text:
Why FBI Intelligence Subpoenas Threaten Civil Liberties
The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence has reported out a bill, S. 1266, that threatens civil liberties because it authorizes the FBI to issue so-called ""administrative subpoenas"" in intelligence investigations ""to protect against"" international terrorism or spying for any records or other materials it considers relevant to its intelligence probe. These special, secret subpoenas would be issued without any accountability to a judge, unless challenged by the recipient. If S. 1266 is enacted, these secret FBI subpoenas would dramatically alter the balance between government power and individual liberty. Congress has rejected such powers for the FBI in the past. It should do so again.
FBI Intelligence Investigations Pose Special Risks to Democratic Freedoms
Intelligence investigations are exceedingly broad and can investigate lawful activity, including First Amendment activity.
- The subpoenas could investigate lawful activity. They are not for investigations of terrorism but investigations to protect against terrorism or other national security threats.
- Information that might be sought for an investigation to protect against terrorism or other national security threats is almost limitless.
- For example, imagine an investigation to ""protect against"" a possible terrorist threat against the Internet - not based on any specific plot. What private information might be relevant to such an inquiry?
- Another example - an investigation, again not based on any specific conspiracy, to ""protect against"" the possibility that young men who show special interest in the ""end times"" may be recruited for terrorism. A list of people who checked out books on this topic might certainly be ""relevant"" to such an investigation
- The only protection - that an investigation of a U.S. person may not be based solely on First Amendment activity - provides little protection because investigations are almost never based on one factor alone.
· Intelligence investigations are secret.
- The proposed FBI subpoenas contain an automatic, permanent secrecy order preventing a recipient from disclosing the demand and alerting the public to government abuse.
- Unlike criminal or administrative investigators, intelligence investigators will likely not have to account for their actions in a trial or other public proceeding.
- For example, the result of a secret FBI intelligence investigation may be that a person is prevented from flying by being placed on a no-fly list, or is secretly ""rendered"" to detention by a foreign government.
Ample Powers Already Exist to Obtain Records for Terrorism Investigations
· The FBI already has ample powers to obtain relevant records (including sensitive records like library records, medical records, and other confidential records) relevant to terrorism.
· If there is a reasonable indication of criminal activity warranting a criminal investigation of terrorism, the FBI can obtain:
o Search warrants based on probable cause and approved by a neutral magistrate, which can be immediately executed and can, in an emergency, be obtained by telephone.
o An order from a grand jury properly convened to investigate a federal crime, which can, in an emergency, require the return ""forthwith"" of relevant materials.
· If the FBI is conducting an intelligence investigation to ""protect against"" international terrorism or other national security threats, it can:
o Obtain a secret business records order from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, based on a certification it is ""sought for"" such an investigation, and
o For communications service provider records, financial records, or credit reports, issue a secret ""national security letter"" (which is like an administrative subpoena in some respects) compelling the business to turn over the records.
· Providing a broad FBI secret subpoena would have the effect of rendering the debate on the limits of FISA records authority and NSLs essentially meaningless, because secret FBI subpoenas will take their place.
· Creating FBI subpoenas would essentially get rid of the already greatly diminished role of judges in overseeing FISA records demands before they are issued under section 215 of the Patriot Act.
o The requirement of prior FISA court review for records demands provided in section 215 - although inadequate because the standards are overly broad - was an important reason why Congress agreed to the Patriot Act.
o Even in the days immediately after 9/11, Congress rejected unfettered FBI access to records in intelligence probes because of the impact such a secret power would have on basic freedoms.
No Valid Precedent Exists for FBI Intelligence Agents to Have Broad Subpoena Powers
· Proponents argue that there already exist 335 ""administrative subpoenas"" that permit the government to obtain records without a court or grand jury - what's one more?
· In fact, the vast majority - 330 - of these are true ""administrative subpoenas"" - subpoenas that allow regulatory agencies to obtain records in order to ensure compliance by the industry being regulated.
· FBI intelligence agents are not a regulatory agency and the subjects of their investigations - which can include religious, political, and other lawful activities of American citizens - are certainly not a regulated industry.
· Each of the five ""administrative subpoenas"" that used mainly in criminal investigations is far narrower than the authority the FBI is now seeking:
o Inspector General subpoenas (5 U.S.C. App III) - IGs are unique watchdogs primarily focused on government wrongdoing - waste, fraud and abuse;
o Secret Service subpoenas (18 U.S.C. § 3486(a)(1)(A)(ii) - These narrow subpoenas are only allowed for an ""imminent"" threat to a protectee and are rarely used as a result (normally, grand jury subpoenas are used);
o Justice Department Medicare/Medicaid fraud subpoenas (18 U.S.C. § 3486(a)(1)(A)(i)(I)) - these subpoenas, while criminal, involve investigations of a highly regulated government program involving the use of taxpayer funds, with special protection for patient privacy;
o FBI Controlled Substances Act subpoenas (21 U.S.C. § 876) - these subpoenas grew out of a regulatory scheme involving pharmacies and doctors dispensing of regulated drugs; the FBI acquired this power when it was given joint jurisdiction over enforcement with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA);
o FBI child abuse subpoenas (18 U.S.C. § 3486(a)(1)(C)) - these are mainly used to obtain subscriber account information from ISP - a power the FBI already has in intelligence investigations using ""national security letters.""
FBI Cannot Be Expect to Act As a Check on Itself
· With few exceptions, the FBI's ability to compel production of records in both criminal and national security investigations is subject not only to after-the-fact judicial review, but also to outside checks on the issuance of such demands.
· In criminal investigations, most subpoenas are issued under the authority of the grand jury.
o The grand jury is an ancient institution recognized by the Magna Carta in 1215 and its independence from the prosecution was settled long before the Constitution.
o Grand jurors are ordinary citizens who act as a check on both prosecutors and the FBI - operating (in the words of a handbook for grand jurors) both as a ""sword"" and a ""shield"" - ""protecting citizens from unwarranted or inappropriate prosecutions.""
o Grand jurors take an oath to inquire ""diligently and objectively"" and are to determine ""without malice, fear, hatred, or other emotion"" whether there is probable cause that a crime has been committed.
o Grand jury subpoenas can only be obtained with the approval of a federal prosecutor for the purpose of further the grand jury's investigation into serious federal crimes.
· In intelligence investigations, the FBI operates under the authority of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
o The FISC also operates as a ""sword"" (permitted extraordinary, secret surveillance) and a ""shield"" (acting as a check on the executive's national security powers.)
o FISC approval is required for the FBI to use intrusive intelligence surveillance powers - including wiretaps, physical searches, and demands for records.
· Administrative subpoenas would give the FBI all of the extraordinary, secret powers of the grand jury and the FISA court, without the historic independence of those powers from the executive that allows those institutions also to function as a ""shield"" against government excess.
Review After-the-Fact Is An Insufficient Check for Intelligence Investigations
· Vast quantities of information are held by third parties and businesses as a result of the digital revolution, including intimate details medical records, genetic information, or a personal calendar.
· Businesses or other third parties will receive immunity and their customers will never know their records have been obtained. As a result, they have little or no incentive to challenge.
· The standard of review of ""administrative subpoenas"" is based on judicial deference to administrative agency regulatory expertise, and is entirely inappropriate to protect against abuse of the FBI's intelligence powers.
· For example, if a runaway FBI agent requested that a credit card company secret disclose all the credit card purchases of the members of an unpopular organization, the company would have little incentive to seek review because it 1) is unlikely to succeed in a challenge under the deferential standard applied to administrative subpoenas, 2) will receive immunity for complying, and 3) will never have to inform its customers their privacy was violated.
Strong Checks Are Needed Because the Stakes Are Higher
· FBI intelligence investigations to protect against national security threats can lead to outcomes far more serious than investigations of ""crooked doctors"" or other administrative probes.
· Intelligence information is often used outside a transparent court process to take adverse action, such as by putting a suspect on a ""no fly"" list or being fired from a government job.
· ""Crooked doctors"" do not face being locked up as illegal enemy combatants without charge or access to a lawyer; being ""rendered"" to Egypt or Syria to face possible torture; being deported with secret evidence; or being charged with one of the 23 federal terrorism crimes that carries a death sentence.


text:
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Radius: ... miles
Get an alert when new Who Shot Sherlock dates are announced
Who Shot Sherlock are a five-piece rock band from Dorset in the South-West of England. The band, all keen writers have been gigging for only a short while but writing for around a year.
Their influences range from Don Broco to Foo Fighters to Twin Atlantic.
See more info at facebook.com/whoshotsherlock
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Freshest, tightest Band I've seen and heard in years, thoughtful lyrics, great guitar riffs, lead and bass lines...backed up by an energetic drummer...The second E.P. DEUS is available I hear on iTunes and I will download it as it's absolutely immense, I think they're on FB and Twitter as well.… (cont'd) Labo from Southampton
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
For Immediate Release
June 5, 2002
For More Information
Contact: Public Affairs Office
(850) 488-0420
TALLAHASSEE - Governor Jeb Bush today signed the 2002-2003 state budget which will allow the Department of Corrections to continue to provide a safe and secure environment for all Floridians. "Under the leadership of Governor Bush, criminals are now serving 83 percent of their sentences, that is up from less than 50 percent in 1994," said Secretary Michael W. Moore. "Also, with the funding for the additional prison beds, it will enable us to make sure inmates are serving the full length of their sentence.
"With this budget we will be able to continue to operate a secure correctional system that is safe for our staff and citizens, as well as supervise offenders in the community at a level of security commensurate with the danger they may present," said Moore.
Among the highlights in the FY 2002-2003 budget is funding to restore substance abuse treatment programs. As a result of the 6 percent increase to the 2001-02 budget, 369 more people will be able to receive substance abuse treatment. Also included was funding for continued construction at Lowell Correctional Institution. This expansion will allow the Department to house 552 additional criminals making Florida's cities and towns safer.
Other highlights of DOC's $1.6 billion budget are:


text:
The Real Presence - Pack Of 50 Tracts
The doctrine of the Real Presence asserts that in the Holy Eucharist, Jesus is literally and wholly present—body and blood, soul and divinity—under the appearances of bread and wine.
Evangelicals and Fundamentalists frequently attack this doctrine as "unbiblical," but the Bible is forthright in declaring it (cf. 1 Cor. 10:16–17, 11:23–29; and, most forcefully, John 6:32–71).
The early Church Fathers interpreted these passages literally. In summarizing the early Fathers' teachings on Christ's Real Presence, renowned Protestant historian of the early Church J. N. D. Kelly, writes: "Eucharistic teaching, it should be understood at the outset, was in general unquestioningly realist, i.e., the consecrated bread and wine were taken to be, and were treated and designated as, the Savior's body and blood" (Early Christian Doctrines, 440).
This tract examines and summarizes the early Fathers' teachings on Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist.
|Product Code
|Pack of 50 Tracts
|Catholic Answers
|Catholic Answers


text:
A GROUP of superfit fundraisers are preparing to pedal from London to Barcelona to raise funds for a childrens' charity.
On Sunday, Bryan Marshall, David Winskill, Iain White and Andy Russell, all from Glasgow, will set off on the challenge of a lifetime, to cycle from London to Barcelona in 14 days to raise funds for Yorkhill Children's Charity.
Riding road bikes, they will be covering a distance of more than 1384 miles (2215km)and the team hopes to average over 100 miles each day and will take in two of the toughest mountain stages of the Tour de France.
Following the success of a sponsored cycle event last year from Calais to Barcelona, when the same fearless foursome managed to raise more than £9000 for Yorkhill Children's Charity, the team is hoping to exceed this amount for the charity this year.
To find out more visit www.yorkhill.org


text:
UK Property Law
Get UK Property Law Questions Answered by Experts
Please remember to RATE my answer by using the smiley faces OK SERVICE, GOOD SERVICE OR EXCELLENT SERVICE. If you seek clarification please ask.
Hi, From the information you have provided, it seems that you require Statutory Declarations from various parties evidencing the state of repair of the property at certain periods of time.
I hope this answers your question. If so, kindly click ACCEPT.
If you wish to discuss, please feel free to ask further questions.
Kind regards
Hi, a statutory declaration needs to be witnessed by a solicitor
Is there a particular reason why it cannot be witnessed by a legal profrssional?
costs and getting 5 people to see the same solicitor in one day to get their statement witness is something timewise I can't do as they are up in the Midlands and I am in London.


text:
Incidence of Acute Lung Injury in Children (PED-ALIEN)
This study has been completed.
Dr. Negrin University Hospital
Asociación Científica Pulmón y Ventilación Mecánica
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Jesus Villar, Dr. Negrin University Hospital
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: June 10, 2010
Last updated: February 23, 2013
Last verified: February 2013
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Detailed Description:
Acute lung injury in children is a syndrome of rapid onset of acute respiratory failure and require admission into intensive care units (ICU) for advanced life support. There are almost no information on epidemiology of acute lung injury. Published studies do not have information for an entire year and none of them have evaluated the degree of oxygenation failure under standard ventilator settings. The investigators will perform a 1-year prospective audit of all patients admitted with acute lung injury in a network of pediatric ICUs in Spain.
|Acute Lung Injury Children
|Other: Evaluation oxygenation under standard ventilator settings
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Observational Model: Cohort
Time Perspective: Prospective
|Official Title:
|Acute Lung Injury in Children: Epidemiology and Natural History: The Pediatric ALIEN Study
Resource links provided by NLM:
Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center resources: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Respiratory Distress Syndrome, InfantU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by Jesus Villar, Dr. Negrin University Hospital:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Number of cases of acute lung injury per 100,000 population [ Time Frame: 1 year ]
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- Assessment of degree of lung severity at onset and at 24 h of the onset of acute lung injury [ Time Frame: 1-year ]
|Study Start Date:
|February 2010
|Study Completion Date:
|March 2011
|Primary Completion Date:
|February 2011 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Pediatric ALIEN
All children from 1 month to 18 years old meeting the American-European Consensus Conference definition of acute lung injury
Other: Evaluation oxygenation under standard ventilator settings
Measure of PaO2 under standard FiO2-PEEP
Detailed Description:
We will evaluate oxygenation under standard ventilator settings (FiO2 0.5 and 1 on PEEP 5 or 10 cmH2O) in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Outcome measures will include: overall ICU mortality, number of patients meeting ARDS criteria at 24 hours, and stratification of patients depending on PaO2/FiO2 ratio at 24 h of meeting acute respiratory distress syndrome criteria.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|1 Month to 18 Years (Child, Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
|Sampling Method:
|Non-Probability Sample
Study Population
Children from 1 month to 18 years old, admmitted into ICU, and meeting the American-European Consensus Conference definition for acute lung injury (ALI).
Inclusion Criteria:
- Acute onset of respiratory failure
- Age 1 month to 18 years old
- Bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on Chest X-ray
- Absence of left ventricular failure, PaO2/FiO2>300 mmHg
Exclusion Criteria:
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01142544
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01142544
|Jesús Villar
|Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain, 35010
Sponsors and Collaborators
Dr. Negrin University Hospital
Asociación Científica Pulmón y Ventilación Mecánica
|Principal Investigator:
|Jesús Villar, MD, PhD
|Hospital Dr. Negrin, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
|Principal Investigator:
|Robert M Kacmarek, RRT, PhD
|Massachusetts general Hospital, Boston USA
|Principal Investigator:
|Yolanda López, MD, PhD
|Hospital de Cruces, Barakaldo, Vizcaya, Spain
|Principal Investigator:
|Amelia Martínez, MD, PhD
|Hospital Infantil del Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
More Information
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Keywords provided by Jesus Villar, Dr. Negrin University Hospital:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
López-Fernández Y, Azagra AM, de la Oliva P, Modesto V, Sánchez JI, Parrilla J, Arroyo MJ, Reyes SB, Pons-Ódena M, López-Herce J, Fernández RL, Kacmarek RM, Villar J; Pediatric Acute Lung Injury Epidemiology and Natural History (PED-ALIEN) Network. Pediatric Acute Lung Injury Epidemiology and Natural History study: Incidence and outcome of the acute respiratory distress syndrome in children. Crit Care Med. 2012 Dec;40(12):3238-45. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e318260caa3.
|Responsible Party:
|Jesus Villar, Director of Research, Dr. Negrin University Hospital
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01142544 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|June 10, 2010
|Last Updated:
|February 23, 2013
Keywords provided by Jesus Villar, Dr. Negrin University Hospital:
acute lung injury
lung damage
PaO2/FiO2 ratio
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Wounds and Injuries
Lung Injury
Acute Lung Injury
Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult
Lung Diseases
Respiratory Tract Diseases
Thoracic Injuries
Respiration Disorders
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


text:
David Wilkie, Scotland's greatest swimmer, last night reminded Ross Murdoch that he would be judged on his ability to win multiple major titles after the hero of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games was narrowly beaten to gold at the European Championships in Berlin.
Murdoch went into the 200 metres breaststroke final as the fastest man in the world this year, but Germany's Marco Koch held off his late dart in a way Michael Jamieson was unable to in Glasgow, forcing Murdoch to settle for another silver medal to go with the one he won in the 100m on Tuesday.
The Stirling-based 20-year-old can now perhaps appreciate what Jamieson went through at Tollcross Park, upstaged by an irresistible force. His own time of 2min 07.77sec was, again, world-class, but Koch swam 2:07.47 to rank sixth in the all-time list.
Loading article content
What the events of the last few weeks have proved, in 200m breaststroke terms, is that next year's World Championships and the Rio Olympics of 2016 could bear witness to some of the greatest racing the sport has seen, with two Scots at the centre of the scramble for gold medals and world records.
"It's phenomenal that we have two of the fastest 200m swimmers in the world," Wilkie told Herald Sport. "We've never really had that before in British swimming, let alone Scottish swimming, but it's about proving yourself in an area
like the Olympic Games, which really does separate the men from the boys."
Disregarding short-course accolades, Wilkie remains
the last able-bodied Scottish male to have conquered the continent - he won two gold medals in 1974 - after Murdoch failed narrowly to do what Kirsty Balfour and Hannah Miley have done for the female contingent in recent years.
"Every record is there to
be broken," said Wilkie. "I still retain the one of being the only Scot to win every single major championships and it's about winning Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games, World and European Championships - and that's what these guys have got to do if they want
that mantle.
"The way Ross swam at the Commonwealth Games, you would have expected him to win that race tonight but the home crowd plays a huge role and the German guy was a little bit too strong.
"You don't get too
many shots to be European champion and I think he will look upon this as a missed opportunity. Of course, if you had offered him two European silver medals at the start of the summer he would have taken it but the Commonwealth Games changed everything and he might see this result as a bit
of a failure."
Britain's overall performance in Berlin has been anything but a failure. On top of Murdoch's silver brace the team have
now won five gold medals,
with Jazz Carlin the latest to top the podium in last night's 800m freestyle, and 16 in all.


text:
James Carville to the White House: It's Panic Time!
James Carville unwittingly exposes what's wrong with the Democratic Party in his column advising President Obama today. Carville says it's time for the White House to panic, and then do four things to show the public that Obama is changing course: Fire people, indict people, state his case, and then keep stating his case.
Carville says Obama should fire his economic team. Great idea, but most of the original Obama economic team is already gone.
The indictments Carville wants are presumably of Republicans and in regard to the financial collapse, but Carville never specifies who, and in any regard he is politicizing the law unless he includes Barney Frank and other Democrats who blocked reforming Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. And there is zero chance that Carville intends that.
Obama has been making his case, just badly. "If you love me, pass this bill" and send another half trillion down a rat hole is not going to fly. Most Americans just aren't that into Obama.
There is something missing from Carville's advice, and it's rather important: Policy. Nowhere does James Carville advise President Obama to change course on substantive policy. Everything Carville advises has to do with appearances. Push the panic button! Fire! Indict! But don't change any actual policy.
It's not appearances, but policy, that has left us with an economy in malaise. It's not appearance, but policy, that has put the Jewish vote in play. It's not appearance, but policy, that has the government regulating the life out of business and producing stubborn unemployment. It's not appearances, but policy, that has the administration mired in two scandals -- gunwalker and Solyndra.
The appearances Carville wants to change are products of bad policy, but as is typical of the modern Democratic party, style trumps substance.


text:
Sure, everyone knows you can use FatWallet to find the best coupons and deals online, or perhaps you use other price comparison sites as well. But do you know if the online vendor and/or your transaction is safe? While FatWallet and other shopping engines do their best to cut out the shady vendors, you should be wary.
It's great to save money, and you should always look for the best deal. But a deal is only good if you don't lose your money in the process! This easy-to-understand guide takes you through what you need to know and what you need to look for when you're shopping for your next must-have item.
First, The Basics: Computer Security
Safe shopping starts with a safe computer. First, use a current Web browser that is fully patched. Don't use an old browser. IE 6 users, I'm looking at you! Microsoft has an up-to-date, modern browser in Internet Explorer 10 and of course there are many, excellent alternatives such as Firefox, Chrome, Opera and Safari.
Next, ensure your antivirus software (AV) is up to date on your computer. Out of date virus definitions and/or AV engine can sometimes be just as bad as no AV program. And if you don't have antivirus, then drop everything and get something installed ASAP. If you're unsure, just ask your friendly neighborhood geek. Ideally, your AV program should also detect and clean up spyware and malware.
Last, don't share your computer. Why? Because personal information such as names, addresses, what sites you've visited, and potentially even payment information like credit card numbers, can get lodged in little caves on your computer with techie names like cookies, files and caches.
If you must share your computer, it should only be with your spouse/significant other. And even then, it's best to set it up to use different user accounts.
The absolutely strict rule on computer use is not to use a public computer to shop online. Pretty much, you should think of a public computer in this way: "Don't touch it, you don't know where it has been!"
Beef Up Your Browser's Security
When you're surfing the Web, it's almost impossible to tell just by visually examining a site whether or not it's dangerous or run by a dishonest operator. Luckily there are tools to tell us – while we're surfing – if those sites are (or are potentially) dangerous.
Two top extensions for your browser are WOT (Web of Trust) and McAfee's SiteAdvisor. These are available for Firefox, Chrome and IE. WOT also offers a bookmarklet for Opera and Safari. You may also go directly to their respective websites to punch in a URL/domain name to see if they (the questionable sites) have any black marks on their record.
Evaluate the Vendor's Website
Many online shopping websites sport 3rd-party certification-like images such as those from BBB and TRUSTe. Be a bit wary of those, as it is very easy for vendors to include the logos/images on their websites without actual certification.
Ensure the vendor is actually listed in those certifying databases – a good test is that the image/seal is clickable and takes you to their profile page on the 3rd-party certifier's site. However, also keep in mind another unlikely but possible scenario: the vendor can become certified then decide later on to turn to unscrupulous practices.
Next, check that they have disclosures and policies listed on their website. In particular, look for privacy, shipping, return, and refund policies. Vendors that don't have these scream amateur or worse, scam. Yes, I know you're not going to read them end to end, but at least skim them. Please.
Last, they should have a phone number and a real mailing address listed on their website. Try calling the phone number and just say you wanted to see if they were legit. At best, you might get a laugh. At worse, you'll find out it doesn't work and/or it goes to voice-mail.
Be a Detective: Find Dirt on the Vendor
Still not sure about the vendor? Well if they've been around for more than a few weeks, there's an excellent chance that someone has used them and has had a few choice words about them.
The first and easiest method is just to use your favorite search engine to see if any bad comments have bubbled up to the top. If that fails, and/or you want some more evidence, good or bad, try checking sites like BizRate, Google Shopping, Amazon (if they're listed in the Amazon marketplace) and of course, the FatWallet forums. Read some of the customer comments and you will notice a pattern. Reputation matters in the online world just as it does in the real world.
If you've never heard of the vendor before or seems like they're a small outfit, I tend to favor ones that use Google Checkout, or some other independent payment processing service, so that at least there's another buffer who I can turn to in case the vendor turns out to be flaky.
Despite all of these warnings, don't be completely scared off by small companies. Sometimes, you get a much better experience with them because they're hustling harder than their giant brethren to win new customers. I know I've found some amazing deals from small vendors over the years.
Beware of Scams & Too-Good-To-Be-True Prices
This is especially true in the high-end software market where in-demand, but expensive titles are pirated, just copied and sold at highly discounted prices.
One quick way to tell if a price is suspect is when you see a number of reputable vendors selling the product at about the same price, give or take a few percentage points, but then there's an outlier that is selling it for 20% or more less than the average.
If you still can't get that 'great deal' out of your head, then send the vendor an e-mail and ask them directly how their price is so low. Their response (or lack thereof) will tell you a lot as to their credibility.
Purchase and Checkout
So you've done your homework on the vendor and you're ready to whip out your credit card and pull the trigger. Here's what you need to know.
First, buy using a credit card (not a debit card) with a written policy of allowing you to easily query questionable charges (most do). Using Paypal is another decent option particularly for items purchased off eBay, less so for items purchased on other sites, but they at least have a mechanism to allow you, the buyer, to lodge a complaint and have it investigated.
When you hit the checkout page (where you enter your payment information), ensure that the URL, aka the Web address, starts with 'https'. Note the 's' – it really stands for 'secure'! Also, look for a little lock/padlock symbol. Modern browsers all have this as a visual indicator (usually to the right of the Web address) that you're on an SSL-secured page.
What this all means is that when you submit your credit card or payment information to the vendor, no one else in the middle on the Internet can read it. Please note that this does not mean that the vendor can't run off with your money; it just means there's very little chance someone else will.
Next, don't ever submit your Social Security number or your bank account number. Honestly, why would an online vendor need that? Does Starbucks ask you for your SS# when you buy a latte? They only need some basic information: name, address, phone # and credit card information.
If you're really concerned, check with your bank to see if they offer one-time use credit card numbers. Bigger companies like Citibank, Bank of America and Discover offer this service.
If you need to create an account with the vendor, use a throwaway password or at least one that you don't use for important functions like banking and e-mail.
Save and/or print the order confirmation page just in case you don't get a confirmation e-mail.
Finally, review your credit card statement the minute you get it to ensure that you were charged exactly what they said they would charge you. Better yet, log into your credit card account online and check it immediately. You might have to wait an hour or up to a day or two in case your credit card company is stuck in the 90s.
Hopefully everything goes smoothly and in a few days, you'll get a box on your doorstep with a shiny new gadget packed safely in there. But if not, what do you do? Well, it's tough chasing down these nefarious vendors, but try the obvious. Send them an e-mail. Call them. You can even file a complaint with the FTC, and/or with the BBB.
Closing Thoughts
When all else fails, be conservative in your judgment. If a site looks dicey or your Spidey-sense is tingling, then don't take the risk. Of course, that doesn't mean if you don't like Amazon.com for one reason or the other that they're unsafe. That's similar to not liking Walmart. You may
detest have your reservations about them for some reason, but it doesn't mean they're about to run off with your money.
Happy shopping!
Further Reading:
- Get Safe Online's Guide
- About.com's Rules for Using Your Credit Card Online
- wikiHow's Guide
- Privacy Rights Clearinghouse's E-Commerce Guide
- Federal Consumer Information Center (CIC)'s Guidelines
Author Bio
Khalid J Hosein is a blogger, computer consultant and Internet junkie. He is a co-founder of the gadget blog Gizmos for Geeks.


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What do you think about Paul Ryan's change of heart on gay adoption?
Paul Ryan Supports Gay Adoption Now Because It's Stupid to Oppose It
Well I never thought I'd see this day. Former Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan has done a 180 on gay adoption! Back in 1999/2000 he voted against allowing gay couples to adopt children. But in a recent town hall-style meeting, he admitted he'd changed his mind. "Adoption, I'd vote differently these days."
Now before we throw a rainbow parade for Ryan, in the same breath, he restated his position that marriage should be between a man and a woman. But with the walls of homophobia crashing down around us, it's getting more politically unpopular to take a hard line against gay rights. And for politicians like Ryan, an easy first step out of the Pliocene Era is to talk about how gay rights affect children.
Here's how Ryan justified his position:
I do believe that if there are children who are orphans, who do not have a loving person or couple, I think if a person wants to love and raise a child, they ought to be able to do that. Period. I would vote that way.
High-five, Ryan! Thanks for having compassion for the kids. Now ... maybe someday you could find it in your heart to have compassion for their parents, too. After all, making gay marriage legal will benefit those adopted kids even more.
Family leave policy: Domestic partners aren't protected by the same family leave laws that married couples are. What about if your kids get severely ill? What if your partner does?
Inheritance laws: Say one partner dies suddenly without a will. Making sure the remaining partner and children are taken care of is that much harder.
Separations: Sad but true, even gay couples split up. But if you're not married to begin with, sorting out custody can get even harder.
It's all about the kids, you guys! But hey, people like Paul Ryan will get there. This is just the thin edge of the wedge. He can't come out all gay guns a-blazing. He'll always be a step or two behind his constituents, because that's real leadership. (Wink.)
What do you think about Paul Ryan's change of heart?
My problem with his statement is that he qualifies it so that a gay person/couple can get an oprhan... as in they should settle and take one of the sick older kids from foster care. What if a birthmother WANTS to place her newborn healthy baby with a gay couple? That is HER business. Is this not America?
Quoting Cafe Steph:
What do you think about Paul Ryan's change of heart?
Penalising politicians for updating their beliefs on gaining additional evidence is a bad idea.
Every politicians...
He was the commencement speaker at my Alma Mater last week. Seems like a nice man.
I think it's about time. And he should change his stance on abortion. Church and state were separate years ago.


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Lessons from young journalists finding work at non-profit news outlets
By GenJ Guest Blogger Robert McLean
Lay offs, furloughs and buyouts have hit the journalism industry hard in the past few years. Even The Grey Lady – The New York Times – hasn't been immune from the profession's transition into the 21st Century.
Yet young journalists continue to find jobs. Non-profit journalism organizations are hiring reporters and editors fresh out of J-School. Recently, I spoke with three of these non-profit journalists about their careers.
Lauren Mills, Digital Analyst and Reporter at Iowa Watch
Lauren Mills turned a student job into a full time journalism gig.
Mills and I met at the 2012 SPJ Region 7 spring conference in Ames, Iowa. She was in her senior year at the University of Iowa, and had just completed a project on nitrogen pollution in the Gulf of Mexico for the non-profit news site IowaWatch.org.
She landed a reporting gig at IowaWatch after applying for a fellowship program with the organization– a website that dedicates itself to "producing and encouraging explanatory and investigative journalism in Iowa, engaging in collaborative reporting efforts with Iowa news organizations and educating journalism students."
Mills started out as a student reporter, but moved up to web manager and assistant editor during her senior year. After a brief stint at the Sioux City Journal, Mills joined Iowa Watch as a digital analyst and reporter.
Aside from reporting, Mills has sit in on board meetings, where she said she gets an inside view on what the organization is doing in various areas. It also gives her insight into how the organization is coming along in funding.
The main difference between working at IowaWatch and a traditional newspaper, she said, is the length of journalism. She said IowaWatch is able to do long-form pieces, averaging one article per week.
Participation is also different, she said. Iowa Watch has a smaller staff than her old newspaper, she said, which lets everyone participate in every aspect of the process.
Michael Todd, Managing Editor of Hear Nebraska
Full disclosure: I've made a monetary donation to and have written a few articles for Hear Nebraska, a non-profit music journalism website focusing on the Nebraska's music scene. That's how I came to meet its managing editor, Michael Todd.
Todd has been with HN since the organization's early days. He said he really likes the creativity he's allotted by the website's co-founders, Andrew and Angie Norman.
"It's just very open, productive and creative," Todd said.
He met the Normans, after inviting them on a radio show he hosted on KRNU – the University of Nebraska's student radio station. After the show, Todd said he applied for an internship with the organization and worked his way to managing editor.
Todd said he focuses most of his energy on producing editorial content, leaving development and conferring with the organization's board of directors to the Normans. However, he has worked on fundraising initiatives for the site.
For instance he took a lead roll in posting social media about the Give to Lincoln Day fundraising initiative, where the organization raised more than $10,000.
Pitching ideas for the website is relatively easy, Todd said. He said he isn't sure that would be possible at a newspaper that is already established.
Rebecca Thiele, Radio Producer at WMUK
I met Rebecca Thiele while she was freelancing for Patch.com in the St. Louis area. I was a Local Editor, and she had written some news coverage for the site I managed.
The call of the north, however, was too strong to keep her in Missouri. She took a radio producer position covering the arts at WMUK, the public broadcasting station at Western Michigan University.
Thiele graduated from the University of Missouri in May 2011. She said she was trying to find a job in radio, and the WMUK job looked attractive.
She said the organization is very good about keeping the news department separate from fundraising and other nonprofit aspects of the organization.
"When we need someone to do on-air fund drives, the news people are pretty much the last pick," she said.
However, she's not totally isolated from all aspects of the non-profit model. For instance, the show she produces has underwriting from the Richmond Center for Visual Arts – an organization on which she might report.
Thiele said when an opportunity to cover the organization arises, she asks herself if she would cover that story if the organization wasn't underwriting the show. If the answer is yes, she pursues the story.
Rob McLean is a Digital Managing Editor with Hearst Television. He has been a member of the Society of Professional Journalists since 2010 and a member of the Online News Association since 2012. Interact on Twitter: @robertmclean.
Tags: advice, career, Careers, employment, entry level positions, Gen J, Gen Jers, generation j, human resources, job, job hunting, journalism, journalism ethics, journalist, journalists, keeping your job, new media, news, newsroom, newsrooms, nonprofits, print media, reputation, Society of Professional Journalists, spj, website, young journalists, young reporters
Defending the First Amendment and promoting open government are more crucial now than ever. Join SPJ's fight for the publics right to know either as an SPJ Supporter or a professional, student or retired journalist.


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Organization exists to make the vision of a world-class performing arts center in Anaheim a reality. Anaheim Performing Arts Center Foundation will build a home theater for both the Anaheim Ballet and the Orange County Symphony and will also allow Anaheim to become a destination for Broadway-class stage and muical theater performances.
The Portofino Inn and Suites and is across the street from Disneyland® Park and California Adventure™ Park. With a room type for everyone's unique expectation, Portofino Inn and Suites guests have the option to reserve a Kid Suite for their family, a spacious King Suites or even the comfortable Deluxe Room for up to four people. Microwaves and minifridges are available in suites. This Disneyland® -area hotel is definitely one of the favorites among places to stay when visiting the Magic Kingdom.
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Anaheim TownePlace Suites by Marriott is an all-suite hotel offering fully equipped kitchens, complimentary continental breakfast, wifi and parking. We are located across the street from Anaheim Stadium, a short walk to the Honda Center, and two miles from Disneyland® Resort and the Anaheim Convention Center. Food and entertainment options are within walking distance.
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CINCINNATI – A popular regional chain offers free pizza to fans with a ticket stub from any home game in which Cincinnati Reds pitchers strike out 11 or more batters.
They might have to add an order of cheesy garlic bread after this one.
Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto struck out 12 Dodgers in six innings and combined with four relievers to shut out the Dodgers 5-0 Wednesday night.
The Dodgers struck out 16 times as their three-game winning streak came to an end. The Dodgers have still not won (or lost) more than three consecutive games this season.
Cueto went into the game second in the National League in strikeouts with the lowest opponents' batting average (.160) of any NL pitcher. He left after six innings leading in both categories.
But Cueto wasn't the Dodgers' only problem. They had issues with home plate umpire Seth Buckminster almost from the start.
Buckminster is in his first major-league season and, through the end of May, was tied with Doug Eddings for the most overturned calls (seven) in the first season of baseball's replay review system.
When Buckminster called Yasiel Puig out on a checked swing to end the first inning, Puig stayed around home plate and briefly argued the call. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly objected to Buckminster's refusal to ask for help from the first-base umpire.
In the second, Matt Kemp was called out on a pitch that might have been in off the plate. Kemp complained all the way back to the dugout – and then some. With Andre Ethier at the plate, Buckminster ejected Kemp, yelling into the dugout, "Get outta here" loud enough to be heard throughout the stadium.
"Y'all are trying to get me, man," Kemp said when questioned by reporters about the exchange. "It doesn't matter. We didn't play good today. It was just frustrating.
"Some pitches get called that you don't agree with. I love to play baseball. I want to compete. You never want to have the bat taken out of your hand from something that isn't a strike."
Kemp leads the Dodgers in strikeouts (60), including five in his past six plate appearances, and hasn't put a ball in play since Monday. He showed frustration with some calls Tuesday night as well when Jim Reynolds was behind the plate.
"It was a little build-up from last night too," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "He was frustrated with Jim last night and today it seemed like it kind of carried over a bit."
Cueto retired the first nine Dodgers and struck out 10 of the first 15 he faced. They had just one baserunner in the first five innings. Dee Gordon slashed a single through a drawn-in infield to lead off the fifth and was promptly picked off first by Cueto.
"I think our guys were frustrated with the strike zone," Mattingly said. "I didn't think Yasiel went on the checked swing early too. Just get help there – that's all we're really asking. You don't have to call it yourself. I didn't think he went on that one. I think Matt thought that ball was in. Sounds like on the replay it was.
"You do get frustrated with the strike zone. But this guy (Cueto) is a handful. He's going to keep changing speeds. He can do a lot with the baseball."
Cueto did give up two singles in the sixth inning and his pitch count ran to 112. But he finished having struck out 12 of the 20 batters he faced.
Things didn't get much better after that for the Dodgers. They loaded the bases in the seventh with one out. Hanley Ramirez had been scratched from the lineup with AC joint irritation in his right shoulder but he came off the bench to pinch-hit and grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu took his first loss on the road this season, allowing as many runs in six innings Wednesday as he had allowed in 38 innings over his previous six road starts. Joey Votto had a two-run double and Brandon Phillips an RBI single in the third inning. Jay Bruce touched Ryu for a solo home run as well.
Contact the writer: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Push for the penny tax
With buckets of pennies at their feet, Democrats today pushed a proposal to add a penny to the state sales tax for three years with the revenue going to plug huge holes in education funding.
"Aren't our students worth at least a penny?" said Andy Ford, president of the Florida Education Association, which hosted the news conference.
Rep. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami, is the primary House sponsor and Sen. Ted Deutch, D-Delray Beach, has the companion bill.
Said Bullard: "We can't have the conversation about increased standards and not begin to address the issues of increasing the funding, of providing revenues that will help alleviate the burdens of teachers, administrators, school boards, school systems, etc."
It was the second big education idea of the day. Put them both together and you get a road divided.
Amy Hollyfield, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau


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The Florida Scrub Jay (MPB-20):
Florida Scrub Jays are an excellent example of a cooperative-breeding species, in which adult birds often help raise offspring not their own. For more than a decade Glen E. Woolfenden and John W. Fitzpatrick studied a marked population of these birds in an attempt to establish a demographic base for understanding the phenomenon of "helping at the nest." By studying both population biology and behavior, the authors found that habitat restraints, rather than kin selection, are the main source of the behavior of Florida Scrub Jays: the goal of increasing the number of close relatives other than descendants in future generations is of relatively minor importance in their cooperative-breeding behavior.
The Florida Scrub Jay lives only in the Florida oak scrub. All acceptable habitat is constantly filled with breeders. Each year about half of the pairs are assisted by one to several nonbreeding helpers. This book provides extensive data on fecundity, survivorship, relatedness, and dispersal to establish the demographic milieu and to address questions arising out of observed helping behavior--whom, how, when, and why the helpers help.
"[W]e have here a major contribution to populational and behavioral ecology, important for all students of the evolution of social behavior in vertebrates, whatever its form."--Frank A. Pitelka, Ecology
"This is an important contribution to population biology. It will be of interest not only to workers in the field, but also as a readable introduction to one of the central topics in ornithology today. For the general naturalist . . . it's a well-written, thoughtful account of a fascinating subject."--Clive E. Goodwin, Canadian Field Naturalist
Subject Areas:
Prices subject to change without notice
File created: 7/11/2017
Questions and comments to: firstname.lastname@example.com
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Corroon proposes 'measured, prudent budget'
Confused Sandy, UTOct. 27, 2010 3:11 p.m.
Mike in Sandy,
Your post shows just how little you know about the ecomony of Utah and just how well we are managed.
Would you kindly provide ANY proof that the only reason that we have low unemployment is because they work in Fast food industry?
Why is it that Utah has just been ranked by Forbes as one of the best places to do business? That the enviorment is business friendly AND THE WORK FORCE is WELL educated and hard working?
Exactly what has the Democrats done in Washington done to show they ACTUALLY know how to run a government with out putting us in debt? Does California come to mind? Yes they have a GOP governor, but the Legislature is 85 precent democratic.
Your daily montra does not match the facts.
Rational Salt Lake City, UTOct. 27, 2010 10:11 a.m.
A tax is a salary decrease on the general populace. Raise salaries AFTER taxes go down.
Mike in Sandy Sandy, UTOct. 27, 2010 9:49 a.m.
To Lib Ted.
The entire Republican machine here needs revamping. Not only do we need educated people running the state, we need fewer Republicans.
And your engineer analogies, and woes about Mr. Herbert not being able to afford an education are weak stabs that have zero to do with anything.
Around here, the sheep mentality of voting GOP has little to do with their brains or values, it is basically a slap at the more qualified and able democrats.
No wonder we are last in student spending, first or nearly so in foreclosures, way up in prescription happy pill use and abuse.
Low unemployment? Know why? We have more people working in fast food, and fast food is prevalent because these foolish large families can't afford to feed their armies anything else.
walkingdowntown Salt Lake City, UTOct. 27, 2010 8:05 a.m.
Interesting timing. The Salt Lake County budget is usually not announced until mid November
Hellooo Salt Lake City, UTOct. 26, 2010 9:52 p.m.
Actually, Proteos the 4th century was not bad as civilizations and governments go. The need for a large staff is just not required if the County has the appropriate administrators in place to manage and report their activities. If they do not then no amount of staff can make up for it. I for one do not see prudence in this budget, but I do see politics. Hopefully, the county has a better understanding of who their mayor is after his campaign for governor and will thank him and send him on his way after the next County election.
PK Highsmith Salt Lake City, UTOct. 26, 2010 8:55 p.m.
Re: Proteos
Salt Lake County's budget is $842 Million for those 1,034,000 people (this number the Mayor is throwing around has no relation to reality. Check the auditor's website in SLCo if you don't believe me. See the 2010 adjusted budget, page 15 for proof). The population of Salt Lake County is almost exactly equal to that of Weber, Davis, and Utah Counties combined. It's within 20,000 people. Why is that significant?
The budget of those three counties combined is $205 Million. That's only a quarter of the cost of government in Salt Lake County. That's government bloat right there.
The reason the salaries set me off? In 2004, when Corroon beat Nancy Workman, he chided her for:
1. 10 employees who make $100k+ in her office.
2. Having a Mayor's Office budget over $1 million.
He promised to fix both.
Today, Mayor Corroon has a dozen employees making over $100k. The budget for the Mayor's office, if this year's increase of $400k is approved, totals over $5 million.
I don't believe much the man I once voted for says anymore. Herbert in 2010.
Rifleman Salt Lake City, UtahOct. 26, 2010 8:18 p.m.
Gov. Herbert may not have Corroon's level of education but he has a 100% chance of taking this election and it will be Herbert who will continue to sit in the Governor's chair come next January.
Corroon on the other hand won't even take Salt Lake County in next Tuesday's election. Now how smart is that?
What in Tucket? Provo, UTOct. 26, 2010 5:57 p.m.
So those poor city employees have had a hiring freeze. So has everyone else. How many city employees have been laid off? Cutting spending is the way. Mr. Corroon may have degrees, but we still have the best run state in the nation. Why go to a Democrat when the worst run states are all Democrat other than California where we have a RINO.
PK Highsmith Salt Lake City, UTOct. 26, 2010 5:13 p.m.
Noticed Mayor Corroon included a $400,000 increase to his own office budget. That office keeps getting bigger and bigger. How many more $100k + employees do you need?
KM Cedar Hills, UTOct. 26, 2010 3:52 p.m.
Why do we continue to treat county and state and federal employees better than the private sector employees? "they have endured hiring freezes, early payout for retirement, etc..." Poor babies! You should try going it alone with the government and your competition trying to knock you out.
Liberal Ted Salt Lake City, UTOct. 26, 2010 3:36 p.m.
To base your votes soley on the education attainment of the candidate is foolish.
When you consider the number of scientists and great thinkers that came from little education. People who have invented and envision great things for their people and for nations.
Not a smart idea to discriminate against those that couldn't afford to pay a school to give them a degree. Utah has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, when compared to the intellectuals of California, New York and other liberal blue states.....we seem to manage just fine.
Ever noticed that? Have you noticed that "stupid" Utahns have less debt than California? Who's dumber? The one that borrows and spends or the one that saves and pays when they have the money? I can tell you what the end game would be. I don't need a finance degree or an engineering degreee to figure that out.
Speaking of engineers why do planes still crash? Remember the shuttle when it blew up? It's possible for smart people to look over simple things you know.
boozilla Salt Lake City, UTOct. 26, 2010 3:32 p.m.
sodiedog: How is a property fee different than a property tax? The fee is more regressive. Big corporations and McMansion owners pay less but seniors and working families pay more.
Too many people involved with the Corroon campaign seem to think they can spin their way into an alternative reality. That is why he will lose Salt Lake County, and the rest of the state, in the election. Unfortunately, the people who need to learn lessons from this campaign either won't learn a thing or will learn the wrong lessons.
williary Kearns, UTOct. 26, 2010 3:18 p.m.
Couldn't agree with you more Rox.
A Democrat proposses a prudent budget and Republicans look to discount it. A Republican running for office proposses more prudent budgets and they are an American hero!
Just the Tea Party at work.
sodiedog Salt Lake City, UTOct. 26, 2010 2:57 p.m.
So, Rifleman would rather have a major property tax increase than pay the fee? Missed you at the public hearing. No one spoke for higher property taxes in the unincorporated area.
Rox Salt Lake City, UTOct. 26, 2010 2:55 p.m.
To elaborate....Mayor Corroon has a Civil Engineering bachelor's degree, a master's degree in Real Estate Development and Finance, as well as a law degree.
Mr. Herbert doesn't have a diploma.
Who is better suited to run a state?
This isn't a mom and pop laundry, it is a massive fiscal responsibility.
I will not vote for someone for governor who has no complete education, and neither should anyone else.
Rox Salt Lake City, UTOct. 26, 2010 2:45 p.m.
Way to go Mr. Corroon.
I See that you have 3 college degrees and Mr. Herbert "attended BYU".
We need somebody smart to run this state.
Rifleman Salt Lake City, UtahOct. 26, 2010 2:19 p.m.
Would Corroon's "prudent budget" eliminate the extortion "fee" they started charging citizens in unincorporated Salt Lake County for police protection previously provided by the Sheriff's Office and which was paid out of county taxes?
The United Police Department provides the same identical exact services using the same identical peace officers that were formerly sheriff's deputies.


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To Hornish, Penske is best road back to Cup
January 31, 2013, David Caraviello, NASCAR.com
Photos from Penske Racing's greatest moments hang on the walls of the organization, and one of defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski is the latest addition. There's also another from last season, one of the inaugural nascar Nationwide Series event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where Sam Hornish Jr. finished second to the younger and more decorated -- by NASCAR standards, anyway -- teammate.
"Like sticking the knife in there," Hornish said with a wry smile.
That's Hornish -- a Penske company man to the core. He could have left after last season, and everyone would have understood. He swallowed his pride two years ago and put up with a limited Nationwide schedule, then took over the No. 22 Sprint Cup car last season when AJ Allmendinger was suspended, then was asked to step aside when Joey Logano was hired for 2013. He received some interest from other teams, and no one would have blamed him for breaking ranks.
But there's something about all those photos on the wall. There's something about that starched white Penske dress shirt, which seems to fit Hornish as well as anyone save Roger Penske himself. There's something about the bond built over nine years racing under Penske, through an open-wheel series championship and an Indianapolis 500 crown and a turbulent transition to NASCAR. There's something about loyalty that led Hornish to stay -- to once again pursue the Nationwide title, and hope another Sprint Cup opportunity comes.
"Whatever I do with this, I want to do it and be competitive with it."
-- Sam Hornish Jr.
"I feel like Roger's been very loyal to me, I've been very loyal to him," Hornish said. "I want to do things in the right way, and I feel like if we win this championship, that would be great. I feel like there's no reason we shouldn't be able to do that."
If there's any bitterness over being bypassed for the No. 22 Sprint Cup ride, it never shows. Hornish was in the midst of a full Nationwide campaign last July when he got the call -- on the set of a television show, no less -- that Allmendinger had been suspended for failing a random drug test, and he was needed in Daytona immediately for that night's event. He barely made it, catching a ride to the starting grid during opening ceremonies, and from there began a double-duty stretch that a few times had him competing in different places on the same weekend.
Allmendinger was ultimately released. When the time came to fill the ride for 2013 -- a key hire, given all the turnover the Shell/Pennzoil car had experienced over the previous year -- the team chose Logano, on whose behalf Keselowski had fiercely lobbied. For Hornish, that meant back to the Nationwide tour.
"I was a little bit disappointed, because I want to race on Sunday," he said. "And I thought that would give me the opportunity to do it. I had a relationship with Shell/Pennzoil when I ran IndyCars. But it didn't work out, and I had a choice to make: I could sit there and be upset about it and depressed, or I could go on and try to finish the year good. I could try to take care of my teammate and help him out any way that I could for the rest of the season, and that's what I did. There was nothing I could do to change it at that point and time. The only thing I could do was go out there and make myself look bad."
Which isn't Hornish's style. It helped that former Penske driver Rusty Wallace used his television platform to argue that the Logano hire was a mistake, and that Hornish should have gotten the job. It helped that Hornish finished a career-best fourth in final Nationwide points, and did some testing that aided Keselowski's quest for the Sprint Cup crown. It helped that some other teams showed interest, even if Hornish ultimately wasn't willing to make a move.
"We actually had a couple of people talk to us about it, and it's just a difficult thing," Hornish said. "I don't want Roger ever to think I'm out actively searching for something else. He also knows that if he can't provide me with something that is going to be a good opportunity for me, he's definitely not going to hold me back from it, either. Whatever I do with this, I want to do it and be competitive with it. I don't want to just go and find a way to make five grand on a weekend and go home. I'd rather spend the time with my kids."
Penske still blames himself for not starting Hornish on the Nationwide tour -- as opposed to throwing him directly into Sprint Cup, which produced a forgettable debut season that's taken the driver a long time to come back from. But there's been real progress made over the past 18 months, beginning with Hornish's first national-series race victory, and followed by a genuine championship purist last year. Over the offseason Hornish was paired with new crew chief Greg Erwin, who three times made the Chase for the Sprint Cup with Greg Biffle.
Now, Penske believes Hornish is ready to take the next step. "I said to him, 'If there's an opportunity in Cup and you want it (you can have it); but I can tell you one thing: we're going to give you the best car and the best crew chief we can to run in the (Nationwide) Series this year,'" Penske said. "The goal, I said to him … is to win the championship. Not second or third, it's to win the championship. I think he's got the tools and the ability to do it now."
And if that happens? There are sponsor commitments for a few Sprint Cup races for Hornish this season, and Penske continues to weigh the merits of expanding to three teams. He seriously considered it for this season, given that his former driver Ryan Newman was available before signing a one-year extension with Stewart-Haas. Clearly, much of that hinges on sponsorship availability. But if Hornish does win the Nationwide title, and everything else falls into line?
"I think I've got to look at Hornish as the next person," Penske said. "If he meets the goals that we would expect, and we get the support from the sponsors we have, he could be the next (Sprint Cup) driver."
For Hornish, that's the goal. And even after the disappointment of not getting the ride in the No. 22 car, he's always believed that the best way to get there is by staying exactly where he is.
"At the end of 2010, there were not lot of people fighting for me to have a Cup ride," he said, referring to his most recent full-time season at NASCAR's top level. "And at the end of 2012 I had Rusty Wallace on national TV saying I should have a Cup ride -- not only a Cup ride, but a premier Cup ride. So I'm really appreciative of just getting the opportunity to run in the 22 last year. I feel like if I keep my head down, we're going to take our sponsors like Alliance and Wurth and we're going to bring new ones on board, and we're going to get back there."


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I'm back from a successful endeavor at SXSW interactive, and I've uploaded x0xb0x board layout files to Sourceforge. You can grab them from the x0xb0x download page To generate Gerbers, use EagleCAD
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Save Gas And Save Money
Gas prices may be steady right now, but they are high, compared to years past.
If you are looking for ways to stretch your gas dollar, there are some myths floating out there that are a big waste of your time and money. The Environmental Protection Agency debunks some of the most common myths.
Myth #1 - The smaller the car, the better.
Not true. Because of new technology for the 2014 model year, half of the most fuel efficient vehicles are midsize or large cars.
Myth #2 - Premium expensive gas helps you get better gas mileage.
Half-true. Cars that are specifically designed for this premium gas may see a benefit, but everyone else won't get a gas mileage boost from this more expensive gas.
Myth #3 - Automatic transmissions get better gas mileage than manual.
Not true.
Myth #4 - Idling your car uses less gas than turning your car off and on in a short amount of time.
Not true, says the EPA.


text: Treatment By Mayo Clinic Staff Print Most broken ribs heal on their own within six weeks. Restricting activities and icing the area regularly can help with healing and pain relief. MedicationsIt's important to obtain adequate pain relief — if it hurts to breathe deeply, you may develop pneumonia. If oral medications don't help enough, your doctor might suggest injections of long-lasting anesthesia around the nerves that supply the ribs. TherapyOnce your pain is under control, your doctor might prescribe breathing exercises to help you breathe more deeply because shallow breathing can put you at risk of developing pneumonia. In the past, doctors would use compression wraps — elastic bandages that you can wrap around your chest — to help splint and immobilize the area. Compression wraps aren't recommended for broken ribs anymore because they can keep you from breathing deeply, which can increase the risk of pneumonia. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic DiagnosisThe Mayo Clinic experience & patient stories Aug. 04, 2017 Print Share on: FacebookTwitter References Karlson KA. Initial evaluation and management of rib fractures. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Oct. 30, 2015. Eiff MP, et al. Rib fractures. In: Fracture Management for Primary Care. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2012. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 30, 2015. Bulger EM. Inpatient management of traumatic rib fracture. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Oct. 30, 2015. Preventing falls and related fractures. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Fracture/prevent_falls_ff.asp. Accessed Oct. 30, 2015. RelatedTreating pain: When is an opioid the right choice?Symptom CheckerX-rayBone scanCT scanShaken baby syndrome Broken ribsOverviewSymptoms & causesDiagnosis & treatmentDiagnosisTreatmentThe Mayo Clinic experience & patient storiesPreparing for your appointmentMore aboutIn-DepthMultimediaResourcesWhat's New Advertisement Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Advertising & Sponsorship Policy Opportunities Ad Choices Mayo Clinic Store Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. The Last Diet You'll Ever NeedNEW! Mayo Clinic Guide to Integrative MedicineStop Osteoporosis in its TracksMayo Clinic Health LetterThe Mayo Clinic Diet Book Diagnosis & treatmentRequest an AppointmentDiagnosisTreatmentThe Mayo Clinic experience & patient storiesPreparing for your appointment CON-20155268 Patient Care & Health Information Diseases & Conditions Broken ribs


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The wildly fluctuating stock market is back in the news; the European crisis is the driver between the uncertainty. One day the headline says the crisis is solved, and the market goes up; the next day it says it is not, and the market goes down.
The European Union is unquestionably a political success. It has taken a continent full of countries that have fought wars with each other for centuries, and turned it into a single market with open borders and no hint of fighting. Unfortunately it is looking more and more like a financial failure.
If all of the nation's economies in the union had been of roughly equal strength, the union's common currency would have worked (it did in America). However, weak economies like Greece have used the euro to cover their financial sins, and preservation of the common currency requires strong ones like Germany to bail them out. To do it, they are going to have to borrow money.
But that won't be easy. The European economy has a collective GDP of roughly $14 trillion and a collective debt — government's combined with individuals' — of $63 trillion (this debt does not include any unfunded liabilities for retirement plans or medical care). That works out to a debt-to-GDP ratio of about 450 percent. Owing 4.5 times the value of what you are producing each year makes it hard to borrow more.
As comparisons, look at the U.S. and Japan (I do not include China because there are no reliable figures there). Our GDP is $15 trillion, and our total debt (again private as well as government debt but not unfunded liabilities for Social Security and Medicare) is about $52 trillion, which puts our ratio at 350 percent. In Japan, where the recession has dragged on for more than a decade, it is 500 percent. A small comfort, but we are in better shape than the rest of the developed world.
So the "solution" to Europe's problem means piling new debt on top of old. Japan has shown that can work to stave off immediate panic in the short-run — Japan is still producing Toyotas — but that does not really solve the problem.
The way to lower the debt-to-GDP ratio is to get the economy growing faster than the debt. After the Second World War our booming economy grew much more rapidly than our debt did (although it did go up). And the costs of the war didn't cripple us the way they did Great Britain, whose economy was virtually stagnant.
Looking around Europe today, the best economy is Germany, and German taxpayers are beginning to question why they are being called upon to bail out the Greeks —with the Irish, Spanish, Italians and Portuguese not far behind.
That's short term. Long term, the outlook for these economies is also not good because of their demographics. The birth rate in Europe is below replacement rates, which means that their populations will shrink unless there is significant immigration, which many Europeans are resisting.
Again, Japan is the model here: Her debt-to-GDP ratio is higher than Europe's, her birth rate is the same or lower, her population is aging faster and she does not encourage immigration. Consequently, Japan has been mired in economic difficulties ever since her real estate bubble burst roughly a decade before ours did.
Like it or not, America is not going to get much help as we struggle to get our own economy back in high gear. No matter how optimistic a current headline may be, the long-term problems abroad are very real.
Robert Bennett, former U.S. senator from Utah, is a part-time teacher, researcher and lecturer at the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics.


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Elderly man assaulted during break-in
Police are seeking information from the public after a 92-year-old man was punched during a break-in on the New South Wales Central Coast.
The man and his 90-year-old wife were confronted by a young man inside their Gosford home around 10:30pm last Thursday night.
The intruder threatened the couple with a sharp object and demanded money before punching the elderly man in the face and fleeing.
Acting Inspector Darren Deamer says although the man only suffered soft tissue damage, it is a shocking crime.
"This particular couple do suffer from a number of medical conditions and they contacted police immediately," he said.
"At this stage Gosford detectives are continuing their investigations into the incident.
"Today [we're] wanting people to come forward from the community who have any knowledge or are able to assist with what occurred on the 10th of January."
It is understood the man's injuries are not serious.
Topics: burglary, gosford-2250
First posted


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Don't miss a story. Like us on Facebook. Like Dallas News' Facebook Page
n doing a story about autoimmune diseases, a condition where the body's immune system attacks a part of the body that it has mistaken for a threat, I learned how difficult it can be to even get the right diagnosis, because there are so many different types, many of which require their own unique solutions.
Even though Sjögren's disease, which can cause joint pain, major organ failure, and lymphomas by attacking the moisture producing glands, affects about 4 million Americans, 9 out of 10 of them women, I had never heard of it before learning that tennis superstar Venus Williams suffers from it.
Closer to home, Cathy Ingels of Garland, who has the condition, recently brought it to my attention. Cathy, a Dallas support group leader for the Sjogren's Foundation, describes herself as "a Type A person now in a Type Zero body."
Cathy will be walking this morning a 10 a.m. in a Sjögren's non-competitive, family fun walkabout at the Grapevine Mills Mall and invites everyone who can to join her along with members and supporters of the Dallas and Fort Worth Sjögren's Support Groups in an effort to raise awareness and money for research as they seek a cure.
Their efforts have already netted $10,000, which they are hoping to double today.
The Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation has awarded over $1.5 million to Sjögren's researchers to help find a cure. Cathy says she's particularly excited about research that is looking at gene identification and possibly manipulation therapy studies that could help.
To join the walk, head to Grapevine Mills at 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway, Grapevine at entrance #5 near the AMC Theatre. an Autoimmune Disease Health Fair and Opening Festivities begin at 10 a.m., walk starts at 11, health fair ends at noon. www.grapevinemills.com
Here's Cathy's story in her own words:
On April 15, 2009, I had my first appointment at a licensed esthetician's office. She used a high frequency radio wave laser that was designed to break down and "injure" the underlying layers of epidermis and not damage the top layer of skin so that there is no peeling and/or redness. She told me that the purpose of these treatments were to "stimulate" the body on its own to produce more collagen, thereby filling in wrinkles and toning the facial, neck and upper chest areas. The esthetician discussed that this treatment was an alternative treatment for wrinkles, rather than invasive plastic surgery. She recommended that I have 4 treatments over a period of a year (or less, depending on how fast I wanted to have my body produce the collagen necessary to fill in the wrinkles) and then recommended a maintenance treatment every six months thereafter.
About 4-5 days post-treatment (first treatment), I noticed that I was constantly thirsty, or what I thought of as thirsty (it actually was a really dry mouth). I drank tons of water during the day (and all night) to try to quench my thirst. Nothing worked. I would wake in the middle of the night many times each night because I could not swallow because my mouth was so dry, and again had to constantly drink glasses of water during the night. Also, I was having very bad episodes of nausea when I was hungry and an upset stomach when I finally ate. The first of these episodes lasted for approximately 3-4 days and then went away for several days.
The second time it happened, it lasted a few days longer. At that point in time, I called my doctor and left a message, but did not follow up, because again, several days later, the dry mouth went away again.
I then noticed that the frequency and duration of the episodes of intense thirst (i.e., dry mouth), were increasing after my second treatment. When the symptoms became unbearable and constant, I went to see my doctor on June 3, 2009, complaining of extreme dry mouth, balance and dizziness issues (I had fallen when getting off the train one afternoon and again in my backyard while trimming shrubs - both within a week of each other), I was having brain fog, numerous mouth and tongue sores, joint and muscle pain, extreme weakness in my arms and1leg, and numbness and tingling in my feet, legs and hands and bad stomach trouble still.
I had also developed a constant rhinitis/sinusitis and constant drainage down the back of my throat, a burning sensation in my throat and pain and swelling on both sides of my face and under my chin. Needless to say, I was perplexed and frightened by so many things happening in my body at one time and so suddenly.
My doctor did blood work testing for various autoimmune diseases because she suspected it was the beginning of an autoimmune disease (I have autoimmune hypothyroidism, another closely related autoimmune disease and sometimes a precursor to Sjogren's). I tested positive for the antibodies for Sjogrens (SSA and SSB) and also had a significantly abnormal ANA level, indicating strong antibody activity within my body of an unknown nature. My assumption is that the radio frequency laser that the esthetician used on me "injured" my saliva glands, thereby making my entire body think it was being attacked by a foreign substance, and then it initiated the Sjogrens Syndrome (or caused a flare-up strong enough for an immediate diagnosis of Sjogren's).
This is not typical of most Sjogren's patients. Many times they will go from doctor to
doctor seeking help, often to be turned away, given an antidepressant and told that they were just depressed and just "get over it." If my doctor had not known me so well, she might have told me the same thing and I could still be searching for a diagnosis, but since I've been going to her for 15 years, she knew my exercise and eating habits and knew that there was indeed something seriously wrong and she was very proactive in getting me a diagnosis.
Many Sjogren's patients often will report one symptom to a particular doctor, like dry eyes to their ophthalmologist, or complain of a dry mouth to their dentist. Maybe fatigue and joint
pain and fever to their primary care doctor. Never do they actually tell one doctor all of their symptoms at one time (not their fault, they just don't put it all together). It is a complex and serious autoimmune disease, second only to Rheumatoid Arthritis, but NO ONE has ever heard of it. 4 million American have it, possibly more! You ask most doctors and they only may remotely have heard of it or not heard of it at all.
Many dentists see dry mouth frequently, but never suggest that the patient has Sjogren's and to get it checked out by a medical professional. Because of the lack of awareness in the medical community and the public in the past, it typically takes approximately 7 years to reach a diagnosis, but the Foundation has rolled out a campaign that will hopefully reach as many doctors and as many patients as possible so that they can start putting all the symptoms together to finally obtain a diagnosis. The Foundation's goal is to shorten the time to diagnose Sjögren's by 50% in 5 years!
The fatigue and joint pain that Sjogren's patients suffer is similar to Rheumatoid Arthritis,
without the typical joint swelling. My right hip and right knee ache and throb and heat, stretching and exercise does not seem to alleviate the symptoms. The muscle weakness is bad and my mouth is very dry, despite using the Evoxac and a humidifier, mouth gels, sugarless gum, biotene toothpaste and mouthwash, lots of lip balm, and basically anything I can think of to use to alleviate my pain. I had to have cortisone shots in both hands, my elbows, and my right hip, which only help for a short period of time. It is, to put it bluntly, a progressive, serious, and incurable autoimmune disease.
I realize now that I have had symptoms of Sjogrens for a while, especially the dry eyes and my hands and feet would go numb with no circulation when they got cold (even with using gloves and boots and thick socks) (Raynouds Syndrome – closely related to Sjogren's as well). My hands and feet felt like rocks and it would take a very long time for them to thaw out and become normal. I've had lots of carpel tunnel problems for a long time, too (surgery about 10 years ago on my right hand), and other joint aches and muscle pain too.
I had very bad muscle pain and fatigue and joint pain when I was diagnosed with autoimmune thyroid disease condition in 1997, but it went away once I was regulated on thyroid medication.
Now, however, I am experiencing the same type and intensity of fatigue and widespread pain, but it does not go away. It just keeps getting worse. My biggest problems are the intense weakness and my dry mouth and the horrible metallic taste in my mouth. I have serious digestive and intestinal problems, gas and acute indigestion, and also kidney problems as well. I have numerous chronic bronchitis infections and have had pneumonia twice as well as exercised induced asthma.
I am feeling a little better physically as long as I don't overdo it. I have had to give up doing
anything in the heat or the sun. I do free weight training as much as I am able and try to exercise on the elliptical machine at least three times a week. When I sweat (which the Evoxac makes me do a lot of), I dehydrate and usually have a flare-up immediately thereafter with weakness, drier than usual mouth and bad taste in my mouth. I'm also finding stress makes me feel worse and very weak. My mouth is dry all the time and my legs very weak. I have the most awful taste in my mouth and it never goes away.


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Manhattan Friends Meeting
What's New
Manhattan Friends meeting is once again on the web. We will try to keep more up to date now that we have unlocked to door.
Signature Image:
Event Date:
06/23/2013 - 8:45am to 3:00pm
We will be traveling to Topeka Friends Meeting for worship and possibly singing followed by a potluck. We will carpool from UFM at 8:30
Worship with us!
We meet at UFM
1221 Thurston
Solar Addition
Manhattan, KS 66502United States
Mailing address
P.O. Box 481
Manhattan, KS 66505United States