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Minnesota False Claims Act
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The Minnesota False Claims Act is modeled on the federal False Claims Act, and cases brought under one statute are often brought in conjunction with claims under the other. Violation of the Minnesota False Claims Act exposes an individual for civil penalties up to three times the total damages to the state. Further, the Act imposes civil penalties ranging between $5,500 – $11,000 for each individual false claim in violation of the Act.
A private individual with direct knowledge of a Minnesota False Claims Act violation is authorized to file a suit under the Act's qui tam provisions. The qui tam relator, often referred to as a "whistleblower," may proceed with the action regardless of whether the government chooses to intervene.
Whistleblowers involved in successful judgments or settlements may receive up to 25 percent of the civil penalties recovered by the state government. If the state government has chosen not to intervene, the whistleblower may receive up to 30 percent of the available recovery. Further, the Act provides the whistleblower with protection against employer retaliation, offering reinstatement, double back pay with interest, potential punitive damages, and compensation for any special damages including attorneys' fees if the employee lawfully discloses information in furtherance of an investigation or action under the statute.
Persons with information about fraud on the state of Minnesota are urged to preserve their rights by consulting an attorney and filing a case as soon as possible. A disclosure to the Minnesota state government pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 15C.05(a)(3) may preserve a person's rights as an original source of the information about fraud.
As of August 2013, the text of the state FCA statute below is believed to be a complete, current version of the statute currently in force. Nonetheless, attorneys and qui tam relators should rely on the most up to date version of the state's laws.
Minnesota False Claims Act
M.S.A. § 15C.01 et seq.
§ 15C.01. Definitions
Subdivision 1. Scope. For purposes of this chapter, the terms in this section have the meanings given them.
Subd. 2. Claim. "Claim" includes a request or demand, whether under a contract or otherwise, for money or property and whether or not the state or a political subdivision has title to the money or property, that:
(1) is presented to an officer, employee, or agent of the state or a political subdivision; or
(2) is made to a contractor, grantee, or other recipient if the money or property is to be spent or used on behalf of the state or the political subdivision or to advance a state or political subdivision's program or interest, and if the state or political subdivision provides or has provided a portion of the money or property that is requested or demanded, or if the state or the political subdivision has reimbursed or will reimburse the contractor, grantee, or other recipient for a portion of the money or property that is requested or demanded.
Claim does not include requests or demands for money or property that the state or a political subdivision has paid to an individual as compensation for state or political subdivision employment, or as an income subsidy with no restrictions on that individual's use of the money or property.
Subd. 3. Knowing and knowingly. "Knowing" and "knowingly" mean that a person, with respect to information:
(1) has actual knowledge of the information;
(2) acts in deliberate ignorance of the truth or falsity of the information; or
(3) acts in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the information.
No proof of specific intent to defraud is required, but in no case is a person who acts merely negligently, inadvertently, or mistakenly with respect to information deemed to have acted knowingly.
Subd. 3a. Material. "Material" means having a natural tendency to influence, or be capable of influencing, the payment or receipt of money or property.
Subd. 3b. Obligation. "Obligation" means an established duty, whether or not fixed, arising from an express or implied contractual, grantor-grantee, or licensor-licensee relationship from a fee-based or similar relationship, from statute or regulation, or from the retention of any overpayment.
Subd. 4. Original source. "Original source" means a person who either:
(1) prior to a public disclosure under section 15C.05, paragraph (f), has voluntarily disclosed to the state or a political subdivision the information on which allegations or transactions in a claim are based; or
(2) has knowledge that is independent of and materially adds to the publicly disclosed allegations or transactions, and has voluntarily provided the information to the state or a political subdivision before filing an action under this chapter.
Subd. 5. Person. "Person" means a natural person, partnership, corporation, association or other legal entity but does not include the state or a political subdivision.
Subd. 6. Political subdivision. "Political subdivision" means a political subdivision of the state and includes a department or agency of a political subdivision.
Subd. 7. Prosecuting attorney. "Prosecuting attorney" means:
(1) the attorney general, if the false or fraudulent claim involves money, property, or services provided by the state; or
(2) the county attorney, city attorney, or other attorney representing a political subdivision, if the false or fraudulent claim involves money, property, or services provided by the political subdivision.
Subd. 8. State. "State" means the state of Minnesota and includes a department or agency of the state.
§ 15C.02. Liability for certain acts
(a) A person who commits any act described in clauses (1) to (7) is liable to the state or the political subdivision for a civil penalty of not less than $5,500 and not more than $11,000 per false or fraudulent claim, plus three times the amount of damages that the state or the political subdivision sustains because of the act of that person, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b):
(1) knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval;
(2) knowingly makes or uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim;
(3) knowingly conspires to commit a violation of clause (1), (2), (4), (5), (6), or (7);
(4) has possession, custody, or control of property or money used, or to be used, by the state or a political subdivision and knowingly delivers or causes to be delivered less than all of that money or property;
(5) is authorized to make or deliver a document certifying receipt for money or property used, or to be used, by the state or a political subdivision and , intending to defraud the state or a political subdivision, makes or delivers the receipt without completely knowing that the information on the receipt is true;
(6) knowingly buys, or receives as a pledge of an obligation or debt, public property from an officer or employee of the state or a political subdivision who lawfully may not sell or pledge the property; or
(7) knowingly makes or uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the state or a political subdivision, or knowingly conceals or knowingly and improperly avoids or decreases an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the state or a political subdivision.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the court may assess not less than two times the amount of damages that the state or the political subdivision sustains because of the act of the person if:
(1) the person committing a violation under paragraph (a) furnished an officer or employee of the state or the political subdivision responsible for investigating the false or fraudulent claim violation with all information known to the person about the violation within 30 days after the date on which the person first obtained the information;
(2) the person fully cooperated with any investigation by the state or the political subdivision of the violation; and
(3) at the time the person furnished the state or the political subdivision with information about the violation, no criminal prosecution, civil action, or administrative action had been commenced under this chapter with respect to the violation and the person did not have actual knowledge of the existence of an investigation into the violation.
(c) A person violating this section is also liable to the state or the political subdivision for the costs of a civil action brought to recover any penalty or damages.
(d) A person is not liable under this section for mere negligence, inadvertence, or mistake with respect to activities involving a false or fraudulent claim.
§ 15C.03. Exclusion
This chapter does not apply to claims, records, or statements made under portions of Minnesota Statutes relating to taxation.
§ 15C.04. Responsibilities of prosecuting attorney
Subdivision 1. General. A prosecuting attorney may investigate violations of section 15C.02. If a prosecuting attorney finds that a person has violated or is violating section 15C.02, the prosecuting attorney may bring a civil action under this chapter against the person to enjoin an act in violation of section 15C.02 and to recover damages and penalties.
Subd. 2. Attorney general investigatory powers. In connection with an investigation under this section, the attorney general has the powers listed in section 8.31, subdivisions 2 and 3.
§ 15C.05. Private remedies; complaint under seal; copy of complaint and written disclosure of evidence to be sent to prosecuting attorney
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person may maintain an action under this chapter on the person's own account and that of the state; the person's own account and that of a political subdivision; or on the person's own account and that of both the state and a political subdivision. After an action is commenced, it may be voluntarily dismissed only if the court and the prosecuting attorney give written consent to the dismissal and their reasons for consenting.
(b) If an action is brought under this section, no other person may bring another action under this section based on the same facts that are the subject of the pending action.
(c) An action may not be maintained under this section:
(1) against the state, the legislature, the judiciary, the executive branch, or a political subdivision, or respective officers, members, or employees if the action is based on evidence or information known to the state or political subdivision when the action was brought; or
(2) if the action is based upon allegations or transactions that are the subject of a civil action or an administrative proceeding for a monetary penalty to which the state or a political subdivision is already a party.
(d) A complaint in an action under this section must be commenced by filing the complaint with the court in chambers and the court must place it under seal for at least 60 days. No service may be made upon the defendant until the complaint is unsealed.
(e) If a complaint is filed under this section, the plaintiff shall serve a copy of the complaint on the prosecuting attorney in accordance with the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure and at the same time shall serve a written disclosure of all material evidence and information the plaintiff possesses.
(f) A court must dismiss an action or claim under this section, unless opposed by the prosecuting attorney, if substantially the same allegations or transactions as alleged in the action or claim were publicly disclosed:
(1) in a criminal, civil, or administrative hearing in which the state or the political subdivision or its agent is a party;
(2) in a report, hearing, audit, or investigation of the legislature, the governing body of a political subdivision, the legislative auditor, or the state auditor; or
(3) by the news media.
This paragraph does not apply if the action or claim is brought by the prosecuting attorney or the person bringing the action or claim is an original source of the information.
§ 15C.06. Prosecuting attorney intervention; motion to extend time; unsealing of complaint
(a) Within 60 days after receiving a complaint and disclosure under section 15C.05, the prosecuting attorney shall intervene or decline intervention or, for good cause shown, move the court to extend the time for doing so. The motion may be supported by affidavits or other submissions in chambers.
(b) The complaint must be unsealed after the prosecuting attorney decides whether or not to intervene.
(c) Notwithstanding the prosecuting attorney's decision regarding intervention in an action brought by a plaintiff under section 15C.05, the prosecuting attorney may pursue the claim through any alternate remedy available to the state, including an administrative proceeding to determine a civil monetary penalty. If the prosecuting attorney pursues an alternate remedy in another proceeding, the person initiating the action has the same rights in that proceeding as if the action had continued under section 15C.05. A finding of fact or conclusion of law made in the other proceeding that has become final is conclusive on all parties to an action under section 15C.05. For purposes of this paragraph, a finding or conclusion is final if it has been finally determined on appeal to the appropriate state court, if the time for filing an appeal has expired, or if the finding or conclusion is not subject to judicial review.
§ 15C.07. Service of unsealed complaint and response by defendant
When unsealed, the complaint must be served on the defendant pursuant to Rule 3 of the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure. The defendant must respond to the complaint within 20 days after it is served on the defendant.
§ 15C.08. Prosecuting attorney and private party roles
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, if the prosecuting attorney does not intervene at the outset in an action brought by a person under section 15C.05, the person has the same rights in conducting the action as the prosecuting attorney would have. A copy of each pleading or other paper filed in the action and a copy of the transcript of each deposition taken must be mailed to the prosecuting attorney if the prosecuting attorney so requests and pays the cost of doing so.
(b) If the prosecuting attorney elects not to intervene at the outset of the action, the court, without limiting the status and rights of the person initiating the action, may nevertheless permit the prosecuting attorney to intervene at a later date, upon a showing of good cause. If the prosecuting attorney so intervenes, the prosecuting attorney subsequently has primary responsibility for conducting the action.
(c) If the prosecuting attorney elects at the outset of the action to intervene, the prosecuting attorney has the primary responsibility for prosecuting the action. The person who initially brought the action remains a party but the person's acts do not bind the prosecuting attorney.
(d) If the prosecuting attorney elects to intervene, either at the outset or subsequently, the prosecuting attorney may file the prosecuting attorney's own complaint or amend the complaint of the person who initially brought the action to clarify or add details to the claims in which the prosecuting attorney is intervening and to add any additional claims with respect to which the prosecuting attorney contends the prosecuting attorney is entitled to relief. For statute of limitations purposes, any prosecuting attorney pleading relates back to the filing date of the complaint of the person who originally brought the action, to the extent that the claim of the prosecuting attorney arises out of the conduct, transactions, or occurrences set forth, or attempted to be set forth, in the prior complaint of that person.
(e) Whether or not the prosecuting attorney intervenes in the action, the prosecuting attorney may move to dismiss the action for good cause. The person who brought the action must be notified of the filing of the motion and may oppose it and present evidence at the hearing. The prosecuting attorney may also settle the action. If the prosecuting attorney intends to settle the action, the prosecuting attorney shall notify the person who brought the action. The state or the political subdivision may settle the action with the defendant notwithstanding the objections of the person initiating the action if the court determines, after a hearing, that the proposed settlement is fair, adequate, and reasonable under all the circumstances. Upon a showing of good cause, the hearing may be held in chambers.
§ 15C.09. Stay of discovery; extension
(a) The court may stay discovery by a person who brought an action under section 15C.05 for not more than 60 days if the prosecuting attorney shows that the proposed discovery would interfere with the investigation or prosecution of a civil or criminal matter arising out of the same facts, whether or not the prosecuting attorney participates in the action.
(b) The court may extend the stay upon a further showing that the prosecuting attorney has pursued the civil or criminal investigation or proceeding with reasonable diligence and that the proposed discovery would interfere with its continuation. Discovery may not be stayed for a total of more than six months over the objection of the person who brought the action, except for good cause shown by the prosecuting attorney.
(c) A showing made pursuant to this section must be made in chambers.
§ 15C.10. Court-imposed limitation upon participation of private plaintiff in action
Upon a showing by the prosecuting attorney in an action in which the prosecuting attorney has intervened that unrestricted participation by a person under this chapter would interfere with or unduly delay the conduct of the action, or would be repetitious, irrelevant, or solely for harassment, the court may limit the person's participation by limiting the number of witnesses, the length of the testimony of the witnesses, the cross-examination of witnesses by the person, or by other measures.
§ 15C.11. Limitation of actions; remedies
(a) An action under this chapter may not be commenced more than three years after the date of discovery of the fraudulent activity by the prosecuting attorney or more than six years after the fraudulent activity occurred, whichever occurs later, but in no event more than ten years after the date on which the violation is committed.
(b) A finding of guilt in a criminal proceeding charging a false statement or fraud, whether upon a verdict of guilty or a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, stops the person found guilty from denying an essential element of that offense in an action under this chapter based upon the same transaction as the criminal proceeding.
(c) In an action under this chapter, the state or the political subdivision and any plaintiff under section 15C.05 must prove the essential elements of the cause of action, including damages, by a preponderance of the evidence.
§ 15C.12. Award of expenses and attorney fees
If the prosecuting attorney or a person who brought an action under section 15C.05 prevails in or settles an action under this chapter, the court shall award the prosecuting attorney or person reasonable costs, reasonable attorney fees, and the reasonable fees of expert consultants and expert witnesses. These expenses must be awarded against the defendant and are not allowed against the state or a political subdivision. If the prosecuting attorney does not intervene in the action and the person bringing the action conducts the action and the defendant prevails in the action, the court shall award to the defendant reasonable expenses and attorney fees against the person bringing the action if it finds that the action was clearly frivolous or vexatious or brought in substantial part for harassment. The state or a political subdivision is not liable for expenses, attorney fees, or other costs incurred by a person in bringing or defending an action under this chapter.
§ 15C.13. Distribution to private plaintiff in certain actions
If the prosecuting attorney intervenes at the outset in an action brought by a person under section 15C.05, the person is entitled to receive not less than 15 percent or more than 25 percent of any recovery of the civil penalty and damages or settlement, depending on the extent to which the person substantially contributed to the conduct of the action. If the prosecuting attorney does not intervene in the action at any time, the person is entitled to receive not less than 25 percent or more than 30 percent of any recovery of the civil penalty and damages, or settlement, as the court determines is reasonable. If the prosecuting attorney does not intervene in the action at the outset but subsequently intervenes, the person is entitled to receive not less than 15 percent or more than 30 percent of any recovery of the civil penalty and damages or settlement, as the court determines, depending on the extent to which the person substantially contributed to the prosecution of the action. For recoveries whose distribution is governed by federal code or rule, the basis for calculating the portion of the recovery the person is entitled to receive shall not include amounts reserved for distribution to the federal government or designated in their use by federal code or rule.
§ 15C.145. Relief from retaliatory actions
(a) An employee, contractor, or agent is entitled to all relief necessary to make that employee, contractor, or agent whole if that employee, contractor, or agent is discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed, or in any other manner discriminated against in the terms and conditions of employment because of lawful acts done by the employee, contractor, agent, or associated others in furtherance of an action under this chapter or other efforts to stop one or more violations of this chapter.
(b) Relief under paragraph (a) shall include reinstatement with the same seniority status that the employee, contractor, or agent would have had but for the discrimination, two times the amount of back pay, interest on the back pay, and compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, including litigation costs and reasonable attorney fees.
(c) A civil action under this section may not be brought more than three years after the date when the retaliation occurred.
§ 15C.15. Deposit of state funds; false claims account
Subdivision 1. Deposit of funds. The net proceeds received by the state in an action under this chapter, after distributions made to private plaintiffs and as otherwise required by federal law, must be deposited in the state treasury and credited as follows:
(1) the portion of net proceeds equal to the amount of the actual damages that the state sustains because of an act specified in section 15C.02 must be credited to the fund that sustained the damages;
(2) the portion of net proceeds equal to the additional recovery of federal money authorized by United States Code, title 42, section 1396h, for a recovery under this chapter, as determined by the commissioner of management and budget, must be credited to the false claims account under subdivision 2, provided that the amount credited may not exceed $1,000,000 in a fiscal year; and
(3) the remainder of the net proceeds must be credited to the general fund.
Subd. 2. False claims account. A false claims account is established in the special revenue fund in the state treasury. The commissioner of management and budget may enter into interagency agreements to deposit up to $2,055,000 for litigation and related expenses under this chapter. Money in the account deposited through interagency agreement or under subdivision 1 is annually appropriated to the attorney general for purposes of this chapter.
§ 15C.16. Reporting
The attorney general shall report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives committees with jurisdiction over state government finance by January 15 each year, on activities under this chapter during the prior calendar year. The report must include:
(1) the number of complaints received by the attorney general under section 15C.05;
(2) the number of times the attorney general intervened and declined to intervene after receiving a complaint;
(3) an estimate of the amount of time spent by attorneys in the attorney general's office and an estimate of the amount of time spent by other staff in the attorney general's office on activities under this chapter; and
(4) net proceeds received by the state in each action under this chapter.
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If you drive down the Calhoun's street in Pendleton, one thing stands out. Their shutters are pink and they've got a pretty good reason for it.
"I painted the shutters because pink is the universal color for cancer survivors," said Robin Calhoun.
And Robin is one of them. In February 2012, she was diagnosed with Stage IV Lymphoma.
"It's like getting punched in the stomach and the rug pulled out at the same time," said Robin.
It also meant aggressive chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant and plenty of medical bills. Robin is now in remission. She says her insurance provider, Coventry Health, covered everything, except for one bill that kept lingering.
Robin says the bill listed the wrong code so her insurance didn't pay it. She called AnMed Health.
"She said that what she would do was resubmit it to Coventry with the correct code," said Robin.
That was May 2012. After that, she got another bill and another one. Robin says she went back and forth between AnMed and Coventry for months, trying to settle the remaining $510 balance due.
"It's like I survived everything else," said Robin. "And this is almost worse than the chemo sessions, trying to get somebody to help me to get the code fixed."
We reached out to Coventry and AnMed about Robin's bill. They couldn't discuss specifics because of privacy reasons, but quickly acted on her request.
"AnMed Health maintains an active follow-up program with all insurance carriers. However, because resolution often requires coordination among physician, hospital and payor, these delays are sometimes lengthy," said Spokesperson Kari Lutz.
And the delay is now over for Robin.
"They resolved the coding issue," Robin told us after receiving a call from Coventry and AnMed Monday morning.
She says she was told the payment was now processing and that a check would be sent to AnMed Thursday.
AnMed Health says to avoid delays patients should pay close attention to your Explanation of Benefits or EOB statement. You typically will get that before the actual bill.
If you notice an error in the EOB, notify your medical and insurance provider right away.
If you have insurance through your employer, your human resources department may also be a good resource to helping you resolve an issue.
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If that sounds like Shangri La, you're looking a little too far over the horizon. The fact is, tens of thousands of Americans have already found a good life at a great price in the Caribbean, especially on the islands. For them, it's very much like a trip back through time. ONI president Carter Clews, calls it "Mayberry by the beach." And according to Zogby, that fact isn't lost on the American people. Zogby's survey, with more than 115,000 respondents, showed why the smart money is moving offshore – in anticipation of a massive market that is soon to arrive (and please keep in mind, the figures below represent households, not just individuals – so you can multiply the numbers by about 2.5):
Fact: 1.6 million U.S. households have firmly decided to move offshore and are already moving forward with their preparations. Fact: 1.8 million U.S. households are "seriously considering" moving offshore and are likely to do so. Fact: 7.7 million U.S. households are "somewhat seriously" considering moving offshore and "may" do it. Fact: In addition, nearly 3 million U.S. households are "seriously considering" buying a vacation home or other property offshore; another 10 million are "somewhat" serious about doing so.
Fact: 1.6 million U.S. households have firmly decided to move offshore and are already moving forward with their preparations.
Fact: 1.8 million U.S. households are "seriously considering" moving offshore and are likely to do so.
Fact: 7.7 million U.S. households are "somewhat seriously" considering moving offshore and "may" do it.
Fact: In addition, nearly 3 million U.S. households are "seriously considering" buying a vacation home or other property offshore; another 10 million are "somewhat" serious about doing so.
So, the only question left for serious investors Are you prepared to beat the rush and profit from the boom when the new emigrants wade ashore? If your answer is "Yes," then let me take it a step further and suggest where my investor's intuition tells me the coming swarm is going to nest first. Actually, it doesn't take much imagination.
Let me give you three prime examples of stunning tropical islands, all in the West Caribbean, that I consider – right now – to be the best investments in Latin America. And that's saying something.
I'll tell you where the islands are, as well as why I believe your investment could yield an exponential return. And I'll even guide you to some of the premier locations where, as of this writing, you can still get in at what I consider a bargain price. From there, it's up to you. Fair enough?
All right, then, let's get started before the tide – and the prices – rise.
Ambergris Caye – This tropical paradise is probably the best known of the lot. It's part of Belize; right off it's northeast coast. And it achieved celebrity status when Madonna deemed it La Isla Bonita: "I want to be where the sun warms the sky/When its time for siesta you can watch them go by/Beautiful faces, no cares in this world/Where a girl loves a boy, and a boy loves a girl"
All right, it's not great poetry. But, in this case at least, the "Material Girl" knows of what she sings. Titanic icon Leonardo di Caprio just snapped up a nearby island for a hefty $10 million. Waterfront property prices on Ambergris Caye have nearly doubled in the past three years. And according to the Wall Street Journal, the price of an average home in the San Pedro area of Ambergris has jumped 18.6% in one year alone.
Tourism in Belize has skyrocketed – up 300% in the past five years – with Ambergris leading the way. According to the Travel Channel, "The word is out. Ambergris Caye is a tropical paradise, with swaying palm trees, long stretches of pristine beach and friendly people. Once a sleepy fishing village now turned into an exploding tourist spot. Go soon before it's too crowded!"
As the International Tribune reports, the island is "booming ...nice and quietly"
Still, a two-bedroom, waterfront condo on Ambergris typically sells for only $300,000 to $500,000 – compared to the $1-million price tags found on nearby St. Bart's. So, bargain prices remain available. Though, they're not likely to last long. Which makes it perfect for the serious investor.
Most importantly for Rich Report readers who may want to make a major move, there are still a few fairly large land tracts available on the Isla Bonita. But, with Belize booming the way it is, I don't expect them to last long, so to hesitate may be to lose. Roatan Island -- Let's cut to the chase on this one: the Wall Street Journal calls Roatan Island "The Next Place in the Sun." That's in initial caps because that's how WSJ headlined the story. The sub-head is equally as provocative: "Honduras's Roatan Island has palms, peace, blackouts – and big tourism projects".I'd suggest you forget the blackouts – if the price of oil keeps escalating, we all may soon be groping around in the dark – and focus on the palms, the peace, and, especially, the tourism. I'm prepared to predict that Roatan will soon become the #1 island tourist attraction in the West Caribbean. And you may quote me on it.
In 1999, cruise lines brought 57,000 tourists to Roatan. By 2007, that number had jumped to nearly 240,000; an average of nearly 20,000 a month. And here's what's most important for savvy investors: the Honduras Ministry of Tourism estimates that 20% of those who visit Roatan return. Of those, an additional 20% buy property.
Recently, Royal Caribbean inked a deal to build a $30 million extension to is Roatan cruise terminal. Not to be outdone, Carnival is spending $50 million to build its own port of call, which it says will handle as many as 7,000 tourists daily when it opens in 2009.
I wish I could tell you that you could still get an acre of beachfront property on Roatan for as little as $20,000 like you could just a few short years ago. Today, you can multiply that times 10 – or more.
There are still, however, some opportunities for major investors in select areas on the west end of the island, around the West Bay areas. And the largely undeveloped eastern end of the island is still fairly wide open (though it has been "discovered" by at least one major resort hotel conglomerate). In short, even on Roatan, you can still get high-level returns on reasonably low investments in a relatively short time.
Isla Margarita – Let's clear the air right from the start. For those not entirely familiar with Latin America, or South America to be more precise, Isla Margarita is part of Venezuela. Need I say more? Now, before you throw up your hands (or lunch), hear me out – because for offshore investors, large or small, there is a vitally important point to consider: Caribbean islands represent not only a separate landmass from their mother country; they often represent a separate way of life, as well.
1.Isla Margarita attracted some 2.3 million visitors in 2007 – and according to the World Trade & Tourism Council is expected to enjoy a growth rate of 15% per annum in the years ahead.
2. The cost of living is remarkably low – as in $800 a month to live very comfortably, thank you -- with cheap food, gasoline, and housing; no value-added or local income taxes; and virtually no property taxes
3.Property prices on the island are on average 70% lower than on other Caribbean islands.
Frankly, it's that last item that most strongly captures my attention as a serious investor. That, coupled with the fact that last year, according to the Latin Business Chronicle, the Isla Margarita economy grew at an astonishing 11.3%. So, it could be well worth some risk capital. On the other hand, Bloomberg's says Venezuela is facing what it calls an "inflation bomb." And that makes it your call.
And so, we may well be at the inception of what some are already calling a "Population Inversion" in the Western Hemisphere. If so, it could transmogrify not only the cultures, but also the economies – and the economic opportunities - in every country affected. And if the past is prologue, those who get in first will profit most from the oncoming Inversion. Should that be the case, for savvy investors – i.e., for the "Rich Report Regulars" - the islands in the stream could soon be money in the bank. See you next month.
Did You Know Lost Among The Forgotten


text:
Additions and/or corrections to the database are encouraged! Simple Add/Edit Procedure.
|BIG Map |
|Driving Directions |
|Data Source - USGS GNIS FID: 2083422
Guttenberg, NJ
(1.4 miles WNW)
Fairview, NJ (1.9 miles NNW)
West New York, NJ (1.9 miles W)
Cliffside Park, NJ (2.4 miles NNW)
Union City, NJ (2.4 miles WSW)
Manhattan, NY
(< 0.1 mile)
Harlem, NY (2.4 miles NE)
North Bergen, NJ (1.9 miles NW)
Hudson Heights, NJ (1.9 miles NW)
Weehawken, NJ (2.4 miles WSW)
Park West Village, NY
(< 0.1 mile)
Upper West Side, NY (< 0.1 mile)
Carnegie Hill, NY (1.4 miles ESE)
Harbor View Terrace, NY (1.4 miles SSW)
Amsterdam Houses, NY (1.4 miles SSW)
Phipps Houses, NY
(1.4 miles SSW)
Yorkville, NY (1.4 miles ESE)
San Juan Hill, NY (1.4 miles SSW)
Le Petit Senegal, NY (1.9 miles NE)
East Harlem, NY (1.9 miles ENE)


text:
sunshine.hannah - 2nd O/S - 15/May/14 with Ian Twiselton
Hidden - AltLd O/S - 01/May/14
gazj1986 - AltLd O/S - 14/Apr/14
Hidden - AltLd O/S - 09/Apr/14
Odd pitchesAde7 - AltLd O/S - 09/Apr/14 with Sam C
glenngordon - Lead O/S - 08/Apr/14 with Teresa Johnston
Hidden - AltLd - 07/Apr/14
Hidden - Lead O/S - 01/Apr/14
LukeRobinson - 2nd - 01/Apr/14
lead pitches 2 & 5mikestr555 - AltLd O/S - 24/Mar/14
Hidden - AltLd O/S - 22/Mar/14
Cerris90 - 2nd O/S - 22/Mar/14
mjeffery - Lead O/S - 02/Mar/14
Led 1st pitch only. Lowered off to let Joby and Ed have a go.pdamann - Lead O/S - 18/Feb/14 with Ed Russell
auld al - AltLd O/S - 16/Jan/14
Hidden - AltLd - 02/Jan/14
I led 2nd, 3rd & 5th pitchLyndsay Superclimber - AltLd O/S - 02/Jan/14 with Ryan
Don't know why i left it so long to do this route. Really enjoyable & varied throughout with just one short scrappy section. 2 star route. Finishing along the ridge is icing on cake.A Mountain Journey - Lead - Jan/14 with Kate
Curlyhelen - 2nd - 30/Dec/13 with Andrew
jcooper8 - Lead O/S - 15/Dec/13
led p1,p2,p4. start of p5 was great.islandlynx - AltLd - Dec/13 with Amy
Multi Pitchadamsandy1 - AltLd O/S - 27/Nov/13
completed first 3 pitches, before trending right onto another route asCarl Simmons - Lead O/S - 11/Nov/13 with RCF - Battle Back Students
Hidden - Lead - 06/Nov/13
Celia Watson - 2nd - 06/Nov/13 with stuart watson
tdoyle - AltLd O/S - 28/Oct/13 with Glen bloomer
Last 3 pitches.Zoomer - AltLd O/S - 28/Oct/13 with A Student
Tarquin - AltLd - 14/Oct/13 with Louise
Louvet - AltLd - 14/Oct/13 with Tarquin
J25 lead the nice top pitch, carried on along the ridge after reaching the top.Alex Thompson - AltLd O/S - 09/Oct/13 with JonnyO
J25 - AltLd - 09/Oct/13 with Alex Thompson
Lead pitches 1, 2, 3 and 5vix - AltLd O/S - 07/Oct/13 with chris
Made a subtle variation around p2. An ace treverse across broken ground fixed things, breezed our way up from there..BenedictIEP - Lead O/S - 07/Oct/13 with Sam Carey
Climbed with Geoffrey Burton and Matt England. Hills are our friends...Christian_S85 - 2nd rpt - 07/May/13
In 3 pitchesJamieSparkes - Lead O/S - 31/Mar/13 with Claire
Dave Mountford - 23/Mar/13 with alex thackaway
the ant hill mob - AltLd O/S - 20/Mar/13
Quite a bit of loose rock in the second half of the top pitch. Split this and ran in 2 to make 6 pitches in total. Trivial (with "spaced" protection) middle 2 pitches spoil it a bit. I lead pitches 1, 3 and 5gav - AltLd - 18/Mar/13 with Dave
Hidden - AltLd - 18/Mar/13
kirky_p - Lead - 10/Jan/13
Tarquin - 28/Nov/12 with Louise
Louvet - 28/Nov/12 with Tarquin
Hidden - Lead O/S - 10/Nov/12
Lead first two pitches, seconded third, seconded part of fourth and lead part (original leader got lost) & lead fifth.ElBarto - AltLd O/S - 05/Nov/12 with Caroline Priston
Hidden - Lead - 22/Oct/12
Mega routeCrowley6969 - AltLd O/S - 22/Oct/12 with stu wright
Hidden - Lead O/S - 25/Jul/12
Hidden - AltLd O/S - 31/Mar/12
Lev - AltLd O/S - 31/Mar/12 with Emma Ross
This is called "Cilber" and we did it as part of the Toix Costa Blanca Ridge route as in miniguide RockFax. Splendid! Freed the 5+ with rucsac on back.Phil Murray - AltLd O/S - 16/Feb/12 with Liz
Hidden - Lead O/S - 15/Nov/11
Tom Seccombe - AltLd O/S - 10/Nov/11 with tim exley
antonymcphillips - Lead - Nov/11
Odd pitches. Finished with a fun scramble along the Toix ridge which conveniently deposits you near the Toix TV area.prog99 - AltLd O/S - 31/Oct/11 with Fiona
Led even pitches and continued on to do a traverse of the Toix Ridge. Fiona Reid - AltLd O/S - 31/Oct/11 with Mike
Liz Wakelin - 2nd - 25/Oct/11 with Rich Mayfield, Sue Pym
Rowan Mitchell - Lead O/S - 26/Sep/11 with Simon Cox
absolutebeginner - 2nd - 05/Apr/11 with Rich#
Good route and enjoyed the alpine scramble at the top as described in the Costa Blanca Ridges mini guide. Great views from the ridgebrianrunner - AltLd - 05/Mar/11 with martina
Hidden - AltLd O/S - 09/Feb/11
jon clayton - Lead - 03/Jan/11 with rob jones
marcb - AltLd O/S - 02/Jan/11 with Matt Kendal
Jonathan Emett - AltLd O/S - 24/Dec/10 with karen
melville18 - AltLd O/S - 26/Sep/10 with claire melville
MDowson - AltLd O/S - 13/Apr/10 with josh wyatt
A fun climb. 5+ in the Rockfax guide. Got slighty lost between pitches 3 and 4. I lead the scrambly pitch. Last pitch is the best. Fun abseil back down.samcook - 2nd O/S - 03/Apr/10 with Chris Wilson, Alex Higgs
Lead pitches 3,4 and 5
Interesting traverse at the top, we did it alpine style just to be on the safe side.Robin Head - AltLd O/S - 24/Mar/10 with Ed Shaw
Hidden - AltLd - 01/Feb/10
Hidden - AltLd O/S - 22/Oct/09
Hidden - AltLd O/S - Apr/09
TonyP - Lead O/S - 11/May/08 with Nic
ian clarke - AltLd O/S - Apr/08 with paul
Hidden - AltLd - Apr/08
Hidden - Lead - 13/Feb/08
Hidden - 2nd - 13/Feb/08
The Bad Cough - AltLd O/S - 07/Oct/07 with John Nesbitt
Hidden - Apr/07
Hidden - AltLd - 27/Mar/07


text:
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- It's behavior that's gone from the the firehouse to the courthouse.
In a civil suit filed this week, two Camp Taylor firefighters accuse Camp Taylor Fire District and Deputy Chief Steve Adkins of creating a sexually hostile work environment, retaliation and inflicting emotional distress.
Adkins is even accused of using the 'N' word numerous times, but Adkins attorney, Thomas Clay, denies those claims.
"Mr. Adkins says that never happened. He would never use a racial epithet," Clay, said.
In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs George Givens and Michael Killebrew accuse Adkins of physically harming them, using sexual and inappropriate language around them and threatening to have them fired.
According to Clay, some of the comments have been misconstrued.
"There was physical contact, but at this point, I believe that the physical contact was mutual. There were comments made but those comments were reciprocated," Clay, said.
The attorney for the plaintiff's, Jason McGregor said he can not comment on pending litigation. The plaintiff's are seeking punitive damages.
Clay has 20 days to respond to the lawsuit.
Deputy Chief Adkins is currently on paid administrative leave.


text:
riak case study: All content tagged as riak case study in NoSQL databases and polyglot persistence
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
What is Riak?
From Basho's blog:
Riak is:
- A Database
- A Data Store
- A key/value store
- Used by Fortune 100 Companies
- Used by startups
- A "NoSQL" database
- Schemaless and data-type agnostic
- Written (primarily) in Erlang
- As distributed as you want and need it to be
- Scalable
- Pronounced "REE-ack"
- Not the best fit for every project and application
- And much, much more…
So far I've heard only about Riak and Mozilla, Riak at inagist.com, and this atypical Riak usage for a church kiosks, but no mentions of Fortune 100 company names. Anyone knows who are they referring to?
Update: please check the comment thread for more details. It looks like the Fortune 100 company Basho is referring to is Comcast.
Original title and link for this post: What is Riak? (published on the NoSQL blog: myNoSQL)
via: http://wiki.basho.com/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=1245320
Monday, 6 September 2010
Extensive Riak Benchmarking at Mozilla Test Pilot
Mozilla has previously published about their detailed plan and extensive investigation into Cassandra, HBase, and Riak that led to choosing Riak. This time they are publishing some extensive Riak benchmark results (against both Riak 0.10 and Riak 0.11 running Bitcask) — they are using Riak benchmarking code, included in the list of correct NoSQL benchmarks and performance evaluations solutions. Both the results, their analysis , and interpretation are fascinating.
Our goal in running these studies was, simply put, no surprises. That meant we needed to run studies to that profiled:
- Latency
- Stability, especially for long running tests
- Performance when we introduced variable object sizes
- Performance when we introduced pre-commit hooks to evaluate incoming data
I guess Mozilla Test Pilot is one of the Riak's most interesting case studies.
Original title and link for this post: Extensive Riak Benchmarking at Mozilla Test Pilot (published on the NoSQL blog: myNoSQL)
Friday, 6 August 2010
From Cassandra to Riak at inagist.com
A couple of confusing things in this post:
The nice thing about Cassandra was the data model. Super columns allowed us to store metadata for a resource as needed. […] Concurrency issues were also not a bother. We could do simultaneous updates to columns and super columns and not worry about data consistency issues. […] When looking for alternatives Riak was our first choice primarily because of it being in Erlang and since it had a map-reduce option which looked seriously promising.
I don't see any connection between these. Going from a granular data model supporting column level operations to an key-value store with opaque values doesn't really add up.
Of the back-ends available this has worked best for us giving a consistent performance along with being reasonable on the resource usage.
This seems a bit contradictory with what was said about the new default Riak storage Bitcask in the Innostore and Bitcask comparison.
Anyone able to clarify these? (nb I'm not saying something is wrong, but I'd like to better understand the details). For now, Mozilla story Cassandra, HBase, Riak: Choosing the Right Solution seems to be much better documented.
Update: Thanks to Jebu Ittiachen things are a clearer now:
My issues with Cassandra and with Bitcask under Riak were with how they behaved in terms of their memory consumption. In the presence of ever increasing number of keys like the tweets which keep coming in both of them would eat up all the memory available on my servers. Cassandra I guess because of its per SSTable cache of keys and Bitcask because it maintains all keys in memory. This initially being the reason for me looking out for a different store than Cassandra. I should mention that in addition to tweets other data is also managed in Cassandra / Riak.
What I was trying to convey is how something that was easily modeled in Cassandra could still be mapped into Riak and possibly be to an advantage given the map-reduce infrastructure.
My preference of innostore over bitcask has purely been seeing how they behave in real use. Bitcask is definitely faster but high in memory usage on the servers. Innostore on the other hand is steady on the memory usage over time.
From Cassandra to Riak at inagist.com originally posted on the NoSQL blog: myNoSQL
Friday, 23 April 2010
Riak in Production: An Atypical Story
A non-enterprisey and non-twitteresque, but very interesting Riak deployment on a church's kiosks:
Currently, we are running four Riak nodes (writing out to the Filesystem backend) outside of the three Kiosks themselves. I also have various Riak nodes on my random linux servers because I can use the CPU cycles on my other nodes to distribute MapReduce functions and store information in a redundant fashion.
Please note also the reduced complexity of bringing new kiosks up:
As I bring more kiosks into operation, the distributed map-reduce feature is becoming more valuable. Since I typically run reports during off hours, the kiosks aren't overloaded by the extra processing power. So far I have been able to roll out a new kiosk within 2 hours of receiving the hardware. Most of this time is spent doing the installation and configuration of the touchscreen.
Atypical I'd say, but definitely exciting!
via: http://blog.basho.com/2010/04/20/riak-in-production---a-distributed-event-registration-system-written-in-erlang/
by Alex Popescu
Ana-Maria Bacalu
- Most read
- Comments


text:
SALINE, MICH. (Nov. 20, 2:50 p.m. ET) — Near the middle of the western third of the massive auto interiors plant in Saline, plastic tarps hang from ceiling to floor, warning workers to stay away. It is a massive project, but only a small part of what Faurecia SA is overseeing as it shifts the work flow at the 1.6 million-square-foot Saline facility into a state-of-the-art lean manufacturing powerhouse for a new generation of parts.
This report highlights the impact of shale-based natural gas on the North American plastics market and features an in-depth analysis of production trends in the United States during 2013 and a forecast for 2014 and beyond.Learn more
This in-depth report analyzes economic and market trends, legislative/regulatory activity impacting supply and demand, business opportunities and threats, materials pricing, manufacturing technology, as well as growth strategies being implemented by thermoformed packaging companies.Learn more
U.S. demand for extruded plastics is expected to grow by 3 percent in 2014, with PVC remaining the largest segment.
Plastic pipe will post the strongest gains through 2018, continuing to take market share from competing materials in a range of markets.
Our latest market report provides in-depth analysis of current trends and their financial impact on the pipe, profile and tubing extrusion industry in North America.
January 14, 2015 - January 14, 2015Plastics in Automotive
February 4, 2015 - February 6, 2015Plastics News Executive Forum 2015More Events


text:
Tag: OnlineLearning
TUAW'S Daily iPad App: Lynda.com
Lynda.com is an online learning library filled with instructional videos for computer users. It's geared primarily for developers and designers, but it does have a growing library of content for introductory computer users. Most people access the content through the Lynda.com website, but those...
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text:
The Belize Kriol Bible Translation Project is an activity of the Belize Kriol Project. Several trained Creoles are in the process of translation the Holy Scriptures into Kriol. As of December, 1998, 15% of the New Testament has been translated. In December, 1998, a cassette entitled "Di Birt a Jeezas" was released by the Project. It contains Scripture portions of Isaiah, Matthew, Luke, and Hebrews related to the birth of Jesus Christ. The portions are presented by dramatic readings and set to an appropriate Creole music score. The cassette comes with a script for the listener to read along with the tape. Tapes are available in many book and music stores in Belize City.
Listen to someone read the following Bible text in Belize Kriol
"He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away." Luke1:51-53
Below is side-by-side comparison of Ephesians 1:1-10 in Kriol and English:
English (KJV)
|Verse 1
|Bot unu mi gud az ded sake a unu mi-di sin an unu mi haffu kech unu step.
|And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
|Verse 2
|Dehn time deh, unu yoostu liv akaadin tu di wayz a di werl, an unu stody mi-di du aal weh di debl tell unu fi du. Hihn da di same spirit weh still di werk monks aal a dehn pipl weh noh lisn tu Gaad.
|Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience
|Verse 3
|Di trute bout di hole ting da dis, aal a wi yoostu liv dat same kine a way wan time. Wi yoostu jos liv fi satisfai evry sinful, krayvin ting wi bady an mine waahn. Gaad mi bex sake a aal weh wi mi-di du, an mi don maak wi dong fi wahn plase da hell
|Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
|Verse 4
|Bot bikaaz Gaad lov wi so moch, an sake a weh Ih gat so moch mersy,
|But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
|Verse 5
|Ih tek eebm wee, hu mi ded eena wi sinz, an Ih bring wi bak tu life wid Krise. So yu si, da troo Gaad jeneros gif dat wi get save.
|Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
|Verse 6
|Sake a weh wi da wan wid Jeezas, Gaad pik wi op so dat Ih wahn kud put wi fi sidong lang wid ahn.
|And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus
|Verse 7
|Ih du dis so dat in dayz tu kohn Ih wahn ku shoa how rich Ih jeneros gif weh ih giv tu wi troo Krise Jeezas.
|That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
|Verse 8
|So yu si, yu get save troo Gaad jeneros gif wen yu bileev. Dis noh hapm sake a eny a fi yu werk, aal a dis da wahn gif frahn Gaad.
|For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
|Verse 9
|Salvayshan noh kohn bout sake a notn weh yoo du. So noabady kud boasi an seh dat dehn mi haffu get it.
|Not of works, lest any man should boast.
|Verse 10
|Gaad mek evrybady. Ih mek wi wan wid Krise Jeezas fi du gud tingz weh mi eena Ih planz frahn lang time.
|For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.


text: Comments on: Examiner Local Editorial: Federal judge should slap down EPA overreach Back to the article » Examiner Editorial • | January 3, 2013 | 12:00 am Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered a 50 percent reduction in the amount of water -- including rain and snow -- that enters Fairfax County's Accotink Creek, which meanders 23 miles before emptying into the Potomac River. It's now up to Alexandria District Judge Liam O'Grady to decide whether water can be regulated as a "pollutant." Congress passed the Clean Water Act in... Web URL: http://washingtonexaminer.com/article/2517379 Share this article on Facebook or Twitter Print this article


text:
Saving Hope has finally found a home in German television. RTL Group has bought the rights to air the series. Saving Hope will air on one of their cable channels called "Passion".
Saving Hope Season 2 Cast Photos
Saving Hope » 1.01 Pilot
I have this stupid work fundraiser thing…
Exact 1 million viewers tuned in for the second episode of season two.
TVG Canada's Emily Gagne alongside cast members of CTV's 'Saving Hope.'
"My friends are never going to believe, how cute you are…"
"None can make you feel like a schmuck without your consent…"


text:
Raced with the Third Varsity Eight at the Princeton Chase (10/29) ... came in fifth with the 3V8 at the Foot of the Charles (11/10) ... won with the Second Varsity Eight at the Jesuit Invitational (3/16) ... captured first with the 2V8 at URI (3/30) ... gained first place with the 2V8 against MIT (4/6) ... reached the grand final at the Knecht Cup (4/13-14) ... took first place with the 2V8 at Holy Cross (4/21) ... finished second with the 2V8 versus BU, URI, and MIT (4/27) ... placed fourth with the 2V8 at the Beanpot (4/28) ... advanced to the grand finals with the 2V8 at the EAWRC Sprints (5/5) ... contested the 2V8 at the ACC Championship (5/12) ... gained CRCA Scholar Athlete status ... earned the Athletics Director's Award for Academic Achievement.
Walked onto the team in the fall of 2011 ... rowed with the 3V8 at the URI Resolute Cup (3/31) and the Irving-Christensen Cup (4/7) ... raced with the 2V4C at the Knecht Cup (4/14-15) ... part of the V4B at the MIT Cup (5/5) and EAWRC Sprints (5/13).
Participated on the cross country, track and field, and swimming teams in high school.
Daughter of Jackie McKean ... four siblings, Destinie, Gabbi, Sarah and Noah ... enrolled in the Lynch School of Education ... a Presidential Scholar majoring in Elementary Education ... works with the BC Neighborhood Center Tutoring Program.


text:
Written by:
I heard about an angel,
And I feel the care for you.
I saw your face,
And more I hold on dreams.
I learned to feel you,
And I'm moved inside the flame.
I proposed my love,
And you answered without questions.
Now you're with me
Breeze of winter of my sea.
I kissed your lips,
And felt the heaven in it.
I felt your heart,
And I want to live in snow.
Now that we're together,
I wish it never ends.
But the climax stops,
We lost the biggest wish.
The sky turns against me,
I lost the brightest star.
One wish I'm afraid to lost,
But now must face the truth.
I hold on dreams
But it's all outdated and wrong
You learned to live without me,
I feel the other ways of love.
Sorry, but you're my breath
You're just the best I learned.
More years went through and faded,
And the pain gets lost.
But within the passing years,
I know I know I had lost the girl.
Only the best for you,
Luckiest holder of my heart.


text:
Four free chapters!
Read the first four chapters of Darkness Rising: Book One of The Catmage Chronicles for free. Click on this link or the tab on top of the page.
Buy The Catmage Chronicles
The Catmage Chronicles
It's been hundreds of years since the Darkness last surfaced, a grim time when both humans and Catmages lost their lives. But now the Wild Ones work with humans again, and thirteen-year-old Andy Cohen gets the surprise of his life when a talking cat shows up in his front yard. Goldeneyes, a powerful Catmage, needs Andy's help. In the exciting first installment of this new series, Meryl Yourish takes the reader into a world of magical cats, dark powers, and a boy who finds himself entangled in their war.
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Category Archives: Gaza
Thursday briefs
The elephant in the peace talks room: Somehow, when John Kerry talks about peace, the topic of the terrorists controlling Gaza never seems to come up. It doesn't seem to matter to Kerry and the EU that a significant portion … Continue reading
Posted in Anti-Semitism, Gaza, Israel, Israeli Double Standard Time, Terrorism Comments Off
Once more unto the AP bias
It's been a long time since I did one of these posts, but the AP does not change its spots. This is one of the many subtle ways the world media in general–and the AP in particular–discredits the Israeli side … Continue reading
Posted in AP Media Bias, Gaza, Israel, Media Bias, Terrorism Comments Off
Wednesday briefs
Yeah, but watch out for the knife in the back: Israeli Energy Minister Silvan Shalom says everyone wants to hug Israel now that it's going to be a natural gas exporter. See title. I know that the rules of the … Continue reading
Posted in American Scene, Anti-Semitism, Gaza, Iran, Israel, palestinian politics, The One Comments Off
Thursay briefs
So when does Israel get to declare Turkey an enemy? Turkey betrayed an Israeli spy ring to Iranian authorities last year, severely damaging Israel's intelligence gathering in Iran, not to mention damaging Israel's and the U.S. effort to stop the … Continue reading
The missing news from the AP
What's missing from this AP article? Here's the lead: The Israeli military has discovered an underground tunnel dug out from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip into Israel, the army said Sunday, adding it believes militants had intended to use the tunnel … Continue reading
Posted in Gaza, Hamas, Israel, Media Bias, Terrorism 2 Comments
The demographic lie
The Jewish Press has kindly translated for us an analysis of an Israeli demographic study. The results are not at all what the media and political narrative has been told to you. Arabs are not going to outnumber Jews in … Continue reading
Posted in Gaza, Israel, palestinian politics 1 Comment
Thursday briefs
Punching back twice as hard: Jihadis fired rockets from Lebanon into Israel today. So the IDF fired back into Lebanon tonight. Watch for the condemnation of Israel tomorrow. The peasants are revolting: An anti-Hamas group is modeling itself after the … Continue reading
Friday briefs
A perfect example of Israel Derangement Syndrome: How much do people hate Israel? So much so that a simple tagged bird was carefully examined to make sure it wasn't an Israeli spy. Yes, really. Paranoid, much? But it's just a … Continue reading
Posted in American Scene, Gaza, Hamas, Israel Derangement Syndrome, palestinian politics, Terrorism, The One, Turkey, World Comments Off
Wednesday briefs
YOU can't come to MY party: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Everyone is invited to the new Iranian president's inauguration except for the U.S. and, of course, the "Zionist entity". That's okay. There's not going to … Continue reading
Posted in Gaza, Israel, Politics, Television, Terrorism, United Nations 1 Comment
Once more, with Kerry
Just a day or so ago, our newest Secretary of State was pretty sure he'd bullied Israel into releasing convicted murderers, freezing settlements, and sitting down for peace talks with the Palestinians by giving into most of the preconditions that … Continue reading
Posted in Gaza, Hamas, Israel, palestinian politics, The One Comments Off


text:
Whenever someone asks me to play general manager, wondering what position I would fill first in assembling a team from scratch, I invariably say shortstop, unless of course there is another Roberto Alomar on the horizon at second base.
However, I decided to take a look at the 13 World Series since the turn of the century and what I saw may have changed my mind.
Over those 13 years, eight catchers have shared those World Series rings and four have two apiece. Furthermore you could argue that four or five of those eight will be going to the Hall of Fame.
Let's start with the Yankees' Jorge Posada. He won the "Fall Classic" with the Yankees in 2000, (not his first) at age 28 and then won again in 2009 at age 37.
Then there is the Red Sox former captain, and now front office stalwart, Jason Varitek. He won that historic "Curse of the Babe" ending 2004 World Series with Boston at age 32. Varitek won it again at 35 with Boston in 2007.
Yadier Molina, the best catcher in the game right now, won his first with St. Louis in 2006 at 24. Then in 2011 he won his second at 29. Now at 31, he's into the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers, with a decent shot at winning a third.
Buster Posey of the Giants has had a remarkable career so far. He won the World Series in 2010 at 23 and, after missing a sizeable chunk of the following season, came back to win again in 2012.
Molina already looks like a lock for the Hall of Fame, and Posey is right on that path. You can argue for and against Posada and Varitek, but I believe both will eventually get into Cooperstown.
In 2003, Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez won his World Series with the then Florida Marlins at age 31.
The only thing that might keep Rodriguez out of the Hall of Fame, or at least delay his entry, are the allegations that he used steroids.
If you're keeping count, that's nine of the last 13 World Series winners who had No. 1 catchers worthy of Hall of Fame consideration.
Included in the other four is Yadier Molina's older brother Benji, who won with the Angels in 2002 at age 28. A third brother Jose, who later played with the Blue Jays and now suits up for Tampa Bay, was one of Benji's back-ups that year.
The only one I really had trouble remembering was the Arizona Diamonbacks primary catcher in 2001 when they beat the Yankees. Damian Miller was 32 that year, and is probably the only one who might be termed a journeyman, at least compared to the rest.
The other 2, oddly enough are going to be free agents after the World Series. A.J Pierzynski won with the Chicago White Sox in 2005, ending that franchise's drought that dated back to 1917. He was 29 at the time.
And Carlos Ruiz was part of the great run the Phillies had under Charlie Manuel and won his "Fall Classic" in 2008 at age 29. Ruiz has had shoulder issues and was suspended for PED use. He'll be 35 next season.
The top two potential free agents in the off season are Boston's Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Atlanta's Brian McCann.
The Blue Jays must upgrade behind the plate in the wake of the horrible season J.P Arencibia had. McCann and Saltalamacchia are probably beyond their reach however Pierzynski and Ruiz would both offer a short-term fix and veteran stability.
Pierzynski caught Mark Buehrle in 2005, and is known as a fierce competitor, while Ruiz has caught the likes of Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee.
Travis D'Arnaud, didn't exactly make a major impact with the Mets after being dealt to New York in the R.A Dickey swap, but another catcher the Jays swapped this past off-season did make his mark.
26-year-old Yan Gomes was traded to Cleveland along with utility infielder Mike Aviles for right hander Esmil Rogers, who was plugged into the rotation when injuries took their toll again this season. Rogers effectively became the compensation for John Farrell moving on to manage Boston, since Aviles was part of that trade to Cleveland.
Gomes though, was the real story of the deal. The Sao Paolo native was the first Brazilian to play in the Majors when he debuted with the Jays in 2012. He was viewed as more of a utility type who could catch, play third and DH, and hit with a bit of power.
For Cleveland though he caught 85 games, and had a .996 fielding percentage. He also threw out 41% of those attempting to steal bases against him.
Gomes hit .294 with 11 homers and 38 runs batted in. The Blue Jays may one day regret they dealt him away, if they don't already.
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Where is the U.S. in Bible Prophecy?
A new Pentagon report indicates China's sustained military investments are destabilizing and exposes the Marxist giant's global ambitions. The free world had better wake up to the security threat posed by this hegemonic menace.Last week the Pentagon issued its annual report to Congress, which warns, "China's rise as a major international actor is likely to stand out as a defining feature of the strategic landscape of the early 21st century."
China is expanding its nuclear forces with a new multiwarhead mobile missile and keeps its strategic stockpiles in deep underground bunkers, the Pentagon disclosed in its annual report to Congress on the Chinese military.China is thought to have up to 75 long-range nuclear missiles, including hard-to-find, road-mobile DF-31 and DF-31A intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), according to the report, which was released Wednesday. China also has 120 intermediate- and medium-range missiles.
Most of the worst financial panics in history have happened in the fall. Just recall what happened in 1929, 1987 and 2008. Well, September 2011 is about to begin and there are all kinds of signs that the financial world is about to hit the big red panic button. Wave after wave of bad economic news has come out of the United States recently, and cis embroiled in an absolutely unprecedented debt crisis.At this point there is a very real possibility that the euro may not even survive. So what is causing all of this?
Israel – God's Timepiece
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran was determined to eradicate Israel, ISNA news agency reported Thursday. "Iran believes that whoever is for humanity should also be for eradicating the Zionist regime (Israel) as symbol of suppression and discrimination," Ahmadinejad said in an interview with a Lebanese television network, carried by ISNA.
Monday night and Tuesday, Aug-29-30, three international heavyweights – Russia, the European Union and key Muslim nations – gave Syrian President Bashar Assad tough ultimatums for ending his ferocious crackdown on protest.Nevertheless, on Monday, his troops shot dead 17 people in Syrian cities – even as he received Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov who arrived in Damascus with a last warning from President Dmitry Medvedev: Recall you soldiers to their bases immediately and implement changes or Moscow will endorse UN Security Council sanctions stiff enough to stifle the Syrian economy.
A retired Army general and leading expert on terrorism says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may soon be compelled to take decisive action against the rogue regime in Iran.Israel was recently compelled to dispatch two more warships to the Red Sea border with Egypt in response to a warning about another planned terrorist attack from Egypt against southern Israel. Fox News also reports that Iran dispatched its 15th fleet to the Red Sea, allegedly to combat piracy.
The Israeli military is to train Jewish settlers in the West Bank and plans to equip them with tear gas and stun grenades to confront West Bank demonstrators when their leaders press for UN recognition next month.The enlistment of settlers, which has already opened with a training session for their local security officers, is part of the military's comprehensive "Operation Summer Seeds" for dealing with possible violence as the UN considers whether or not to recognise a Palestinian state.
European Union governments sought a common approach on Friday to a possible Palestinian bid for statehood at the United Nations this month but deep policy differences looked set to undermine the efforts. Austria's Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said one solution could be for the EU to propose its own resolution to the UN on the sensitive issue but other diplomats said privately that several EU capitals opposed the idea.
The Gog/Magog War
Elements of al-Qaeda and other Islamic extremist groups were known to be key players in the NATO-backed uprising in Libya from the beginning, but now it appears that prominent Jihadists and terrorists are practically leading the revolution with Western support. One terror leader in particular, Abdelhakim Belhaj, made headlines around the world over the weekend after it emerged that he was appointed the chief of Tripoli's rebel Military Council. Prior to leading rebel forces against Gaddafi's regime, Belhaj was the founder and leader of the notorious Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG).
Dear Foreign MInister Davutoglu and the rest of Turkey:As an Israeli – as a proud and nationalistic Israeli – I take your demand that my country apologise to you quite seriously. I understand that you cannot forgive the deaths of nine irregular combatants on 31st May 2010. Obviously, those nine deaths loom far greater in your national consciousness than the many hundreds of Kurds whom your military has slaughtered over recent years.
Apostate Christianity
Recent evangelical discussion concerning Adam and Eve has served at least one good purpose – it has helped to clarify what is theologically at stake in the debate. The recent report by National Public Radio [NPR] alerted the larger secular culture to the debate, but the debate is hardly new.What is new, however, is the candid admission on the part of some that the denial of a historical Adam requires a new understanding of the Bible's basic story – and thus of the Gospel as well.
Pentecostal televangelist and self-professed prophetess Juanita Bynum has sparked curiosity among some Internet users and the Christian community for several comments on the minister's Facebook page where she appears to type "in tongues." Pentecostal minister Juanita Bynum has raised brows over prayers posted on her Facebook page where the minister appears to pray "in tongues."
In a series of posts published on Aug. 17, on one of Bynum's many Facebook pages, the minister typed messages where it was believed by commenters and critics that the she was praying in tongues.
The Rise of Islam
Mosques in the United States that follow the Shi'a Islamic philosophy of Iran's Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini are lending more than moral support to the case of the radical Islam; they are sending financial support, according to reports from investigators who have researched the controversial activity. After all, it was the 2007 Holy Land Foundation trial that was called the largest terrorism financing prosecution in American history that set all sorts of precedents, including the naming of such prominent Muslim advocates as the Council on American-bio Islamic Relations as unindicted co-conspirators.
Increase in Knowledge & New Technologies
Being microchipped is now being spun as a method of protecting the health of hospital patients. To help mask the practice of this bodily invasion with a trendy, high-tech appearance, microchipping sensors are being referred to as "electronic tattoos" that can attach to human skin and stretch and move without breaking. Supposedly the comparisons of this hair-thin electronic patch-like chip to an electronic tattoo are being made because of how it adheres to the skin like a temporary tattoo using only water.
Reflecting on the Paris exposition of 1900, Henry Adams admitted to being overwhelmed by the new technologies on display. He was awed in particular by the electricity-generating dynamo. One wonders what he would make of the technologies described by Sonia Arrison in her new book "100 Plus.""We are at the cusp of a revolution in medicine and biotechnology," Ms. Arrison announces, "that will radically increase not just our life spans but also, and more importantly, our health spans." This revolution will "change everything, from careers and relationships to family and faith."
Now we know what the Navy plans to do with its experimental hybrid of laser cannon and machine gun: zap pirate ships.Two defense giants, Boeing and BAE Systems, announced late last month that they would team up on a $2.8 million Navy contract for a prototype version of BAE's Mk-38 25-mm machine gun with a little upgrade: a death ray. As the companies excitedly explained, the new gun would protect surface ships from pretty much everything, from enemy boats to small drones.
See Youtube video.
Sept. 11 turned much of the West into a high surveillance society. And hi-tech devices could soon enable the government to track our lives more than we'd like.
Surveillance may not be at the level that author George Orwell wrote about in 1984, where "big brother" could see and control all. But experts say the tools are being forged to create such a world.
If certain crazy scientists have their way, we could eventually see some humans covered in skin that has been bioengineered with animal parts such as spider's silk and goat milk.
Bulletproof vests are widely accepted as a method of ballistic protection, but genuine bulletproof skin has always been a concept meant only for science-fiction movies. It's absolutely heinous and ridiculous to imagine such a notion becoming a reality, but thanks to a sickening development devised by UK scientists, it may be soon become reality: a bulletproof "vest" or human bulletproof skin created by combining genetically engineered goat milk and spider's silk woven into skin cells.
Christian Worldview & Issues
The key to the new evangelization of our Faith in this postmodern age is the fundamental relationship each one of us has with our Lord Jesus. Do we take the time we need during each day to encounter Him heart to Heart? Do we stay still long enough to search for God, to listen for His voice, to trust Him in a spirit of obedience even when He might lead us into uncomfortable waters for the sake of our own souls and those of our brothers and sisters in the human race?
Relational evangelism may have the key to successful youth ministries in the 1990s, but today apologetics is gaining new traction.Kids struggle to explain their beliefs today more than they did two decades ago, said Christian Smith, director of the Center for the Study of Youth and Religion at the University of Notre Dame. One of the center's 2005 reports indicates that 12 percent of 13- to 17-year-olds say they are "unsure" of their religious beliefs, and 41 percent of Protestant teens agree that morals are relative.
A shopping network that contributes some of its profits to leading Christian family organizations is battling an Internet-organized campaign by homosexual-rights activists.The Charitable Give Back Group, formerly known as the Christian Values Network, says activist websites that enable users to create their own "cause" boast they have prompted hundreds of corporations to cut ties with the shopping network because it contributes to "anti-gay" non-profit organizations.
See Youtube video. Christianity is thriving in China. Even though sharing the gospel is illegal in the communist country, that hasn't stopped Christians from boldly proclaiming their faith.CBN News recently joined one Chinese couple who are traveling the vast countryside to share the good news about Jesus Christ with their countrymen.Duan Huilai said the images captured on his home video camera are proof that God is moving in China.
In the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks, millions of Americans flocked to churches and houses of worship. But, for most, the shift in spiritual behavior was short lived. According to tracking research by the Barna Group, within a few months the spiritual lives of the nation's population were back to pre-attack levels. As the tenth anniversary of America's largest terrorist event approaches, a new analysis of Barna Group tracking data examines the long-term spiritual profile at one of the epicenters of the attacks—New York City and the surrounding media market. Based on analysis of research conducted over the last 14 years, the study shows that the faith profile of residents of the New York market has changed significantly over the last decade and a half, but many of these shifts may not be attributable to 9-11.
Australian education officials are working to remove any references of Christ in their school textbooks, which has caused an outrage in the country's Christian community.According to FOX News, the government is working to eliminate the usage of "BC," an acronym for Before Christ and "AD" which stands for "Anno Domini." Instead, the new terms for usage in education texts would be "BCE," which would stand for Before Common Era, "BP," which would represent Before Present and "CE" which means Common Era.
News reports and rumors have been circulating since Rick Perry's Aug. 6 prayer gathering called "The Response," that evangelical members of a radical Christian sect called the "New Apostolic Reformation" (NAR) are seeking to take "dominion" over the earth through politics, media and other sectors. Church leaders, however, say the New Apostolic Reformation is not about dominating society or forcing Christian morals on America, but rather actively living out the Christian faith.
Hundreds of United Methodists trying to make their 12 million-member, worldwide denomination more gay-friendly are meeting in Huron this week for a national conference. They hope to soon change their church's official position that homosexuality is a sin — an issue that has caused a raging debate among the laity and clergy for decades. Unlike other mainstream Protestant denominations in the United States — including the United Church of Christ, Evangelical Lutheran, Episcopal and cUSA — the United Methodists prohibit clergy from engaging openly in same-sex relationships.
Other Events To Watch
PAYPAL billionaire Peter Thiel doesn't have a hideous facial scar, a white cat or a diabolical plan to take over the world. But his desire to build floating countries in a bid create a new world order run along libertarian ideals does scream Bond villain. According to The Sun newspaper, Thiel, 43, has given $1.19 million to the Seasteading Institute, which believes the ocean is the "only option to create new societies on Earth". The first floating nation could be built off San Francisco as soon as next year. The new countries would be a "kind of floating Petri dish for implementing policies that libertarians, stymied by indifference at the voting booths, have been unable to advance: no welfare, looser building codes, no minimum wage and few restrictions on weapons"
Whenever a major disaster or emergency strikes, millions of lives can be turned upside down in an instant.Fortunately Hurricane Irene was not as catastrophic as originally projected, but millions of people did lose power and at least 35 people lost their lives. Large numbers of homes were destroyed and the economic damage from Hurricane Irene is going to be in the billions of dollars.


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Say What!?
Thanksgiving Is for Vegetarians Whether Meat-Eaters Like It or Not
Thanksgiving is a holiday that seems to be all about the turkey. The little kids make turkey handprints in pre-school, and the adults debate roasting vs. deep-frying. My fellow Americans, I'm about to lay some Thanksgiving news on you that may shock you. Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday ... for vegetarians.
Gotcha, didn't I? 'Tis the season for people to moan quietly about how they have that one vegetarian cousin coming to town who will throw a kink in their meal plans. But the truth is there's no better time than Thanksgiving to be a vegetarian.
Think just for a moment about what you'll have on your holiday table. Yams? Mashed potatoes? Brussels sprouts, perhaps? Broccoli? I could continue to list the various vegetables that typically come out at Thanksgiving, but I think you get my point.
The holiday synonymous with gluttony is likewise a holiday when Americans tend to get a bit more adventuresome with their forays into the garden. Those meat and potatoes types who wouldn't normally touch a green vegetable with a 10-foot pole are all "pass the green beans, and keep 'em coming."
All of this does my heart good as a vegetarian who has heard the "X vegetable is gross" line more often than I can count, usually from people who refuse to try said veggie. But I'm going to take it a step further.
I love Thanksgiving because it's a good time for me. Next to July 4 (what can I say, I'm a summer baby), it might just be my favorite holiday if only because I can easily find enough foods on the table to sustain my hearty appetite. I don't have to make do with one or two sides that may or may not have bacon in them. I can fill right up on good food, and a variety of good foods at that. I don't even need a veggie-ducken!
In fact, if you've ever flirted with the idea of turning vegetarian, now might be just the time. No one is going to give you the stink-eye for loading your plate with the good stuff this week.
Are you going to be entertaining a vegetarian for Thanksgiving? What will they be eating?
Image via nappent/Flickr
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- -- Nonmember comment from
LotteNovember 20, 2012 at 9:00 AMTHANK YOU! I feel weird going to my boyfriend's family for dinner occasions and this year we are going to his parents' for Thanksgiving. But for once, I am not worried about either bringing a Boca Burger or settling on chips and rolls because I know there will be a ton of options.
- -- Nonmember comment from
BeeNovember 20, 2012 at 9:33 AMVery true! You always get a plate full of sides, and maybe a small slice of turkey if there's room on your plate. Even before I became a vegetarian, I barely touched the turkey. The sides are the best part of the meal!
- -- Nonmember comment from
CassNovember 20, 2012 at 9:36 AMI'm not a vegetarian, but I can certainly see your point. A third of my thanksgiving guests are vegetarian, and it's really not that hard to just use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock in the stuffing or leave out the bacon in the butternut squash. The only thing I'm serving that isn't vegetarian is the turkey and gravy. Vegan is a little harder and will elicit grumbles though. :)
- --
missusmcNovember 20, 2012 at 9:40 AM
In our family, no veggie is served without meat in it. Green beans? Add ham. Mashed potatoes? Mixed with chicken broth. The only one I'm safe on is sweet potatoes, but I figure its Thanksgiving and I am actually seeing my family, so I won't complain. Thanksgiving and Christmas are 2 days I compromise and eat a little meat for the sake of just getting along with everyone.
- --
FelipesMomNovember 20, 2012 at 9:55 AM
In my vegetarian family, we always thought it was HILARIOUS when people asked us "but what do you eat on Thanksgiving???" We were always like, THINK about it people! Ninety-nine dishes, and ONE of them is turkey - we will FEAST lol!
- --
FelipesMomNovember 20, 2012 at 9:56 AM
...but I do want to point out that, contrary to what your column seems to imply, vegetarians do not only eat vegetables!
- --
jalaz77November 20, 2012 at 10:29 AMNot a vegitarian but I do eat more of the side dishes than turkey.
- -- Facebook comment from
Blaze HazenNovember 20, 2012 at 12:38 PM
Obviously you're not from the south! Here the meat has meat in it. I'm lucky if I get a few rolls that haven't sopped up the grease from something else. Being the only veg in the family means its up to me to eat before I go or not eat at all.


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Trip to the South Pasadena Farmers' Market
Start Date & Time:
February 20, 2014 - 3:30pm
University-Student Union / South Pasadena Farmers' Market
Trip to the South Pasadena Farmers' Market
Thursday, February 20 from 3:30 pm to 8 pm
Bus departs from the University-Student Union at 3:30 pm
Meridian Ave/El Centro Street, Gold Line South Pasadena Station
Named "Best Evening Farmers' Market" by LA Weekly, "Best Farmers' Market" by Pasadena Weekly and "Best Market East of Hollywood" by Hometown-Pasadena.com, the South Pasadena Farmers' Market is one of the preeminent mindful purchasing experiences. Buying directly from farmers, you'll love the fresh, delicious taste of locally grown, nutritious fruits, vegetables and farm products. Free transportation for the first 40 persons who register by emailing mrodriguez [at] cslanet [dot] calstatela [dot] edu.
Event Type:


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Canadian border
US To Investigate Muslim Group's Border Complaints
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will investigate a Muslim rights advocacy group's complaints that border agents have harassed dozens of U.S. Muslims who were returning from Canada.
US Arabs, Muslims Claim Harassment At Canadian Border
Complaints by U.S. Arabs and Muslims of being harassed by agents after returning to Michigan from Canada are sparking an investigation.
Homeland Security Increases Canadian Border Surveillance
The Department of Homeland Security will officially open a new operations center at Selfridge Air National Guard Base on Thursday.


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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I myself rolled a tank too and I can say I hardly wipe. I have 2 rl friend healers that almost fight to come with me. Get to know players you regular play with(or come across). As blizzard his tip says. Cause if you dont do stupid stuff and wipe your team they wont mind taking you(or you taking them).


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You Maybe A Vampire But I Dont Give A Damn[Vladimir Tod] 04
Once you go crazy,
you cant go back
you can take yourself out of being crazy
but being crazy is apart of you.
or so says this person across the hall
with a straight jacket on!
"brother you know you are a really big idiot"i sighed
"aww but im your favorite big brother idiot~" brother said hugging my head
Vladimir and Henry started to giggle[wtf really?]
"shut up you guys! hey come on brother let me go!!"i whined trying to get out of my brothers hug
"nooooo~ i want to be with you forever!!" he cried hugging me tighter making me lose my oxgyen
"c-can't b-breathe!! Losing o-oxgye-n... i see bright light must go nap nap now..."i said
"NO OH MY GOSH NOO IZUMI BREATHE!!!" he yelled shaking me while i was : x_x
"LIVE!!!!" he said again shaking me harder
"um... you might want to stop shaking her!" Vlad said holding my brothers arms.
my brother's face turned to Vlad.
"let him go, i think its for the best" Vlad said
"okay ill lay 'him' down" my brother smiled
He set my body down and the three of them waited for a minute or so
i shot up gasping for air and i smacked my brothers head
"ayy!" he whined
"that's what you get for making me go to sleep!"i shouted
"im sowwy" he said like a 3 year old being caught eating a cookie before dinner. his eyes were all teary and big
i twitched,"you know you look like a fish brother" -_-'
Vlad looked at His face as well as Henry and sure enough they started to laugh
"i do not >3< "brother said
"acually you do!" henry and Vlad confessed
"see they agree!"i smirked
"shut up -_-" big brother said then he smirked with an evil glint in his eyes
"oh hell no!"i shouted as he dragged me into the bathroom
"ill give 'him' right back guys~!" he smiled
Vlad and henry were left behind in my room confused
"should we help izumi?"Vlad asked henry
"i would but i dont want to mess with his brothe you know.. he's scary" He confessed
"that's true..."Vlad said as both looked at the bathroom door
"COME ON HELL NO! IM NOT WEARING THAT!"i shouted
"AWW!!!! WEAR IT! YOU USED TO WEAR IT!!!" brother yelled
then all they heard were clinks crashes and curses flying.
brother suck his head out and said,"we'll be right out" then i slamed my foot inback of his head
with in 10 minutes later, brother came out giggling
"here's IZUMI!!!!!" he yelped in glee
"IM NOT GOING OUT THERE!!!"i shouted through the door
"get out here!" he hissedtrying to open the door but i held on to the knob.
"NO!"i shouted
"YES OR ELSE ILL SHOW THEM THE PICTURES!" he giggled
"AHH I HATE YOU!"i growled
i sighed and opened the door.i walked out look likr this:
[with chest rapped so it looks flat]
"you know Izumi you look like a girl like that" henry blushed
i grumbled while brother said"oh 'he' dresses like this when we wereyounger 'he' would get attention 'hes' an amazing crossdresser!"
"Shut up"i groaned
"woah we have to show Nelly!" henry sugested
"NO!"i shouted while brother yelled "yes!"
"hell no brother!"i whined
"do it!"he comanded
"OIPEUFHRSDJB grrrr!"i siad waving my fist as him as henry dragged me downstairs and vlad sighed and walked next to henry
"NELLY!! WE WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMEONE!!" henry laughed
i groaned as shewalked out of the kitchen,"what is it henry?"
"well..." he smiled and showed me to her
i blushed and waved a bit
"oh who is this?" she asked
"it's Izumi Aunt Nelly.." Vlad said
"hey.."i siad looking away
"Izumi?!i didnt reconize you! aww you look so cute!"she giggled
"thank um.. ima go change..."i said trying to go upstairs but henry laughed and dragged me out.
"we are going out! come on vlad" henry said
i groaned as Vlad sent me an 'im sorry' look
i sighed a mouthed 'its fine'
"i can walk you know henry!"i yelled
"hahaha alright" he said putting me down.
"where are we goind Henry?" vlad asked
"the park!" he squealed
"is he a kid?"i asked Vlad
"im not sure.."he sighed
we both looked at each other and laughed
-Vlad's POV-
when we laughed, it felt like ive known him for a long time.
'i need to talk to you when henry leaves' i heard in my head
'I-Izumi?'i thought
'yes,it is me.' he said
i looked at him to see him looking straight ahead
'alright, meet me in my room at 9:00 tonight' i said in my mind
'roger that ;]' he laughed in my mind
"hey henry why are we going to the pank anyways?"i asked
"well... i dont know! he he i thoughtsince non of us have homework we can go an play!" he laughed
"Oh i see Henry but.. WHY DO I HAVE TO GO WHEN IM DRESSED LIKE THIS?!"Izumi yelled at him
"i dont know either haha but you look cute!" he laughed running away from izumi
Izumi took off running after him
i sighed and ran after them,"hey! HEY WAIT UP!"
without me knowing, i looked at Izumi's legs, there's no way those can be a guy's legs!o.O unless the guy likes to shave his legs and looks like a girls... oh shit why am i looking at his legs!? have i gone gay?!!!!!!!!!!D:!
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