text:
Ernesto Enkerlin Hoeflich, Mexico
16 April 2012 | Article
Dear Fellow Member of IUCN,
Your vote and our joint work building on WCPA-IUCN tradition could make 2012-2016 the most dynamic and fruitful period ever. No prescriptions; rather let's plan our role and best paths to global protected areas and biodiversity conservation immediately following the elections.
Ten amongst many crucial reasons uniquely qualify me to your well reasoned choice for WCPA Chair:
- Passionate about supporting, mainstreaming and achieving the Global Protected Areas Programme, Aichi Targets and ONE-IUCN.
- Ample record of accomplishments in academia, government and civil society.
- Prepared, able and enthusiastic to devote full-time some of my best and most productive years.
- "Builder" of institutions still working for conservation.
- Modern, collaborative, multicultural and interdisciplinary approach.
- Ability to lead or follow; adapt, innovate or consolidate according to the mission's needs.
- Thirty years working with indigenous, rural and fisherman communities in PAs and wilderness.
- Refreshing developing nation perspectives aided by a variety of experiences.
- Science and traditional knowledge as basis for conservation actions.
- Pragmatic yet principled approach empowering stakeholders in diverse governance models.
Please e-mail your concerns or ideas to better serve this vital Commission: firstname.lastname@example.com
Many thanks for your support!
Additional information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernesto_Enkerlin
Please note that now that the elections are passed, we will not publish any more comments on this page.


text:
Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people)
Crude birth rate indicates the number of live births occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.Source: (1) United Nations Population Division. 2009. World Population Prospects: The 2008 Revision. New York, United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (advanced Excel tables), (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
If Fiorentina's talented Montenegrin is to join Arsenal three things needed to happen to make the deal certain. So let's take a peek at those three things and where we are with them.
1 Fiorentina not to quality for the Champions League, but Arsenal to make it. Well thanks to Koscielny's goal the Gunners will be in the draw for CL qualifying, but they won't be facing Fiorentina, who were pipped at the line by Milan. Jovetic could well have stayed at the club had they qualified, but now it seems certain that he will go and seek Champions League football elsewhere.
2 Juventus not to chase the player – There have been rumours that the Italian Champions had been sizing up Jovetic for a while. However this morning Fiorentina sporting director Daniele Prade has revealed that Juventus have not spoken to him about the player.
Prade told Sky Italia
"We have said many times that an answer [over Jovetic's future] can only be given after a meeting between the president and Jovetic."
"Juventus? I have not talked with them because they have never asked to talk."
3 Wenger decides he wants the player – Earlier in the season it seemed like a done deal. However Jovetic's second half of the season has been a little disappointing. He finished the year with just twelve goals. Wenger is clearly a huge fan – but he has other options too in Higuain, Villa and maybe even Rooney.
I think Jovetic will either be announced as an Arsenal player in the next 48 hours as the deal has already been done and now ratified following Arsenal's qualification for the CL.
If that isn't the case I wonder if it will run and run as Wenger seeks a bargain.


text:
November 22. 2012 10:52PM
Londonderry school officials mull cutting 1 week from vacation slate
By APRIL GUILMET
Union Leader Correspondent
Londonderry considers taking on tuitioned outside students
LONDONDERRY - As school officials continue contemplating changes to the calendar year, the possibility of doing away with February and April vacations and replacing them with one single vacation week in March is one option being considered.
During Tuesday night's School Board meeting, an informal discussion and brainstorming session encouraged administrators to think outside the box while planning the 2013-2014 school year.
Vice Chairman Nancy Hendricks said she disagreed with the current process of having the day off before Thanksgiving. "I think every person in corporate America would agree," she added.
Instead, she said she'd favor the March combined vacation option.
"We've got to find a time to make classroom experiences more intensive," said Hendricks. "How do we find time for (field trips and assemblies) without cutting down on instructional time?"
Board member John Robinson said he'd personally have no problem leading the state in having a combined March vacation.
"Somebody's got to be the first," he noted.
But board member Leitha Reilly admitted that her own children "might have a hard time dealing with" one less vacation.
"I think we need to instead find a way to balance instructional time," Reilly added.
Initial discussions on the potential calendar year changes were tabled during last month's meeting since several board members weren't present to offer their thoughts on the matter.
Superintendent Nathan Greenberg asked the School Board Tuesday night to give serious thought to the calendar's future.
"One of the issues that came forward was fracturing the school year," the superintendent said this week. "That appeared to be a major concern."
A district-wide survey took place online in mid-June, when 1,286 random parents were asked questions regarding the length of the school day, school year and school calendar, leaving plenty of room for comments and suggestions.
The majority of parents surveyed, he noted, weren't in favor of having a longer school year, but most indicated an interest in having a full-day kindergarten program and wouldn't mind paying for it.
Greenberg said the option of having one March vacation instead of vacations in February and April would prove a challenge since none of the other area school districts do this.
Lengthening the school year might also prove impractical, the superintendent said, as many families make travel plans during July and August.
Board member Steve Young further noted that the survey process was somewhat flawed as it adjusted the questions asked to parents based on their initial responses.
The end result, he said, was uneven statistics on "yes" and "no" answers.
"The answers have no validity at this point," Young noted. "I guess the first questions are OK but the follow-up questions aren't."
At Greenberg's suggestion, a public forum on the calendar situation will take place during an upcoming meeting, giving local parents plenty of time to get in on the process.
"I wouldn't have heartache about dropping some of the holidays, such as Columbus Day," he told the board. "But I think we'd need to give people some significant notice before we make any permanent changes."
A date for the public forum will be scheduled during one of the January meetings.
- - - - - - - -
April Guilmet may be reached at


text:
Thursday, April 16:
Lights Resolve, Hot Spurr, Fifteen Fleeting, Throwing Color at Maxwell's. Stuck in a Decade at Whiskey Bar. Room 313 at Goldhawk.
Friday, April 17:
We're All Broken, Let Me Run, Trophy Scars, Millenium Children at Maxwell's. No Code, Facelift at Whiskey Bar. Speak Easy at Willie McBride's. Jett Brando, The Amboys, Hungry Tigers, Mike Ferraro and the Young Republicans at I.M. Automata Chino.
Saturday, April 18:
The Woggles, Holmes, Muck and the Mile at Maxwell's. The Benjamins at Whiskey Bar. Bitter X at Willie McBride's. The Press, Last Days of Empire, Chemtrail, Prawn at I.M. Automata Chino.
Sunday, April 19:
Riverboat Gamblers, Fake Problems, Legitimate Business at Maxwell's.
Monday, April 20:
Ours, Uniform at Maxwell's. Blues Jam with Ed Sullivan at Dubliner. Blues Jam with Joe Taino at Scotland Yard.
Tuesday, April 21:
Eddie Kowalczyk, Alternate Routes, Mike Montrey at Maxwell's. The People's Open Mic at Goldhawk.
Wednesday, April 22:
The Bronx, Trash Talk at Maxwell's. <>The Fearless, Recycled Trash, The Human Era at Whiskey Bar.


text:
PORTSMOUTH — Whether they're clearing the way for a nocturnal visitor or ensuring the safety of a home, contemporary chimney sweeps are still performing a vital role for local homeowners.
To some, the chimney sweeping trade might appear to be the vestige of bygone era. But advances in technology and a renewed interest in wood stoves and pellet stoves have combined to keep local chimney sweeps busy in recent years, according to Greenland business owner Robert Warner.
Warner is the founder of A Merrie Sweepe Chimney Service — one of at least six chimney sweeping companies in southeastern and central New Hampshire alone.
Other sweeping businesses in the area include Chestnut Hill Chimney and Hearth in Farmington, The Seacoast Sweep in Newmarket and Top of The Ridge Chimney Services in Strafford.
Experts recommend that chimneys be inspected every year by a certified chimney sweep and cleaned if necessary. The cost can range from $100 to $300 or higher.
Chimney sweeps are trained to determine whether chimneys are structurally sound and whether they need to be cleaned. They also will make sure the chimney is up to code, especially important in older houses.
Between 2005 and 2008, an average 26,900 fires annually were blamed on fireplaces, chimneys or chimney connectors, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
To some, the term "chimney sweep" will call to mind a vision of Victorian England, with men and boys dressed in top hats shimmying across snow-covered rooftops to clean out the trappings of a warm fireplace.
Warner has embraced that image during his three decades in the business. It was in the 1980s that he started an annual tradition of dressing in the garb of a London chimney sweep to work on the roof of the Rockingham Hotel Condominium in Portsmouth.
That tradition continues to this day through the work of Warner's employees. This year, it was chimney sweep Bill McCarthy who had the duty of working at the site.
However, the modern profession requires a range of new ancillary functions, such as inspecting fire damage for insurance companies and performing masonry work on new homes and damaged brick chimneys.
"There's just a whole culture of knowledge and materials and tools that have grown up around this industry," Warner said.
Fires built in fireplaces or wood stoves leave a gummy residue, called creosote, that can stick to the lining of your chimney. Creosote — created by soot, smoke, gases and other particles — is flammable, and can be the source of a dangerous chimney fire.
Cleaning the corridor within the chimney remains the primary function of most chimney sweeps, though other duties involve checking to see if there are any birds or animals in the chimney — which could potentially block the flow of smoke — and ensuring no water is coming in.
"Each job is different," said Christina El-Hagen, a certified sweep with Pride Clean Chimney Sweeps in Bethesda, Md. "We're looking to make sure the flue is fully safe. We're making sure there are no third-degree burns of creosote on the lining."
Warner was working as an elementary school teacher in Rye when he first became interested in the chimney sweeping profession more than 30 years ago.
"Nobody knew much about how to clean chimneys," at that time, he recalled.
After training with another chimney sweep in Maine, Warner conquered his fear of heights, and established his own business. For a time, he traveled the Seacoast in a Volvo station wagon with a 40-foot ladder protruding from both ends.
Today, the business has a fleet of maintenance vehicles and employs eight chimney sweeps, as well as Warner, his wife and office staff.
There have been drastic improvements in chimney sweeping technology during the past three decades, Warner said. Synthetic compounds are now being used to resurface and waterproof chimneys. And, while many sweeps still use steel brushes for cleaning, removing the sticky material inside a chimney can now be expedited by whipping it with chains that rotate, similar to a weed whacker.
Some sweeps have virtually abandoned using brushes in favor of mechanical cleaning, Warner said.
The profession has also grown into an industry with standard safety protocols. The Chimney Safety Institute of America offers a certification program to help homeowners identify trade workers who have demonstrated a knowledge of proper chimney sweeping practices.
To become certified, a sweep must pass two tests: one on the inspection process and tools, and the other on the international residential code, as it applies to chimneys.
Doing the job properly often still involves scaling a ladder and scrambling across a rooftop, Warner said. But for those who are properly trained, chimney sweeping is no more dangerous than driving a car or walking across the street in heavy traffic, he said.
"We've spared no expense or attitude to make sure that we have really top notch equipment, and that we train our guys," he said.
Foster's staff writer Jim Haddadin and Carole Feldman, of The Associated Press, contributed to this report.


text:
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 21 (UPI) -- Vancouver police now say the rioting that followed last week's NHL championship hockey game wasn't started by a small core of organizers.
At a news conference, Police Chief Jim Chu said after days of investigation and reviews of tips and social media videos and photographs of the rioting Wednesday night, police were revising their initial suspicions, the Vancouver Sun reported.
"Based on the best information we had the following morning, we stated that the instigators among the mob were 'criminals, anarchists and thugs who came to town bent on destruction and mayhem' regardless of the outcome of the game," Chu said. "While we are still standing by that observation about the instigators, we are learning that most of the people that joined in the riot and that have now been charged represent a wider spectrum of young people, many of whom do not have criminal records."
Mayhem erupted in the crowd of 100,000 people when the Vancouver Canucks lost 4-0 to the Boston Bruins in the final game of the Stanley Cup finals. Vehicles were overturned and torched, windows were smashed and stores were looted.
At least 150 people were injured and about 100 were arrested during the rioting. The number of arrests has grown to 117 as some people have been turning themselves in, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. said.
Chu urged other rioters to find a lawyer and turn themselves in to avoid public embarrassment.
"If you come in voluntarily you can do so discreetly and at a time that is convenient for you," the police chief said. "If you wait until we find you -- and we will find you -- we will arrest you in a public manner suitable to the public crimes you have committed."


text:
1. Re: FacesContext is not active?Vineet Reynolds Mar 6, 2012 3:54 AM (in response to david meier)
Well the answer depends on what class you are testing, how the FacesContext is referenced by this class, and how the FacesContext instance is provided to this class.
You could use JSFUnit if your test fixture involves the issuance of a HTTP request to the server; in the case of JSFUnit, HtmlUnit is used to issue requests. Using JSFUnit will allow you to obtain a reference to the FacesContext instance, in the context of a request.
Alternatively, if your test fixture does not issue a HTTP request, you can create your own FacesContext implementation. As part of your test fixture, you can set the FacesContext instance for the current thread to an instance of this custom FacesContext class; the FacesContext.setCurrentInstance(...) API method allows you to do this.
2. Re: FacesContext is not active?david meier Mar 6, 2012 4:07 AM (in response to Vineet Reynolds)
I'm using FacesContext to obtain the locale in the bean I'm testing.
Will have a look at JSFUnit. ty!


text:
Warehouse fire ruled arson
A fire broke out at an abandoned building, formerly Hadley's Furniture warehouse, at the corner of McFaddin Avenue and Forrest Street in Beaumont around 11:15 p.m. Wednesday night, Sept. 18.
Beaumont Fire Captain Earl White, who is investigating the incident, confirmed the fire was started deliberately.
There was some initial concern from neighbors that there may have been homeless people sheltering inside the building, considering it's close proximity to Some Other Place, which provides services to the homeless.
"They sleep in this building," said Beaumont resident Lacree Clark, who lives next door to the building that caught fire.
Clark said she didn't know any of the people personally, but said she has seen them go in and out of the warehouse.
"There was evidence of transient activity in and out of there," White said. "The place wasn't secure. They're looking for a place to sleep or a place to take stuff out of. I can tell you that there has been some stuff taken out of there — copper wire and things like that."
Beaumont Fire Department District Chief Jared Smith said Wednesday night that firefighters found no one in the building and that the fire was under control around 11:45 p.m.
White said he is investigating the possibility that Wednesday's fire was related to the fire which was set Sunday, Sept. 8 around 11:28 p.m.
"There was a fire last week at (Hall) McSween's (Canvas and Upholstery),1075 Calder," White said. "It was deliberately set, but I don't know if these two fires are connected."
No one was in the building at the time of the Calder fire.
White asks that anyone with any information about the fires contact his office at (409) 880-3905 or Beaumont Crimestoppers at (409) 833-8477.


text:
Tag Archives: Steinberger GL guitar
Gear Profile: The Steinberger L Series Bass
The Steinberger L series bass was formally introduced in 1980, and in 1983 the Steinberger GL guitar was rolled out. At the same time a slightly revised version of the bass was also introduced and given the name XL to distinguish it from the guitar and the original L bass. Check the above photo of GSTV friend Derek J with his 1986 XL bass: very cool!
The instruments were described as being made from layers of composite materials (carbon fiber and… Read More
Acoustic Guitar Guide
Subscribe Now and get a special bonus gift "The Ultimate Guide to Acoustic Guitars"


text:
CLEVELAND (AP) — A political strategist and civil rights activist who helped elect Ohio's first black congressman and managed Jesse Jackson's unsuccessful 1984 presidential campaign has died. Arnold Pinkney was 84.
His wife, Betty Pinkney, says he died Monday at a Cleveland hospice after a recent hospitalization.
Arnold Pinkney had a long career in Democratic political campaigns including the 1968 campaign of Louis Stokes, who became Ohio's first black member of Congress. He also advised Jackson, Cleveland Mayor Carl Stokes and Gov. Richard Celeste.
He was special adviser to the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, which plans a special recognition on Feb. 19. Caucus President Alicia Reece says he leaves a legacy of public service.
Pinkney was co-founder of Pinkney-Perry Insurance Agency, Ohio's oldest and largest minority-owned insurance company.


text:
Eyeliner Pencil - Mambo
Item# 0607845080022
Product Actions
Additional Information
Intense pigments of longwearing eyeliner color that glide on smoothly for precision definition and lash thickening effects. The creamy texture is ideal for blending, smudging, or pairing with powder eyeshadows.
- Smooth application does not tug the eye
- Easily blendable
An eyeliner pencil can be used for more than just lining lids. It serves as a great base for eye makeup and is easy to apply, and can also be used to outline and fill in the lids.
- The Eyeliner Pencils deliver intense color and are incredibly smooth. They can be used to draw, smudge, smoke, and define the eye in any way imaginable. –James Boehmer, Director of Global Artistry
- When wearing a neutral eye, try rimming the inner lash line with a pop of color for a fun, modern twist. –Norman Sands, Stylist
- Use the side of a sharpened Eyeliner Pencil instead of the tip for a smoother application. Raise your chin and look down into the mirror: It will give you the perfect pose for the easiest application. To line the bottom lid, pull your chin toward your chest and look up into the mirror. –Shayna Shapiro, Lead Trainer
- Apply the Eyeliner Pencil across the lash line, then smudge out for a soft and smoky look. –Janice Daoud, National Makeup Stylist


text:
'Gossip Girl' Celebrates 100 Episodes with Mayor Bloomberg
Blake Lively and Mayor Michael Bloomberg pose for photos as they celebrate Gossip Girl's 100th episode at Silvercup Stuios on Thursday (January 26) in New York City.
Joining the 24-year-old actress were Penn Badgley, Ed Westwick, Matthew Settle, Kaylee DeFer, and Kelly Rutherford.
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of the cast of Gossip Girl
Mayor Bloomberg said that the CW show has made New York City a central character and it's an ambassador for the city as well!
20+ pictures inside of the cast of Gossip Girl celebrating the show's 100th episode…


text:
While the rest of the league was busy adding Designated Players, the cap-restricted Houston Dynamo made one lower-profile acquisition in the most recent transfer window, acquiring midfielder Anthony Obodai.
Against New England last Saturday, that acquisition began to pay some dividends as Obodai put in his best performance of the year in helping Houston keep a lion's share of the possession and control the center of the pitch. Head coach Dominic Kinnear was pleased with the performance of Obodai, whose addition to the roster seems to have helped stabilize a struggling Dynamo midfield.
"I thought he looked good in the first half, sharp and quick with the ball," Kinnear said. "I think at the end, he was a little weary and a little legged, but in the beginning, [Shalrie] Joseph and [Pat] Phelan had a hard time dealing with his quickness and his distribution of the ball. If he can do that for longer periods of time, it makes us a better team."
While the Ghanian midfielder seemed to settle in quickly with solid performances in SuperLiga, Obodai struggled in his MLS debut against the New York Red Bulls. However, the midfielder is slowly growing more and more comfortable in MLS.
"It's a different situation, and I am trying to adjust to the system here," noted Obodai. "It was going to take a couple of games to learn everything here, but now I am finding myself comfortable with the team, and I think it will go well for me."
The former Ajax player has already caught on to some of the style differences between MLS and the Dutch league.
"Here it is hard soccer, aggressive, more running, it's not [as much] about the football," explained Obodai. "If you come here, it's a hard game and a tough game, and you have to be ready to play."
Obodai is not the most physically imposing player, as he stands at only 5-foot-8. As a result, 6-foot-3 Joseph may have thought he could impose his will on Obodai, but the Dynamo midfielder was having no part of it.
"In football, when I have the ball, they think I am small, so they think it's easy to take the ball," said Obodai of his battle with Joseph. "But I'm trying to tell him, no, it's not the way to think."
Dwain Capodice is a contributor to MLSsoccer.com. Questions or Comments can be sent via email to email@example.com.


text:
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Gunslinger's triumph
Towers has slugged two home runs as a GM taking over a club, the first with the Padres. In both instances, he inherited a talented nucleus, made several deft moves and, if Arizona doesn't collapse, saw his team win the National League West.
Among the Padres who awaited Towers in November 1995 when he replaced Randy Smith were two future Hall of Famers in Tony Gwynn and Trevor Hoffman, in-their-prime stars such as Ken Caminiti and Steve Finley, a promising manager in Bruce Bochy, and frontline, young starting pitchers such as Andy Ashby and Joey Hamilton, not to mention a raft of relievers who would combine with Hoffman to form the NL's top bullpen in ERA and win probability added, and a prize prospect, Derrek Lee (drafted by Reggie Waller) who would fetch ace Kevin Brown in a trade after the 1997 season. Sizing up his first Padres team and finding his first of many pigeons among fellow GMs -- the Royals' Herk Robinson, who gave him Wally Joyner for Bip Roberts -- Towers made several smart upgrades to the San Diego roster. The resulting journey took the Padres to the playoffs in 1996 and the World Series in 1998 and contributed to Petco Park getting built.
Towers looms as a formidable adversary for the Padres, in part, as I wrote in March, because his Diamondbacks bosses are giving him leeway that he says he never enjoyed in San Diego. He still has to show he can built a strong farm system, something he never did here, but he says he got off to a good start when he hired Ray Montgomery to oversee Arizona's drafts. (Montgomery turned down the Padres when they offered the same job to him after the 2009 season. Jed Hoyer says Montgomery, formerly of the Brewers, was a "tremendous" hire by Towers.)
Towers also has more money to spend than he usually did with the Padres. For all of Arizona's financial thickets, which include being in baseball's worst market for per capita income, Towers still had $15 million more to spend on his payroll than Hoyer did this year, plus enough money to sign the third and seventh players taken in the draft. The team's spectacular training site that opened this year in Scottsdale also gives Towers a recruiting tool.
The Padres, meantime, are headed to a defeat total that likely will begin with a nine. Their payroll begins with a four.
3 comments:
I very much enjoy reading your blog and tweets. You have the most insightful analyses. And you are the only journalist/ commentator who is really critical of the padres.
Maybe you can help me with a math problem I am having. The padres revenues over the last five years has always been >$100-120,000,000 (maybe more according to Forbes- it is easy to quickly come up with that number without Forbes' help) and the payroll 'starts with a 4 or 5' that leaves significant chunk of change in some bank account and not on the field. While the past is painful enough let's look at 2012-
Payroll $50-55,000,000 if the powers-that-be live up to their words.
Other revenues: >$100,000,000
Difference: >$80,000,000.
I look forward to your insights on this issue.
Best regards, Worldserious
Thanks for your interest. I likely will write about Padres finances here again, although I may wait until after the NFL season. For now, a few tidbits:
Towers has said total revenues for the Padres in 2009 were about $150 million.
Forbes found the SDP the most profitable team in MLB last year. The Padres say Forbes was way off base, laughably so.
The Padres pay about $17 million per year to service the ballpark debt.
The Padres say it's more expensive to maintain Petco Park than outsiders realize.
I've written that others in MLB outside of SDP expressed amazement at the $500 million-plus sales price for the club agreed to in 2009. John Moores negotiated that price with Jeff Moorad, and Bud Selig signed off on the deal. Some pretty savvy folks were shocked that the number was that high.
I was pretty sure my numbers were conservative. This is really, really ugly and the SD press has failed its readers and the citizens of SD.
A couple of questions/observations:
1) Isn't San Diego a lot richer than Detroit and their payroll is at least 2X higher! What's up with that?
2) I contend from how the padres' payroll has played out the last 5-7 years that Moores' divorce is/was nearly as contentious and debilitating as the McCourt mess and I have not seen any comparison in the press. Also Selig has been a hypocrite (I was going to write inconsistent but that is too mild a term) in how he has handled the two cases- not that McCourt should have been treated any differently. Moores has gotten away with the equivalent of a theft on a grand scale!
I am 59 years old and I love baseball. I was 7 years old when my father took me to my first game- in 1959 at Tiger Stadium- Paul Foytack was pitching. And it pains me to watch this play out year after year after year with no end in sight. And no culpability.
Again, I look forward to your reply AND your future article on the padres' finances.
p.s. Do you have an email I could continue this discussion with you?


text:
Last weekend, I had a blast interacting with another unit closer to Grand Forks. It had the added bonus of being Union, which allows me to portray both sides in a given season, as I also fall in with Co. H. 1st South Carolina Infantry. Called the Fort Abercrombie Garrison, after the fort in southeastern North Dakota, but also known as Co. D, 5th Minnesota Infantry, it consists of several men from the Fargo-Moorhead area, as well as two (yours truly included) from Grand Forks.
Last Sunday, I drove to Detroit Lakes, MN to the Becker County Museum to join elements of the Garrison providing an interpretive display on the war to visitors for International Museum Day. It was great and, according to an article on DL-Online, over two hundred showed up. We set up a tent, two cannon, and displayed our equipment. We were dressed in a variety of Union uniforms and discussed the equipment and life of soldiers in the war. We also took the opportunity to tour the wonderful museum, which has many great displays and had several artisans on hand to demonstrate various skills. It was great fun and I even had the chance to recruit for the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, which is always a plus. I will also share a couple great pictures of us from the event. If the weather holds, I may be heading to Abercrombie on Sunday for their opening weekend. I look forward to being involved with this unit in the future.


text:
Love her or hate her, Kim Kardashian is a pretty solid style icon. Sure, she may have a bit of help (or hurt, depending how you look at it) from her boyfriend Kanye West every now and then, but the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star has got her fashion foot forward pretty much all the time.
She knows it too. What other reason would she change mid-dinner date with Kanye into a completely different outfit? I just imagine her thought process: my people, my fans -- they NEED to see my various looks!
Back to her fashion legacy, though. Sure, she has her fair share of homerun outfits -- but let's be real: the best looks are the WORST looks. From her giant flower failure to a skintight racing suit, check out our list of Kim Kardashian's 5 worst looks, here:
What are your favorite and least favorite Kim Kardashian looks? Don't be shy.
Image via Splash News


text:
Driving along Southwest 13th Street near Williston Road, the block building with the bright blue roof set back on the east side of the road is hard to miss.
Driving along Southwest 13th Street near Williston Road, the block building with the bright blue roof set back on the east side of the road is hard to miss.
The words "Sports Bar" are painted on a wall above a huge cartoon portrait of a smiling alligator shooting pool. A sign boasts that the bar has the "best wings in town."
During the day, the parking lot is usually empty. But every Saturday night the All Star Sports Bar, 4251 SW 13th St., is packed with people looking to dance, drink and party well into the early morning hours.
The bar also attracts most of the eastside Alachua County sheriff's deputies working that night.
Their commander, Lt. Kaley Behl, said the Sheriff's Office usually has between eight and 11 deputies there, including herself. "It's a huge tax on our resources," she said.
The building previously was a pool hall, but now it is a bar and grill that can stay open until 4 a.m. as long as it stops serving alcohol at 2 a.m.
But it's not what happens inside the bar that causes most of the problems, officials and the owner say. The trouble brews outside, in that small parking lot in the front of the building and on a larger open lot on the side.
On weekend nights, those open spaces are jammed with vehicles as well as patrons, many of whom have been drinking for some time, sheriff's officials say. Those elements often combine into volatile situations that lead to calls to the Sheriff's Office.
Deputies have been dispatched to the bar more than 200 times since August 2012 on a variety of calls, ASO records show.
"The sheer volume of calls has it on our radar," sheriff's spokesman Art Forgey said.
Sometimes, the atmosphere turns violent.
Early on April 1, Brett Johnson was waiting in line outside the bar just before 3 a.m. when a fight broke out, according to a report. Johnson, 30, was stabbed multiple times in the upper torso and bystanders took him to Shands at the University of Florida, where he was listed in critical condition.
On April 21, a fight outside the bar around 4 a.m. turned into a car chase that rolled into the nearby Kangaroo gas station and included a gun being pulled, according to the Gainesville Police Department.
That incident carried into the city when police officers and deputies cornered and arrested Jeffrey Coleman, 21, of Gainesville on drug and weapons charges.
Behl estimates that between 75 and 100 people hang out in the parking lot on Saturday nights. She said that if the agency does not send any deputies out there, it is almost a guarantee that the crowd will get out of hand.
"Usually, we are overwhelmed by what's going on in the parking lot," she said.
The owner of the bar, James Littles, said that while he employs security guards to monitor inside the building and the parking lot, the authoritative weight of a deputy makes a huge difference in controlling the crowd.
Littles pointed out that he usually is the person who calls law enforcement to the bar.
He said he has offered to pay off-duty deputies to monitor the bar on the busier nights, but the Sheriff's Office has declined. Forgey said because the business serves alcohol, the agency is not allowed to provide those services.
Littles agrees that something needs to be done and he said he wants to stop being open after 2 a.m. But he acknowledges that much of his revenue comes in the hours after 2 a.m. when other bars have closed.
"We don't want to be considered the outside hangout," Littles said.
Behl said it is difficult for deputies to enforce the rule that no alcohol can be served after 2 a.m. When deputies are inside the bar after that hour, it is hard to determine if the drinks they see were served before or after 2 a.m.
Rick Wolf, assistant director with the Alachua County Growth Management Department, said the business can stay open past 2 a.m. because it is licensed as a restaurant, not a bar. Periodic state audits have shown that at least 51 percent of its sales revenue comes from selling food.
Wolf noted that the business is outside the city limits and thus subject only to the Alachua County ordinance relating to the sale of alcoholic beverages.
Wolf said the county ordinance could be amended so that any establishment selling alcohol would have to close at 2 a.m. instead of being allowed to stay open as long as it stops serving booze at that hour.
However, he said that could hurt other businesses that don't have the problems facing the All Star Sports Bar.
The Sheriff's Office is not alone in being impacted by the early morning revelers. The crowd at the bar often migrates to the Kangaroo station across the street, where Behl always stations a deputy. Many also meet at the IHOP just a short distance north on Southwest 13th Street.
Jeannie Lewis, the manager of the Security Mini Storage facility behind the bar, has been working there for 20 years. She said she has had to clean up liquor bottles and trash and illegally parked vehicles in their lot.
Recently, she said the owner has put up towing signs and has had the property surveyed to know exactly where the property line is at and submitted that to Littles.
Lewis said the owner doesn't know what else to do. The business can't erect a fence because it would block a road to a cell tower that needs to be accessible at all times.
She said Littles has apologized many times and that he wants to figure out a solution, too.
Both Behl and Littles said they have a good relationship and have essentially the same goal, but neither has figured out a good solution. For now, Behl said she has a system in place with her deputies that can handle the crowds.
"I don't see what the answer is at this point," she said.


text:
Skip to comments.Price Of Corruption A Separate Quebec? (Ontario Could Reassess Western Canada Phobia Alert)
Posted on 11/11/2005 10:39:54 PM PST by goldstategop
I wrote last week that it would take Canada's Liberal Party about two months to live down the disclosure by the Gomery inquiry that its Montreal members had siphoned many millions of dollars in government money into the party's coffers and into their own pockets. I was wrong. It took less than a week.
Three days after the Gomery Report documented the party's lavish looting of the funds in the government's "sponsorship program," a poll showed that the party's national support had slipped from 38 percent to 31 percent, only a single percentage point over the Conservatives, who had risen to 30 percent. A poll made six days later showed the Liberals back at 35 percent and the Tories down to 28 percent.
In other words, the mere fact that the party is corrupt in Quebec will still not be enough to defeat it in vote-rich Ontario. That's because the only other feasible option is the Conservatives whom Ontarians regard as "dangerous," and with good reason. The Conservatives are threatening changes that would imperil the traditional Ontario-Quebec domination of the national government and in various ways fulfill the rising ambitions of the increasingly prosperous West.
Hence, the three opposition parties the Conservatives, Quebec's separatist Bloc Quebecois and the socialist New Democrats spent last week trying to decide whether to force the minority Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin into a Christmas election, or to force one upon him early in the New Year. By the week's end no decision had been reached, but a Christmas election seemed unlikely.
Meanwhile, something else became evident last week. The election that may really reflect the Gomery Report is not the federal one, but the next provincial election in Quebec, slated for 2007. The Gomery disclosures, as they came forth in the evidence, had the effect of reviving the Quebec separatist movement, whose polled popularity had dropped to the 40 percent level. It's now back at 50 percent, enough to defeat the Liberal government of Jean Charest and bring on another provincial referendum on Quebec's separation from Canada.
This portends a certain irony, until now lost on most English Canadians. It would mean that a federal Liberal program, designed to win Quebec's loyalty to Canada, instead became the factor that re-ignited the movement to take Quebec out of Canada. For the funds that the Quebec Liberals chose to loot were those specifically dedicated to demonstrate that private looting was not what Canada was all about, despite cynical Quebec perceptions to the contrary.
The $250 million sponsorship program was the brainchild of former Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chretien. He set it up after the last Quebec referendum 10 years ago came within one half of 1 percent of taking the province out of Canada.
The money was supposed to offer Ottawa support for cultural, social and athletic causes, almost wholly those in Quebec, all meant to advertise profusely the benefits of being Canadian. But it was set up with so few of the customary safeguards against looting that Auditor-General Sheila Fraser first warned that the danger of looting existed. She was soon providing evidence that what it was advertising profusely was the benefits of being Liberal. By then, however, Jean Chretien was being forced unwilling into retirement by a caucus rebellion led by Paul Martin, whose first move was to appoint the Gomery inquiry.
However, such an exhibition of unbridled graft provided the separatist Parti Quebecois with a monumental showpiece. It effectively smeared the whole federalist case and vindicated their central contention that Quebec's role in Canada has the sole purpose of keeping Liberals rich. Now a younger generation is reviving separatism, and the Quebec comedian Pierre Falardeau draws shrieks of laughter with his pet monkey, Kiki the Federalist, who will only do tricks if you offer him enough cash.
All of this is significant in the West where another interesting scenario comes into view. If in the oncoming federal election the western-led Conservatives are once again rejected in Ontario this being the fifth federal election in which a western-led party has been snubbed by the Ontario voter it will greatly reinforce the sentiment known as "western alienation." Should Quebec then separate a real possibility with the separatists polling in the range of 50 percent in the chaos that follows, the West could effectively push for a radically changed Canada, something that in such a situation, even Ontario might be prepared to buy
It would be interesting to see Quebec leave. I remember the referendum 10 years ago, and like this article says, they came within one half of one percentage point of succeeding. After Canada's snotty attitude toward the U.S. as of late, it would serve them right to have to go through this (with apologies to any Canadian Freepers out there!!).
I remember reading a lot of interesting articles about "various possibilities" the last time Quebec voted on separation.
One thing I heard was that the Maritime Provinces would be essentially cut off from the rest of Canada if Quebec left. In addition, some of what I read said that in many ways, the Maritimes have more in common with the U.S. states they border, than with the rest of Canada. So, many were theorizing that if Quebec ever secedes, the Maritimes would also secede, and then apply to the U.S. for statehood.
I am not sure if I like this idea or not. If the "dominant culture" in the Maritimes is similar to that of the northeastern United States, then this would basicly mean that we would have three new "blue states" joining The Union, a possibility I do not relish. If they are liberal, then let them remain a part of Canada.
The other possibility I heard was that one of the western provinces of British Columbia or Alberta might also secede if Quebec left. Again, the theory was put forth that under this set of circumstances, the seceding Province would apply to the U.S. for statehood. Of these two provinces, I read (and was told by some Canadians) that of the two, this scenario was more likely with Alberta. I have heard that Alberta is a bit more Conservative, so if they would come into the U.S. as a "red state", that would be OK with me!! In addition, I have been to both Calgary and Edmonton, and they seem to be very nice cities.
Not sure how likely any of the above scenarios would be. Even if no other provinces besides Quebec seceded, it would be interesting to watch Canada come to grips with the situation. Quebec is such an odd Province anyway. But what do you expect from a place where the dominant language is French?!?!
Are you talking about the term "RINO"??
RINO = Republican In Name Only
Too true of an otherwise seemingly rational resolution.
Admittance of new states into the Union has always been frought with political considerations like that. Most recently, Alaska (R) and Hawaii (D) were simultaneously admitted into the union so to minimize the effect on national politics. But the same thing went on before the Civil War, when slave and free states were admitted simultaneously.
I don't suppose we could trade a couple of New England states for a couple of the western provinces? LOL!
Annex Canada??, hmm, Alberta, BC, Sasketchewan, Manitoba would provide R-Senators, the Yukon, NW Territories, and Nunavut would be territories (not enough pop), New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland-Labrador would be competitive, PEI would provide D-Senators, and I dont want Ontario, let them be Canada.
Thanks for clearing that up for me!
Three new "blue states" maybe, but marginal blue states at that...most polls suggest Atlantic Canada is the most favorable for Bush (although I don't think it is true, it just comes to show you some surprises that the GOP may be able to come up with)...
If all of the rest of Canada joined the US, Ontario's 20 electoral votes would become one gigantic prize for both parties...
I think British Columbia would elect more D-Senators or at least be split; same with Ontario. They'd both almost certainly have a Democratic majority in their delegations (Toronto would likely be at least 80-85% Democratic), but they'd likely have some Republicans in their House seats in the rural and some suburban districts.
So fun to speculate on the Annexation of Canada, but lets face it, its never going to happen.
I thought goldstategop was a Canadian (born in Montreal) but immigrated south of the border. Could you confirm it?
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
LOL sounds a lot like many Kiwis who have moved across the Tasman. So many New Zealanders have moved to Australia because of the socialist idiocy of successive NZ governments, such that a joke circulates around Sydney is the fifth largest city of NZ.
How about cedeing Massachuttes to Canada?
Nah, I dont want to live in Canada, Can we deport my Liberal Neighbors instaed?
When will members of the Montreal media begin to publish facts that every Quebecker can access and digest before even contemplating Quebec Separation. According to the Fraser Institute (1994 study):
Should Quebeckers decide to separate from Canada, Quebec's Separation Obligation to Canada would be $150.6 billion as of March 31, 1994 (today this amount would be about 30% higher). This amounts to $20,888 for every man, woman, and child in Quebec, or $83,552 per family of four. The study contains a seven step methodology for measuring Quebec's share of government of Canada assets and liabilities.
Quebeckers would face a difficult fiscal choice after separation. Should they wish to continue to enjoy the same level of services and benefits from their new national government in Quebec City as previously received from Ottawa, their federal taxes that would be going to Quebec City, which presently go to Ottawa, would have to be sharply increased, perhaps by as much as 53.5 percent.
If there is opposition to higher taxes and Quebeckers continue to pay the same amount of tax to their new national government in Quebec City that they presently send to Ottawa, the services they would receive for programs after the annual payment of their Separation Obligation to Canada would be 46.5 percent of the level of program expenditures received prior to separation.
An independent Quebec would have an all-government net debt-to-GDP ratio of 149.4 percent, compared with a Quebec as a Canadian province net debt-to-GDP ratio of 127.1 percent as of March 31, 1994. This measure of debt includes all levels of government in Quebec.
The debt burden of an independent Quebec would be more severe than that of any Canadian province, except Newfoundland, and more severe than that of any OECD country, including Belgium, Ireland, and Italy.
Based on the "Fraser Institute SIC List 1994" of the world's most severely indebted economies, an independent Quebec would be the 28th most severely indebted country in the world, with a government debt burden just behind Madagascar and just ahead of Jamaica. An independent Quebec would join the Third World in terms of its all-government indebtedness.
Taking all levels of government into account, total debt charges would be an estimated $23.7 billion as of March 31, 1994 for an independent Quebec, compared with $15.3 billion for Quebec within Confederation. This 54.9 percent increase in debt charges would pose a significant financing challenge for an independent Quebec.
A final potential consequence of Quebec leaving the Canadian Confederation may be an unwillingness of foreign and domestic investors to lend money, not only to Quebec, but also to the Rest of Canada. The negotiations leading to separation would dispel whatever government debt illusion that may have existed on the part of investors in Canadian and Quebec government bonds as to the severity of the debt burden facing Canadians and Quebeckers and the impossibility of servicing this debt while maintaining government services without unprecedented tax increases and/or further borrowing.
Makes you stop and think twice before supporting any form of Separation...Can the PQ wish this type of scenario on its people just for "identity" purposes? This is very serious stuff and should not be left to the devices of the PQ camp - ever!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


text:
Companies Hiring Now At the WNY Diversity Job Fair
The WNY Diversity Job Fair is happening right now at the Buffalo Convention Center in downtown Buffalo. Dozens of companies are meeting with job seekers in hopes of filling open positions.
If you are unemployed or just now happy with your current job you need to get down to the convention center today. The job fair will run until 4:00pm this afternoon.


text:
Meet local Madison singles in your area by filling out our quick registration form. Once inside you will be area to search thousands of single Madison members. Personal ads of singles in the Madison area will be at your fingertips and with our new matchmaker service you will receive new matching members in your email inbox on a weekly basis. Find the best Madison singles when joining our online dating service today!
MadisonJoin Now Free!
Madison Girls | Madison Men | Madison Gay | Madison Lesbians
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
More Madison Links:
Madison Dating | Madison Personals | Madison Speed Dating | Madison Chat | Madison Love
Senior Dating | Catholic Dating | Christian Dating | Muslim Dating
Black Singles | Asian Singles | Latin Dating
Matchmaker.com offers its members a great resource for Madison singles looking for a short or long term relationship. We have compiled a hundreds of dating and online dating related articles to help give you timely and detailed advice. Some interesting topics include tips for single parents, Madison singles, first date ideas, valentine gift ideas, love poems and great tips on cooking for a date. We are here to help the Madison singles with free advice.


text:
A southern Wisconsin taxidermist today confirmed that the buck you saw here on Deer & Deer Hunting last week is a "100 percent legit wild whitetail."
"We even had a DNR biologist come out and examine the buck," the taxidermist said. "He aged him at 5-1/2 years old."
Out of respect for his privacy, D&DH is not naming the taxidermist at this time.
News of this buck, an incredible 27 point nontypical, spread like wildfire when several photos were posted on the Whale-Tales Archery website.
The lucky hunter, who has yet to grant public interviews, shot the buck with his bow and arrow. Wisconsin's bow season opened on Sept. 14.
Deer and & Deer Hunting has reached out to the hunter in an attempt to publicize this incredible deer, which could easily become the new Wisconsin state record bowkill (nontypical category).
We will bring you updates as they become available.


text:
L.A. Women Have a New Weapon to Fight HIV
It's Called Knowledge
Summer 2001
Graduates from Women Alive's second annual HIV University Los Angeles (affectionately known as HULA) took to the streets on June 16th with a better understanding of the tools they can use to manage HIV in their lives. This year's graduates completed a ten-week long intensive educational program that not only increased their knowledge about HIV, but also helped them develop a strong and mutually nurturing support network.
The unique curriculum that was developed by the graduates themselves covered topics ranging from basic human biology (how does the immune system function?) to self-esteem (how to cope with the disease on a daily basis). The HIV University Program originally developed by the women at WORLD in Oakland, California, has been replicated in many cities across the country. Women Alive Treatment Advocates Cathy Olufs and Marina Gomez attended the 1999 national training held in San Francisco and learned the necessary skills to reproduce the program here in Los Angeles. So far, the HIV U. curriculum has been extremely popular, with both English and Spanish versions available for women in Los Angeles.
Last year the English program had 25 HIV-positive women participate. Of those 25 participants, 19 received a diploma. This year's English program had seven graduates who wore the traditional cap and gown during an intimate and touching ceremony held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown LA. The beautiful Polaris Room, with its 360 degree views of the city below, was a perfect setting for the event. The graduates were joined by family, friends, and former HIV U. graduates for an evening of triumph and tears. Special guest speaker for the evening was Dr. Judith Currier of UCLA's CARE Center, who is also a continuing HIV U. instructor. Former HIV U. graduates Judith Dillard (now an employee at Women Alive) and Lucy Diaz (now a Women Alive Board Member) addressed the graduating class, and gave personal testimony as to the impact that the program has had on their lives.
This year's Dean of Students, Patsy Lawson, spoke to the group candidly about what she has learned, and how she will use the information to advocate for herself and others. In addition to a diploma, each graduate received a bouquet of flowers and a gift bag stuffed with goodies. The graduates and their families and friends capped the event off with cake and dancing into the night.
Women Alive is proud of our HIV University program, and grateful to the women at WORLD for sharing the idea with us. We are also grateful for all the people and sponsors who help make each graduation such a memorable event.
Each graduating class is different from the one before it, and the women who come to HIV U. have varied experiences to share with each other. It is always touching to watch the bonds of friendship grow among the women. As they struggle to come to terms with the disease and to educate themselves, it's comforting for many to know that there are others whom they can turn to when times get tough.
It makes us especially happy at Women Alive to know that we are helping women to take a pro-active stand in their own healthcare by increasing the numbers of women who are educated about this disease.
Back to the Women Alive Summer 2001 contents page.
This article was provided by Women Alive. It is a part of the publication Women Alive Newsletter.


text:
Slotting Cutters - 3 Wing (Assembly with Arbor and Bearing) - 1/4 Shank, Carbide Tipped - Southeast Tool SL157-3A2; .156 Kerf. Assembly comes complete with arbor & bearing SBE125
Diameter of the 3 Wing Cutter is 1-7/8"
Click the button below to add to your wish list.
All prices are in USD Copyright 2018 Carbide Processors. Sitemap | Website by oBundle


text:
Welcome to Environmental Studies
Train for a Future in Green Technology
Golden West College is in the fast lane in the race to build a sustainable future. Classes provide hands-on instruction, laboratory demonstration, and industry site visits.
The Environmental Studies program offers an Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy Program and a Recycling and Resource Management Program.
Internships and international training opportunities are also available to currently enrolled students.
Federal Gainful Employment Reports
Use the link below to view Golden West College's gainful employment reports. These reports provide you, the student, with important information regarding the costs, benefits and potential employment options of our certificate programs.
Federal Gainful Employment Reports


text:
- Texas
- The Houston Area
- Richmond
- Talavera
- Palomar
The two-story Palomar is well suited for larger families. This multifunctional plan showcases a first-floor owner's suite offering direct access to an outdoor covered patio, expansive great room and charming gourmet kitchen. Nearby flex space or an optional study provides ideal space for a home office, and an additional private bedroom and full bath is perfect for hosting overnight guests.
Home Features
- Acme Brick® American made clay brick on 3 sides of home (100-year guarantee)
- Full light door at rear entry
- Gutters and downspouts on front of home
- HardieTrim® board exterior window trim product
- LP® SmartSide® Siding and Trim with 50-Year Manufacturer Warranty
- Professional landscape package in front yard
- Schlage® single cylinder handleset with deadbolt lock
- Sherwin-Williams® exterior paint
- Two coach lights on garage
- Vinyl divided light windows on front of home with half-screens on all operable windows
- Water-resistant barrier Thermo-Ply® protective sheathing
- 3 1/4" colonial baseboards and door casing
- 9-foot ceiling heights
- All secondary bedrooms blocked and pre-wired for ceiling fans
- Ceiling fans with 4-light kit in Gathering Room, Owner's Suite, and Game Room (per plan)
- Emser Tile® ceramic tile in foyer, bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry room
- Flourescent lighting in laundry room and owner's closet
- Kichler® nickel light fixture package
- Life Tested® Everyday Entry™ with mud bench - includes bench with lower storage cubbies (per plan)
- Life Tested® Pulte Planning Center® (per plan)
- Privacy locks on owner's suite and all bathroom doors
- Raised 6-panel textured interior doors
- Rocker light switches
- Rounded drywall corners with textured walls and ceilings
- Schlage® nickel interior door hardware
- Shaw® carpet with 5.5-pound carpet pad
- Sherwin-Williams® Interior Paint
- Staircases include wood spindles with stained oak handrail (per plan)
- Wood closet rods and shelving
- First floor owner's suite with private bath and walk-in closet
- Flexible Living Space to use as an additional bedroom or study
- Second floor game room with views of the entry below
- 3 cm granite or 2 cm Silestone® countertops in kitchen and Pulte Planning Center® (per plan)
- Amerisink® stainless steel double-equal undermount kitchen sink
- InSinkErator® garbage disposal
- Kichler LED Low-Profile Down Lights
- Comfort height double vanity in Owner's Bathroom
- Comfort height vanity in secondary bathrooms
- Gerber® comfort height elongated toilets in all bathrooms
- Gerber® white pedestal sink in powder room (per plan)
- Glass enclosed shower and Royal Baths® garden tub with deck-mounted faucets in Owner's bathroom
Homesite Map
Pulte Energy Advantage
Many of our homes offer energy-efficient features that can help reduce your home's energy consumption while maintaining everything you want in a new home. That's the Pulte Energy Advantage®.
Request Info
Interested in living here? Tell us how to reach you, and we'll be in touch. We look forward to answering any questions you may have about building with us and living in our homes.
Thanks for your interest. You'll be receiving communications from us shortly.
Inspired By You
Build With Confidence
From understanding the stages of construction to choosing the right Pulte partner, we are here for you throughout the build process.Learn More
Distinctive Design
Create the home you've always wanted with inspirational design ideas and thoughtful home solutions for your new Pulte home.Get Inspired


text:
As the final seconds ticked down, Cam Newton walked across the field to find Adrian Peterson and offered a warm embrace.
It was a moment of comfort for Peterson, who was playing two days after his 2-year-old son was killed in an alleged case of child abuse in South Dakota.
Newton also comforted some anxious Carolina Panthers fans on Sunday with a performance more fitting of the franchise quarterback everyone wants him to be.
Newton threw for 242 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another to help the Panthers roll over the Minnesota Vikings 35-10 on Sunday.
The efficiency, consistency and big plays from the pocket were much needed for Newton, who was coming off a woeful performance against Arizona in which he threw three interceptions.
Newton said he wants to "be very thorough with my craft for a full four quarters of football and not just one half." If he can accomplish that, the Panthers (2-3) suddenly become much harder to deal with.
Peterson rushed for just 62 yards on 10 carries, his lowest output since Week 2 of last season. He rushed to a hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Thursday when he learned that his son was badly injured. The mother's boyfriend is charged with aggravated battery and aggravated assault, and the boy died on Friday not long before Peterson vowed to play in the game.
"I just prayed and asked God to give me the strength just to get through the game, just play and focus," Peterson said. "And for the most part, I did. It was a terrible way to lose, but we can learn from this, make some corrections and get back on track."
Here are five things to take away from the Panthers' win over the Vikings (1-4):
PETERSON DIDN'T THINK TWICE: When Peterson spoke to reporters on Friday, he was resolute in his stance that he was going to play the game despite the death of his son. The football field has always been his shelter during difficult times, and Peterson said he never wavered about his decision to play. "I just look at things and I don't ask people to understand my mindset and how I think," he said. "Anything bad, I try to take good from it. That's the way I approach life in all situations. I never thought about not playing. It was all about just going out there and praying that I have the strength to get through and help my team. That was my focus."
RIVERA THE GAMBLER: Panthers coach Ron Rivera's roots are on the defensive side of the ball, and he freely admits that he is generally more of a conservative coach. But sitting at 1-3 and needing to give his offense a jolt, Rivera decided to go for it on fourth down twice on Carolina's opening drive of the game. It paid off when the 15-play drive culminated in a 2-yard touchdown from Newton to Steve Smith, and a boatload of confidence for the offense in general. "For him to trust us means a lot and it speaks volumes," Newton said. "For us, he is a defensive coach by nature, so he always has that conservative mentality. But I think that he is kind of breaking his mold to a degree, and giving the whole team confidence with him."
STINGY PANTHERS: Carolina's front seven is fast becoming one of the toughest in the league. The Panthers haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in nine straight games. Thomas Davis had two sacks and Mike Mitchell had two interceptions and a sack of his own to lead the way. And stuffing Peterson may have been their biggest accomplishment yet. "You know we gave up one big run and if we don't give that up we might have had him under 50," Mitchell said of Peterson's 31-yard run. "He's the best running back in the league so he's going to get his but I thought we did a good job keeping him bottled up for most of the day."
LAFELL'S BIG PLAY: The Panthers were leading 14-3 in the third quarter when Brandon LaFell got behind Vikings cornerback Josh Robinson and hauled in a pass for a 79-yard touchdown. It was the start of 21 straight points for the Panthers that turned a sloppy game into a rout. LaFell had four catches for 107 yards.
VIKINGS' POROUS SECONDARY: The Vikings entered the game tied for 29th in the league in pass defense. The beleaguered secondary took a couple of hits that could prove costly on Sunday. Safety Harrison Smith, arguably the best defensive player on the team, went down with turf toe on his left foot in the third quarter. Rookie cornerback Xavier Rhodes also sprained his right ankle. Both will get MRI exams on Monday to determine the extent of the damage.
AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org


text:
Mesmerizing Girls Bedroom Ideas Identify Innovative Twin Single Bed With Engaging Dressers Bedroom Furniture Combine Magnificent Small Drawers Deco
Twin single bedroom for your twin teenage girls can divide with wooden dresser bedroom furniture. The wooden contains some small drawers. On it you even can put some accessories that can make your bedroom looks so wonderful.
List 24 Ideas in Mesmerizing Your Room With Dressers Bedroom Furniture Design Gallery
- Impressive Bedroom For Adults Design Inspiration Feat Appealing Classic Dressers Bedroom Furniture With Incredible Wooden Material Also Prepossessing Small Drawers Ideas .... ➥
- Enchanting Girls Bedroom Decoration Presenting Alluring Dressers Bedroom Furniture With Breathtaking Wooden Drawers Complete Catchy Mirror Design Inspiration .... ➥
- Exciting Bedroom Design For Kids Design Inspiration Introduce Beautiful Dressers Bedroom Furniture With Charming White Drawers Complete Enticing White Countertop Ideas .... ➥
- Astonishing Bedroom For Teenage Furniture Design Inspiration Integrate Cool White Dressers Bedroom Furniture With Divine Small Drawers Complete Ravishing Wooden Material Ideas .... ➥
- Idyllic Bedroom For Girls Design Inspiration Contain Wonderful Dressers Bedroom Furniture With Astonishing Small Wooden Drawers Complete Pretty White Reading Lamp Decoration .... ➥
- Wondrous Bedroom Varnished Ideas Showcasing Nice Looking Dressers Bedroom Furniture Combine Exquisite Wooden Drawers Complete Exciting Black Ring Handle Decoration .... ➥
- Outstanding Kids Bedroom Deco Establish Divine Dressers Bedroom Furniture With Appealing Wooden Material Also Beautiful White Tone Design Inspiration .... ➥
- Engaging Kids Bedroom Furniture Design Inspiration Presents Mesmerizing Dressers Bedroom Furniture With Excellent Wooden Drawers Complete Outstanding Wall Mirror Decor .... ➥
- Fabulous Bedroom Wooden Furniture Ideas Introducing Overwhelming Dressers Bedroom Furniture With Breathtaking Small Drawers Combine Dazzling Standing Lampshade Table Inspiring Design .... ➥
- Delightful Kids Bedroom Inspiring Design Present Astonishing White Wooden Dressers Bedroom Furniture With Splendid Drawers Combine Charming Flowers Knobs Ideas .... ➥
- Dazzling Bedroom For Girls Deco Show Astounding Dressers Bedroom Furniture With Alluring Wooden Material Complete Brilliant Wooden Drawers Design Inspiration .... ➥
- Ravishing Girls Bedroom Inspiring Design Introduces Endearing Dressers Bedroom Furniture With Shining Metal Drawers Complete Wonderful Small Mirror Ideas .... ➥
- Picturesque Bedroom Furniture Design Combine Stunning Dressers Bedroom Furniture With Awesome Rustic Wooden Material Complete Captivating Drawers Deco .... ➥
- Prepossessing Bedroom Girls Theme Design Ideas Complete Impressive Wooden Dressers Bedroom Furniture With Pretty Vintage Style Also Admirable Small Wooden Drawers Decor .... ➥
- Surprising Bedroom Furniture Ideas Identifying Stunning Dressers Bedroom Furniture Combine Ravishing Wooden Material Plus Exquisite Small Drawers Decoration .... ➥
- Divine Girls Bedroom Furniture Ideas Shows Idyllic Red Wooden Dressers Bedroom Furniture Complete Affordable Drawers Combine Breathtaking Black Knobs Inspiring Design .... ➥
- Divine Bedroom For Adults Inspiring Design Featuring Magnificent Dressers Bedroom Furniture With Charming Wooden Drawers Also Marvelous Bronze Knobs Decoration .... ➥
- Beautiful Kids Bedroom Decor Display Incredible White Dressers Bedroom Furniture With Nice Looking Drawers Adorned Prepossessing Chandelier Ideas .... ➥
- Alluring Adults Bedroom Theme Decoration Integrate Surprising Dressers Bedroom Furniture With Enchanting Wooden Drawers Combine Adorable Mirror Inspiring Design .... ➥
- Gorgeous Kids Bedroom Design Inspiration Integrating Engaging Dressers Bedroom Furniture With Strong Wooden Material Complete Picturesque Flooring Carpet Decor .... ➥
- Fabulous Adults Apartment Bedroom Inspiring Design Integrates Tremendous Dressers Bedroom Furniture With Enchanting Small Drawers Embellish Spectacular Wall Art Frame Decoration .... ➥
- Mesmerizing Girls Bedroom Ideas Identify Innovative Twin Single Bed With Engaging Dressers Bedroom Furniture Combine Magnificent Small Drawers Deco .... ➥
- Entrancing Bedroom Girls Deco Expressing Breathtaking White Dressers Bedroom Furniture With Inviting Small Drawers Combine Impressive Flooring Carpet Design Inspiration .... ➥
- Admirable Bedroom Furniture Decoration Contains Affordable Dressers Bedroom Furniture With Powerful Wooden Drawers Also Enticing Wooden Drawers Ideas .... ➥


text:
A pub in Chesterfield is to close for 80 hours after they were caught selling alcohol to underage volunteers during a test purchase operation.
The Goldminers at Newbold sold booze to the teenagers for a second time in a three month period.
Derbyshire police and trading standards carried out the checks on Thursday, March 20, with the help of teenage volunteers, in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire.
Several premises were visited and a total of three failed, including The Goldminers. £80 fixed penalty notices were issued to staff members at the two other premises who sold the alcohol.
The Goldminers will be closed for 80 hours from 4pm on Thursday, April 24, until 11.59pm on Sunday, April 27.
Test purchasing operations are carried out on regular occasions throughout the county and further operations will take place across the area.


text: XML World 2000, scheduled for September 5 through 8, 2000, in Boston, Massachusetts, will focus exclusively on XML business applications in which XML is making a tangible difference. The conference will help managers seeking insights into a changing landscape and developers wanting to know what tools and techniques work by highlighting how XML can be deployed within products or business environments. This information is particularly useful for Web developers, Internet product managers, new media specialists, information managers, business-to-business integrators, consultants, technology architects, venture capitalists, and content publishers. For addition information, visit http://www.xmlworld.org or call 800-260-7501.


text:
Introduce your students to the latest that Microsoft Office has to offer with the new generation of Shelly Cashman Series books! For the past three decades, the Shelly Cashman Series has effectively introduced computer skills to millions of students. With MICROSOFT WORD 2013, weare continuing our history of innovation by enhancing our proven pedagogy to reflect the learning styles of todayas students. In this text youall find features that are specifically designed to engage students, improve retention, and prepare them for future success. Our trademark step-by-step, screen-by-screen approach now encourages students to expand their understanding of MICROSOFT WORD 2013 through experimentation, critical thought, and personalization. With these enhancements and more, the Shelly Cashman Series continues to deliver the most effective educational materials for you and your students. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.To Run Word and Create a Blank Document If you are using a computer to step through the project in this chapter and youwantyour ... For information about how to change a computera#39;s resolution, refer to the Office and Windows chapter at the anbsp;...
|Microsoft Word 2013: Introductory
|Misty Vermaat
|Cengage Learning - 2013-06-11
You must register with us as either a Registered User before you can Download this Book. You'll be greeted by a simple sign-up page.
Once you have finished the sign-up process, you will be redirected to your download Book page.How it works:


text:
HONOLULU, Hawaii – After taking the first two sets, the Gauchos held off Hawaii's furious comeback and defeated the No. 5 Rainbow Wahine in five sets. It was a historic victory for UCSB as it snapped Hawaii's 41 conference match win streak dating back to 2008. It was also the program's first win over Hawaii since 1994.
"What a huge night for Gaucho volleyball," UCSB Head Coach Nicole Lantagne Welch said. "I'm so incredibly proud of our team. Our team came out and played aggressive, believed, and finished!"
Katey Thompson was the go-to player on offense, as she finished with 19 kills on the night while swinging for a .200 kill percentage. Helping UCSB out block the Rainbow Wahine 19-11, Thompson also added a team-high 10 block assists and a solo block to the Gaucho effort.
Ali Spindt and Ali Barbeau added kill totals of 12 and 10, respectively. Spindt also tallied 17 digs on the night for her fifth consecutive double-double performance, seventh overall. Leading UCSB in the digs category was Leah Sully with her season-high of 22.
The Gauchos are now on a three-match winning streak. They raise their conference record to 3-1, and 8-8 overall, while the Rainbow Wahine is now 4-1 in Big West play, and are 15-2 overall.
UCSB hit the ground running in the first set as they hit .438 while holding Hawaii to just .226 on their kill attempts. The Gauchos used this hitting efficiency most notably in an early 7-3 run. Opening the scoring spree was Thompson who delivered the first UCSB kill of the night to get the Gauchos on the board at 1-1.
Phoebe Grunt added a kill of her own, and also combined with Thompson for a block during the stretch. Allie Sullberg capped it all off with consecutive kills to give the Gauchos the 8-4 lead.
UCSB had 16 kills in the set and only committed two errors en route to a 25-19 victory over the Rainbow Wahine. Defensively, the Gauchos denied any chance for Hawaii's offense to get into rhythm, as they could string together no more than three points in a row.
"I thought our defense was outstanding tonight," Lantagne Welch said. "What we didn't block, we dug, and it put a lot of pressure on their pin hitters."
The Gauchos picked up right where they left off with the start of the second game when they attacked their way to an 11-3 lead. Seven of UCSB's points came off kills from five different players. Ali Spindt and Thompson each led with a pair of kills to give their team the commanding lead.
Hawaii mounted runs of their own to shrink the deficit to three points at 20-17. However, UCSB's early lead would prove to be too much to overcome, as the Gauchos used two kills from Grunt and Barbeau to help seal the 25-20 victory and the 2-0 lead going into the break.
Hawaii answered back UCSB's hot start by pulling off wins in the third and fourth games to force set five.
To start the decisive game, Hawaii was playing with the momentum they picked up after winning two straight sets and battled to a 10-9 lead. Ali Barbeau was key in keeping UCSB in close contention as she accounted for three straight Gaucho kills during that time.
A Wahine attacking error tied the score, giving UCSB its opening to retake the lead. Phoebe Grunt took advantage of the opportunity with a kill, triggering a 4-1 UCSB run. Katey Thompson gave the Gauchos match-point opportunity with her 16th kill of the night, and she would go on to end the match when she and Allie Sullberg blocked Hawaii's final attack, securing the historic upset victory.
"We came very close to winning a few big matches earlier this season," Lantagne Welch noted. "But tonight, we showed we matured by being able to take care of business in the fifth after losing sets three and four against such a great program and in their great home environment."
The Gauchos will return to the Thunderdome next weekend to take on Cal State Northridge and UC Davis.


text:
Vince Fumo knew all the right people -- and they were there for him when he needed them.
Born 66 years ago into a successful South Philly family that owned a savings-and-loan association (back when they were associated with George Bailey and not with Charles Keating), Fumo built on that and chose a life in politics -- and with his MENSA-level IQ, he not only read up on Machiavelli but acted it out in his own wonderful life when he earned his Machiavellian-inspired nickname, the Prince of Darkness. If you are reading this and you are not a Philadelphian, it hardly does Fumo justice to describe him as merely a state senator, which was nominally his job from 1978 through 2008. For much of that time, Fumo was the de facto boss within the Democratic machine, the man to see in one of the most corrupt cities in America.
His duties as a lawmaker in Harrisburg still allowed Fumo time to build his family S&L, where he was now chairman, into a lucrative cash machine even as he also worked as "rainmaker" for a leading Philadelphia law firm. He held enormous sway over legislation from the state Senate Appropriations Committee, but his tentacles were everywhere, from the city's byzantine system of Democratic ward politics to obscure cash-rich agencies like the Delaware River Port Authority or the Board of City Trusts that were under the sway of Fumo allies. In 1991, Ed Rendell was elected mayor of Philadelphia, ostensibly to clean up the then-nearly bankrupt city, but instead his first mission was to kowtow to Vince Fumo, because Fumo was the guy "who could get things done," even as he moved from power lunches at the ritzy Palm to the luxury boxes at the old Vet to vacations in Florida and Martha's Vineyard. And there was one more very important thing about Vince Fumo.
He was a common crook, stealing the money that you and I paid in state and city taxes.
His rich and powerful friends had plenty of warnings. In fact, in one of those only-in-Philly political moments, Fumo was actually facing felony charges for putting "ghost employees" on the state payroll in 1978, the same year he was elected a senator. A jury of his "peers" -- i.e., regular schlubs like you and me -- voted unanimously to find Fumo guilty. But a federal judge -- one of his real peers -- threw the conviction out. Talk about foreshadowing!
As a senator, Fumo apparently felt his power and his ability to "get things done" for the city entitled him to an even more lucrative lifestyle, financed by what Fumo callled "OPM" -- other people's money. At the height of his power, the lawmaker convinced the state-regulated electric utility PECO to donate the ungodly sum of $$ million to a non-profit group that Fumo and his allies controlled. Later on, Fumo would be accused -- and ultimately convicted -- of stealing $1 million from that non-profit for his personal use. He also used state employees to fix up the large mansion he used in Philadelphia, spy on his ex-girlfriend, and work outside a farm he bought near Harrisburg. Prosecutors successfully alleged that Fumo's schemes looted another $1 million from the state treasury. In one of his more outlandish schemes, he even commandeered a yacht from Philly's Independence Seaport Museum.
In other words, Fumo was the poster child for Philadelphia's political corruption during a long era in which tens of thousands of residents gave up on the city altogether, while the left behind suffered under an unresponsive city and state government. And so when Fumo was convicted on every single count of an 137-count felony indictment, Philadelphia's pols, the city's rich and powerful, responded to the actions that sullied the city and sullied them. But not with outrage.
They responded with -- wait for it -- empathy.
Sure he did he some bad things, they said, but remember he also "got things done." Here is what Ed Rendell, now the governor of Pennsylvania, in not his first case of writing or testfying for a corrupt public officials, wrote to the federal judge who would be sentencing Fumo. He said that the senator-turned-felon Fumo was a "ruthless politician" but one with "a deep sense of social responsibility." Meanwhile, a U.S. congressman -- Bob Brady, the Fumo ally who also runs the Philadelphia Democratic Party -- also wrote the judge after the 137 felony convictions to say that Fumo was "honest and forthright." Another pro-Fumo letter came from the former chief justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
All told, some 250 people asked the judge for leniency, and when his sentencing came today, Fumo's clout-wielding friends, including two state senators and a city councilman, packed the federal courthouse. It was clear that the federal judge -- Ronald L. Buckwalter -- was already getting the message. Even before today's hearing, Buckwalter had issued a ruling that reduced the maximum possible sentence from 27 years to 14 years. Even then, Fumo's sentence was just a fraction of that. Just 55 months -- barely more than four-and-a-half years. Put another way, millionaire Fumo will serve just 12 days for each of the 137 felonies he committed against Pennsylvania taxpayers.
Never mind that Fumo's sentence is ridiculously short even when compared to other local corruption cases, including former city treasurer Corey Kemp, a not-so-well-connected out-of-town native whose crimes were arguably much less egregious than Fumo and who is now doing 10 years in the federal pen, or the former head of the Seaport Museum whose yacht Fumo pirated, who pleaded guilty to stealing $1.5 million (i.e., less than Fumo) and was sentenced to 15 years. The bottom line is that Fumo's abbreviated sentence is an outrage no matter what you compare it to.
There was a great irony here that was noted by the prosecutors prior to Fumo's sentencing. As reported in the Inquirer:
The prosecutors said Fumo displayed a different attitude toward a man accused of stealing an ornamental fence in his district.
They cited an e-mail in which Fumo wrote that he wanted to know in advance whom the assigned judge was and to check with the District Attorney's Office. "I want [expletive] Jail Time on this one. 1st offense or not!"
That poor guy who stole a fence was never going to get "empathy" from the criminal justice system. Even mid-level public officials like Corey Kemp don't get empathy. The only people who truly get actual empathy -- with letters and words of praise from governors and congressmen -- are the rich and powerful, the last people who actually need it the least. I know some people are going to blame this today on political party -- and God knows that the Philadelphia Democrat machine deserves every harsh word it gets, But you should know that Buckwalter was named to the federal bench by a Republican president, George H.W. Bush. This isn't about partisan politics, it's about class, and power.
That's why the timing of this is so grating. At the very moment that Fumo was getting slapped on the wrist, a bunch of Republican senators -- powerful, rich guys who happened to look a lot like Vince Fumo -- down in Washington had the nerve to complain that a Latina judge who came from the projects by way of the Ivy League might dare to show some "empathy" for the occasional poor or downtrodden whose cases might actually make it all the way through to the U.S. Supreme Court.
As if there wasn't already empathy in the American justice system... but for people like Vince Fumo, people like themselves. As CQ's Craig Crawford reported today from the Sotomayor hearing (h/t Atrios): "They are coming across as a bunch of snarky and bitter old white men who cannot bear the thought of their kind losing power." Exactly. What's happening in Washington isn't even so much about Latinos or women or others gaining power, or empathy, or whatever you want to call it, but about the notion that the Vince Fumo class could actually lose that mojo, and the terror that that creates.
How ironic that the Fumo outrage comes on the 220th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille? Two centuries later, and the First Estate is still hoarding all the gunpowder, metaphorically speaking. Hopefully what's happening in D.C. is one small step towards crashing the gate for good.


text:
Hi there!
I have a problem:
I have a small LAN set up at home and I'm sharing some folders in one of the computers through netbios. I have an antivirus on that shared folder.
My question is, how can start the antivirus on the computer where im sharing that folder. The problem is that by default when you execute it from a different computer, the antivirus is actually opened in the computer from where you are calling the file. Not in the computer where the file is shared.


text:
Re: The causes for wisdom
Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 3:15 am
The brief comment and the suttas texts themselves make a decent case. It would seem that otherwise if yoniso manasikara is only experienced by an ariya, you are left with the problem of being ariya arising from ayoniso manasikara. As i said, and as the suttas I quoted, I do not find your position compelling. By extension, your position would require than there is no jhana, no insights, no sila, right view, no right anything expect for the ariya, and you are left with the question of how one goes from being a worldling to being an ariya.pulga wrote:Apart from his brief comment in his footnote I have never seen anything written by Ven. Bodhi supporting his reasons for departing from this fundamentally important aspect of the tradition.tiltbillings wrote:The problem is, however, that you still have not effectively countered Ven Bodhi's educated demurral, or the other sutta statements that do not support your position.


text:
I caught glimpses of Amanda's wedding on Facebook, so when she sent me the pictures to post, I jumped at the chance! Its so sweet and simple, and I love that she did all her own florals, and thought about the personality of each bridesmaid for their bouquets.
What is special about a wedding is that it allows every detail and choice to reflect your personality. When Jeremy and I began the planning process we knew right away that we wanted to keep our guest list small and have a relaxed and informal wedding. We call Brooklyn home and we wanted our out-of-town family and friends to experience the best of Brooklyn as they celebrated with us.
A neighborhood garden on Bergen Street served as the perfect location for our ceremony and a pre-ceremony cocktail hour. We served fresh fruit and cold drinks and Jeremy and I were able to greet each person as they arrived. After everyone arrived we invited them to stand near us for the short ceremony. Afterwards everyone walked over to the Flatbush Farm for an amazing meal.
As a florist, I love so many different flowers and it was tough to decide what I wanted to use for the bouquets and centerpieces. My personal style tends to be very clean and simple, and I don't like too many flowers mixed together. My bridesmaids carried bouquets of all one type of flower that I thought fit their personality. Jeremy wanted his boutonniere to be a dark flower– so I used a great summer flower called scabiosa. My bouquet was a bunch of white astilbe. For the centerpieces I filled mason jars with hosta leaves, fern, chamomile and millet grass.
Brides' ring: St. Kilda
Grooms' ring: Fly Rite Tattoo
Favors: black & white cookies from Mazzola Bakery
Officiant: Rev. Charles Gilmore
Photographer: Marisela Vargas
Flowers: QuatreCoeur
Reception dinner: Flatbush Farm
[iages from Marisela Vargas]


text:
Part 5 of the TED Radio Hour episode The End Of Privacy.
About Alessandro Acquisti's TED Talk
Behavioral economist Alessandro Acquisti studies how everyday decisions contribute to blurring the line between our public and private lives.
About Alessandro Acquisti
Behavioral economist Alessandro Acquisti examines the paradox of privacy in an age when people freely disclose public information. He is a professor of information technology and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University.
His team's studies on facial recognition software showed that it can connect an anonymous human face to an online name, and a Facebook account in about 3 seconds. Other work shows how easy it can be to find a U.S. citizen's Social Security number using public data.
Hello, Alessandro.
ALESSANDRO ACQUISTI: Hi there.
RAZ: So there are a couple things I know about you.
ACQUISTI: I'm curious.
RAZ: This is Alessandro Acquisti. He teaches at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh. So you're 40 or 41, roughly, right?
ACQUISTI: Mhm.
RAZ: You studied at Trinity in Dublin, at the LSC in London, PhD at Berkeley.
ACQUISTI: That is true.
RAZ: Your father's name is Giancarlo. He's a banker, but really his passion was for the piano. And together you wrote an opera about the painter Raphael and his lover.
ACQUISTI: That's correct.
RAZ: Alessandro studies the consequences of sharing private information. So that's just like a little bit of information, but even little things can become hugely sensitive information.
ACQUISTI: Yes, you can start from little pieces, and you can build more and more personal, more and more interesting, and sometimes more and more sensitive information.
RAZ: And how? Alessandro's about to blow your mind from the TED stage.
ACQUISTI: Back in the year 2000, about 100 billion photos were shot worldwide, but only a miniscule proportion of them were actually uploaded online. In 2010, only on Facebook in a single month, 2.5 billion photos were uploaded. Most of them identified. In the same span of time, computers' ability to recognize people in photos improved by three orders of magnitude. What happens when you combine these technologies together - increasing availability of facial data, improving facial recognizing ability by computers, but also cloud computing, which gives anyone in this theater the kind of computational power, which a few years ago, was only the domain of three letter agencies. Well, we conjecture that the result of this combination of technologies will be a radical change in our very notions of privacy and anonymity.
RAZ: And Alessandro found that it's not that hard to use this technology to do some pretty unbelievable things like, identifying a stranger's name just from a snapshot or even predicting their Social Security number from when and where they were born. By the way, all stuff you can find on Google or Facebook. See, what I don't get is, as individuals, we are going to be on the hook for this, right, because we trade our privacy for convenience, right.
Like, I like burritos, right, so sometimes I'll order a burrito from Chipotle, right. And I'll use the app on my phone because it is so convenient. And then I'll just walk in, and I'll just pick up my burrito. And it's already wrapped in that silver foil. It's perfect. And they know every burrito I have ever ordered from them because it comes from my phone through my app. Who knows what they're going to do with that information?
ACQUISTI: When you give away personal information, nowadays, you must often get some kind of immediate discount, some kind of immediate benefits. It could be you having the convenience of ordering the burrito from your app, and the burrito is ready when you want it, exactly how you want it. It could be you uploading a photo in a social network, and your friends click on 'like,' 'like,' 'like,' which gives you these little, but important psychological boosts. Whereas, the potential cost of doing so are, first of all, uncertain. There could be no cost whatsoever or there could be a cost. If there is a cost, it will not appear, most likely, now. It will happen down the line. It could happen five years later when a potential employer sees this particular photo of you, and doesn't like this photo at all. Or from your eating habits, I can infer your likelihood of getting high cholesterol...
RAZ: Yeah.
ACQUISTI: ...Or developing certain diseases.
RAZ: So, like, insurers - insurance could look at your social media history.
ACQUISTI: Yes. I can certainly imagine it.
RAZ: I mean, they are - insurers and potential employers and university administrators, I mean, they all have access to this information. They can build a pretty good profile of almost anybody in the world who has ever been on the Internet and who has ever logged in.
ACQUISTI: Well, the individual administrator, the individual employer or the individual insurance company - not yet have the ability of finding everything about anyone. That's something that maybe search engines and social networks can do. As we reveal more and more about ourselves, as the commerce and the trade in personal information becomes more accepted and prevalent - whether, indeed, there will be shops where I can go and buy all the information about you before, you know, I want to hire you or before, you know, we go on a date.
ACQUISTI: In a movie which came out a few years ago - "Minority Report,"...
NARRATOR: A road diverges in the dessert...
ACQUISTI: ...A famous scene had Tom Cruise walk in a mall.
NARRATOR: The road you're on, John Anderton, is the one less traveled.
ACQUISTI: And holographic personalized advertising would appear around him.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER #1: John Anderton.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER #2: Try one night...
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER #3: You could use a Guinness right about now.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER #4: John Anderton.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER #5: Get away, John Anderton.
ACQUISTI: Now the movie is set in 2054, about 40 years from now. And as exciting as that technology looks, it already vastly underestimates the amount of information the organization can get about you. And now they can use it to influence you in a way that you will not even detect. So as an example, imagine that an organization has access to your list of Facebook friends. And through some kind of algorithm, they can detect the two friends that you like the most.
And then they create, in real-time, a facial composite of these two friends. Now studies prior to ours have shown that people don't recognize, any longer, even themselves in facial composites, but they react to those composites in a positive manner. So next time you are looking for a certain product and there is an ad suggesting you to buy it, it will not be just a standard spokesperson. It will be one of your friends. And you will not even know that this is happening.
RAZ: That's creepy. I mean, that scares me.
ACQUISTI: You suddenly don't want to order burritos with your app any longer?
RAZ: I don't want to order burritos with my app anymore. No.
ACQUISTI: Do you know the story about the frog and the boiling water?
RAZ: That you put them in there slowly, and they kind of just hangout and heat it up slowly. But if you throw it in the boiling water, it jumps out. That one?
ACQUISTI: Right. I've always been wondering when it comes to privacy, whether we are like the frog in the water. And the water is slowly getting hotter and hotter, and then it's boiling, and we just stay there. Because the need to disclose and to share is a very important human need, but so is the need for privacy.
RAZ: Are you worried about where this is going?
ACQUISTI: I am concerned, and not in the sense that I expect to live in a "Big Brother," "1984," kind of world anytime soon. In fact, I am more concerned about the brave new world kind of scenario where we have willingly given away our autonomy in exchange for a little bit of convenience, in exchange for an app, which makes buying the burrito we like much faster, much easier.
ACQUISTI: I do believe that one of the defining fights of our times will be the fight for the control over personal information. The fight over whether big data will become a force for freedom rather than a force which will hiddenly manipulate us. Right now, many of us do not even know that the fight is going on, but it is whether you like it or not. And I will tell you that the tools for the fight are here - the awareness of what is going on in your hands just a few clicks away. Thank you.
RAZ: Alessandro Acquisti. He's an associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University. You can see his full talk with some amazing and alarming photos at TED.NPR.org.
SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON: (Singing) Baby, do me a favor, keep our business to yourself. Please, darling, do me a favor, keep our business to yourself. I don't want you to tell nobody, no family and don't mention it to nobody else.
RAZ: Hey, thanks for listening to our show on privacy this week. If you missed any of it or you want to hear more or you want to find out more about who was on it, you can visit TED.NPR.org. And if you want to weigh in, check out our collaboration with the Huffington Post on this episode. Go to huff.to/yourprivacy, and send in your thoughts. You can find many, many more TED talks at TED.com. And you can download this program through iTunes or through the NPR smartphone app. I'm Guy Raz. You've been listening to ideas worth spreading on the TED Radio Hour from NPR. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.