a lot of sections--guessing somewhere around 40?) has it's own set of these little diversions that will earn you money and respect. Each one has some sort of backstory accompanied by a cutscenes to lay things out for you. I'm not completely sure how else to tackle these activities other than to list the ones I've played (I didn't get to all of them):
Septic Avenger:
Easily one of the most disgusting things I've ever done in a video game. You sit on top of a septic truck that runs on autopilot, at the helm of a crap-spewing gun causing as much property damage as possible. As you spray shit everywhere--buildings, cars and even people turn brown to mark your progress (there is a $ meter to let you know exactly where you stand). It's the nastiest fun I've had in a long time. Great fun!
Zombie Uprising:
One of my favorites diversions! This little gem is accessible form your crib TV or an arcade. When I originally saw the option to play this game, I figured it would be similar to the emulated 8-bit mini-games in GTA or Bully--nope. This little game utilizes all the same tech that's in the regular game and it's fantastic. You're just a dude (it's randomly generated) who's barracked himself in the middle of some random town square with a few other survivors and must kill off the onslaught of slow moving zombies. There are many weapons at your disposal and the hordes numbers increase with each wave.
Trail Blazing:
In this one you ride an ATV, wearing a flame retardant suit, while on fire. The objective here is to follow a designated path throughout a section of Stilwater, blowing things up along the way(any vehicle that touches you explodes). It's complete and total mayhem and a...blast to play (yes I went there).
Here you must protect a celebrity from their crazed fans. It sounds a little lame and to be honest I wasn't that interested in playing it at first--but once I gave it a shot I found it to be fun. The activity utilizes the grab mechanic now implemented in the game. You must snatch a crazed fan from jumping on a celeb (there are several different locations, celebs and scenarios) and toss them into a SWAT vehicle, tractor, a wall or even to another bodyguard.
Have you ever wanted to star in a the TV show Cops? This activity has you dress up as a cop (a backstory will lay out the reasons why) with a camera man following you. So it's a bit like the police side-missions in GTA, but with a scared camera-totting guy following you around. It's fun and he's not annoying and never got in my way. He did die once, but you can revive your peeps by pouring out a 40 (I'm not joking).
There are others activities I haven't even tackled yet including racing (much like racing in GTAIV), Hitman (assassination missions), and fight club (underground arena fights). There is a lot to do and so far it's been a blast.
Unfortunately I did not get a chance to play any MP yet. But the idea od drop-in-drop-out coop for the entire campaign really really excites me!
The game honestly surprised me. I think overall it's a really fun experience that comes with several flaws. For starters there is no cover mechanic at all-- but it's not a show stopper by any means. I honestly didn't even think about this until someone asked me if it was in the game and now I find myself wishing it was there. Also, there is no lock-on feature in combat, and that can sometimes lead to some wild and crazy gunfights.
I would really love to see Volition move out of Rockstar's shadows and head in it's own direction. Rockstar left money on the table with the absence of the wackiness in GTAIV (I want my jetpack!) and it appears THQ saw the opportunity to really go for it and expand on all the crazy, fun things you can do. SR2 really is in the playground sitting in a sandbox--more so than ever before. The shenanigans and tomfoolery are so much fun that it now appears that the genre is splitting into two sub-genres.
If you're a fan on the original then go out and get this game now! If you enjoyed GTAIV but missed the wackiness, then you just might love this as well--if you can get past some of the flaws. If you're a huge fan of GTAIV, loved the narrative and didnt miss the shenanigans all that much then you might want to pass this one up.
If you've made it this far in my post--thanks.
EDIT by AlphaMeridian: Overall excellent post, but rehost the image somewhere else next time, see GESC specific rules for details.
Damn, G, thass gangsta.
I hope this is good and does well. I know some Volition employees here in C-U.
But that's the sort of goofy, wackiness that SR2 sets out to do--and it works. It's a pretty hilarious scenario when you see it for the first time. It's like, "Did he just pour a 40 and revive that guy?".
Sounds good to me. I both enjoyed the first Saints Row and greatly missed some of the wackiness in GTAIV, so I think this will be right up my alley.
For me this game is more fun to play than gta 4.
What do you enjoy most about it? The Activities?
I think the controls are a big contributor for me, but also the fact that there is so much fun content including the activities to play around with.
The only thing that i don't like, that I can think of, is that you have to accumulate respect to try missions.
BTW, something I fogot to mention in my original post--STREAKERS! I was running down one of the city streets and I saw this person running down the middle of the road, arms flailing, smiling, with sunglasses on running past me with his/her chest, crotch and ass pixeled out--it was hilarious. :laugh;
I've no interest in SR (first demo that the wife actually told me, flat out, I was NOT allowed to purchase!) but I wanted to thank you for a very good summary and impression/review of the game.
It's nice to see this kind of input from the members of the GESC.
I havent seen that at all, only thing i have noticed is drunk drivers and store robbers.
You're welcome. One of the reasons I do this is because of people like you--people appreciate the effort I put into writing up these things.
Man, I told myself not to get hyped for this game... Though that really started to wane when GTA4 came out and it wasn't the quantum leap from the first Saint's Row that I expected.
Do some of the Fuzz Activities--one of the calls you get is to catch a streaker.
I don't understand the rational for half of those activities you listed, but they still sound amusing.
Thanks again for the great write-up, warcrow. Hope you make it another Ars review.
I think that's part of it... The gimpsuit+dildo combo in GTA:SA never made much sense, but to me at least there was great entertainment in beating up random people and cops in that outfit. Sometimes going over the top is exactly the way to do it
Thanks for a great review warcrow... I had high hopes for the first Saints Row, but the demo put me off (although the insane amounts of tearing were the main culprit, and from what I understand that was fixed in a patch). It sounds like SR2 might be worth a try (and yes I did miss the wackiness in GTA4).
Did they fix the unbearable tearing?
I bought SR1 but could only manage a couple of hours play with the tearing++ and low fps. Unplayable.
I'm considering getting the PC version as long as the controls aren't awful. Thanks for the information warcrow
I was planning on picking this up anyway, as I enjoyed SR1 (BTW, the Garage worked the same way in SR1, and also allowed you to store an unlimited number of cars, which made the idea of customizing them fun, rather then a painfully expensive experience needed to be repeated over and over.
I'm looking forward to resurrecting my 'man in black character' (looked like a tag along blues brother mostly, black suit and pants and a black fedora) and terrorizing Saints Row again in my black customized classic corvette lookalike
OK, I played a little bit last night. Really didn't have to much time to spend with it but, DRIVING SUCKS! It's like I'm playing off my cell phone with controls. Maybe I need to get use to it. I don't know. Graphics are OK just a step above SR1. Nothing really to stop and look around like GTA IV. I'm sure I'll have fun with this game. I just wish I have waited and rented it first.
On a good note I did make a hot chick character and have her run around with nothing on(pixeled out). All the intro show her like that. I laugh. You can put on all types of goofy facial expression while she running around. Another laugh. The next mission I did was funny (#2). This game it like over the top with sight gags. I'm sure I'll have fun with this game but, I don't think it will last. I will give it more of my time this weekend.
I don't recall seeing any tearing but I appear to be immune to minor tearing--so perhaps there are some? There are v-sync options available for gameplay and cutscenes.
One thing I noticed is the handling in cheap cars is awful. I have recently been driving the high end stuff and it does get much better--but it's still a little wonky.
Just try to enjoy the game for what it is--wacky and fun. Go try out a bunch of the Activities--there are so much to do in this game it's rediculous.
I would consider getting this game (only played the demo of the first, didn't really get that into it - too much "gang" type stuff/culture and it got sort of annoying) if I had already completed GTAIV. Which I haven't. I feel like I should really finish one sandbox game before I jump into another which is a similar style. (Fallout 3 doesn't count!)
Sounds interesting though, but I wonder if I'd enjoy all the gang-related type stuff and such. It just seems too over the top and stupid/cliche. Even GTA: San Andreas wasn't as bad as what I saw Saint's Row to be, but a coworker loved the first one and never got into GTA games. And he is the furthest person that seems like they would be "gangsta" or enjoy such things.
I picked this up for 360 yesterday and played for a few hours, and it's a blast. I enjoyed the first Saint's Row, FWIW. The activities are just plain fun -- you can cause a lot of carnage. The character creator is wonderful too. The customization of how they move in addition to how they look is pretty nifty.
That said, load times are pretty bad when loading a save game. When starting a new mission you have to wait a few seconds too. And the frame rate looks on the low side, but to be honest I don't think it's any worse than GTA4's.
this game is pretty fun i picked it up for the 360 yesterday and played for 5-6 hours. i love the car customization option and the garages that can store lots (unlimited?) cars. i think im gonna have more fun with this game than with GTA4 mainly because saints row makes fun of itself
I tried the demo of the first game. The character animations and driving didn't really impress me too much. I'll have to wait for a demo or give this a rental to see if it's something I could get into. Too many other good games coming out right now to risk it on something I'm not sure about.
Yeah I'm liking it so far. I liked SR1 as well because of all the likeable characters. Good to see sat least one of them come back.
But dear god the driving. I forgot how terrible it was in this series. I guess I'm just used to the GTAIV mode.
The first one was so over the top with it's gangster crap--it was a complete turnoff. They've really toned it down to the point of acceptance and almost enjoyment on my part. I seriously disliked the constant F and N bombs they script called for in the first one--it was just lame.
How's the juvenile humor? I thought SR1 was a pretty solid game and am willing to tolerate faux "gangsta" attitude, but the juvenile sex humor in SR1 got tiresome pretty quick. (especially the endless radio commercials for the fast food restaurant) It was like they took scripts from GTA, and then had someone a lot less witty re-write it for twelve-year-olds.
Not that something small like that is likely to stop me from buying a game if the gameplay is there, just curious.
I feel like all of that has been improved to the point where it's not in the annoyance zone--infact, it's probably migrated to the generally amusing catagory.
Dammit stop trying to make me buy this game... I'm almost considering it now... add to that a coworker is probably gonna get it now that he realized it came out (the fact that I told him it came out earlier this week wasn't a clue? hehe j/k he just mistook me talking about Saint's Row 2 as Gears of War 2 for some reason).
If this game is at Toys R Us today or tomorrow, I'll jump on that Buy 2 Get 1 Free deal and throw this game in there. If it isn't, I dunno. I'll have to consider it. Man maybe I should go back and beat GTAIV...
That sounds like a pretty good deal--thanks for the reminder.
The toys r us deal kind doesnt work out as well for me since I do Gamefly.
Im getting Dead Space for $42, Fifa 09 for $43 and Little Big Planet for around $42 also. So, $127 for 3 games against $128 for three games at TRU.
I know some people dont like Gamefly, but the savings do add up quite a bit.
Yep I went ahead and did it yesterday.
Found Saint's Row 2 hidden in the display case behind the cash register counter (took me a while since I couldn't actually get right in front of it and look around, just had to do it from a distance in front of the counter, and the game was slightly hidden behind some others so you couldn't even see the title... luckily I recognized the top of the case with the gangster dude holding his guns up).
So I got this, Pure, Dead Space, Civilization Revolution, Star Wars Force Unleashed, and Heavenly Sword. I may end up returning Civ Rev and Star Wars if some other games next week catch my eye, but at this point I'm not entirely sure. I wonder how long their return/exchange policy is...
I picked up SR2 a couple of days ago and started playing it last night. I only had a couple of hours to play it but here are my impressions so far:
Graphics wise I found the game pretty limited. Aside from the cut scenes it almost looks like a last generation game. Very muddy textures and not much to distinguish the various areas.
Gameplay wise, it's a little too soon to tell. I've only unlocked 7 or 8 neighborhoods so far all related to attacking the Samedi. At this stage I'm just hoping I get a shot at the two main antagonists in that faction becuase they're starting to annoy the crap out of me. How many of their damn drug labs do I have to blow up before they come after me?! I've probably killed 500 of the bastards. One small part of one mission even had a counter and I got up into the 60s before it was over.
Driving reminds me of GTA:San Andreas or any of the older GTA games from before that. They don't try to emulate the more tail happy/realistic driving in GTA:IV.
I've only tried one of the side quests so far (septic avenger). It was fun but I think I'll reserve jusdgement until I get to try some of the others.
I'm further into the story now but the one thing that I would expand the gameplay GREATLY would be the ability to choose your actions during the cut scenes.
In the cut scenes they just assume you're a raging psychopath out for blood. But there have been a couple of situations where I wanted to go a different path like in GTAIV. Oh well maybe in SR3.
On a side note, how have you dressed your character? Mine is a Latino LL Cool J.
Just noticed this as I let the game sit idle on the title screen, but if you wait a bit a cinematic starts that sort of acts like a true prologue to the game. It at least does a very good job of illustrating what's changed in the years between the games.
N, I totally agree about the cutscenes. Eventually I just had to accept that the game is trying its damnedest to one-up GTA in the cartoony violence department.
My character is a petite, pale, redheaded female version of Johnny Gat, essentially. Silk shirt, slacks, sleek shoes, and an itchy trigger finger.
I think it's hilarious that Johnny Gat is voiced by Daniel Dae Kim. (Jin from Lost, the Korean guy.)
Just hearing him talk in such a "gangster" way makes me laugh everytime I hear him, and I think it's awesome. I can't believe that someone like him can turn around and get into this type of character. Then again I've only seen him in Lost and there was only one episode where he even spoke English really, so it's just a bit different to me.
Anyway that's all I wanted to say about that. I stopped playing the game for a while so I could go ahead and finish GTA4 first. I'll probably get into this sooner or later but Fable II is probably going to take up my time for a while.
I don't know if because I'm on "Hardcore" setting but the buddy AI is freaking stupid. They can't drive worth crap and seem to get into my line of fire every chance they get.
I may have complained about the cutscenes, but there are some truly great f'd up ones though.


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The "other" first responders to Hurricane Sandy: Immigrants
Think first responders and we're probably thinking city workers; the brave fire fighters, police and healthcare workers, but there are "other" first responders. Service workers. Albeit in limited numbers, cab drivers, delivery men/women, and food industry workers whose industry is mostly made up of immigrants, remained on the job.
via ABC/Univision
remixed img via @tedhesson
By TED HESSON (@tedhesson)
With parts of New York City under mandatory evacuation, the stock market closed and Mayor Michael Bloomberg encouraging people to "have a sandwich out of the fridge and sit back and watch the television," it's pretty clear that Hurricane Sandy will take its toll on the local economy.
But many people are braving the weather to keep the city running. In particular, those with jobs like taxi driving, food delivery and healthcare will be hard at work over the next few days.
While the winds and rain picked up outside Doaba Deli in Manhattan Valley this morning, cab drivers stopping for traditional Punjabi breakfast appeared aware of the evolving storm but unrattled. Most planned to work for a few hours and quit early.
"I have a lot of bills, [and] I have two kids and wife," said Parkash Singh, a cabbie who lives on the eastern half of Long Island and commutes to the city to work. "It's a challenge day-to-day to make money, but life, every day is a challenge."
Subway and bus service shut down on Sunday night, and may not return until as late as Wednesday, leaving many New Yorkers dependent on those like Singh who are willing to work through the storm.
Immigrants make up half of all small business owners in New York City, according to a 2011 report by the Fiscal Policy Institute, and fields like taxi and limousine services, with 90 percent immigrant ownership, will be crucial during the hurricane. One cabbie estimated that only five percent of taxi drivers were on the road this morning, and in Manhattan Valley, traffic had slowed to a handful of cars at each light.
With damage estimates as high as $18 billion for the five boroughs, the hurricane will have a clear negative economic impact. But experts like Peter Morici, an economist and professor at University of Maryland, say the projected economic growth from rebuilding could offset some of those losses.
In a column in the Christian Science Monitor, Morici estimated that Sandy could cause up to $45 billion in damages. But "rebuilding after Sandy, especially in an economy with high unemployment and underused resources in the construction industry, will unleash at least $15 billion to $20 billion in new direct private spending," he wrote.
For taxi drivers working today, earnings appear to be relatively small. But that didn't stop Parkash Singh, who headed back to the road after a late breakfast. He took some preparations for Sandy, he said, but nothing too extensive.
"I have just umbrella and some water," he said. "If I'm stuck I can drink and get a break."
Felicia N Trujillo commented 2012-10-31 20:21:20 -0700DURING THE 1989 SAN FRANCISCO QUAKE it was the homeless who directed traffic and dared to climb onto the Oakland Bridge to haul people out of their cars stuck on the broken bridge. The first responders did not dare. This was never mentioned.


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Akwasi Owusu-Ansah DB FA 4 years ago
Lions promoted DB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah from their practice squad.
"AOA" has bounced around the NFL since Dallas made him a fourth-round pick in the 2010 draft. He's taking DE Israel Idonije's (I.R.) roster spot.
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah DB FA 4 years ago
Saints signed DB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah.
Owusu-Ansah has appeared in 14 career games, but he hasn't seen the field since the 2011 season with Jacksonville. He was last with the Raiders.
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah DB FA 5 years ago
Raiders signed DB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, TE Mickey Shuler, OG Jason Foster, LB Jerrell Harris, WR Tray Session and OL Jason Slowey to reserve/future contracts.
A 2010 fourth-round pick, Owusu-Ansah has played nearly as many positions as he has NFL games, but will be a defensive back for the Raiders. He'll be a special teamer if he makes the team out of camp, however. A former Dolphin and Viking, Shuler hasn't appeared in a game since 2010.
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah DB FA 5 years ago5 Comments
Free agent DB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah worked out for the Giants.
The Giants are lacking depth in their secondary, and have just three healthy corners on their active roster. In addition to Owusu-Ansah, the Giants are worked out James Dockery, Elbert Mack, and former Colts SS David Caldwell.
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah DB FA 5 years ago1 Comment
Free agent DB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah worked out for the Steelers.
Owusu-Ansah was waived by the Cowboys at final cuts after attempting to make the transition from safety to corner during camp. The former receiver has made just 14 career appearances since coming into the league as an undrafted free agent in 2010.
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah DB FA 5 years ago
Cowboys waived or released DB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, G Ronald Leary, DE Clifton Geathers, DT Ben Bass, OLB Adrian Hamilton, OT Pat McQuistan, G Daniel Loper, C Harland Gunn, OT Jeff Adams, TE Andrew Szczerba, WR Saalim Hakim, LB Baraka Atkins and DB Lionel Smith.
Owusu-Ansah, a fourth-round pick in 2010, has bounced around the league as a special teamer. The Cowboys have expressed interest in bringing Hamilton and Leary back as practice-squadders.
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah DB FA 5 years ago
Cowboys S Akwasi Owusu-Ansah has been moved to cornerback.
Also a former receiver, Owusu-Ansah played safety in college, but was drafted by the Cowboys as a safety in 2010. Whatever his position in listed as, Owusu-Ansah shouldn't contribute outside of special teams if he cracks Dallas' 53-man roster.
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah DB FA 6 years ago
Cowboys claimed S Akwasi Owusu-Ansah and P Jake Rogers off waivers.
Owusu-Ansah was originally drafted by Dallas in the fourth round two years ago. Held back early in his career by a pre-draft labrum tear, he's been primarily a special teamer in the NFL. Rogers is a camp leg behind Chris Jones.
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah DB FA 6 years ago
Jaguars signed S Akwasi Owusu-Ansah.
A fourth-round pick by the Cowboys in 2010, Owusu-Ansah has been primarily a special teamer in between injuries in 10 career games. He'll add depth following Dwight Lowery's shoulder injury Monday night.
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah DB FA 6 years ago
Cowboys waived WR/KR Akwasi Owusu-Ansah.
Owusu-Ansah's roster spot was needed for fullback help with Tony Fiammetta (illness) sidelined. This means Dez Bryant will be back returning punts.


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Today's daily Top 20 is driven by 56 Shocking Tattoos, boy jeans (made popular by Katie Holmes), gross stuff and 31 Innovations in Banking (ideas for Bank of America).
Katie Holmes is driving the headlines because she continues to wear baggy boyfriend jeans, even when fashionistas are begging her to dress like a girl…
Bank of America is getting a special salute from Trend Hunter for being the bank that's acquiring competitors in shaky times. Accordingly, we've made a list of 31 banking innovations, like ATM gambling that they can add to their ambitious list of plans… ;)
Daily Top 20
More Stats +/-
56 Shocking Tattoos
Witty Warning Signs
Boyfriend Jeans (UPDATE)
Latex Cage Dresses
30 Innovations in Banking


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Imperial Germany's GEW 88 Saw Much
Modification And Widespread Use.
In Part I we met the Gew 88, its variants and bayonets. Now in chronological order, let's explore the evolutionary history of the Gew 88 by deciphering the markings denoting alterations to the original design.
As frequently occurs in the course of newly developed technology, the cause of major problems results from a combination of different factors. The bursting and ruptured barrels of the Gew 88 were no exception. As testing continued with the experimental "RCP" powder (Rottweil Cellulose Powder) introduced in the 8x57mmJ cartridge, it was found to be very inconsistent in performance.
It was discovered the original production "RCP" powder changed unpredictably over time in storage, resulting in enormous increases in pressure generated by some production lots of stored cartridges. The net result was problems with barrel failures due to a combination of erratic powder pressure spikes, some exceeding proof loads, combined with variations in the steel used for the barrels.
In 1899, a more stable alternative single-base nitrocellulose flake powder called Type 436 was introduced. Research continued and, when supplies of Type 436 were exhausted, late production lots of the 8x57mmJ cartridges were loaded with Powder No. 682, more commonly referred to as "S Powder" based on its use in the 8x57mmS cartridge introduced in 1903 for the Gew 98.
During the second year of production the receiver ring markings—originally centered—were moved downward towards the lower edge closest to the action.
The early Gew 88 featured side-rail markings reading "G. Mod. 88." In December of 1889, the Prussian Ministry of War decided to drop the term "Modell" from all new weapons and equipment. Production actions already stamped were left as is, while all new production were marked "Gew. 88." Rifles marked with the original model designation were only issued in 1891.
When chambering a round, the extractor doesn't snap over the case head until the bolt handle is turned all the way down and locked. If for any reason the extractor fails to engage the cartridge case, it is possible to short-cycle the bolt with a live round still in the chamber, resulting in a double-feed. If the bolt is cycled hard enough, the tip of the second cartridge may strike and ignite the primer of the unsupported cartridge in the chamber. The results were dramatic and invariably caused injuries to the soldier along with any unfortunate nearby bystanders.
This rare photo shows a French "Poilu" tasked with the recovery of enemy war material
from the battlefield following a successful advance, in this case carrying an armload
full of five Gew 88's.
A new bolt head with a recessed undercut in the bolt face and a wider extractor was introduced to correct the problem. Field trials in 1891 confirmed the fix didn't work. Instead, the issue was resolved through proper training of the soldiers.
The first modification made to address the problem of barrel failures was to change the contour of the barrel blanks. The section of the barrel just ahead of the chamber, adjacent to and beyond the throat, was beefed up via a long taper vs. the original contour that narrowed substantially just beyond the chamber. Rifles built with the new barrel profile received a punch mark in the form of a dot stamped in the center of the receiver, 3mm from the edge of the joint with the barrel jacket. Existing stocks of early barrel blanks were used until they were exhausted.
Further analysis resulted in a change in the chemistry of the steel used in the manufacture of the barrel blanks. The original chemistry called for a maximum of up to 0.6 percent carbon, however there was no minimum amount of carbon established. Some early steel barrel blanks had less than 0.04 percent carbon. This discrepancy resulted in poor mechanical properties following the heat treatment process. Beginning in 1893 the specification for carbon in the metallurgical spec was changed to 0.63 percent +/- 0.03 percent. Barrels produced to the new specifications were marked "nm" for "neuese material," which was stamped on the barrel underneath the jacket as well as on the side of the receiver underneath the model designation. Nonetheless, existing stocks of bar stock and barrel blanks under the earlier material specification were used until supplies were exhausted.
In addition to bursting or rupturing barrels, in the event of a split case or a complete case head failure, the venting of gas endangered the shooter. To channel the hot venting gas away from the soldier's face, the ejector was lengthened and a square flange added to the left side of the cocking piece.
In spite of the barrel's contour change and better chemistry for the steel, ongoing inspection exhibited a new, unexpected problem: excessive rifling wear. The four lands and grooves in the Gew 88 barrel had been copied from the French Mle 1886 Lebel Rifle purchased from a French deserter. The accelerated rifling wear was due to a lack of understanding of the relationship between the diameter of the bullet jacket relative to the depth of the rifling, both working in concert with the higher pressures generated by smokeless powder.
The Gew 88 as it appeared early in 1890, before myriad changes over its
30-year service life with Germany. The original, matching example is pictured
along with a brass-pommeled French Mle 1874 Gras bayonet, one of many foreign
bayonets altered and issued early in the war due to production shortages.
This Gew 88 somehow managed to escape the numerous upgrades and alterations
occurring to the large majority of these rifles during the war.
In spite of the barrel's contour change and better chemistry for the steel, ongoing inspection exhibited a new, unexpected problem: excessive rifling wear. The four lands and grooves in the Gew 88 barrel had been copied from the French Mle 1886 Lebel Rifle purchased from a French deserter. The accelerated rifling wear was due to a lack of understanding of the relationship between the diameter of the bullet jacket relative to the depth of the rifling, both working in concert with the higher pressures generated by smokeless powder.
Original rifling dimensions incorporated a 0.319-inch groove diameter and 0.311-inch bore. The 225-grain nickel-jacketed roundnose bullet was 0.318-inch. Additional experiments concluded in 1896 with the decision to deepen the grooves to 0.321-inch. Effective July 1896, all new barrels were rifled so.
As rifles were returned, older barrels showing greater signs of wear were replaced, while barrels with stronger rifling were recut to the new groove specification. All rifles produced prior to July 1896 with the rifling deepened were stamped with a "Z" on top of the receiver.
Along with the Mauser Gew 98 replacing the Gew 88, the new 8x57mmS cartridge was adopted. The higher velocity combined with the lighter spirepoint bullet, resulted in greatly improved ballistics with a much flatter trajectory.
As Gew 98 production numbers increased, the Gew 88 was gradually withdrawn from service, first among the regular army, followed by the Landwehr and eventually the Landsturm.
While the rearmament efforts continued, millions of rounds of the older 88 cartridges were gradually replaced with the newer ones. In addition, some of the original ammunition in stores were now more than 10 years old, including a small percentage loaded with the original RCP powder and newer Type 436.
Some of the oldest 88 cartridges were sold to countries in no way threatening to Imperial Germany or German interests—like China—while other lots of cartridges were broken down to utilize the cases for production of new ammunition since the new "S" cartridge case remained unchanged from the original design.
However, with large numbers of Gew 88, Gew 91 and Kar 88 still in active service with the Landwehr and Landsturm, the juggling of reserve stores of two different cartridges represented a serious logistical challenge. The decision was made to chamber ream the neck and throat of all 88 series rifles and carbines still in service to allow the "S" cartridge to be fired in an emergency should supplies of the 88 cartridges become exhausted.
A 3mm tall "S" was stamped on top of the receiver between the manufacturers name and the barrel jacket. The rear sight markings were left as is and were not modified to coincide with the ballistics of the new "S" cartridge. It is important to note there were no further modifications made to these weapons and they are not to be confused with the later Gew 88S modifications performed during WWI.
The Gew 98 was the first German arm using Mauser's patented charger loading system, referred to today as stripper clips and the benefits were obvious. In 1905, with the ramp up and distribution of the Gew 98 in full swing, the decision was made to modify a percentage of the S-reamed Gew 88's for charger loading.
During the first year of production, the arsenal markings and date were centered on top
of the receiver as seen on this 1890 dated Gew 88 manufactured by Steyr. In 1905, needing
to replace millions of aging rounds of 8x57mmJ cartridges in inventory, the decision was
made to ream the neck and throat of the chamber of the Gew 88, Gew 91 and Kar 88 in
service to enable them to fire the new 8x57mmS cartridge in case of emergencies. A
small "S" was stamped on top of the receiver above the arsenal markings. Nothing
else was changed and the sights were still calibrated for the trajectory of the
8x57mmJ cartridge.
At some point during the second year of production, the decision was made to relocate
the arsenal and date downward towards the edge of the receiver closest to the action.
In an attempt to resolve the issues of barrel failures, the contour of the barrel
blanks were beefed up ahead of the chamber. Barrels with the new contour were marked
with a punched dot on top of the receiver, 3mm from the barrel jacket joint, as seen
here stamped on this beautiful matching Erfurt Gew 91.
By 1896, the rifling in barrels in service was eroding much faster than expected.
The decision was made to deepen the grooves in the rifling. The grooves in newly
produced barrels were immediately changed and were not marked in any special way.
However, earlier weapons recalled to have their rifling deepened were marked with
a "Z" as seen here on this well-worn rifle produced at the Danzig arsenal in 1892.
A pair of plates were riveted and brazed on either side of the rear section of the split receiver bridge, into which grooves were cut to accommodate the sheet metal charger. A small section of the left sidewall of the receiver was cut out to allow additional room for the soldier's left thumb as he pressed the cartridges down into the magazine. Metal strips were added within the magazine to maintain the cartridges in proper vertical alignment since they would no longer be housed in a sheet metal clip. In addition, a spring-loaded feed lip was incorporated in the upper left side of the receiver to hold each successive cartridge in place to be stripped from the magazine into the chamber with the forward movement of the bolt. Due to the thickness of the sheet metal chargers, the length of the cartridges in the charger were too long to clear the rear of the receiver ring. A cut-out was added to allow the tips of the bullets enough clearance to be stripped from the charger down into the magazine.
Between 1905 and 1907, an estimated 350,000 to 375,000 Gew 88's were converted to the 88/05 configuration. These rifles saw heavy use in the early years of the Great War prior to the majority being withdrawn from service in 1916. The rear sight leaves were scrubbed and renumbered in Farsi prior to being shipped to the Turks, who were perpetually short of serviceable weapons. In Turkish service, a crescent moon was stamped on the receiver along with a variety of other inspection marks inconsistently applied. In today's collector's market, it's very difficult to find a surviving Gew 88/05 not Turkish marked.
Once "the race to the sea" was over and the nature of the battlefield in WWI was marked by miles upon miles of trench works, frontline conditions quickly pointed out problems inherent in the Mannlicher's open floorplate. Dirt, mud or any other type of debris could find its way in and jam the action. Two sheet metal floorplate covers were introduced. A simple snap-on plate was produced for the Gew 88/05 as well as a more complicated version to eject the Mannlicher en bloc clip out the top of unconverted 88's.
In Bavaria, Oskar Will, owner of Venus Waffenwerk, proposed to convert Gew 88's to accept charger loading and fire the 8x57mmS cartridge. Will's proposal was to create a streamlined variation of the Gew 88/05 to save time and expense. Instead of using pre-machined charger guides, Will welded enough material into which the charger slots could be rough filed. The exterior surfaces of the charger guide were then roughly shaped.
This motley looking group of Landsturm have been issued a variety of different headgear,
including a mixture of Pickelhauben, with and without cloth covers, and oil cloth caps.
Their ammunition pouches vary as well with some soldiers sporting the M1909 three pocket
pouches while other wear obsolete patterns such as the M74 and M87. In keeping with their
lack of uniformity, the two soldiers on the left are armed with Gew 88's, one of which
has a S88/98 ersatz bayonet mounted and the other the standard issue S1871 brass grippe
d bayonet. The remainder of the unit is armed with captured French Mle 1874 Gras rifles
with Mle 1866 Chassepot bayonets!
was added to hold the top round in place in the magazine. Instead of adding metal inserts on three sides as with the 88/05, a single insert placed in the rear of the magazine worked in combination with the retaining lip to ensure smooth feeding. To correct the rear sight leaf for the 8x57mmS cartridge, the face of the ladder leaf was milled away and a thin plate with the correct range was brazed onto the original leaf. The small flip-up leaf was removed and a new fixed leaf was soldered in its place. The balance of the alterations display the same general conversion features of the 88/05. The rear of the receiver ring is notched and the thumb notch is present, although not quite as pronounced as the 88/05's.
WWI was not going to end before Christmas 1914, and the German Army had to reassess its small arms. The number of troops in the field on all fronts was stretching the army's resources to the limit. With both obsolete and captured small arms in the hands of many Landwehr regiments and most all Landsturm battalions, the decision was made in 1915 to convert the 88 rear sight leaves to match the trajectory of the 8x57mmS cartridge. These were called Gew 88S models.
Confused? Let's differentiate between the three groups of Gew 88 rifles chambered and throat-reamed for the 8x57mmS cartridge. The Gew 88/05 pattern was a complete conversion from clip loading to charger loading with rear sights altered to match the trajectory of the "S" cartridge. These rifles were issued with standard 5-round 8x57mmS ammunition in Mauser chargers.
A second group of Gew 88 rifles reworked in 1905 were never intended for issue with 8x57mmS. These rifles, marked with a small Gothic "S" on top of the receiver, were chamber-and throat-reamed to allow them to safely fire the "S" cartridge in an emergency only. The rear sights were never re-calibrated to match the trajectory of the spitzer bullet. While these rifles were capable of safely firing both cartridges, they were issued with surviving stores of Mannlicher clips loaded with original 8x57mmJ cartridges.
In 1914, as the armies settled into trench systems for the first winter of the war,
it didn't take long before problems developed with the open clip ejection port on
the bottom of the magazine. Mud, dirt, sand and various other types of debris
could easily make their way into the action, causing jamming. A sheet metal
cover was developed to snap over the bottom of the magazine, effectively
covering the ejection port.
To seal off mud and debris entering from the bottom, an ingenious addition to the floorplate
cover changed the direction the Mannlicher clips were ejected. A strong, coiled spring,
upon which a round disc was attached, was riveted to the sheet metal cover. When the last
round was fired, a clip release button inside the triggerguard was depressed and the
coiled spring ejected the empty clip up and out of the top of the action.
The rivet in the center towards the rear of the sheet metal floorplate anchors
the coiled spring ejector in the bottom of the magazine on guns still using Mannlicher clips.
The side rail markings of the earliest production of the Gew 88 (above) included
the abbreviation for "Modell" in between the "G" for Gew and the "88." model
designation. In December of 1889, the decision was made to drop the "Modell"
abbreviation to simplify the side rail markings (below). Receivers in production
that had already been stamped when the change was made were left with the original
markings, while all subsequent production were marked "Gew. 88."
The wartime Gew 88S conversions begun in 1915 and included the renumbering of the rear sight leaf to match the trajectory of the spitzer bullet of the "S" cartridge. The wartime Gew 88S conversions were issued with the older Mannlicher en bloc clips loaded with the new 8x57mmS cartridges.
To align the battle sight on the Gew 88S conversions to match the 400-meter setting of the Gew 98, the rear sight slide was moved backward 2mm and the original flip-up leaf was ground away, as was the very top notch on the sight leaf. Since the problems inherent in keeping dirt and debris out of the magazine and action via the clip ejection port were known, a sheet metal cover was also snapped over the clip ejection port to close it.
Upon completion, a 12mm crown/"S" was stamped into the right side of the buttstock of each rifle. With so many captured Russian M1891 rifles available in the fall of 1915 to reequip the Landsturm units of the occupation army in Belgium, 202,714 Gew 88's were returned for conversion to the new "S" pattern. The total number of rifles converted will never be known, but surviving records indicate a minimum of 235,602 done before the end of 1916.
Since some Gew 88S still employed the en bloc clips, the snap-on floorplate cover would have resorted in the soldier having to fish out empty clips from the top of the action. To solve this problem, the new floorplate cover incorporated a coil spring-loaded disc riveted to the inside of the sheet metal floorplate. Under the pressure of the coiled spring, when the last round was fired, a clip release button located on the inside of the front of the triggerguard was pressed to pop the empty clip up and out the top.
The Gew 88 and its diminutive brothers, the Gew 91 and Kar 88, received quite a bit of bad press over the years and particularly during the course of the rifle's service life. However, considering the fact the Gew 88 was rushed into production to fire a revolutionary new cartridge loaded with a revolutionary new powder under simultaneous development, the rifle performed well in the long run! Once these issues were addressed, the Gew 88 went on to provide valuable service during the early years of the Great War. It is important to remember at the end of the Great War, the vast majority of the Gew 88 variants still in service were already 30 years old, and the rifle destined to replace the Gew 88 was the Gew 98! Not too many bolt-action rifles of any period compare well to Paul Mauser's ultimate masterpiece.
Shooting The Gew 88
Most knowledgeable collectors are aware of the potential risks involved in firing modern 8x57mmS ammunition in these lovely old rifles. Many argue most of the surviving examples of the Gew 88 have been fed with the newer, hotter ammunition loaded with the 0.323-inch diameter bullet. While this is true, it is important to keep in mind the youngest of these rifles was produced in 1897—117 years ago—with the majority of surviving examples being 8 to 9 years older!
In addition, many of the rifles sent to Turkey were reworked in the 1920's and 30's with parts, including new barrels and bolts purchased from the Czechs. These replacement barrels have a groove diameter of 0.318-inch, matching the original specification. These factors have long been taken into account by US ammunition companies, who load their ammunition with very mild minimum powder charges since they fear legal repercussions from lawsuits in the event of a catastrophic failure if their ammunition is fired in Gew 88's.
The best compromise I have found to date is to use the 0.321-inch diameter, 170-grain flatnose bullet produced for the .32 Winchester rifle cartridge in handloads with a powder charge that generates 2,100 fps. This stays well within the 45,000 CUP most sources list as the maximum pressure safe for the Gew 88 action. The 8x57mm Mauser load data published online in the IMR website lists a variety of different powders for the 170-grain bullet and in each case, lists the CUP for each load. I have found this load to be extremely accurate and very close to the point of aim at 100 yards.
The Gew 88 in K.u.K. Service
Our Austro-Hungarian Infantryman circa late 1917-18 wears a variant of the M1917 field jacket produced with "nettle cloth," a late war material made with a higher percentage of recycled wool and fiber from the wild nettle plant in place of cotton (in short supply due to the Allied blockade). Nettle cloth was dyed in various shades of gray, green and brown. The puttees are captured and reissued Italian M1909 grigio-verde leg wraps. A wide variety of captured material was pressed into service during to fill perpetual shortages.
The rifle is one of the original Austro-Hungarian issue Gew 88's designated as the "M13" in K.u.K. service (the abbreviation for the Austro-Hungarian Army, i.e.
"Kaiserlich und Königlich," which translates as imperial and royal). The rifle remained unchanged and still required en bloc clips. The only alteration made to the rifle in Austro-Hungarian service was the addition of a large sling swivel under the buttstock in place of the original German detachable swivel. This was necessary to allow the retaining buckle of the Austro-Hungarian issue sling to pass through the lower swivel prior to being secured via tongue and buckle to the upper swivel.
The M1917 Hungarian helmet has an alternate pattern liner than the more common liner of the original German M1916.
Our well-equipped K.u.K. soldier has the M1906 calfskin pack with the leather tanned hair side out on all exterior panels. Three equipment straps are used to secure the shelter-half, woolen blanket roll or greatcoat to the pack. The entrenching tool with leather carrier is strapped to the back of the pack. To help support and distribute the weight of the pack, extensions link the shoulder straps with the metal loops on the back of the M1895 double pocket ammunition pouches worn on the front of the M1888 leather belt with brass buckle embossed with the Hapsburg double-headed eagle. On the left hip is the bayonet scabbard for the German S1871 Hirshfanger mounted on his M13 rifle. This bayonet was one of the primary patterns supplied by Germany along with the shipments of Gew 88's. Slightly to the rear of his right hip, our Infantryman carries the M1917 trench knife with a "trench art" handle and crossguard fashioned from aluminum scavenged from a downed aircraft's engine.
Slung over his right shoulder are the issue linen haversack and a M1907 enameled iron water bottle and enameled iron drinking cup secured by twine on a linen shoulder strap. In front of the haversack, in easy reach, is the M1917 Lederschutzmaske gas mask in its canister on a shoulder strap. This gas mask of German design was produced on contract for Austria-Hungary. The metal base of the mask where the filter screws in place was embossed with "K.u.K."
By John Sheehan
Order Your Copy Of The GUNS Magazine June 2014 Issue Today!


text:
Firefighters battled scores of wildfires in southeastern Australia as temperatures soared to 45 degrees Celsius in some areas.
Authorities evacuated national parks and warned that hot, dry and windy conditions were combining to raise the threat to its highest alert level.
"You don't get conditions worse than this," New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.
"We are at the catastrophic level and clearly in those areas leaving early is your safest option."
Catastrophic threat level is the most severe rating.
Wildfires are common during the Australian summer.
The combination of soaring temperatures and dry, windy conditions since Friday have sparked fires that burned 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) of forests and farmland across southern Tasmania.
In New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, the fires scorched more than 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres).
All state forests and national parks were closed as a precaution and total fire bans were in place.
In Victoria state, where fires in February 2009 killed 173 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes, officials said two people were treated for minor burns and four were treated for smoke inhalation.
No deaths have been reported
Around 100 houses, the majority on the island state of Tasmania, have been destroyed by bushfires in recent days, and many people are still missing in fire-ravaged areas.
Police said no bodies were found during preliminary checks of the ruined houses.
Wildfires have razed 20,000 hectares of forests and farmland across southern Tasmania since Friday.
One volunteer firefighter suffered severe burns to his hands and face while fighting a grass fire near Gundaroo village, about 220km southwest of Sydney, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service said.
He was flown to a hospital in Sydney for treatment.


text:
Biography: Ace is a smart lil man. At just 12 weeks old, he knows he needs to go outside to make a potty. He is very loveable and needs to be in the same room as his mommy or else he gets sad.
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The Fuhrer's FlightThe Fuhrer's Flight
When all six of Adolf Shickelgruber's look –alikes were gathered together in the
leader's armor-plated train in the early April of 1945, they knew that this could not
be a good thing, and the nervous tension was almost palpable as they ate wiener-
schnitzels, sour kraut, rye bread, and drank Bavarian beer—all unimaginable
luxuries in time of war.
The meal almost over, the steely-eyed Fuhrer with his sternly set jaw walked in
accompanied by major Muller, a high ranking officer in the secret state police.
"Hello boys," the Fuhrer said, "You have served the fatherland well, and I have
once again come to you to ask for your loyal … Read more »


text:
RALEIGH, NC (AP) — Gov. Pat McCrory says he's unhappy with the process that led the North Carolina Senate to pass a bill putting more restrictions on carrying out abortions.
McCrory said Wednesday that Senate Republicans who pushed the legislation are completing business the same way that Democrats did when they were in charge of the General Assembly. McCrory says it was not right then and it's not right now.
The bill was pushed through the Senate in less than 24 hours with little public notice. McCrory says the process should be appropriate and thorough.
He did not say what he'd do if the bill comes to his desk for his signature. McCrory was asked last fall during a debate which additional abortion restrictions he would agree to sign into law. He said none.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


text:
In our world, it already feels like the New Year because we're building the first 2011 issues of the magazine and our Imaging USA 2011 plans are reaching a crescendo. Given that, we thought now would be a great time to remodel our Industry Insider newsletter and begin including more articles specific to our associations and our membership.
So in this edition, you'll find an update on Imaging USA 2011 with ideas for getting more from your investment if you're already planning to join us in San Antonio. We're also providing more details about a new consumer-oriented campaign PPA has kicked off and some of the results from our recent member survey. Next month, look for results from our latest reader surveys for Professional Photographer magazine and Action News, our Society of Sport and Event Photographers (SEP) publication.
We hope these articles will help you maximize the return on your investment in our media network. Of course, I'm very interested in your comments and welcome suggestions for future articles. As always, we give thanks to you, our business partners, and wish you happy selling in November!
Scott Hersh
Sales Director


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The sad but undeniable reality about smartphone displays is that they shatter — and often.
Manufacturers, however, may have a fix: Sapphire, the second-strongest material on earth, which could be used to up the protection factor in smartphones, MIT Technology Review reports.
The idea isn't entirely new. Apple already uses sapphire to protect the lens on the iPhone 5, and absurd luxury smartphone maker Vertu uses the material to protect the display on its latest device. (Sapphire is also a really common material in high-end watches and grocery store barcode scanners.)
The problem? This stuff ain't cheap. As Technology Review points out, a sapphire display currently runs for $30 — roughly ten times the price of a Gorilla Glass display. This means its going to be a tough for the material to be used widely in smartphones until it gets a bit cheaper.
There are options, though. Rather than create a display entirely out of sapphire, manufacturers could place a thin layer of the material on top of another transparent material, reducing price. The drawback there, though, is that while a thin layer of sapphire will protect devices from surface scratches, it would have a tough time keeping your phone display intact if you dropped it. Just like with Gorilla Glass today.
While the future of sapphire is smartphone is still largely uncertain, I do know this: Lots of smartphone owners would be glad to pay a premium for their phones that don't explode on impact. Let's make it happen, guys.
Photo: Flickr/gemteck1


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The Rubio for Senate campaign today introduced the "Jewish Leadership Coalition," a group of 150 Republican, Democrat and Independent leaders of the Jewish community who are rallying behind Marco in his bid for re-election. The team will campaign for Marco across the state and connect with voters ahead of November 8 election.
Marco has continuously stood up for the Jewish community and conservative values. When the Obama administration turned its back on Israel, Marco stood by its side and acted as a vocal leader on behalf of our crucial ally. Marco understands that Israel is not just a nation, but a nation with a special and unique purpose for the Jewish people, and critical to the stability of the Middle East.
"Marco has time and again proven that he is committed to the Jewish community and the State of Israel. In the face of threats to Israel's security, Marco has been a vocal leader and has always stood for a strong relationship with our important ally. We need a Senator like Marco to continue to fight for a strong America and safer world." – Councilman Scott Singer, Boca Raton, Florida
"Marco is the leader the people of the Jewish community need. As the Democratic party continues to back away from Israel and ignore the harsh realities taking place among our people, Marco has been a strong voice in making sure the strong relationship between the U.S. and Israel is not only maintained, but strengthened. I am honored to be on this team and I look forward to rallying voters behind Marco and his vision for our state and nation." – Ambassador Mel Sembler, St. Peterburg, Florida
The complete list of the coalition is below:
Alachua County:
Jason J. Rosenberg, MD
Brevard County:
Randy Fine, Republican Nominee for State House
Wendy Fine
Peninah Schnatz
Steve Yosef Schnatz
Broward County:
Marc Adler, Esq.
Daniel Aqua
Dr. Zipora Arison
Ellyn S. Bogdanoff
Zachary D. Finn
Ashley Hakim
Elisa Hakim
Autumn Karlinsky
Fred Karlinsky
Andrew M. Klein
Ellen Livingston
Peter Livingston
Martin R. Press, Esq.
David Samrick
Susan Samrick
Dr. Stewart D. Shull
Stanley A. Spatz
Pinchas Taylor
Gerald Turnauer
Sandra Turnauer
Collier County:
Joe Davidow, Esq.
Harvey Sturm
Duval County:
Former Jacksonville City Council President and State Legislator Dick Kravitz
Escambia County:
Mayra Fillmore
Flagler County:
Barbara Bailen
Jeff Bailen
Hillsborough County:
David A. Gemunder
Laurin Jacobson
Ronald Jacobson
Mark E. Kaplan
Gil Singer
Dov Sussman
Sarah Sussman
Lee County:
Roy Hyman
Gabrielle Jacobson
Eli Zonana
Yvonne Zonana
Leon County:
Howard Glassman
Cheryl Louchheim
Steven Louchheim
Scott L. Ross
Diane Salz
Miami-Dade County:
Roy Altman
Jonathan Awner
Norman Braman
Corey Brier
Alexis Ciment
Yechiel Ciment
Abe Cohen
Moshe S. Cohen
Philip Cohen
Suzi Rudd Cohen
Bob Diener
Jana Falic
Simon Falic
Steven Fiske
Zvi Gold
Nicole Gomez
Councilman Gabriel Groisman
Jonathan I. Kislak
Fara S. Klein
Paul Kruss
Eytan Laor
Michael Lefkowitz
Cherna Moskowitz
Commissioner Marc Narotsky
Rabbi Eliot H Pearlson
Pinchas Schechter
Stanley G. Tate
Scott Wagner
Shoshanna Wagner
Nick Wigoda
Monroe County:
Stanley Margulies
Palm Beach County:
Howard Barbanel
Michelle North Berg
Zach Berg
Robert Briskin, M.D., FACP
David Brudnoy
Sara S. Brudno
Helen Cohan
Mark A. Cohan
Kristine Cohn
Stuart Cohn
Bill Emerson
Janet Emerson
Republican National Committeeman Peter M. Feaman
Honorable Barbara S. Feingold
Honorable Dr. Jeffrey P. Feingold
Ira Geiger
Marc Goldman
Glen Golish
Rosa Vessal Golish
Patricia Babilonia Gottenger
Former Florida House Majority Leader Adam Hasner
Lianne Hikind
Amb. (ret'd) Eric M. Javits
Gary M. Krasna
Gene Kroner
Karen Kroner
Tony Lampert
Harold Landa
Lori Landa
Mark Lipshutz
David Makover
Reena Makover
Bernie Marcus
Billi Marcus
Carlyn Mayer
Lothar Mayer
David Naftaly
Ruth Naftaly
Phylis Newman
Alan Newman
Lisa G. Newmark
Jill Rose
Michael P. Rose
Ira S. Sabin
Leslie Schram
Ron Schram
Dr. David Schwartzwald
Dr. Rand Schwartzwald
Bob Seidemann
Barbara Shear
Hebert Shear
Ambassador Ned Siegel
Franklin Silbey
Councilman Scott Singer
Joseph M Sitrick
Keith E. Sonderling
Alla Weisz
Peter Weisz
Bernice Wenger
Edward Wenger
Steven L. Winig, Esq.
Jeff T. Zipper
Pinellas County:
Robert J. Entel, MD, MPH, FACR
Jake A. Jacobson
Evelyn Schreiber-Steckler
Betty S. Sembler
Ambassador Mel Sembler
Dr. Eric Steckler
Saint Johns County:
Alyson Sommers
Geoffrey Sommers
Sarasota County:
Bob Lewit
Jane Lewit
Dr. Peter A. Wish
Seminole County:
Dean A. Faracchio
Ben Newman


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Super Pii Pii Brothers Game: Love It or Leave It?
Brought to you by Think Geek, this hilarious April Fool's Day Wii game is both unbelievable and ingenious. Super Pii Pii Brothers is literally a strap-on Wii harness attachment for you to have a "virtual Wiing experience" hence, the video accompaniment. Object of the game? Get as much pee in the toilets as you can while spilling as little on the floor as possible — hot right?! That's what I said! Now the spraying of the cat is a tad baffling. But I love how you can pee in over 100 different bathrooms — time to get your pee on! Now if it were real, would you love it?


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Hotel Niel
Select your stay dates to check availability
Hotel Niel
About the hotel
Property Location
A stay at Hotel Niel places you in the heart of Paris, minutes from Place Charles de Gaulle Etoile and Arc de Triomphe. This hotel is close to Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral.
Make yourself at home in one of the 35 air-conditioned rooms featuring LCD televisions. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms have separate bathtubs and showers and hair dryers. Conveniences include phones, as well as safes and desks.
Rec, Spa, Premium Amenities
Make use of convenient amenities such as complimentary wireless Internet access, concierge services, and a fireplace in the lobby.
Buffet breakfasts are available daily for a fee.
Business, Other Amenities
Featured amenities include a 24-hour business center, a computer station, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby.
Hotel Facilities
- Number of floors - 6
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Elevator/lift
- Smoke-free property
- 24-hour front desk
- Concierge services
- Total number of rooms - 35
- Fireplace in lobby
- 24-hour business center
- Luggage storage
- Computer station
- Multilingual staff
- Free WiFi
Room Facilities
- Separate bathtub and shower
- Daily housekeeping
- Satellite TV service
- In-room safe
- Air conditioning
- Iron/ironing board (on request)
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Soundproofed rooms
- Phone
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- Climate control
- Desk
- Free WiFi
- Hair dryer
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Private bathroom
Hotel Policy
National Rating
This hotel has received its official star rating from the French Tourism Development Agency, ATOUT France.
Know Before You Go
- The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.
The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out.
- Fee for buffet breakfast: EUR 10.00 per person (approximately)
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
Mandatory Fees and Taxes
You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the hotel:
- A tax is imposed by the city: EUR 1.65 per person, per night
We have included all charges provided to us by the property. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.Show all hotel policy Show less hotel policy


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Page 2 of 3
U.S. House
District 1, Democrat (Durham County)
Some Durham residents may be surprised to learn they are no longer in David Price's 4th Congressional District but in G.K. Butterfield's 1st instead. Ah, redistricting. Rest assured, though, you'll be well-represented by Butterfield, who has been in Congress since 2004.
Butterfield had a whole other life before entering politics. An Army veteran and graduate of N.C. Central University, Butterfield became a successful attorney and won several voting rights lawsuits in Eastern N.C. He rose to Resident Superior Court Judge and presided over civil and criminal courts in the First Judicial Division, which includes 46 counties.
In his questionnaire, Butterfield lists job creation as the most important issue facing North Carolina. He wrote:
"To sustain 23 months of job growth under the Obama Administration, I will continue to support providing tax relief to businesses who hire the long-term unemployed, extending payroll tax cuts, accelerating investment in innovation, and increasing access to capital to small businesses, among other initiatives. Building a better workforce for growth industries such as energy and telecommunications will place our state and nation on more competitive footing. Lastly, we must make an investment in our future by rebuilding our infrastructure and investing in education."
On other issues, Butterfield says the federal government should undertake immigration reform, not individual states creating a patchwork of laws. He opposes Amendment 1. An Army veteran, he is not hawkish on the war(s) but still leaves the door open for military intervention: "It is imperative that we carefully withdraw our military forces from Afghanistan, working to transition the responsibility for security to Afghan forces. Iranian efforts to develop nuclear weapons must be met by broad multilateral discouragement, including sanctions, inspections, and multi-party talks. Military action should always be the last resort; however, I support the President's position that all options must be considered to protect our troops and our country."
In Congress, Butterfield serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and is the ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade and Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy. Butterfield supports developing legislation that will spur development of renewable energy and the new green energy economy while reducing greenhouse gases.
His Democratic opponent, Dan Whitacre, did not return a questionnaire, despite several attempts to reach him.
In the fall, the winner will take on Libertarian Darryl Holloman and Republican Pete DiLauro.
District 2, Republican (parts of Chatham and Wake counties)
Consider this a qualified endorsement of Renee Ellmers in the GOP primary for North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District.
She's likely to win handily in her second primary, and if the redrawn and much more Republican-leaning 2nd District sends her back to the Capitol, we hope she'll carry the message to the rest of her caucus that she opposed Amendment 1 without cost.
We also hope she'll get around to fully apologizing for her ad from 2010 that used "Muslim" and "terrorist" interchangeably, but we're not holding our breath.
Ellmers is one of the most conservative members of Congress, judging from her voting record. She lists the repeal of "Obamacare" as a top priority. But she's proven to be different from other members of the tea party-heavy Class of 2010. She's not been a bomb thrower and, like the rest of us, appears weary of the tactic of serial confrontations with the administration.
If she can drag herself and her party away from the edge of crazy and act a little more like Walter Jones and a lot less like Virginia Foxx, this state would be better served. Standing up and saying she'll vote against Amendment 1 was a good start.
Still, she shouldn't expect such kindness from us in the general election.
Sonya Holmes, Clement Munro and Richard Speer are the other GOP candidates.
District 2, Democrat (parts of Chatham and Wake counties)
In the Democratic primary for the 2nd Congressional District, the Indy endorses Steve Wilkins, a retired career military officer from Whispering Pines. Wilkins is the only candidate in the Democratic primary who lives in the redrawn 2nd District.
A Bronze Star recipient with 22 years in the Army, including combat deployments in Iraq and Kuwait, Wilkins would be able to add his insights in representing a district with many active and retired military residents. As a former legislative liaison for the military, he has the kind of experience to put that experience to work in Congress quickly.
He is no Blue Dog. In his questionnaire, he said he was strongly opposed to Amendment 1, writing: "I am opposed to Amendment One as it is unnecessary government interference in peoples' lives and does nothing to improve anything about North Carolina. It is a terrible waste of the General Assembly's time and our tax dollars at a time when their energies should be spent on the economy, jobs, and education."
Nicely put.
Wilkins also said he would fight efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and would work to protect Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and programs for veterans.
We think Wilkins has the kind of experience and grasp of the issues to make a likely race against Ellmers in the fall competitive.
Toni Morris of Fayetteville is the other Democratic candidate.
N.C. Senate
District 18, Republican (parts of Wake and Franklin counties)
Three Republicans want the nomination to run against Democratic Sen. Doug Berger in this redrawn Franklin County-Northern Wake County district. All three present themselves as Christian-believing, government-fearing conservatives. Of the three, we believe that Michael Schriver offers the best hope of not being a totally backward senator if elected. Not a guarantee, mind you. A hope.
Schriver was Berger's Republican opponent two years ago in a different version of this district. He's been in the Marines, a cop in Wake Forest and a community college teacher, and now he owns a construction company. Even though his stated positions are thoroughly right-wing ("freedom is never more than one generation from extinction," he warns), we're trusting that his real-world experience will temper his world-is-ending outlook if he should win this office.
We have no such hope for state Rep. Glen Bradley, who is so far to the right even his fellow House Republicans have no idea what he'll do next. Bradley, in his one term, garnered attention when he proposed that North Carolina issue its own "legal tender"—that's money to those of us not trapped in the 18th century—backed by gold and silver. Great idea, and maybe the Pony Express will deliver the gold?
Bradley's also a fan of nullification, the idea that the states can decide for themselves whether a federal law is constitutional. Bradley did vote against Amendment 1 in the House, not because he's pro-gay but because he considers marriage "the domain of God" and not subject to civil law. In fact, he considers almost everything government does to be in violation of the Articles of Confederation, er, Constitution.
Bradley is a self-employed computer technician.
Then there's Chad Barefoot, who's a junior version of perhaps our least favorite legislator, House Majority Leader Paul Stam. Barefoot, in fact, worked as a staff aide to Stam until recently, when he took a job with a political public relations firm. Barefoot favors "school choice." That's good, because one of his firm's new clients is pushing for more charter schools. Barefoot holds a master's degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, home base for the Christian right. SEBTS might've written his campaign platform. Or maybe Stam did.
District 20, Democrat (parts of Central and Southern Durham County)
There was a time when Floyd McKissick Jr. could get no respect. When he ran for Senate for the first time in 2008, his name was conspicuously omitted from election flyer mailed by the State Democratic Party.
Five years later, that has changed. While McKissick won several awards during his first term as a legislator, his legacy (so far) rests in his co-sponsorship of the historic Racial Justice Act (RJA). That alone earns him McKissick our endorsement.
The RJA allows death row inmates who believe their sentence is a result of racial bias to appeal it; the inmates would be resentenced to life without parole. The Republican majority assaulted the RJA, repealing it via Senate Bill 9, but Gov. Bev Perdue vetoed the measure. (A judge's ruling on the first RJA case could be announced as early as Friday, April 20.)
He opposes Amendment 1 and voter ID.
In addition to co-sponsoring the RJA, McKissick has earned leadership positions in the statehouse, including chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus and Deputy Democratic Leader of the Senate.
McKissick, an attorney, was appointed to the N.C. Senate in 2007 to fill the seat previously held by the late Sen. Jeanne Lucas, and before that served on the Durham City Council for eight years. During his first full term in office in 2009, McKissick won several awards, including honors from the N.C. Justice Center, the N.C. Housing Coalition and the N.C. chapter of the NAACP.
Perennial candidate Ralph McKinney is opposing McKissick in the primary.
District 22, Democrat (parts of Durham, Person and Caswell counties)
Oh you lucky residents of the newly drawn state Senate District 22, you can't lose in the Democratic primary. Both candidates, Durham City Councilman Mike Woodard and Durham attorney Kerry Sutton, are solid progressives; in fact, their answers to the Indy questionnaire are similar in political outlook.
They both support the Racial Justice Act and a woman's right to choose. They both oppose Amendment 1 as well as voter ID, which would require any voter to show government-issued photo identification in order to cast a ballot, on the grounds that it will disenfranchise low-income, elderly, young and minority North Carolinians. (Many people in these groups don't have a driver's license and would be required to pay for an official identification card.)
Woodard and Sutton also oppose fracking because the environmental impacts are uncertain.
So how do you, lucky and progressive residents of District 22, decide between these fine candidates?
We think Mike Woodard has definitely earned the next step in his political career, and that is why we're endorsing him. Elected to City Council in 2005, Woodard has served Durham well—if you follow his Twitter feed, he is always at a city function, a community gathering or a constituents' meeting. His civic record—United Way, Red Cross, Jaycees, InterNeighborhood Council—is outstanding.
Woodard has strong environmental bona fides—he's on the Environmental Affairs Board as the Council liaison—and favors a comprehensive mass transit plan. He spent two years as chairman of the Joint City-County Planning Committee.
He also is familiar with the machinations of the Legislature. As a City Councilman, he is a member of the Council's legislative committee. He has sought additional funding for city police and other crime-prevention initiatives; he sits on the Durham Crime Cabinet.
Woodard also has ties to the business and arts communities via his appointments to the boards of Downtown Durham Inc. and the Durham Arts Council.
A Duke Health System administrator, Woodard can use his experience in these many facets of the community to leverage the city's interests in Raleigh.
Woodard's City Council term ends in 2013. If he is elected to the Legislature, City Council would vote on an appointee to finish his term.
That said, there are many good reasons to vote for Sutton. She is unafraid to stand up for her beliefs, which, given the lack of backbone among some Democrats, is in short supply in the Legislature. Exhibit A is Sutton's complaint against Durham District Attorney Tracey Cline, which recently resulted in Cline's removal from office. While a judge found Sutton's arguments compelling enough to dismiss Cline, Sutton likely alienated some potential voters, particularly in the African-American community. She could have chosen not to run, or not to complain, but she opted to do both.
In addition to Sutton's progressive stances, she would help rebalance the Legislature in terms of gender. WRAL reported in February that as a result of Republican redistricting, "women Democrats were hit hardest" by the new maps. At least six women retired from the Legislature. Considering the Republican Party's so-called war on women—and yes, we do think war is the appropriate term—North Carolina needs progressive, assertive women like Sutton in political power.
N.C. House
District 33, Democrat (Southeast Raleigh)
Rep. Rosa Gill won the 2010 primary for this seat over Bernard Allen II by a 3-to-1 margin. This is a rematch, and Gill should win again. She is a retired teacher who served for 10 years on the Wake County Board of Education. She was appointed to this Southeast Raleigh seat in 2009, replacing Dan Blue when he was appointed to fill a vacant state Senate seat. Gill was an effective legislator when the Democrats controlled the House, helping to enact the Racial Justice Act and bolster the sex-education programs in the schools. Since the Republicans have been in charge, Gill's been front and center in the opposition to their agenda.
Allen's father once held this seat. The son is a former state employee who now works for the State Employees Association of NC. This district is heavily Democratic, and no Republicans filed for the seat.
District 35, Republican (parts of Wake County)
Two conservative candidates, with one difference: Chris Malone has experience as a former Wake Forest council member and current member of the Wake County school board. Duane Cutlip doesn't, though not for lack of trying. Cutlip was the Republican nominee for the House in a different district in 2008 and 2010, losing first to former Rep. Linda Coleman and then to current Rep. Darren Jackson.
Malone was part of the Republican school board majority that roared into office in 2009 and, before they knew where the pencil sharpeners were, tossed out the county's pro-diversity student assignment policy. Two years of turmoil ensued before Democrats reclaimed the majority in the 2011 elections.
During that time, Malone was a card-carrying proponent of the Republicans' neighborhood-schools philosophy. Still, he did help to steer a center course between a pure "neighborhoods" position and the old diversity plan. What resulted was the compromise "choice" plan developed by new Superintendent Tony Tata—on which the jury is still out. But there's no doubt the outcome could've been worse.
We view Malone as a practical-minded conservative whose ideology is tempered by the knowledge gained from actually serving on two governing bodies at the local level. Slashing school spending sounds great when you're running for the General Assembly. It's not so great when you're on the business end of those cuts as a member of a county school board—as Malone's been.
So look for Malone to go after the "out of control state spending" but also to realize that state aid to schools should not be in the crosshairs.
Malone works as a case manager for a private investigations firm and is active in civic affairs in Wake Forest.
Cutlip, who formerly listed his occupation as real estate investment advisor, now says he has worked with finances in several small businesses in North Carolina. He lives in Rolesville. His campaign, he told the N.C. Center for Voter Education, "is rooted from his personal experience that small businesses are the engine of our economy." Cutlip added, "God. Family. Government. In that order."
District 38, Democrat (parts of Eastern Wake County)
Wake County's growth and Republican gerrymandering combined to produce the new 38th district, located in East Raleigh and East Wake, which is so packed with Democratic voters that no Republican candidate even filed. Thus, the winner of the three-way Democratic primary is all but certain to be elected in November.
A case can be made for all of the candidates. We think the strongest one is for Lee Sartain, who's been active in Wake County politics since his debut in 2009 as a candidate for Raleigh City Council. Though he didn't win, Sartain impressed voters with his energy and grasp of issues. With his strong background in educational policy—an N.C. State graduate, he's a policy analyst at NCSU's Friday Institute for Educational Innovation—Sartain seemed better suited to a legislative post than a council seat. Now, that legislative seat can be his.
If elected, Sartain would be a progressive voice in the House and its second openly gay member.
For voters who want more experience, or who think this majority-black district should have an African-American representative, Yvonne Holley is a solid pick. Recently retired from a career in state government as a procurement specialist, Holley has a record of public service in Southeast Raleigh, including being a board member (in better days) at the now-defunct YWCA. She's a past president of the Raleigh-Wake Citizens Association, the black community's political arm. She, too, ran for a seat on the Raleigh Council in 1999.
Abeni El-Amin, the third candidate, has good intentions but her record shows more starts than finishes. The nonprofit organization she created, Project Ricochet Inc., is aimed at helping minority youth find jobs in Southeast Raleigh. That's work worth doing. She's also a fitness coach and a former adjunct teacher at Shaw University and St. Augustine's College. In this campaign, she showed poor judgment by hosting a community television program that aired on a city of Raleigh cable-access channel—before it was pulled—and proved to be a thinly disguised infomercial about her candidacy. She was not its producer. Programs promoting candidates aren't allowed on the cable-access channels.
East Raleigh doesn't lack for veteran public officials, what with Sen. Dan Blue, Rep. Rosa Gill, Wake County Commissioner James West and Raleigh City Councilor Eugene Weeks. It does lack for younger representation. Sartain or El-Amin would provide a chance at younger leadership. We think Sartain merits the nod.
District 39, Democrat (parts of Wake County)
Rep. Darren Jackson's earned re-election. Don Mial, his opponent, is a good man, but he's in the wrong race.
Jackson was appointed to his seat in 2009, replacing Linda Coleman when she left to work for the Perdue administration. He was elected in 2010. A lawyer from Knightdale, he was a rising star when the Democrats held power, taking a leading role on education issues, including enactment of a landmark anti-bullying bill with an emphasis on protecting gay kids from bullies. With the Republicans in charge for the last two years, Jackson's been less visible—like many Democrats. But his voting record is solid, especially on education and environmental protection issues, and he retains the support of the N.C. League of Conservation Voters and the Triangle Labor Council.
Don Mial, a retired Army veteran who now works as a manager in the state Division of Juvenile Justice, has run twice for the Wake County Board of Commissioners—the second time with our endorsement. He resigned his seat on the Wake County Board of Elections to get into this race. But he hasn't done anything to persuade us he should win it.
Michael Slawter, a documents examiner in the N.C. Secretary of State's office, is a first-time candidate without much support or much of a campaign. He told the N.C. Center for Voter Education he's in the race to advocate for kids and minorities and to expose the waste he's seen in state government. Waste? Really?
District 49, Republican (parts of Wake County)
Oh, my. It's Dr. Jim Fulghum III—a neurosurgeon, John Locke Foundation board member and star of his own TV ads, where he plays the role of a curmudgeonly doc who hates Obamacare—against former state Rep. Russell Capps—who invented the role of curmudgeonly opponent of all things liberal.
Actually, we've always loved Capps, who in real life is as pleasant and, yes, we'll say as sweet as a right-wing conservative can be. That's his Christian conservative nature, of course, the thing that unfortunately also causes him to think evolution is a fraud and the world started, oh, not that long ago. (Don't be teaching the kids that scientific stuff, now. If Capps had his way, creationism would be the new science.)
Capps, when he was in the House, did author the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, a landmark piece of anti-gay legislation. But he is most famous for his years and years and years as president of the Wake County Taxpayers Association, the rabid anti-tax group. He still is its president, though the WCTA's influence has waned over the years as its opposition to school bond issues made it look ever more silly.
Put it this way: At age 80, soon to be 81, Capps has earned the retirement he began when he lost his old House seat in 2006. But that was then, and this is now an essentially new House seat brought to us by Wake County's population explosion. Capps wants back in, but we think it's time to give someone else a chance. Even if he does look like a slightly younger version of the old curmudgeon himself.
District 50, Democrat (parts of Northern Durham and Orange counties)
In the newly created North Carolina House District 50, which includes parts of Orange and Durham counties, the Indy endorses Valerie Foushee.
A lifelong resident of Orange County, Foushee served on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education from 1997 to 2003, followed by eight years on the county board of commissioners. A retired public information officer for the Chapel Hill Police Department, Foushee has built her résumé in public life the hard way. She's negotiated school budgets, prioritized county services in the face of deep state cuts and sought common ground among local governments in a county with three very different municipalities.
Her style is calm and, in a county where people like to talk, she is refreshingly succinct. She has been an active negotiator in county matters and shown a willingness to compromise, but she's no pushover.
A few years back, when new colleagues on the county board wanted to revisit expanding the current landfill in the Rogers Road neighborhood, Foushee firmly told them she would fight any attempt to back out of the commitment.
Her public and professional experience gives her an understanding of the challenges faced by county governments, law enforcement and educators in times of constrained budgets and economic uncertainty. Rarely do you see a candidate with that kind of breadth.
Her opponent, Travis Phelps of Durham, made the task of endorsing Foushee easy. Phelps, a 22-year-old student who has come out strongly in favor of Amendment 1, is running as a "Conservative Democrat" and in forums has said his opposition to gay marriage is based on his Christian faith. He did not return our questionnaire.
District 50, Republican (parts of Northern Durham and Orange counties)
In the Republican primary for District 50, we are endorsing no one, but commend Lewis Hannah, a community banker from Efland and a board member of the Triangle Transit Authority, for his no-nonsense approach. In recent remarks to the N.C. Chamber of Commerce Hannah said the state needs to invest in infrastructure and that the Triangle's water supply should not be put at risk by fracking.
Hannah's opponent, Jason Chambers, was the only one of four candidates to return our questionnaire.
Chambers, a 25-year old Durham County resident who ran against Democrat Paul Luebke in 2010, declined to take a position on Amendment 1, saying "the people will decide." He supports Voter ID rules and recent abortion restrictions such as ultrasound requirements, and he opposes the Racial Justice Act.
Also running are Hillsborough minister Rod Chaney and Thomas Wright of Mebane.
District 54, Democrat (Chatham County)
In the race for the new House District 54 we endorse Jeffrey Starkweather, a longtime champion of the environment, social justice and sound growth policies.
The retirement of Rep. Joe Hackney, who represented the district in its various forms for more than three decades, leaves a need for a candidate who has a deep familiarity with the issues facing this Chatham County district. We think Starkweather's views on energy and growth could continue Hackney's work; his willingness to defend public education and to stand up to social conservatives are also impressive.
If elected, Starkweather would represent all of Chatham County and a chunk of Lee County near Sanford, some of the main areas targeted for fracking. He would add a strong voice in opposition to the fracking frenzy in the General Assembly.
In any other race, Deb McManus, a third-term school board member from Siler City, would have been an easy pick. She served both as chair and vice-chair on the school board amid escalating state budget cuts and speaks passionately about reversing that trend.
McManus' support of women's health and her strong stand for Planned Parenthood and against ultrasound requirements and other abortion restrictions helped earn her an endorsement from Lillian's List.
Both Starkweather and McManus have deep roots in the community and would make good representatives. We think Starkweather is the better choice given his history as an advocate for the environment and his expertise in the growth pressures facing the district. He would be a counterbalance to pro-growth local governments and has the kind of fire Democrats need in the Legislature.


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Just an FYI that earlier today the WSUS product team officially announced the new Live Search product family. I have a brief intro and a link below:
Hello WSUS Admins,
Shortly we will be publishing a new top level category (product family) for WSUS – Live Search. The Live Search product family will include updates for all Live Search products.
To continue reading visit New Product Family – Live Search
J.C. Hornbeck | Manageability Knowledge Engineer


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Account Management Forms
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Send all deposits and payments to:
Michigan State University Federal Credit Union
PO Box 1208
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