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I'm married to a muslim to whom I'm losing trust. We've been married for a few years. I knew him prior to marriage and I (we) did repent for that. But he has gone off on (2) different occasions to acquire a second wife. On both occasions the sisters that he married seemed more out of desire and assuming that things would be different with marrying a less than knowledgable individual that lack basic manners and deen. Even after knowing this at the time of marriage, he consumates then complains that he wants this second wife to have similar manners and deen as I do. My concern is that he has reveiled his past (I know that as muslims we should keep these things to ourselves) and he was married several times as a kafir, and cheated on these wives and now it seems that he's using Islam as a justification for doing this (having mutiple wives). He's says that he loves me, but I feel that he's just used to me and my good manners and resourcefulness, but he doesn't attempt to treat the second spouse the way he treats me. He is very open to tell me things about the second spouse that I don't want to hear.
Both marriages were seemed to be performed in a very sneaky and questionable manner. I don't have a enough space to go into the details. He has stated on occassions that he has to have a second wife. Is it allowed in Islam for a man to marry and divorce as many women as he wants (I know no more than 4 at one time), but one every few months, even if he's just marrying another woman for the purpose of having something different temporarily? With the intent of using one of her negative qualities as a reason for divorce? We do not have children. Am I allowed to request a divorce on the grounds that I cannot continue to cope with these situations and I'm losing the love and desire for my husband.
It is obligatory for both spouses to keep the secrets of the marriage, especially anything that has to do with their intimate relationship in bed. The wife is entrusted with the husband's secrets and the husband is entrusted with the wife's secrets.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) turned to the men and said, "Is there any man among you who, when he comes to his wife, he locks the door, throws his blanket over himself and conceals himself with the cover of Allaah?" They said, "Yes." He said, "And does he sit after that and say, 'I did such and such, and I did such and such?'" They remained silent. Then he turned to the women and said, "Is there anyone among you who speaks (of private marital matters)?" They remained silent. Then a buxom young girl sat up tall so that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would see her and hear her words, and said, "O Messenger of Allaah, (the men) speak and (the women) speak." He said, "Do you know what the likeness of that is? The likeness of that is that of a female devil who meets a male devil in the street and he fulfils his desire with her when the people are looking on."
Narrated by Abu Dawood, 2174. Classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami', 7037.
With regard to your husband's other marriages, if that is for the purpose of "having a change" as you say, then this is marriage with the intention of divorcing, which is deceiving the woman and her guardians (walis).
Shaykh Muhammad Rasheed Rida (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
The fact that the scholars of the earlier and later generations emphatically forbade mut'ah (temporary marriage) implies that marriage with the intention of divorce is haraam, even though the fuqaha' said that a marriage contract is valid if the husband intends it to be temporary but did not state that as a condition in the marriage contract; but his concealing that is regarded as a betrayal and deceit, and this contract deserves to be annulled more than one in which he stipulated the condition that it be temporary with the agreement of the husband, the wife and the wife's guardian. This leads to many evil consequences as it is abusing this great bond which is the greatest of human relationships, and going along with one's whims and desires. When this condition is not stated clearly, that is cheating and betrayal which leads to other bad consequences such as enmity, hatred and loss of trust even of sincere people who want to get married in the real sense, which means protecting the chastity of both partners and cooperating in establishing a righteous home…
Quoted from Fiqh al-Sunnah by al-Sayyid al-Saabiq, 2/39
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) spoke similar words on the prohibition of such marriages. He said:
Moreover this view – the view that (such marriages) are permitted – may be exploited by those who are weak in faith for evil purposes, as we hear that some people have started to go on vacation, during time off from studies, to other countries to get married with the intention of divorcing soon. I have been told that some of them marry several wives on these trips, as if they go there only to satisfy their desires which are more like zina (adultery, fornication) – we seek refuge with Allaah.
Because of this we think that even if there is a view that it is permitted, it is not appropriate to open this door because it has becomes a means that leads to that which we have mentioned.
With regard to my opinion on this matter, I say that this marriage contract is a valid contract, but it involves deceit and betrayal, so it may become haraam because of that.
It is deceit and betrayal because the wife and her guardian, if they knew the intention of this husband, and that his intention is to enjoy intimacy with her and then divorce her, they would not adept this marriage. So in that sense he is deceiving and betraying them.
If he tells them that he wants her to stay with him for the duration of his visit to that country, and they agree to that, then this marriage is mut'ah (temporary marriage).
Hence I think that it is haraam, but if anyone goes ahead and does it, then the marriage contract is valid, but it involves sin.
Liqa' al-Baab al-Maftooh, Question 1391.
But if he married you with the intention of making the marriage permanent, and he has no intention of divorce, but then something happens which is a reason for divorce, then there is no sin on him in that case.
With regard to his getting married in secret, if that is in the presence of the woman's guardian and two witnesses, and the marriage contract is done in that fashion, then it is a valid marriage. But if it is done without the woman's guardian or without the presence of two witnesses, then the marriage is not valid. See questions no. 7989 and 2127.
We advise your husband to fear Allaah with regard to his family, and to fear Him with regard to people's honour. He should note that it is not permissible for him to fool about in this manner, for marriage is love, tranquility and compassion, so he should not make it merely a means of satisfying his desire and then abandon the woman.
We also advise you to be gentle in denouncing your husband, and to preserve the stability of the home, and be sure of what you mention about his intention in taking several wives and what you do not like about him. Remember that a woman's jealousy towards co-wives may lead her to make mountains out of molehills, and the waswaas (whispers) of the Shaytaan may make it worse, with the aim of disrupting the stability of Muslim families.
So look at the matter with a little wisdom, especially the matter of his intention, which you cannot really know. Ask Allaah to show you the truth of the matter, and pray istikhaarah with regard to either staying with him or asking for separation. Think about your situation if you get divorced and what the consequences of that would be, then decide whether it is better for you to leave him or to stay and put up with it. If you cannot bear it because of the things you have mentioned, then you have the right to ask for separation.
And Allaah knows best.


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And Well Done Dave
Sir Edmund Shaa
Lord Mayor Of London 1482
A couple of weeks ago Dave went to Mottram to take photos of the Blue Plaque commemorating Sir Edmund Shaa which the Tameside website said was on Church Brow in Mottram.
Sir Edmund Shaa
Lord Mayor Of London 1482
The first photo should show the plaque, but the spot was completely covered by foliage. Dave contacted Tameside Council to tell them about this and Friday he had an email saying that they've had the foliage cleared, and the last two photos are what he found when I went there Friday afternoon.
Dave was well pleased and rightly so by another excellent response from Tameside Council! It was Dave, John Thornley and myself that bought the broken Hyde Lads Club monument to Councillor Fitzpatrick's attention and he and the council promptly dealt with... well done again to all concerned.

subset: commoncrawl


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Choose your location from the list below to view the correct local market pricing, delivery times and shipping costs for your destination
My Order
Bold and edgy designs define the Schutz brand. With silhouettes ranging from daring stilettos to natty flats, the Brazilian-based label has shoes for any occasion, making it the go-to for fashion insiders. Even style heroine Olivia Palermo has been spotted in the 'Irma' pumps more than once.


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Morgan's College Essay
One of our DFLA members, Kristen Hayes, forwarded me her daughter's college essay. I was so impressed with this young woman's compassion and understanding of the complexity of abortion that I immediately asked if I could share it with our membership.
We hear that young people are more pro-life than previous generations. Slogans, such as "I survived the abortion holocaust" from Generation Xers and "Abortion is not a Human Right" from Millennials have replaced the baby boomer signs calling for a "woman's right to choose". In 1995, the year Morgan was born, for every ten live births, there were three abortions. That number, sadly, has remained fairly consistent.
Morgan could have been on the wrong side of the statistic. Her mom, a young college student, was pressured to have an abortion, but instead decided to choose life, despite lack of health insurance and little support outside of her family and close family friends.
Most women do not face the decision to have an abortion and are misled to think it is a "quick and easy solution" to an unplanned pregnancy. Never mind the volumes of research and testimonials from women and men who had, or encourage someone to have, an abortion.
Morgan writes, "I am pro-life because I want women to know that they do not need to forfeit their child to fit into a mold of society, and I hope that one day this nation transforms so that women no longer have to suffer in silence."
Young advocates like Morgan give me hope that this day will soon be a reality.
You can read Morgan's essay here.


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There are three characteristics that define a "scraping" website:
- The scraping websites copy and republish the exact content of other websites
- The scraping website contains no original content or value
- The scraping websites provide no unique organization or benefit to the user
The initial difficulty here is differentiating between "scraping," as an activity, and news aggregators or readers. Essentially, what a reader does and what a scraper does are identical. The main, and most important, difference is that a reader or aggregator bases its activity on the voluntary and intentional activity of a user who benefits from the aggregation. Commonly, a reader or aggregator will use an RSS feed that has to be initiated by a specific user of the reader or aggregator program. In contrast, the scraper website collects content from sites determined by the programmer of the website, not for the programmer's personal use, but for the purpose of attracting "hits" to promote advertising on the scraping website and thereby benefit the programmer.
At first glance, you may think that the key difference between the two types of activities is obtaining permission from the target websites; those aggregated by the reader user and those scraped by the website scraper. This is not the case. I can use any number of aggregator programs to "watch" the content of specific websites for changes in content both with or without the permission or knowledge of the target website. So we must look elsewhere to determine the reason why we would accept the actions of a reader or news aggregator and decry the actions of a website scraper.
I think the key difference is the venue where the scraped or aggregated content is used or displayed. If I subscribe to a website through a reader or aggregator, the resulting content is displayed for my personal use in my own program. As I noted already, a website scraper has an entirely different motivation. The content is displayed openly on the Web and is used to attract "hits" to the scraping website with the expectation that the hits will generate income. But then this point raises another issue. Aren't any of the websites that are monetized doing exactly the same thing? Don't those of us who have advertising on on blogs or websites hope that the clicks on the ads will generate some form of income? If I go on Google+ or Facebook and give people a link to a website, I suggest, as is done in many technology groups on the Web, aren't I doing the same thing as a scraping website? It would be nice to believe that the contributors with links to suggested websites were motivated by altruistic desires to better mankind, but their participation is more likely monetarily based. They would like to attract more traffic to their own websites and thereby promote their own economic well-being. But again, on one side we see this activity as "valid" when done in a certain context and other activities as invalid.
So what is it about a website scraper that is objectionable? If a monetary motive is commonly assumed for most web content and the scrapers aren't doing anything too much different from other legitimate activities, why do we think scraping is bad and the other activities are "good" or "acceptable?"
I need to get back to the idea of permission. Do I need your permission to provide a link to your website? Obviously not. Do I need your permission to summarize or quote some of your content? Again, obviously not. But the second question depends on the extent of my quote or copy. This gets back into the issue of fair use in copyright law, which I will leave alone for now. Is then the issue with scraping websites only dependent on the fact that the scraping is done without permission or even knowledge of the target site? It doesn't appear to me that permission is an issue. For example, if my site is included in an article talking about the forty best blogging sites, am I going to be upset? Not likely.
So why is there outrage about scraping? If the scraping website uses more than a link to the target sites, there may well be copyright issues. If the scraping website includes a substantial portion of the content of the target sites, again, there may be copyright issues. But the real issue here is something a lot less obvious.
Scraping websites are more like spam and graffiti than they are like legitimate websites containing content. At the core, they are destructive rather than constructive. They take up time and space on the Internet without adding anything of value in return. It is the lack of content that is the issue. You can't claim freedom of speech when there is no speech. In other words they are worse than the people who drop flyers and business cards in my front yard, because they are using my content to promote their own purposes without either adding value or providing meaningful service. They are essentially spam. In addition to wasting people's time with an unwanted website, spam and scrapers both eat up a lot of network bandwidth. In that way, scraping falls into the category of being destructive rather than constructive.


text: Unlocks a gold jewelry set for your MyPLAYER that provides a +3 boost to all attributes. Collection includes gold watch, bracelet, earrings and rings. Attribute boosts are applied upon ownership, and jewelry items need not be worn to receive boosts. Collections do not stack, and if multiple collections are owned, only the highest boost will be applied to your MyPLAYER.


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Your Food Through a Filter: Readers Cook The Kitchn
Last week we asked you to share photos on Instagram of recipes you've made from The Kitchn. It was, in short, a delicious success. From Nutella cookies to summer rolls here are some of the 'grams we fell in love with.
- 1 Two-Bite Nutella Cookies from paperplatesblog
- 2 Whole Wheat Bread from ltella
- 3 Roast Chicken from blgerig
- 4 Summer Rolls from strubesnbishes_dishes
- 5 Birthday Cake Marshmallows from lulupetals
- 6 Fried Rice from golly
- 7 Cauliflower & Chicken Sausage Casserole from funaek
Have you made something from The Kitchn? Show us! Use the hash tag #thekitchn when you post your photo to Instagram and we'll choose some of our favorites to regram and put on Pinterest.
Previous → If You Make Our Recipes, Show Us!
Follow Us On Instagram → thekitchn
Readers Cook The Kitchn on Pinterest → Readers Cook The Kitchn
(Images: as linked)


text: Student Profiles Zvi Shapiro '07 Zvi Shapiro '07 Major: Psychology Hometown: Jerusalem, Israel Why did you choose to come to Bowdoin? I was born and raised in Israel, so I barely knew anything about colleges in the United States before I began looking into schools. To make things worse, even though my parents grew up here, their knowledge was only relevant up to the late sixties when they moved to Israel. I ended up researching schools using college guidebooks and narrowed the possibilities after consulting my relatives. After visiting a few schools I decided to apply to Bowdoin as an early decision candidate. Why did you choose your major? When I was a little kid my brother took an introduction to psychology class. I was immediately fascinated with the idea of investigating people. Pretty soon after that my brother decided he couldn't stand psychology, but I was already hooked. Even though psychology turned out to be very different from what I (somewhat romantically) imagined it to be, I can't imagine a more interesting subject matter. What has been a course you especially enjoyed at Bowdoin? All the psychology classes I have taken with Professor Barbara Held fall into this category. The combination of Professor Held's intellect, humor, and extremely strong personality meant that there was a great interplay between humor and a serious consideration and reconsideration of ideas. I'm still impressed by the extensiveness of the notes I took considering the class did not have a final exam. I also really enjoyed taking Japanese. Because I was somewhat traumatized by my past experience studying Arabic, I was very hesitant to study such a notoriously difficult language. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that despite the inevitable rigorous nature of the classes, the professors always made them fun. What professor or professors have especially inspired you during your time at Bowdoin? I have been lucky to be able to work closely with my advisor, Professor Louisa Slowiaczek, during the school year and the summer. She has provided me with an amazing example of being serious about your work while maintaining a sense of fun. Also inspiring has been Professor Slowiaczek's devotion to students. I don't think I've encountered a more welcoming and helpful professor. I am also grateful for the opportunity to have taken three classes with Professor Suzanne Lovett. All of Professor Lovett's classes have been enjoyable, but her senior seminar has been especially helpful in teaching me how to seriously approach, read, and analyze academic papers. Have you engaged in any independent research while at Bowdoin? I previously worked on one independent study with Professor Slowiaczek. I helped her with an experiment looking at the extent to which word typicality affects people's processing of those words. Specifically, we looked into whether nouns and verbs that have typical word patterns are processed faster than nouns with verb-like patterns and vice versa. I am currently conducting two independent studies. The first is also with Professor Slowiaczek. I am assisting in her work examining the relationship between emotions and the way we process words. I am conducting a second independent study in psychology with Professor Sam Putnam. This study mainly consists of a literature review examining the relationship between temperamental attributes and the emergence of behavioral problems. What extracurricular or work experiences have you had at Bowdoin? I began my work experience at the Information Technology (IT) Department's Student Help Desk during the spring of my freshman year. I continued working there for another semester and during the summer of my junior year. I also began working as a research assistant for Professor Slowiaczek during the same summer. I enjoyed my job at IT but I decided to focus on working within the psychology department so I could gain work experience in the field of psychology. I continued working for Professor Slowiaczek as a research assistant last semester and also as an Introduction to Psychology study group facilitator. This semester I'm continuing to work as a study group facilitator in Professor Putnam's class. Did you study abroad during your time at Bowdoin? I spent seven months studying and living in Japan. I was lucky enough to receive a Freeman Fellowship to study in Japan so I started out by taking an intensive summer language class at the Japan Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU). JCMU is located near the somewhat polluted Lake Biwa (we still swam in it) in Hikone, a city close to Osaka. One of my Japanese professors, Sato Sensei, happens to teach during the summer. I continued my stay by spending the fall semester studying in Chiba Prefecture, which is located near Tokyo, and living with a host family. Choosing to live with a host family has been one of the decisions I'm happiest about. I got to practice my Japanese every night with my host mother and sisters. I saw relatively little of my host father who worked very long hours, like most Japanese men. I even got to introduce my host family to my real family (who visited me), and to two of my Bowdoin friends when we traveled to Japan over spring break. I also was given a "field placement" as part of an anthropology class that examined the Japanese workplace. I was placed at Meitetsu Kankou Ryokou Gaisha, which is a travel agency located in Ginza, one of the most expensive areas of Tokyo. Because I was unable to perform most jobs, I was constantly sent to pick up various leaflets from hotels and department stores. Still, I got some idea about what a traditional Japanese workplace is like. I finished my study-abroad experience by traveling on my own for a little over two weeks. I used a special pass that allowed me to take unlimited local trains so I spent an average of about four to five hours each day on trains slowly traveling from Tokyo to the southern tip of Kyushu, the southernmost mainland island. Train rides were a combination of amazing views, meeting and talking to different people (some nice, some not), and anxiously staring out the window in case I missed my stop. Growing up in a foreign country and coming from a family of travelers made me think that Japan would not overwhelm me. However, Japanese culture combines so many foreign and familiar elements that it's difficult trying to describe the exact differences and similarities between the cultures. I would wholeheartedly recommend the study abroad experience. As I said before, the experience inspired me to return to Japan for spring break with two of my friends. I feel fortunate to have been able to show them some of the places and things that left such a strong impression on me. What have you done during your summers? My lack of concrete summer plans after freshman year left me somewhat stranded in Israel with nothing to do. I ended up taking a bartending class, seeing a lot of movies at the Jerusalem film festival and on video, and spending time with all my friends. Unfortunately, my friends are attending Israeli universities, which operate on slightly different schedule. I was unlucky enough to be around during their busiest time of the year. I returned to Bowdoin with the realization that I need to plan out my summers in advance. As a result I spent the following summer taking an intensive Japanese language class in Japan. Last summer I stayed in Brunswick and worked as a research assistant for Professor Slowiaczek. What is your best Bowdoin memory? One of my best memories is dressing up as a spider for Halloween after my roommate dressed up as a ladybug. Both costumes were originally intended for five or six year olds, and we had to creatively solve the different problems that came up as a result (awkward midriff for example). Incidentally, another great memory also involves a giant spider costume. This time I wore it as part of the introductory dance class's spring dance show performance. What are your plans for after graduation? I'm planning on going to graduate school for clinical psychology in a year or two. Before that, I'm going to get some more experience in the field. I plan on getting a job, perhaps conducting research or working in a therapeutic setting. What advice would you give to a prospective student or first-year about the Bowdoin experience? Freshman year is like being blindfolded and sent through a maze. It's filled with terrible analogies. Just do your best and try not to get hurt. Everything will make more sense in about a year so; in the meanwhile try to experience as much as you can, be open, and maintain your individuality. What quirky or fun thing did you wish you knew before you came to Bowdoin? I wish I knew that being in Brunswick during the summer was a blast. Last summer three of my friends and I rented a house together. One of my friends worked in town and the rest of us worked at Bowdoin. The lack of a gnawing feeling urging me to study for a quiz, midterm, finals, or at least work on a paper allowed me to take in and enjoy Brunswick to a greater extent. Most nights consisted of us cooking dinner and then sitting down to watch Jeopardy! while eating Popsicles, which is probably more fun than it sounds. Other memorable experiences are taking trips to the beach and nature spots (one of my housemates was a Mainer), playing in a weekly soccer game inspired by the World Cup, and watching a lot of movies, many of which ranged from the artistic to the bizarre. Story posted on April 23, 2007 « Back | More Student Profiles | Go to News Home


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text:
French "Peasant" Beets
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Author Notes: Between our CSA and garden, we found ourselves up to our eyeballs in beets a few summers ago. I concocted this dish as an homage to a simple French peasant dinner. When I explained the concept to my husband, he riduculed me, "What peasants eat boucheron and drink Muscadet with their beets?" "Um, French ones?" - Amy_N-B —Amy_N-B
Food52 Review: In our next life, we'd like to be French peasants, or at least, eat like them. We have a soft spot for beet recipes that utilize both the sweet root and minerally tops. Here, Amy_N-B has you caramelize slices of yellow and red beets (we used 4 large beets total; might do 3 next time) and then add a mix of beet tops and Swiss chard, cooking them just enough to wilt. You'll love the dish at this point, but you'll be riveted if you serve it with oozy boucheron and good country bread. —The Editors
Serves: 2 for dinner, 4 as a side
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Beets with greens (up to 6; I like a mixture of golden and red beets)
bunch Swiss chard
tablespoons butter
pinch Salt, or more to taste
pinch Freshly ground pepper, or more to taste
tablespoons white wine (Muscadet is my preference)
tablespoons water
pound Bucheron Cheese (room temperature)
loaf crusty peasant style bread (warmed in oven
- Scrub and peel the beets. Remove the greens and chop coarsely. Set the greens aside in a large prep bowl. Slice beets into 1/4 inch rounds.
- Remove the ribs from the swiss chard and coarsely chop and toss into bowl with the beet greens.
- In a large sautee pan, melt butter. Sautee shallots.
- Add beet rounds to the shallot butter mixture. Crack some pepper over the beets and a toss on a pinch of salt. Reduce heat and sautee beets, turning over to ensure even cooking.
- About 15 minutes later when beets are begnning to glaze and become tender, add greens and chard. Sautee for about 5 minutes, then add wine and cover. Cook until greens are wilted, adding water if necessary. Allow liquid to be mostly absorbed into greens, adjust seasonings.
- Scoop greens and beets into a low shallow bowl. Garnish with a sizeable wedge of bucheron and some crusty bread. Crack a little bit of pepper over the entire dish.
- Your Best Beets Contest Winner!
More Great Recipes:
Vegetable|One-Pot Wonders|Vegetarian|Side


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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A police officer seen on video punching a woman at a Philadelphia street party is being suspended for 30 days as of Thursday with the intent to dismiss.
Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey took what police called "commissioner's direct action" on Wednesday in the case of Lt. Jonathan Josey following Sunday's events during a festival associated with the city's Puerto Rican Day parade.
Prosecutors earlier said a disorderly conduct charge against the woman was being withdrawn.
The video shows someone else throwing a liquid toward police officers. The woman is seen spraying something from a can. The video then shows the woman being struck in the face and falling to the ground.
The president of the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police says Josey is eager to tell his side of the story to internal investigators.


text:
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The following is an excerpt from Steven Dudley's latest report for In Sight Crime: Organized Crime in the Americas, titled Juarez After the War.
For many crime watchers, the fighting in Juarez that cost nearly 10,000 people their lives over a four year stretch was a battle of the titans: the Juarez Cartel versus the Sinaloa Cartel. But beneath that analysis is the deeper question of who pushes the levers of power in Mexico.
The question is even more complicated in Juarez, a border city where several layers of power brokers are still seeking to impose their will on one another and control this lucrative plaza. These include large criminal groups, local and federal police, the army, the state Attorney General's Office, politicians, and street gangs.


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If a machine is not working properly, promptly inform the Helpdesk, at x2200 (or 802-443-2200) or the Walk-in Center in Davis Family Library 202, so queues may be temporarily disabled and the machine may be returned to service quickly.
All college account holders have the ability to print on campus. The printer you use depends on whether you are a student, faculty, staff, or guest. This section can help you figure out how and where to print by providing a list of:


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Mazda Miata Heater Blend Door Actuators
Heater blend door actuators receive signal from the HVAC head unit (the controls on a vehicle's dashboard) and adjust the door which controls air coming off of the heater core or evaporator. The actuator itself is a small box with some electronics and a gear, which attaches to an arm that then controls the door.
These actuators can wear out over time and require replacement, or frequent use, defects and other unfortunate incidents could cause them to break.
Replacing the heater blend door actuator will likely require a lengthy dissasembly of your vehicle's dash, but with the proper instructions and tools it shouldn't be impossible!
We stock and sell a wide variety of quality Mazda Miata heater blend door actuators from these manufacturers:


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Proposed Canon
Artifact is a magical item not known to be created by mortals (as opposed to Magic Items that are made by a mortal).Erf-b1-p035
Known artifacts are the Arkenhammer, the Arkenpliers, and the Arkendish collectively referred to as the Arkentools.
Parson's bracer might be an artifact.Erf-b1-p054
Artifacts are powerful magical items supposedly created by the Titans themselves. Each is unique, priceless and possessed of vast powers that can be used by anyone fortunate enough to both acquire one and become attuned to it. Wars have been fought over less - and the power of artifacts can raise and lower rulers and kingdoms.
Prominent artifact-based factions include Charlescomm - powered by the might of the Arkendish -- and the regime of Stanley the Tool, who came to power through his possession of the Arkenhammer and regards it as a mark of his consecration by the Titans.


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SANS NewsBites
SANS NewsBites is a semiweekly high-level executive summary of the most important news articles that have been published on computer security during the last week. Each news item is very briefly summarized and includes a reference on the web for detailed information, if possible.
Spend five minutes per week to keep up with the high-level perspective of all the latest security news. New issues are delivered free every Tuesday and Friday.
@RISK: The Consensus Security Alert
@RISK provides a reliable weekly summary of (1) newly discovered attack vectors, (2) vulnerabilities with active new exploits, (3) insightful explanations of how recent attacks worked, and other valuable data
A key purpose of the @RISK is to provide the data that will ensure that the 20 Critical Controls (the US and UK benchmark for effective protection of networked systems) continue to be the most effective defenses for all known attack vectors. But since it is also valuable for security practitioners, SANS is making it available to the 145,000 security practitioners who have completed SANS security training and others at their organizations who hope to stay current with the offensive methods in use.
Wow! This is the first security awareness document that our users really like! Thank you, SANS
That note came from the CISO of an 8,000 employee organization. OUCH! is the world's leading, free security awareness newsletter designed for the common computer user. Published every month and in multiple languages, each edition is carefully researched and developed by the SANS Securing The Human team, SANS instructor subject matter experts and team members of the community. Each issue focuses on and explains a specific topic and actionable steps people can take to protect themselves, their family and their organization. OUCH! is distributed under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. You are encouraged to distribute OUCH! within your organization or share with family and friends, the only limitation is you cannot modify nor sell OUCH!. The OUCH! newsletter and all of its translations are done by community volunteers. As such, some languages may not be available upon initial publication date, but will be added as soon as they are.


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Seibertron.com - The Ultimate Transformers Fansite
OptiMagnus wrote:I got the Green Lantern movie Hal Jordan figure recently, but I haven't opened him yet. The Movie Masters version is probably better for the money even with the higher price tag, but I got the basic one anyway. Mattel kind of rips you for $9 dollars when Hasbro's Marvel figures are a dollar less and have more articulation. Still pretty cool with the giant green fist accessory and the almighty plastic ring. I'll probably get Sinestro and Max Charge Hal next.
Return to Non-Transformers Toy Discussion
Registered users: -Kanrabat-, Bing [Bot], carytheone, Cobotron, eltawater, Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot], JelZe GoldRabbit, Majestic-12 [Bot], Wingz, Xenos Prime, Yahoo [Bot]


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Nicole Kidman Hits CMA Awards 2009
Nicole Kidman comes out to support her country superstar husband Keith Urban at the 2009 CMA Awards at the Sommet Center on Wednesday (November 11) in Nashville, Tenn.
The 42-year-old actress showed off her curves in a pink L'Wren Scott dress and ruby earrings by Edith Weber.
I can't imagine Nicole playing the HUSBAND of Gwyneth Paltrow in The Danish Girl quite yet. She's going to be sitting in that makeup chair for a very long time. Can't wait!


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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Police say Carlos Santana drove into an unoccupied parked car near an upscale area of Las Vegas, but escaped injury.
The Grammy-winning superstar was headed home alone when the accident occurred Friday night in Summerlin.
Police Lt. Ken Romane told the Las Vegas Review-Journal (http://bit.ly/1eyOd5C ) that it's uncertain whether a sobriety field test was conducted, but Santana was not driving under the influence.
Romane did not know the make of Santana's vehicle or the extent of damage to it and the parked car. Romane said the accident was "minor."
According to his concert schedule, the 66-year-old Santana performed on Thursday and Saturday nights but not on Friday night.
Santana has won 15 Grammys and is best known for the album "Supernatural," which has sold more than 25 million copies.
Information from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, http://www.lvrj.com


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Fabyon Harris had 17 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer with 12 seconds left, to help Texas A&M to a 70-68 victory over No. 21 Missouri on Thursday night.
The loss dropped the Tigers (16-6, 5-4 Southeastern Conference) to 0-5 in true road games. They have won three games at neutral sites this season.
Laurence Bowers was wide open when he hit a 3-pointer to give Missouri its first lead of the game, 68-67, with 53 seconds left.
Harris turned it over on Texas A&M's next possession, but Phil Pressey gave it right back with a turnover to set up the winning score for A&M (14-8, 4-5).
Ray Turner blocked a shot by Keion Bell with 2 seconds left to secure the win.
Alex Oriakhi led the Tigers with 15 points.


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Looking Back: The Top 10 DVDs of 2005
Benjamin Willcock takes a look at his top-ten DVD picks for 2005 and beyond
10. 24: Season 4 (R2)
The first DVD on the list, and perhaps an obvious choice, is the awesome fourth season of 24. I don't think there is a person alive who hasn't heard of this show, and its fourth outing was brilliant from end to end. Suspense was as edgy as ever, and Jack Bauer's character went though so much emotional turmoil that he'll be lucky to make it though another one of these traumatic days. The DVD presentation was also truly spectacular. From its vast array of special features to fantastic video and audio qualities, this box set was an easy choice for the top-ten list and a must-have for anyone who considers themselves a fan.
9. Lost: The Complete First Season (R1)
Ah, Lost – possibly the greatest new television show on the air right now, and a show that has almost single-handedly revived the genre in which it is based. My confession is that I never actually saw this show when it first aired, but it was though this DVD that I have become a huge fan. Now in its second season, and enjoying the kind of ratings that most would kill for, Lost looks certain to dominate for at least the next couple of years – if its concept can hold up that is. The DVD also blew me away, with its crystal clear video and surprisingly robust audio and plentiful special features. The show is cinematic, so too is the DVD – what more could you ask for?
8. Batman Begins: Special Edition (R2)
Chris Nolan's name was propelled into the short list of truly great directors this summer, when his re-invention of the infamous Batman franchise became not just the best Batman flick, but one of the definitive summer blockbusters of all time. Batman Begins was the film that pushed all the right buttons, turned in all the right directions and finally ridded the horrid stench a certain Joel Schumacher left after his heinous efforts. But what makes Batman Begins so great is its starting back at square one. It was made as if all other Batman films had never been made, and it is this fresh approach that really gives way for a torrent of possibilities for the film and its certain sequels. Gone are the overly gothic set pieces of Tim Burton's Batman, gone is the soap-opera-like tedium and neon-lit Gotham of Schumacher's take, and in their place rests an unexpected realism that becomes the backbone of Nolan's Batman. But despite the intense grounding of his film, Nolan has ensured that none of the on-screen magic and elegance has been lost in the translation. In short, Batman Begins was an action film done right. The DVD wasn't too shabby either.
7. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (R2)
Will this be the last ever Star Wars release? Absolutely not! In fact it wouldn't at all surprise me if Lucas goes back to re-treat the prequel trilogy in the same manner as his original films. The good news this time is that he couldn't exactly make these prequels any worse could he? Still, whatever your feelings towards Mr. Lucas's constant modifying and adjustments, Revenge of the Sith was a more or less solid and entertaining flick that acts as a nice bridge between the prequels and the much older, much better originals. This DVD was also one of the highlights of the year in terms of audio and video quality. The image was almost flawless, and the sound – while sadly missing Ben Burtt's awesome Seismic Charge sound effect from Episode II – was equally as stunning. In fact, of all the DVDs released in 2005, this is easily the best all-around demo disc. You're going to want to show off you're A/V system's capabilities to your rather envious friends with this one, but just remember that sound-proofing does not come cheap.
6. King Kong: Collector's Edition (1933) (R1)
With Peter Jackson's epic masterpiece of the same name currently lording it over the box office, this magnificent original has been given the treatment it deserves for the digital platform. Though I prefer Jackson's retelling of the story more than even this classic monochrome original, you still can't beat the nostalgia and age-old charm this film has. Who can forget those brilliant special effects – still excellent for their age – and the haunting moment Kong snatches Ms. Darrow from her bindings. King Kong is a true American cinema classic and one of the greatest films of its kind ever. This DVD preserves the film in all its glory, offering an amazing transfer (complete with enough grain to last you a lifetime) and hours of extra features, including Peter Jackson's recreation of the Spider Pit – a very cool homage indeed.
5. The Incredibles (R2)
Pixar are now six for six in their filmic undertakings. They have scored six major blockbusters, all of which have become equally critically acclaimed and successful. The Incredibles is their latest, and perhaps greatest – no easy feat, but it might just be true. Some have even said that this film could be the greatest animated film of all time, or at the very least, one of the top three. I find myself having to agree with this statement. For me, The Incredibles is a true masterpiece and cinematic classic. It has a great, well-told and thoroughly witty story; it has a superb cast of characters, and is fit for both adults and kids. Oh, and this was the biggest selling DVD of the year according to recent analyst reports. The disc was partly responsible for this popularity, offering fans numerous features and an ultra-wide anamorphic transfer that looks great on any setup. If you don't own a copy of this film, what are you waiting for? This is one of the must own DVDs of all time, not just of this year.
4. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete DVD Collection (R2)
Like it or loathe it, Buffy is one of those TV shows that will stick around for a long, long time. I became a fan only a few years ago (roughly around the fourth or fifth season), but since then I have lapped up just about everything Joss Whedon put into this phenomenally great show. It had it all; drama, comedy, horror, action – the works; and this seven season box set contains every episode ever aired in one very stylish collector's set. Expensive, but worth every penny if you are even half the fan I am. You can buy each season individually, but having them all in one huge set just looks so much better.
3. Friends: The One with All 10 Seasons on DVD (R2)
The second greatest sitcom ever – after Frasier of course – Friends was one of the highlights of TV viewing in its day, and managed to capture the hearts of millions globally. It is quite fitting therefore to have every single episode ever produced in one complete box – something every fan ought to have. Just like the Buffy set above, this is an expensive buy, but once you see it amongst your DVD collection you won't really care. It looks great as a box set, but it is naturally what is inside that makes it special. As DVDs they might not be brilliant, but the sheer quality of the episodic content will steal over you. I have based this top-ten list on quality of DVDs in their entirety, not just for A/V presentation. These DVDs are the weakest on the list for A/V, but possibly the best in terms of entertainment and quality of product. And one thing Friends can do in droves is entertain.
2. Frank Miller's Sin City: The Recut & Extended Edition (R1)
You knew it had to be on here somewhere, and I cannot express enough how close it came to filling the top spot, but one other release this year apparently ousted it – but only just. Sin City is one of my favourite films ever, and its first DVD release (which I reviewed a while back) was lacking only one thing to make it a truly perfect disc – extra features. And on this huge double disc release, Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez have delivered all the goods and then some. Having a huge bundle of great features (including a recut and extended edition of the film on the second disc) was all we really wanted, but to come with the full graphic novel The Hard Goodbye was even better. Put it this way, the film is pure genius, and I am pleased to say that the DVD is equally as poignant. If you don't own this disc, you really need to – DVDs just don't come any better than this.
1. Titanic: Deluxe Collector's Edition (R2)
And so, James Cameron must accept yet another accolade for his monstrously successful romantic drama about a famous ship that sinks somewhere in the freezing Atlantic Ocean. This four-disc collector's edition sails away with a brilliant image transfer and an epic, sweeping audio soundtrack available in both Dolby Digital and DTS. On top of this, torrents of extra features over all four discs (including one of the greatest ever commentaries by James Cameron) cements that this is indeed the best DVD of 2005 – at least in the opinion of this critic.
Honourable Mentions
Rounding out just ten DVDs for inclusion in the above list was not an easy task. I felt that there was a great many DVDs that almost made the final cut, but alas, they had to be dropped in favour of the above. So, let us now take a look at some other discs that are also worthy of your time and money.
Fans of Matt Lucas and David Walliams' Little Britain got something of a treat this November when the series one and two box set was released. Containing all fourteen episodes from those series, as well as a nice helping of special features and a great Union Jack themed cover, this is not only a must own, but a truly monumental release from the BBC.
Another BBC release also worthy of your hard earned is Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's award winning new series, Extras. For me, this new show was even better (and funnier) than Little Britain, managing to capture in droves the painfully sardonic humour of Gervais' other comedy behemoth, The Office. Buy it, watch it, and never look back. Oh, and it has some very funny extras (the DVD variety) too. And if the wait for the second series is too much to bear, Ricky and Stephen have a brilliant weekly Podcast available over on iTunes for you to feast on until then.
Brit horror The Descent also deserves a shout-out. The DVD was an all around great package, but the film is the true highlight here; scary as hell, dark (all too literally) and a refreshingly original tale that isn't entirely dependant on glamorous young Hollywood actors and actresses and cheap thrills to get it to the end credits. The Descent can be found in stores and online for a reasonable price, so what are you waiting for?
Tim Burton scored another major blockbuster earlier on this summer with his remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It is a film worth seeing, even if you are not a huge fan of the more musical 1971 version, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Sweet, affectionate and made with love, Burton's take on the Roald Dahl classic acts as a nice compliment to the 1971 version, and is also truer to the source material for those purists out there.
War of the Worlds, while boasting a rather hideous image transfer that, in my opinion, ruins the original theatrical presentation, still had plentiful special features and a great-sounding audio score. This is a film I really enjoyed watching at the cinema this summer, and not at all akin to the usual garbage that occupies the summer slot. It might not be Spielberg's finest hour, but it is still highly enjoyable, well made and offers plenty of entertainment.
The best comedy of the year, The 40 Year Old Virgin, has a respectable DVD, and is a must for your collection. This film, unlike so many adult comedies out there, was not only believable, but was incredibly open and honest about its subject matter. It wasn't pure gross-out sex jokes from end to end like the later American Pie flicks, but heartfelt and often quite delicate. On top of that, it also punched out some of the most memorable comic scenes I have seen in a film in quite some time. One thing is for sure: The 40 Year Old Virgin will be around for a long time, thanks to its many scenes being endlessly quoted and referenced.
If you are looking for more comedy, you might try some of the Frasier box sets that got released at various points around 2005. I love Frasier, I cannot explain to you how much, because I am not quite sure there is a word fitting enough to capture my feelings in this instance. Though the extra features are still not up to par on these Paramount releases, the episodic content is damn near flawless.
The Simpsons has had another great year on DVD too, with a few releases – most notably season six – taking the crowds by storm. Yimou Zhang's colourful masterpiece House of Flying Daggers also gets a shout-out as one of the DVDs to own. So too does his other more popular flick, the Jet Li staring Hero. If you are into a bit of the old foreign cinema, these two films are not just brilliant examples of Eastern filmmaking, but two exceptionally breathtaking action films that demand to be seen. You owe it to yourselves to see these, and both can be bought for almost next to nothing at most stores.
Plenty of other discs also caught my eye this year, including a surprisingly good re-release of Toy Story to celebrate its tenth anniversary. So too did another classic, The Wizard of Oz. Both of these DVDs can be obtained from the USA and are worthy of your time and money – even if you bought earlier releases of them. Also of recommendation is the first season of Desperate Housewives, and the complete collection of Sex and the City, available in a modestly-sized box. I must also mention that the King Kong Production Diaries is a great buy, especially if you've already seen Peter Jackson's amazing remake.
One DVD that you can not buy traditionally, but is still hands-down one of the best released in 2005, comes bundled as a mere extra with the Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith soundtrack. I reviewed this disc a few months back, and noted then that this mere bonus disc was utterly mind-blowing. I am of course talking about the Star Wars: A Musical Journey DVD. Acting like an hour-long trailer to the entire Star Wars saga, this bonus DVD narrated by Ian McDiarmid manages to capture the spirit of the universe that George Lucas created, and shows it in a way that hasn't been seen since Return of the Jedi. And, dare I say it, it even makes Episode I look good.
Another DVD I feel I must shed some light on, but not exclusively video-based, is the complete recordings of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring from composer Howard Shore. In this huge four-disc (three CDs, one DVD) package, you have the option of listening to the entire works for the first in the trilogy on either CD, or on the included DVD complete with a powerful Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack option. It is a must for fans, and yet another example of how the DVD platform can be used to further an already great product.
Looking Ahead
There are quite a few DVDs I can't wait to get my grubby little hands on in the new year. One in particular that I am itching to get hold of is the most recent Harry Potter flick, The Goblet of Fire. Here Mike Newell created a genuinely great Potter film for both fans and casual viewers alike, and a film that truly does stand head and shoulders above most other blockbusters. The DVD should be one of the biggest selling of 2006, but a director's commentary is still doubtful.
Another fantasy film I must obtain is The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Having never read the C.S. Lewis books (shame on me) I was pleasantly surprised to see that those great trailers did not disappoint. I found the film to be a great fantasy adventure, with plenty of heart and wonderful special effects to keep you watching until the very end. One of the top grossing films of 2005, Narnia should go on to sell millions of DVDs and will hopefully be one of the year's highlights.
There are plenty of other films I want besides that of the bigger budgeted fantasies. I am specifically hoping to see more cinematic classics making their way to DVD during the course of the year, as well as some special edition re-releases of current barebones discs – Kill Bill anybody? I am also a recent convert to South Park, so I am eager to get my hands on all seasons of that, too. And as for the one DVD I am most anticipating in 2006? Let's just say it is yet another Peter Jackson epic, this time starring a particularly hairy and oversized ape that goes by the name of Kong…
In Closing
You'll notice an abundance of TV shows on my top-ten list this year, and for a very good reason – this year I have seen more TV shows on DVD than ever before. What with Friends, Buffy, Lost and 24 making their timely appearance, it has been a very busy (and time-consuming) couple of months getting through them all. I think this is an increasing trend we are seeing just recently; TV shows are, in some cases, out-selling regular film releases, but when those shows are offering superior entertainment and even value for money (the 24 features in particular are brilliant) who can blame the consumer?
Pixar's The Incredibles was an easy choice from the beginning; it was never a question of if it would make the top-ten, but in which position would it wind up. Also making the list is the original 1933 King Kong in what is easily one of the best special edition releases ever, and George Lucas's final Star Wars episode fits comfortably into the fold. I don't like the film quite as much as I did at the cinema, but the DVD is a nearly flawless example of digital perfection. You'll also notice Chris Nolan's triumphant Batman Begins up there, as well as Frank Miller's out-and-out classic, Sin City.
But the top DVD for me this year is James Cameron's blockbuster champion times one-hundred, Titanic. Call me sloppy, call me mushy, this DVD is worthy of the top spot, if not for the film then certainly for the audio/video presentation and extra features spread across all four discs. It might not be up to the same standards of Peter Jackson's little-known fantasy extended editions of the last few years, but then again, which other DVDs ever will be?
Editorial by Benjamin Willcock
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Road to be closed for fallen Brentwood officer's processionBy MIKE LAWRENCE
Union Leader Correspondent
May 19. 2014 9:46PM
Exeter police said Monday that a portion of Route 27 through Exeter will be closed Wednesday morning to allow what's expected to be a massive procession to the public memorial service for Brentwood police officer Stephen Arkell, who died in the line of duty in a shooting last week.
Police announced that both lanes of Route 27 will be closed from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, from Old Town Farm Road in Exeter to the New England Dragway in Epping.
Drivers to the memorial, which starts at 11 a.m. at Exeter High School, will be allowed to reach the school on Route 27 until 9:30 a.m., the start time for the vehicle procession and march, which could draw thousands of officers from across the state and the nation.
Exeter police said Monday that no other road closures for this week had been planned.
In an event intended for law enforcement officers rather than the general public, staff at Stockbridge Funeral Home in Exeter said a walkthrough will be held at Exeter High School from 4 to 7 p.m. today.
Public calling hours will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Exeter High School announced that no classes for students will be held Wednesday; all after-school athletics and events that day are canceled.
Arkell was shot and killed May 12 when he responded to a domestic disturbance call at a home on Mill Pond Road in Brentwood.
His death has spurred a huge outpouring of support and assistance for the Arkell family from New Hampshire communities and law enforcement officers.
He leaves a wife and two teenage daughters.


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Force Science News #243:
Surprises, frustrations, lucky breaks: Lessons from NJ mall shooting
Training note: Congratulations to the 58 graduates of the most recent Force Science Certification Course hosted by the training team at the Department of Homeland Security's Consolidated Training Center in Alexandria, VA. We were extremely impressed by the enthusiasm and performance of this excellent group which represented 37 agencies, 17 states/provinces. Well done!
The next Certification Course with some available seating is scheduled for January 13-17, 2014 in Scottsdale, Arizona. The entire 2014 schedule is now available online at www.forcescience.org or you can CLICK HERE to download a print version.
Surprises, frustrations, lucky breaks: Lessons from NJ mall shooting
[Editor's note: If after reading this transmission you have additional insights to share related to active shooter training or personal experience with such an event, please let us know at firstname.lastname@example.com]
When a 20-year-old white male, dressed in black and wearing a black motorcycle helmet, stepped through the door with his finger on the trigger of an assault rifle, it turned out to be a lucky night for police and patrons at New Jersey's largest shopping mall.
Starting at about 1730 hours Nov. 4, the gunman randomly fired multiple rounds as he roamed through the Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, shooting at security cameras, advertising signs, and haphazardly into the air, spreading panic with every step. But his only human target was himself. Eventually in a secluded part of the 2.1-million-square-foot complex, he squeezed off a killing shot to his head.
An estimated 250 LEOs from 20 different agencies swarmed to the scene to hunt him down after the first 911 call. For them it became a rare exercise: an extended, full-scale, real-world active-shooter call-out, with a zero casualty count among the innocent. In effect, a unique on-the-job training operation.
Among the responders was a Force Science News subscriber, a veteran cop and firearms trainer we'll call Dave K. Recently, on condition of anonymity, he shared his candid observations on the experience from the perspective of a boots-on-the-ground officer.
Here are highlights of his surprises, frustrations, and lessons learned while helping to handle the first active-shooter event of his 17-year career.
SENSORY OVERLOAD. "Malls suck to clear," says Dave K. In the Plaza, nearly 350 stores and a cineplex are arrayed along two enclosed tiers. When he arrived, the gunman was still at large in this vast maze, precise location unknown.
Along with a cluster of officers from his department who formed up together, Dave was told by a chief from another agency "who seemed to be directing people" to check out a remote section in the cavernous complex that had not yet been secured or evacuated.
Although their objective was perhaps half a mile away, Dave estimates, "and everyone was cranked up to get there, we consciously held back from an all-out sprint, both for tactical reasons and to avoid being physically spent when we got there."
Once inside, he says he and the others were "bombarded with a stimulus overload."
"Everything in a mall is designed to grab your attention," he explains. "Mannequins are everywhere. You catch them in your peripheral vision or straight ahead when you're scanning, and in your heightened state of alertness, they look like real people just standing there motionless.
"You're trying to take in and evaluate information quickly, and the mannequins start playing with your mind. It was very frustrating the inordinate amount of time I had to spend looking at something to define it."
The profusion of mirrors added to the distraction and confusion. Moving through one store, he says, "I was startled by my own reflection and almost shot it." Also "wreaking havoc on perceptions" at times was glare reflecting off of large glass surfaces from strong commercial lighting and through skylights from helicopters sweeping the mall's roof.
DISRUPTIVE PROTOCOL. At one point, with the suspect still at large, all officers from Dave K.'s agency who were on-scene were ordered to abandon what they were doing and report to the CP. "Someone had decided we needed to sign in for purposes of accountability," he says. "That might have been well and good at some point, but it was contrary to our training and badly timed. We were pissed."
Once registered, officers waited around the CP for redeployment. "If you don't give people a job that occupies their mind, it's amazing how fast the level of alertness starts to drop," Dave says. "Pretty soon officers had their hands in their pockets, smokin' and jokin'. The complacency was unbelievable, with civilians still inside the mall, the shooter still not found," and a shadowy parking lot just steps away "jammed with vehicles and onlookers who hadn't at all been screened!"
HOT ZONE CP. Dave K. notes that the CP was set up in a lobby area of the mall--just inside the doorway the gunman used when he entered. "In my opinion, that was in the hot zone, and it was packed with brass," Dave says. "The shooter could easily have come back there. Yet except for a mall security guard, there was no perimeter protection."
On an impromptu basis, Dave "grabbed" a cadre of officers to fill that function. "Don't stand around waiting for something to happen," he advises. "Support the mission as best you can, but never hesitate to exercise individual initiative when necessary."
He also expressed concern to some of the command personnel about the possibility of IEDs having been planted in the area as secondary assault weapons. "I'd had some counter-terrorism training that emphasized that kind of threat," he says. But his concern was "just dismissed" without consideration.
He says, ruefully: "Don't expect your superiors to know what kind of training they sent you to so you could deal with situations like that. They may not know how to implement it anyway, because they won't know what it entailed and won't have the time or presence of mind to absorb and apply it at the moment of crisis."
Dave estimates it took "about an hour" before command personnel formulated and implemented a formal strategy for canvassing the mall. "Each agency present was assigned a specific area to evacuate," he says. "Many stores were in lock-down. It was a long and tedious process," and the perceptual distortions mentioned earlier constituted a continuing impediment.
In Dave's area, officers found shattered glass, spent rifle shells, and a bullet hole in an advertising display--evidence that the shooter had passed that way. As they worked, a distant gunshot rang out. Ironically, it proved to be a negligent discharge of an officer's shotgun--the only round fired by law enforcement during the call-out.
GRAB & GO. It's been said that an active-shooter call is a "come-as-you-are war"; whatever equipment you have with you when you exit your patrol car is all you're likely to have throughout the siege, no matter what challenges you encounter.
Dave K. ran to the mall that night with a well-prepped go-bag on his shoulder and an AR-15 in hand. Most officers he saw had only pistols or shotguns. The AR is his personal weapon that he has kept with him on patrol (unauthorized) for more than a decade because his agency has equipped only a limited number of units officially with urban rifles. "The suspect was believed to be walking around with an AK-47," he says. "I wasn't about to go up against him without my AR."
Among the items he keeps stocked in his go-bag are: a backup pistol, extra magazines for his handguns and rifle, a knife, a tourniquet, QuikClot, Israeli battle dressings, glow sticks, two flashlights, extra batteries, and gloves. The backup gun is in a pouch on the side of the bag, the QuikClot attached to the strap, where they're easy to reach.
"If there's something I might need, I bring it with me," he says. "There are two things I should have added that night: water and something to eat."
COMMUNICATION SNAFUS. "Our portable radios didn't work well inside the mall," Dave says. "There was a lot of static and often the signal was so weak we couldn't get through to dispatch. Nor could we receive much information as the night progressed." In the confusion of an evolving situation, some dispatches were inaccurate. Early on, for example, the suspect was described as a black male, Dave says, leading to at least one civilian sitting in his car in the parking lot to be harshly challenged at gunpoint.
"Cell phones worked better than radios, but there are a lot of buttons to push and you have to be accurate to make the call," he says. "The first thing to go when you're under stress is your fine motor skills, so making calls can be a lot tougher than you're used to."
AFTERMATH. Throughout the night, Dave and other responders searched the far reaches of the mall, hunting for the suspect, releasing frightened customers and employees from locked-down stores, and shepherding them to safety. "Adrenalin overcame fatigue at the time," he says.
It was before dawn when Dave was on the mall's second level that he heard voices calling for a bomb tech from somewhere below him. The offender had finally been found deep in an area under construction, dead. A cell phone was discovered near his hand, and it was initially thought he might have tried to remotely detonate an IED, Dave says. In reality, he had texted a final message: "Sorry."
It appears he may never have intended to kill anyone other than himself. He is believed to have had drug and mental problems and may have hoped that by shooting up the mall he could provoke a suicide-by-cop confrontation.
Although Dave's long hours at Garden State Plaza never proved to be life-threatening, he says he "really felt the impact" a day later. "My back hurt from carrying around extra gear, I was very exhausted, and I just couldn't function well," he says. "At home the next evening, my wife asked me some simple question--about moving furniture or something--and I couldn't come up with an answer. I just couldn't process it."
On reflection he acknowledges, "We were lucky--very, very lucky this time. We weren't dealing with a terrorist or someone else determined to commit mass murder. We had an opportunity to surface our weaknesses without costing innocent lives.
"I observed many people from many departments perform with great professional skill. There was no hesitation by officers about going into a dangerous place with many unknowns. I was proud to wear the patch of an agency that was part of it. Hopefully, what we learned will sharpen our skills for next time."
Editor's note: There are approximately 109,500 malls and shopping centers in the US. With their heavy concentration of largely unprepared civilians in a confined space, they are considered prime targets for attacks. Indeed, according to a report last week by the Reuters news agency, active-shooter incidents at such places have tripled in the last three years.
Are those in your jurisdiction a part of your well-rehearsed planning and training?
Our thanks to firearms expert John Farnam, president of Defense Training International, for helping to facilitate this story. For a detailed account of how one agency conducts exceptional active-shooter training exercises, see Force Science News #231, accessible at: www.forcescience.org/fsnews/231.html or you can CLICK HERE to download a copy.
© 2017 Force Science Institute Ltd.


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The Gargamel Music Family is pleased to share that Jamaican music icon, Buju Banton, is featured on the cover of the popular French magazine, Reggae Vibes, available on European newsstands now. The accompanying story, written by veteran UK journalist, John Masouri, takes an in-depth look at the controversial case that ultimately landed the beloved Reggae star in a federal penitentiary, and more importantly, pays homage to the artist's 20+ year career in music that has touched the lives of so many people around the world.
"I chose to do a cover with Buju to tell the truth about him, about his musical career, and about his trial," explains the magazine's long time editor, Gilbert Pytel. "Buju is one of the best Reggae artists in the world. People should not forget this! The Reggae massive in France waits for his comeback."
Back in the United States, Buju is also featured in Hip-Hop Weekly's new special issue, "Hip-Hop Behind Bars." The piece brings readers up to speed on the case and impending appeal, which was filed by the artist's attorneys late last year.


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Next: show obscat Up: show Previous: show GTI
show MKF
Displays the first extension of the current MKF file. The row and method options are the same as for show event.
xsel > show MKF <show_from> <show_which> [show_rows] [show_method]
Next: show obscat Up: show Previous: show GTI Keith Arnaud
HEASARC Home | Observatories | Archive | Calibration | Software | Tools | Students/Teachers/Public
Last modified: Monday, 19-Mar-2012 14:16:45 EDT


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"Soccerana provides soccer prediction, soccer pick and soccer betting tip"
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313,624,458 Total Votes
566,220,852 Total Hits


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Category: National Post Card Week
National Post Card Week
Remember the simple joy and excitement of a post card? You'd be sorting through the bills, brochures and junk mail – and there it was. A small greeting from a faraway place. The first week of May is National Postcard Week. It's seven days to relive the thrills of sending and receiving post cards.


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It's important for your home to be a place of tranquility and relaxation — especially the bedroom. We've got a few quick tips for making the most of your space without breaking the bank.
- Display items you already have around the house as artwork. Calendars and magazines have great images that you can crop to fit frames. Or for a high-impact effect, hang old records grouped together.
- Mix and match your pillows and throws. Between all the couches and beds in a house, we've all got lots of pillows and blankets. Why not mix them up? Give your bedding a fresh look by remixing pillows used in other rooms. You might be surprised at how good the different patterns look together.
- Bring in the outdoors. A little green will go a long way in making your room a retreat. Adding plants will connect you to nature and warm up the room.
- Add a splash of color. Nothing says makeover like a fresh coat of paint. Whether you're painting an accent wall or the entire room, the color will help set the mood. Choose cooler, softer tones for a more tranquil vibe, or go for bold with vibrant jewel tones.
- Find the right mattress for you and your budget. Your mattress is the foundation of a great bedroom. Don't sacrifice comfort for price. With the TEMPUR-Simplicity™ mattress, you get all the benefits of a Tempur-Pedic mattress at a price that's surprisingly affordable.
Click here to find out more about the TEMPUR-Simplicity™ mattress.


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I confess to a dual addiction - avocados in season, and toast points just about any time.
California avocados come in season in the early spring and last until fall, in part because they don't ripen on the tree, but fully ripen once picked.
When purchasing avocados, choose one with a slight "give" to use right away, or hard if purchasing some to be eaten over several days.
While it is hard to beat butter on toast points, avocado mayonnaise (spread) fills you up in the way butter won't, satisfying completely. Although the avocado is high in the good kind of fat, it also is very nutritious.
2 to 3 slices of bread
1 ripe avocado
Salt and pepper to taste
Make the toast points (will last unrefrigerated but covered well for a week or more): Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Remove crust if desired from slices of bread. Cut into triangles and spread in one layer on a cookie sheet. Bake on one side until the desired brown, turn, and brown on second side, a total of about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, peel avocado and remove from pit. Use a sturdy spoon or other implement and mash the avocado in a bowl or with a mortar and pestle until the soft avocado becomes a rough spread. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Spread softened avocado on toast point. Serve warm or cold.
Tub toast points with garlic clove, brush with olive oil or butter before or after baking.
Add salt, pepper,olive oil, garlic, onion, red peppers, tomatoes to the softened and crushed avocado.
Use the avocado as mayonnaise in a sandwich; add shrimp, crab meat, chicken, ham. Serve as open-faced toast or as toasted sandwich.
Nathalie Dupree is the author of 13 cookbooks, most recently the James Beard award-winning "Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking." She lives in Charleston and may be reached through Nathaliedupree.com.


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Honors for Kent Walston
The Aurora Sertoma Club honored Kent Walston with its Service to Mankind award for 2012 at a dinner at the Pompano Club. The award is the highest honor given to a non-Sertoma member for exemplary service to the community.
Walston is a Port Neches native who graduated from Port Neches Groves High School in 1979. After a brief stint at BF Goodrich Tire Company, he joined the Navy. Upon his return home, he joined the Port Arthur Police Department. He attended Lamar University, earning a bachelor of business administration, then became the assistant city manager for the City of Nederland. At the age of 35, he enrolled in Baylor Law School. After graduating from law school, he worked for the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office for two years trying criminal cases. He is currently in private practice with the law firm of Branick, Walston and Devenzio.
He serves on the Jefferson County Bar Association with a focus on pro bono services and fund raising for those who do not have access to legal help. He serves on the board of directors of CASA and his hobbies include woodworking. Every year he builds a bed and dresser for a child who receives a home from Habitat for Humanity.
Walston is truly a self-made man who rose from humble origins and overcame many obstacles along the way.
"I was raised in Port Neches, Texas, and spent every day after school and every day in the summer working as a stable hand and jockey for a local doctor who owned race horses," he said. Since Walston is not a small man, his future prospects as a jockey were limited. Others sought to impose limitations on him that he would eventually realize were not true.
"Having been told by school counselors that I was not college material, I never considered college," he said. While in the Navy, he attended Delmar College at night and received a certificate in law enforcement and worked part-time as a deputy sheriff for the Bee County Sheriff's Department.
Those experiences set the stage for his future career path. While serving as a PAPD officer, Walston began taking night college classes at Lamar in Beaumont and soon realized that college was not beyond his capabilities. He made the Dean's List several times and was appointed by faculty to the Lamar University advisory committee for the school of business.
The true beneficiaries of his life experiences and desire to help others are the people of Southeast Texas. In addition to serving as an associate judge for mental competency hearings in Jefferson County, he is the presiding judge for City of Nederland Municipal Court.
Walston takes justifiable pride in his work as the current president for the Hughen Center for handicapped children and has served on the board of directors for the past six years. He is the past president of the board for the Bob Hope Charter School — a nonprofit charter school that benefits the Hughen Center. With his wife Davilyn and family, he spends time with the kids at Hughen Center to ensure they are well cared for. This commitment of time and effort is substantial, but Walston describes it as a "labor of love" he finds very rewarding.
Kent Walston spends more time walking the walk than talking the talk, and even his many friends have little idea as to the extent of his ongoing acts of service. The folks at the Aurora Sertoma club – itself an active service organization – found out and bestowed the Service to Mankind award upon him. He richly deserved the recognition but in reality, they could give him that prize every year. n
— James Shannon


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Pre-Gamin': Angels v. Cubs – Lineup, Broadcast Info, etc.
Today the Chicago Cubs welcome the Los Angeles Angels (of Anaheim (California (Earth (Milky Way)))) to Hohokam Park as Spring Training winds down. Paul Maholm gets the start for the Cubs, his final regular Spring outing before the season starts.
And, yes, Albert Pujols is in the lineup for the Angels. Hit four homers today, Albert, because I don't much care what you do anymore.
The game is at 3:05 CT and will be broadcast on CSN, MLB Network, MLB.tv, and WGN radio. The game thread lives here at the Message Board.
The Cubs lineup features the probable configuration at the top when Starlin Castro sits out:
1. David DeJesus, RF
2. Darwin Barney, SS
3. Ian Stewart, 3B
4. Jeff Baker, 2B
5. Bryan LaHair, 1B
6. Reed Johnson, LF
7. Steve Clevenger, C
8. Joe Mather, CF
9. Ryan Dempster, P


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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Monday that newspaper reports that Iran and the United States had agreed to hold one-on-one talks on Tehran's nuclear program were "not true."
Obama made the comment at a debate on foreign policy. The New York Times quoted unnamed U.S. administration officials on Saturday as saying that secret exchanges between U.S. and Iranian officials had resulted in an agreement "in principle" to hold direct talks.
"Those are reports in the newspaper, they are not true," Obama said.
(Reporting By Tabassum Zakaria; Editing by Peter Cooney)


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The Muncie Interfaith Fellowship is a group of persons representing Hindu, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Native American, African, Baha'i, and Humanist belief systems who meet for interreligious dialogue in an effort to improve understanding between the great faith traditions. The fellowship holds monthly interfaith dialogue meetings, worship services, and triannual community dinners to foster understanding and create fellowship.
Internet Resources
For more information, contact:
George Wolfe, Outreach Coordinator Center for Peace and Conflict Studies Ball State University 310 N. McKinley Ave. Phone: 765-285-1622


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Numbers tell true story ... the Sunshine Coast is hoon central
IT IS official. The Sunshine Coast is hoon central in the North Coast Police Region, and police are unhappy.
New statistics comparing the six districts have found 40% of all hoon-related offences for the year occurred on the Coast.
Caboolture was the next worst, with 18% of the offences committed, and the Maryborough district had 17%.
The Coast also tops the list for the number of offences committed by unlicensed, drunk and unregistered drivers.
More than 1860 offences were committed on the Coast compared with Caboolture's 1336, and 916 in Gympie.
The revelation comes just days after Police Minister Jack Dempsey tabled what is described as "the nation's toughest anti-hooning laws" in parliament.
If the laws are passed, offenders' cars will be impounded after their first serious hooning offence. A second offence within five years would result in cars being crushed.
Police recently charged a 22-year-old man for hooning down a Maleny street and causing $16,000 worth of damage.
The man was arrested after he allegedly left 300m skidmarks down Bridge Creek Rd.
He was the first driver to be charged with wilful damage caused by hooning on the Coast.
Sunshine Coast Traffic Branch Senior Constable Darryl Campbell said the arrest should be a warning to other hoons. "Hooning will not be tolerated," he said.
To report hooning, call 134 666.
For hooning offences involving a speed trial, vehicle races, burn outs
(more minor offences offences in brackets)
- Sunshine Coast 55 (1868)
- Caboolture 26 (1336)
- Maryborough 25 (1011)
- Redcliffe 14 (n/a)
- Gympie 11 (916)
- Bundaberg 10 (805)


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St. Louis Children's Hospital's Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) enables a transport physician, nurse, and paramedics to provide a bridge of newborn and pediatric intensive care between hospitals within a 300-mile service area. Most intensive care procedures can be performed during transport because the MICU carries the latest equipment and supplies for airway management, artificial ventilation, oxygenation, suction, and patient monitoring.
MICU highlights
- Room for up to three isolettes for newborn triplets, or one isolette and a stretcher for a newborn and mom (who would be transported to an adult hospital)
- Seating for up to eight people and a safety belt system that allows the crew to access patients while properly restrained
- A refrigerator to keep medicines at proper temperature
- A heating cabinet to warm blankets
- A satellite-based global positioning system to help dispatchers track the vehicle's location as well as telephones and radios to maintain communications
- TV and VCR to allow less acute pediatric patients to watch videos to help calm their fears
MICU design
Each system in the MICU has two backups, vital to maintaining patient care, to ensure continuity in the event of a breakdown. For example, the MICU has three separate electrical power systems - including one with enough juice to power two small homes.
Several area and national EMS services are modeling their MICUs after the St. Louis Children's Hospital design.


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All models were 18 years of age or older at the time of depiction.
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Dell forges GPU-enriched virty rack workstation
Quadro graphics and Tesla compute tag team
Like everyone else on the planet, you want a rocketsled to do your work. The faster, the better. But if Dell has its way, it may not be on top of or underneath your desk, but sitting in a rack in a data center. And it may not be a rocketsled as much as a rocketbus, with multiple people using it at the same time.
Virtualization means sharing, and with the average utilization on a PC or workstation being very low, you can't blame companies for wanting to employ virtualization to have multiple users share a piece of iron, giving them peak performance when they need it and yielding to others when they don't.
To that end, Dell is rolling out the Precision R5500 rack-based workstation, which is a two-socket server equipped with up to four Nvidia graphics cards and special software from Citrix Systems that can virtualize and stream 3D graphics over the network down to thin clients that engineers, scientists, and other high-end workstation users will sit at and pretend they have an actual workstation of their own.
Dell's Precision R5500 workstation
The R5500 rack workstation is not based on the just-announced eight-core Xeon E5-2400 processors for two-socket boxes, or even the eight-core Xeon E5-2600 processors that came out in March, but rather on last year's six-core Xeon 5600 processors.
The system motherboard has two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots expandable to five slots with riser cards, and Dell says that it can put up to four of Nvidia's Quadro 2000 midrange 3D graphics cards in the box; it will also support higher-end Quadro 4000, 5000, and 6000 3D cards in the box as well at some point in the future if you need more oomph. You only have 900 watts of thermal capacity to play with for the graphics cards, no matter what you choose.
And if you want to go all Maximus, by which Nvidia means doing GPU-accelerated computing and visualization inside the same box by having Quadro graphics cards and Tesla GPU coprocessors wired together and available to apps concurrently to crunch numbers and display simulations, then you can also slide in Tesla C2075 coprocessors into the box.
You can plunk up to 96GB of 1.33GHz of DDR3 memory in the box, or 192GB of 1.07GHz memory if capacity is more important than speed for your workstation applications. The workstation can support five 2.5-inch SAS or six 2.5-inch SATA drives for storage.
Dell's FX100 Remote Access Device thin client
To get into the rack workstation, you use something called the FX100 Remote Access Device, which is a thin client that is goosed with the PC-over-IP circuits and software from Teradici to make remote graphics work better than your standard remote Windows client. The R5500 rack workstation can have as many as four different users sharing the virtualized workstation through PC-over-IP host cards.
The machine is also certified to support a stack of software from Citrix Systems called XenDesktop HDX 3D pro, which mashes up a XenServer hypervisor, the XenDesktop VDI broker, and special code that allows a graphics card to talk directly to the virtual machine it is tied to without the overhead of virtualizing the graphics card. This is akin to the un-virtual network and disk drivers that hypervisors have supported in the past because of performance issues.
The R5500 workstation supports Windows 7 Ultimate and Professional, Windows Vista Ultimate or Business, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, or FreeDOS. The base R5500 with one quad-core Xeon E5603 spinning at 1.6GHz, 4GB of memory, a base Quadro NVS 295 2D graphics card, one 500GB SATA drive, and Windows 7 Professional will run you $2,742. This is a completely stupid configuration designed to make you think this stuff is cheaper than it is.
The real configuration you want has two six-core Xeon X5690 processors running at 3.46GHz, 128GB of memory, dual Quadro 4000 graphics cards, two Tesla C2075 GPUs, four 500GB SATA drives in a RAID 5 configuration, dual remote access cards for the FX100 clients, two of those clients, and Windows 7 Pro on the rack workstation. For this, you are talking $34,086. Now that's a real price for a real machine for real users. And the Dell configurator complains that if you want that second Xeon processor, then you can't have two Quadro 4000 cards. Hogwash. Put in a bigger fan and a more powerful supply and get on with it. ®


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Designed to fill the gap between short-term inpatient and long-term outpatient and residential programs, the program offers approximately eight weeks of specialized, intensive treatment based on individual needs and strengths. The primary goal is to help women develop skills to maintain abstinence and manage PTSD symptoms. Veterans will have the opportunity to address specific trauma issues, including military sexual trauma. Other important issues such as medical, vocational, housing, family, and interpersonal problems will also be addressed as participants are encouraged to develop short- and long-term plans for their own recovery.
While the program takes into consideration each veteran's needs and preferences for treatment, all women entering the program must make a commitment to work on both PTSD and SUD, regardless of which one may be the primary problem at the time of admission. The program provides a residential setting where women veterans can safely begin this challenging process through a combination of group and individual therapies, educational activities, and medication management.
Sharon Baker, Ph.D.
Women's Integrated Treatment and Recovery Program
An affiliation of the National Center for PTSD
VA Boston Healthcare System
Brockton Campus
940 Belmont St.
Brockton, MA 02301