text:
He had been granted the grace of 'time for amendment of life'; and he had used it well
Like Fr Alexander Lucie- Smith, I, too have come to the conclusion "after much hesitation" that I have to say something about Fr Kit Cunningham. This is not an easy topic to write about. I have written about child abuse in the Church before; and however much you make it plain that this is a crime for which there is no excuse, if you try to write about it in anything less than an uncompromisingly condemnatory way you will be accused of trying to excuse this hideous crime or in some other way diminish its seriousness.
This is the first time I have personally known one of these "monsters", as one of his victims described him. And at first, I simply did not credit it (I suppose that's why it's so easy to cover these things up – nobody believes it). I was glad that Fr Kit had died before having to run the gamut of what I assumed were a string of unjust and fantastic accusations (it would not have been the first time, after all, that a priest had been falsely accused). But there was no getting away from it. The accusations weren't unjust or fantastic: he had accepted that they were true. He wrote to the victims asking for their forgiveness: he resigned the MBE he had been given for his services to the community.
It is as though the abusive priest, the "monster" he undoubtedly had been, and the good and kindly priest I knew were different people. And of course the reason for that perception is that they were different people: not because behind the kindly façade there still lurked the monster I was too imperceptive to detect, but because however bad you are, with God's grace it really is possible truly to change: and he had changed. Ever since these dreadful crimes were revealed, I have had another of the Anglican prayers I wrote about the other day – this time the words of absolution after the General Confession from the Book of Common Prayer – running through my mind. The minister says: "The Almighty and merciful God grant unto you, being penitent, pardon and remission of all your sins, time for amendment of life, and the grace and comfort of his Holy Spirit." That's what Fr Kit had been granted, being penitent: "time for amendment of life". And during that time, over 40 years of it, he had indeed amended his life. He had become a different person.
It is also true, of course, that though he had amended his own life, the lives of his victims had been permanently scarred. And now, the greatly loved Fr Kit will be remembered by most people for the lasting harm that he did, for the crimes he committed. Perhaps it is right that it should be so. But it is surely also right that he should be remembered too, by some at least, not only as the evil-doer he had been, but also as the person he had become. He did great harm to a number of people: but he also did a great deal of good to many others. So let us remember, too, the words of Fr Alexander (who knew him well in his latter days) in his Tablet obituary, about "his profound loyalty and love for the Church and the Gospel" and about "those he helped in distress…" Fr Alexander was right to say that "his sense of good humour and his kindness of heart will be remembered by many with profound gratitude". Despite everything, they will be remembered by me, for one. Consider, too, the words of Mary Kenny, written in shock after the dreadful revelations about his past life had been blazoned across the media:
Fr Kit Cunningham, who died last December in Dublin, was one of my oldest friends. He was an adorable man; great fun; a little too fond of the vino, perhaps; and, on occasions, a benign flirt with the ladies – he had that unmistakeable glint in his eye of a man who likes women…
Above all, Kit was kind. As rector [of St Etheldreda's] Kit never overlooked the down-and-outs who often came to the door for help. He set up a special cafeteria to feed the needy…..
We wonder why clerical abuse was "covered up", as well as how it could have occurred. Now I know the answer. Because, at first, you just cannot believe it. It seems so utterly uncharacteristic of the guy you knew.… he was always so kind to all our children… he was like a genuine father. My sons and my niece had enormous respect and affection for Kit—and they knew him from childhood. You just cannot put together the man you have known and the "monster".
No, indeed; you can't put them together: because they were different people. There had been a conversion, a metanoia, a "turning again". It is, after all, the whole point of the Christian religion. Of course, the law, rightly, takes no cognisance of such things. And if he had still been alive, the law would doubtless have taken its course. He would have ended his days either behind bars or, at the very least, in public disgrace. And few would have had any sympathy for him.
Perhaps I am wrong to say so: but I am profoundly grateful that it never came to that.


text:
After many adventures through out the years together, Sully and Nate have some great stories to tell. Great stories can make for some great plot lines. A prequel could work well within the Uncharted universe.
Of course, I bet there was loads of adventures before the search for El Dorado.
How did Drake meet Flynn and Chloe, what was his first big adventure.
Then you have Sully who has loads of stories to tell, maybe we'd get a reference to when he brought a hooker to church
The only problem is that you wouldn't see Elena unless they do a different type of game featuring her but I can't imagine what that could be.
I'm a huge Uncharted fan, but I really don't want a prequel. Unless maybe it was Sully in his youth
uc3 kinda had a prequelness to it when he first met sully. id like if they did it that way again.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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text: SLU LAW is enriched by a vibrant community, student organizations, and a Catholic, Jesuit commitment to leadership and service. When not in class, SLU LAW students can be found writing for one of the three legal journals, volunteering at the Legal Clinics, engaging in moot court and trial advocacy, or simply enjoying all that St. Louis has to offer. SLU LAW not only graduates skilled lawyers, but well-rounded individuals who aspire to make a difference in their community as well as their profession. Alumni remember their time at SLU LAW warmly, as three years that prepared them to academically be the lawyer they wanted to be, while developing countless relationships and connections along the way.


text:
- Home
- Plan Your Project
- Kitchen Planning
- Kitchen Design Process
- Kitchen Design Process - Meet Our Friends
Kitchen Design Process - Meet Our Friends
Step 3: Meet Our Friends in Your Area
Choosing the right design professional to help advise, plan and execute your kitchen renovation is a crucial element of the design process. The number and type of professionals you need may vary depending on the scope of your project and your desire to be involved, but if you decide you need assistance, any vendor you consider should be evaluated thoroughly.
Why Work with Professionals?
Your kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home. It is the heart of the home where memories are created and where families come together to talk, share and laugh. You also only have one of them, so it's natural to be a little overwhelmed by the idea of remodeling and of planning such an important project. If you're cautious and hesitant about jumping in an experienced eye that does these types of projects every day is the right course of action However, before you hire a professional, take a look at the considerations and tips below for guidance on choosing a capable designer to deliver on your dream.
Kitchen Designer
Hiring a kitchen designer can be crucial to the success of your renovation. They take the guesswork out of your entire kitchen renovation project, and dive deep into your needs and style preferences to create the ideal gathering place for you and your family.
Kitchen designers focus on the layout and functionality of your kitchen, while providing you with guidance on aesthetic design, kitchen storage solutions, decorative enhancements and more. They take into consideration the various work zones and maximize every square inch of space in your kitchen, ensuring that everything fits perfectly together and is designed to function properly.
Before meeting with a potential designer, think about what you want to accomplish with your kitchen renovation. Be prepared to provide ideas, preferences, functional needs and other information. This will enable the designer to better understand your vision. Some ideas to help you get started:
- Illustrate your kitchen design preferences by gathering images from magazines or searching online for rooms that you love. Choose those that reflect your personal style, show areas of function that would meet your family's needs, etc.
- Get inspired with the KraftMaid Inspiration Guide.
- For more ideas, visit your local KraftMaid retailer.
- Take pictures of your kitchen and highlight things that you currently like about it.
- Have your kitchen measured and note specific areas for plumbing, gas, and electric.
- Make a preliminary list of your storage needs; what you store today and create your wish list for tomorrow.
- Consider how you use the room. Do you entertain a lot? Do you need a message center for paying bills, telephone/PDAs, recipes? Do you need a place for homework or projects? Do you cook a lot?
- Consider your family's cooking style. Is there more than one cook at a time? Do you love to bake?
When meeting with a potential designer, be sure the following topics are covered:
- Be sure that the kitchen designer precisely measures your kitchen. This is important because in order for them to design appropriately, they will need exact measurements.
- Ask them about any local building codes that may affect your kitchen and home.
- Communicate all of your wants and needs for your future KraftMaid kitchen.
- Ask to see their portfolio and get at least three or four recent references. Give them a call.
- Set priorities early to determine how much you can invest in your kitchen renovation.
In the end, choose the kitchen designer that you feel most comfortable with - one who seems to best understand your style and your vision. Then, though it can be a challenge for an eager homeowner, make sure you let the designer do his or her work. Maintain good communication throughout the process. Be specific about how you feel, and if you don't like something, express specifically what it is you don't like so that you both have enough information to move forward together. You will be pleasantly surprised with the results when you trust the designer to bring your personality and style to life.
Interior Designer
Interior designers and decorators draw upon many disciplines to enhance the form, function, and aesthetics of interior spaces. However, they are primarily focused on decoration. They're trained to help you define your style and select materials, styles and colors as well as the appropriate appliances and accessories to complement your overall look.
Interior designers and decorators also study the scale and proportion of your room so they can recommend furniture and cabinetry that complements the size of your room. They are experts in space planning, and can make recommendations so your space is functional, maximizing the workspaces and enabling good traffic flow. Most importantly, in partnership with your kitchen designer, they will help to ensure that your space is designed to meet your family's day-to-day needs.
As with your kitchen designer, be sure to come to your first meeting with a potential interior designer prepared to share your ideas and inspiration. Make a point of reviewing their portfolio and obtain references. Discuss fee structures, timelines, and overall expectations to make sure you are in alignment. If all else is in line, ask yourself if you feel comfortable with and trust the person you're about to hire.
A beautiful, well-planned cabinetry design will look mediocre at best if your cabinets and accents have been poorly installed. Everything from inaccurate measurements to a bad molding cut can result in unfavorable results and added costs to your renovation project. KraftMaid recommends hiring a professional to install your cabinetry. An industry professional, such as a cabinet contractor or general contractor who specializes in kitchen cabinet installation, can help you easily achieve your design vision while saving you time, money and frustration. In addition to installing your cabinets, a professional installer will provide concise measurements, verify that all materials have arrived in good condition and clean up and remove your existing cabinetry after the project is completed. They may even be able to help you install appliances and support modifications on plumbing and other existing electrical connections.
When meeting with a potential installer, you'll want to:
- Review their portfolio and ask for a list of references to call.
- Agree on expectations and a plan of execution before signing anything.
- Ask how many kitchen cabinet installation projects they have completed in the past 12 months.
- Discuss the time span for the project, their availability for meetings and all fees that are associated with their services.
- Ask your cabinet installer to do final measurements on the space and sign off on them.
- Ask if they will install any appliances and modify plumbing.
- Discuss daily cleanup and removal of old cabinets.
- Ask if the sinks will be working during the installation process.
- Ask if they can help you set up a temporary kitchen.
- Request copies of insurance certificates showing the installer's coverage. Some states also require licensing and registration. Check the expiration dates on these forms to make sure they are current.
- Ask about local building codes and if you will need a permit for your project.
Once satisfied with their responses, ask yourself if you feel comfortable with the person you're about to hire.
Finding a Professional
- Ask friends and family for referrals, particularly those whose homes you find appealing.
- Contact a local KraftMaid retailer.
- Search the internet for qualified professionals.
- Visit online home and lifestyle magazines and visit their web sites.
- Contact the local branch of professional organizations:
- Interior Designers
- ASID – American Society of Interior Designers
- IIDA – International Interior Design Association
- IFDA – International Furnishings and Design Association
- NARI – National Association of Remodeling Industry
- Kitchen Designers and Installers
- NKBA – National Kitchen & Bath Association. This association certifies kitchen and bath designers with the credentials, CKD or CBD.
- NARI – National Association of Remodeling Industry
- Interior Designers


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Briaunzoun Surname Ancestry Results
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The decline of sharks in the global oceans underscores the need for careful assessment and monitoring of remaining populations. The northeastern Pacific is the home range for a genetically distinct clade of white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias). Little is known about the conservation status of this demographically isolated population, concentrated seasonally at two discrete aggregation sites: Central California (CCA) and Guadalupe Island, Mexico. We used photo-identification of dorsal fins in a sequential Bayesian mark–recapture algorithm to estimate white shark abundance off CCA. We collected 321 photographs identifying 130 unique individuals, and estimated the abundance off CCA to be 219 mature and sub-adult individuals ((130, 275) 95% credible intervals), substantially smaller than populations of other large marine predators. Our methods can be readily expanded to estimate shark population abundance at other locations, and over time, to monitor the status, population trends and protection needs of these globally distributed predators.
1. Introduction
The susceptibility of shark populations to decline across ocean basins and their role as top predators in ecosystems [1] have resulted in considerable concern about the conservation status of many populations. White sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) are circumglobally distributed apex predators with at least three genetically distinct populations, including one in the northeastern Pacific (NEP) [2]. They are highly susceptible to overexploitation [3] and are currently listed on the IUCN Red List (Category VU A1cd + 2cd) [4]. There has been no rigorous attempt to estimate white shark population abundance in the Pacific and attempts to quantify their abundance at other locations suffer from low capture rates or abbreviated observation time [5,6].
Electronic tagging and genetic studies have rapidly advanced our knowledge of migration and the population structure of white sharks by characterizing movements and residency patterns of mature and sub-adult individuals [2,7–9]. These studies indicate that white sharks in the NEP display philopatric behaviours that result in a genetically discernible, separate population [2]. These sharks migrate seasonally between discrete coastal areas in North American shelf waters (figure 1a), primarily involving sites off Central California (CCA) (figure 1b) and Guadalupe Island, Mexico (figure 1c), and two locations in the central Pacific: (i) the slope and offshore waters around Hawaii and (ii) the eastern Pacific offshore waters, an area called the White Shark 'Café' [2,7–9]. Tagging data have shown that white sharks inhabit the CCA from August to January and that the CCA and Guadalupe groups primarily remain separate [2,9].
Demonstrated site fidelity to specific coastal aggregation sites [10] indicates that mark–recapture methods are appropriate for quantifying population abundance. While tagging individuals can provide a means of censusing the population, this is expensive and takes considerable effort over many years. However, in white sharks, the trailing edge of the dorsal fin is analogous to a fingerprint, hence provides a unique identifying trait of individual sharks over long time periods (greater than 22 years) [10]. Similar identification techniques have been described to identify nurse sharks, Ginglymostoma cirratum [11], and marine mammals [12]. The goal of this study was to estimate the abundance of mature and sub-adult white sharks at seasonal aggregation sites in CCA, to serve as a baseline for future assessment and monitoring of this population.
2. Material and methods
This study was conducted from September–January in 2006, 2007 and 2008 at two known aggregation sites in CCA: Tomales Point and the Farallon Islands. Sharks were attracted to research vessels using a seal-shaped decoy and a small piece of bait. Digital images of individual dorsal fins were taken from either above or below water, depending on water clarity (see the electronic supplementary material for more detailed sampling methods). Images of sufficient quality were compared by eye to determine new marks and recaptures between samplings events (see the electronic supplementary material for photograph processing details).
Mark–recapture data were analysed in a sequential Bayesian algorithm designed for populations with low recapture rates, based on a hypergeometric distribution to represent sampling without replacement (see the electronic supplementary material for model discussion). Tests for the assumption of a closed population were conducted using the program CloseTest following Stanley & Burnham [13] and Otis et al. [14]. We compared the results of this method with seven other methods for estimation of abundance from mark–recapture data (see the electronic supplementary material for discussion of models).
3. Results
Sharks ranged in estimated size from 260 to 530 cm total length, with a mean of 437 cm and s.d. of 52 cm. The sex ratio (69 males; 19 females; 42 unknown) was probably skewed towards males because it is easier to confirm the presence of claspers than to confirm the absence, leading to high numbers of unknown sex.
In test trials, experts correctly matched fin photographs with 98 per cent success; there were no false positives and only one false negative. Attempts to use available software (e.g. Darwin, Finscan) designed to identify marine mammal dorsal fins resulted in unacceptable levels of error (T. K. Chapple 2009, unpublished data) and were therefore not used. We catalogued a total of 321 photographs with sufficient quality and determined 130 unique individuals matched by eye (41 unique in 2006; 42 new unique and 12 recaptures in 2007; 47 new unique and 26 recaptures in 2008). Data from tagging experiments indicated animals were not likely to have left the population and returned [2], and the tests for closure were met following Stanley & Burnham [13] (χ2 = 1.07, p = 0.58) and Otis et al. [14] (z = −0.27, p = 0.39). Qualitative discussion of closure can be found in the electronic supplementary material.
The number of unique individuals was set as the minimum abundance value (N1 = 130). Following the Bayesian framework from Gazey & Staley [15], we calculated an appropriate range for the prior (Nk = 401) from the shape of multiple initial calculations of the posterior distribution. The mode of the posterior probability was N = 219 ((130, 275) 95% credible intervals). Comparison of this Bayesian estimate to more traditional mark–recapture frameworks, as well as methods that account for heterogeneity in capture probabilities, showed that these methods produce similar abundance estimates (see the electronic supplementary material).
4. Discussion
Our Bayesian estimate, and the similarity of estimates from seven other methods (electronic supplementary material), indicates that the coastal population in the NEP is quite low. Electronic tagging studies indicate that the coastal phase of mature and sub-adult white sharks in the NEP is comprised of sites in either CCA or Guadalupe Island, with little evidence for long-term occupation at other coastal sites [2]. Because the abundance at Guadalupe Island is probably even smaller [16], we estimate that the CCA comprises approximately half the total abundance of mature and sub-adult white sharks in the NEP.
This population is relatively small, even for apex predators. For comparison, population estimates (including all age classes) of air-breathing marine apex predators in the NEP such as the killer whale (Orcinus orca) and Southern Beaufort Sea stock of polar bears (Ursus martimus) are markedly larger (1145 and 1526, respectively) [17,18], despite occupying smaller ranges and having been reduced from historical levels by humans. Although our estimate at this time does not include juvenile and young of the year white sharks, high recapture rates of these early classes from a low incidence of fisheries interactions in the Southern California Bight [19,20] suggest that even with the addition of all age-classes, white sharks would still be at far lower abundance than other apex predators. Though historical abundances remain unknown for white sharks, recent findings illustrate the low genetic diversity in this population [2], which support our results of a low population abundance. This small estimate of abundance may therefore reflect a naturally low carrying capacity after an initial founding event from the western Pacific, or may reflect the consequences of anthropogenic pressures (e.g. human-induced prey reduction of pinnipeds [21] or fishing mortality [22]). Although it is not known how this abundance compares with historical levels, establishing a baseline at this time will allow quantitative assessment of the future effects of anthropogenic disturbances or natural population fluctuations.
The dorsal fin identification scheme we used here was an effective method to identify individual white sharks and may prove useful in estimating other shark populations globally. This method has been effective in identifying individuals, because it requires less data and allows more flexibility (a single photo, from either side) as compared with other methods (e.g. pigmentation patterns). In addition, the estimation framework we developed can be readily expanded to include sharks from global databases, and over extended time series, to monitor the status, population trends and protection needs of white sharks globally. In the future, combining photographic identification with acoustic tagging of individuals that report to a network of receivers could provide a near-real time methodology for monitoring the sharks in the CCA.
This study establishes, to our knowledge, the first quantitative measure of white shark population abundance in the CCA and demonstrates that white sharks, among the largest predators in the oceans, exist in relatively low numbers in the NEP. These results emphasize the critical need to protect and monitor white sharks; especially given genetic data indicating discrete population structure [2] and the importance of sharks for the health of marine systems [1].
The project was conducted with permits from CDFG, MBNMS, GFNMS, NOAA, NPS and under the University of California, Davis animal care protocol 15024 and the Stanford University animal care protocol 10765.
We thank J. Cornelius, J. Barlow, K. Neff, C. Logan, B. Cornapple, J. Schaeffer, J. Fitzgerald, B. Becker, S. McAfee, R. Theiss, E. Homer, T. O'Leary, R. Elliot, R. Repass and the crew of the RSV D. M. Bayliss for assistance. T.K.C. was supported by Partnership for Education in Marine Resource and Ecological Modelling (PEMREM), NOAA-Seagrant Population Dynamics Fellowship, Tagging of Pacific Pelagics (TOPP) support from the Moore Foundation, Pacific Coast Science and Learning Center, Bodega Marine Laboratory Travel Grants and Patricia King and Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation, SeaLife Conservation.
- Received January 31, 2011.
- Accepted February 14, 2011.
- This Journal is © 2011 The Royal Society


text:
SMITH COUNTY, TX (KLTV) - Three East Texas fire departments battled a large fire just outside of Tyler Monday night.
Smith County Sheriff's officials tell KLTV 7 that the fire was burning an abandoned house on Highway 64 East, just outside of Loop 323 in Tyler.
Chapel Hill, Jackson Heights, and Whitehouse fire departments all responded to the fire. The house was destroyed, but no one was inside. No injuries were reported.
Copyright 2012 KLTV. All rights reserved.


text:
June 26, 2003 - Posted at: 5:14 p.m. CDT
WASHINGTON - Striking back against telemarketers for countless interrupted meals, the public poured an avalanche of discontent into the new national do-not-call list Friday, registering more than 735,000 phone numbers on the first day.
"They're a real pain in the neck," said Helen McKenna, 75, a retired writer from San Diego. "They don't mind if they interrupt your supper. Sometimes they call when I'm asleep."
McKenna tried to register for the free government service intended to block most telemarketing calls, but she couldn't access the program's Web site at www.donotcall.gov.
The Internet site responded slowly on the first day because of "extraordinary amounts of traffic," the Federal Trade Commission said. The FTC, which launched the registry soon after midnight, said that at noon the Web site was being visited 1,000 times every second. The agency scrambled to add more computer equipment to handle the load.
Even more consumers registered by calling the toll-free number 1-888-382-1222, which is available in states west of the Mississippi River, including Minnesota and Louisiana. To ensure the system can handle the volume of calls, the number will not operate nationwide until July 7.
Slightly more than half of the phone numbers registered by Friday afternoon were done by phone, a system that ran smoothly, the FTC said.
"We expected a huge response and we've gotten it," said FTC spokeswoman Cathy MacFarlane. "Consumers need to remember there's no urgency in registering. The registry has just opened and will continue to stay open."
At a White House ceremony to inaugurate the registry, President Bush sympathized with people annoyed by unwanted calls.
"When Americans are sitting down to dinner or a parent is reading to his or her child, the last thing that they need is a call from a stranger with a sales pitch," Bush said.
People who sign up this summer should see a decrease in telemarketing calls after the FTC begins enforcing the list on Oct. 1. The service will block about 80 percent of the calls, the FTC said.
On the Web site, consumers provide the numbers they want protected and an e-mail address to receive a confirmation message. The site also lets them verify that a number is registered or remove a number.
Consumers calling the toll-free number must call from the telephone number they want registered.
The commission expects up to 60 million phone numbers to be registered in the first year.
Registrations will have to be renewed every five years.
Telemarketers attempt up to 104 million calls every day, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
The industry has said the registry will devastate their business and has sued the FTC, saying the program amounts to an unlawful restriction on free speech.
McKenna, the retired writer, said she doesn't feel sorry for telemarketers and will try again to sign up to block them.
"Why feel any sympathy for them, taking part in something that annoys people?" she said. "That's the last job in the world that I'd take. I'd rather clean toilets than to do that to people."
Of the states with do-not-call lists, 13 plan to add their lists of 8.1 million numbers to the national registry this summer, three have legislation pending to allow them to share, and 11 will not share the information, the FTC said. Consumers on state lists added to the national one need not register again.
Beginning in September, telemarketers will have to check the list every three months to see who doesn't want to be called. Those who call listed people could be fined up to $11,000 for each violation. Consumers would file complaints to an automated phone or online system.
Exemptions from the list include calls from charities, pollsters and on behalf of politicians. Registered consumers also can give written permission to get calls from certain companies.
A company also may call someone on the no-call list if that person has bought, leased or rented from the company within the past 18 months. Telemarketers also may call people if they have inquired about or applied for something from the company during the past three months.
Consumers can avoid those calls by asking to be put on an individual company's do-not-call list.
On the Internet:
Do Not Call site: http://donotcall.gov
Federal Trade Commission: http://www.ftc.gov/donotcall
Federal Communications Commission: http://www.fcc.gov
Direct Marketing Association: http://www.the-dma.org
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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Epinephelus andersoni
|Scope: Global
Language: English
|Scientific Name:
|Epinephelus andersoni Boulenger, 1903
Common Name(s):
Epinephelus andersoni Boulenger, 1903
|Red List Category & Criteria:
|Near Threatened ver 3.1
|Year Published:
|Date Assessed:
Needs updating
|Fennessy, S. (Grouper & Wrasse Specialist Group)
|Sadovy, Y. & Cornish, A. (Grouper & Wrasse Red List Authority)
In South Africa, the mean size of fish has not declined (mid 1980s to mid 1990s), but the current level of fishing mortality has reduced spawning biomass per recruit to 42% of the unexploited level (Fennessy 2000). No historical CPUE (catch per unit of effort) data or historical sex ratio data are currently available. In Mozambique, fishing effort is now substantially higher now than in the mid-1990s, although there are no CPUE data currently available.
The species has a very restricted range, although there is no indication that extent of occurrence or area of occupancy are declining. The reported range is from 24°50'S to 34°05'S (Heemstra and Randall 1993). The species does not occur in water depths much greater than 50 m, and, based on calculated sea floor area to the 50 m isobath, the extent of occurrence of the species is therefore about 15,400 km². The area of occupancy is in reality much less than this, since the species is closely reef-associated, and assuming that 10% of the area of occurrence is reef, then effective habitat (reef) area is about 1,500 km². Not all of this reef area is in fact suitable habitat, since a large proportion of this is coral reef and E. andersoni is not a coral reef species.
This species is classified as Near Threatened as current data indicate a population reduction of ≥30% is possible due to fishing over a 10 year or three generation period where the time period includes both the past and the future i.e., just misses listing as VU A2d+3d+4d – current population trend is unknown but an increase in fishing pressure and the limited range mean that attention is needed for this species. Although the EOO and AOO are small, especially for a marine species with pelagic larvae, there is no evidence of declines, fluctuations or fragmentation in these areas. It also occurs in relatively shallow, and therefore accessible, waters.
|Range Description:
|Epinephelus andersoni occurs along the east coast of South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces to 34°05'S), and southern Mozambique (to 24°50'S). Reports of this species occurring in Madagascar are dubious (Heemstra and Randall 1993). It is relatively abundant only between 32°15'S and 24°50'S. See the assessment justification for details on extent of occurrence and area of occupancy.
|Countries occurrence:
Native:Mozambique; South Africa (Eastern Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal)
|FAO Marine Fishing Areas:
Atlantic – southeast; Indian Ocean – western
|Additional data:
|Range Map:
|Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.
|Relatively common in South African waters, particularly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The South African population is assumed to be the same stock as in Mozambique. The South African population is assumed to be larger because most of the Mozambican reefs are coral, and this is not a coral reef species.
|Current Population Trend:
|Additional data:
|Habitat and Ecology:
|Closely associated with shallow rocky reefs. Rarely recorded on coral reefs (Chater et al. 1993, Chater et al. 1995). Spawning does not occur south of 30o, and not all fish spawn every year (Fennessy 2000). There is some evidence that there are spawning-related increases in abundance (aggregations) during summer (January to March). The species is a relatively slow-growing, diandric protogynous hermaphrodite i.e., some males are derived from functional females, but some develop from the juvenile phase, so the sex ratio is not female biased as in monandric protogynous hermaphrodites (Fennessy 2000). Size/age at first maturity for females and males is similar. Tagging results indicate that there is a high degree of site fidelity (Bullen and Fennessy 2000).
|Major Threat(s):
|Over-fishing by commercial and recreational hook and line fishing are a moderate threat.
|Conservation Actions:
|Good protection in a 155 km long marine protected area (MPA) in South Africa, although E. andersoni is confined to the inshore (< ca. 200 m from the shore) non-coral reefs there, so suitable habitat in the MPA is restricted. A minimum size limit of 400 mm TL applies, soon to be increased to 500 mm. There is currently a recreational bag limit of five fish per person per day (within that category of fish), soon to become a bag limit of five for both recreational and commercial sectors. Commercial fishing effort is restricted (number of permits is limited) and has recently been reduced. Fairly good compliance with regulations owing to an active conservation agency in KwaZulu-Natal. No bag or size limit restrictions in Mozambique.
|Fennessy, S. (Grouper & Wrasse Specialist Group). 2004. Epinephelus andersoni. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2004: e.T44678A10935628. . Downloaded on 24 September 2018.
|To make use of this information, please check the <Terms of Use>.
|If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please provide us with feedback so that we can correct or extend the information provided


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Heidi Klum & Taylor Kinney: NBCUniversal Summer Press Day!
Heidi Klum dons a little black dress while attending the 2013 NBCUniversal Summer Press Day held at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on Monday (April 22) in Pasadena, Calif.
The 39-year-old America's Got Talent judge was joined at the press day by Chicago Fire hunks Jesse Spencer and Taylor Kinney.
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Heidi Klum
Pete Wentz, Nick Lachey, Jane Lynch, and Grimm's David Guintoli were also spotted promoting their shows.
25+ pictures inside of Heidi Klum and Taylor Kinney attending the 2013 NBCUniversal Summer Press Day…


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Students respond favorably to incentives or little "prizes" as they work.
The teacher designs a little graphic that indicates a Bravo or similar concept of reward or encouragement. (Or download our graphic here.) This graphic is duplicated as many times as possible on an 8.5 by 11 sheet of paper. The teacher cuts out each Bravo and keeps a supply in his/her pocket or hand. The teacher gives a Bravo to deserving students as the class lesson progresses.
The students write their name on the back of each Bravo received during the lesson.
Option One: Teacher collects all the Bravos at the end of the lesson and puts them in some kind of "class" container. At the end of the week, the teacher draws one of the Bravos out of the container and the student whose name is on the back receives a little prize. For example:
Option Two: Teacher collects all the Bravos at the end of the lesson and conducts a drawing at the end of the month. The winner receives a gift certificate for $10 to a local movie theater, video store, or restaurant.
The teacher takes a photo of the winner, prints out the photo and posts the photo in a section in front of the room marked "Winners' Circle." The photo remains there for an entire month.
Click your browser's "Back" button to return to the previous page.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
You are welcome to link to this website.


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Title: Born Wicked
Author: Jessica Spotswood
Publisher: G. P. Putnam
May Contain Spoilers
From Amazon:
Blessed with a gift…cursed with a secret.
Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship – or an early grave.
Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.
If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood – not even from each other.
When I signed up for this book tour, I wasn't expecting to receive a review copy, so I was delighted when one appeared in my mailbox. After reading the introductory letter written by Arianne Lewin, Executive Editor at G P Putnam, I was even more excited to dive into the book. I haven't read many YA books set in the 1800s, let alone an alternate New England. I love reimagined time periods, so Born Wicked had me intrigued. I was a tiny bit skeptical that it would be worthy of all of the gushing praise, but once I started reading, I could not stop. I was totally sucked into Cate's world from the first page. I immediately felt sympathy for her. I immediately connected with her plight. Here is a young woman, still grieving for her mother, who has the weight of the world on her shoulders. No wonder she seems to be so joyless and stern at first. She is scared to death that if her sisters' secret is exposed, she will lose them, too.
Cate's mother was a witch. Cate and her two younger sisters are witches, as well. In their New England of the 1890s, being a witch is a terrible crime. The Brothers firmly keep control of the populace, swiftly doling out punishments when they discover behavior contrary to their stern teachings. Suspected witches are imprisoned in a mental hospital or sentenced to hard labor on a ship, or worse; they simply disappear. Women are second-class citizens in Cate's society. They must be ever vigilant against the evil influences of suspected witches, and upon their majority, they must declare their intention before God and the members of their church. Girls only have two choices; to marry, or to join the Sisterhood. If a girl doesn't know which she prefers, the Brothers make the decision for her. Ugh!
In this grim setting, Cate not only has to worry about her own future, she has her sisters to worry about. Unlike Cate, they are chafing to use their magic, and they aren't always discrete about it. In a world where being a witch can prematurely and very unpleasantly end your life, Cate is stressed about about everything. Not even her father knows their secret. Cate was made to promise to keep their secret and to keep Tess and Maura safe at her mother's death bed. She takes her promise very, very seriously, because she understands the consequences of their discovery. She has heard about the girls who have been disappearing, either sent to the insane asylum or simply vanishing without a trace. She is terrified that they will be next. In addition to this burden, she also has romantic entanglements to work out. This is one love triangle that actually didn't grate on my nerves, and I am so curious to see what happens with it in the next book.
I thought the stark, stifling world of this New England was fascinating. The Brothers control just a sliver of this alternate North America – other stronger, more progressive countries control the rest. The borders are kept firmly closed against outsiders. Books and manuscripts are regularly banned and burned. Not following the teachings of the Brothers gets you labeled a deviant, and puts you at the mercy of their cruel punishments. Women are always treated more harshly than men, and even the simplest of infractions can lead to disaster.
I could not put this book down. I thought about it when I was forced to do something else. I counted the hours until I was free to pick it up again. The characters charmed me, especially Cate and her sisters. Their interactions were as complicated and compelling as their relationships. The younger girls don't understand Cate's reluctance to use and learn about her magic. They don't understand her fury when they carelessly weave spells where others might see them. While it is obvious to see how much they love each other, it is also painfully obvious to see how Cate's rules are going to tear them apart. Cate's greatest nightmare is only an eye-blink away, but the tighter she tries to control Maura and Tess, the faster the time bomb starts ticking. With three powerful witches in the same house, struggling to exert control over themselves, it was only a matter of time before something awful happened. And happen it did, with exploding glass, splintering furniture, and an emotional chasm that will take more than a hug to mend.
I found Born Wicked to be a unique read; I don't think I have read anything else quite like it. Jessica Spotswood took the usual paranormal tropes and twisted them up into something new and wonderfully compelling. YA tropes that normally drive me nuts kept me firmly engaged in the story, wondering what would happen next. The character development kept me enthralled, too. While I would never call Cate a carefree kind of girl, she does begin to accept herself and to open up to others, which made her an even more sympathetic character for me. When she kept herself isolated, she was taking the chicken exit; without putting herself out there, without accepting any emotional risk, she came across, at first, as a stunted, immature girl. As she began to take emotional risks, she began to blossom into a believable, likeable young woman.
So, do I have any gripes about Born Wicked? Yup, only one. It's part of a series, and it is going to be a long, long wait for Book 2!
Grade: A-
Review copy provided by {teen} book scene


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Reviewed By Tom P (Silverlake, WA) Reviewed for a 2007 Nissan Frontier —10/8/2013 10:44 PM
I drive half my 80 mile roundtrip commute at night so the auto-dimming mirror is one of the best purchases I've every made on any vehicle. It effectively blocks out glare from headlights while still keeping a clear field of vision. The outside air temperature sensor is not meant as a frost or ice warning, it's better than trying to time the temperature rotation on roadside billboards! The compass is really unnecessary as I almost always know which direction I'm driving!


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A Conversation with Richard Edelman - Milwaukee Sculptor
March 20, 2014
Through Sunday, April 27th come see Richard Edelman's "Recent Works in Bronze" Exhibit at the JCC. JCC Judaic Educator Jody Hirsh sat down with Richard, one of Milwaukee's star sculptors and past participant of the Jewish Artist's Lab, to talk about his upcoming exhibit and his life as a Jewish artist and sculptor in Milwaukee.
Jody Hirsh: How would you describe your exhibit?
Richard Edelman: The exhibit focuses on my work primarily in bronze, a medium I have been engaged with for the past few years, and is primarily based in Jewish and biblical themes. Because bronze can be molded and figured more easily, it is an interesting medium to explore the biblical and Jewish themes. When you look at the pieces, focus on the idea of storytelling. I see Torah as storytelling. I love the stories and you will see that in my work.
JH: These pieces really are spectacular - what brought you to sculpting?
RE: I have been involved with sculpture for about seven or eight years and there are a number of reasons why I gravitated toward sculpting. First of all I always loved and have been involved in the arts. Writing, poetry and underground press were my main medium when I first started out, but had a career in the steel industry with my engineering background. Having seen and worked with so much steel, I really developed a passion for it, and I also understand it technically. So metal became sort of a friend to me. I started with welding and immediately from there I got into steel sculpting which lead me to sculpting in bronze. I have been on this road for a while now.
JH: And your pieces are all over Milwaukee! Tell us more about your other work around Milwaukee.
RE: A lot of sculptors do pieces on a monumental scale (15 feet or bigger) in public places. It was something that I aspired to, so I went out and started talking to people about my work in their public spaces. To date, I have four installations and one of my biggest sculptures is in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward. They have created a vibrant arts district and have welcomed me with open arms. The Milwaukee Jewish Community has also welcomed me with open arms. You will see my large scale work at Congregation Emanu-El B'ne Jeshurun, Congregation Shalom and Chai Point. I have photographs of these installations as part of this exhibit. We brought the outside inside. I have also been involved with your Jewish Artist's Lab for the last three years, so my pieces have been on display in the JCC as well.
JH: We are thrilled to have you featured at our JCC, but what is next for the exhibit after it leaves us?
RE: This exhibit, plus some additional pieces, will be traveling to The Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City. The show will end here on April 28th and will reopen there on May 4th. It is going to take a lot of logistics to get my exhibit to Kansas City, but I am excited to bring it there. It will be fun, both here and in Kansas City.
See pictures of the installation below and join us through Sunday, April 27th for Richard Edelman's "Recent Works in Bronze" Exhitib at the JCC.


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Twice each day, once during daytime and once at sunset, students observe sky color, visibility, and sky conditions over a one week period. Each observation is recorded on a sky report form (included) for follow-up discussions and comparisons. This... (View More) lesson is one of four in the GLOBE program storybook entitled, "What's Up in the Atmosphere? Exploring Colors in the Sky." GLOBE (Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment) is a worldwide, hands-on, K-12 school-based science education program. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free
This is an online lesson associated with activities during Solar Week, a twice-yearly event in March and October during which classrooms are able to interact with scientists studying the Sun. This activity is scheduled to occur during Monday of... (View More) Solar Week. The lesson introduces the concept of astronomical filters and their connections to imaging different objects in space. Learners will explore perceptions of images as seen using different colors of light, construct a filter wheel, and practice investigating various astronomical images using the filter wheel. This material was designed to highlight how filters are useful to astronomers and show how a real astronomical telescope uses filters to image the Sun. Outside of Solar Week, information, activities, and resources are archived and available online at any time. (View Less)
Each lesson or activity in this toolkit is related to NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). The toolkit is designed so that each lesson can be done independently, or combined and taught in a sequence. The Teacher Implementation Guide provides... (View More) recommendations for combining the lessons into three main strands: 1) Lunar Exploration - These lessons provide a basic introduction to Moon exploration. Note that this strand is also appropriate for use in social studies classes. 2) Mapping the Moon - These lessons provide a more in-depth understanding of Moon exploration through the use of scientific data and student inquiry. The lessons also include many connections to Earth science and geology. 3) Tools of Investigation - These higher-level lessons examine the role of technology, engineering and physics in collecting and analyzing data. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $1 - $5 per group of students
Using the MY NASA DATA Live Access Server (LAS), students gather data on both solar radiation and surface temperature for two same-latitude locations. Students then create online graphs of that data to allow for analysis and comparison. This lesson... (View More) uses student- and citizen science-friendly microsets of authentic NASA Earth system science data from the MY NASA DATA project. It includes detailed procedures, analysis questions, teacher notes, related links, background information, lesson extensions, and a list of related AP Environmental Science topics. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free
In this lesson, learners will first use computers to research and learn how solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. Next, they will calculate the surface area of solar panels board a satellite and their total power generated in various... (View More) positions of the satellite, given the dimension of the panels. After, learners will organize and write a report summarizing the information about the MMS mission satellites. This activity requires student access to internet accessible computers. This is lesson four of the MMS Mission Educator's Instructional Guide, which uses examples from the mission to introduce mathematics (focusing on geometry) in a real-world context. The lessons use the 5E instructional cycle. Note: MMS launched March 12, 2015. For the latest science and news, visit the MMS Mission Website under Related & Supplemental Resources (right side of this page). (View Less)
This is an activity about how much atmospheric pressure is needed on Mars to maintain surface water and why the planet does not have surface water today. Learners will use a computer interactive to learn about Mars past and present before exploring... (View More) the pressure and greenhouse strength needed for Mars to have a watery surface as it had in the past. This lesson is part of Project Spectra, a science and engineering education program focusing on how light is used to explore the Solar System. (View Less)
Materials Cost: 1 cent - $1 per group of students
This is a demonstration about the density of the planets. Learners will compare the relative sizes and masses of scale models of the planets as represented by fruits and other foods. They will then dunk the "planets" in water to highlight the fact... (View More) that even a large, massive planet - such as Saturn - can have low density. They discuss how a planet's density is related to whether it is mainly made up of rock or gas. This activity is part of Explore! Jupiter's Family Secrets, a series designed to engage children in space and planetary science in libraries and informal learning environments. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $5 - $10 per group of students
Learners will model the gravitational fields of planets on a flexible surface. Children place and move balls of different sizes and densities on a plastic sheet to develop a mental picture of how the mass of an object influences how much effect it... (View More) has on the surrounding space. This activity is part of Explore! Jupiter's Family Secrets, a series designed to engage children in space and planetary science in libraries and informal learning environments. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $5 - $10 per group of students
In this data activity, students use satellite data to help determine the renewable (solar) energy potential of a region by comparing solar energy and cloud cover data. Step-by-step instructions for use of the MY NASA DATA Live Access Server (LAS)... (View More) guide students through selecting a data set, importing the data into a spreadsheet, creating graphs, and analyzing data plots. The lesson provides detailed procedures, related links and sample graphs, follow-up questions, extensions, and teacher notes. Designed for student use, MY NASA DATA LAS samples micro datasets from large scientific data archives, and provides structured investigations engaging students in exploration of remotely-sensed data to answer real world questions. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free per student
The 9-session NASA Family Science Night program emables middle school children and their families to discover the wide variety of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics being performed at NASA and in everyday life. Family Science Night... (View More) programs explore various themes on the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, and the Universe through fun, hands-on activities, including at-home experiments. Instructions for obtaining the facilitator's guide are available on the Family Science Night site. (View Less)


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Tool Test: Festool Domino XL DF 700
Festool recently released the Domino XL DF 700, big brother to its revolutionary Domino DF 500, one of the most innovative tools of the last few decades. Aside from the size, the loose-tenon joints created by the XL are the same as with the earlier version. From a machine that resembles a biscuit joiner, a router-type bit both plunges and oscillates to cut mortises in mating parts. Into each mortise fits a loose tenon, or "Domino."
How's the fit? As good as I've seen, whether cut by hand or power. And lining up the joint couldn't be easier.Cut butt joints on square or angled parts, align the two mating pieces and mark the tenon location on both pieces with one quick swipe of your pencil. Line up the machine and make the plunge cuts. The XL also has an improved indexing system that allows for even less measuring.
For the combination of speed and strength, this joinery system is tough to beat.
While the original machine (7 lbs.) handles loose tenons in five thicknesses (from 4 to 10mm), the noticeably heavier XL (11.4 lbs.) handles Dominos 8,10, 12 and 14mm thick. But the more meaningful difference is that the Domino XL plunges much deeper than the original. Instead of maxing out at 28mm like the original, the XL cuts mortises from 15 to 70mm deep (which means loose tenons can be as long as 51⁄2″).
If you often tackle large-scale projects such as doors, beds or hefty architectural elements, the Festool Domino XL deserves serious consideration.
The basic kit is $1,200 (it includes the tool and loose tenons). Pricey? Yes. But you'll be amazed by the time saved without sacrificing strength.
Video: See a collection of XL reviews.
From the October 2012 issue #199
Buy this issue now


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Yesterday, by a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court upheld the state of Indiana's requirement that voters present photo identification before voting. Which Justice broke ranks with the four-member liberal bloc to conclude what common sense dictates — that the law is "amply justified by the valid interest in protecting the integrity and reliability of the electoral process?"
The answer is: Justice Stevens, who wrote an opinion in which Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Kennedy joined. Justices Scalia, Thomas, and Alito signed a separate opinion reaching the same result but expressing less receptiveness to future challenges by voters claiming they were adversely affected by this type of law.
In recent opinions, Stevens has tended to draw explicitly on personal experience and observation from his nearly 90-year life, e.g., prohibition. Thus, it is quite plausible to believe, as John Fund does, that Stevens' experience in Chicago during the regime of Mayor Daley, a master of voting fraud, may have contributed to his vote in this case. Fund also draws an interesting comparison between Stevens' view of voting fraud and that of fellow Illinois man Barack Obama.
Fund and Byron York are correct that the Supreme Court's decision confirms the outrageous nature of the Senate Democrats' attack on Hans von Spakovsky. These Dems, led by Ted Kennedy and Obama, have blocked von Spakovsky's permanent appointment to the FEC on the grounds that, while in the Justice Department, he argued in favor of the requirement that the Supreme Court has now upheld. But the farcical nature of this attack, and the bad faith of the career bureaucrats who fueled it, has long been evident.


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This is a procedure to insert an artificial pacemaker. A pacemaker is a small, battery-operated device. It helps maintain a normal heartbeat by sending electrical impulses to the heart.
Reasons for Procedure
A pacemaker can be inserted when:
- The body's natural pacemaker, the sinoatrial (SA) node, is not working properly—this can cause the heart to beat too slowly
- There are malfunctions in the atrioventricular (AV) node, which is the part of the heart's electrical system that sends signals from the SA node to the ventricles—this leads to a slow heartbeat
- Heart performance in people with severe symptoms of congestive heart failure and a weakened heart muscle, known as cardiomyopathy, needs to be improved—his is called biventricular pacing, or cardiac resynchronization therapy
- Cardiac surgery is being done
Possible Complications
Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a pacemaker inserted, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:
- Excess bleeding
- Infection
- Pacemaker malfunction
- Inappropriate stimulation of the diaphragm, which is the large muscle between chest and abdominal cavities
- Rupture in the heart muscle—rare
Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:
- Obesity
- History of smoking
- History of excess alcohol consumption
- Bleeding or blood-clotting irregularities
- Regular use of some medications
- Chronic disease
Be sure to discuss these risks with your doctor before the procedure.
What to Expect
Prior to Procedure
Before the procedure, your doctor will likely do:
- Blood tests
- Chest x-rays—to look at the heart's structure
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)— to record the heart's activity
In the days leading up to the procedure:
- Talk to your doctor about your medications. You may be asked to stop taking some medications up to 1 week before the procedure.
- Eat a light meal the night before the procedure. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.
Local anesthesia will be used. This means that only the area being operated on is numbed. It is given as an injection.
Description of the Procedure
You will lie flat on a table. Your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing will be monitored. A small incision will be made beneath your collarbone. The pacemaker will be inserted through this incision. The wires will be threaded through a vein under the collarbone to your heart. Lastly, the incision will be closed with stitches.
Immediately After Procedure
Your heart rate and blood pressure will be monitored.
How Long Will It Take?
About 2 hours
How Much Will It Hurt?
You will have pain after the procedure. You will be given pain medication.
Post-procedure Care
Before you leave the care center, the pacemaker will be programmed to fit your pacing needs. When you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:
- Avoid strenuous activity, especially involving the upper body, for 4-6 weeks.
- Avoid excessive movement of the arm/shoulder on the side of the pacemaker for 2 weeks. This will help you to avoid dislodging the leads. You may be given a sling to wear to help remind you.
Now that you have a pacemaker,
you may need to avoid:
- MRI scans
- Heat therapy—often used in physical therapy
- High-voltage or radar machinery such as electric arc welders, high-tension wires, radar installations, or smelting furnaces
- Contact with radio or television transmitters
- Do not carry a cell phone in a pocket directly over the device. Keep the phone on the side away from the device. Headphones worn with MP3 players may also cause interference.
- Turn off car or boat motors when working on them. They may confuse your device.
- Tell your doctors and dentist that you have a pacemaker.
- Check with your doctor about the safety of going through airport security detectors with your device.
- Be sure to follow your doctor's instructions.
A hard ridge may form on the skin along the incision. This usually recedes as the wound heals.
Call Your Doctor
After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:
- Signs of infection, including fever and chills
- Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or any discharge from the incision site
- Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given
- Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
- Heartbeat irregularities
- New symptoms
In case of an emergency, call for emergency medical services right away.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: Michael J. Fucci, DO
- Review Date: 06/2016 -
- Update Date: 05/11/2013 -


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Capturing San Francisco (part 2)
A few weeks after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, George Lawrence captured a remarkable image of the sprawling ruins using his captive airship a hand-built, 49-pound panoramic camera suspended from a series of Conyne kites. To honor George Lawrences feat, and to commemorate the centennial of the 1906 earthquake, Scott Haefner re-shot Lawrence's panorama in collaboration with Drachen Foundation.
Date Submitted:Mon, 11/24/2008


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Carpets & Candids: Naomi Watts silver and comfortable
I love this dress, this whole look on Naomi Watts. I don't know that I'd love it on many others. Maybe Charlize Theron. But definitely not, say, Cameron Diaz. Or Zoe Saldana. And it's not like those other ladies can't pull off a dress. But there's some old glamour that Naomi can bring to it, with the red lips and a certain, I don't know, classic sophistication, and you'll note it could easily be unflattering, all loose like that, and still she wears it not like a sequined sheet but like a proper gown with movement and shape. Better still...it must be comfortable.


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Specialized's Boy's Hotrock 16 Coaster packs big-time fun into a pint-sized package. This great bike features a lightweight aluminum frame and fork that will withstand the bumps and jumps of neighborhood riding. With a comfortable saddle, wide tires, coaster brake and confidence-boosting training wheels, this bike is a joy to ride and sturdy enough to pass down to a little sibling, too.
(based on 4 reviews)
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Hotrock 16
By Ray
from Brentwood, ca
About Me
Great bike
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Great bike!
By Mikey
from Springfield
About Me Casual/ Recreational
This is a fantastic first "real" bike. My 5 yo son spent a long time monkeying around with a heavy 12" bike, getting very frustrated at his inability to transition from gliding to pedaling. I wish that I had just started him on a lightweight glider and moved right to this bike. The design is perfect for a beginner- light enough that they can mange the bike when climbing on and off, and gearing that is easy to pedal. Kiddo went from barely gliding to figure eights on the basketball court and climbing small hills in two days. This bike rocks!
Awesome kids bike!!
By Mom
from Alexandria, VA
This is a GREAT first bike for kids. This bike comes with training wheels that easily go off/on. Our son picked up riding a bike very quickly, he is 4, and he completely wore a hole in the tire of the original 12 inch bike we had purchased. We were looking for a high-quality bike he could grow with that wasn't heavy. Specialized hit the nail on the head. We purchased the 16 inch bike (added the kick stand) and he was immediately zooming and having a blast on it. It has been 6 months and our son still LOVES this bike and rides everyday. It has held up well to the "rough" play of a 4 year old (the kick stand helped alot so he wouldn't drop it on the ground) and it was well worth the money.
Good bike for 3 - 6 year olds
By dave
from houston tx
This was our son's second bike - we replaced the 12 inch $50 walmart huffy bike with this one after when he turned 4 and have been very satisfied. I would say that the age sweet spot is 4-6 years old. It's taken several crashes, and although it's a litle banged up, it still rides like a champ. We are now gonig to pass it to his younger brother.
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Warp Speed? Not So Fast.
A NASA engineer claims he has a way to move faster than the speed of light. Shh! It's a secret.
Can we travel to the stars? The answer to that question is "yes," provided we don't care how long the journey will take. According to Einstein's special theory of relativity, nothing with mass can accelerate to light speed, much less past it. Since the closest star is about 4 light-years away, it would take a great deal longer than four years for any spaceship based on known technology to reach it. At its present speed, Voyager 1 would require several thousand years to get to another star system—and it's one of the fastest spaceships we have.
That's where research by NASA engineer Harold "Sonny" White comes in. White claims he has found a way to build a faster-than-light warp drive, based on a simple mathematical relation in Einstein's general theory of relativity. While the idea is inspired by Star Trek, the basic concept behind the design is grounded in physics.
However, the information that's publicly available about White's work would make Mr. Spock's klaxon sound. The warp drive design appears to be based on an exotic form of matter that nobody has seen experimentally, in combination with a quantum effect too small to work in a device the size of a spaceship. As if that weren't enough, White's research is largely unpublished, and he claims he can't reveal the details because they are covered by nondisclosure agreements. Despite that, the media coverage of the warp drive has been largely uncritical, taking White's claims of his own research at face value.
Here's what we do know. In general relativity, it's possible to have a warped bubble of space-time that can move faster than light because it isn't made of matter. Think of this bubble like a moving sidewalk: It carries you faster than you can walk, but your leg muscles still dictate how fast you can walk on the rubber surface. In the case of the space-time bubble, the "sidewalk" is moving faster than light, while objects inside that bubble still obey the speed limit.
The "warp bubble" is a mathematical solution to Einstein's equations discovered by Miguel Alcubierre in 1994, and it is now included in at least one college-level general relativity textbook. However, solutions to equations are conditional: If the universe is configured in a particular way, then the solution describes how (for example) a spaceship can travel. Alcubierre's solution shows that a warp bubble exists if there's a region of space-time with negative energy density. All forms of matter and light possess positive energy density, which is why they create an attractive gravitational field. Even dark energy, which drives the accelerating expansion of the universe, has positive energy density.
Because nothing ordinary can make negative energy, that leaves only exotic options. One uses hypothetical particles with negative mass, but those have never been observed experimentally—and there's good reason to think they don't exist. The other idea is based on the Casimir effect: When two metal plates are placed in a vacuum, they experience an attractive force thanks to quantum fluctuations in the cavity between them. In some calculations, the Casimir effect exhibits negative energy in the region between the plates, but no matter how you interpret it, it's a tiny amount relative to the size of the apparatus. To make a spaceship-size warp bubble using the Casimir effect, you'd need the equivalent of converting all of Jupiter's mass into energy.
So how does White get around these limitations? We don't know. We can't know, because White won't tell us. The technical details of his experimental setup aren't published, and his public appearances have focused on big ideas rather than practical realities. When Popular Science writer Konstantin Kakaes asked White how his design works, the response was revealing:
"[White] explains that he has signed nondisclosure agreements that prevent him from revealing the particulars. I ask with whom he has the agreements. He says, 'People come in and want to talk about some things. I just can't go into any more detail than that.' "
The apparatus uses a set of ceramic capacitors in a ring, so it sounds like it's based on a cavity, such as one might use for Casimir effect experiments. In his appearance at the Starship Congress last week, White mentioned that his device also uses exotic matter of an unspecified nature that exploits quantum effects for propulsion. As physicist Richard Easther points out, even the details of White's experiment to test his device are sketchy.
The difficulty is clear. From what physicists have learned about the universe and its contents, White's warp drive can't work, period. If White has found a new method for generating negative energy, he hasn't published it, which means there's no way for other scientists to test his claims experimentally—or even check his calculations. Science requires its practitioners collectively to keep each other honest. For all the flaws in peer review and academic publishing, true suppression of ideas is rare. Until White publicizes the details of his research, our best option is to assume that what we know about quantum physics is correct—and his warp drive is still science fiction.


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I, like most everyone else, get a kick out of reading about stupid or inept criminals. You know, the kind that rob a bank, then realize they locked the keys to the getaway vehicle in the vehicle...so they're stuck.
I decided to google and see what I could find, for your enjoyment and mine. But in addition to finding some stories about dumb criminals, I also found some rules of thumb that any dumb criminals who may be reading this may want to consider. The rules, and the stories, are courtesy of The Freeman Institute. Enjoy.
Rules for bank robbers
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what a snide little put down
actually that article is why I cannot stand Counterpunch. And the bogus put down of people because they used fossil fuels to get to DC, how were they supposed to get there. Reading that and the articles here about the protest, I really wonder if I was at the same protest. I saw the Obama logos as throwing his rhetoric right back at him. I especially enjoyed the signs that said Yes You Can.
The Sierra Club has decided to endorse civil disobediance. I had no idea that they previously had a problem with it. Clearly something big is happening in the environmental movement.
And I hate the snarky put down of well known people lending their name to a movement. Without those names we would get no press.
It is hard to know what makes a difference and what does not. But standing on the steps of the Renwick Gallery, watching wave after wave of demonstrators round the corner of 17th and Pennsylvania, I was inspired. And while Obama may not have been there, you can be sure he took note of the proceedings. The thought of all those supporters turning sour on him if he OKs Tar Sands may very well have the desired effect.
It is not so easy to get thousands of people to come to Washington to stand in freezing weather to listen to speeches and then march. I just can't believe all the put downs.


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Availability: Out of stock
This beautiful patchwork skirt is now available for girls too. The inside of the skirt is made from a single cotton fabric with a cheerful print, offering you two distinctive styles in one. All skirts for kids by ZAND Amsterdam are adjustable in size with the little snap buttons; The skirt grows along with your kid which makes the skirt a sustainable item.
This ZAND skirt for kids fits from EU size 122-158 and can be worn inside out and the canvas belt can be unzipped from the skirt and rezipped in reverse; You are able to make four different skirts.
A guaranteed one-of-a-kind kids skirt! This specific combination of the canvas belt and skirt, the inner and outer side is truly unique.
The cotton skirt for kids comes with a small hip pocket which can be taken off with ease. The hip pocket is closed with a flap with snap fastener. The small bag has a zippered pocket. The hip pocket contains a shoulder strap enabling you to take it with you without having to wear the skirt.


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ADB Cuts Developing Asia's Growth Prospect
The Asian Development Bank slightly lowered the 2012 and 2013 growth forecasts for developing Asia, citing the persisting weakness in the Indian economy and slowdown in the East Asian economies.
According to the Asian Development Outlook released Friday by the ADB, developing Asia is expected to grow 6.0 percent in 2012 and 6.6 percent in 2013, down by 0.1 percent. "Available data through the third quarter of 2012 confirm that, as a whole, developing Asia's economic growth is cooling compared with last year's 7.2 percent," the ADB said in the report.
Meanwhile, the ADB sounded positive about China, which it expects to grow by 7.7 percent in 2012 and 8.1 percent in 2013. The ADB cited that China's industrial production rose in October compared to that in the previous month, indicating an upswing in the manufacturing output.
The data released last month by the National Bureau of Statistics of China showed that the country's industrial production, which measures the change in the total inflation-adjusted value of output produced by manufacturers, mines and utilities, rose to 9.6 percent in October, up from 9.2 percent in September and also more than the analysts' expectation of 9.4 percent.
However, the ADB has concerns about India with its growth forecast lowered to 5.4 percent from 5.6 percent in fiscal year 2012 and to 6.5 percent from 6.7 percent in FY2013. India's industrial output fell in September compared to that in the same month last year, indicating that the country's economy is under pressure.
According to the data released last month by the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation, India's industrial production declined 0.4 percent in September compared to that in the same month last year, down from a 2.3 percent rise in August and also below the analysts' expectation of a 2.8 percent increase.
The continuing debt crisis in Europe and the weakness in the U.S. economy have also hurt the growth in the developing Asian economies. "Looking ahead, considerable uncertainties remain over the strength of the US economy. Enduring weakness in Europe and the looming 'fiscal cliff'—with little sign to date of clear resolution—are weighing down prospects for the US economy," the ADB added.
The ADB has revised the inflation forecast for developing Asia to 4 percent from 4.2 percent in 2012, citing that the international food price situation is expected to ease the inflationary pressures.


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This is the forum to exchange information and ask questions about all things Convergent Audio Technology, an American manufacturer of high end tube audio equipment such as amplifiers, preamplifiers and phono stages
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Skip to comments.New Border Incursion In Hudspeth County
Posted on 02/02/2006 4:15:09 AM PST by AZRepublican
For the second time in two weeks, American law enforcement officers say men carrying high powered automatic weapons and who appeared to be Mexican soldiers violated the international boundary and crossed into the United States in Hudspeth County, East of El Paso. In the past the Mexican Consulate in El Paso had stated that their Government policy is that no armed Mexican soldiers are allowed closer than three miles to the U.S. border.
The latest incident happened just before sunset on Tuesday night, as a KFOX crew was on the scene. As a Hudspeth County sheriff's deputy was describing what happened during a reported incursion last week - suddenly one 'soldier' emerged from the brush on the Mexican side of the border and darted back under cover. Moments later though, two other men who appeared to be soldiers marched across a clearing, in plan view. Shortly after that, the Deputy spotted soldiers who were well hidden and out of camera range crossing into the United States - attempting to flank the Deputy and the news crew.
According to the Deputy "They are doing the classic thing, flanking around each side of us and actually coming up into the U.S. and trying to figure out what we are doing, they are looking at us very heavily."
(Excerpt) Read more at kfoxtv.com ...
Nah, this is too easy for snipers. A reporter got them, in plain view.
Snipers could have picked their wallets, run a background check and put them back in their pockets and they'd have never known.
I found a great picture taken in the 1920s of those guys patrolling the border, but I don't know how to post pictures. Too bad those old timers that were too aggressive can't be brought back today to patrol the border.
The Border Patrol that existed then is not claimed by the border Patrol that exists today- a retired BP officer said these guys were so rough, when the "new" Border Patrol was created this part of the history was left out and the new agency started from scratch.
Incursion Ping!
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
You done good. Interesting photo.
I agree.
From the article:
... this latest incident only heightens concern among law officers, and those who live along the U.S. side of the border. The Deputy involved in Tuesday's incident told KFOX, "If it's going to take a bunch of us getting killed down here on the river to show everybody that this is a problem, then its going to happen, one of these days it will happen."
I just did the same thing.
I told him that the strange silence of Republicans on the issue of illegal invasion is disgusting.
Or any of the following,
17 Caliber (.172)
20 Caliber (.204)
22 Caliber (.223-.224)
243 Caliber & 6mm (.243)
25 Caliber (.257)
6.5mm (.264)
6.5 Carcano (.268)
270 Caliber (.277)
7mm (.284)
30 M1 Carbine (.3065)
30 Caliber (.308)
303 Caliber, 7.7mm Japanese, 7.62x39mm (.310-.312)
8x57mm Mauser (8mm Mauser) (.318)
32 Special (.321)
8mm (.323)
318 Westley Richards (.330)
333 Jeffery (.333)
338 Caliber (.338)
348 Caliber (.348)
35 Caliber (.358)
9.3mm, 360 Number 2 (.366)
375 Caliber (.375)
401 Winchester (.406)
40 Caliber (.409)
450-400 Nitro Express, 405 Winchester (.408-.411)
416 Caliber (.416)
404 Jeffery, 10.75x68mm (.423)
44 Caliber (.429-.430)
43 Caliber (.431-.439)
425 Westley Richards (.435)
11.2x72mm Schuler (.440)
45 Caliber (.458)
465 Nitro Express (.468)
470 Nitro Express (.474)
475 Caliber (.475)
475 Caliber (.475-.488)
50 Caliber (.450-.511)
54 Caliber (.542)
58 Caliber (.577)
577 Nitro Express (.585)
600 Nitro Express (.620)
700 Nitro Express (.700)
...and once AGAIN, Chertoff the sock puppet will say "it's overblown".
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Support our Minutemen Patriots!
Be Ever Vigilant ~ Bump!
The original photo is really interesting, it is a panorama that shows armed men and signs as far as you can see in both directions. According to the article I read about the photo, Texas Rangers and US Marshalls were stretched thin trying to do their regular job and patrol the border. The same article said most of these men were retired Texas Rangers and other LE officers that were recruited for border duty.
Thanks for the pick. I have a collection of old BP photos.
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NH residents welcome new Pope with open armsBy MARK HAYWARD
New Hampshire Union Leader
March 13. 2013 11:49PM
Like Catholics around the world, the faithful in New Hampshire prayed and rejoiced Wednesday over the selection of the first man from their side of the world - the Western Hemisphere - to lead the Catholic Church.
But with little known about Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Catholics hung on every word, every movement, every action of Pope Francis.
"(The name) Francis, it just really does bring it down, doesn't it, to the people," said Bishop Peter Libasci after leading a Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral in Manchester. "You know how people love St. Francis - St. Francis and the animals, St. Francis and the poor. That wonderful story about how he just gave everything to the poor. I think he's saying something very, very important here."
Eight priests and two bishops - former Bishop John McCormack and Auxiliary Bishop Francis Christian - celebrated a special Mass alongside Libasci Wednesday evening. The service included incense, a choir and about 400 congregants.
"I like that he's from the Western Hemisphere, he's Spanish-speaking, and he's so humble," said Bedford resident Susan Lang as she entered the church.
Hispanics were especially elated. At St. Anne-St. Augustin Parish in Manchester, which ministers to Hispanics and other immigrant groups, the pastor said he witnessed a 64-year-old parishioner jump like a teenager.
"It's absolutely wonderful. The New World has become as important as the Old World," said the Rev. Joseph Gurdak, a Capuchin-Franciscan, who spent years in Central America.
Gurdak said he is also encouraged that Bergoglio lives in an apartment, cooked his own meals and chose to live like ordinary Argentinians.
"People in the United State of America, whether they're Latino or not, they would be proud someone from the Americas is a Pope," said Gustavo Moral, a native Ecuadoran and Bedford business owner who attends church at St. Anne-St. Augustin.
New Hampshire had slight connections to two of the cardinals thought to be in the running for Pope. Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the archbishop of Boston, was geographically as close as possible to a favorite son. And Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the former archbishop of Quebec, was succeeded by Gerald Lacroix, who grew up in Manchester.
Libasci, whose Italian heritage matches that of the new Pope, said he was impressed over how Pope Francis approached the balcony at St. Peter's Basilica. Most Popes do so with raised hands, but Libasci noted that Francis kept his at his side.
"He did not make any fanfare, but just greeted the world with a simple hello," the bishop said.


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Connecticut Now Struggling With Caregiver Unionization Efforts
SEIU loss in Michigan not stopping the union
Michigan's home-based caregiver dues skim should be on its last legs with the rejection of Proposal 4, but a similar forced unionization plan exists in Connecticut.
Michigan Proposal 4, which would have locked a scheme orchestrated by the Service Employees International Union when Jennifer Granholm was governor, was rejected 56 percent to 44 percent on Election Day.
This comes seven years after the SEIU used a mail-in election to forcibly unionize Michigan home-based caregivers.. As a result of that scheme, the SEIU has taken nearly $33 million from dues taken out of Michigan caregivers' Medicaid checks.
The SEIU convinced home-based caregivers in Connecticut to unionize, but there are serious questions about the details of the plan.
One significant difference in Connecticut is that The Arc Connecticut opposes the unionization. The Arc, which has branches in various states, advocates on behalf of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Stay Engaged
The Arc Michigan actively supported the forced unionization of home-based caregivers in the Great Lakes State. It gave $50,000 to the dummy employer that was used in the scheme. Its executive director, Dohn Hoyle, was the head of the unsuccessful Proposal 4 campaign.
"Our concerns only involve the people we represent," Leslie Simoes, executive director of The Arc Connecticut, told Capitol Confidential. "We represent those in the intellectual and developmental disability community. We don't represent everyone who would be affected by what is being planned.
"We do not oppose the unionization. People have the right to unionize. But our concern about this is the potential impact on the individual budgets of the folks we represent. If the unionization causes pay increases, that would affect their individual budgets, which could result in them having less hours and less resources." Simoes said.
Connecticut's situation is not a quietly orchestred forced unionization scheme like what happened here. What's happening in Connecticut is taking place in public, with hearings and news coverage. In Michigan, the SEIU's scheme took place covertly, without the public — and without most caregivers — knowing about it.
In September 2011, Connecticut Gov. Daniel P. Malloy signed two executive orders drafted to open the door to the unionization of the state's child care workers and home-based caregivers. In Connecticut the caregivers are called "personal care attendants."
Gov. Malloy had been backed heavily by the SEIU in his 2010 campaign.
"The executive order gave the union access to the workers," Simoes said. "In the (unionization) election there was overwhelming support for the union. They voted for it despite very strong organized opposition against it."
Simoes said she was not sure what entity is supposed to be the employer of the caregivers under the unionization plan in Connecticut. That issue appears to be a major stumbling block to getting the union operational.
She said the state would not be the employer, but the state, in essence, would be the only entity that could raise pay or provide benefits. In Michigan, Gov. Rick Snyder signed a law earlier this year declaring that home-based caregivers are not state employees and therefore not eligible for unionization.
"We know they (the caregivers) are not going to be able to get anything involving working conditions," Simoes said. "Considering what these folks do, working conditions don't apply to their situation. It (the union's collective bargaining) might be about wages and benefits.
"But then . . . how would they be able to do benefits, if you only work 10 hours per week, and also work at Wal-Mart?" Simoes said. "A lot of these folks only need minimal support. How do you get benefits for doing things like driving your father twice a day? How do you negotiate for benefits with your aunt?"
In Michigan, the obstacle of defining what would be the employer was sidestepped by creating a dummy employer, the Michigan Quality Community Care Council.
"Sounds like what happened in Michigan was even worse than what's happening here," Simoes said. "Ours is at least a little more transparent. But many advocates are very vocal in their criticism of what's happening here in Connecticut."
Simoes said that the state of Connecticut seems to be struggling to figure out how the set-up would be run. It is already months behind deadlines that had been set for putting the system into operation.
"I think when the union did this they really missed the boat," Simoes said. "...This (unionization efforts) is happening all over the country. It's different in different states. The unions are looking for new pools of workers."
See also:
Michigan Capitol Confidential Coverage of the SEIU Dues Skim
Related Articles:
How Right-to-Work and the End of the 'Dues Skim' Killed the SEIU in Michigan
Time for Labor Unions to Collect their Own Dues
Union Behind Michigan 'Dues Skim' Facing More Corruption Allegations
SEIU Sues Its Own Members for Banquet Hall They Paid For
Public School Union Members Protest Their Own Union
Home Health Caregivers Might Find Relief from Union Coercion at Supreme Court


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AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Plunging back into the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry held a four-hour meeting and fish dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that stretched into the early hours of Friday.
It is Kerry's fifth visit to the region since becoming secretary of state in February to try to restart peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, which broke down in 2008. He is to have lunch with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday in Amman, and more meetings could be in the offing.
Kerry, who is on a two-week swing through the Mideast and Asia, left Amman on Thursday evening in a convoy of nearly a dozen vehicles for the roughly 90-minute drive to Jerusalem. A Jordanian military helicopter flew over his convoy during the trip, according to a reporter who was allowed to make the trip with Kerry and his delegation.
Netanyahu was about an hour late, apparently telling Kerry that he was delayed because he had been attending a graduation ceremony for Israeli military pilots. They talked mostly one-on-one, but advisers also were present for some of the discussion, which began around 9:30 p.m. local time in a suite at a hotel in Jerusalem and ended around 1:30 a.m. Friday.
The State Department released the dinner menu — fish ceviche and a main course of red tuna and sea bream over lentils and mushrooms — but offered no detailed information about their talks. The State Department said only that the two had a "productive, in-depth and wide-ranging conversation" and that Kerry reiterated his commitment to working with all parties to achieve a two-state solution.
There was no readout from the Israelis.
State Department officials say Kerry will continue to try to find common ground between the two sides that would lead to a re-launching of negotiations. On this trip, Kerry is trying to pin down precisely what conditions Abbas and Netanyahu have for resuming talks and perhaps discuss confidence-building measures.
Beyond that, Kerry wants to talk about the positive outcomes, such as enhanced economic growth, of a two-state solution. But at the same time, the secretary, who has long-time relationships with officials from both sides, will remind them of what's at stake if the conflict is left unresolved, they said.
Earlier this month, in a speech to the American Jewish Committee Global Forum in Washington, Kerry warned of serious consequences if no deal is reached.
"Think about what could happen next door," he told the Jewish audience. " The Palestinian Authority has committed itself to a policy of nonviolence. ... Up until recently, not one Israeli died from anything that happened from the West Bank until there was a settler killed about a month ago.
"But if that experiment is allowed to fail, ask yourselves: What will replace it? What will happen if the Palestinian economy implodes, if the Palestinian Security Forces dissolve, if the Palestinian Authority fails? ... The failure of the moderate Palestinian leadership could very well invite the rise of the very thing that we want to avoid: the same extremism in the West Bank that we have seen in Gaza or from southern Lebanon."
So far, there have been no public signals that the two sides are narrowing their differences.
Abbas has said he won't negotiate unless Israel stops building settlements on war-won lands or accepts its 1967 lines — before the capture of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem in a Mideast war that year — as a starting point for border talks. The Palestinians claim all three areas for their future state.
Netanyahu has rejected the Palestinian demands, saying there should be no pre-conditions — though his predecessor conducted talks on the basis of the pre-1967 lines, and the international community views the settlements as illegal or illegitimate.
Earlier on Thursday, Kerry talked about the crisis in Syria and the Mideast peace process over lunch with Jordan's King Abdullah II.
In a statement, the Royal Palace said Abdullah told Kerry that he will continue trying to bridge the gaps in the viewpoints of Palestinians and Israelis. But he warned that Israel's "unilateral actions, which include continuous Israeli trespassing on Christian and Muslim holy sites, undermine chances for peace."
On Wednesday, an Israeli planning committee gave the final approval for construction of dozens of new homes in a settlement in east Jerusalem. The announcement, which was made the day before Kerry's visit, appeared to be an Israeli snub at the secretary of state's latest round of Mideast diplomacy.
Officials traveling with Kerry sought to minimize the significance of the announcement, saying the U.S. has repeatedly said that continued construction of settlements were unhelpful to efforts to restart the talks. The settlements are part of the Har Homa area of east Jerusalem. The Obama administration said it was "deeply concerned" back in 2011 when an Israeli planning commission approved 930 new housing units in the Har Homa neighborhood.
The Palestinian side condemned the announcement.
"Such behavior proves that the Israeli government is determined to undermine Secretary Kerry's efforts at every level," said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.
Associated Press writer Jamal Halaby in Amman contributed to this report.