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This past year was a phenomenal one for gaming. You've seen the picks we've made as a group for the best on Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. Here you'll see each member of the IGN Xbox Team's personal favorites across the entirety of the gaming kingdom. There's a healthy dose of Xbox 360 games as you might expect, but as you'll see 2008 was a good year to be a multi-platform gamer.
Hilary's Favorites in 2008
|14230950.html" >NHL 09
It's hard to believe that a hockey game could become the king of sports titles, but that's exactly what's happened. Madden, MLB: The Show and the NBA 2K series are all looking up at NHL 09. The Be A Pro mode puts you in control of a rookie trying to go from the minors to the NHL and then from third line to first line. It's a mighty struggle, but incredibly enjoyable thanks to spot-on controls and fantastic AI. I've put as many hours into NHL 09 as I have in Fallout 3 and that's saying something.
Braid shows the potential for digital downloads as a medium for true gameplay innovation. Because development costs are much lower and teams much smaller, the financial risk is smaller than a $60 retail game. That allows publishers to take some chances. Braid is a new form of puzzle game that merges platforming elements with time-manipulation powers. Though some might find the story a bit pretentious, I found it unique and enjoyable. This is the type of game that opens developers' eyes to the possibilities that still remain in videogames.
I miss the days of four-player coin-op beat-em-ups. My obsession started with Gauntlet and carried forward with TMNT and the six-player Avengers arcade game. Castle Crashers is the perfect blend of humor and bloodshed. The slight RPG elements give a sense that your character is unique from any other and the ridiculous number of unlockables gives CC immense replay value. I'm not a huge multiplayer person, but Castle Crashers is one of those games that is infinitely better with friends. So I've learned to suck up my disdain for others and play nice together online. It's fun!.
I didn't like MGS 2. Sorry, I said it. But I loved Metal Gear Solid 3. Neither could really prepare me for Kojima's latest. Sure, it has the self-aware moments that I hate (stopping a dramatic build-up so Otacon can talk about the benefits of Blu-ray, for example), but there are so many other things that MGS4 gets right. The cutscenes are gorgeous and even though, at times, the story can be a bit convoluted, I couldn't help but get caught up in the saga. What really impressed me, though, is how just about every level introduced something completely new and unexpected. The gameplay kept changing and stayed fresh throughout. And the final fight was one of those pinnacle moments that I'll remember for a long time.
When EA announced it was making a survival horror game, I rolled my eyes. I was expecting a disaster. Instead, EA delivered an amazing adventure that fully immersed me in a ruined space station. Dead Space perfectly nails the sense of isolation and mixes up its gameplay enough that it never begins to feel redundant. Upgradeable suits, cool weapons, and bizarre-looking aliens keep things interesting. And finally, with all the hullabaloo about removing the HUD, EA found a way to do it that fits into the storyline perfectly.
Sometimes I worry when a game shows a lot of promise in its first reveal, that it's going to disappoint when it actually hits store shelves. Not the case for LBP. It's exactly what I expected and everything I wanted. The controls are simple, the concept ingenious. Though I've shied away from creating my own levels, I've fooled around enough with the tools to see the seemingly limitless possibilities. And while there are some really terrible user-created levels out there, there are also some fantastic, inventive worlds as well. I can't wait to see what people come up with next. Hopefully something involving Hil-Sack and his adventures in the magic land of rainbow dragons.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is one of the great platformers of the past decade. So when Ubisoft announced it was relaunching the series, I was apprehensively excited (if that's possible). Ubisoft took POP in a different direction and while it turned some people off, I loved the experience. No, you can't "die," but you certainly fall to your death enough times that if traditional game rules applied of starting back at some distant checkpoint, POP would actually become frustrating. Though I prefer a game to have more difficulty (or some difficulty), I was completely absorbed in the game world. Prince of Persia is more about the experience than the challenge. Once I accepted that, I fell in love.
Bethesda knows how to make great open-world RPGs. And Fallout 3 fixes a number of the problems with Oblivion and Morrowind. The breakthrough for Fallout is a change in how missions start and end. No longer are you required to start from a specific point and follow a linear path. Instead, you can bypass (often by chance) several steps of a quest without missing a beat. These multiple entryways really free you up so you don't have to worry as much about going to a specific place. You want to do the Stealing Independence quest? You could meet the man in Rivet City looking to collect it or you skip this altogether and start out at the National Archives. Even the missions recognize the true strength of Fallout 3 -- exploration.
My favorite game as a kid was Bionic Commando on NES. So, it really shouldn't be too much of a shock to see it so high on my list. GRIN did a fantastic job of updating this classic with some of the best visuals we've seen on XBLA. And though I actually had little trouble beating Bionic Commando when I was a little kid, I know that somehow adulthood has stolen my ability to do the impossible. So I'm glad to see some assists added to lower the difficulty just a bit. Co-op is a nifty addition, though online play would have been preferred. I spent most of my time enjoying BCR solo and it made me a happy, happy man.
I've always had a healthy respect for Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto series even though I wasn't a huge GTA fan. GTA IV really grabbed me from the get-go. Liberty City is as real and as any game world I've ever experienced and I loved the characters that inhabited its streets. Many of the bugs and gameplay issues that held down previous iteration were fixed and for the first time, I played a GTA game without getting frustrated. While other open-world games seem to be moving towards the ridiculous, I'm glad to see Rockstar went in its own direction for something a little more serious. I never thought I'd love a GTA game, but then, I never thought I could love another man. But now I spend my evenings playing GTA with Greg Miller's arms wrapped around me. Proof that anything in life is possible.
Hilary's Thoughts on 2008: It was an incredible year for gaming. The PC, PS3, Xbox 360 and DS had some stellar offerings. Also, some stuff came out on Wii. There were some really strong titles this year, from GTA IV to MGS4 to Fallout 3 and also some really innovative things as well. August was the best month ever for XBLA thanks to the releases of Castle Crashers, Bionic Commando Rearmed and Braid. I would still give the edge to 2007's lineup, which I think was a bit stronger from top to bottom, but I won't argue that 2008 was awesome. Oh, and we elected someone intelligent as President. That was pretty cool too.


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What is Independence Day?
On July 4, 1776, the United States of America proclaimed its independence from England by signing the Declaration of Independence.
16 Facts about Independence Day
The estimated number of hot dogs eaten by Americans on the Fourth of July is 150 million.
There is a 49 percent chance that the beans on an American plate for a Fourth of July picnic came from North Dakota or Michigan.
There is a 60 percent chance that the corn on the cob eaten by an American for a Fourth of July picnic came from California, Florida, Georgia or New York .
One-half of the potatoes made for chips or salad at an Independence Day cookout were grown in Idaho or Washington.
Approximately 74 million Americans participated in a Fourth of July barbecue in 2006.
The Declaration of Independence was signed by only two people on July 4 1776 - John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most added their signatures on August 2 1776
56 people signed the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson wrote the majority of it.
In 1870, The U.S. Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal employees, though it wasn't until 1941 that Congress declared Independence Day to be a paid federal holiday.
The Fourth of July is the most popular holiday for grilling out (68 percent), followed by Memorial Day (52 percent) and Labor Day (51 percent)
Charles Carroll, who represented Maryland, was the last surviving signer of the Declaration. He died in 1832 at the age of 95
Two future presidents who signed the Declaration of Independence, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, both died on 4 July 1826, the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of independence.
John Hancock, president of the Second Continental Congress, signed the declaration first but his signature was so large it left little room for the others. The term "John Hancock" is still used as a slang term for a signature in the US today.
A note written upside down on the back of the Declaration of Independence document reads: "Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th July 1776." Who wrote the note is unknown, though it is thought to have been used as a label.
The Continental Congress actually voted for independence on 2 July 1776. John Adams, in his writings, noted that 2 July would be the date remembered in American history and be marked with fireworks and celebrations
The Pennsylvania Evening Post was the first newspaper to print the the Declaration of Independence.
Croatia was the first country to recognize the United States in 1776
Using our facts
Feel free to use our facts in your website, news article or on your company intranet. All we ask is that you acknowledge the source and link back to this page, like this: 'Source:www.officeholidays.com'

subset: commoncrawl


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This exciting announcement is from the most recent post on the Symphony's Facebook page:
Introducing a new club for young professionals who enjoy symphonic music! Club Coda's kick off event features an evening of music and a mixer with Maestro Lang-Lessing and other symphony musicians.
Concert: 8pm to 10pm
Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston Street
Fire and Blood is a hot new violin concerto, inspired by a Diego Rivera mural depicting the Detroit auto industry, paired with orchestral highlights of Wagner's Ring Cycle.
Featuring: Sebastian Lang-Lessing, conductor
Alexandre Da Costa, violin
Vodka Tasting: 10pm to midnight
Bromley Communications, 401 E. Houston Street
Join conductor Sebastian Lang-Lessing, Alexandre Da Costa, and other musicians from the San Antonio Symphony at a salon-style event. Enjoy vodka cocktails provided by Cinco Vodka and catering by Bohanan's Steak and Seafood.
The event is generously hosted by Bromley Communications.
Tickets: $50 per person for 2 events!! ($90 value) Limited availability! Buy your tickets today!
Available at www.sasymphony.org/clubcoda
or by calling 210-554-1050
Sponsored by:
Cinco Vodka
Bohanan's Steak and Seafood
Bromley Communications
Event Ignition
This event is for the next Symphony Classics concert. You can read the Fire & Blood program notes by clicking here. However, the next Symphony concert is a POPS concert featuring the music of Simon and Garfunkel on March 1 & 2. Click here for info.


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Led down the garden path
Most people I know will trust others to lead them in the right direction. And not only when they are on a road to nowhere and lost with no idea how to get back home. But then, sometimes getting lost on a ride can be a great adventure and a breath of fresh air.
Then there are other situations where we are mislead and eventually have to take the blame for something we thought was the 'right thing'. Taking a 'fall' while others get off the hook and possibly end up with financial gain.
People are devious. No two ways about that. But are these people devious when it suits them, or are they always devious and hide it well from people around them. Including friends and loved ones.
It doesn't matter what we think about how devious other people are, we need to admit it to ourselves that we can be just as devious as all the other people around us.
Even if we don't believe we are that tiny bit devious, we need to look closer to home and see what we have done in our past, and then either accept it, or continue to sweep it under the carpet.
But then, is sweeping it under the carpet the right thing to do? Step out of the shadows and own up your indiscretions of your past.


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How to: Christmas colour
Photo - Louis Bertrand/Gettyimages.com
Rejuvenate the entertaining area for summer festivities.
Pots of poinsettia and ixora are a colourful beginning. Masses of other options are blooming at the local nursery: petunias, fuchsia, begonias, coleus.
To create a display like the one pictured here, choose a large wire basket, line it with a commercial liner and fill with the top quality potting mix. A spill-over plant like million bells will drip prettily over the sides. Choose complementing or contrasting colours to match the garden and entertaining area. Water every two days.


text: jeanoroid 0 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 Long time Bengals fan - first time BengalsZone poster!Spent a few years over at MBS.com which is just so slow, and more recently at the infamous GB site. Lots good folk there, but they put up with too way much name calling - from the Mod! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Here at Lake Minnetonka Orthodontics we're dedicated to our patients. We're proud to offer the latest in orthodontic technology and braces to our patients located in and around Minnetonka, Excelsior and Wayzata. Our experienced Doctors and Staff always work to make sure all of our patients feel welcome while in our office and this shows by all of the great testimonials we receive!
Below are just a few of the amazing things we hear from our patients:
Both of my children were in for their first appointments and were quite nervous. They left feeling like it was "no big deal." Thanks to all of the staff for making the appointment painless for them - and for me!
~Candace R.
Everything about my son's appointment was flawless. We felt very much taken care of, and he is excited about your office! You really know how to make an 8 year old feel welcomed, special, and pampered. Thank you.
~Katie F.
The whole process was well executed; everything went as planned and as outlined from day 1. We couldn't be more pleased with how our daughter's teeth look! Fabulous job!!!!
~Lisa M.
Everyone is so professional and friendly. I am just blown away by the transformation of my daughter from the braces and your great care. Money well spent!
~Keri S.
Our experience was our first, and it was honestly wonderful. I was very impressed and have told so many people already. I totally understood what was happening and so did my 8 year old son. Everyone was extremely nice, friendly and helpful. Thanks so much!
~Karen S.
You do a beautiful job and you put patients first. Doesn't get any better than that.
~Kim I.
No comments to improve - you do great work. Thank you for making the orthodontic experience such a great one; from the efficient check in procedures, to the individual care and attention of my child, to the clear "next step" directions at the end of each visit, along with the fun contests. You've thought of everything to make the experience a great one for the kids. Her teeth look fantastic!
~Dana R.
You are great!
~Michael and Lynn U.
Honestly, I think you all run a practice about as well as humanly possible. Everyone is friendly, my kids are at ease, they get excellent care, and even have fun. I am grateful for your skill, care, and friendliness in treating our children. Well done!
~Liz H.
Everyone was very friendly and personable, made me feel welcome on my first visit!
~Christine G.
Everyone was friendly and helpful. As a mom I really appreciate that the environment was so family friendly. Everyone made my daughter fell welcomed and comfortable.
~Kayla L.
From day one everyone has been awesome. I have not one complaint. We are looking forward to continuing to work with you over the next 18 months or so for my daughter.
~Tracy B.
~Jenny S.
Keep up the good work! LOVE coming in because everyone is so nice/helpful/professional! I thought when we started treatment with our first child that we had a LONG road ahead with so many visits to the office. I have to say, I enjoyed every time I came in with both children. Thank you for making such a warm, welcoming environment for your patients and families!
~Alice H.
My two sons went through the Excelsior office. Their appointments were always on time. The office is run with precision and efficiency. Their teeth look great!
~Mary B.
Four members of our family have been patients at your clinic. It has been a GREAT experience! Thanks for the awesome smiles!!!!
~Kris G.
It is such a pleasant office experience, I actually look forward to taking my daughter to her appointments!
~Lindy W.
We love your office, staff and Drs. Julia just finished her first set of braces and Cece just got looked at and it looks like we need to wait and see. Customer service is excellent and we couldn't be happier. Thank you.
~Lisa T.
Great staff! Always on time, organized, friendly and professional. Great experience!
~Lauren F.
Dr Bohlig and everyone at the office has and is always so incredible. If something needed to be fixed, you always find a way to get the girls in, the wait times are so minimal. At our old ortho, we waited always just to see someone, so we are so appreciative that we get in right away - thank you thank you.
~Paula P.
Had both my girls get braces from you-you did an excellent job from start to finish with both of them. It is so fun to see their beautiful smiles! Thank you!
~Susan H.
Excellent experience and outcome! Always encouraging and positive with my son. He is happy and so are we!
~Becky H.
The best customer service I have received in a big health services office in a very long time. Thank you!
~Danielle B.
You have a great business! Love the local feel while maintaining a high level of professionalism! We suggest you to everyone!
~Jennifer Z.
Offering the latest in orthodontic technology and braces, give our office a call today for more information about the services we offer. We look forward to meeting you!


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Box-ticking - Webinar
Here are the slides for Rosie and Sophie's presentation which were presented during their webinar 'Box-ticking in e-learning design' on the 3rd November 2016.
Please feel free to check these out and do get in touch if you would like to talk to us about creating engaging and motivating e-learning for your learners.
Watch out for our next webinar!
Posted on 4 November 2016 | Author: Rosalind Scott | Tags: diagnostic assessments, bespoke e-learning, learner assessments.Download »


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Lewis is captivated by the grass - he loves it.
We stayed at a lovely cottage - very cosy with a beautiful garden. There is a summer house and a deck with a creek running by. I only took this quick snap which doesn't do it justice at all as we were leaving.
It was a lovely relaxing weekend and we didn't do much except eat, chat and read (and knit for one of us). Smithy made an exceptional dinner, inspired by the River Cottage cookbook. Butternut pumpkins hollowed out and baked with a soup inside. Yum.
Topped off by a three hour drive back to London and no delays - incredible for a Sunday.


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Filmmaker Christopher Sharpe got in touch with Fango to chat about his debut genre outing, a horror/pulp hybrid titled SEX MACHINE. The movie, whose official site can be found here, was recently acquired by a href="http://www.anthemdvd.com/" target="_blank">Anthem Pictures, which has it slated for a March DVD premiere. I was interested in mixing an exploitation movie with an art movie, Sharpe, who also produced and co-scripted MACHINE with John Oak (PETER ROTTENTAIL) Dalton, tells Fango. The idea was to take this crazy concept and character and set them in a realistic rundown working-class environment, because thats the kind of area I grew up in.
Sharpes screen concept grew out of an original comic script he penned while in high school. I wanted to remix FRANKENSTEIN, but set it in a modern-day, realistic environment, like [director Richard Linklaters] SLACKER, with bowling and strippers! The low-budget flick, shot over the course of several months (as cast and crew were available) in and around Austin, TX and Oklahoma City, OK, revolves around Frank, who wakes up in the middle of a gangland hit to discover that his limbs are not his own, according to the synopsis. A tough-talking patchwork assassin, Frank is stitched together from the body parts of other failed assassins, [and] when he learns that his ex-girlfriend is the next test subject, he opens both barrels on his creators and unleashes a gory bloodbath of revenge.
A self-avowed genre fan and devout reader of early Marvel Comics, Sharpe notes that hes also a fan of pulpwhich, given the visual style displayed in the trailer, is no surprise. Ive always looked at it as a real blue-collar medium, says the director, and thats what I wanted this movie to be. Since this was my first feature and I was financing it myself, I decided not to worry about wearing my influences on my sleeve. There are visual references to everything from SUSPIRIA to [comics artist] Jack Kirby.
Employing Shogo Nakagawa as his director of photography and myriad young actresses to portray a bevy of reanimated strippers, Sharpe says, Making this movie was such an amazing experience that I have probably lost some objectivity, but Im very happy. We were determined to tell the story by any means necessary, and when I watch it with audiences and they laugh and cheer at the right moments, I have to admit that its the ultimate high. Audiences who are into this stuff really seem to get it and enjoy it.
Filmgoers werent the only ones to respond favorably; SEX MACHINE walked away with Best Picture prizes at both the 2006 MicroCinema and Dead Center festivals where it screened, as well as attracting the attention of writer/producer Bill (GORE GORE GORE-MET) Cunningham, who helped in procuring distribution. I watched the movie from beginning to end without having to fast-forward, which is a testament to the storys punch, Cunningham says. I called Christopher right away, and from there I took it around to my colleagues in the industry. [Anthem Pictures CEO] Chuck Adelman really responded to the films pulpiness." Adelman chimes in: When we first screened SEX MACHINE, we knew we had a winner; not only with viewers who love movies like RESERVOIR DOGS or THE KILLER, but with the folks who like their gore. It really delivers the goods.
Im glad Anthem is going to get the movie out there right, Sharpe says of the films DVD treatment, which is slated to include commentary by the filmmakers, a behind-the-scenes feature, trailers and a gallery of stills and artwork. As for future projects, the filmmakers appetite for the macabre hasnt waned, as he tells us that next up is Another classic monster remix thats set in the same world as SEX MACHINE, but doesnt feature any of the same characters. For now, I have to keep that creature a surprise. But its going to be really kick-ass. Sean Decker


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Legal Status
Document Details
Document Statistics
Enhanced Content
Published Document
Transportation Security Administration; United States Coast Guard; DHS.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issues this notice of the dates for the beginning of the initial enrollment for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) for the Ports of Anacortes, WA and Norfolk, VA.
TWIC enrollment begins in Anacortes, WA on February 22, 2008, and in Norfolk, VA on February 29, 2008.
You may view published documents and comments concerning the TWIC Final Rule, identified by the docket numbers of this notice, using any one of the following methods.
(1) Searching the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) Web page at http://www.regulations.gov;
(2) Accessing the Government Printing Office's Web page at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html; or
(3) Visiting TSA's Security Regulations Web page at http://www.tsa.gov and accessing the link for "Research Center" at the top of the page.Start Further Info
James Orgill, TSA-19, Transportation Security Administration, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 22202-4220. Transportation Threat Assessment and Credentialing (TTAC), TWIC Program, (571) 227-4545; e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the United States Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), issued a joint final rule (72 FR Start Printed Page 93483492; January 25, 2007) pursuant to the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA), Public Law 107-295, 116 Stat. 2064 (November 25, 2002), and the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 (SAFE Port Act), Public Law 109-347 (October 13, 2006). This rule requires all credentialed merchant mariners and individuals with unescorted access to secure areas of a regulated facility or vessel to obtain a TWIC. In this final rule, on page 3510, TSA and Coast Guard stated that a phased enrollment approach based upon risk assessment and cost/benefit would be used to implement the program nationwide, and that TSA would publish a notice in the Federal Register indicating when enrollment at a specific location will begin and when it is expected to terminate.
This notice provides the start dates for TWIC initial enrollment at the Ports of Anacortes, WA on February 22, 2008, and in Norfolk, VA on February 29, 2008. The Coast Guard will publish a separate notice in the Federal Register indicating when facilities within the Captain of the Port Zone Seattle, including those in the Port of Anacortes, and Captain of the Port Zone Hampton Roads, including those in the Port of Norfolk must comply with the portions of the final rule requiring TWIC to be used as an access control measure. That notice will be published at least 90 days before compliance is required.
To obtain information on the pre-enrollment and enrollment process, and enrollment locations, visit TSA's TWIC Web site at http://www.tsa.gov/twic.Start Signature
Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on February 13, 2008.
Rex Lovelady,
Program Manager, TWIC, Office of Transportation Threat Assessment and Credentialing, Transportation Security Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-3131 Filed 2-19-08; 8:45 am]


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SUPPORT PEACE + LOVE with a donation or pledge (or both!)
Be a leader in your community
The next generation is looking to us to show them how to live in a more peaceful and loving world. Take our Peace + Love Pledge and set an example and show the world your commitment to our future. Sign up for our newsleter to get news and updates about our movement.


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This past Friday, Starwood invited us to the opening of its newest hotel, the Westin New York Grand Central.
Coupled with the opening of this brand new Westin, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) — the hotel chain's guest rewards program — hosted an event as part of it's "Hear the Music, See the World" series of exclusive concerts around the world.
Click here to see pictures of the event >
Friday's artist was Ben Folds Five. The performance was the sixth out of nine that Starwood is hosting in the series, which also includes shows by Natasha Beddingfield in Dubai and Thievery Corporation at the W Santiago.
Friday's event was particularly special for Starwood because this was one of the first performances Ben Folds had put on from their newest studio album, the band's first in 13 years.
Before the show on Friday, we got a chance to speak with Starwood's Senior Vice President of SPG Chris Holdren about some of the hotel company's perks, like the "Hear the Music, See the World" series, which is part of its partnership with Live Nation.
"Events like these are part of Starwood's SPG moments effort. SPG moments is a way for our members who spend a lot of their life on the road to be able to redeem the points they earn on sort of 'money can't buy' experiences to share with their loved ones," Holdren said.
SPG's Moments campaign revolves around three key passion points for members: music, sports, and the arts.
"Hear the Music is our signature series, but we also offer different VIP experiences such as exclusive access at big concerts, where people can go backstage, and meet the artist," Holdren explained.
In the past, Starwood has offered members singing lessons with Natasha Beddingfield in exchange for points. And during the recent U.S. open, members could redeem points for a tennis lesson with Andre Agassi.


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***OPEN HOUSE SESSION *** SATURDAY 24TH MARCH *** 11:30AM - 3PM *** An exciting new development just off Stourbridge Road in Holly Hall, and away from the thoroughfare, and to be known as CHURCH VIEW. A collection of eight three bedroom semi detached ideally suited to both first-time buyers and young families. PLOT EIGHT has an ENSUITE and will be completed to a high standard with gas central heating and double glazing. VIEWING is STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT via the exclusive selling agents TAYLORS.
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Skip to comments.French Strikes in Mali Supplant Caution of U.S.
Posted on 01/13/2013 11:16:07 PM PST by Seizethecarp
French fighter jets struck deep inside Islamist strongholds in northern Mali on Sunday, shoving aside months of international hesitation about storming the region after every other effort by the United States and its allies to thwart the extremists had failed.
For years, the United States tried to stem the spread of Islamic militancy in the region by conducting its most ambitious counterterrorism program ever across these vast, turbulent stretches of the Sahara.
But as insurgents swept through the desert last year, commanders of this nations elite army units, the fruit of years of careful American training, defected when they were needed most taking troops, guns, trucks and their newfound skills to the enemy in the heat of battle, according to senior Malian military officials.
It was a disaster, said one of several senior Malian officers to confirm the defections.
Then an American-trained officer overthrew Malis elected government, setting the stage for more than half of the country to fall into the hands of Islamic extremists. American spy planes and surveillance drones have tried to make sense of the mess, but American officials and their allies are still scrambling even to get a detailed picture of who they are up against.
Now, in the face of longstanding American warnings that a Western assault on the Islamist stronghold could rally jihadists around the world and prompt terrorist attacks as far away as Europe, the French have entered the war themselves.
First, they blunted an Islamist advance, saying the rest of Mali would have fallen into the hands of militants within days. Then on Sunday, French warplanes went on the offensive, going after training camps, depots and other militant positions far inside Islamist-held territory in an effort to uproot the militants, who have formed one of the largest havens for jihadists...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Apparently Malian elite special forces that the US military trained defected to the Islamists and seized a safe-haven months ago in the north from which they launched an effort to seize the rest of the country...including a lot of Frenchmen. France couldn't wait for Obama's go-slow Africom to react.
This was a top of the page story in the online NYT and A1 in the print version.
It makes Barry's Africom strategy for the past four years seem like a total shambles...leading from behind!
Staying on point, action had to be taken in the area now, or else in another 7 years you'd be seeing a far more massive action (with the US now being forced to be involved) as Mali, and the surrounding region, becomes a super-charged, pre-911, Afghanistan. The French are doing the world a favor. If the situation was given another 5-7 years you would see a situation that would require far more extensive 'action,' and the end-play would either be something similar to Afghanistan or, dare I say, Viet Nam ...which began in a similar manner come think of it.
Right now the Islamic rebels running amok in Mali are mostly gun-totting brigands that can easily be routed by an advanced army. If they are given the time to take over the entire country, and to liaise and integrate with other Islamic groups within and without Africa (e.g. Boko Haram in Nigeria, and Al Queda proper elsewhere), and to meld into the populace, it will be much harder to rout them.
The French are doing a good job. Far better than the Brits, who, according to the Daily Mail, have Labour MPs saying that assisting the French may attract terrorist attacks on the UK! As if the terrorists would refuse to attach London, given the chance, whether or not the Brits stepped in or not.
The northern portions are completely Tuareg and have been for centuries.
They shouldn't have been coupled with the south who are black Africans.
from wikipedia:
Mali is a former French colony. France still maintains significant commercial interests there including the gold, uranium and phosphates industries. France probably doesn't care much about the fertilizer, they have plenty of their own. But if the gold or uranium production is threatened look for guys in fuzzy green hats with dragon style hat badges to start showing up and spray painting "LPNE" on the walls of mosques.
This administration seems fixated on the suicidally stupid idea that jihadists need "provoking," as if jihadists will be peaceful so long as they are not "provoked."
The last time it only took a video to provoke them according to the administration, which has been acting utterly clueless that jihadis jihad, it's what they do, no outside trigger needed.
Funny how they constantly go out of their way not to provoke the moslems because they can become violent. Yet, they never seem to worry much about provoking normal traditional Americans.
Theres a lesson in there somewhere.
I noticed that. the only thing liberals have the courage to fight are Americans.
Boko Haram's already been seen in Mali.
"So long, and thanks for the logisitcs support, Infidel dogs!"
Sudden Jihadi Syndrome is as old as Islam, but our "elites" think they can make it go away by pretending that it doesn't exist.
I tried wishing things away when I was eight, and found out that it doesn't work.
How many libs who angrily protested American "unilateral" military involvement in Mideast problems are shrugging their shoulders when the French take out the trash? When are we going to hear the lefties shout that France invaded Mali for oil?
Why do we continue to train people that we know will turn against us.
Why do we sell or rather give planes and tanks to Egypt when we know one day they will use them against our allies and ourselves.
Why are we giving arms in Syria to people who want us dead?
Why is Obama so fired up to disarm Americans while he is arming Muslims.
WSJ reported last week that the ammo used by the Muzzies was produced and supplied by Iran.
'which makes the usual internet memes of 'cheese eating surrender monkeys' quite obsolete ...that phrase is far more aptly descriptive of the British'
Kindly go **** yourself.
'(compare this with British reluctance to even deport wanton criminals),'
The terrorists are using EU laws to stifle British attempts. And who signed the UK up to those laws?. Why that nice Tony Blair you all loved in America post 9-11.
You can't blame America for Britain's failings and your politicians.
"The French are doing a good job. Far better than the Brits..."
The French should have been doing this job all along. It is their former colony and they're the ones with the commercial and banking interests. I say, fine for the French, it's about time. Now that they are in it, we pray godspeed to the brave French soldiers.
But, Hollande is hardly the reincarnation of Charles Martel in this. He's simply tending to the bankers (like in Ivory Coast, et.all.). And yes, Britian as well as all the western nations should be aware that they might experience an increased risk of terrorist attack because of this French action. Observing this fact is not necessarily evidence as timidity, British or otherwise. Seems like common sense to me.
****ing myself might be a tad tricky, although it still wouldn't change the fact that term is still more applicable to the British than to the French. For instance, I highly doubt a French naval ship would allow their marines and sailors to be kidnapped by the Iranians, in the manner that 7 Royal Marines and 8 Sailors were kidnapped a short distance away from the HMS Cornwall. That would never happen. Furthermore, I doubt the kidnapped crew would go around smiling and shaking hands with Ahmadenijad (even John McCain, who is one of the lamest RINOs around, knew better than to act friendly with the enemy when he was a POW, and even refused an early-release offer by the North Vietnamese which left him with some lifelong injuries). Oh, not to mention one of the crew publicly moaning when their iPod was confiscated.
HMS Cornwall commander removed after Iran hostage debacle
However, I have to agree that is not cheese eating surrender monkey stuff ...more like simple weakness. A lack of moral fiber, with the political leadership making things all the worse. Not to say the Brits don't have a good military ...sections of the British military are, literally, the best in the world. For example, the RN submarine service is tops, as are the special services (SAS, SBS, etc). The problem is that once the leadership starts to muck things around they can directly dilute resolve, which is what happened to France for decades (most recently with Chirac, with Hollande having some rather pathetic economic policies). The UK has become exceedingly politically correct, and while you don't seem to suffer from that problem (you having the nads to say go **** yourself is unique, since even insults seem to be limited over there to 'hurting the feelings' of pre-teens via anonymous webchats to see if they'll kill themselves) the UK is very PC.
Now, this may be simply the perception of weakness and not actual weakness. However, it will attract and embolden the wrong types just the same. A good example is the Falklands - the UK is actually far better able to defend the Falklands now than it was the last time things flared up, with far better ability to control the skies (the Typhoons) and far better naval capability (even though with fewer ships and the appearance of less logistical capability). However, it appears to be less able to do that.
As for EU laws being used to stifle British attempts, how come they don't seem to apply to France? The laws against Islamic radicals are utterly draconian there. Even simple things like prison accommodation that is prison-like, and denying radicals access to public housing that could be termed as luxurious, apply. As much as I would like to blame Mr Blair, the fact remains that a large part of the current MPs and other government functionaries are just as lily-livered as Blair was.
Probably more so.
Now let me go attempt to **** myself. I might even enjoy it ...may even have a good cry over an iPod that was stolen some time back.
Hmm, fair enough.
As a proud Brit, I reacted to what I saw as an insult to Britain and esp. her military, whom I will not allow any attack on here. I am sure you understand my anger. As most people on FR who make anti-British comments (and there are a surprising number) arent as eloquent as yourself.
I am glad you respect the British military and I actually agree with most of what you posted.
Re the hostages, rest assured that the group (bar the Royal Marines who behaved with dignity and honour) were and are despised by many Brits, who saw/see them as an embarrassment to the nation, and the epitome of modern Britain (usually the young men and women who serve Britain are the honourable exception to the lazy, antisocial rule prevalent these days) and of Labour's Britain 1997-2010. Especially that little Mr Bean-esque clown of a sailor and the silly b*tch of a female rating, both of whom ran to the media. Hopefully both have left the Senior Service.
Hopefully Britain is becoming less PC and will be less so, with a public backlash aided by a conservative political shift.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


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Monday, August 4, 2014
Geesh, sorry about all the negativity---Some positives….
We did hire a father/son team for the month of December to help us get our ceiling ready for all the insulation we were going to be putting in there. They were wonderful…a little slow,and a little pricey (we paid them and paid for their accommodations while they worked in our area) but they were thorough and totally nice and honest and I was happy when they asked us to talk to our other trade worker who was working that month about his language as they did not feel comfortable with inappropriate language while at work. I appreciated that. They were Seventh Day Adventists and were happy for the work and were happy to work over the Christmas holidays. In January the son went back to school and we were still waiting on our trades before we could seal up the walls with drywall. They were pleasant to work with and great to get to know. They also got us ready for putting in all the insulation in our ceiling. We did R70 in the ceiling which was a tonne of blow-in insulation. By late January/early February, with the ceiling insulated…we were ready to turn on at least half of our Geothermal system. As mentioned earlier we did a hybrid forced air/radiant heat Geothermal system and the radiant heating downstairs was able to be turned on. Finally we were able to get heat in our home…was it going to work?????? It did. Just having the Geothermal radiant heat in the basement on was able to keep the house at a consistent 21 degrees C. Only half our system was running and our house was staying fairly stable and comfortable…or a least more so than it had been. This put us ahead and Jeremy started to be able to plunk away on tiling the bathroom floor and starting to build some of the bathroom vanities. It was starting to feel like there was progress again. Finally by February we were ready to have our drywallers come in. It finally started to feel like progress again.
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A couple weeks ago, I was contacted by Just Another Fashion Magazine to be asked to have my outfit be featured. How exciting! It is a magazine for the iPad! The 14th issue is available on the ipad, here if you want to check it out. I really do appreciate each and every one of you guys that check out my looks! <3
As for my outfit today, mint green/blue with a light pink seems to be my favorite color scheme this season! They just compliment each other so well. It gives off a nice, soft look. Also, I recently purchased these sandals! If you guys have not noticed, I'm not really a flat sandals kind of person. But these, I just had to get!


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The Big Reveal at The NEC reveals...
...Bear Grylls Adventure!
The Bear Grylls adventure at Birmingham's NEC was showcased to event professionals and trade press at an exclusive event, 10 October.
Event organisers from around the UK gathered for a networking event at the Vox Conference Centre, catered for by Amadeus, before the venue's MD Kathryn James addressed the audience.
The 200-strong party split into groups, with some opting for archery or the zip wire experience, or for more information, an exclusive tour of the new Bear Grylls Adventure facility, which opens officially on 29 October.
A detailed feature about the team impressive teambuilding activity will appear in the November issue of Conference News.


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China is driving the Optics Market haywire – Analysts say "Super Cycle" – Our Experts say too soon to tell. WE say, take a look at our latest 96 page market report reviewing 20 relevant vendors in the Optical Components space.
The "Opportunity within the Optical Components Market & Competitive Landscape Report" provides detailed coverage of the Optical Components market and competitive landscape, with specific focus on mid & top tier vendors. It is a culmination of multiple inputs, including ratings and metrics produced by Zirra proprietary algorithms, aggregation and data collection technology, and valuable expert testimony.
To carry out business and investment decisions you need every advantage you can find. We believe, specifically at this disjointed time within this particular market segment, this report will be an indispensable guide in making any necessary strategic decisions within this challenging field.
The report will empower you with the tools needed to position yourself successfully by providing you with key insights covering strategic considerations, risk and success factors, big player 100G deployment status, technological and commercial status of vendors, and a list of expert resources within the scope of the industry. In addition, this 96 page report features an in-depth breakdown and review of 20 relevant vendors in this space.
Featured Companies include:
Applied Optoelectronics, Arista Networks, Cisco Systems, ColorChip, Finisar Corporation, Foxconn Interconnect Technology, Huawei, Intel, Juniper Networks, Kaiam Corporation, Lightwave Logic, Lumentum Holdings, Luxtera, Mellanox Technologies, NeoPhotonics, Oclaro, RANOVUS, Skorpios Technologies, Source Photonics, Sumitomo Electric, along with mentions of Acacia, Broadcom, Emcore, Infinera, IBM & Viavi.
What you need to know:
The global market for fiber optic components is anticipated to reach $23.5 billion by 2022 driven by rising bandwidth needs. In addition, the overall market for optical components and modules is projected to see an 18% growth in 2016 and 12% CAGR over the next five years. At present the market is seeing rapid and aggressive changes, which are not of a nature typically seen. Stock prices for vendors in this space have surged in recent months and players have seen a 49% bump since the start of July 2016. Analysts believe that the market is in a "super cycle" which may last longer than the typical two to three-year cycles which most industries experience. Such beliefs, however, are not based on past market trends and are difficult to prove with regard to the optical space that has not reached a high level of maturity.
The market is crowded with, and dominated by, very established public companies. One of the most effective ways a vendor may be able to gain a competitive edge over other players in this space is by acquiring strategic partnerships as well as seeking out merger and acquisition opportunities to gain technological advantages. With an increased focus on new product development, as well as the constant drive toward advancements in R&D, the biggest industry players are carving out a significant share of the current market.
Some of the features of "Growth & Opportunity within the Optical Components Market & Competitive LandscapeԠinclude:
- The long term survival of both big and small vendors
- Expert Market & Exit Sentiment
- Asia Contribution
- Price Erosion
- Mega Center Domination
In addition, this report will answer the following key questions:
- What are the most visible risks and opportunities within this space?
- Where are the big players such as Facebook, Amazon and Google in terms of their 100 gig deployment?
- What is the market perception of the CWDM field?
- Where are vendors such as Intel, Ciena, Kaiam and ColorChip, both technically and commercially?
- What is the overall state of competing technologies in this field?
To get your hands on this current market report, simply click below to order, or contact us here for more information.


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Daily Bail
Take a step back in time with Big Sis.
If it's this easy to find evidence (20-second search on Youtube), why doesn't the MSM publish the truth and expose Holder and Obama? This is blatant. They are even bragging about it. Where is the outrage? Where is the accountability? Why isn't this a huge story?
Here's the answer from a Democratic pollster.
The White House wants you to believe that Holder and Obama knew nothing about Fast & Furious even though you are watching video of the Deputy Attorney General holding a press conference to announce the bold, new program that was 'directed by the President.'
And the worst part is - they are getting away with it.
On January 30, 2010, a commando of at least 20 hit men parked themselves outside a birthday party of high school and college students in Ciudad Juarez. Near midnight, the assassins, later identified as hired guns for the Mexican cartel La Linea, broke into a one-story house and opened fire on a gathering of nearly 60 teenagers. Outside, lookouts gunned down a screaming neighbor and several students who had managed to escape. Fourteen young men and women were killed, and 12 more were wounded.
The U.S. government played a role in the massacre by supplying some of the firearms used by the cartel murderers. One source called Univision's findings the 'holy grail' that Congressional investigators have been seeking. The guns didn't stop in Mexico, either:
Additional guns, previously unreported by congressional investigators, found their way into the hands of drug traffickers across Latin America in countries such as, Honduras and Colombia, as well as the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
CBS News reminds us that the Obama administration is still hiding Kevin O'Reilly, a key figure in Operation Fast and Furious:
O'Reilly, then a White House National Security staffer, had phone and email exchanges about Fast and Furious from July 2010 to Feb. 2011 with the lead ATF official on the case: ATF Special Agent in Charge Bill Newell. Just days after Newell testified to Congress on July 26, 2011 that he'd shared information with O'Reilly, whom he described as a long time friend, O'Reilly was transferred to Iraq and not available for questioning. Thereafter, he declined interviews with congressional investigators and the IG.
In a letter sent to O'Reilly's attorney Thursday, Issa and Grassley state that O'Reilly's "sudden transfer" to Iraq took him out of pocket in their investigation, and placed him in a position that had already been given to somebody else, raising "serious questions about O'Reilly's assignment in Baghdad (and) the motivation for his transfer there." …
"Given that O'Reilly was the link connecting the White House to the scandal, and that the President subsequently asserted executive privilege over the documents pertaining to Fast and Furious, it is imperative that the American people get to the bottom of O'Reilly's involvement with Fast and Furious," says the letter to O'Reilly's attorney.
It goes on to say that if O'Reilly does not agree to an interview within 30 days, congressional Republicans will have no choice but to "use compulsory process" or subpoena power to require his testimony.
Here's the ABC story that goes with the video.
Univision has aggressively covered Fast and Furious, and its most recent major run-in with the scandal came when network anchor Jorge Ramos grilled Obama in an interview on the scandal, asking him why he hasn't "fired" Holder. During the interview, Obama made at least one false statement relating to Fast and Furious.


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We're MARRIED!!!!!!!!!
It was an absolutely perfect day that I'll share more on soon, but I just wanted to pop in quickly with a sneak peek picture that my cousin sent me last night...
I'm also linking up to Thrifty Decor Chick's link party, there's tons of neat stuff to check out!
I hope you're all having a wonderful Labour Day long weekend!


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The Innovation and Patient Safety Research Centre
The CUHP Innovation and Patient Safety Research Centre is a facility based at the Evelyn Cambridge Surgical Training Centre, which is located within a technology campus with access to sophisticated engineering technology and experienced personnel. The Centre has been established to support and accelerate the development of innovative medical technologies to improve patient safety. The main aim of the Centre is to support health professionals in developing their ideas. There is a virtual team of experts including members of Cambridge Enterprise, PA Consulting, Health Enterprise East and MRC Technology who will offer support to innovators in progressing their idea to reality, and a physical space to develop and test new medical technologies.
The Centre provides a single contact point for innovators, and we are here to support and guide you through the process of taking your idea to reality.
We can assist with the following:
- you may have an idea for a potential project, but don't know who to contact
- you may want to solve a clinical problem with a medical device
- you have identified an unmet clinical need but don't know how to solve it
- advice on intellectual property (IP), funding options and on developing bids
- access to a team of experts for support and advice.
- Access to the Simulation Centre
Access to the Centre can be in person, over the phone or virtually through a dedicated website. The first point of contact will be the project lead who will evaluate and assess each enquiry. The project lead will initiate and facilitate discussions between the innovator and the expert. The project lead will ensure the innovator leaves with a clear understanding of the conclusion from the meeting and identify the next steps. There will be an opportunity to discuss funding options, which will allow the innovator to understand the options and implications of progressing their idea to reality. There may be some small pots of seed funding available.
For further information please contact:
Evgeny Dmitriev: email@example.com


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The Ontario Forage Crops Committee (OFCC) is made up of representatives of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian Seed Growers Association, the Canadian Seed Trade Association, the Dairy Farmers of Ontario, the Ontario Cattlemen's Association, the Ontario Forage Council, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, and the University of Guelph.
The OFCC reviews research work on forage species and uses this information to prepare production recommendations. As part of this effort, the committee evaluates under Ontario conditions the performance of experimental varieties of forages. Tests are conducted each year by the following co-operative agencies: The University of Guelph agricultural research stations at Elora, Kemptville, and New Liskeard, and the Thunder Bay Agricultural Research Station.


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BatteryWale.com - India's one and only Official Amaron Online Store for Batteries & Inverters.It is developed with intention to organize automobile component & services industry and bring transparency in pricing and quality to end consumer.
KisanPoint is India's No.1 Market Place for farmers and all other agriculture stake holders. Farmers can sell/ buy/ lease their land, crops, natural manures, cattle, used farm machinery etc using this e-Trading Platform.
SurfMug instantaneously gets the information you are looking for from your own friends who are currently online. This is like replicating the offline habit of calling the friends to find information – which is the most trusted form.


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There are three federally recognized Native American tribes in Texas, as of 2015: the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas and Ysleta del Sur Pueblo.
The Alabama-Coushatta reservation is near Livingston, Texas, in the eastern part of the state. The Kickapoo reservation is near Eagle Pass, near the southern tip of the state. The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo reservation is near El Paso.
There were originally at least 11 tribes residing in Texas, according to Native-Languages.org. These included the Apache, the Bidai, the Coahuilteco, the Carrizo, the Caddo, the Comanche, the Jumano, the Karankawa, the Kiowa, the Kitsai, the Tawakoni, the Tonkawa and the Wichita.
After Europeans arrived in the Americas, the Alabama, the Cherokee, the Coushatta, the Kickapoo and the Tigua Pueblo tribes all were forced into Texas as well.


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Cianostays wrote:Very, very nice gift for us from Treviso (or the Ospreys)
So if we win in Swansea, we'd only need a win and a couple of bonus points from the Glasgow, Connacht and Ulster games. It really does make us favourites now for a home SF.
Certainly not a result that was in many predictions but 'Spreys will be right up for game against us as their sole lifeline.


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Police Chief Says ISIS Islamist Shot Cop; Mayor Contradicts Him
Question: Who's Lying? The Cop or the Politician?
January 11, 2016
You'll be amazed when you watch the video below from the Philadelphia press conference on last night's shooting of a police officer. The first speaker is the Philadelphia Police Commissioner, Richard Ross, Jr. The man scowling at him over his left shoulder in the video is the Mayor, Jim Kenney. Ross relates that the man in Muslim dress who ambushed the officer and fired 13 shots at him said he did it in the name of Islam. He stated that the police enforce laws that contradict Islamic Sharia law, and therefore need to die.
Then the Mayor steps to the podium and says, "In no way, shape or form does anyone in this room believe that Islam or the teachings of Islam to do with this...That is abhorrent. It's terrible and it does not represent the religion in any way, shape or form or any of its teachings. And this is a criminal with a stolen gun who tried to kill one of our officers. It has nothing to do with being a Muslim or following the Islamic faith in any way, shape or form."
I wish I had been a reporter at the press conference and had been able to ask the Mayor these questions:
1) If no one in the room believes the shooting has anything to do with Islam, why did your top cop just state categorically that it was motivated by Islam?
Visit Dr. Tom Barrett's website at www.DrTom.TV


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Passengers travelling from Bahrain during the Eid holidays have been urged to arrive at the airport three hours before take-off to avert any delays due to the holiday rush, said a report.
The Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the managing body of Bahrain International Airport (BIA), has appealed to passengers to use the parking behind Movenpick Hotel and the parking spaces which can accommodate 4,000 cars in Galali, in addition to the parking lots in front of the passengers building, said a report in BNA.
Moreover, a bus service is available free of charge to transport passengers between the parking A and the passenger building every 30 minutes. Passengers have been urged to park their cars in the allotted areas and avoid leaving their vehicles at the road side.
TTN is the most established trade publication in the Middle East distributed on a controlled circulation basis to members of the travel and tourism industry.
Published monthly by Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group, the region's foremost trade publisher, TTN is aimed at professionals in the industry, from travel agents to airline and hotel personnel.
TTN provides in-depth and extensive coverage of relevant issues in the Middle East and North Africa as well as in other parts of the world. Travel related news, analysis, and new appointments together with information on up-coming exhibitions, marketing and promotional campaigns are presented in an innovative and striking colour tabloid.
Every issue also contains a collation of international and regional news and topical features of interest to readers.
|+973 1729 3131
|+971 4 3422 020
|+44 208 943 3630
|[email protected]
|[email protected]


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Watch this short video where David explains Sexual Abuse in Arizona:
Whether in the Phoenix area, or anywhere in Arizona, per A.R.S §13-1404 "Sexual Abuse" occurs when a person intentionally or knowingly engages in sexual contact with any person who is fifteen (15) or more years of age, without consent of that person, or with any person who is under fifteen (15) years of age if the sexual contact involves only the female breast. This may also constitute as sexual conduct with a minor,
"Sexual contact" means any direct or indirect touching, fondling, or manipulating of any part of the genitals, anus, or female breast by any part of the body or by any object or causing a person to engage in such contact. Sometimes these cases are referred to as "fondling cases".
If you are being suspected of a sex crime and need an Arizona sexual abuse lawyer, contact David Michael Cantor if you have been charged with Sexual Abuse. Call 24/7 602-307-0808 or click here to fill out our confidential form and setup a Free Consultation.
Possible Punishment for Sexual Abuse
If the Sexual Abuse victim is under fifteen (15) years of age, then it is classified as a class three (3) felony, and a Dangerous Crime Against a Child, which carries the following punishment: two and one half (2.5) years minimum in prison, five (5) years presumptive in prison, seven and one half (7.5) years maximum incarceration. If convicted of one previous predicate felony (which includes a prior DCAC, among other serious felonies), the range of punishment increases to a minimum eight (8) years, presumptive fifteen years (15), and maximum twenty-two (22) years. Because this is a DCAC, 100% of the prison time must be served before being eligible for release.
If the alleged Sexual Abuse victim is fifteen (15) years of age or over, then the crime is a class five (5) felony. On a first offense, punishment can be probation with zero (0) days up to one (1) year in jail, or prison of six (6) months to two and one half (2.5) years in custody. If the person has one (1) historical allegeable prior felony conviction, then the "prison only" range is one (1) to three and three quarters (3.75) years of incarceration. If the person has two (2) historical allegeable prior felony convictions then the "prison only" range is three (3) years to seven and one half (7.5) years of incarceration.
Although this Sexual Abuse charge is not as serious as Sexual Conduct with a Minor or Child Molestation, it still carries very serious repercussions and will require you to register as a Sex Offender for the rest of your life if the victim is under the age of eighteen (18). If convicted, you will not be allowed to have any contact with anyone under the age of eighteen (18) (this includes your own children), without going through numerous testing procedures and only with the consent of your probation officer.
Free Consultation with a Sex Abuse Lawyer
– Click Here to Schedule –
Possible Defenses for Sexual Abuse
There are two defenses that are specifically outlined in the Defenses Statute ARS §13-1407 that apply when the victim is fifteen (15), sixteen (16), or seventeen (17) years old only. The first is that the defendant did not know, and could not reasonably have known, the age of the victim, and the victim otherwise consented to the touching. Basically, under Arizona law, under the age of eighteen (18) you an incapable of consenting to sexual activity, so any sexual activity done with you is deemed to be unconsensual. However, this statute makes an exception and says that if the only reason the sexual contact was deemed "un-consensual" was because the victim is under age eighteen (18), but they consented in all other ways, and the defendant did not know of the age of the "victim", we will not allow a prosecution for Sexual Abuse.
This situation often occurs when the minor lies about their age to the defendant. The second statutory defense applicable only with a 15-17 year old victim is that the defendant is under nineteen (19) years of age or attending high school, and is no more than twenty-four (24) months older than the victim and the conduct is otherwise consensual. This defense is designed to protect a young pair, who are so close in age, that it would be fair to criminalize an otherwise consensual sexual encounter.
A defense that is specifically outlined in the Defenses Statute ARS §13-1407, that is applicable to all Sexual Abuse charges, regardless of the victim's age, is that the defendant was not motivated by a sexual interest when the contact occurred. This defense would argue that the defendant's contact with the alleged "victim" was for some other purpose other than sexual gratification, such as accidental touching. Under the statute, this is not Sexual Abuse.
Additionally, many times charges for Sexual Abuse arise during the pendency of a divorce proceeding where the defendant's soon to be ex-spouse, or an angry teenager who wants her father or step-father "out of the picture", makes up these false allegations. It is important to challenge these charges immediately by reviewing how the report was initially received, how it was ultimately prepared, questioning any forensic interviewers who may have talked to the "victim," obtaining any divorce paperwork that may have previously been filed, and potentially obtain a polygraph of the defendant in order to show that he is innocent. Cross examination and interviewing all parties involved is crucial to establishing this defense.
At DM Cantor, we handle a very high percentage of the "Sex Crimes" cases involving private counsel in the State of Arizona. We have one of the largest libraries with research materials devoted to challenging accusations involving sex crimes, including Sexual Abuse. Our attorneys have been highly trained in the clinical and forensic interviewing techniques of alleged sexual assault victims. This allows us to properly question detectives and other mental health professionals who may have initially interviewed the alleged victim. If the interviewing process was not done correctly, it can often be shown that the detective "led" the alleged victim into giving the necessary answers required to charge the defendant.
Sexual Abuse is a Serious Crime
You need a Criminal Defense Specialist
– Get a Free Case Review – Click Here
Additionally, because our law firm fights conviction from all angles, we would assert a wide range of defenses and challenges to constitutional violations that apply in all criminal cases. The possibilities are numerous and diverse. One of those we frequently assert is a "Miranda rights violation." In Arizona, the standard of whether any incriminating statement (i.e., a statement which tends to admit guilt) is admissible into evidence is based upon a "voluntariness" standard. If we can demonstrate that the police coerced you (i.e., intimidated or tricked you) into making a confession or inculpatory statement, or that they did not properly read you your Miranda Rights, then we can suppress those statements and any evidence gathered as a direct result of those statements. In addition, the "denial of right to Counsel" is another common defense which is often raised. This occurs when a suspect is in custody and requests to speak to their attorney, but is denied and questioning continues.
Other defenses may include challenging the validity of any search warrant, or whether there were any "forensic flaws" during the investigation of your case. Depending on what else you have been charged with, this could include exposing flawed procedures regarding blood, breath, and urine testing; fingerprints analysis; DNA testing; etc.
Lastly, one of the most common defense tactics is exposing sloppy or misleading police reports which include everything from misstatements, false statements, flawed photo line-ups and inaccurate crime scene reconstruction. It is important to hire a skilled Sexual Abuse lawyer to defend you who has knowledge of all the possible defenses to assert in your case. Be sure you review our Sexual Abuse case wins.
If you have not been charged with
Sexual Abuse yet, but are in the
"pre-charge investigation stage" – Click Here Now
It is important to hire an AV® rated law firm (the highest possible rating by Martindale Hubbell®). Also David Michael Cantor is an Arizona Sexual Abuse Attorney and a Board Certified Sex Crimes Specialist, per the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization. In addition, the Firm and all of its lawyers are listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers®. At DM Cantor, P.C., the majority of our Attorneys are ex-Prosecutors, and all of our Arizona Sexual Abuse Attorneys know the system well. For a Free Initial Consultation, call us at 602-307-0808.
Contact DM Cantor and speak to an Arizona Sexual Abuse Attorney. We will assist you with yourSexual Abuse case.


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South Carolina Tribute
large image detail image back
My client Will wanted to pay tribute to his home state of South Carolina with some iconic plants and animals found there. I put my own stylized twist on things to give the sleeve a colorful, energetic look.
Image copyright Nick Baxter. No reproduction without permission.


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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- A team of MBA students from the Penn State Smeal College of Business bested teams from seven leading business schools to take home first place in the Supply Chain Management Case Competition at Rutgers Business School, held March 30 in Piscataway, N.J.
Smeal's team of Mehul Pathak, Raghavan Parthasarathy, Rashmi Sharma and Yujia Wang beat out teams from Lehigh University, the University of Maryland, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rider University, Rutgers University and Syracuse University.
The competition consisted of one round of presentations on a case surrounding the supply chain issues behind the current energy crisis facing Pakistan. According to Parthasarathy, his team approached the case in a balanced manner, considering financial, risk management, strategic, and supply chain angles as well as implementation issues.
"This approach, combined with the presentations skills that we honed in the MBA program's communications courses, were the key to our success," he said. "Both our presentation and our performance during the question-and-answer session received strong accolades from the judges."
The teams were evaluated by a panel of five executive judges, representing the consumer goods, wireless technology, health care and consulting industries.
This the second time that a team from Smeal has won this case competition, which is hosted by Rutgers' Center for Supply Chain Management. The college previously took first place in 2006. As the winner this year, the team came home with a $750 check and a trophy.
The team was advised by Andy Gustafson, assistant professor of business administration, and Terry Harrison, professor of supply chain and information systems.
Last Updated April 17, 2012


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Warm from the oven
Do you have any idea how quick and easy it is to make fresh, home-made, flaky biscuits from scratch? Quick, like 10 minutes or less between your great idea to make biscuits and your placing the tray of little beauties inside the warm oven... well, maybe a little longer depending on how long your oven takes to preheat! You should make these right away. Omit the herbs if you want biscuits for strawberry shortcake (I'm a firm believer in the biscuit-type shortcake, not the cake-type) or for smothering with maple syrup. Change the herbs depending on what's in your kitchen. Use all white flour, or throw in some whole wheat flour if you're so inclined. I am definitely so inclined. My favorite way to eat biscuits? Warm from the oven with salted butter, yum....
Before baking.
Herbed Biscuits with Whole Wheat Flour (adapted from King Arthur)
Makes 8-12 biscuits. (I got 9 relatively large biscuits.)
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour (see note below)
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
2 tablespoons sugar
5 tablespoons butter, cut in 4-6 pieces
1 cup milk, buttermilk, or water
Preheat your oven to 425°F.
Whisk together the flours, salt, baking powder, herbs, and sugar. Add the butter, and use your fingers to blend the butter in. Keep rubbing the butter with your fingertips, through the flour, until the mixture resembles bread crumbs. You should have small pea-sized and smaller bits of butter.
Add the liquid all at once, mixing quickly and gently for about 20 seconds until you have a soft dough. Pat the dough into a rectangle, about an inch or so thick (thicker, maybe 1.5", if you like really tall biscuits). Cut into biscuits (with a biscuit cutter or a sharp knife). I have round biscuit cutters, but I usually use a knife so there are no scraps.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly browned. Serve warm, if at all possible, with salted butter.
Notes: I've made these with only all-purpose flour, and I honestly couldn't taste the difference with the whole wheat flour. Maybe next time, I'll do half and half with the flours. Feel free to substitute your own combination of herbs as well.


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Happy Friday! I snagged some new products at the drugstore today and couldn't wait to try the K-Palette 1 Day Tattoo Eyebrow Tint…so keep reading! 👇🏼
I purchased the shade 02 Natural Brown. It looks somewhat like a lipgloss tube with a brush applicator, and the product is a gel that looks frighteningly black. For someone like me with blonde hair, it felt a little ominous. But, ya know…do it for the 'Gram. You apply the product to clean eyebrows and let it sit for a minimum of two hours, but preferably overnight. When you're ready to reveal your new brows, simply peel off the product and voila! This product won a 2017 Cosme award (think Allure beauty picks). I have thin, sparse eyebrows and I would loooove not having to spend time filling them in every morning.
I was surprised at how easy it was to apply. There are two eyebrow stencils tucked into the box, but they were both too thick for my natural brow shape. If you make any mistakes, you can swipe them away easily with a q-tip. When you first apply it, it looks very dark and ridiculous. I felt kind of like Groucho Marx, which then made me really antsy about committing, but the tint only lasts up to a week, so it's not nearly as much of a commitment as microblading. I figured I could just cover my eyebrows with foundation and salvage them with a pencil if my little experiment went south.
I left the tint on for about three hours (I was impatient and nervous, what can I say!), and I was shocked 1. at how easy and painless it was to peel off, and 2. at how good it looks! My brows definitely look fuller and more defined, and I'm so excited about shaving time off my morning routine. It only took me 5-10 minutes to apply the tint, which should last for 3 to 5 days. A few sweeps of the Kate Tokyo brow powder I picked up today should be more than enough in the mornings now! 🙌🏼
If you'd like to try the 1 Day Tattoo Eyebrow Tint, it's available on Amazon. Okinawa friends: you can find this at Tokyu Hands, Don Q, and some Matsumoto Kiyoshi drugstores for roughly ¥1200. The product comes in 5 shades: Light Brown, Natural Brown, Mocha Brown, Ash Brown, and Smoky Brown. If you have sparse brows like me or are just looking for an easy, low maintenance brow routine, I highly recommend trying this product out!


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Curious about how Brock University's Sakai-Based LMS was named Isaak?. Find out more here
How can I find out what I can do with articles under library subscriptions
From Information about Isaak, Brock University's Sakai-Based LMS
- Go to the Library's A-Z list of e-journals - http://sfx.scholarsportal.info/brock/azlist/default
- Search or browse for the journal you wish to use
- Click on the SFX icon (looks like an S in a circle) next to the journal title
- Confirm whether article can be posted on CMS ("Course Management System", e.g. Isaak/Sakai) or whether you can link to it.
- You can click on CMS/CoursePacks/Link/Print for an explanation of what each refers to.
- If CMS is 'yes', post away. If CMS is 'no', but you see a 'yes' to linking, you can link to the work instead. For tips on how to create stable ("persistent") links (which can be accessed off-campus and which work, even if the publisher rearranges its website), visit http://brocku.ca/node/11627 or contact Library Reserves or your Liaison Librarian.
Isaak/Sakai Related Copyright Information
- Copyright Status of Uploaded Files
- How can I find out what I can do with articles under library subscriptions?
- What are limits under the Access Copyright license
- Brock University Campus Copyright Information


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The (Bad) Economics of Perpetual GrowthJune 18, 2012 at 12:23 pm | Posted in Decentralism, History, Political theory | 1 Comment
The Permaculture Research Institute has an article on the myth (presumption) of perpetual growth that has been built into the modern world's mainstream economic system. It is an important point to recognize this error. It is one that Chris Martenson focuses on extensively in his Crash Course, but I want to add some commentary.
They use the date of 1776 as a start date of this myth, but the birth of the USA, is not specific or informative enough. Instead we should use the date of 1694, which was the founding of the Bank of England, the world's second central bank.
Why that event? England lost a war with France and wanted to regain/retain its position as dominant global power. To do so it needed much more money to finance its military, navy, and government expansion. It did not want to be limited to what credit it could obtain through the natural markets…so it nationalized the credit market.
In natural society, money is the most marketable commodity, and credit is loaning money at a rate (interest) determined by the supply and demand for credit. A central bank, such as the Bank of England (or Federal Reserve in the USA), maybe "capitalist" in some definitions of capitalism, but it is the opposite of a free market.
Money is like language. It is naturally created by societies without and before government. Governments (via central banks) replace natural money with fiat money only for their own benefit, so they can expand their power, by expanding fiat money, faster than they could expand natural money. Ah, in there is the mainstream economic profession's origin of the myth of perpetual growth…unnatural expansion.
Fiat money is just pieces of paper that have no value apart from the weapons of government pointing to the heads of citizens saying it must be accepted as money. However, it cannot perfectly control the degree of value, and that is where "respectable central banks", unlike that of Zimbabwe or Weimar Germany, exercise just enough self control to stop hyperinflation.
So what are central banks doing with money? Instead of a natural market determined rate of interest, they dictate a rate. This explains how we should define "actually existing capitalism" instead of theoretical capitalism. Such capitalism is when the foundational layers of money and credit are controlled by a central bank, but most other layers on top of that are open/free markets. However, since that fundamental layer is not free, all apparent freedoms that are built above it are not nearly as free as they may seem. It is like in George Orwell's 1984 where the government has altered language with Newspeak. Language is fundamental, just as money is the language of economics.
In order to stop hyperinflation, while still transferring wealth to capitalist government, a central bank perpetually inflates the money supply, but exercises a degree of conscious self-control, just like the victor who refrains from killing his enemies so he can enslave them.
In Colonial America, tobacco was often the medium of exchange, i.e. money. Sometimes it was wheat, or even whiskey.## So if the "money supply" increased, it did so because people went to the effort to create the valued items to increase it. In contrast, when central banks increase fiat money, that does not increase goods of value. A 10% increase in the fiat money supply means that the previous owners have had their money decrease in value by 10%.
So when economists from Milton Friedman to Paul Krugman say they want a stable increase in the money supply of about 3% per year, that is a 3% transfer of wealth per year to Wall Street and government. Why 3%? Because they can get away with that without causing hyperinflation.
But mainstream economists don't want to focus on money supply as inflation, instead they prefer to leave that to "the man behind the curtain" and focus on prices as indicator of inflation. So in the 1920s, productivity was increasing such prices should have been falling due to increased efficiency. Instead, the Federal Reserve increased the money supply to keep prices stable. The father of mainstream economics, Irving Fisher, thought such fine and said there was no bubble in 1929, and proceeded to lose his family fortune in the crash to prove he believed it.
But there is another layer of the perpetual growth myth. Without perpetual growth, then all that government "sovereign" debt cannot be repaid short of a hyper-inflationary crack-up bust in the market. Market value would become less than book value…much, much less, like in Greece. Ah, but as you've discovered…it isn't likely to happen with perpetual growth either, because that is impossible as it pushes against natural limits.
Finally, here is why there are no mainstream economist exceptions: The Federal Reserve pays major stipends to economists all over the world to buy their allegiance and cement the Federal Reserve's legitimacy among economists as a guild. As Gary North points out, economics textbooks will go from a chapter on the dangers and inefficiencies of cartels, to a chapter on the Federal Reserve, without a hint of contradiction or acknowledgement of it as a cartel.
What about economist professors who are exceptions like Prof. Hayek? Even though he won a Nobel Prize in economics, the University of Chicago where he taught refused to even let him teach in the Economics department! So he was not mainstream. Such difficulty getting a tenured professorship in economics has been the case of economists all over the USA if they question the propriety of the Federal Reserve.
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WASHINGTON — President Obama will close the office of political affairs at the White House in preparation for the establishment of his re-election headquarters, which will open its doors in Chicago by late March to concentrate on building a national fund-raising and grass-roots operation to rival his first campaign, aides said.
The president has signed off on the plan to set up his campaign headquarters away from Washington, a first for a modern-day presidential re-election campaign. To avoid turf battles, chaotic communications and duplicated efforts, aides said, a significant realignment is under way in the West Wing, with the duties of the political office being taken up by the Democratic National Committee.
Mr. Obama intends to make a formal declaration of his candidacy in about two months by filing papers with the Federal Election Commission, aides said. That step would allow him to raise money and hire a team of advisers, who would seek to make Mr. Obama follow Bill Clinton as the second Democrat since Franklin Delano Roosevelt to be elected twice to the White House.
While the president's approval rating has inched up to about 50 percent in several polls this week, he faces several political challenges as he tries to win enough states to be re-elected. Raising money is the most critical step, aides said, followed by firing up a state-by-state network of supporters — particularly independent voters — who are key to the race.
As potential Republican opponents begin searching for support in early-voting states, the president is not expected to begin engaging in day-to-day campaign activity until late spring or summer. But Mr. Obama has settled on the leadership for his re-election effort, with the top three officials being elevated from his 2008 campaign.Continue reading the main story
Jim Messina, a deputy White House chief of staff who has overseen operations in the West Wing and acted as a troubleshooter for the president, will manage the campaign. Mr. Messina has started a search for office space in downtown Chicago, spoken with major fund-raisers this week and begun trying to win over any top supporters who have grown disillusioned with Mr. Obama.
"He will be the president of the United States," Mr. Messina said in an interview, "and we'll be building this grass-roots campaign, waiting to get an opponent and doing things you've got to do."
In addition to Mr. Messina, aides said, the top leadership team of the re-election bid will include two deputy campaign managers: Julianna Smoot, the White House social secretary who was the finance director of the 2008 campaign, and Jennifer O'Malley Dillon, executive director of the Democratic National Committee, who directed the swing-state operation in 2008.
The White House political director, Patrick Gaspard, will take over the day-to-day duties of running the Democratic National Committee, with Tim Kaine, the former Virginia governor, still serving as general chairman.
The elimination of the political affairs office at the White House is an effort to erase duplication, aides said. It coincides with the arrival of David Plouffe, who managed the president's 2008 campaign and began working in the West Wing this month as a senior adviser.
Closing the office will hardly remove politics from the West Wing, considering that the political arena is central to Mr. Plouffe's portfolio. But aides said that by moving the political staff to the Democratic National Committee, the restructuring of the political operation could reduce the likelihood that it will become a target of an investigation by the Republican-led House Oversight Committee.
The personnel moves, which were confirmed in interviews this week, represent the latest step in a major reorganization of the Obama administration. The accelerated pace of the re-election bid, particularly with no sign of any Democratic primary opponent, highlights the challenges facing Mr. Obama as he can no longer present himself as a Washington outsider. The headquarters in Chicago is intended to help connect him with Americans across the country at a time when he is also fighting Republican efforts to portray him as too liberal for the electorate.
While it may seem early to begin planning for an election that is 22 months away, the timeline for Mr. Obama is only slightly earlier than those of his two recent predecessors. Mr. Clinton filed his re-election papers on April 14, 1995, and George W. Bush formally opened his campaign on May 16, 2003. Neither president closed his political office at the White House.
Mr. Obama and his aides have been discussing the placement of the re-election headquarters in Chicago for several months. But the plan came under fresh review in the last two weeks when William M. Daley was hired as the White House chief of staff. He signed off on the decision, aides said, along with closing the political office of the White House.
Mr. Plouffe will be the main liaison between the White House and the campaign team. He said that he had studied the re-election efforts of Mr. Clinton and Mr. Bush, among other presidents, and dismissed criticism from many Democrats that a Chicago headquarters and the White House could not work together.
"There's not going to be two dueling power centers," Mr. Plouffe said in an interview. "The philosophy of this campaign will not be that the White House is somehow running the campaign. The people running the campaign are in charge of the campaign. That's the way the president wants it. We'll do it in a coordinated way, but they're running this thing."
Mr. Messina will oversee the Chicago office, filling the role that Mr. Plouffe had when Mr. Obama announced his candidacy four years ago. Mr. Messina will be joined by Ms. Smoot, who last year replaced Desiree Rogers as White House social secretary. Ms. Smoot will oversee the fund-raising effort and a broad portfolio of projects. Ms. Dillon will oversee the political and field operations.
Organizing for America, the network of Obama supporters that grew out of the 2008 campaign, is expected to provide the spine of a volunteer network, but advisers conceded that it must be strengthened over the two years to prepare for as many as 20 swing states.
"It's a huge advantage having the campaign in Chicago," Mr. Messina said. "What we're going to do day in and day out is focus on building this campaign from the grass roots up. You will see us do it every single day in ways you can feel and ways you can't, but that is our absolute charge."
One of the first orders of business for the reorganized political team will be announcing the location of the 2012 Democratic convention. Word could come as soon as next week. St. Louis and Charlotte are believed to be leading contenders, Democrats familiar with the process said, while Cleveland and Minneapolis are said to remain in the running.Continue reading the main story


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|The roads to Chadds ford
Since our last AWI big game Tonio seems have been bitten by the Maurice bug. Which is great because I have painted a shelf load of figures. Gamewise we played the battle of Chadds ford by Steve Jones in Wargames Soldiers and Strategy issue 89. Partly to see how to adopt Black Powder games to Maurice and partly to test out irregular detachments. In principle adopting Black Powder to Maurice should be easy since they are both roughly the same scale ie the basic unit is the same type in both games. But activation is arguably more limited in Maurice so things like game length and time to cover distances can be more complicated. Particularly in this game where the British are tasked with breaking through the rebel rearguard and exiting the table as a possible win condition. Irregular detachments are also an issue. Maurice doesn't really like them. Questionably they do not fit the character warfare Maurice is trying to represent in the age of reason. But they common in the period and AWI without American riflemen or Hessian jaegers would be missing a little something.
|American regulars move to block the British advance
The background is an American rearguard is blocking the British advance to Chadds ford. The rearguard consists of a brigade with three regiments of infantry with support from one artillery battery and four detachments of riflemen. The British force consists of a vanguard consisting of a single regiment support by a detachment of loyalists and a detachment of cavalry. The main force consists of a brigade with four regiments of infantry with a reserve force consisting of a brigade of two infantry regiments. The Americans are deployed to the west with a screen of riflemen in advance. The British vanguard starts on table is deployed to the East. The main British force arrives via the Southeast road while their reserve arrives from the Northeast road. For both sides the challenge is how to defend/approach the ford there is two alternative roads to the ford, one to the North and one to the South, between them is difficult ground that would disrupt an regiment moving through it but offered safe haven to the detachments. For the Americans they had to figure out were to spend there very limited resources while the British would have to struggle with how to co-ordinate their advantage in numbers. Tonio opted to fight for the king and took the British.
|British main force being harassed by the rifle men in the woo
Knowing time was not their friend the British activate their main force first and brazenly marched towards the southern road. The American riflemen waiting in the broken ground were greeted to the sight of flank shots into columns of redcoats and they quickly started to take a toll on the lead regiments. Unperturbed the main column swung into line and began to advance. The riflemen maintained a steady fire and the lead two regiments were starting to suffer. The Americans committed two regiments to defend the southern road. The British advanced and predictably the American riflemen began to fall back sending parting shot as they went.
|The thin red line forms up
The British reserve then activated and began to move down the Northern road. Two riflemen detachments put up to a hasty roadblock trying to buy time for the last American regiment to come up. The reserve coolly passed by the roadblock staying in column accepting losses from rifle and cannon fire intent on breaking through the rearguard. The last American regiment scrambled to get into position in time but was just in time to form line and charge the British. The charge on the two weakened regiments was just enough to rout them within inches of their objective.
|British main body beings its advance
But the British were not yet finished the main force began to recover the damage done by the riflemen. The single regiment from the British vanguard finally activated and began to move down the northern road. This time they formed line and promptly destroyed both of the riflemen detachments blocking the road. The remaining American regiment confusingly marched forward to engage them. In a hail of bullets and a flash of bayonets the British routed the Americans opening the road to the ford but they were out of time and could not get to the objective before the night fell.
|American regulars waiting for the main British force that never arrived
Overall a rather fun game of Maurice. If I was the British I may have done it a little different using the vanguard to push back the riflemen and then commit the main body down the Northern road. The reserve could then either move in support of the main or move South depending on progress. But that said twice the British came close to their objective so their plan can not have been that bad.
That is all for now


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My family and I recently spent a few days at Big Bend National Park. While there, I picked up Big Bend: A Homesteader's Story in the book store at the Panther Junction visitor's center. Truthfully, I didn't know anything about the book but was just looking for something to read about the area.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the book is an autobiography of J. O. Langford, a man who, along with his young family, settled in the Big Bend shortly after the turn of the 19th century. Langford purchased three sections of land that include the natural hot springs near the Boquillas Canyon area. Langford chose the springs specifically because his own health was poor and the springs were believed to have medicinal properties. Ultimately Langford developed the springs into an area where travelers would come from all over Texas to bathe in their waters. Over time, he managed to build bath houses, lodging, and a small post office, the ruins of which can be visited today. Like many people of the Big Bend area, Langford was resourceful in scratching out a living, in one example becoming the local school teacher simply to provide additional income for his family.
The bulk of the book is made up of anecdotes from the Langfords' time in the area, full of examples of the family's explorations and education in a rough land that over time they grew to love. One of my favorite quotes from the book also sums up my experiences in Big Bend: "There is a strange, mystic beauty about that mountain range, something compelling and mysterious that grips you the first time you see it and never afterward leaves you."
The book neither gives you a great description of Big Bend today or one of modern homesteading. Instead, it is a fascinating view inside the mind of a man who went to great lengths to restore his health and provide for his family in the remotest of places.
You can get your own copy of the book here: Big Bend: A Homesteader's Story