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Aug 27, 2004
Market News Digest
-> Greenspan: Risk of `Painful' Changes for Retirees
-> Gold falls as traders eye economic signs -CBSMW
-> Oil's dip fails to fuel stocks -CBSMW
-> Investors hit oil slick - USAT
-> Coins Outshine the Investment Competition -Pat Boone
-> BLACK GOLD STRANGLEHOLD -Craig R. Smith, CEO SATC
-> ALL NEWS IS GOOD NEWS?! - Bill Bonner, Daily Reckoning
-> GOP 2004 THEME: "Fulfilling America's Promise" –2004NYCGOP.org
"It is the duty of all men in society, publicly, and at stated seasons, to worship the SUPREME BEING, the great Creator and Preserver of the universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping GOD in the manner most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; or for his religious profession or sentiments; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or obstruct others in their religious worship."
-John Adams
Market News Digest
Greenspan: Risk of `Painful' Changes for Retirees
Aug. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said time is running out for the U.S. to make the ``increasingly stark choices'' needed to pay Social Security and Medicare benefits as the baby boom generation retires.
``If we have promised more than our economy has the ability to deliver to retirees without unduly diminishing real income gains of workers, as I fear we may have, we must recalibrate our public programs so that pending retirees have time to adjust through other channels,'' Greenspan told a central bank conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. ``If we delay, the adjustments could be abrupt and painful.''
The U.S. budget deficit, which the Congressional Budget Office already projects to reach a record $420 billion this fiscal year, will widen ``substantially'' as the percentage of the population over 65 nearly doubles by 2035, he said.
``A doubling of the over-65 population by 2035 will substantially augment unified budget deficits and, accordingly, reduce federal saving unless actions are taken,'' Greenspan said.
Greenspan, who was president of National Commission on Social Security Reform from 1981 to 1983, has made the retirement of the baby boom generation a cornerstone of his persistent calls for Congress to improve budget planning.
Social Security tax receipts, equal to 12.4 percent of a worker's salary, won't cover the entire cost of outlays starting in 2018, according to the Social Security Trustees' 2004 report. Members of the baby boom generation, those born between 1946 and 1964, will begin retiring in the next decade.
Social Security is a political issue in the U.S. during this presidential election year. In his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Boston July 29, John Kerry suggested he would consider tax increases to close the funding gap. ``As president, I will not privatize Social Security. I will not cut benefits,'' he said.
President George W. Bush said in Las Cruces, New Mexico yesterday that younger workers should be ``concerned'' about the fiscal stability of Social Security, and again pitched privatization. ``I believe younger workers ought to be able to own a personal retirement account they call their own, so they can pass it on from one generation to the next.''
Read SOCIAL INSECURITY: The Problem and Proposed Solutions
Oil's dip fails to fuel stocks -CBSMW
Oil prices fall for the fifth day in a row
By Mark Cotton, CBS.MarketWatch.com
Aug. 26, 2004
NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- U.S. stocks were mixed in the final half-hour of trading Thursday as a five-session decline in oil prices was offset by earnings misses from Krispy Kreme, Starbucks and Credence Systems.
Negative broker comments on the semiconductor sector also weighed on sentiment.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was last up 2 points at 10,183. In the prior session the benchmark index closed at a six-week high.
The Nasdaq Composite fell 4.59 points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,856, while the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index edged 1.10 point higher, to 1,106.06.
"You're running into some technical resistance, and with volume being light, it's going to take a little bit of energy to run through it," said Paul Mendelsohn, chief investment strategist at Windham Financial Services.
Mendelsohn put the resistance level on the S&P 500 at around 1,105.25 to 1,110.15 and at 1,865.40 to 1,896.30 on the Nasdaq Composite.
Mendelsohn said many investors are likely to remain on the sidelines ahead of Friday's second-quarter gross domestic product revision and a key speech from Federal Reserve chief Alan Greenspan.
Over at Brean Murray, senior-vice president Mark Bryant said the focus is still very much on oil.
"The fluctuation in the price of oil vis-ŕ-vis the news that is coming of Iraq demonstrates the amount of speculation that is in that commodity right now," said Bryant.
Oil pressured by Iraq peace deal hopes
After tumbling nearly 4 percent in the prior session, oil prices fell again on hopes for an end to the tense standoff between U.S-led forces and militiamen loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, with the arrival of leading cleric Ayatollah Ali Sistani in the town of Najaf.
Sistani has apparently reached some sort of pact with Muqtada al-Sadr that will see an end to the standoff at Najaf's holy shrine, according to Agence France-Presse. An announcement by al-Sistani is planned shortly, according to CNN.
Al-Sistani had just returned from the U.K. where he had been receiving medical treatment, effectively keeping him out of al-Sadr's showdown with the Iraqi government until now.
Stocks Are Hurting More Than the Averages Show: John Dorfman -Bloomberg
Investors hit oil slick - USAT
By Adam Shell, USA TODAY
Aug. 23, 2004
NEW YORK - Ask anyone on Wall Street what's been ailing the stock market lately, and they're likely to tell you, "It's oil, stupid!"
Ask those same investors when record-high oil prices, which have been flirting with $50 a barrel, will start to recede, and the answer is far less clear. And therein lies the biggest risk - and opportunity - facing investors.
The prices for oil and stocks have been moving in opposite directions for months. As oil prices have moved higher this summer, up roughly 30% since the end of June, blue chips in the Dow Jones industrial average have fallen more than 3% and the tech-rich Nasdaq composite has lost more than 10%.
Wall Street is now debating whether the trend of rising oil prices and falling, or stagnant, stock prices is nearing its end. Rising crude prices have been driven by speculation, geopolitical risks ranging from terrorism to Iraq, tight supply and strong global demand, especially from China.
Bulls argue that elevated oil prices are unsustainable and that a sharp downturn in the price of a barrel of crude, which closed at $47.86 Friday, down 84 cents, is inevitable. They agree with the Federal Reserve's assertion that higher energy prices are "transitory."
Gold falls as traders eye economic signs -CBSMW
August 27, 2004
By Myra P. Saefong, CBS.MarketWatch.com
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Gold futures moved narrowly lower Friday, with traders taking their cue from fresh economic signals to gauge what the precious metal's next move might be.
The benchmark gold contract is set to log a loss for the week, based on early action.
The U.S. economy slowed in the second quarter of the year, growing at a 2.8 percent annual rate after a growth spurt in the previous four quarters, the Commerce Department reported. See full story.
The revised gross domestic product data came in as expected, prompting mixed trading the dollar. Gold is often seen as a hedge against losses in the currency and other financial markets. See Currencies.
Traders were also eager to pour over what Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has to say about the economy ins his speech to a conference of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Against this backdrop, gold for December delivery fell 80 cents to trade at $408.80 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Still, "overall the mixture of good physical offtake, high oil prices, and safe-haven caution ahead of the 9-11 anniversary, and [the] U.S. presidential elections should continue to provide support in front of $400, while profit taking slows upward progress from $410 to $415," James Moore, an analyst at TheBullionDesk.com said in a note to clients Friday.
PHOENIX, AZ-Aug. 25-(IFN) -- TODAY Swiss America Trading Corp. released a new educational DVD exposing the strategy of radical Islamic terrorist groups -- like Hamas, Hezbollah and al-Qaeda -- to achieve "victory or martyrdom!" against the U.S., Israel and allies engaged in the growing war on terror.
"A CITIZEN'S GUIDE TO COUNTER TERRORISM" is a 'riveting' documentary-style film that underlines to the harsh realities of our post-9-11 world. You'll travel inside terrorist training camps for children, who are taught to hate and murder all "Infidels" (Jews, Americans, non-Muslims) at an early age.
According to the producer DAVID BRADSHAW, "The goal of this DVD is to both 'shock and offer' viewers tangible steps to "ramp up" family and financial security on a household level, while the government does the same on the national and international level."
Narrated by entertainer PAT BOONE, the DVD advises viewers to take five basic steps of emergency preparation (recommended by Department of Homeland Security and American Red Cross) for disaster readiness. Boone also offers helpful tips on financial preparation, given the recent targeting of U.S. financial institutions and the Mid-East oil supply by radical terrorist groups.
According to BOONE, "Today radical Islamic warriors are willing to die to help bring America down -- both with physical attacks, like 9-11, and with planned financial attacks. Right now the enemy is busily training up the next generation of deadly terrorists -- and right NOW is the time we must all be prepared! Preparedness has no downside risk, but unpreparedness does."
On July 21, 2004, the AMERICAN RED CROSS released their latest study stating that "only one-third of Americans say that they have a basic family emergency plan — fewer than made the same claim a year ago. This alarming lack of preparedness is practically a disaster in itself."
According to Swiss America CEO, CRAIG SMITH, "Terrorism will fail in the end, but the future belongs to those who have prepared for it -- physically and financially. This educational DVD will help the public understand how simple it is to preserve our peace of mind by taking a few steps ahead of any possible emergency."
"A CITIZEN'S GUIDE TO COUNTER TERRORISM" covers all of the major types of terrorism preparedness including; chemical, biological, nuclear, radiation and economic. Produced by Idea Factory Films, the 50-minute DVD includes graphic images, expert testimony and live news segments. To request a FREE copy of the DVD call Swiss America at 800-289-2646.
REVIEWS: (Please email reviews to firstname.lastname@example.com )
It tells the truth about terrorism and what you can do about it
-- economically and practically. The powerful footage, interviews
and commentary by Craig Smith and Pat Boone inform viewers about
how you can be prepared. Absolutely every American must watch
A CITIZEN'S GUIDE TO COUNTER TERRORISM! I'm going to show this
DVD to as many people as I can."
- PAUL MCGUIRE, Syndicated Radio Talk Show Host,/The Paul McGuire Show
Coins Outshine the Investment Competition -Pat Boone
Aug. 23, 2004
In Sports … and in Life … Competition is healthy. But, Especially in the World of Investments!
For example,did YOU know that Investment-Grade United States Gold and Silver coins are once again outshining the competition this year? It's true!
Unlike stocks bonds, or even cash, U.S. Gold and Silver coins have outperformed nearly every other asset, so far in the 21st century.
What can Americans DO to protect their Family AND their Assets -- in today's uncertain world?
Well, for family safety, I follow what Homeland Security and the American Red Cross recommend. When it comes to asset protection, and financial safety, I take my advice from Swiss America.
You see, they've been helping America Rediscover Gold in the 21st century -- for Safety, Privacy AND Growth. Over recent years, the Boone gold and silver coins have outperformed almost every other asset on earth!
For nearly a quarter century, Swiss America has helped to protect AND grow American's wealth with good-old-fashioned U.S. Gold and Silver coins.
I strongly recommmend that your financial preparation for any emergency should include asset diversification that includes United States Gold and Silver coins.
The time-tested European asset allocation formula is simple; 25% in stocks, 25% in Bonds, 25% in real estate, and 25% in Precious metals.
According to Swiss America, The precious metals part of a portfolio should include a balance between gold and silver and a balance between lower-grade coins, for protection, and higher-grade coins for growth.
SO, if YOU have assets to protect, call my friends at Swiss America NOW for a FREE Information Kit. Discover how easy it is to make your assets shine, no matter how DULL it gets on Wall Street.
AND SO, with Sports … Life … AND Investing, I say that NOW is the time to "Go For the GOLD!" … with Swiss America!
WATCH PAT BOONE TV SPOT "Competition is Healthy"
* NOTE: All numbers in the above charts represent the ask to ask (retail) prices and do not include transaction costs, such as; commissions, spreads and fees. All investments have risk and past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.
BLACK GOLD STRANGLEHOLD -Craig R. Smith, CEO SATC
Aug. 23, 2004
"$50 is, I would say, a foregone conclusion." Now the market is thinking $60, possibly."
-ESA RAMASAMY, Editorial manager for oil, energy market analysts, MSNBC, 8/20/04
"The persistently high price of oil is a troubling issue for investors. It sucks purchasing power out of the pocketbooks of many Americans."
-ROBERT HORMATS, Goldman Sachs vice chairman, International, CBSMW 8/10/04
A storm is coming - an inflationary "perfect storm" whipped up by skyrocketing oil prices that will lay waste to millions of portfolios if investors don't prepare.
Today the U.S. has less than 5% of the world's total population, but consumes 25% of the world's total supply of oil. Oil prices have jumped from $17 in 2001 to almost $50 in 2004 -- skyrocketing 55 percent in the past year alone!
CNN reports, "When the price of oil crossed $40 a barrel earlier this year, it generated nervous headlines and anxiety on Wall Street. Now it seems that $40 a barrel may have been just a step on the way to even higher prices, with $50 or more a distinct possibility in the short term."
Could oil prices hit $60, $80 or $100? They sure could. Keep in mind that today's $50 price tag is still not as high as the oil spike in the 1980s, when the Iran/Iraq war pushed inflation-adjusted oil to the equivalent of $80 a barrel today (thanks to a devalued U.S. dollar).
According to oil experts...
The world is about to run out of cheap oil forever and change dramatically. Within the next few years, global production will peak, say the experts. Thereafter, even if industrial societies begin to switch to alternative energy sources, they will have less net energy each year to do all the work essential to the survival of complex societies.
"We are entering a new era, as different from the industrial era as the latter was from medieval times. Dwindling energy resources in the 21st century will lead to resource wars in the Middle East, Central Asia, and South America," according to THE PARTY'S OVER by Richard Heinberg.
The growing Middle East control of the oil market is likely to lead to a radical and permanent increase in the price of oil before physical shortages begin to appear within the first decade of the 21st century.
Four key trends...
"RESOURCE WARS," author and International security expert Michael T. Klare argues that in the early decades of the new millennium, wars will be fought not just over ideology, but also over access to dwindling supplies of precious natural commodities. "The recent explosive conflict between the United States and Islamic extremism stands revealed as the predictable consequence of consumer nations seeking to protect the vital resources they depend on," says Klare.
In Klare's newest sequel book, "OIL WARS," he sees the nation's energy behavior
as dominated by FOUR KEY TRENDS:
1) an increasing need for imported oil;
2) a pronounced shift toward unstable and unfriendly suppliers in dangerous parts of the world;
3) a greater risk of anti-American or civil violence;
4) and increased competition for what will likely be a diminishing supply pool.
Sliding down Hubbert's Peak...
HUBBERT'S PEAK: THE IMPENDING WORLD OIL SHORTAGE by Kenneth S. Deffeyes states, "The 100-year petroleum era is nearly over. Global oil production will peak sometime between 2004 and 2008, and the world's production of crude oil will fall, never to rise again. If nothing is done to reduce the increasing global thirst for oil--energy prices will soar and economies will be plunged into recession as they desperately search for alternatives."
The only answer, Deffeyes says, is to move as quickly as possible to alternative fuels--including natural gas and nuclear power, as well as solar, wind and geothermal energy. "Running out of energy in the long run is not the problem," Deffeyes explains. "The bind comes during the next 10 years: getting over our dependence on crude oil."
But that is still not the worst of a new oil shock.
Author Colin Mason, in his book "THE 2030 SPIKE: COUNTDOWN TO GLOBAL CATASTROPHE paints an even breaker picture of the future. "The 2030 decade will see six "drivers" converge with unprecedented force in a statistical "spike" on the graph paper of life. Depleted fuel supplies, rampant population growth, poverty, climate change, famine and water shortages are all on a crash course that could plunge the world into a global dark age."
Terrorist wild cards...
Then there are the terrorism "wild cards," like al-Qaeda terrorist groups which are hell-bent on bringing the U.S. down -- by using airplanes, computers or economics.
"Sell oil for gold, Mahathir tells Saudi Arabia" Forbes reported in Jan. '04, ...
"Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Sunday that Saudi Arabia should sell oil for gold, not dollars, to avoid being "short-changed" by a decline in the U.S. currency ... He suggested countries tally their total annual imports and exports and settle the difference at the end of the year in "gold dinars."
Recent news supports the idea that the Gold Dinar, with support from 53 other Islamic nations, may be a planned offensive against the use of the dollar as a settlement currency for oil. It is perceived, and correctly so, that the Islamic world is controlled via the use of the US dollar as the main settlement currency. (Full Story
The economic impact of another Oil Shock...
This coming oil crisis will create economic and political discontinuity of historic proportions, as the world adjusts to a new energy environment.
According to Stephen Roach, Morgan Stanley economist, "With oil prices now in the high $40s (WTI basis), there is good reason to treat this development as yet another in a long string of energy shocks. When a weak economy is hit by any type of a shock, recession normally results."
"At the current level of around $47, oil prices are 62% above the $29 average that has prevailed since early 2000 … the "true" shock probably comes with $50 oil. That would represent in excess of a 70% surge above the post-2000 average -- enough of a spike, in my view, to put it in the ballpark with full-blown oil shocks of the past. A $10 increase in oil prices knocks about 0.4% off GDP growth. In my view, America's saving-short, overly-indebted, job- and income-constrained consumer looks as vulnerable as ever.
According to the International Energy Agency, in 2002, China's oil intensity -- primary oil consumption per unit of GDP -- was 2.3 times that of the average OECD developed country; India is even worse -- fully 2.9 times the OECD average. Little wonder that China, which makes up slightly less than 4% of world GDP, accounted for fully 7% of the world's crude oil consumption in 2003. All in all, it now appears that the world is being subjected to its fourth oil shock in 30 years." [FULL STORY
So, we facing a probable recession, if the oil spike continues AND price inflation - a financially deadly combination.
THE OIL FACTOR, by STEPHEN LEEB, editor of the "Complete Investor" newsletter, believes the U.S. economy is headed for a significant fall because of a severe shortage of oil, which has been inextricably tied to the economy for the past 30 years. "Since 1973, the economy and stock market have danced to oil's tune. Sharp rises in oil prices have led to recession/stagflation and plummeting stocks, while declining prices or prices that are just mildly uptrended have led to good times," says Leeb.
Rising oil prices bring with it rising inflation -- no rocket science here. Rising inflation brings rising commodity prices on everything, which boils down to less money in consumer's pockets, which drives 2/3 of the U.S economy, which drives the world economy -- or used to anyway.
The last oil crisis started with terrorism and today's oil crisis is no different, only worse this time, given all the other factors covered so far.
Record oil prices bullish for gold...
Historically, higher oil prices also bring with it higher gold and other commodity prices. The Aden Sisters have been following this trend for over three decades and their conclusion is that the present record high oil prices is very bullish for gold.
"The oil price keeps hitting new record highs. High oil prices reflect two things. The enormous appetite the world has for oil, especially with China adding to the demand side since it's now the second largest consumer of oil after the U.S. The second factor is the supply side. Any act that might disrupt or limit the oil supply causes the oil price to rise. That's what recently happened when Yukos, Russia's largest oil exporter, was ordered to halt production. Plus, oil disruptions in Iraq have added more fuel to the fire."
"It all boils down to uncertainty. As long as we have uncertainty in the supply or demand side, we'll continue to see higher oil prices. And since the oil price strongly affects inflation, this means inflation is headed higher too. This in turn will be good for gold since gold is the maximum inflation hedge." [AdenForecast]
CNBC Anchor and economist, Larry Kudlow reported to National Review magazine back in 2001, "Gold is a useful benchmark because its monetary purchasing power is relatively constant over long periods of time. Hence, over time, an ounce of gold should buy roughly the same number of barrels of oil. In the past decade, an ounce of gold bought seventeen barrels of oil."
Using Kudlow's formula, that means that $49 per barrel oil should bring $833 per ounce gold!
I remember back in 1979, when Iranian students seized the U.S. Embassy, taking 90 hostages and the Russians invaded Afghanistan. At home, Americans faced rising oil prices and a 13% inflation rate. The oil crisis caused a flight to quality assets, like U.S. gold coins, among investors and gold prices went through the roof. From Summer 1979 through early 1980, gold soared from $200 an ounce to $850 and silver rocketed from $4 to over $50 per ounce - a tenfold increase.
This buying frenzy that swept the oil and bullion markets then spread to all tangible assets. Prices for U.S. rare coins and stamps skyrocketed almost ten-fold from mid-1979 to mid-1980. During this same period, stocks were out of favor. In 1982, the cover of Business Week actually trumpeted "The Death of Equities."
21st century gold rush, 1980's style?...
In a classic inflationary scenario, too much money chased too few goods. The birth of "numismatic" coins as a legitimate category of investment can also be traced to this tumultuous period that started back in the early 1980s.
Although "numismatics" as a form of collecting art and studying history existed as far back as ancient Rome, it was not until 1979 that the financial community began to discover benefits of owning U.S. rare coins.
The price of the 10-piece set of common date U.S. gold coin set stood at $5,325 in of January 1979. But by January 1980 it reached $16,500 - a threefold increase. The coin market peaked in January 1981, with the same 10-piece set now valued over $35,000.
Such dramatic increases in the coin market had never before been seen - nor even dreamed of. Coin collectors who had patiently built collections during the 1960s and 1970s were rewarded with amazing profits - if they decided to sell. Many coins bought during the mid 1970's for $500 were sold during this period for $2,500-$3,000.
According to a 1998 study by Dr. Raymond Lombra, Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies at Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pa., "The two top-performing investments over the past 25 years were stocks, at 14.6% per year, and high-quality, rare U.S. gold coins, at 14.3% per year. A broader index of rare U.S. coins, including all types in grade Mint State-65 (on a scale of 1 to 70), performed at 18% per year over the same period."
* Will the coming oil/inflation crisis impact the tangible asset market
the same in the 21st century?
* Will oil-targeted acts of terrorism continue to hold America in a Middle-East stranglehold?
* Will the uncertainty end soon, or continue to escalate?
Will another oil spike tip us into a recession (or worse) as some economists fear?
Either way, I strongly recommend diversifying at least a small portion of your assets into tangibles, as a hedge against the unknowable. That way you are covered no matter what happens with oil, terrorism, recession or inflation!
To help readers understand the growing economic threats to your assets:Two NEW FREE educational resources...
"A CITIZEN'S GUIDE TO COUNTER TERRORISM" A new educational DVD that covers how to prepare for five major types of terrorism that America now faces. Features Pat Boone who recommends; a family communications plan, basic steps of emergency planning and "financial terrorism" preparedness.
"RESTORING THE STANDAND: A TRIBUTE TO REAGANOMICS" DISCOVER WHY... Islamic Terrorists are targeting Mid-East oil and U.S. dollar … Ronald Reagan fought to restore the gold standard … A Gold Standard will restore morality to our money.
Call our offices toll-free at 800-289-2646 between 8am to 6pm PT Monday-Friday to request these new resources.
ALL NEWS IS GOOD NEWS?! - Bill Bonner, Daily Reckoning
Aug. 23, 2004
People seem to think they get richer by selling their houses to each other...so do economists believe they get richer by setting fire to their houses so they can build them back up.
"Stimulus..." they say.
"Arson..." we reply.
When people reach the top of their optimistic delusions, everything that happens is cause for celebration. Back in the late '80s, for example, when Japan was riding high, even an earthquake in Tokyo was interpreted as good economic news. It would provide a "stimulus" for rebuilding, said analysts.
Now, it is Americans who are delusional. In yesterday's New York Times, even the soaring price of oil was reported as good news. An oil shock might provide much needed "economic stimulus," said the paper.
Stephen Roach notes that every previous oil shock was followed by recession. You don't have to be an economist to figure out why. When people spend more for energy they must spend less for something else. Overall, spending goes down.
But along come the "all news is good news" analysts, and all of a sudden higher oil prices - along with war, pestilence, drought and traffic accidents - are "stimulating."
The logic of it is that catastrophes need to be corrected. After a war, for example, people get back to work rebuilding houses, roads and train stations. But they do not do so with nothing. They only do so by diverting resources - people, machines, energy - from other activities. In other words, they have to give up something, actually lowering their real standards of living in order to free up the resources. After a calamity, people typically scrimp and save...and work like galley slaves...in order to get back on their feet. That's what a recession is, too...an interlude in which consumer spending goes down while people put things in order.
Oil is now heading towards $50 a barrel...and the U.S. economy is probably headed for recession. And, yes, it should be very stimulating...but not in the way most economists think. Higher oil prices should stimulate people to add insulation to their houses...or to buy a more energy-efficient automobile. If they had savings, this could give a boost to the economy. But since they have none...it is just another thing that must be financed by borrowing from foreign lenders...and another milestone along America's road to ruin.
GOP 2004 THEME: "Fulfilling America's Promise" –2004NYCGOP.org
"Building a Safer World and a More Hopeful America"
Aug. 20, 2004
NEW YORK - Ed Gillespie, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, and Mark Wallace, Bush-Cheney '04 Deputy Campaign Manager, today announced Senator Zell Miller (D-GA) will deliver the keynote address at the 2004 Republican National Convention on Wednesday, September 1. The 2004 Republican National Convention, the party's first-ever in New York City, will focus on President Bush's vision for "Fulfilling America's Promise by Building a Safer World and a More Hopeful America." The four-day event will pay tribute to the nation's courage, hope, and compassion and herald the opportunities available in this country.
On Monday, August 30, we will pay tribute to the courage of a nation that has seen unprecedented challenges over the last three and a half years and the president who led the nation through these historic times. Program speaker former Mayor Rudy Giuliani will speak to the courage of the American people, seen through the acts of bravery of a city that saw tragedy and great acts of heroism on September 11, 2001. John McCain will talk about the courage of our men and women in the military and the commander in chief who has led with clarity and conviction in the War on Terror.
On Tuesday, August 31, the Republican National Convention will focus on the compassion of the American people and the uniquely American belief that our best days lie ahead. President Bush's optimistic stewardship of the nation will be the focus when Mrs. Bush addresses the nation with personal insights into the president's three and half years in office. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will tell his personal story of living the American Dream and spreading the party's message of compassion and hope.
On Wednesday, September 1, Sen. Zell Miller (D-GA), will deliver the convention's keynote address. Sen. Miller will speak about the land of opportunity created by President Bush's pro-growth, pro-American worker, pro-American entrepreneur agenda. In 1992, Sen. Miller was selected by President Bill Clinton to deliver the keynote address at the Democrat National Convention. A dozen years later, Sen. Miller will deliver the keynote address for President George W. Bush, who he describes as the "right man" to lead our nation in these times. Vice President Cheney will be the featured speaker on Wednesday. He will speak to the administration's record of creating opportunity for all Americans an d the president's vision for spreading freedom around the world to ensure our safety at home.
On Thursday, September 2, President George W. Bush will lay out his vision for the next four years - a vision that will help build a safer world and a more hopeful America. President Bush will build on his record of accomplishment with new and innovative ideas to spread opportunity and prosperity to all corners of our country. Drawing inspiration from the courage and compassion of all Americans, the president will talk about his plan for building a safer world by spreading freedom around the globe.
Related stories:
8/24/04 – Wash Post - Kerry's Dueling Promises on Economy -- Position on Reducing Deficit Conflicts With Campaign Commitments
BUCHANAN BOOK DECLARES: 'NO CONSERVATIVE PARTY LEFT IN WASHINGTON' -DrudgeReport
Aug. 23, 2004
After warning about the "Death of the West," bestselling author and former presidential candidate Pat Buchanan now declares: "There is no conservative party left in Washington."
Buchanan is set to launch his new work WHERE THE RIGHT WENT WRONG: How Neoconservatives Subverted The Reagan Revolution And Hijacked the Bush Presidency -- a work ripe with cutting observation and opinion.
RIGHT WENT WRONG is not set for release until September 1, but DRUDGE breaks the embargo on the book:
On Conservatives and Conservatism:
"There is no conservative party left in Washington. Conservative thinkers and writers who were to be the watchdogs of orthodoxy have been as vigilant in policing party deviations from principle as was Cardinal Law in collaring the predator-priests of the Boston archdiocese." (Page 9)
"The Beltway Right has entered into a civil union with Big Brother." (Page 176)
"Under the rubric of conservatism, the Republican party of Bush I and II has been reinventing itself into what conservatives would have once recognized as a Rockefeller party reciting Reaganite rhetoric." (234)
"[A] civil war is going to break out inside the Republican Party along the old trench lines of the Goldwater-Rockefeller wars of the 1960s, a war for the heart and soul and future of the party for the new century." (234) On the Neoconservatives:
"[T]he boat people of the McGovern revolution." (37)
"Kristol's warning that neoconservatives could go to Kerry was an admission of what many have long recognized. The neoconservatives are not really conservatives at all. They are impostors and opportunists." (250)
"Nine days after an attack on the United States, this tiny clique of intellectuals was telling the President of the United States...that if he did not follow their war plans, he would be charged publicly with a 'decisive surrender' to terrorism." (48)
On the Bush Doctrine:
"[A] prescription for permanent war for permanent peace, though wars are the death of republics." (6)
The Bush National Security Strategy "is the imperial edict of a superpower out to exploit its present supremacy to make itself permanent Lord Protector of the universe." (26)
"This is democratic imperialism. This will bleed, bankrupt and isolate this republic. This overthrows the wisdom of the Founding Fathers about what America should be all about." (35)
On the War in Iraq:
"[L]istening to the neoconservatives, Bush invaded Iraq, united the Arab world against us, isolated us from Europe, and fulfilled to the letter bin Laden's prophecy as to what we were about. We won the war in three weeks -- and we may have lost the Islamic world for a generation. (84)
"[I]f Iraq collapses in chaos and civil war, there will be a ferocious fight in this country over who misled us and who may have lied us, into war....into the dock will go the neoconservatives whose class project this was..." (236)
On the War on Terrorism:
"Terrorism is the price of empire. If we do not wish to pay it, we must give up the empire." (237)
"America's enemy in the Islamic world is not a state we can crush with sanctions or an enemy we can defeat with force of arms. The enemy is a cause, a movement, an idea." (87)
"[T]errorism is not a nation, a regime, or an army. Terrorism is a tactic, a technique, a weapon fanatics, dictators and warriors have resorted to through history. If...war is the continuation of politics by other means, terrorism is the continuation of war by other means." (89)
"We are not hated for who we are. We are hated for what we do. It is not our principles that have spawned pandemic hatred of America in the Islamic world. It is our policies." (80)
"U.S. dominance of the Middle East is not the corrective to terror. It is a cause of terror. Were we not over there, the 9/11 terrorists would not have been over here." (236)
"Often, terrorism succeeded in the 20th century, and, when it did, the ex-terrorists achieved power, glory and immortality, with streets, towns and cities named for them....America today recognizes every regime to come out of these wars where terrorism was a common tactic." (123)
On Israel & the Middle East:
"The Sharon Plan is not a peace plan. It is a unilateral solution to be imposed by Israel....A Palestinian leader who signs on to this surrender of land and rights would be signing his death warrant." (242)
David M. Bradshaw is Editor of Real Money Perspectives, publisher of Rediscovering Gold in the 21st Century: The Complete Guide to the Next Gold Rush (7/01) and has been an economic commentator since 1987, when he produced the World Economic Perspectives radio show. In 1997, he produced a one-hour TV documentary, "Preparing Wisely for the Next Millennium," which was distributed free of charge at Blockbuster Video nationally. In 1999, he produced a one-hour radio special, "The Big Picture: The Shape of Things to Come" discussing geopolitical, economic and spiritual trends in the 21st Century. MORE ... NOTE: Youngest daughter Braida Zoe (6 months) is learning the importance of having a crash helmet -- a valuable habit for us all to remember... just in case!
DISCLAIMER: All of the information in this story is believed to be true, however errors are possible.
Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. All investments have risk.


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On May 1, 2012, the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) adopted via Resolution No. 2012-0016 the Water Quality Control Policy for Low-Threat Underground Storage Tank Case Closure (Low-Threat Closure Policy). The Low-Threat Closure Policy finally became effective on August 17th. This should be good news for the thousands of UST sites in California because the Low-Threat Closure Policy will hopefully make it easier to obtain closure. At a minimum it defines more clearer criteria for obtaining closure.
The Low-Threat Closure Policy recognizes that many petroleum release cases pose a low-threat to human health and the environment. The policy's purpose is to establish consistent California statewide case closure criteria for low-threat petroleum UST sites. To potentially qualify for closure, the site must satisfy eight general criteria (applicable to all sites), as well as media-specific criteria as it pertains to groundwater, vapor intrusion to indoor air and direct contact, and outdoor air exposure. Below is a brief description of each of these criteria.

subset: commoncrawl


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Three years from now Saudi Arabia will have one of the most extensive rail networks in the world. It will rival grids in such advanced nations as Spain, France and Germany. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has approved billions of riyals in recent years for the construction of multiple projects to link cities on the Kingdom's northern border with Jordan, such as Haditha, Qurrayat and Hazm Al-Jalamid with Buraidah, Majmaa and Riyadh in the center. The rail network will connect Dammam on the east coast with Jeddah on the west coast. High-speed trains will link Makkah with Jeddah, Rabigh and Madinah. Dammam will be connected to Jubail and Ras Al-Khair. These are mind-boggling projects. They will change the face of Saudi Arabia. They will likely stimulate a new industrial revolution in the Kingdom.
To understand these complex railway projects, Arab News turned to the sharp, alert and seasoned mind of 68-year-old Abdul Aziz M. Al-Hokail, president of the Saudi Railways Organization. He is at the center of these game-changing scenarios. A 1964 petroleum-engineering graduate from the University of Texas in the United States, Al-Hokail spent nearly four decades in Saudi Aramco where he carried out a number of projects, small and large. He was executive vice president when he finished his career with Saudi Aramco in August 2002. Obviously the experience of building oil terminals, refineries, pipelines and oil and gas separation plants has stood him in good stead while executing the mega railway projects.
This is Al-Hokail's fifth year at the SRO after successfully completing his first four-year term last year. Born in Majmaa near Riyadh, he went to a local school for his elementary education and attended high school in Riyadh. Like all Aramcons, he is a stickler for time. We were to meet at 10 a.m. and we were ushered into his spartan office at the SRO headquarters in Dammam exactly on the dot. A tall and kind man, Al-Hokail takes great delight in explaining the immense projects in much detail and constantly points to a map of Saudi Arabia indicating which city is located where and how will it connect to other cities in other provinces.
"We currently have 1,200 km of rail lines, and when all these projects are completed in three or four years, we will have 7,000 km," he says. "These projects will spawn new industries, new cities, new employment opportunities, and there is every possibility that one will one day be able to take a train from Jeddah to cities in Europe."
In the following exclusive interview with Arab News, Al-Hokail narrates fascinating details.
Q: Thank you for talking to Arab News. We keep hearing in the media about various railway projects. Can you please give us an idea about what is happening?
A: Thank you. We are going through a lot of expansion. Currently there are five big projects that are in various stages of development in the Kingdom. Let me say here that these projects are not necessarily with the Saudi Railways Organization. Some of them have already been completed such as the Maaden line which stretches from Hazm Al-Jalamid in the north to Zubairah and Ras Al-Khair. Thanks to this line, phosphate from Hazm Al-Jalamid and bauxite from Zubairah are being taken for processing to Ras Al-Khair on the east coast.
Q: That is Project No. 1. What about No. 2?
A: Yes, Project No. 2 will link Zubairah with Riyadh. It is under construction and is expected to be completed by 2014. This line is designed to carry both passengers and freight. The train speed on this line will be about 200 km per hour. It will extend to Haditha on our border with Jordan. We will then have Haditha, Zubairah, Hail, Qassim, Majmaa and Riyadh all linked together. This is the North-Riyadh Project.
Q: Project No. 3?
A: It is the Haramain High Speed Rail project which will link Makkah, Jeddah, Rabigh and Madinah. All contracts for this project are signed, and it has begun. The project's first phase consists of civil work, and it is moving along very well. I would say 45 percent of the first phase is so far complete. The civil work involved acquisition of land, defining the alignment, digging it all up and flattening it by pouring in tons and tons of cement — basically getting the ground ready for laying tracks. Also part of the civil work is to construct 154 bridges, a viaduct and more than 500 tunnels.
Q: More than 500 tunnels?
A: Yes, there will be more than 500 tunnels on the line between Makkah, Jeddah, Rabigh and Madinah. As I said, 45 percent of Phase 1 is complete. The remainder of Phase 1 is the construction of railway stations. This contract was awarded last year. The stations will be built in Makkah, Jeddah, Rabigh and Madinah. There will be two terminals in Jeddah — one at King Abdulaziz Airport and another at the King Abdullah intersection on the Jeddah-Makkah Expressway. Phase 2 of this project will involve the laying of tracks and getting the trains on them. We will have 36 trains on this route. Their speed will be more than 300 km per hour. This crucial component of the project was awarded last year to Al-Shoula consortium, which comprises Saudi and Spanish companies. The project includes construction of railway tracks, installation of signals and telecommunication systems, electrification, operational control center and procurement of trains. This project will be completed by the end of 2014 or early 2015. Insha'Allah.
Q: Isn't Project No. 4 the Land Bridge?
A: Yes, that is correct. It has many overlapping components which I will explain in a moment. Land Bridge will connect Ras Al-Khair with Jubail and Jubail with Dammam and then it will link with our existing network from Dammam to Riyadh. From Riyadh, it will go on to Jeddah and Yanbu. Actually, there will be a loop from Haditha in the north to the east coast cities on the Arabian Gulf and then pass through the whole of Saudi Arabia to end in Yanbu on the Red Sea. This then is the fourth project.
Q: And the last project?
A: It is what is called the Gulf Cooperation Council Railway Project. The precise length of the network will be 1,940 km, going from Kuwait to Ras Al-Khair and on to Oman and Qatar; it will run parallel to the Arabian Gulf coast. Our portion of this project is 663 km and it has to be completed by 2017 as per the decision made at one of the GCC summits. So this completes the overview of the five projects.
Q: These projects will surely change the face of Saudi Arabia.
A: Yes, without a doubt. This will lead to a big transformation. We currently have 1,200 km of rail lines between Riyadh and Dammam. We have two separate lines between the two cities. One is for freight and the other for passengers. The freight line takes a longer route through the desert and is about 700 km long. When all the new projects are completed in another three years we will have 7,000 km of tracks. That is phenomenal. Saudi Arabia will rank alongside some of the most advanced countries in the world such as Spain, Italy and Germany.
Q: What is the combined cost of all these projects?
A: I cannot say. (Independent reports say these projects run into billions and billions of riyals). What I can say is that all these projects have been approved and money has been allocated.
Q: Let me ask you a question from a layperson's point of view: When will we able to travel to Madinah from Jeddah on the high-speed trains?
A: By the end of 2014 or by early 2015 at the latest.
Q: How long will it take for a passenger in Riyadh to get to Jeddah?
A: It will be a four- or five-hour journey.
Q: And what about those who want to travel to Jeddah or Madinah from Dammam. When will they be able to make the journey by train?
A: This depends on when the Land Bridge Project is completed. The Council of Ministers approved the project three months ago and it will probably take three years to build. Therefore, we should be able to get this network up and running by 2015. Insha'Allah.
Q: What impact will the new railway lines have on industries?
A: Huge impact. Instead of having a factory in Jeddah or Dammam, businesspeople can have them all over the country along the railway line. This will give a big boost to the rapid transport of goods within the country. Whole new towns will develop along the railway route. If need be, we will put new stations for new cities. Traveling to Makkah and Madinah will become easier, more affordable and more reliable. Now people do not have options. They have to either take a flight or drive the long distance. There will be a lot of social interaction. Trains will bring people closer. There will be no great movement toward urban centers. Tourism will flourish. Trade will boom. Goods coming from China and India will find easy access to Europe. Trains can take these goods from Jubail and Dammam ports and deliver them at the Jeddah Islamic Port from where they can be sent on to Europe. This will save a great deal of time and money. To give you an idea, a consignment from Dammam can reach Jeddah in 12 hours. The same journey takes more than a week by sea. Our rail links will go up to the border with Jordan, and Jordan is planning to link our network with their system. The Jordanian network goes up to Syria, Turkey and Europe. From Riyadh, you will be able to go via train to most of the cities in Saudi Arabia and outside the Kingdom.
Q: So what you are saying is that there is a good possibility of Saudis and expatriates going by train from Jeddah or Riyadh to destinations in Europe. Is that correct?
A: Yes, that is correct. All these links create those possibilities. Let me state here that these railway lines will serve only eight out of 13 provinces in Saudi Arabia. We are working on a master plan to connect all the other provinces in the years to come. Jazan, Najran, Baha, Asir and Tabuk -- all will be linked in one way or the another. But right now our hands are full with these big budget projects and we have to prioritize our needs and carry out our ideas and projects in a very systematic way. And that is what we are doing.
Q: How is the private sector benefiting from all these railways projects?
A: Well we have talked about trade. Who is going to do that? The private sector. These networks will give Saudis low-cost access to neighboring Gulf Cooperation Council and European markets. They will also shift lorry transport which damages road infrastructure to rail transport. More competition and modes of transport will benefit all aspects of the economy and attract additional foreign direct investment because rail transport is part of the criteria for foreign companies. We will have workshops, factories and training institutes. Who will benefit from them? The private sector. You have to remember that rail networks lead to industrial revolutions. This has happened in Europe and the United States when trains were introduced in the 1800s. They brought coal and steel to all areas and then large factories were built. Industry is wholly dependent on transportation of goods and trains are the best means of transportation. They are cheaper, environment-friendly, safe and reliable.
Q: New industrial towns and residential areas will spring up along the railway route. That sounds interesting.
A: Yes, yes. I just mentioned the United States. Look at the transportation history of other nations when trains were introduced. Look at Taiwan. When they laid the rails from Taipei to the south, there was a vast empty expanse. There were not many cities along the train route. Three years after the trains began operating, many industrial towns and cities had sprung up along the route. It is natural. That is what happens everywhere. So definitely the railroads will have a great impact here in Saudi Arabia. People in Kharj, for instance, will stay there. They will not have to come to Riyadh seeking work. People in Riyadh will be able to move out of the city and commute to work by train. This is bound to happen.
Q: Do you think all these projects have come a little late?
A: It is never too late. We shall soon be there. Insha'Allah.
Q: There surely must be a lot of focus on railways in the national budgets?
A: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah is really the one who is leading the development and the expansion of the railway projects. He is always personally monitoring project timelines and we are very happy with his unfailing and constant support.
Q: Has money ever been an issue in executing these huge projects?
A: So far it has not been an issue because the railways are a high priority for the government. It is part of the infrastructure such as roads, ports and airports.
Q: What about talk of the organization's being privatized?
A: Hopefully we will privatize the Saudi Railways Organization. We will then have companies that will operate all these railway lines. That would certainly be more effective. It will take place once the Land Bridge Project is complete. The Riyadh-Dammam line that we are now operating will also be privatized. That will be going to a new investor or new company. We will gradually phase out Saudi Railways. In the meantime, we are setting up the regulatory body. This has been approved by the Council of Ministers. That is why we are giving licenses and permits to entities interested in different lines. The Mashair Railway from Mina, Muzadalifa and Arafat was given to one entity. They ran it last year. We gave permission to Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh to have its own on-campus metro. We granted them the license. We are in the process of giving a license to Saudi Railway Company (SAR) to operate the North-South line.
Q: You mentioned the metro at Princess Nora University. What about metros in Riyadh or Jeddah?
A: The relevant authorities in Riyadh have already approached us for issuing a license and a safety certificate for a metro. We will have metros in Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah. These will be light trains operating within the city limits. However, the Ministry of Rural Affairs and other development authorities are carrying out these projects. Feasibility studies have been done and the financial aspects have been taken care of. It is just a matter of time before we will have individual rail networks in these cities.
Q: Let us go back to the projects you explained at the beginning. You talked about the Jubail line connecting with the existing Dammam-Riyadh line. We were given to understand that there was going to be a new express line to Riyadh from Dammam because the existing network was not geared for high-speed trains. Is that correct?
A: I will make it clear. Now we have two lines — one for passengers and one for freight. The freight line is old. The passenger line is comparatively new but it is also 15 years old. We are doing two things. One, we are upgrading the current line so it will be able to handle high-speed trains. At the same time, we are building another line parallel to the existing passenger line. This will, we hope, be completed by June this year. We created the new express line so that we do not have to disturb the current line which is in daily operation. We have just gotten new trains for the existing upgraded route and we believe they will be in service next month. The new trains are designed for high-speed but even the upgraded track cannot take more than 180 km per hour. Even then it will shorten the travel time between Dammam and Riyadh considerably. Currently it takes five hours to go from Riyadh to Dammam. With the new trains this time will be reduced dramatically.
Q: There have been reports of accidents on the current Dammam-Riyadh line. What steps, if any, have been taken to avoid them when new lines are being laid? Will we have elevated tracks, for example?
A: We have had some accidents but fortunately they were minor ones. Most of them were a direct result of the ignorance of the four-wheel vehicle drivers. They want to take a short cut, especially when crossing the freight line that runs through the desert. They cut the fence. Sometimes when they see a train approaching they panic and leave their cars or pickups on the track and this of course results in accidents. Sometimes when the fences have been cut, camels stray onto the lines. At present we have a dedicated crew working round the clock in order to repair fences. On the passenger line, Alhamdulillah, we have not had many accidents. Our main challenge on the passenger line is the sand. We have people working 24 hours a day cleaning the track and removing the sand from the tracks.
Q: Your vast experience at Saudi Aramco must have helped you chart a new course for Saudi railways. Did you ever believe that you will one day become the architect of Saudi railways?
A: Let me be honest. There have been many architects before me. Yes, I am very happy to be in this position at this point in time. At Saudi Aramco, I have been closely involved with a number of big projects — building oil terminals, refineries, pipelines and oil and gas separation plants. I worked with them for 38 years. So, yes, working on those projects helped me a great deal. I like my current job because it is challenging. It is not dormant.
Q: Are you waiting to get onto the high-speed train to Jeddah just as we are?
A: Yes, like everyone I am excited. In the meantime, however, I keep traveling on the train to Riyadh from Dammam. I keep checking them out.


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|Eric Naszalyi
The format was five rounds usign the Swiss system. We were very happy that French legend Eric Naszalyi and his children took part adding an international edge to the tournament!
Reigning champion Trevor Schott opened his defence with a hard fought victory over Mathilde Naszalyi. Elsewhere Gianpaolo Vitulano managed a difficult 2-1 win over Cornwall Open champion Phil Holmes.
|Gianpaolo Vitulano vs Eric Naszalyi
Gianpaolo went home early and missed Eric and his son drawing 3-3, which denied him the runer up trophy! With Mathilde winning the womens trophy virtue of a better goaldifference than Abbie Staples it meant a clean sweep for the popular Naszalyi's!
|Dylan Staples and Paul Naszalyi
(Report by Jeremy Bradley)


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St. Pete Beers 'n Board Games Meetup for Young Adults
This is a past event
12 people went
Young professionals drinking beer, playing board games and having a good time! We will be in the game room in the back of Old NE Tavern. Come on out for some good old beer and board games! Feel free to bring a friend or two and any games you have that you would like to play.


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Recent studies have determined that Victoza, an FDA-approved type 2 diabetes medication, has the potential to cause thyroid cancer. This rare disease occurs when abnormal cells multiply and form tumors within the thyroid, a gland in the neck that controls how the body uses energy, makes proteins, and controls how sensitive the body is to other hormones. This article discusses theories on how scientists believe Victoza causes thyroid cancer, and the petition to recall the drug submitted by Public Citizen.
How Can Victoza Cause Thyroid Cancer?
Victoza was a controversial drug even before it was approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). In clearing the drug, the FDA chose to ignore the recommendations of three of its drug safety reviewers. In clinical trials, high doses of Victoza were found to cause thyroid tumors in rats and mice, although the administration said at the time that it was not known if Victoza had the potential to cause thyroid cancer in humans. The clinical safety reviewer noted that at the time of approval, there were already nearly a dozen different medications for type 2 diabetes on the market, so there was little need to approve another drug whose safety profile was questionable.
Despite these serious concerns, FDA's director of new drugs overruled all other considerations, including the clinical safety reviewers, in clearing Victoza for sale on the U.S. market. However, the FDA did ask drugmaker Novo Nordisk to conduct a five-year study to look at Victoza's association with thyroid cancer, pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis, low blood sugar levels, and allergic reactions.
FDA Warning on Victoza
In June 2011, the FDA issued a warning regarding Victoza's link to thyroid cancer. According to the warning, the administration had received at least two dozen reports of thyroid cancer in Victoza users in the previous year. The thyroid gland is located at the base of the neck, just below the Adam's apple. It manufactures hormones that regulate heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and weight. Signs and symptoms of Victoza thyroid cancer include:
- A lump in the neck
- Trouble breathing
- Trouble swallowing
- Hoarseness
Victoza Recall Petition
In April 2012, the watchdog group Public Citizen petitioned the FDA for a nationwide recall for Victoza, claiming that the medication's risks outweigh any potential benefits. According to the petition, Victoza puts users at risk of developing thyroid cancer, pancreatitis, allergic reactions, and kidney failure.
"More and more people are taking this drug, and more people are experiencing serious health problems as a result," Public Citizen director Sidney Wolfe, MD, said in a statement. "Clearly, the FDA's warning system is not sufficient. The drug should be taken off the market." Click here to read more about Public Citizen's petition to recall Victoza from WebMD.


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Late news 6/3 Coverack: 1 Glaucous Gull. (P Bedford)
Late news 6/3 Helston Loe Pool: 2 Goosander and 1 Firecrest. (D Chaney)
Hayle Estuary: 1 2w Caspian Gull and 2 (1w, ad) Ring-billed Gull , ad argentatus and 1w Yellow-legged Gullon Lelant Saltings. (D Britton, M Elliott, M Bishop, J St Ledger – photos)
St Gothian Sands LNR: 2 Coot and 1 Water Rail. (MJ Spicer)
Mawgan: 1 Black Redstart. (P Bedford)
Argal Reservoir: 7 Great Crested Grebe. (D Eva)
College Reservoir: 2 Goldeneye, 2 Great Crested Grebe and 1 singing Marsh Tit. (D Eva)
Stithians Reservoir: 5 Goldeneye, 1 Slavonian Grebe and 5 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Greylag Geese with c40 Canada Geese in field on east side and 2 Woodcock (Southern cutoff, non public access). (D Eva, C Barnard, D Chaney) Also a Rookery with 3 nests. (SM Taylor)
Helston Sewage Works: 1 Siberian Chiffchaff. (C Barnard)
Marazion Marsh RSPB: 6 Mute Swan, 2 Canada Geese, 2 hybrid geese, 7 Mallard, 21 Teal, 1 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 7 Grey Heron, 2 Little Grebe, 19 Moorhen, 2 Buzzard, 6 Snipe, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Stonechat, 5 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff and 1+ Siberian Chiffchaff. Also 1 Stoat in the Cheshire Homes sector. (DK Parker)
Ruan Lanihorne: Osprey circling very high above the Fal-Ruan marsh at half incoming tide. Stayed briefly, then moved off in direct flight NW at 16:10. Viewed from Ruan Old Quay. (D Hall)
Falmouth: Black Redstart still in Beacon Road. (S Perfect)
Gulval: 1 Little Bunting. (M Bishop)
Helston Boating Lake: 1 ad Ring-billed Gull, also 1w Iceland Gull, 1 ad Whooper Swan and 20 Shoveler. (C Barnard)
Colliford Lake: 1 Great Northern Diver also ad drake Lesser Scaup. (D Conway)
Lizard: 2 (ad & 2w) Yellow-legged gull at the point. (T Blunden)
Falmouth, Swanpool: 1 1w Ring-billed Gull and 1 Long-tailed Duck.
Maenporth: 1 1w male King Eider.
Penzance: 1 ad Pacific Diver.
Carrick Roads: 4 Slavonian grebe, 22 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Great Northern diver and 1 Black-throated Diver off Mylor dockyard.(C Barnard)


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by Brian Phillips (@BrianBlahg)
Please Help Scotland Yard Gospel Choir
The Chicago band was in a horrific van accident last week. They need your help. We'll keep you posted on the hospitalized member's conditions as updates become available.
Lady Sov Spits At Doorman, Fined
Is there anything worse you can do to a person than spitting on them? Really I'd rather be kicked in the nuts.
And The Moon Landings Were Faked Too
The album that made Kiss' career, "Alive" was said to have been recorded at Detroit's Cobo Hall. There may be some crowd noise on there from Cobo, but trust me, that was a studio creation (as are more live albums than you care to know). Anyway Kiss recreated the recreated "Alive" over the weekend in Detroit and Billboard was there.


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The Unusual Recipe That Makes 'Perfect' Scrambled Eggs
There's nothing better than chowing down on yummy scrambled eggs, and now, Michelin-starred chef Daniel Patterson claims he has perfected the recipe once and for all.
Patterson says to ditch the frying pan and instead beat the eggs and pour them into a whirlpool of boiling water.
While it's unusual, Patterson claims that this method will produces delicious eggs every time.
Patterson also recommends not using much egg white and instead says we should separate the yolks of four eggs from the thin part of the whites using a strainer.
He then beats the yolks and remaining whites, before boiling a pan of water.
Stir the pot of water clockwise until the water forms a whirlpool, then add a few pinches of salt.
Patterson then pours the egg yolk mixture into the center of the water and then covers the pan and waits 20 seconds.
The eggs should then be in ribbons and floating on top of the water.
He then takes them out of the pan using a strainer, he claims the poaching technique will give you the 'quickest and fluffiest' eggs ever!
Daniel Patterson's scrambled eggs
Serves two
1. Separate four egg yolks and the thin whites using a strainer.
2. Beat the yolks and remaining whites together for 20 seconds.
3. Bring a pan of water to the boil, add a few pinches of salt, and stir the water so it forms a whirlpool.
4. Pour the yolks into the centre of the whirlpool and cover the pot for 20 seconds.
5. The eggs should be in ribbons floating on the water. Remove using a strainer and drain.
6. Serve with olive oil and cracked black pepper.


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Dear Editor:I was raised in Downey, my husband was born and raised in Downey, and we are raising our children here. We go to church, shop, work and play in Downey. But as with many people in today's economy, I'm in the position of needing a job. In today's tough job market an opportunity for employment should generate some excitement. That's what I thought before I started applying for the few job openings I was able to find throughout Downey and its surrounding cities. I've applied at the major retailers like Macy's and Penney's but have been turned away because of no retail experience. I've also done just about all the online job seeking websites. My frustration is that in the months that I have been on the job search circuit, I've seen new establishments opening in our city, but there have been no "Help Wanted" signs in the windows. And those that do have signs refer me to their websites which don't even list a Downey location as an option. It's very discouraging that employment opportunities with all these new places that are (and soon will be) opening in Downey are not made available to residents of our city. With all the hubbub of bringing businesses here, why are the residents not given an opportunity to be a part of that growth? If we get jobs outside the city, our shopping dollars may be going there as well as we run our errands at lunchtime or right after work. As concerned as the city is about bringing in new business, I think Downey should be concerned about the stability of its residents by making sure that new businesses advertise their staffing needs first within the city so that Downey residents are given first crack at all these new jobs. Amy Fiala Downey
********** Published: August 09, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 17


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Yet Another Carnival Ship
is adrift at sea
"Houston we have a problem" can also now be a hailing sign for Carnival Cruise Lines, especially to those in the Texas port of Galveston. As the Carnival Cruise ship Triumph (which set sail Feb 7th, and was due back on the 11th to and from its home portage of Galveston) flounders off the Mexican coast, adrift after a reported engine room fire crippled the ship early on Sunday leaving 3,143 passengers stranded without power, air conditioning, and running water. It has even been reported to several news agencies and to and from loved ones on-board the stricken ship, of backed up sewage running down walls, and urine soaked carpets in the staterooms have forced passengers to vacate their staterooms, not to mention the horrid foul stench that has engulfed the ship.
Despite relief efforts with food and supplies being brought to the ship, there are also reports of waiting in lines four hours long, just to get a hamburger, and there are even reports of fights breaking out on-board over food, and passengers acting like savages.
I am sorry, but it is seems clear to me for the need to speak out about this the third such incident to occur to Carnival passengers in only the last few years. Certainly most everyone remembers the November 2010 engine room fire aboard the Carnival Splendor which was adrift for several days off the coast of Mexico, then less than a year ago was the Carnival owned Costa Allegra which similarly was adrift in the Indian Ocean after an engine room fire had occurred. As a travel insider I was just reading last week where Carnival was experiencing record level bookings, which that alone was laudable certainly in just the connection to the most horrible incident in January of 2012 of the Costa Concordia capsizing accident which resulted in more than 30 lives lost, and again such cruise line is actually owned by Carnival.
It seems blazingly apparent to me that Carnival is placing profits over passenger safety and comfort. There are only so many reasons that a fire (one of the most dangerous hazards at sea) really occurs. Whether the findings are faulty (or outdated) equipment, failure to have adequate training (or a lack of proper response)in engine room operations, or a failure of adequate supervision or insight; Carnival has dropped the ball when it comes to doing everything necessary to operate safe and efficient ships. Initially with respect to this most recent incident Carnival is saying the cause was a fuel line leak in the No.6 generator. Wonder when that fuel line was last worked on or replaced?
I have booked clients on Carnival owned cruise ships for many years, even groups in the past. However, I can no longer in good conscience subject my customers to such inconvenience and even potential harmful experiences. I think it is time for my fellow colleagues and the American Cruising public alike to draw a line in the sand when it comes to what Carnival is doing. It's time we start speaking out. In light of so many of these ships that are getting older, why isn't more attention given to equipment condition and passenger safety. Each time one of these incidents has happened, (including with this most recent event) they (Carnival) have promised to rectify the deficiencies and learn from them, but that is obviously just not the case. It seems that Carnival must be doing something differently than the other cruise lines to be running into so much misfortune. These older ships need longer off times to be sure that safety inspections are thorough enough and are being taken more seriously.
While I feel it possible that you can have such an incident occur once, maybe even twice, but excuse me – three times! It's just not possible for one cruise line to have happen to them and not be held responsible for more than just fare refunds, and future cruise credits. Until I am convinced Carnival has made changes and taken steps to avoid such dangerous situations I just can't feel comfortable in putting myself or passengers aboard Carnival.-CruisewithMike
CruisewithMike: Thanks for visiting our weblog for updated information on this and other interesting travel and cruise topics. If you would like to obtain more information on this and other topics, you can simply browse through our library of informational topics on these subjects. You can contact Mike at email email@example.com or check out more details to come about this cruise opportunity at http://www.cruisewithmike.info . You can follow mike on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cruisewithmike . Join our Travel Club at http://meetup.com/Sun-Cities-Travelers-Group/ Mikes web site can be found at www.mberryhill.cruiseholidays.com .


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November 14, 2018
Delia DeLions & Nina Lawless
Release Year: 2015
Studio: Delia-TS
Cast: Delia DeLions, Nina Lawless
Genres: Shemale, Transsexual, Bareback, Anal, Shemale On Shemale, Facial, Strap-On, Hardcore, Cumshot, All Sex
Video language: English
Nina and I hit it off immediately and the chemistry we shared really comes through in the scenes we shot together. Her look is close enough to mine that it lent itself really well to some super hot kinky taboo roleplay.
Format: mp4
Duration: 37:36
Video: 854x480, AVC (H.264), 973kbps
Audio: 153kbps
File size: 311.3 MB


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The Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board plans to make a final decision today on which firm should receive a 15-year contract with the Kansas Lottery for the Wild West-themed complex in Ford County.
The competition boils down to Butler National Service Corp. of Olathe and Dodge City Resort and Gaming Co. of Wichita, which have proposed comparable projects overall. Consultants advising the seven-member board have predicted that each project would average $50 million in revenue and 700,000 visits a year.
But developers tried one last time to highlights points that would distinguish them in final presentations to the board.
Steve Joseph, a Wichita attorney who leads Dodge City Resort and Gaming, said his group's bid was best positioned to deliver a successful project for southwest Kansas.
He said the company's investors, with a net worth of more than $200 million, have the resources to finance the group's project, a temporary casino that will be followed by a $60.3 million permanent complex.
The group's project, while more modest initially than its competitor, includes plans for up to $32 million in add-ons once the casino hits certain revenue targets.
"We believe we have the right-size project for Dodge City today in this financial market," Joseph said.
However, Butler National President Clark Stewart said the scale and quality of his group's two-phase, $87.5 million project in northwest Dodge City would be a bigger initial draw for both gamblers and tourists.
Estimates compiled for his company show the complex drawing $70 million in revenue and 1.2 million visitors, far more than predicted by consultants advising the review board.
"We think it's real critical on the first day that this is a first-class piece," Stewart said.
Stewart also touted his firm's support among area residents, more than a dozen of which wrote letters to the board supporting Butler National's proposal.
Residents wrote that the company has stronger local ties because it's partnered with Boot Hill Museum officials, who successfully joined local leaders in lobbying the Legislature for Dodge City's chance to host a casino.
"They want us to do this job," Stewart said.
Meanwhile, Joseph tried to strike back against his rival's contention that his Dodge City Resort and Gaming's northeast location in the city wasn't ideal.
A member of Butler National's team recently suggested that visitors to a casino in that area might be turned off by smells wafting from cattle feedlots along U.S. 50.
But Joseph said residents and businesses in the area said there was no problem with a noticeable stench, development has been growing in the northeast part of town, and the area's wind conditions wouldn't transmit the smell.
"There is no smell problem in the northeast corner of Dodge City," Joseph said.
Butler National also submitted information from a construction company Thursday questioning whether their rival construction costs estimates were artificially low.
But the company continued to face questions from review board members about its ability to fund the project, despite promises of a recent $20 million infusion of cash from investors with a minority stake in the project.
Completion of both phases of the company's project will require up to $60 million in bank loans at a time when the nation's financial crisis is putting a squeeze on the availability of credit.
But Stewart said the company has a firm commitment from a bank in Kansas, which is more tied to a state's economy benefitting from higher oil, gas and grain prices than Wall Street.
"We believe we have the money" to build the casino, Stewart said.
The board is also scheduled to make a decision today on a contract for a casino in northeast Kansas. Three applicants are battling to build and manage a project in Wyandotte County.


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This video was created from a series of still photographs taken over the course of a single daily tidal cycle near Anchorage, Alaska. In some areas of Alaska daily tides can exceed 15 meters (45 feet!) This video gives some perspective of the changes in water level experienced at the Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, located on the western coast of the Kenai Peninsula, about 150 miles south of Anchorage.
In addition to effecting the distribution and abundance of plants and animals in the estuary, the daily tides effect the movement of all types of water-borne vessels, ranging from recreational fishers, to commercial transportation. (Video: Kachemak Bay NERRS site)
Revised July 06, 2017
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Glasgow's book festival Aye Write! is back and bigger than ever with names like Irvine Welsh, Matt Haig, Alexei Sayle and Limmy gracing the Mitchell Library's beautiful halls. Some of Scotland's best established and upcoming authors will be in attendance and we wish we could see them all! Here's five Aye Write! events we recommend to get a taste of the gems Scottish book culture has to offer.
James Yorkston & Colin MacIntyre
An Evening of Novels & Song
Saturday 12th, 19.30 – 20.30, £12
'Two fine Scottish songwriters have released novels to great acclaim and we are very pleased that they have agreed to share a stage at Aye Write! to read from their books but also play a few songs and talk about the relationship between their fiction and songwriting.'
Neil Mackay & Ben McPherson
Chilling Thrillers
Sunday 13th, 12.00 – 13.00, £9
'Sunday Herald columnist Neil Mackay's The Wolf Trial is inspired by an extraordinary true case – the first ever documented account of a serial killer in world history. Ben McPherson's A Line of Blood is a chilling psychological thriller about family, the ties that bind us, and the lies that destroy us.'
Jackie Kay
A Modern Classic
Tuesday 15th, 19.30 – 20.30, £9
'To celebrate the publication of the Picador Classic edition of the novel Trumpet (with a new introduction by Ali Smith), we are pleased to welcome back the fabulous poet, playwright, novelist, children's author and broadcaster, Jackie Kay.'
Gaelic New Writers Showcase
Saturday 19th, 19.30 – 20.30, £6
'Cothrom èisteachd ri grunn sgrìobhadairean Gàidhlig ùra còmhla, is iad an sàs an dà chuid ann am ficsean agus bàrdachd. Bidh Niall O'Gallagher, Calum MacLeòid, Sandaidh Jones agus Cairistìona Stone an làthair, is iad a' riochdachadh iomairt Chomhairle nan Leabhraichean/Urrad Leabraichean na h-Alba, Duaisean nan Sgrìobhadairean Ùra. Bidh an craoladair Mark Wringe sa chathair.'
Lucy Ribchester & Jenni Fagan
Sophomore Fiction
Sunday 20th, 16.30 – 17.30, £9
'These two novelists have the enviable position of following up their successful debuts. Lucy Ribchester's follow up to The Hourglass Factory, The Amber Shadows is a mysterious novel about keeping secrets set at Bletchley Park. Jenni Fagan's The Pantopticon saw her chosen as one of the Granta's Best Young British Writers and her new novel The Sunlight Pilgrims tells the story of a small Scottish community living through what people have begun to think is the end of times.'


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Oct. 9, 2010
NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA-Visiting Salve Regina held the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's football team to 137 yards and scored on two short drives and a fumble recovery in the end zone to defeat the Corsairs, 28-6, in a New England Football Conference Boyd Division game at Cressy Field Saturday evening.
The Seahawks broke on top with a five play, 61 yard drive midway through the second quarter. Junior quarterback Jimmy Connelly (Berlin, CT/Berlin HS/Southern Connecticut State) got SRU going when he completed consecutive passes of seven yards to senior wide receiver Nick Piscitelli (North Haven, CT/North Haven HS) and 17 yards to junior wide receiver Brian Smith (Tarrytown, NY Briarcliff HS/Iona), then pitched to junior wide receiver Michael Dargan (Meriden, CT/O.H. Platt HS), who took it the final 23 yards on a reverse to put SRU ahead, 7--0, with 5:25 left in the first half.
Salve Regina scored again in the waning moments of the first half. Junior linebacker A.J. Albert (Franklin Park, NJ/Immaculata HS) intercepted a pass by UMD sophomore quarterback Patrick Orlando (Manchester, MA/Essex HS/Saint Anselm) at the Corsair 30 yard line with 1:19 left in the first half. Connelly connected with junior wide receiver Patrick Keenan (Harrisville, RI/North Smithfield HS/Rhode island) six seconds before halftime to make it 14-0 at the intermission.
After a scoreless third quarter, SRU struck again. With the ball at the UMass Dartmouth four yard line, Orlando was sacked by junior safety Jeff Bartek (North Haven, CT/North Haven HS) in the end zone, and fumbled the ball. Senior safety Nick Jentz (Little ferry, NJ/Queen of Peace HS) recovered for a touchdown to make it 21-0 with 12:05 to play.
The Corsairs got on the board on the ensuing possession, driving 58 yards in nine plays to score on a 10-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Brandon McNeish (Springfield, MA/Bridgton Academy) to senior wide receiver Chris Pinheiro (Norton, MA/Norton HS)with 8:34 left.
UMD sophomore kicker Edgar Osols (Summit, NJ/Summit HS) then executed a perfect onside kick, with freshman defensive back Wayne Bolz (Billerica, MA/Billerica HS) recovering at the Corsair 44. But the Corsairs failed to move. SRU scored their final touchdown after UMass Dartmouth failed on fourth down from their own 38 yard line with 3:31 remaining. Sophomore running back Trey Scales (Boston, MA/Concord-Carlisle HS) burst 21 yards for a score with 3:34 remaining to account for the final score.
Senior running back Eric Pacy (Rowley, MA/Triton HS/Salve Regina/Dean) led UMD on the ground, with 10 carries for 43 yards; Orlando was 11 of 27 for 49 yards, while McNeish was three of seven for 25 yards and a score. Senior running back Rob Lariviere-Tougas (Easthampton, MA/Easthampton HS) rushed 13 times for 85 yards for SRU, while Connelly was 15 of 28 for 213 yards, and Piscitelli caught five passes for 96 yards. Junior defensive back Ross O'Toole (Weymouth, MA/Weymouth HS) led UMD defensively with 11 stops, including five solos. He also shared a tackle for lost yardage, and intercepted a pass and returned it for seven yards. Junior defensive end Shane Lange (Branford, CT/Branford HS) had 13 tackles for SRU, including five solos. He also had two and a half tackles for lost yardage, and a sack.
"It was an offensive struggle throughout the game, which put a lot of pressure on our defense. I'm proud of the way our defense played all game. They were put in some tough positions, and they fought hard to keep us in the game."
The Corsairs dropped to 2-4 and 1-2 in the Boyd Division with the defeat while the Seahawks improved to 2-4 and 1-2 in the Boyd Division with the victory. UMass Dartmouth will return to action when they visit Nichols next Saturday. SRU will host Curry Saturday.


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Memorial Day 2019
Mlitary.com honors and remembers the fallen.
We've answered 16 of the most frequently asked VA Loan Benefit questions. View them now to get a quick understanding of your benefit.
Did you know you can buy or refinance a home without a full 20% down? Find VA Loan Lenders while rates are low.


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Getty Images
The Vikings, who are trying their best to get better after a woeful 3-13 season, could be getting help from a defensive player who once was regarded as one of the most promising young linebackers in the game.
Per a league source, the Vikings worked out Rocky McIntosh on Tuesday.
McIntosh spent six seasons with the Redskins. The shift from a 4-3 to the 3-4 defense resulted in a move inside. In 2011, McIntosh lost his starting job after the first eight games of the season.
The Vikings currently have nine linebackers on the roster.


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The Student Activity Board works to provide Lake Land College students with social and cultural events on Wednesdays at 11 am. There are times during your school week that you need to unwind or relax, and SAB's function is to help you to do so. SAB brings national touring comedians, musicians and movies to campus as well as plans the annual Welcome Day and Spring Carnival. The best part is that all of these events are FREE to students. Watch bulletin boards, check out the Laker Calendar, and listen to WLKL 89.9 for more information on specific acts.
Interviews for the Student Activity Board are conducted at the beginning of the fall semester. However, interviews are often conducted throughout the year. To find out if the SAB currently has openings, please contact the Student Life Office and complete the SAB application.


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Eliza And The Bear head out on a UK tour which heads to Northampton this month in support of their forthcoming debut album.
The alternative five piece recently released the single It Gets Cold which will feature on their self titled LP which is due in April.
Frontman James Kellegher said: "It Gets Cold is about returning back home after an inconceivable amount of time.
"It's about the things you will miss being away from home and the moments in time you miss whilst at home reminiscing.
"Lyrically I think It Gets Cold focuses on the journey itself more than the destination, it covers the dangers that you may face, but also the courage you will find in the face of adversity."
Eliza And The Bear supported Twin Atlantic last year which included a 10,000 capacity sold out show at Glasgow's SSE Hydro and gigs at , Brixton Academy and Manchester Albert Hall.
They play the Roadmender on Friday, January 22. Doors open at 7.30pm, tickets cost £10 in advance before fees.
To book, visit www.theroadmender.com


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This morning began with the god's showing their fury. We had a good thunder and lightening storm to welcome in the morning. Ricky was up pacing back and forth around the bed to inform us that someone was letting off fireworks or something outside. He is funny in that he just seems to want a hand on his back to let him know you are there. By eight the weather had cleared off a bit, but it wasn't looking good for grey play. the sky still looked threatening and the status of our meet got set to canceled on our facebook page. At eight 8:45 I threw caution to the wind and announced that my boys needed to get some running in.
We went to the field, the sky cleared, and it turned into a beautiful morning. I called up other group members and rallied one other couple to our cause. The result was a somewhat impromptu greyplay moment.
Our larger adoption group has put together an opportunity for the restaurant Chuy's to display a bunch of framed pictures of greyhounds on the walls in their new location. In general I think Chuy's restaurants will display photos of their patrons' dogs, so it might be a good way to get out the word about this remarkable breed. For the past few weeks I have been assembling photos of the boys. We have also been trying to get some good group photos as well. I've been playing around with the idea and for their individual shots and wanted to try to show my guys from some different angles.
Here is what I came up with.
I hope that Chuy's will hang these with the adoption group website on them. I think they will because of the arrangement with the group. I'm still not quite sure what to do for a greyplay group picture. I have some good action pictures, but the darn muzzles keep getting in the way.


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For teaching purposes, I'd really like Ports 2 and 3 on my Altair to be 88-SIO ports connected to a dumb terminal and a paper-tape punch respectively, leaving Port 1 as a 2SIO port for taking supervisory control of the Altair via a laptop and a USB/Serial cable. What I want to teach is the low-level control of the ports (as in the early video of the keyboard being echoed to the screen) and the 88-SIO mode seems easier for teaching that than the 2SIO mode (which has lots of options I don't want to introduce to the students).
But I'm right in thinking that we can't have Ports 2 and 3 both be 88-SIO ports aren't I? Whenever I try setting the second one of these two to 88-SIO the other one flips back to being 2SIO.
Assuming I can't have Ports 2 and 3 both being 88-SIO ports, could someone tell me the simplest machine code instructions for setting up one 2SIO port to be, say, 9600 baud 8N1 and then another be 300 baud 8N1? Once they're set up, presumably all I need to do is keep polling a single bit in the control word--looks like its bits 0 and 1 instead of bits 0 and 7 as I do with 88-SIO--and all else is the same one the port is set up. I've got the 2SIO manual in front of me and the number of options (to do with setting the baud rate in software) is bewildering.
I don't mind which two ports I have as the easy-to-program 88-SIO ports: it could be Port 1 and Port 2 if only I were allowed use Port 3 for the Configuration Monitor, if that's possible.
Gabriel Egan


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Most newspapers and broadcasters have been utterly silent on the mystery of how Madoff went to prison for 150 years without speaking a word, other than to plead guilty.
He named no names, gave no explanation as to where the money went, or how a few guys in an office could rip off hundreds of the world's richest people, with the help of the world's biggest banks.
Beijing artist Chen Wenling created this dramatic sculpture of the stockmarket bull goring to death Bernard Madoff.
The first artist to address the mysteries of our Great Crash
The first artist to address the mysteries of our Great Crash
At the same time, Bernard Madoff held powerful public positions among Wall Street's finest and the US financial regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission, repeatedly ignored conclusive evidence of fraud delivered personally to its top officials.
So when Bernie's accountant, who has been revealed as the biggest winner from the Ponzi scheme, netting $7 Billion for himself, simply fell into a swimming pool aged 67, you might think some alarm bells might go off in the tiny minds of the world's press.
Boing! Wrong!
If you are not familiar with Jeff Picower's sudden death, here and here are some background stories.
And if you have any doubt the some very powerful people would quite like Bernard Madoff himself to meet with an accident in prison, here is some background to help connect the dots:
Madoff struck a deal in Feb 2009 with the SEC to neither admit nor deny guilt, and in return pay civil fines and penalties levied by the SEC.
At the same time Linda Thomsen, the agency's top enforcement official, was resigning to "pursue opportunities in the private sector."
This was separate from the criminal case, in which he opted for silence, refusing to answer any questions other than to admit his guilt. The 71-year old was sentenced to 150 years in prison.
Only just over $1 billion of between $50 billion up to $65 billion that he raised in his Ponzi scheme has been recovered.
Madoff was responsible for $50 Billion of losses, yet trillions in personal savings went up in smoke during the financial crisis. Where did the rest go?


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The Initial Selection is a 3 day course in Pangandaran comprising of the following:
- Compass Exam
- Psychometric Exam
- Technical Exam
- Simulator Assessment
- Interview
Compass Exam (Cut-e assessment result validation)
The Compass Exam is designed to assess the following:
- Hand eye coordination
- Spacial awareness
- Memory
- Workload management
- Maths
Psychometric Exam
The Psychometric Exam is designed to measure personality traits. There is not necessarily any wrong or right answers, and it is vital that you are honest when answering the questions.
Technical Exam
The Technical Exam is designed to assess your knowledge of the following:
- CPL theory
- C208 systems
Simulator Assessment
The Simulator Assessment is conducted in our Ascent Simulator. This simulator is based on the Cessna 172 G1000. Only a basic knowledge of the G1000 Primary Flight Display is required for this assessment; you will not be required to set up flight plans etc.
The assessment comprises of the following:
- Familiarization training from Instructor (10 mins)
- Practice flight (10 mins)
- IFR assessment (approx 30 mins)
The final interview will be conducted with a panel of senior Susi Air personnel. Expect personal and technical questions, together with some decision making scenarios.


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1994-1995- Lane went to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. College was the BOMB! I lived in Putnam Hall and was Pre-Med.
Late 1995- 1st semester Sophmore year, I stayed at Putnam and met a bunch of cool incomming Freshman. I also became friends with "Schlitz". I hooked up with Kenny G in late November and we decided it was high time to get the hell out of Putnam Hall.
Early 1996- Me and G moved to the 4th floor of Towers South and had a bitchin' time. We met a lot of people that we still are friends with now. I changed my major to Environmental Public Health.
To be continued...
Back to the Mack


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24 March – 24 April, 2016
NOW OPEN 6-8pm
Edward Quist (aka embryoroom) is a multidisciplinary artist who works as a director, screenwriter, producer, composer, sound designer, photographer and documentarian. Themes from Edward Paul Quist's (embryoroom's) work include sound design, experimental narrative and the exploration of electronic and biomorphic imagery. Meeting at the intersection of the subconscious and so called reality, the artist employs a radical use of Cinéma vérité, which is frequently simultaneously nightmarish and seductively beautiful. Quist's work is unclassifiable and stripped of the conventions of genre. His unorthodox use of intensive mesmerizing visuals through motion graphic manipulation and his fast-paced digital video and pulsating soundscapes, make for an immersive and overwhelming experience..
At The Chamber, one of Macie Gransion's four salons, Macie Gransion introduces the artist's new video work, "The Black Vertebrate."
At Macie Gransion's Noir, one of the salons under development, Quist will show "The Black Vertebrate," augmented by live electronics. Performances by Embryoroom, Article Collection and 51717 will close out the night.
Edward Paul Quist was born in 1976 in Brooklyn New York, where he continuous to live and work. He has exhibited and performed globally including: MoMA PS1 (New York), Washington Art Center, Kunsthalle Wien (Vienna), Museum of Contemporary Art (Helsinki), Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, Kiasma Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci (Milan), Museo del Fumetto di Milano, Warsaw Center for Contemporary Art, The Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival, Sónar Festival (Barcelona), Avanto Festival (Helsinki), Dissonanze festival (Rome), Tampere Film Festival, The Milan Film Festival, and Iknost (Malmö).
The Black Vertebrate
33 Minutes
Video / Sound
Edward Paul Quist
Sinister, pulsating, and primal, The Black Vertebrate is the next level in experimental film, environment, and sound. A vortex of geometry and motion swarm a holographic "spine", an undulating totem of the last remnants of humanity in an A.I. nightmare.
In recent interview:
"Titled "The Black Vertebrate", it's an overture for the next phase of output. It touches on, at its core, a certain darkness that is both amorphous, in the space of a void being reigned in, and highly structured, with the spine entity continually transformed, and its other subject, or anthropomorphic figure, caged. This is Artificial Intelligence with psychosis. Visually it is the most intense work to date. The imagery was developed over the past two years or so, and sections of the soundtrack, which are mostly bioelectronic driven reach back much further. The other side of the project is environmental."
--Ed Paul Quist, VOLTEROCK
The Chamber
Derek Gruen
Edward Paul Quist
Concept Design
"For Macie Gransion Club, Derek Gruen designed and i concept designed the first section of the club, called The Chamber. It's an immersive installation environment that acts as a viewing room, and sensory space. The room reflects the film (The Black Vertebrate) to some degree. It features several sculptural volumes; one set called the lungs, and the other the spine.
One of the conceptual sources is a Japanese meditation chamber in a prison execution block. The room has all together been a large effort, and we have had to keep it under wraps for some time. It's good to be able to start to reveal what's been occupying so much time and creative energy. I think the results have been quite satisfying."
--Ed Paul Quist, VOLTEROCK


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For every new Blogger have border image in their post automatically set. I think that border make bad post image. So how's that? Can we make the border disappear? Yes we can. Just change 1 code in your HTML code. For example you have image Post like this:
And when you removing post image border, the results to be like this:
Now I'll tell you how to Removing Post Image Border. Please follow these steps:
1. Login to your Blogger Account
2. Go to Layout Tab
3. Click Edit Html
4. Download Full Template for back up data
5. Find code like this
.post img {
border:1px solid $bordercolor;
Note: If you so hard to find, press Ctrl+F then type .post img
6. Change the border pixel number to be like this
.post img {
border:0px solid $bordercolor;
7. Save Template
If this Blogger Trick is un useful for you, tell me. Good Luck Dude!