text:
Over the past couple weeks, I have written in this column about my favorite songs of summer 2010, as well as my favorite albums of the first half of this year. Considering the structure and design of this column, those were both worthy and timely topics, and I'm glad I wrote about them. However, doing so put me in a weird position this week: In those pieces I wrote a little bit about some of the records I would otherwise be covering here—in the "Pirate Guide," the monthly "Sonic Boom" feature wherein I review a handful of new albums. So, rather than write about the same records for several weeks running, I offer a slightly truncated "Pirate Guide," and a rundown, with scores, of those albums that have been should be here had they not been covered already. They are: Big Boi's Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Son of Chico Dusty [9/10]; Sun Kil Moon's Admiral Fell Promises [8/10]; Best Coast's Crazy for You [8/10]; and Delays' Star Tiger Star Ariel [7/10]. I promise, August will bring a more robust "Pirate Guide" and maybe even a few bad grades.
Yakuza—Of Seismic Consequence (Profound Lore)
Right now, there's no other label in metal—heck, there's no other label in music—releasing such exciting, boundary-expanding, uncompromising records as Canada's Profound Lore. Their roster is like a who's who of extreme metal's best bands: Cobalt, Krallice, Yob, Amesoeurs, Portal, Altar of Plagues… It's unusual today—at a time when record labels have less influence than ever before—to see one independent label making such an incredible impact and establishing such a signature voice. Of Seismic Consequence is the fifth album from Chicago's Yakuza, and it is another major triumph for the label. It's also a pretty substantial statement from the band. Yakuza don't really sound like anything else in metal, or anything else, period. Vocalist Bruce Lamont—who mostly sings in a dark Layne Staley-esque croon here—also contributes hypnotic saxophone work; there are heavy jazz and Middle Eastern influences guiding the writing and performances. Recorded by Sanford Parker, the sound is sharp and clean but devastatingly, almost suffocatingly heavy. Much of the record proceeds at a doom metal-esque gait, which only accentuates the precision and exhilaration when the band shreds (and when they do, it is truly a thing to behold). Most importantly, the songs here are songs—not virtuosic wankery; not empty ambience. At its frequent best, Of Seismic Consequence appears to belong to no genre: Yakuza could almost just as easily be a jazz band with metal influences. But even that seems to ghettoize the work—in a weird sense, Yakuza are making true "world" music, finding sounds in disparate genres across the globe, and blending them to create something both new and old, something genuinely unique, something that is in fact pretty goddamned amazing. [9/10]
School of Seven Bells—Disconnect From Desire (Vagrant/Ghostly)
The '90s revival crops up in the weirdest places and ways: the excellent forthcoming debut from California's Best Coast reminds me of Liz Phair's 1993 classic Exile in Guyville; Southern grungers Dead Confederate (whose new album comes out in August) sound like Nirvana circa In Utero (or maybe even a little like forgotten grunge also-rans Paw). With their honeyed female vocals and Space Age Bachelor Pad bloops and bleeps, School of Seven Bells recall the dreamy post-rock of Stereolab, the warm shoegaze-y glow of Lush, and the blissed-out alt-techno of Seefeel. School of Seven Bells don't do much to update those sounds, but I'm not sure any update is necessary: Disconnect From Desire may be referential and retro, but its influences always sounded a little otherworldly and out-of-time anyway. Disconnect From Desire is (presumably) designed with getting high in mind, but it's tightly and expertly constructed; as much as it drifts and glides, it has a center, a soul, a reason to exist, and even if you don't care about its careful and meticulous attention to detail, it is melodic, engaging and lovely enough to appeal to those of us who quit drugs back when these sounds were first in vogue (or not long thereafter). [8/10]


text:
So here it is, what you've been waiting for: proof. Bigfoot shows up to his own press conference!
When I got there they were checking for credentials, so I didn't even try to get in. But later I talked to someone who got in, so I tried again, but the lady wouldn't let me in. I didn't want to let Foo down, so while she was talking to someone else I snuck in. Now I'm kind of peeved because they let Bigfoot in. I'll betcha anything that Bigfoot did not have a press credential!
Edit: OK, here's the complete report on the Bigfoot Press Conference.
This guy was out on the street holding a sign that said "Honk 4 Bigfoot" and "Palo Alto Loves Bigfoot." He was a friendly guy but a little strange. He was carrying two scanners and a slick Yaesu "ham" radio that mounted to his handlebars. The lady on the left was a serious Bigfoot conspiracy theorist. She felt that the media was suppressing the evidence and was asking the guy if he seriously believed in Bigfoot.
OK, this was just gratuitous:
So the local NBC, ABC, and CBS affiliates all showed up. I saw the local Fox affiliate inside as well.
I didn't get in until about 30 minutes into the press conference, and people were asking serious questions like they actually had a body and actually spotted a living bigfoot. Five minutes later someone asked "Is this a hoax?" I can't believe it took 35 minutes before someone asked that question.
There was no shortage of cameras and serious news people there. I asked a guy with an ABC News credential: "Why are you guys taking this seriously?" He had this complex look that said "My journalistic integrity makes me appalled," but then he grumbled half-heartedly "Well, it's entertaining."
I think all three guys took questions. This is Tom Biscardi showing two additional images documenting his "proof." Descriptions are further below.
At the end he said he would pass out copies of the two additional photographs. There was a crush of people trying to get the pics. Biscardi was making people show their credentials so I couldn't get them.
After the press conference, Bigfoot kneeled down while someone interviewed him on camera, and the question I heard was: "What's on your iPod?"
This is the "additional photographic evidence" they produced. I couldn't get them so I took a picture of someone else's pictures. Note that the pictures they printed were web-resolution pictures that were blown up, so they were slightly pixelated and no better than what you see on the web. The first picture shows a close-up of Bigfoot's mouth, the teeth are in the middle and the tongue is sticking out to the left. The bottom picture shows a live Bigfoot walking in the woods.
I would like to thank AllenG, UA, artifice, trsidn, jsharr, and Tude for "encouraging" me to attend this press conference. Otherwise, I would have done something stupid like try to be productive today.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Kardashians
Kylie Jenner Throws Huge Tantrum at Hotel — Report
Kylie Jenner recently went on a Twitter tirade proclaiming that she most definitely does not drink or use a fake ID — but actions speak louder than words and the star's recent actions aren't doing her any favors.
The 16-year-old Keeping Up With the Kardashians star reportedly caused quite the stir at a ritzy Beverly Hills hotel when she and a group of friends, including longtime pal Jaden Smith, stopped by to order drinks.
A new report from People claims that while the teen started off in "a good mood," she quickly soured when her request for bottle service for the underage group was denied.
A source tells the magazine that Kylie berated the hotel host after being turned down by asking, "Do you know who I am?" and declaring that the hotel was "not worth her time."
When the hotel host didn't falter, Kylie reportedly stormed out of the bar cursing that the hotel was "f—king lame."
"She was a complete nightmare," the hotel source told People. "She started out really nice. But when she didn't get what she wanted, it was like someone flipped a switch."
While the teen's reps didn't respond to the rumors, Kylie herself took to Twitter to seemingly address the claims.
"Again with these rumors!" she wrote. "Lol! Guess the Twitter rant didn't do it for some people… Lol."
Do you believe the rumors about Kylie's rudeness? Let us know in the comments below!
Sources: People, Kylie Jenner on Twitter


text:
The Seahawks never trailed in the game and smoothly beat visiting Dallas.
Golden Tate's block didn't decide Seattle's victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
It defined it.
Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee's pursuit of Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson ended abruptly with a high, hard block from Seattle's 5-foot-10 Tate. The hit was undeniably vicious, debatably legal and absolutely emblematic of the way Seattle beat Dallas 27-7 on Sunday at CenturyLink Field, flattening the Cowboys with a second half no one saw coming.
"Golden kind of put a stamp on the game with that," fullback Michael Robinson said. "I think he kind of said, 'OK, big-time Dallas, now you're up here with Seattle. We got some muscle, too.' "
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The Seahawks showed that in their home opener, rebounding from not only a disappointing defeat in Arizona last week but standing tall against a Dallas team that has recently manhandled Seattle. The Cowboys beat the Seahawks three times in the past four years, winning by an average of almost 20 points.
This time, Seattle knuckled up and showed you don't have to win pretty to look good.
"It was an ugly game," center Max Unger said. "It was a fight against a really, really good defense, there's no question about that.
"It was a fist fight for a lot of those plays."
And Seattle showed it's ready to step up a weight class by defeating a Cowboys team coming off a victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Giants.
While Seattle never trailed Sunday, the Seahawks did have to rally. They led 13-7 at halftime not because of their offense, but in spite of it. Dallas fumbled the opening kickoff, which led to a field goal. The Seahawks blocked a punt for a touchdown less than two minutes later.
The Seahawks were outgained on offense in the first half, their defense allowed the Cowboys to convert six of nine third-down chances and Seattle's only touchdown was scored on special teams.
What Seattle demonstrated in the second half is that these are not the same old Seahawks. Seattle's running game is built to wear down an opponent while its defense won't wear out.
Seattle hadn't had a scoring drive longer than 52 yards over the first six quarters of the season. The Seahawks drove 90 yards for a touchdown on the second possession of the third quarter, rushing six of the eight plays on the drive that ended with tight end Anthony McCoy's 22-yard touchdown catch. They drove 88 yards for a touchdown the next time they had the ball, nine of those 12 plays were rushes capped by Marshawn Lynch's 3-yard scoring run.
"We found our stride a little bit," coach Pete Carroll said.
For once, Carroll understated things. Seattle rushed for 33 yards in the first half, 149 in the second. The scheme didn't change, and it didn't waver on the emphasis to run the ball, but suddenly the results flowed.
"The 2-yard runs turned into 4s," Unger said. "The 4s turned into 8s. We kind of all just got into a rhythm. You hear that a lot, and it's kind of a cliché, but it really did happen."
And as Dallas wilted, Seattle's defense dug in its heels. The Cowboys gained 81 yards in the second half, 51 of those coming on the final three plays when the outcome was decided.
"Our defense got stronger," defensive tackle Red Bryant said, "and their offense might have started getting a little fatigued."
Imagine that, Seattle outlasted Dallas on Sunday with a big-bodied defense, a relentless rushing offense and a 5-10 receiver who flattened a Cowboys linebacker with the play that didn't factor into the final score, but said everything about the final result.
"That felt better than a touchdown to me," Tate said.
Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
|Beast mode again
|Marshawn Lynch had his third-best rushing game (regular season) for the Seahawks.
|Dec. 1, 2011
|Nov. 6, 2011
|Sept. 16, 2012
|Dec. 12, 2011
|St. Louis
|Note: Lynch rushed for 131 yards against New Orleans in a playoff game Jan. 8, 2011.


text:
Sudoku - June 18, 2010
Why Chinese missile swarms could obliterate America in battle
How does America 'reshore' skills that have disappeared?
How to rig elections, the legal way
The upside of getting stomped by Trump
66 TV shows to watch in 2016
Clinton-Cuban 2016?
Crossword Solution - June 18, 2010


text:
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Edition: Reprint
Author(s): Vanderpool, Clare
ISBN: 9780375858291 / Trade Paper / 12/27/2011
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I-275 Construction Slows I-74 Commute
By Mike Perleberg
A lane closure on I-275 at the I-74 split near Miamitown (left) has caused a backup extended to near the Dry Fork Road exit on I-74 in Harrison. Photo by OhGo.com.
(Hamilton County, Oh.) – Motorists making their way east on Interstate 74 in Hamilton County are finding a slow go at it Thursday morning.
Traffic is backing up from the I-275/I-74 split near Miamitown to Dry For Road in Harrison.
The culprit is continuing road construction on I-275 between the split and Colerain Avenue which has forced the closure of the left lane. Motorists trying to avoid the lane restrictions on the I-275 Carroll C. Cropper Bridge from Indiana into Kentucky may also be adding to the delays.
According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, work to resurface I-275 will require various lane closures on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday, a left lane closure will be in place beginning at 8:00 p.m. and reopening by 6:00 a.m. Sunday.
The work is part of a two-year, $27.9 million project to repair and reconstruct 5 ½ miles of I-275.


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Home -> Community -> Usenet -> comp.databases.theory -> Re: Whats more efficient?
Tom wrote:
> >
> > While this would be a good place for multiple tables, you could also
> > bit-map the permissions. Something like the file permissions in Unix.
> > i.e.: Area1 = 1, Area2 = 2, Area3 = 4, Area4 = 8......
> > Access to Area1 & Area2 would be 3, access to Area2 & Area3 would be 6,
> > and so on. This would be a "challenging" method, as you need to truely
> > understand the bit-map, but it is efficient.
> >
> I like the Idea and see how its much more efficient. Could you recommend a
> way to include a level of access in addition to Y/N. An example would be
> that 'a user has write permission in area 3'. Also - would you be able to
> direct me to any additional information available reguarding this method?
As soon as you put more than boolean information per area, I'd not recommend using a bit map for this. I'd suggest you go with your multi table design and add a column access_level. Otherwise, this will get very ugly to maintain. And also keep in mind that the number of areas (perhaps multiplied by access levels) is restricted by the size of the type used for the access map.
IMHO, bit maps are only good for mapping (at least more or less) unrelated boolean (Y/N) information.
I don't think you should not have a problem concerning performance when you use the multi table approach in a decent RDMBS with appropriate keys (and indexes) defined.
Heinz Received on Mon Apr 02 2001 - 02:07:39 CDT
Original text of this message


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Nov. 5, 2005
USC Coach Pete Carroll
"It was a nice night. A real good setting back at home. It was fun seeing the explosion of this team today. We love playing at home and it was certainly fun to watch them. Off the start, we just started getting those turnovers, which makes us very proud knowing how stingy Stanford is with the ball. Reggie was just on fire in the first quarter. Matt was great again and our line was just awesome out there.
"We're very excited. It's the fourth quarter of the season with three huge games left. We're fired up right now, especially with our last road game coming up.
(regarding Oscar Lua)
"We're very disappointed that Oscar got hurt today. We're not sure right now on the extent. But I can tell you right now he's been great, a real pivotal player on defense.
(regarding USC's defense)
"We played well, but we're still a work in progress. We still have plenty of room to improve. Right now the defense is playing off the offense. If they hold their own, that would be great."
USC QB Matt Leinart
"We did anything we wanted to tonight, especially in the first half. We really executed our gameplan tonight. We were able to go up-top and make some plays. It really got easy for us as the game went on. And our defense got us the ball with great field position, which always helps.
(on entering the last quarter of the season)
"This is the fourth quarter of our season. We've got to keep pushing. We know our next three games aren't easy by any means. And of course, next week we have Cal. And we all remember what happened last time we were up there.
(on the defense)
"They're playing exceptional right now, especially being a question mark early in the season. They've been absolutely nails. They've handled three strong offense teams in both Washingtons and Stanford and the freshmen are giving us a good amount of depth."
Stanford Coach Walt Harris
"I've been on the other coast and haven't had the opportunity first hand to watch USC play. Obviously, they've got an accumulation of outstanding football players that are coached very well. We helped them early with turnovers and they dominated us in the first half.
"In the second half, we challenged the players and we have the kind of character that allowed us to improve our performance in the second half.
"It's tough to lose by any score, but we didn't play like we know we can play. The turnovers were huge. Not only are they costly but they were uncharacteristic and hurt us emotionally as much as anything.
(regarding USC's defense)
"They're not given enough credit on defense. They have a lot of depth, which is one of our challenges and something we don't have as much of."
Stanford QB Trent Edwards
"It was a rough game. They played defense very well and did a good job of disguising their schemes. But we knew that all along. We knew we had to make plays and not turn the ball over and because we didn't, we left the defense on the field too long."
Stanford DE Julian Jenkins
"They jumped on us quick. We under-performed as a defense, especially the front three and four. They did a good job in the first half. They scored 44 points. That's great on their part.
(on USC's offensive line)
"They're all good. We didn't do a good job of getting off the ball and getting to the QB. The only reason we were on the field so long is that we let them make first downs."


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For the most current version of this Note, see Background Notes A-Z.
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Area: 912,050 sq. km. (352,143 sq. mi.); slightly more than twice the size of California.
Cities: Capital--Caracas (metro. area pop. 3.6 million, 2004 est.). Other major cities--Maracaibo, Valencia, Barquisimeto.
Terrain: Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains; Guiana Highlands in southeast.
Climate: Varies from tropical to temperate, depending on elevation.
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Venezuelan(s).
Population (2004 est.): 24,705,900.
Annual population growth: 1.48%.
Religion: Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
Language: Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects.
Education: Years compulsory--9. Literacy--93.4% (male 93.8%, female 93.1%)
Health: Infant mortality rate--26.17 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy--73.81 yrs.
Ethnic groups: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, Amerindian.
Type: Federal Republic.
Independence: July 5, 1811.
Constitution: December 30, 1999.
Branches: Executive--President (head of government and chief of state; 6-year term); Council of Ministers (cabinet, appointed by president). Legislative--unicameral Congress (5-year term). Judicial--32-member Supreme Court (elected by Congress; 12-year term). Electoral--Nation Electoral Council (elected by Congress; 7-year term). Citizen Power--Attorney General, Ombudsman, Comptroller General (elected by Congress; 7-year term).
Subdivisions: 23 states, one federal district (Caracas), and one federal dependency (72 islands).
Major political parties: Fifth Republic Movement or Movimiento V Republica (MVR), Democratic Action or Accion Democratica (AD), Christian Democrats or Comite Organizador Politico por Elecciones Independientes (COPEI), Homeland for All or Patria Para Todos (PPT), Movement to Socialism or Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), Radical Cause or La Causa R, First Justice or Primero Justicia, and the National Convergence or Convergencia.
Suffrage: Universal, age 18 and over.
Principal government officials: See listing under History and Political Conditions section.
GDP (2004 est.): $115.0 billion.
Annual growth rate (2004 est.): 16%.
GDP per capita (2004 est.): $4,400.
Government expenditures: 27% of GDP.
Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, gold, diamonds, bauxite, other minerals, hydroelectric power.
Petroleum industry (25% of GDP): Oil refining, petrochemicals.
Manufacturing (16% of GDP): Types--iron and steel products, paper products, aluminum, textiles, transport equipment, consumer products.
Agriculture (4% of GDP): Products--corn, sorghum, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee, beef, pork, milk, eggs, fish.
Trade: Exports (2004)--$41.0 billion: petroleum $34.0 billion, aluminum, steel, chemical products, iron ore, cigarettes, plastics, fish, cement, and paper products. Major markets (2004)--U.S. 55%, Colombia 14%, Mexico 6%, the Netherlands 4%, Ecuador 4.0%, Japan 3%, Brazil 2%. Imports (2004)--$15.8 billion: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, construction materials. Major suppliers (2004)--U.S. 33%, Colombia 11%, Brazil 8%, Mexico 5%, Germany 3.4%, Japan 3.2%, Italy 3%.
Exchange rate (Dec. 2004): $1,920 bolivars=U.S. $1.
Venezuela is the sixth-most populous country in Latin America, after Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and Peru. About 85% of the population lives in urban areas in the northern portion of the country. While almost half of Venezuela's land area lies south of the Orinoco River in the states of Bolivar and Amazonas, this region contains only 5% of the population. The population of Venezuela is comprised of a combination of European, indigenous, and African heritages.
At the time of the Spanish discovery, the indigenous in Venezuela were mainly agriculturists and hunters living in groups along the coast, the Andean mountain range, and the Orinoco River. The first permanent Spanish settlement in South America--Nuevo Toledo--was established in Venezuela in 1522. Venezuela was a relatively neglected colony in the 1500s and 1600s as the Spaniards focused on extracting gold and silver from other areas of the Americas.
Toward the end of the 18th century, the Venezuelans began to grow restive under colonial control. In 1821, after several unsuccessful uprisings, the country succeeded in achieving independence from Spain, under the leadership of its most famous son, Simon Bolivar. Venezuela, along with what are now Colombia, Panama, and Ecuador, was part of the Republic of Gran Colombia until 1830, when Venezuela separated and became a separate sovereign country.
Much of Venezuela's 19th-century history was characterized by periods of political instability, dictatorial rule, and revolutionary turbulence. The first half of the 20th century was marked by periods of authoritarianism--including dictatorships from 1908-35 and from 1950-58. In addition, the Venezuelan economy shifted after the first World War from a primarily agricultural orientation to an economy centered on petroleum production and export.
Since the overthrow of Gen. Marcos Perez Jimenez in 1958 and the military's withdrawal from direct involvement in national politics, Venezuela has enjoyed an unbroken tradition of civilian democratic rule. This earned Venezuela a reputation as one of the more stable democracies in Latin America. Until the 1998 elections, the Democratic Action (AD) and the Christian Democratic (COPEI) parties dominated the political environment at both the state and federal level.
The Caracazo And Popular Dissatisfaction
Venezuela's prevailing political calm came to an end in 1989, when Venezuela experienced riots in which more than 200 people were killed. The so-called Caracazo was a response to an economic austerity program launched by then-President Carlos Andres Perez. In February 1992, a group of army lieutenant colonels led by future President Hugo Chavez mounted an unsuccessful coup attempt, claiming that the events of 1989 showed that the political system no longer served the interests of the people. A second, equally unsuccessful coup attempt by other officers followed in November 1992. A year later, Congress impeached Perez on corruption charges.
Deep popular dissatisfaction with the traditional political parties, income disparities, and economic difficulties were some of the major frustrations expressed by Venezuelans following Perez's impeachment. In December 1998, Hugo Chavez Frias won the presidency on a campaign for broad reform, constitutional change, and a crackdown on corruption.
Constitutional Reforms
Current President Hugo Chavez was elected on a platform that called for the creation of a National Constituent Assembly in order to write a new constitution for Venezuela. Chavez's argument that the existing political system had become isolated from the people won broad acceptance, particularly among Venezuela's poorest classes, who had seen a significant decline in their living standards over the previous decade and a half. The National Constituent Assembly (ANC), consisting of 131 elected individuals, convened in August 1999 to begin rewriting the Constitution. In free elections, voters gave all but six seats to persons associated with the Chavez movement. Venezuelans approved the ANC's draft in a national referendum on December 15, 1999. The political system described below is that defined by the 1999 Constitution.
The president is elected by a plurality vote with direct and universal suffrage. The term of office is 6 years, and a president may be re-elected to a single consecutive term. The president appoints the vice president. He decides the size and composition of the cabinet and makes appointments to it with the involvement of the National Assembly. Legislation can be initiated by the executive branch, the legislative branch (either a committee of the National Assembly or three members of the latter), the judicial branch, the citizen branch (ombudsman, public prosecutor, and controller general) or a public petition signed by no fewer than 0.1% of registered voters. The president can ask the National Assembly to reconsider portions of laws he finds objectionable, but a simple majority of the Assembly can override these objections.
The National Assembly is unicameral, consisting solely of the Chamber of Deputies. Deputies serve 5-year terms, and may be re-elected for a maximum of two additional terms. These legislative agents are elected by a combination of party list and single member constituencies. When the Congress is not in session, a delegated committee acts on matters relating to the executive and in oversight functions.
The Constitution designates three additional branches of the federal government--the judicial, citizen, and electoral branches.
The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, which may meet either in specialized chambers (of which there are six) or in plenary session. The justices are appointed by the National Assembly and serve 12-year terms. Under the 1999 Constitution, the Supreme Tribunal of Justice is composed of 20 justices. The 1999 Constitution was amended in 2004, and the total number of justices was expanded by 12 to a total of 32. In December 2004, the National Assembly selected new judges to fill the expansion. The judicial branch also consists of lower courts, including district courts, municipal courts, and courts of first instance.
The citizens branch consists of three components--the attorney general ("fiscal general"), the "defender of the people" or ombudsman, and the comptroller general. The holders of these offices, in addition to fulfilling their specific functions, also act collectively as the "Republican Moral Council" to challenge before the Supreme Tribunal of Justice actions they believe are illegal, particularly those which violate the Constitution. The holders of the "citizen power" offices are selected for terms of 7 years by the National Assembly.
The "Electoral Power," otherwise known as the National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral or CNE), is responsible for organizing elections at all levels. Its five members are also elected to 7-year terms by the National Assembly. In the event of a hung vote in the National Assembly, the Supreme Tribunal of Justice can be called on to appoint the members.
Political Turmoil
In July 2000, following a long and controversial process, voters re-elected President Hugo Chavez of the Fifth Republic Movement (MVR) in generally free and fair national and local elections. The MVR and pro-Chavez Movimiento a Socialismo (MAS) party won 92 seats in the 165-member legislature. Subsequent party splits reduced the pro-Chavez members to 84 seats.
In April 2002, the country experienced a temporary alteration of constitutional order. When an estimated 400,000 to 600,000 persons participated in a march in downtown Caracas to demand President Chavez' resignation, gunfire broke out, resulting in as many as 18 deaths and more than 100 injuries on both sides. Military officers took President Chavez into custody, and business leader Pedro Carmona swore himself in as interim President.
On April 14, military troops loyal to Chavez returned him to power. In an effort to promote national reconciliation, the Tripartite Group was formed in August 2002 to facilitate dialogue between the government and the opposition. The group included representatives from the Organization of American States, the UN Development Program, and the Carter Center. Formal direct talks between government and opposition dialogue representatives began in November 2002. Continued dissatisfaction with the Chavez administration led to a national work stoppage on December 2, 2002. Strikers protested the government and called for the resignation of President Chavez. On December 4, 2002, the petroleum sector joined the strike. Other sectors of the economy also joined the work stoppage and effectively shut down all economic activity for a month. The OAS Permanent Council passed Resolution 833 on December 16, 2002, calling for a "constitutional, democratic, peaceful, and electoral solution" to the crisis in Venezuela.
In January 2003, the Organization of American States established the Group of Friends of the OAS Secretary General's Mission for Venezuela group. The Friends, coordinated by Brazil, include Chile, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, and the United States. The Friends met in January 2003 and visited Caracas to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the political crisis. Despite increased tensions during the national strike, dialogue facilitated by the Tripartite Group resulted in a nonviolence pledge by all parties in February 2003 as the strike was drawing to a close. After months of negotiations facilitated by OAS Secretary General Gaviria, the Venezuelan Government and the opposition's Democratic Coordinating Committee signed an agreement on May 29, 2003, which set the framework for a possible recall referendum on President Chavez' continued tenure in office. The recall referendum is allowed under the Venezuelan Constitution.
The Referendum Process
In February 2003, opposition supporters coordinated a nationwide effort collecting 3.2 million signatures for possible recall referenda, including constitutional issues and a presidential recall. The newly appointed National Electoral Council (CNE) ruled in September 2003 that the signatures were collected prematurely (before the President's mid-term in office in accordance with the Constitution) and that a new signature collection effort would be necessary for possible recall referenda. Opposition supporters and pro-Chavez MVR members petitioned the CNE for the right to collect signatures again, and the CNE set the dates for the MVR collection effort for November 21-24, 2003, and the opposition effort for November 28-December 1, 2003. During their signature drive, the opposition collected 3.4 million signatures. However, after reviewing the opposition petition for two months, the CNE determined in February that 1.5 million of the total signatures were either invalid or of questionable authenticity. Several months of intense deliberations culminated in a highly controversial signature verification process from May 28-30, 2004. During this process, the opposition validated enough signatures to trigger a national referendum on the mandate of President Hugo Chavez.
Venezuela's presidential recall referendum was held August 15, 2004. Following two months of extensive campaigning efforts, President Chavez won 59% of the vote. His opponents immediately contested that the results of the referendum were marked by electoral fraud. However, international electoral observation missions carried out by the Organization of American States and the Carter Center found no indication of systemic fraud.
Beyond the Referendum
On October 31, 2004, Venezuela held gubernatorial and mayoral elections nationwide. Following an upsurge in political support for President Chavez after the recall referendum, pro-government candidates won control of 20 out of a total 22 state governor positions. On August 7, 2005, Venezuela held municipal elections across the country. The National Electoral Council publicly announced that there was a 69% abstention rate for these elections. Supporters of President Chavez won a majority of the seats up for election. Venezuela will hold legislative elections on December 4, 2005. The new National Assembly will have 167 seats.
Principal Government Officials
President--Hugo CH�VEZ Frias
Vice President--Jos� Vicente RANGEL
Minister of Foreign Affairs--Al� RODRIGUEZ
Minister of Defense--Orlando MANIGLIA Ferreira
Ambassador to the United States--Bernardo ALVAREZ Herrera
Ambassador to the Organization of American States--Jorge VALERO Brice�o
Ambassador to the United Nations--Fermin Toro JIMENEZ
The Venezuelan embassy in the United States is located at 1099 30th St. NW, Washington, DC 20007 (tel. (202) 342-2214). In addition to Washington, D.C. Venezuela maintains consulates in Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and Puerto Rico.
In 2000, the armed forces enlisted 87,500 individuals in four service branches--the Army, Navy (including the Marine Corps), Air Force, and the Armed Forces of Cooperation (FAC), commonly known as the National Guard.
Real GDP increased by 20.4% in January-September 2004 compared to the same period of 2003, after two consecutive years of deep economic recession (in 2003, Venezuelan GDP contracted 7.6%, after contracting 8.9% in 2002). Although final figures for 2004 are not yet available, overall 2004 estimates range from 14 to 18% growth, with expectations for 2005 growth of 4 to 5%. However, the January-September 2004 GDP level was still below the GDP level for the same period of 2001. The 2004 economic recovery was driven by a large increase in government expenditures, based on higher than expected oil prices, which in turn generated higher consumption levels.
The Consumer Price Index increase was expected to be approximately 20% at the end of 2004, following increases of 27.1% in 2003 and 31.2% in 2002.
As of January 23, 2003, all foreign exchange requests have required approval from the National Exchange Control Administration (CADIVI). This exchange control regime fixed the U.S. dollar exchange rate at Bs. 1,596=U.S. $1.00 for purchase operations, and Bs. 1,600=U.S. $1.00 for sale operations, and established the compulsory purchase and sale of foreign currency through the Central Bank. On February 7, 2004, the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank devalued the Bolivar 20%, to 1,920.00. As official foreign exchange liquidations increased over the course of 2004, the exchange rate in the quasi-legal parallel market decreased. The national budget for 2005 assumes that the new official exchange rate will be 2,150/USD, representing a devaluation of 12%. The parallel market exchange rate closed at around 2,500/USD at the end of November 2004.
Central Bank-held international reserves increased from U.S.$21.39 billion in January to U.S. $23.91 billion in November 2004, after growing U.S. $6.6 billion in 2003. There are three primary reasons that reserves did not increase more, even though oil prices averaged about $6.50 (25%) more per barrel in 2004 than in 2003. State oil corporation PDVSA bought back U.S. $2.5 billion in external debt in August 2004; CADIVI was on track to liquidate more than U.S. $12 billion in 2004 (approximately 2.7 times as much as in 2003); and the government diverted, amid great controversy, at least U.S. $2.0 billion to a new Social Development Fund run by PDVSA.
Venezuelan sovereign debt, both internal and external, has been increasing, but in 2004 the government succeeded in extending its debt profile and reducing near-term debt service. While Venezuela's debt/GDP ratio is low by Latin American standards, it has increased in recent years. Venezuela's Emerging Markets Bond Index investment risk rating, at 398 basis points, dropped somewhat over 2004, but remained higher than all countries in the region except Argentina.
There is considerable income inequality. The Gini coefficient was 0.618 during 2003. According to private sources, the percentages of poor and extremely poor among Venezuelan population were 74.6% and 39.3%, respectively, in 2003. These high ratios are due primarily to lower real wages earned by employees, and high rates of un- and underemployment.
Petroleum And Other Resources
Economic prospects remain highly dependent on oil prices and the exportation of petroleum. In 2003, the oil sector accounted for roughly a quarter of GDP, 82% of export earnings, and about half of the central government's operating revenues. Venezuela remains the fourth-leading supplier of imported crude and refined petroleum products to the United States. Even as oil prices increased in 2004, the Venezuelan government sought more income from the petroleum sector. The most prominent example was a unilateral decision in late 2004 to increase the royalty rate on production from the Orinoco heavy crude "strategic associations" with international oil companies from 1% to 16.67%.
The Government of Venezuela had historically opened up much of the hydrocarbon sector to foreign investment, promoting multi-billion dollar investment in heavy oil production, reactivation of old fields, and investment in several petrochemical joint ventures. Almost 60 foreign companies representing 14 different countries participate in one or more aspects of Venezuela's oil sector. On November 13, 2001, under the enabling law authorized by the National Assembly, President Chavez enacted the new Hydrocarbons Law, which came into effect in January 2002. This law replaced the Hydrocarbons Law of 1943 and the Nationalization Law of 1975. Among other things, the new law provided that all oil production and distribution activities were to be the domain of the Venezuelan state, with the exception of the joint ventures targeting extra-heavy crude oil production. Under the new law, private investors cannot own 50% or more of the capital stock in joint ventures involved in upstream activities. The new law also provides that private investors may own up to 100% of the capital stock in ventures concerning downstream activities, in addition to the 100% already allowed for private investors with respect to gas production ventures, as previously promulgated by the National Assembly.
During the December 2002-February 2003 general strike, petroleum production and refining by PDVSA, the state-owned oil company, almost ceased. Despite the strike, these activities eventually were substantially restarted. Out of a total workforce of 45,000, 19,000 PDVSA management and workers were subsequently dismissed because the government asserted they had abandoned their jobs during the strike. Current levels of production remain a subject of debate, with considerable difference between the levels cited by the Venezuelan government and those cited by private sector observers. With world oil prices high, there remains significant international interest in investing to develop Venezuela's oil resources. However, as of late 2004 there had been no major new deals announced under the new Hydrocarbons Law. Venezuela's Gaseous Hydrocarbons Law provides significantly more liberal terms and two large natural gas projects are in different stages of development.
Trade, Manufacturing and Agriculture
Thanks to petroleum exports, Venezuela usually posts a trade surplus. In recent years, nontraditional (i.e., non-petroleum) exports have been growing but still constitute only about one-fifth of total exports. The United States is Venezuela's leading trade partner. During 2003, the United States exported $2.8 billion in goods to Venezuela, making it the 32nd largest market for the U.S. Including petroleum products, Venezuela exported $17.1 billion in goods to the U.S., making it our 15th largest source of goods. Although final figures are not yet available, 2004 estimates are $4.5 billion for exports to Venezuela and $24 billion for imports.
The government of Venezuela has taken a vocal role against the proposed Free Trade Agreement of the Americas. Its stated goal is to develop a South American bloc prior to engaging in negotiations with the U.S.
Manufacturing contributed 16% of GDP in 2003, though manufacturing output decreased by 8%. The manufacturing sector was recovering during 2004, although it remained hindered by a marked lack of private investment. Venezuela manufactures and exports steel, aluminum, textiles, apparel, beverages, and foodstuffs. It produces cement, tires, paper, fertilizer, and assembles cars both for domestic and export markets.
Agriculture accounts for approximately 4% of GDP, 10% of the labor force, and at least one-fourth of Venezuela's land area. Venezuela exports rice, cigarettes, fish, tropical fruits, coffee, cocoa, and manufactured products. The country is not self-sufficient in most areas of agriculture. Venezuela imports about two-thirds of its food needs. In 2003, U.S. firms exported $373 million worth of agricultural products, including wheat, corn, soybeans, soybean meal, cotton, animal fats, vegetable oils, and other items to make Venezuela one of the top two U.S. markets in South America. The United States supplies more than one-third of Venezuela's food imports.
Labor and Infrastructure
Official unemployment statistics registered 12.8% in November 2004. Unofficial estimates are significantly higher. The public sector employs about 16% of the work force, while less than 1% work in the capital-intensive oil industry. About 18% of the labor force is unionized, and unions are particularly strong in the petroleum and public sectors. The "informal" sector accounts for some 47% of the work force, or 4.9 million people.
Labor unions allege the government repeatedly violates International Labor Organization (ILO) agreements on freedom of association and the right to organize and bargain collectively. Specifically, the Constitution and laws permit undue influence in the internal elections of unions. The government has told the ILO it will correct the problem; draft legislation remains pending in the National Assembly.
Venezuela has an extensive road system. With the exception of air service, transportation has failed to keep pace with the country's needs. Much of the infrastructure suffers from inadequate maintenance. Caracas has a modern subway but only one functioning rail line serves the rest of the country.
Hemispheric cooperation and integration are two pillars of President Chavez's foreign policy. Venezuela worked closely with its neighbors following the 1997 Summit of the Americas in many areas--particularly energy integration. Venezuela is currently advocating regional integration through its PetroCaribe petroleum initiative, the creation of a South American Community of Nations, and the establishment of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (a social integration project proposed by President Chavez as an alternative to the Free Trade Area of the Americas). In October 2005, Venezuela was officially invited to join MERCOSUR. Before it can become a full member of MERCOSUR, Venezuela must conform to the trade bloc's economic regulations. The Venezuelan Government maintains close relations with Cuba and advocates an end to Cuba's isolation. Venezuela promotes a "multi-polar" world based on ties among Third World countries.
Venezuela has longstanding border disputes with Colombia--most recently over the capture of a Colombian insurgent leader inside Venezuela--and Guyana, but seeks in general to resolve them peacefully. Bilateral commissions have been established by Venezuela and Colombia to address a range of pending issues, including resolution of the maritime boundary in the Gulf of Venezuela. Relations with Guyana are complicated by Venezuela's claim to roughly three-quarters of Guyana's territory. Since 1987, the two countries have held exchanges on the boundary under the "good offices" of the United Nations.
Major U.S. interests in Venezuela include promotion of U.S. exports and protection of U.S. investment, continuation of the economic reform program, preservation of Venezuela's constitutional democracy, closer counternarcotics cooperation, more vigorous efforts on counter terrorism and continued access to petroleum.
U.S.-Venezuelan commercial ties are close. The United States is Venezuela's most important trading partner, representing about half of both imports and exports. In turn, Venezuela is the United States' third-largest export market in Latin America, purchasing U.S. machinery, transportation equipment, agricultural commodities, and auto parts. Venezuela's opening of its petroleum sector to foreign investment in 1996 created extensive trade and investment opportunities for U.S. companies. As a result, Venezuela is one of the top four suppliers of foreign oil to the United States. The Department of State is committed to promoting the interests of U.S. companies in overseas markets. For contact information and a list of government publications, please go to the end of this document.
Venezuela is a minor source country for opium poppy and coca but a major transit country for cocaine and heroin. Money laundering and judicial corruption are major concerns. In 2004 and early 2005, counternarcotics cooperation between the U.S. and Venezuela deteriorated significantly. In March 2005, the Venezuelan National Guard removed its highly experienced members from the U.S.-supported Prosecutor's Drug Task Force. In August 2005, the Government of Venezuela accused the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of espionage and terminated cooperation with the DEA pending negotiation of a new cooperation agreement. On September 15, 2005 President Bush decertified Venezuela on counternarcotics cooperation.
In June 2004, Venezuela was listed at Tier 3 status in the State Department's Report on Trafficking in Persons. Tier 3 status indicates a perceived lack of effort to combat human trafficking.
Approximately 23,000 U.S. citizens living in Venezuela have registered with the U.S. embassy, an estimated three-quarters of them residing in the Caracas area. An estimated 12,000 U.S. tourists visit Venezuela annually. About 500 U.S. companies are represented in the country.
Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
Ambassador--William R. Brownfield
Deputy Chief of Mission--Kevin Whitaker
Political Counselor--Robert Downes
Economic Counselor--Andrew Bowen
Commercial Counselor--Sean Kelley
Consul General--Dan Keller
Management Counselor--Sandra Muench
Regional Security Officer--Daniel Garner
Public Affairs Counselor--Salome Hernandez
U.S. Embassy
Calle F and Calle Suapure
Colinas de Valle Arriba
Caracas, Venezuela
(tel. 58-212-975-6411)
Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Other Government Contacts
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
2201 C. Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
Main Switchboard: 202-647-4000 (http://www.state.gov)
U.S. Department of Commerce, Trade Information Center, International Trade Administration
14th and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20230
Main Switchboard: 800-USA-TRADE (http://www.ita.doc.gov)
Venezuela-American Chamber of Commerce
Torre Credival, Piso 10
2nda Avenida de Campo Alegre
Campo Alegre, Apartado 5181
Caracas 1010A, Venezuela
Tel: 58-212-263-0833, Fax: 58-212-263-1829/0586, E-mail: email@example.com


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אנחנו בפייסבוק
Some 200 Israeli, foreign photographers participate in this year's festival, focusing on themes of environment, community, art
Yehudit Yahav
Published: 09.30.12, 14:09 / Israel Culture
Yehudit Yahav
The festival will include a project in collaboration with Google, as well as several exhibitions in which photographers will select the works of their colleagues.
The Shpilman Institute for Photography will present an integrated project of exhibitions and video screenings, and huge photos with "harsh messages on the boundaries between society and art" will be showcased on the port's buildings.
Ynetnews contributed to this report


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Oklahoma City Barons: Jordan Eberle's hat trick breaks records
Jordan Eberle scoring two goals in a nine-second span was the fastest back-to-back goals in the Barons' three-year history.
Eberle scoring three goals in a 3-minute, 43-second span in the first period also shattered the franchise record.
"I didn't feel the greatest after the first shift," Eberle said. "You get a couple shots off, and they go in for you, all of a sudden the game changes for you."
In 2010, Brad Moran scored three goals for the Barons in an 8-minute, eight-second span.
Two more power play goals
Leading the American Hockey League in power play percentage (24.4 percent), the Barons scored two more power play goals in Monday's 5-2 win over the Texas Stars.
Eberle scored with the man advantage at the end of the first period. Jordan Schultz added a power-play goal midway through the second period. OKC has scored 34 power play goals in 31 games.
Bringing in the New Year
If players stayed up to welcome in the New Year, they got little sleep. The Barons had an early morning flight scheduled to Houston where they'll open a four-game road trip Tuesday at 5:05 p.m.
"I'll try to last until 11 which is midnight back home and then go to bed," said goaltender Yann Danis, from Canada.
The road trip continues with games in Grand Rapids (Friday), Milwaukee (Saturday) and Chicago (Sunday).
Oil spills ...
Defenseman Martin Marincin is third on the team with a plus-8 rating, trailing only Eberle (plus-16) and Schultz (plus-15) ... Tough man Erick Lizon, a former OKC Blazer who was signed by the Barons last week from Wichita in the CHL, needed only three games to get involved in his first fight. And his second. Lizon squared off with Luke Gazdic in the first and second periods ... The Barons have owned a lead or been tied after the first period in their last 15 games. OKC is 8-5-2 in those games ... The Barons final goal was an empty netter by team captain Josh Green.


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SWU grad wins silver at world championships
This past September, SWU graduate Lindsey Torgerson won a silver medal at the 2012 ITU Long Course Duathlon World Championships in Zofingen, Switzerland.
Southern Wesleyan University graduate and former student-athlete Lindsey Torgerson entered the endurance athletics scene, excelling on the world stage.
This past September, Torgerson, who played for the volleyball team and the 2007 NCCAA championship women's basketball team, won a silver medal at the 2012 ITU Long Course Duathlon World Championships in Zofingen, Switzerland. The Duathlon was a challenging six miles of running followed by a 90-mile bike ride and another 18-mile run.
Torgerson is fitness director at Gold's Gym in Fayetteville, N.C. Since graduating with a business degree from Southern Wesleyan University in 2009, Torgerson felt the need to compete again athletically. Working full-time and playing with a club team wasn't an option, so she explored the alternatives.
"A friend recommended that I compete in a duathlon," Torgerson said. "I bought a bike on Craigslist and entered myself into races."
Torgerson began to focus on running and cycling, entering competitions where possible. As she gained experience in training and increased her distance, she took the competition to higher levels. In May 2012, Torgerson entered the Black Water Duathlon National Championship in Maryland – a combination of six miles of running, 60 miles of bicycling and another six-mile run at the end.
Arriving in Switzerland, Torgerson was impressed by the breathtaking scenery, and although the mountainous course took her breath away in a more real sense, she finished second in the 25-29 age group.
"The morning started out cold, windy and rainy," said Torgerson, adding that running uphill on a 16 percent incline and battling buffeting winds were challenging.
"If you finish, it's an accomplishment in itself – it's grueling. Three quarters of the biking is going uphill," she said. At the end of the cycling segment, Torgerson was barely able to even walk with her bike.
"When I got off the bike my back cramped up and I was thinking, 'How am I going to get through this?'" she said. Torgerson worked through her pain and continued the duathlon with an 18-mile run.
"Honestly, it's almost like the pain numbs away and all your focus is on finishing," she said. "When you know you are about to finish, it's beautiful. You're in the Alps and you see the views."
Torgerson said she enjoyed her first trip to Europe and getting to know the others on Team USA.
"I had been to South America and the Caribbean. Switzerland is clean. Everyone spoke English so you could get around without knowing another language. Everyone rides bikes and there are few cars. There are places to park bikes and bike paths everywhere," Torgerson said, adding that the Swiss drive cars that are tiny compared to the typical American vehicle.
"I consider myself very lucky. It all kind of happened. If you don't prepare and set realistic goals you're never going to go anywhere you want to go," said Torgerson, grateful she's been able to apply what she learned – hard work and discipline – as a Warrior. She also learned about priorities and the place God has in her life.
Torgerson also gives credit to her father, Dr. Brian Torgerson, who passed away recently, for being very supportive throughout her experiences in athletic competition, and she continues to enjoy the support of her mother, Candace. Torgerson also competed Nov. 11 in the Miami Man Half Iron Triathlon, where she won first place for her age group.


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Favorite Hawaiian Businesses
|Gay Hawaii - Absolute Paradise (Big Island)
Gay Hawaii clothing-optional B&B. Walk to nudist beach. Pool, hot-tub, and large sundeck.
|Kona Coffee - (Big Island) Voted Best Kona Coffee in Hawaii! Kona Luna Coffee Delivered Farm Fresh Right to Your Door
|Douglas Simonson Gallery (Maui)
|The Isle of You (Big Island)
Gay-owned 70 acre farm and retreat.
|Mask Bar (Big Island)
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|Hawaiian Horticulture (Big Island) Seeds, cuttings, hydroponics, and more!
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Top 5 Tips for Cheap Family Vacation Ideas
by Meg MassiePosted Dec 2nd 2010 09:05 AMUpdated Jan 11th 2011 04:15 PM
1. Select a family vacation destination you can get to easily. Cheap family vacation spots are usually going to be driving distance from your house -- if you have to fly there, it's going to be hard to keep your trip under budget.
2. Consider more than just hotels. If you need more than one hotel room for your family, chances are that you can find cheaper options by forgetting about hotels altogether. Cabins, condos, and beach houses typically run cheaper than hotels when you rent by the week. For a truly cheap family vacation, consider options like camping or staying with relatives. If these alternatives aren't available, find a hotel that offers family vacation deals. Many offer discounts on a second, adjoining room for your kids.
3. Select a destination with lots of cheap family friendly activities. Hey, it's great if you can find cheap airfare to Disney for your family, but once you get there, you're still going to spend an arm and a leg on park admission and the various forms of entertainment your family will want to experience. The best cheap family vacation spots are also places where most or all of the attractions are free. Think about natural attractions, like beaches, mountains, and lakes.
4. Avoid peak season. When you travel with kids, you are probably limited by their school schedule, which means you'll be planning your family vacations for the most crowded, most expensive times of year. Will you be able to relax enough to make a family trip like this worthwhile? If you think not, consider other times of year when you can travel. Maybe there's a random four-day weekend in the school calendar in the Fall. Are there lots of nice weekend getaways near your home? Try taking two or three quick, cheap family vacations on weekends during the school year instead of a week-long, stress-filled vacation during summer break.
5. It's okay to splurge on some things. The biggest mistake you can make in planning cheap family vacations is to be way too cheap across the board. Don't deny your family a nice vacation experience just because the prices are a little steep -- remember that when you save money in lots of parts of your vacation, you have a little room to indulge. When you cut back on lodging and travel costs, you're building room in the budget for those overpriced tourist attractions your family will love.
Filed Under: Family, Budget, Tips & Tricks, Weekend Getaways
Tags: beach, camping, cheap vacations, family vacations
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You probably remember Adam Brock as the amazing, high-strung, High School Musical: On Ice-loving ad manager from MTV's The Paper. But now that his days at The Circuit are over and done with, the former Homecoming King sez he's no longer interested in pursuing a career in journalism.
"I've actually given up writing," Brock admits in an interview with Jossip.com. "With this economy like this, I just thought to myself, I don't want to be another one of those people in a cubicle, struggling. I know that I could amount to other, bigger things [in journalism] if I wanted to, but my passion now is politics. There's something about politics that just strikes me more. After the show, I felt I was obligated to major in journalism, but that's not my calling anymore."
To borrow a quote from Elle Woods' character in Legally Blonde: "Sorry, I think I just hallucinated."
Because we KNOW Paper prodigy Adam Brock (the very same Adam Brock who once wrote us an impassioned, 250-word essay on the evolution of journalism and its impact on today's society) wouldn't seriously turn his back on the world of media because of a little worldwide economic recession…would he???
Alright, who's gonna break the news to Ms. Weiss??


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Jessica Alba Flashes Her TatSunny Chanel
Someone inadvertently showed off a bit more flesh then she meant to. And not just anybody but actress and mom Jessica Alba. Alba flashed her tat when kneeling down for a chat with her little stroller bound babe Honor.
This isn't Alba's only tattoo. She has one on her neck (which she recently had removed), one on her forearm and this one, on the small of her back. When tattoos are spotted in this particular area, they are often referred to as tramp stamps. But she is neither a tramp, and this ain't no temporary stamp. This one is permanent. Unless she wants to get that one removed too. Check out what she has here.
Photo: Bauer Griffin
Article Posted 6 years Ago


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Free Crochet Pattern from Lion Brand Yarn, formatted for input to refreshable Braille displays or Braille software
Crochet Motif IX: Six-pointed Star
Lion Brand® Lion
Pattern Number: 60150 Combine these basic building blocks into afghans and garments!
SKILL LEVEL: Easy (Level 2)
SIZE: One Size
5 in. [12.75 cm] diameter
CORRECTIONS: None
820-147 Lion Wool Yarn: Purple
True, medium purple.
Quantity needed: 1 Skeins
Estimated Price: $ 5.99
Lion Brand Crochet Hook - Size H-8 (5 mm)
Quantity needed: 1
Estimated Price: $ 2.45
Lion Brand Large-Eye Blunt Needles (Set of 6)
Quantity needed: 1
Estimated Price: $ 3.59
Motif = 5 in. [12.75 cm] diameter. When you match the gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size specified in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be sufficient. The needle or hook size called for in the pattern is based on what the designer used, but it is not unusual for gauge to vary from person to person. If it takes you fewer stitches and rows to make your swatch, try using a smaller size hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles. Making a Gauge Swatch
Exact gauges is not imporant to this project.
Ch 9, sl st in beg ch to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, work 18 sc in ring, join with sl st in beg sc.
Rnd 2: (Ch 9, sc in 4th ch from hook, hdc in each of next 2 ch, dc into each of next 3 ch, skip next 2 sc, sl st in next sc) around - 6 points.
Fasten off.
Weave in ends.
beg = begin(s)(ning)
ch(s) = chain(s)
dc = double crochet
hdc = half double crochet
rnd(s) = round(s)
sc = single crochet
sl st = slip stitch
Every effort has been made to have the knitting and crochet instructions accurate and complete. We cannot be responsible for variance of individual knitters and crocheters, human errors, or typographical mistakes.
We want your project to be a success! If you need help with this or any other Lion Brand pattern, e-mail support is available 7 days per week by mailing firstname.lastname@example.com.
For over a thousand free patterns available in versions for the vision-impaired, visit our website http://www.LionBrand.com
To order, visit our website http://www.e-yarn.com or call: (800) 258-9276 any time!
Copyright ©1998-2011 Lion Brand Yarn Company, all rights reserved. No pattern or other material may be reproduced -- mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying -- without written permission of Lion Brand Yarn Company.
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Windsmith Forum launched as a global wind farm operations user group
Check out our very own Evelyn Carpenter on pg. 68 of Wind Today
Renewable Energy
Sólás is Irish Gaelic for "Light".
Why is light important? Almost all of the earth's energy is from sunlight. Hydropower, solar power, wind power, biomass, and even oil and gas originates from sunlight.
Wind power is generated by the heating and cooling of the earth's surface.
Hydropower comes from evaporation.
Solar power is a conversion of the sun's energy.
Oil and gas comes from photosynthesis.
Solas Energy Consulting is focused on providing consulting services for renewable energy solutions and climate change. Our expertise spans project development, business development, and climate change policy analysis. With experience in renewable energy and climate change dating to the late 1990's, you can be assured that Solas has the depth and perspective required to help your business navigate through the many issues associated with Climate Change policy and project development.


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The least of these
The "conversation" between the evangelical left and right is heating up as President Obama, the left's champion, sinks in the polls and his legislative majority is in jeopardy. Bible-thumping progressives warn of the judgment day, repeating the Lord's words, "as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me" (Matthew 25:34-46). When Christians serve the poor, when we make an effort to alleviate their suffering, Jesus receives that kindness as given to Him personally. But the left uses this passage to justify expanding the welfare state to European proportions. But as someone once said to a traveler asking directions, "You can't get there from here."
Leave aside the question whether such help is charity or justice, and the significance of the qualification "my brothers," and consider who the poor are whom Jesus has in mind. The poor in the Bible-"the least of these"-are not what we call poor today. In America, "the poor" are fed, clothed, and housed at a level far above what the teeming masses in the shantytowns of Brazil, Haiti, and Bangladesh have ever known. They are generally poor only relative to our widespread middle class expectations.
By contrast, when the Bible speaks of the poor, it has in mind people in desperate situations. They are people for whom it is a challenge each day simply to feed themselves and their families. The Bible typically presents them as the widow, the orphan, and sometimes the sojourner. These are people who have lost their natural protectors and have little or no means of providing for themselves. They are exposed to the wolves of society, powerful and unscrupulous people of means who would devour them for selfish gain.
But what are we to do for these people when we find them? It depends who you are. "Blessed is the one who considers the poor!" (Psalm 41:1). But what charity and justice require of you by way of "considering" the poor around you depends on your station in life, your relationship to them, and their particular circumstances.
Whereas the left reflexively views civil government as having chief responsibility for aiding the poor and suffering of every description, the Bible clearly distinguishes between appropriate private and public roles. Aside from public safety, what the civil authorities give to the poor is always equal protection of the laws through the courts.
The Apostle Paul certainly taught that Christians should help the needy, but he just as clearly understood that the closer the givers are to them, the more helpful the giving will be. Hence, Paul tells Timothy, "Honor widows who are truly widows" (1 Timothy 5:3-14). One of Paul's concerns here is the efficient use of scarce resources. Don't unnecessarily burden the deacons! But the moral concern is that diaconal assistance should not go to widows whose family can help them. The closer people are to the poor relationally, the greater their moral responsibility to provide for them. "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8). Paul makes no mention of the civil government. He issues no call for Christians to protest the "injustice" of the Roman government leaving the poor without food and work.
In giving to the destitute, givers should also be mindful that their compassion be effective and not just a sop to the conscience that does unintentional harm. Indiscriminate giving to panhandlers encourages shameless fakes to take to the streets in great numbers for free money. As people become more generous in their handouts, you could expect begging to become more organized around the equivalent of pimps. In the film Slumdog Millionaire, we saw a man burn the eyes of an orphan in his care so that the boy's begging would be more lucrative. This happens in countries where almsgiving is common. In Albania, I saw a young man with no arms or legs set out shirtless in a busy square. No doubt someone maimed him as a child, perhaps an uncle or stepfather, or perhaps even a captor, so that he would elicit greater sympathy and attract more generous giving.
Christians have no disagreement over the moral necessity of kindness to the poor. Our point of debate is what the legitimate and most beneficial means are for accomplishing this. But it is sheer political fantasy that in Matthew 25 Jesus was mandating a government engineered transfer of wealth from the rich to the poor in the form of direct payments and a broad array of social services and economic subsidies.


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Currency Displayed in
ChokeSports.com and Isami have a strong reputation as makers of some of the best martial arts gloves in the world. Major fight organizations such as K-1 and Shoot Boxing use our premium kickboxing gloves in their professional events.
On this page you will find a whole range of Boxing, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Full Contact Karate gloves as well as hand wraps and glove wristbands. From premium gloves custom made in Japan all the way to more affordable gloves produced in Thailand or China. We guarantee you will find the perfect gloves for training and competition.
All prices are in USD


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Dr. Jeffrey McClurken, Associate Professor and Department Chair of History and American Studies received funding to travel to the National Council on Public Historyannual meeting in Ottawa, Canada in April. Jeff along with faculty from the Center for History & New Media at George Mason University, Connecticut Humanities, and the Center for Public History + Digital Humanities at Cleveland State University will be presenting "WordPress as a Public History Platform." This session will offer diverse examples of how WordPress is being used to educate students, collaborate with near and distant colleagues, and reach the broader audiences beyond our institutional walls. Jeff will be presenting on the work done by his students in UMWBlogs in Digital History (http://dh2012.umwblogs.org/), History of Technology and Culture (http://historyoftech.umwblogs.org/), and US Women's History since 1870 (http://hist328.umwblogs.org/links-to-the-various-decade-research-sites/).
Dr. Cristina Turdean, Assistant Professor in the Historic Preservation Department received funding through the Meaningful Student Learning Micro Grant. The award supports the purchase of a museum cataloging software needed for the class project in the Museum Collections Management course. The students in this class will inventory and catalog the collections of the Mary Washington House, a property of the local non-profit organization Washington Heritage Museums. This project gives UMW students the unique chance to hone their practical skills through classroom instruction and community service.
Dr. Suzanne Sumner, Professor in the Mathematics Department, received funding on behalf of Project Kaleidoscope's faculty workshop to remind faculty how difficult it is for students to learn something completely new and different.


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Postgame Notes
Texas Tech extended its home winning streak to 11-straight games, its longest since winning 19 in a row from Feb. 18-March 9, 2011.
Texas Tech improved to 19-12 all-time against Texas State with the win and 4-5 in games played it Lubbock. It was Texas State's first visit to Rocky Johnson Field since the Red Raiders swept a doubleheader on April 8, 2008.
The walk-off victory was the first for the Red Raiders in the seventh inning since Adriana Perez crushed a two-run homer on April 1, 2012, that gave Texas Tech a 5-3 victory over Iowa State.
With the win, the Red Raiders improve to 19-2 this year when leading after the sixth inning and 106-5 all-time under head coach Shanon Hays when doing so.
Texas Tech is now 6-6 this year when its opponent scores the opening run. Texas State plated the game's first run off a two-out RBI single in the fifth inning.
Texas Tech improved to 6-4 in one-run games this year and 30-18 all-time under Shanon Hays with the victory.
The Red Raiders were out-hit for only the ninth time this season. Texas Tech is now 4-5 in those games with the win.
Shanon Hays
Cassie McClure
Gretchen Aucoin
Brittany Talley
Kristi Belshe


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Continuing our series handicapping the Super Bowl props, Fantasy Source, The Linemakers' sibling at Sporting News, breaks down wide receivers and tight ends.
Many of Fantasy Source's projections are very close to the posted prop odds. The list below, therefore, is very selective. Only when there's a significant difference between FS projections and the Las Vegas number do we point out a potential wagering opportunity.
A couple of betting tips. First, be selective and pick your spots. You'll be a more successful gambler if you identify some key opportunities rather than playing the entire board. This applies not only to Super Bowl props, but to wagering in general. Second, when choosing your props, lean to the side that jibes with the team you like. If you're going to take the Ravens +4, for example, consider going OVER on Torrey Smith yards or UNDER on the 49ers' Michael Crabtree.
Fantasy Source projects San Francisco's Randy Moss, the self-proclaimed greatest receiver of all-time, to score a touchdown. Moss getting in the end zone is listed at 3-to-1 odds at the LVH SuperBook. But why not take a shot with much longer odds that he'll be the first or last player to score?
If FS is correct and Moss finds paydirt, no statistician would make the case that his score is more likely to occur in one point of the game instead of another. Moss is 15-to-1 to score the first touchdown of the game, and 18-to-1 to score the last one. If you share the same hunch as our fantasy team, one of these wagering options may be worth your while.
Fantasy Source also likes the Ravens' Smith to score, a prop that can be had at +165. It's important to note that the true odds of Smith scoring are likely much longer than that, so this isn't exactly a value play. But if you're on the Ravens, and you have a hunch on Smith, maybe it's worth a few bucks.
Same goes for Baltimore tight end Dennis Pitta. Fantasy Source projects him to score, but his odds of doing so are a pretty paltry +150.
Smith is also a reasonable play in the "player to score a touchdown first" props against San Francisco's Michael Crabtree, Frank Gore and Colin Kaepernick. Smith is a +135 underdog vs. Crabtree and +155 against Gore. While both Crabtree and Gore are projected to score, too, there's nothing logically to suggest that they should score before Smith. So why not take a shot with plus-money? Smith is a pick 'em against Kaepernick, who FS does not project to score.
Total receiving yards
San Francisco tight end Vernon Davis presents the best opportunity in the total receiving yards prop category, according to Fantasy Source projections. Again, there's typically not a big difference between FS numbers and those posted in Vegas; Davis is one of the exceptions.
FS projects Davis to accumulate 55 receiving yards. The LVH's total on this stat is 43.5. If you're on the 49ers on Sunday, think about taking a shot on this OVER.
Meanwhile, we're looking at UNDER on Delanie Walker's receiving yards. The LVH's number is 24.5; FS projects 18. Walker has had more than 24 yards receiving in just six of 18 games this season. And if he doesn't catch a pass, UNDER wins.
There are two player vs. player total receiving yards props with differences of 5 or more yards from Fantasy Source projections.
The 49ers' Davis is a 22.5-yard underdog in a matchup with the Ravens' Smith. FS projects Smith (63 yards) to get just 8 more yards than Davis (55). Smith's a live dog in this spot.
Moss, meanwhile, is a 27.5-yard dog against Smith. FS has Moss racking up 41 yards, making him a tempting play in this prop.
More FS projections vs. prop odds: Quarterbacks | Running backs


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Museums and galleries
Explore the ruins of Kirkstall Abbey with free weekend guided tours
Come and explore Kirkstall Abbey with our new volunteer tour guides. Our guides will take you around the 12th century ruin, explaining all about the different areas that remain, such as the Cloisters, the Church, the Infirmary and the Kitchen, bringing the abbey to life.
The free tours run throughout the day from 11am every Saturday and Sunday and last about three quarters of an hour. You do not need to book a place, simply come to the Visitor Centre where a guide will collect you. The free guided tours will continue at the weekends in September.
Kirkstall Abbey is one of the most complete examples of a medieval Cistercian abbey in Britain. Set in wonderful parkland along the banks of the River Aire, Kirkstall Abbey boasts historic architecture amid a haven of wildlife and greenery.
Contact details:
Please contact the Abbey directly if you have any queries on 0113 230 5492
Additional information:
KirkstallLeedsLS5 3EH
0113 3784079
Visit one of the best preserved Cistercian monasteries in the country and step back in time to see how the monks lived.
Refreshments are available from the Gatehouse café across the road at Abbey House Museum.
Baby changeToiletsVisitor centrePicnic areaCafeEducation facilitiesPlay area
For information on access at this venue, please look for the link under 'related pages' or visit http://www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries/Pages/kirkstallabbey/Access-at-Kirkstall-Abbey.aspx
Finding your way to Kirkstall Abbey.
By bus: Bus numbers 33, 33a and 757 travel from the city centre to Kirkstall Road.
By train: The nearest train station is Headingley and is a 1 mile walk from the Abbey. Please contact Metroline for up-to-date travel information on (0113) 245 7676.
By car: If you are using a route planner, our postcode is LS5 3EH.
A large free car park is situated opposite Kirkstall Abbey, on Abbey Walk. This includes disabled access parking.
26 May 2016
Leeds City Museum
Workshop for adults 18+
27 May 2016
Calling all under 5s and their carers
05 June 2016
Talk suitable for adults 18+
Official local authority website for Leeds providing information on local services.
© LCC Leeds City Council | 2013