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Odyssey: 2011 Honda Odyssey: Powertrain
The 2011 Honda Odyssey comes standard with a 248-horsepower V-6 engine, a 5-speed automatic transmission on Odyssey LX, EX and EX-L, and a new 6-speed automatic transmission on the Odyssey Touring. The 3.5-liter, 24-valve SOHC i-VTEC® powerplant with Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) builds on technologies that have been developed and refined on previous Honda vehicles. With its 60-degree V-angle, the Odyssey's V-6 engine is inherently very smooth and has compact overall dimensions that allow for efficient packaging within the vehicle.
Compared to the 2010 model, the 2011 Odyssey engine gains VCM on the Odyssey LX and EX models, and all models gain refinements to increase power (such as a two-stage intake manifold), and to reduce internal friction (engine block honing and lightweight oil). The 2011 Odyssey engine develops four additional horsepower and five additional lb-ft. of torque (10 additional lb-ft. of torque relative to the previous-generation Odyssey LX and EX).
Powertrain Highlights
New Features
Engine Architecture
The engine is an advanced 3.5-liter, SOHC, 24-valve, 60-degree, V-6, aluminum-block-and-head design that is compact, lightweight and powerful. The i-VTEC valvetrain and high-efficiency intake manifold optimize cylinder-filling efficiency across a wide range of engine speeds. Low-restriction intake and exhaust systems, a 10.5:1 compression ratio and roller-type rocker arms further aid efficiency and power delivery across a broad RPM range.
The Odyssey's V-6 has a die-cast lightweight aluminum-alloy block with cast-in-place iron cylinder liners. Made with a centrifugal spin casting process, the thin-wall liners are high in strength and low in porosity. The block incorporates a deep-skirt design with four bolts per bearing cap for rigid crankshaft support and minimized noise and vibration. The block is heat-treated for greater strength. The bearing caps are sintered. A forged-steel crankshaft is used for maximum strength, rigidity and durability with minimum weight. Instead of heavier nuts and bolts, connecting rod caps are secured in place with smaller, high-tensile-strength fasteners that screw directly into the connecting rod. Short-skirt, cast-aluminum, flat-top pistons are notched for valve clearance and fitted with full-floating piston pins.
New for 2011, the piston skirt features a patterned coating process that improves oil retention to further reduce friction. Other friction-reduction measures include such important details as more elaborate, high-precision surfacing of the cylinder walls (plateau honing).
i-VTEC with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM)
To help improve the fuel efficiency of the engine, it incorporates the latest generation of Honda's Variable Cylinder Management (VCM). The Odyssey's VCM system can operate on three, four or all six cylinders, and is standard on all models.
During startup, acceleration or when climbing hills - any time high power output is required - the engine operates on all six cylinders. During moderate-speed cruising and at low engine loads, the system operates just one bank of three cylinders. For moderate acceleration, higher-speed cruising and mild hills, the engine operates on four cylinders.
With three operating modes, the VCM system can finely tailor the working displacement of the engine to match the driving requirements from moment to moment. Since the system automatically closes both the intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders that are not used, pumping losses associated with intake and exhaust are eliminated and fuel efficiency increases. The VCM system combines maximum performance and maximum fuel efficiency - two characteristics that do not typically coexist in conventional engines.
VCM deactivates specific cylinders by using the VTEC® (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) system to close the intake and exhaust valves while simultaneously the Powertrain Control Module cuts fuel to those cylinders. When operating on three cylinders, the rear cylinder bank is shut down. When running on four cylinders, the left and center cylinders of the front bank operate, and the right and center cylinders of the rear bank operate.
The spark plugs continue to fire in inactive cylinders to minimize plug temperature loss and prevent fouling induced from incomplete combustion during cylinder re-activation. The system is electronically controlled, and uses special integrated spool valves that do double duty as rocker-shaft holders in the cylinder heads. Based on commands from the system's electronic control unit, the spool valves selectively direct oil pressure to the rocker arms for specific cylinders. This oil pressure in turn drives synchronizing pistons that connect and disconnect the rocker arms.
The VCM system monitors throttle position, vehicle speed, engine speed, automatic-transmission gear selection and other factors to determine the correct cylinder activation scheme for the operating conditions. In addition, the system determines whether engine oil pressure is suitable for VCM switching and whether catalytic-converter temperature will remain in the proper range. To smooth the transition between activating or deactivating cylinders, the system adjusts ignition timing, drive-by-wire throttle position and turns the torque converter lock-up on and off. As a result, the transition between three-, four-, and six-cylinder operation is virtually unnoticeable to the driver.
Dual-Stage Intake Manifold
The 2011 Odyssey engine's intake uses a dual-stage magnesium intake manifold that is designed to deliver excellent airflow to the cylinders across the full range of engine operating speeds. The induction system significantly boosts torque across the engine's full operating range. Internal passages and two butterfly valves within the intake manifold are operated by the powertrain control module to provide two distinct modes of operation by changing plenum volume and intake airflow routing.
At lower rpm these valves are closed to reduce the volume of the plenum and effectively increase the length of inlet passages for maximum resonance effect and to amplify pressure waves within each half of the intake manifold at lower rpm ranges. The amplified pressure waves significantly increase cylinder filling and torque production throughout the lower part of the engine's rpm band.
As the benefits of the resonance effect lessen with rising engine speed, the butterfly valves open at 4300 RPM to interconnect the two halves of the plenum, increasing its overall volume. An electric motor, commanded by the powertrain control module, controls the butterfly valves. The inertia of the mass of air rushing down each intake passage helps draw in more charge than each cylinder would normally ingest. The inertia effect greatly enhances cylinder filling and the torque produced by the engine at higher rpm.
High-Mounted Fresh Air Intake
The Odyssey has a high-mounted fresh air intake system that reduces air intake temperatures to help improve low-end torque.
Overrunning Alternator Decoupler (OAD)
The accessory belt that drives the alternator, power steering pump and A/C compressor uses a self-tensioning mechanism designed to dampen acceleration and deceleration loads. The Overrunning Alternator Decoupler (OAD) helps absorb dynamic variations in belt tension, contributing to a more stable operation. Nominal belt tension can thus be reduced by approximately 50 percent, helping reduce engine friction losses for improved fuel efficiency.
High-Flow Exhaust System
A low-restriction, high-flow exhaust system is crucial to efficient power and torque production. The Odyssey features a high efficiency system that incorporates several key elements that work in concert with the engine's uniquely designed cylinder heads to help boost performance, reduce tailpipe emissions and trim weight.
Major system components include two close-coupled catalytic converters, a secondary underfloor catalytic converter, a centrally positioned, high-flow resonator and a silencer. The close-coupled catalytic converters mount directly to the cylinder head to reduce light-off time, thereby allowing the catalyst to begin cleansing the exhaust as soon possible. The catalysts, muffling element, and piping are all sized for high flow and low restriction. High-chromium stainless steel is used throughout the exhaust system for excellent durability.
Linear air-fuel and oxygen sensors installed in each of the close-coupled catalytic converters make possible precise control of the air-fuel ratio. These sensors and the precisely controlled high-atomizing multi-hole fuel injectors help achieve almost complete combustion, for cleaner emissions. The result is compliance with the California Air Resource Board's ULEV standards as well as Federal Tier 2-Bin 5 emission requirements.
Active Control Engine Mount (ACM) and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
The ACM system is used to minimize the effects of engine vibration as the VCM system switches cylinders on and off. Sensors alert the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) to direct two ACM actuators - one positioned at the front and on at the rear of the engine - to move to cancel engine vibration. Inside the interior of the Odyssey, the ANC system works in cooperation with the ACM system to further reduce any sound relating to the function of the VCM system. (Please see the Interior tab for more information.)
Powertrain Control Unit (PCU)
The PCU contains two processors which communicate together to control the vehicle's powertrain. A 32-bit, 96MHz processor controls the Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) and the i-VTEC valvetrain, plus a 32-bit 80MHz processor which controls the transmission.
Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI)
The PCU calculates injection timing and duration after assessing an array of sensor signals: crankshaft and camshaft position, throttle position, coolant temperature, intake manifold pressure and temperature, atmospheric pressure and exhaust gas oxygen content.
Drive-by-Wire™ (DBW) Throttle System
The drive-by-wire throttle system uses smart electronics instead of a conventional cable system to connect the throttle pedal to the throttle butterfly in the intake tract. Besides allowing engineers to program the relationship between throttle pedal movement and engine response, the system optimizes engine response to suit driving conditions. The system monitors throttle and brake pedal positions, throttle butterfly position, vehicle speed, engine speed and engine vacuum. This information is used to define the throttle control sensitivity.
Direct Ignition
The Powertrain Control Unit (PCU) monitors engine functions to determine the best spark timing. An engine-block mounted acoustic detonation/knock sensor "listens" to the engine, and based on this input, the PCU retards the ignition timing to prevent potentially damaging detonation. An ignition coil unit for each cylinder is positioned above each spark plug's access bore.
Regular Unleaded Fuel
To keep operating costs at a minimum, all Odyssey models are designed to use relatively less-expensive regular unleaded fuel, thanks to compact 4-valve combustion chambers and precise fuel injection and spark control.
Maintenance Minder System and Tune-Up Intervals
The Odyssey's Maintenance Minder system calculates the engine's tune-up schedule based on driving conditions (tracked by the PCM). When determining proper maintenance intervals, the system minimizes owner guesswork about whether the vehicle is being operated in standard or severe conditions. The Odyssey's Maintenance Minder information appears in the odometer display, and indicates when to change the oil, oil filter (every other oil change), air cleaner, transmission fluid, spark plugs, coolant and when to rotate the tires. A tune-up is not required until about 100,000 miles. (100K+/- Miles No Scheduled Tune-ups may vary with driving conditions. Does not apply to fluid and filter changes. Exact mileage is determined by actual driving conditions. The owner's manual contains full details.) Long-life fluids have been used for reduced maintenance costs and environmental impact (fluid disposal). As a result, engine coolant changes are needed about every 10 years or approximately 120,000 miles, and engine oil changes are required around 7,500 miles under normal driving conditions, or annually if fewer miles are driven per year. The maintenance minder system calculates the exact miles between service intervals.
Battery Management System (BMS)
The 2011 Odyssey has a Battery Management System (BMS) that is designed to increase the overall service life of the battery, reduce the chance of a dead battery and help deliver improved fuel economy. Should an Odyssey owner accidentally leave the headlights on or not close a door causing an interior light to remain on, after a set period of time the BMS will automatically terminate power delivery to prevent the battery from going dead. Moreover, the BMS continually monitors battery condition and will provide a warning message while automatically turning off the interior lights when battery condition or cranking capability drops too low. As a result of the discharge protection afforded by the BMS, the battery should always have enough reserve capacity left to start the engine.
The 3.5-liter V-6 engine in the Odyssey makes use of a powerful 130-amp alternator that charges in two different ranges - a low 12-volt range and a high 14-volt range. By closely controlling the alternator charge voltage, BMS works to keep the battery in a specific charge range which can extend the service life of the battery by more than 25 percent. With BMS keeping the battery in a specific charge range, the alternator can run more often in the low range which generates less drag on the engine resulting in improved fuel economy.
Should a battery or charging system issue occur, the information display on the Odyssey LX, EX and EX-L, or the Multi Information Display (MID) on the Odyssey Touring, will alert the driver with a text prompt such as, "BATTERY CHARGE LOW."
Five-Speed Automatic Transmission with Grade Logic Control
The five-speed automatic transmission on the Odyssey LX, EX and EX-L has several features engineered specifically to match its performance requirements, including extra-wide gear ratios for good low-end response and comfortable highway cruising; a computer-controlled lock-up torque converter; a rigid alloy case; and a four-shaft design. Honda Grade Logic Control technology is designed to hold the vehicle in a lower gear when climbing or descending a steep grade for improved performance.
The transmission features an expanded complement of smart logic controls. A computer-controlled lock-up torque converter is provided to maximize fuel economy. Torque-converter lock-up and shift timing are both managed by a CPU working in cooperation with the engine's central processing unit. An over-running clutch is provided for first gear to smooth upshift quality. A direct-control strategy is used to provide real-time pressure management of the transmission's clutches. Various control strategies are utilized to allow for smooth coordination of engine and transmission operations. For example, the driveline shock that often accompanies gear changes is minimized by momentarily reducing engine torque during shifting.
To reduce gear "hunting" and unnecessary shifting, Grade Logic Control is integrated into the shift programming of the transmission. Grade Logic Control alters the five-speed automatic's shift schedule, reducing shift frequency while traveling uphill or downhill. Using inputs monitoring throttle position, vehicle speed and acceleration/deceleration, Grade Logic compares the operating parameters with a digital map stored in the transmission computer. When the system determines the Odyssey is on a hill, the shift schedule is adjusted to automatically hold the transmission in a lower gear for better climbing power or increased downhill engine braking.
Six-Speed Automatic Transmission with Grade Logic Control
To maximize driver control, acceleration and fuel economy, the Odyssey Touring models are equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission. Though comparable in size and weight to the existing five-speed automatic transmission, careful engineering of the layout and power flow minimizes size, parts count and overall weight.
The new six-speed automatic advances launch-feel, acceleration performance and fuel economy. Compared to the 5-speed transmissions, the new six-speed transmission has lower gear ratios (higher numerically) in first through fifth gears and in reverse. The lower gear ratios improve acceleration and pulling power. The sixth gear ratio is taller (lower numerically) than the top gear in the five-speed transmission. The taller final gear allows for a relaxed cruising rpm and enhanced highway fuel economy.
The six-speed automatic transmission also includes engineering enhancements aimed at improved performance and economy. Expanded multi-disc lock-up control improves the efficiency of power delivery and works with the new gear ratios to provide an improvement in fuel economy, as compared to a conventional design. In addition to Grade Logic Control, all of the transmission logic systems work together to automatically alter shift timing based on driving conditions.
Odyssey Gear Ratio Comparison Table
Multi-Clutch Lock-Up Torque Converter
The all-new six-speed automatic transmission teams with a brand new torque converter that has a unique converter lock-up assembly. The lock-up assembly uses multiple lock-up disks that generate nearly double the facing area of a typical torque converter. The new lock-up assembly not only reduces heat build-up during operation, but also features improved overall lubrication that generates better cooling. The new torque converter allows for lock-up activation during a much wider range of driving conditions for improved fuel economy.
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NASHVILLE - This past Saturday, 46 Tennessee State University student athletes walked across the stage during the University's 2014 Spring commencement ceremony in Hale Stadium.
Fourteen of the students completed their work during the end of the Fall semester.
"I am so proud of the students' accomplishments on and off the field or court, but nothing can compare to the achievement of earning a college degree," commented Director of Academic Services, Dr. Johnnie Smith. "I salute each one of them on their special day and major milestone, and wish them the best in their future endeavors."
The graduating seniors have experienced great success, academically and athletically for the Tigers. In this season alone, TSU won the OVC Indoor Track and Field Championship while also being named the Black National Football Champions. The Tigers also boasted a number of All-Americans and All-OVC selections.
On top of those accomplishments, these student-athletes have also done many of hours of community service in the Nashville area.
After their successful years with the TSU athletic programs these graduating seniors are moving on to many endeavors, including professional careers, internships and graduate school.
Four years ago, Cierra Joshua made her way down to Nashville from Detroit, Mich., to begin her tenure at Tennessee State. As a four-year member of the TSU Track and Field team, she understood the importance of balancing athletics and academics. For Joshua, graduation is the end of a long-road of hard work and the beginning of a new journey.
"It's been great being a track and field athlete at TSU," said Joshua. "It has taught me time management and the importance of building relationships as well as networking for the future. After graduation I plan on joining the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department."
Joshua continued by saying, "I'm a first generation college student so reaching that milestone has definitely given my family members something to look up to."
Below is a complete list of TSU student-athlete graduates for Fall 2013 and Spring 2014.
Jennifer Givens, SB
May 2014

subset: commoncrawl


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: George Zimmerman is in custody and will be charged with second degree murder for killing Trayvon Martin in February.
Florida State Attorney Angela Corey, opened her press conference by referring to the Martin family as "sweet parents" to whom she promised justice for Trayvon Martin.
"We did not come to this decision lightly,.. " Corey said. " we do not prosecute by public pressure. ... Unless you've ever been a law enforcement officer or a prosector you cannot know what it is like to launch this type of prosecution and come to the right conclusion."
"There is a reason cases are tried in the court of law, not in the public or in the media," Corey reiterated.
"We continue to pray for Trayvon's family and the prosecution team. ... Remember it is Trayvon's family who are constitutional victims."
Corey confirmed that Zimmerman was in custody but would not reveal his location, citing concerns for Zimmerman's safety.
Corey did not take any opportunity to throw the Sanford police department under the bus, and instead framed her office's investigation as building upon their work. Corey also declined to express an opinion on whether Zimmerman should be given the maximum sentence for second-degree murder, which is life-imprisonment.
Corey also reacted coolly to questions about Florida's "Stand Your Ground" Law, describing it as just another "affirmative defense" that her team handles all the time.
She also confirmed that Seminole county will be the jurisdiction in which Zimmerman will be tried. Demographically, Seminole county is 78.2 percent white, 17.1 percent "person of Hispanic or Latino origin," and 11.1 percent black
CNN is also reporting that Zimmerman has a lawyer, Mark O'Mara. (Not the two other lawyers who have been appearing on television claiming to be his defense team.)
Florida Governor Rick Scott released a statement earlier today on the case:
"We are fortunate in our state that most Floridians and local civic leaders are law-abiding, responsible citizens who all want justice to prevail. No matter what State Attorney (Angela) Corey determines following her investigation of the Trayvon Martin tragedy, I trust in the goodness of all Florida citizens to allow our justice system to reach an appropriate conclusion in this case."
According to an earlier report from CNN, Angela Corey, the state attorney general had described Trayvon Martin's family as "lovely people."
She said she has met with them and prayed with them and promised to get them answers.
That in itself is a little strange.
For those who do not know the ins and outs of murder charges, second degree murder means that a killing was done intentionally, but without planning or premeditation.


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Viva Costa Rica
The one that sees you raft, snorkel & zipline your way across lush landscapes
Visiting San Jose, Arenal (La Fortuna), Playa Tamarindo, Monteverde, Jaco, Sarapiqui, Manuel Antonio
Is this trip for me?
Travel Style
In-Depth Explorer
Group Size
Max 28 people
Transport Style
- Only $200 deposit to book
Pay over time, interest free
Learn more
- No booking fee, no change fees
- Financing available with UpLift
What's included?
8 nights accommodation
8 nights in Hotel
12 Meals
4 Dinner, 8 Breakfast
Expert Trip Manager, Driver and Local Guides
All transport included during the trip
7 included, 10 optional that you can add
- Eat a delicious dinner with a local family in Arenal
- Learn how rich local chocolate is made in Arenal
- Take a waterfall hike in La Fortuna
- Learn all about authentic Costa Rican coffee on a Don Juan Coffee tour
- Take a catamaran cruise on the turquoise waters of Playa Tamarindo *
- Soak in the geothermal waters of the Arenal hot springs *
- Learn to surf in the paradise of Playa Tamarindo *
- Go ziplining in majestic Monteverde *
- Entrance to Selvatura Park, also known as Monteverde's Cloud Forest
- Take a day trip to Manuel Antonio National Park & explore ancient rainforests, pristine beaches & dazzling coral reefs
- Go ATV (quad-biking) through the rainforest in Jaco *
* This experience is a Free Time-Add on and not included in the trip price.
Request more info
Viva Costa Rica
7 Inclusions
Experiences that are included with your trip
- See Arenal Volcano (weather permitting)
- Eat a delicious dinner with a local family in Arenal
- Learn how rich local chocolate is made in Arenal
- Take a waterfall hike in La Fortuna
- Learn all about authentic Costa Rican coffee on a Don Juan Coffee tour
- Entrance to Selvatura Park, also known as Monteverde's Cloud Forest
- Take a day trip to Manuel Antonio National Park and explore ancient rainforests, pristine beaches and dazzling coral reefs
10 Free Time Add-Ons
Optional experiences that you can choose from and pay for on your trip
- Go white water rafting in Sarapiqui US$80.00
- Try canyoneering in Arenal From US$87.00
- Soak in the geothermal waters of the Arenal hot springs US$40.00
- Take a catamaran cruise on the turquoise waters of Playa Tamarindo US$85.00
- Try diving in Playa Tamarindo US$120.00
- Surf Lessons US$45.00
- Go ziplining in majestic Monteverde's Selvatura Park US$55.00
- Hanging Bridges Walk
- Go ATV (quad-biking) through the rainforest in Jaco
- Try kayaking along the coastline of Jaco
Nights spent per location
San Jose
2 nights
Arenal (La Fortuna)
2 nights
Playa Tamarindo
2 nights
2 nights
Manuel Antonio
San Jose
21 Reviews
Sorry! The reviews aren't available for the chosen filter.
Are flights included in my trip?
International flights to/from the destination your trip starts and ends in are not included in the cost of the trip, and must be purchased separately. You can book these independently if you want to shop around for the best quote, or through your travel agent.
Any flights you take during your Contiki are included in the cost of your trip. On certain Latin America trips we use planes to get you from A to B as quickly as possible, and all of this is included.
What documents do I need to travel?
Depending on your nationality, you may require visas to enter certain countries on your
trip. You are fully responsible for obtaining all necessary visas that are required prior to the departure of your trip. Contiki is not legally permitted to knowingly allow anybody who does not have a valid visa to join a trip. Visa and other entry & exit conditions (such as currency, arrival/ departure taxes, customs and quarantine regulations) do change regularly.
Your passport must have at least six months' validity remaining when you arrive. Local immigration authorities may deny entry and deport people who do not meet this requirement, even if they only intend to stay for a short period. Important to consider:
• Visas can take up to six weeks and a fee is normally charged.
• Failure to obtain all necessary visas could cause you to miss part of your trip and will result in
you incurring considerable expense and inconvenience.
• It is better for you to apply for all visas before you leave home.
• It is very important that the entry and exit dates are correct on the visa.
What are the luggage restrictions?
On our Latin America trips, you can bring one bag or suitcase of 73cm x 50cm x 25cm (29" x 20" x 10"), with a max. weight of 20kg (44lbs). As with our other regions, luggage is restricted to only one reasonably sized backpack/suitcase plus one carry-on bag, and luggage policies are strictly enforced on our trips. Due to the large number of flights on Contiki Latin America trips, your luggage needs to meet the size and weight restrictions imposed by airlines. These limits are imposed by the airlines, not by Contiki. Check out www.lan.com for more.
On some of our trips, it is necessary to use an overnight bag on the occasional nights when it's not possible to unload your bags from the coach (like our Peru Jungle Lodge & at Machu Picchu). It's a good idea to bring an overnight bag, or hand luggage that's big enough to double up as an overnighter when needed.
What do the Contiki team do?
People are at the heart of everything we do, and our team is what makes our trips the best. Our worldwide On-Road Team, locally based staff & network of Local Guides are all extensively trained & widely travelled, & are the best in the business. But we know it's not just about training, it's about passion & our team have it in their blood.
Our team in Latin America are all genuine Latin locals, and they can't wait to show you their backyard. Your Trip Manager is like your walking, talking guidebook – just for you. They plan your itinerary every day, organise your food and accomodation and book your Free Time Add ons, and because they know everything about where you're going, you will too. Local Guides provide specialist knowledge when you need it and will always help you avoid the tourist traps.
What's not included that I should budget for?
There are loads of great things to spend your money on while you're in Latin America – from a day trip to a beautiful coastal town, to a special dinner or an outfit that you just can't resist... So how much money should you bring?
Remember your trip already includes plenty of things such as breakfast every day, many meals, lots of sightseeing, guided tours & activities & much more
Before you travel, it's a good idea to read up on and get an idea of the Free Time Add-Ons you think you'll want to do on trip, as these will form part of your overall budget. We'd advise doing some research on your chosen destinations beforehand, looking at things like:
- Cost of a local lunch
- Cost of a local dinner
- Cost of a local taxi
- Cost of entry to a sightseeing spot
Will I be able to access WiFi on my trip?
Contiki's Latin America accommodation is almost all hotels on a twin-share basis. You will stay in centrally located 3-star hotels & resorts that have been chosen for their particular character, charm, location & style. They're all very comfortable & have some great amenities, like WiFi and en-suite bathrooms.
What are Contiki's sustainability credentials?
We believe that travelling sustainably and consciously, matters. Contiki Cares is our commitment to protecting the communities we visit, the wildlife we interact with, and the planet we all share. Our founding partner, the TreadRight Foundation was established 10 years ago as a not-for-profit organisation focused on promoting sustainable tourism within The Travel Corporation's family of brands. From our Me To We volunteering trip in Ecuador to the shark saver initiative in the Galapagos, our projects in Latin America are all about giving something back. Find out more at https://www.contiki.com/uk/en/about/contiki-cares.


text:
Luggage Tag Inversed Grey
At OTM Essentials we are continually On The Move working to create the tech essentials that you want and love. Started by two sisters with a passion for fashion and love of tech, OTM Essentials products include phones cases, laptop sleeves, tablet cases, mouse pads, luggage tags & more.
OTM Product Warranty/Gurantee
OTM has a standard limited warranty policy which includes a 1 year limited warranty for all accessories (excluding OTM + Swarovski products/accessories) and a 5 year limited warranty on USBs.
Contact firstname.lastname@example.com with any questions.
Our philosophy at OTM is simple: design quality products with a twist of fun for your favorite tech gadgets. If you don't love your item, let us know and we will work to find a solution to meet your standards or send you a new product.
OTM + Swarovski Product Warranty/Guarantee
OTM Swarovski products are true luxury items. These accessories are made just for you, on a made-to-order basis. Swarovski crystals are applied with special care and attention to detail. Please be gentle with your crystalized products! Our 1 year limited OTM warranty does not cover lost crystals and/or cracked or broken cases. Note: if your product arrives defective in any way, we will replace it for you. Please contact us within 5 business days.


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Yoga Sundays
- $10.00
Yoga Sundays
with Shipra Saraogi
Sunday, April 5th, 2015
$10 donation requested at the door - All levels of Experience welcome!
Shipra combines Hatha Vinyasa Flow with elements of dance, flexibility and strengthening into her practice - Yogea.
Yogea has elements of Tai chi, Bharatnatyam, Kalari, Chhau and Modern dance, to go with Pranayama and Asana practice. The philosophy of this practice integrates Yoga with other esoteric phiosophies including Egyptian, Oriental, Greco-Roman, Hermeticism, and more. Shipra's knows Sanskrit, and includes Bhakti yoga, too. She also likes to offer Marma therapy, Reflexology towards the end of the session.
Namaste, by Alex Grey
Shipra helps students make small adjustments to safely push deeper into asanas, guiding them to their body's potential. Come to Yoga Sundays for the ultimate out of body experience!
Yoga begins at 10am, $10 donation requested. Mats are available. All levels of experience welcome.
|Shipra Saraogi was born and raised in North India. She started dancing and doing yoga at eight and found her ease in expression. She has worked with dance companies and projects in New Delhi and New York. She has a background in Bharatnatyam, Ballet, Jazz, Modern and Contemporary, Chhau and Kallaripattayu. She now does Circus and performs solo and duet acts- Contortion, Aerial (Trapeze, Lyra, Pole, Silks), Fire (Eating, Sword ). She holds a Masters in special education and an MS in Dance therapy. She has work experience in the fields of disability and education which has has influenced her life's path and vision of the world. She holds a 300 hour Advanced Yoga TT from Yogea Art (Antonia Katrandjieva) under the Yoga Alliance of America. She teaches at Yoga, Dance and Martial Arts studios in the city and Brooklyn. She practices Ashtanga, Dharma Yoga and other forms of Hatha Yoga. Jared McCann and Talia Sutra are very dear to her and she resonates with their yog teaching style. Follow Shipra on Instagram.
Shipra performing as a contortionist and mermaid.
The CoSM Store and the Mushroom Cafe will be open.
Rooms are available for rent in Grey House, CoSM's fully renovated Visionary Victorian guest house.
The artwork of Alex Grey & Allyson Grey plus many other visionary artists are on display in the guest house.
CoSM, Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, 46 Deer Hill Road, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 click here for directions
|NeonCRM by Neon One


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50 Cent's Day At Court! Plus Shaniqua's Statement (Claiming 50 Is A Bad Father)
50 Cent went to court this morning. Sept 8 2008 . Courtesy of Thisis50
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
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The University of Connecticut says the NCAA has found eight violations in the school's men's basketball program.
UConn's lead attorney handling the investigation calls this a "major infractions case."
The alleged violations include improper phone calls and text messages to recruits, and giving recruits improper benefits, providing false and misleading information to the NCAA and providing comp admissions. Coach Jim Calhoun was cited for failing to "promote an atmosphere of compliance."
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Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe.
UConn would not comment on possible penalties.
The school on Friday released an infractions letter it received from the NCAA following a 15-month investigation. UConn is to appear before the governing body in October to respond.
"The university and the athletic division are taking this very seriously, as we should. I am confident that the university will appropriately address and respond to this matter and continue cooperating fully with the NCAA as this process moves forward," UConn President Michael Hogan said in a statement. Hogan resigned from the president's spot earlier this month to become president of the University of Illinois.
UConn Director of Athletics Jeffrey Hathaway said university officials and staff would not comment on the specific allegations.
"The University of Connecticut is fully committed to NCAA rules compliance and takes this matter very seriously," he said, adding that Calhoun "personally has a long-standing history of demonstrated commitment to NCAA compliance."
"In my thirty-eight years as a collegiate head basketball coach, twenty-five of which I have spent at the University of Connecticut, I look with particular pride at our strong record of compliance and the impact that we have had on the young men in our program," Calhoun said in a statement.
Two people affiliated with the basketball team resigned before Friday's news conference, where the university announced an update of an NCCA investigation into possible recruiting violations with the team.
NBC Connecticut Sports director Kevin Nathan has confirmed that assistant coach Patrick Sellers and director of basketball operations Beau Archibald have resigned their positions.
"In order to effectively address the allegations against me, I feel that it is critical that I do so separately from the University and the basketball staff," Sellers said in a statement. "Coaching is my passion and something I have spent many years of enjoyment doing. I want the record to reflect this and for people to see the respect and integrity that I will show toward this process in the months ahead."
"In order to best meet that demand, I think it is necessary for me to leave my position with the University and the basketball program.
I have loved my time at UConn as a player and as a staff member. It has been an incredible opportunity to be a part of this championship program under a hall of fame coach. I am grateful for my time at UConn and it has always brought me great pride. I
wish everyone the best in the future." Archibald said.
The NCAA is looking into the recruitment of former player Nate Miles. Head Coach Jim Calhoun has admitted that he or his staff might have made mistakes during his recruitment.
Sellers has been on Calhoun's staff since 2003. Archibald was hired in 2007.
According to the notice from the NCAA, UConn must review the allegations and requests for information and respond in writing and provide evidence of anything the school disputes by Aug. 20. The Committee on Infractions is expected to consider UConn's responses during its meeting in Indianapolis on Oct. 15 and 16.
The Background
The NCAA and the school have been investigating the program since shortly after a report by Yahoo! Sports in March 2009 that former team manager Josh Nochimson helped guide basketball recruit Nate Miles to Connecticut, giving him lodging, transportation, meals and representation.
As a former team manager, Nochimson could be considered a representative of UConn's athletic interests by the NCAA and prohibited from having contact with Miles or giving him anything of value.
Documents released by the school showed pages and pages of phone and text message correspondence between Nochimson and UConn coaches Calhoun, Tom Moore, who is now head coach at Quinnipiac, and Sellers.
Miles was expelled from UConn in October 2008 without ever playing a game for the Huskies after he was charged with violating a restraining order in a case involving a woman who claimed he assaulted her. He played during the 2008-09 season for the College of Southern Idaho, and was cut last November by the NBA Development League's Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Read the letter of inquiry from the NCAA to UConn here.


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Interview of Martine Durand – Chief Statistician and Director of Statistics Directorate, OECD
Are there any differences between female and male when it comes to life satisfaction? How do you explain this?
The last century has witnessed extraordinary achievements in the status of women. However, despite this progress in a number of countries women are somewhat less satisfied with their lives than 40 years ago, both in absolute terms and relative to men. This may reflect the fact that women now, more than before, find it difficult to balance their family and work obligations. Another possible explanation is that women are now, more likely to compare their own situations to that of men, while in the past they used to compare themselves to other women. It is possible therefore that women are in fact experiencing a higher quality of life today than in the past but that they now have higher aspirations for what their life should be like and , as a consequence, report lower levels of life satisfaction.
In terms of objective personal well-being, what are the main issues that women face nowadays?
Indicators comparing the objective conditions of women and men in OECD countries show clear gender inequalities in several dimensions: women are more exposed to domestic violence and abuses (more than 40 of women experience intimate violence by their partner at least once in their life in several countries); they struggle to access male-dominated occupations ( only one out of four business owners with employees is a woman); they are less likely to make it to the top of the career ladder (only 32 of senior managers are women they earn significantly less than men either as salaried employees (16 less) or as entrepreneurs (35 less); and they are more likely to live in poverty at old-age (15 of women and 11 of men over 65 are poor in OECD countries). Moreover, women continue to bear the burden of household chores and of care work, devoting twice as much time to household work than men. Of course, there are important differences across countries. In less developed countries, the main issue for women's well-being is still the respect of human rights, such as the rights to choose when to get married, to have full legal protection against violence within or outside their home, to hold a property right over the land or save money in a bank account without asking for men's authorization.
Feeling of security, work-life balance, material well-being, career opportunities… When it comes to the perception of their quality of life, which indicators show some differences between women and male?
Objective indicators of well-being are essential to assess people's living conditions and quality of life, but information on people's evaluations and feelings about their own lives is equally important, and may sometimes provide different information. This is the case, for instance, of the feelings of security. Both police records and victimization surveys show that men are at greater risk of being victims of assault and violent crimes. However, women systematically report lower feelings of security than men, due for example to greater fears of sexual attacks. As already mentioned, in terms of work-life balance, women more often than men report that they are not able to fulfill their family duties because of work responsibilities. There is also evidence that women negotiate less for their salaries than men, and have lower expectations regarding promotions. Women are less confident than men about their capabilities to start a successful business, and this partly explains why there are so few women among top entrepreneurs. All these bits of evidence suggest that gender roles and norms still play a big role in determining women's perceptions of their own capabilities and potentially undermine their achievements and well-being.
What would be your recipe for an improved Quality of life for everyone?
A good life is first and above all a question of freedom of choice as regards to how one wants to live. It is about having the multiple capacities needed to effectively make this choice. Some of these capacities include being healthy, educated, feeling safe, having a political voice, the ability of combine harmoniously work and family life and feeling satisfied with one's life. Trust in others and co-operation are also important for quality of life.
But we should also consider what will make for a good life for our children and grandchildren. For this, we need to preserve and invest in key assets that underpin well-being opportunities of future generations, such as for instance natural resources but also human and social capital.


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Ca$$per Nyovest finally lost his Composure as he puts out the type of AKA response the whole of Africa has been anticipating – #Dust2Dust.
Ca$$per Nyovest in his own words said he never would have responded if AKA didn't mention his queen!
I guess AKA would have to get into the
kitchen to cook something else cause Ca$$per Nyovest killed this one.
Download mp3 of Dust 2 Dust by Ca$$per
Nyovest below and let us know your


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War Stories: Liberty Road is a war game for 1-2 players.Game info on BoardGameAtlas.comGame info on BoardGameGeek.com
Game info on BoardGameAtlas.com
Game info on BoardGameGeek.com
This form will move this price for this item to a new item. Search for the item you want to move to below, then submit.
You can find a BGG ID for a game by visiting it's game page on BGG's website. Then copy/paste the ID found in the URL. Below is a screenshot of where to find the ID.
Celebrate the diversity of tea cultures in ☕ Chai: High Tea, an expansion for Chai!
$67,010 / $30,000
Ends in 20 days
If the monster had a wand of fireballs in their loot pile all along, why didn't they use it? Loot tables in RPGs have traditionally provided a quick way to come up with rewards for players, but the randomness can lead to results that don't always make sense. Wretches & Rewa...
Deals of the Day: June 2, 2020>
New Generation of Gateway Games & Other Board Game News>
2020 Game of the Year Nominees & Other Board Game News>
Joshua Yearsley, Editor of Root - What Does it Take to be a Rulebook Editor?>
BGG Annual Awards Controversy & Other Board Game News>
AdapTableTop: A Modular System for Board Games and RPGs>


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Find products, services and support
Oops! Can we suggest to: check your spelling, try more general words or try different words that mean the same thing
Manage your routes and view traffic information.MyDrive
View your sports workoutsTomTom Sports
While you're working out, we're working on improving your products. That's why we regularly issue software updates with important changes to increase performance and reliability, often providing you with great new features. Installing all these updates will benefit you and your performance. On this page you will find the latest updates for your TomTom Sports products and apps.
To upgrade your TomTom Sports device, download TomTom Sports Connect and link your device to your computer.
Download for Windows
Download for Mac


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The Surface Pro is either a tiny Ultrabook or a bulky Windows 8 tablet, depending on your point of view. Is the Surface Pro the one device to rule them all? Watch our Surface Pro UK video review to find out.
The Surface Pro is a Windows 8 tablet that offers Ultrabook performance in a chassis only a little thicker than an iPad. It's a hybrid device, designed to replace your laptop and to do away with your tablet.
Surface Pro: design and build
Compared to a tablet the Surface Pro feels thick and chunky - but place it next to even a thin laptop and it's a lightweight gadget.
It weighs around 900g, but doesn't tell the whole story. In our tests it ran really hot - as might be expected of such a small Core i5 device - and holding it in one hand for any period of time is a trial.
The 22-degree kickstand is a neat solution. And the way the Type keyboard clicks in is a joyous thing. But the gap between the back and the top of the chassis is a negative. It's there to allow for air flow.
The Surface Pro has a 1920-by-1080-pixel, 10.6-inch screen. That makes for 208 pixels per inch. It's a decent screen for a tablet, but on size alone it can't match up to that of a decent laptop. Viewing angles are pretty good though, at least side to side. It's a pretty reflective screen, however. We found it all but useless outside.
Surface Pro: storage
The 128GB Surface Pro we tested offers only 83GB of usable storage capacity. The Surface Pro supports USB 3.0 so you can expand your storage using an external drive. There's also a MicroSDXC card slot in case you want to add onboard flash memory.
Surface Pro: performance, connectivity, battery
With an average PCMark7 benchmark score of 4751 the Surface Pro is a Windows 8 PC offering the performance of a high-end Ultrabook. The Surface Pro is supplied with the kind of processor and memory more commonly seen in family PCs. It's a power laptop in tablet form, and it performs as such. It's truly zippy in use - there are compromises being made here, but not in the general performance of the Surface Pro.
The connectivity options are good, too. You get a Mini DisplayPort which can drive HDMI and VGA displays - get a full-spec keyboard and a decent display and the Surface Pro could be your primary PC when not in tablet use.
The Surface Pro has integrated graphics, which means it's not much of a gaming rig, however.
Battery life is good, but perhaps not good enough for the new category of device that the Surface Pro represents. With a 42-watt-hour battery the Surface Pro has Intel Ultrabook battery life, rather than that of an Arm-based tablet. In our video rundown test, the Pro lasted only 5 hours, 8 minutes. Good, but not great.
Surface Pro: pen
The Surface Pro comes with a pen that offers a drawing and writing input for the tablet. It's a passive device that doesn't draw power and attaches magnetically to the side of the device. According to Microsoft the Surface Pro's pen offers 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity and it's true that it is a very sensitive tablet pen. In use it can be laggy however, and it feels flimsy and plastic.
Surface Pro: software
The Surface Pro offers the full no-holds-barred Windows 8 Pro experience. So you can run any software that you have installed on any other Windows device, as well as Windows apps.
Surface Pro: keyboards
The Touch and Type Covers are brilliant keyboard/covers, but not as good as a proper keyboard. The keys are small, don't have much travel, and suffer from a perceptable lag. Both covers are as good as it gets in tablet cover keyboards, but that isn't as good as a proper keyboard or even that of an Ultrabook.
Surface Pro: verdict
We like the Surface Pro - it's the most portable power PC you can buy. But it is a compromise in terms of keyboard and battery life.


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Not sure if it's been mentioned before but someone had produced a very elegant 13x2 header to 20x1 way SIL serial header adapter board which allows easy interfacing of the PI's expansion header into Vero or Breadboard.
They have designed it to re-order GPIO pins0-7 which is excellent if you want to pump them into for example a ULM2308A or a bar-graph led.
It comes as a kit you solder the header on. This is good as you can have it whichever way up you want, and then you can do as you like with the 20-way connector. I suggest 20 pins downwards if you want to use to feed a breadboard, or similar into 20 way square header socket on vero.
Remember you'll need a ribbon cable, and a row of pins as required.
Seller's page is here. and before anyone asks, I don't know the seller, I'm just a happy customer.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Breakout-Head ... m1c27148ef
The only downside is the labels are just slightly obscured when the header is soldered in place.


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Subscribe to our e-newsletter mailing list to keep up with NCCCO news and industry headlines.
The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) is pleased to announce an Articulating Crane Practical Examiner Accreditation Workshop. The Articulating Crane Practical Examiner Workshop will be held February 28-March 1, 2014, in Las Vegas, NV. A one-day refresher will be held on February 28, 2014, for those Practical Examiners needing to re-accredit.
NCCCO reviews all potential participants' applications before admission to the Workshop is granted. All applications must include payment and resumes or will be considered incomplete and will not be processed. The articulating crane workshop is strictly limited to eleven (11) participants. The workshop is filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. All candidates attending the Articulating Boom Crane Practical Examiner Accreditation Workshop must hold current CCO articulating crane operator certification.
This workshop will have an Articulating Boom Crane only. There will be no Articulating Boom Loader (ABL) available at this workshop.
Attendees at NCCCO Practical Examiner Accreditation Workshops are required to retake and pass the Practical Exam(s) for the category(ies) in which they hold NCCCO Certification and wish to receive accreditation as a Practical Examiner. Attendees failing Practical Exam(s) at the workshop will be required to re-test within 30 days after receipt of their workshop results. These exams must be conducted in the presence of an approved NCCCO Practical Examiner. Failure to pass the subsequent Practical Exam(s) will result in revocation of NCCCO Certification for that category.
The deadline to register for this workshop is February 17, 2014. Please fill out the Workshop Application and return it to NCCCO's Salt Lake City Office via fax at 801-363-3806 or via email to firstname.lastname@example.com in PDF format.
Copyright, 1995-2019. All rights reserved.


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Group releases video of seals being clubbed to death in Namibia
JOHANNESBURG – A conservation group has released graphic video of men clubbing seals to death in the western Africa nation of Namibia.
Earthrace Conservation said Thursday that the video, captured in 2011 by a covert filmmaker, shows dozens of seal pups being clubbed to death by men wielding pick ax handles.
An official with Namibia's Ministry of Information said he had no response to the video.
Earthrace Conservation says Namibia and Canada are the only two countries that allow seal culls. The group says Namibia argues that culls are necessary to protect its fishing industry. But the group says South Africa's ban on seal culls had no detrimental effect on its fishing industry.
Earthrace Conservation urged Namibia to halt the culls and urged people to boycott it as a vacation destination.


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sponsored by
PM Supporters Converge To Counter Protests
Send a link to a friend
[April 05, 2014]
By Amy Sawitta Lefevre
BANGKOK (Reuters) — Tens of thousands of
supporters of Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra demonstrated on
the outskirts of Bangkok on Saturday, part of a three-day rally aimed at
countering months of sometimes violent anti-government protests.
In their largest show of force in months, the pro-government "red
shirts", or United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship as the
group is formally known, said they were prepared to thwart any move
to dismiss Yingluck who faces mounting legal cases that could see
her removed from office in coming weeks.
Leaders of the movement said they were not seeking a fight with the
thousands of anti-government protesters holding their own rally at
their headquarters in Bangkok's Lumpini Park, near the city's
financial district.
The red shirts were gathering on a scenic country road at the edge
of the city, more than 30 km (18 miles) from Lumpini. Around 3,000
police were on guard.
"We're not looking for a confrontation with the anti-government
crowd," red shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan told Reuters. "This is
about showing our strength and to warn the elite that we will not
accept it if Yingluck is removed by the courts."
Government supporters accuse Yingluck's enemies of plotting a
judicial coup. The courts have been unusually active in recent weeks
and Yingluck looks increasingly hemmed in.
Red shirt leaders expect more than 500,000 to show up but others
gave a more conservative estimate.
"More than 100,000 protesters are at the site now. It's highly
unlikely 500,000 will show up but red shirts are still trickling
in," Paradorn Pattanathabutr, a security adviser to the prime
minister, told Reuters.
"There's a massive traffic jam and cars trying to get in are bumper
to bumper."
Many had packed for a long stay, bringing portable gas stoves and
food supplies to last a week. Most were expected to stay overnight.
The struggle pits the mostly poorer, rural supporters of Yingluck
and her brother, ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, against
anti-government protesters from Bangkok and the south backed by the
conservative elite.
At the height of the demonstrations, anti-government protesters shut
down key road junctions in Bangkok and blockaded state offices. They
disrupted a February 2 election which was nullified by a court in
March, prolonging weeks of uncertainty.
The anti-government protesters, mainly urban and middle class Thais,
want to replace Yingluck with a so-called neutral prime minister to
help usher in broad political and electoral reforms.
Red shirt protesters say they will not accept a prime minister
appointed by the conservative establishment.
[to top of second column]
"There is no way, absolutely no way, that we will accept a prime
minister of their choosing. The only prime minister we want is an
elected one," said a volunteer cook.
Protesters held framed
pictures of Yingluck and Thaksin and signs including one that read:
Reds will not accept a judicial coup!
On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court accepted a case against her
lodged by 27 senators who say Yingluck abused power when she
transferred the national security chief in 2011.
Yingluck has been given 15 days to defend herself before the court.
If found guilty, she faces removal from office.
She also faces charges of negligence brought against her by the
National Anti-Corruption Commission in connection with a government
rice-buying scheme that has run up huge losses. She could be
impeached if the case is forwarded to the Senate.
The military, which has staged numerous coups since Thailand became
a constitutional monarchy in 1932, ousted Thaksin in 2006. It has
stayed out of the fray this time.
Apirak Konsompthong, commander of the 11th Infantry Division, told
reporters on Saturday that the army would seek to remain neutral in
the crisis.
"Our explosive ordnance disposal and rapid deployment teams will
help support police security efforts at the red rally this weekend.
However, our main responsibility is to stay neutral" said Apirak.
Twenty-four people have been killed and more than 700 injured since
the anti-government protests erupted in late November.
(Additional Jutarat Skulpichetrat; editing by Nick Macfie and Ron
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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White Hat SEO: It F@$#ing WorksBlog Post: April 10, 2011
True, but the effect is sadly limited. My posts have been linked to from BoingBoing, io9, dealbook.nytimes.com, and the most prominent legal blogs (AboveTheLaw, Volokh Conspiracy). I'm even on the blog roll of a prominent tort reformer(!) with the oldest legal blog. All of that earned 100% organically, didn't even ask for the links, just wrote good content.
The result? I can catch some long-tail search terms, and Google indexes me rapidly, but I didn't even crack the top 50 results for any of the major keywords for me until I started doing stuff that's considered white hat — Yahoo, JoeAnt, etc, upper-level directories — but which strikes me as straight-up link-buying. That gets me in the top 50, but first page is still loaded with black hat.
Which gives me two options: (1) wait for Google to fix it or (2) go black hat. Right now I'm trying hard as I can to improve my white hat SEO (that's why I joined SEOmoz and SEOBook) with on-site optimization and whatever degree of white hat link building that's possible with specialized content, but, well, when someone says that White Hat SEO is a Joke, it really resonates in my industry. A couple years of quality content in the law doesn't hold a candle to throwing down $100k a year, maybe more, to an SEO that will load you up on the dirty backlinks.
I'm a personal injury lawyer. In virtually every "[city] + personal injury lawyer" (or "medical malpractice" lawyer or "car accident lawyer" or "birth injury lawyer" etc) your first page is made up primarily of black hat and gray hat. "Philadelphia personal injury lawyer" includes at least one firm with aggressive black hat (e.g., php vulnerabilities and irrelevant domains with nothing but links to the firm), two firms with dismal content and no legitimate links but hundreds of directory submissions, one firm with a mixture of forum profiles and "blog reviews," one firm with a dead-on domain name match, four firms that have one or two dozen keyword-specific domains that host virtually identical content to the main site (with links to the main site), and then one decent blog (with a close domain name match) that's nonetheless part of a link network like Justia. There are lots of "respected" lawyer directories that outright sell links at $10k annually or more, and tons of reciprocal link junk that I keep being told doesn't work but which, well, works.
I'm thus not so sure about the value of pure white-hat SEO, at least in my field. At a bare minimum, you need a lot of gray hat to rank well for the competitive keywords, and there are plenty of law firm sites that boost themselves by (a) running several separate domains that look like lawsuit news sites but really are just rewritten content with the editorial anchor text on keywords pointing to the firm's website or (b) running a dozen or more domains with virtually identical content. I'm keeping my fingers cross that, some day, Google with tweak things a bit to clean up some of that crap.
P.S. Rand — some time ago I saw your personal blog and thought the picture of you in the middle of drinking wine was pretentious, but having just seen that your wife's blog has an almost identical photo of her, suddenly it's now cute and personable that you both do it. Context is everything.


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A Connecticut judge ordered a divorcing couple to hand over the passwords of their Facebook and online dating accounts so their lawyers could find online evidence about the spouses.
New London District Superior Court Judge Kenneth Shluger imposed the ruling on Stephen and Courtney Gallion Sept. 29, with the decision intended to aid the lawyers in the discovery process of the divorce which will involve custody of the couple's children, according to Security News Daily. Neither of the spouses would be allowed to see each other's pages or sites.
Stephen Gallion saw evidence on his wife's Facebook profile that indicated her feelings about him, their children and her ability to take care of them, according to Forbes.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
During a deposition, Gary Traystman, Stephen Gallion's lawyer, asked Courtney Gallion for the passwords for her Facebook account, as well as EHarmony and Match (which she had apparently already joined). She initially refused but was then counseled by her lawyer to hand them over. . . . Traystman says she immediately texted a friend and asked that person to change the passwords and delete some of her messages. That's when he got the judge involved, to issue an injunction that she not delete any material and order the attorneys to exchange passwords for both spouses so that they could conduct discovery.
In "discovery," a litigant is required to turn over material, but Forbes blogger Kashmir Hill says litigants shouldn't have to turn over all the keys to access it. She also called it a "court-authorized hacking."
Both sides agreed to the swap, because according to Traystman, his client had nothing to hide -- and apparently he was willing to give up a little privacy to get at his wife's information.
As we have previously written, Facebook can cause a divorce, but now divorce lawyers have found that it's also helpful in getting a better settlement or custody of one's children.


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Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas | MLS Match Preview
HOUSTON DYNAMO vs FC DALLAS
BBVA COMPASS STADIUM, Houston, Texas
April 5, 2013 (WEEK 5, MLS Game #41)
7 p.m. CT (CSN-Hou+; TWCSN-TX)
MLS Free Stream of the Week
The Texas Derby for 2014 is ahead on Saturday evening when the Houston Dynamo play host to FC Dallas at BBVA Compass Stadium in their lone league encounter this season. The Dynamo return home, where they haven't allowed a goal this year, following a 2-1 loss at Vancouver Whitecaps FC last weekend. FC Dallas lead the Western Conference and are undefeated on the season, coming off a 2-1 home win against the Portland Timbers last weekend.
REFEREE: Ricardo Salazar. AR1 (bench): Peter Manikowski; AR2 (opposite): Mike Kampmeinert; 4th: Mark Kadlecik
MLS Career: 182 games; FC/gm: 26.7; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 51; pens: 63
SUSPENDED: none
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
ALL-TIME (20 meetings): Dynamo 9 wins, 30 goals … FC Dallas 4 wins, 22 goals … Ties 7
AT HOUSTON (10 meetings): Dynamo 6 wins, 17 goals … FC Dallas 1 win, 12 goals … Ties 3
3/17: DAL 3, HOU 2 (John 34; Jacobson 35; Cooper 90 – Driver 79; Davis 83)
- This is the only league meeting between the teams this season.
- FC Dallas took the lone meeting between the clubs a year ago, a 3-2 win in Frisco on March 17, their first victory against the Dynamo since 2010. FCD went nearly three years and nine games without a win against their in-state rivals, until a win in 2009.
- FC Dallas has won once all-time in Houston in 12 meetings in all competitions, the 1-0 victory at Robertson Stadium on May 5, 2010.
- The clubs play for "El Capitán", the 19th-century Mountain Howitzer cannon to be awarded to the winner of the season series by supporters groups for both clubs.
- Coaches record: Dominic Kinnear vs. DAL: P28 W12 L5 D11 … Oscar Pareja vs. HOU: P2 W1 L0 D1
The Houston Dynamo return home off their first defeat of the season, falling 2-1 to Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday afternoon at BC Place. The Dynamo are in a tie for third place in the Eastern Conference with 6 points from 3 games.
- Whitecaps FC scored the opener in the 14th minute. Pedro Morales sent a pinpoint right-footed cross from the left onto the head of Andy O'Brien's, and he sent the ball across goal where Jordan Harvey pounced on it to tuck the ball past Tally Hall from close range.
- Vancouver then doubled the lead in the 58th minute. After Kofi Sarkodie handled the ball in the box, Kenny Miller had to take the resulting penalty kick twice, scoring both times – after referee Kevin Stott blew down Miller's initial spot kick due to encroachment by a number of Whitecaps players.
- The Dynamo narrowed the lead in the 75th minute when Ricardo Clark headed home a Brad Davis free kick, finding the bottom right corner past goalkeeper David Ousted.
- Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear made no changes to the team that took a 1-0 win against the Montréal Impact at BBVA Compass Stadium.
- HOUSTON DYNAMO (4-4-2): Tally Hall - Kofi Sarkodie, Jermaine Taylor (Brian Ownby 77), David Horst, Corey Ashe - Andrew Driver (Mark Sherrod 86), Boniek Garcia (Omar Cummings 71), Ricardo Clark, Brad Davis - Will Bruin, Giles Barnes.
- The Dynamo return home off a loss from their first road trip having won both games at BBVA Compass Stadium, while also yet to allow a goal on their home ground.
- "We'd love to go 34-0, but it's not going to happen," Brad Davis said. "We talked about it and we looked at things even in the games we won that we could do better. So now it's about going back, working hard and growing as a group."
- The Dynamo saw their shutout streak to open the season come to an end after 194 minutes with the opening Vancouver goal.
- "I thought we came out for the second half good and we put some pressure on them, but obviously they caught us on the break and got the call and we were 2-0 down which is difficult," said Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear. "Did we have some bad luck? Possibly. At the end of it Vancouver got the win and we look forward to next week."
- Ricardo Clark scored his first goal of the season, and ensured he will continue his streak of having scored in every one of his 10 MLS seasons. He has scored three goals in his last 10 league games, dating back to last Sept. 14.
- "I just found an opening in there and I tried to take an advantage of it, and I did," Clark said. "I think we showed a lot of character to fight back and were unfortunate not to get another one to tie it up."
- The lone Dynamo goal also came from a free kick, their first this season from a dead ball situation after their five goals were all from open play.
- "That's just being tough in the box on set pieces and staying with runners," Davis said. "They had two guys in there that followed the ball and we just need to be tough in the box and stay with runners. In that situation we were unable to and Harvey goes in and is able to score."
- Brad Davis recorded his first assist of the season vs. Vancouver. A year ago, Davis had nine assists – after four consecutive seasons where he hit double-digits in assists.
FC Dallas remained undefeated to open the season, getting a late winner for a 2-1 win against the Portland Timbers on Saturday evening at Toyota Stadium. FC Dallas sit atop the Western Conference with 10 points from 4 games.
- Before halftime, both teams were a man down as Portland's Michael Harrington and FCD's Je-Vaughn Watson were both sent off by referee Sorin Stoica in the 39th minute for an off-the-ball incident.
- FC Dallas took the lead in first-half stoppage time. Jair Benitez played in a far-post cross which was headed into the ground by Kellyn Acosta, and then headed past Timbers goalkeeper Andrew Weber by an unmarked Blas Perez.
- But the visitors drew level on an odd play in the 66th minute. Portland forward Maximiliano Urruti's pass for substitute Kalif Alhassan deflected off the foot of Dallas captain Matt Hedges, wrongfooting goalkeeper Chris Seitz as it caromed into the net.
- Yet FC Dallas had one final answer. After the ball was sent back into the danger zone following an FCD free kick, Mauro Díaz shifted to his right in the heart of the area and fired a low shot past Weber for the 84th-minute match-winner.
- FCD head coach Oscar Pareja made two changes to the team that claimed a 3-1 win against Chivas USA at Toyota Stadium. Michel and Victor Ulloa came into the midfield, in place of the suspended Hendry Thomas and injured Adam Moffat.
- FC DALLAS (4-2-3-1): Chris Seitz - Kellyn Acosta, Matt Hedges, Stephen Keel, Jair Benitez - Michel, Victor Ulloa (Zach Loyd 87) - Je-Vaughn Watson (ejected 40), Mauro Diaz, Fabian Castillo (Moises Hernandez 90) - Blas Perez (David Texeira 66).
- FC Dallas extended their season-opening undefeated run to four games. It's the first time since 2009 they've started the season unbeaten in four games, which is the club record, having done it now six times.
- "We've started well and we're happy. We know where we are and we don't want to think too much about what we have not done before We're developing a culture of taking it one game at a time, without giving importance to what happened last season or what will happen," said FCD head coach Oscar Pareja. "The league is intense and the season is long. We have our feet on the ground and are taking it one game at a time."
- Mauro Díaz and Blas Pérez each scored their second goals of the season, after each scored in the season-opening 3-2 win against Chivas USA.
- "The first 15-20 minutes, it was a little difficult. We struggled a little bit trying to keep possession, but after that we played well, found our game, found our goal," said Díaz. "And in the second half it was a lucky bounce and they got their goal, but we never put our heads down, we kept fighting and then we got our second goal and the whole team fought."
- Homegrown Player Victor Ulloa was given his first career start in MLS, playing 87 minutes in a midfield role. His full MLS debut had come in 2011, a late substitute appearance vs. San Jose on Oct. 22.
- His second half was great. He proved to himself and many people that he can play this game. I'm very proud of Victor," said Pareja. "For him, [it] is special because he is a kid who has overcome a lot of challenges. Tonight was a good show of that character. Soccer has not given him anything. He has earned it. Every inch he has gotten in this game, he's earned."
- Ulloa played alongside Michel in the holding midfield roles, with Andrew Jacobson and Adam Moffat both out with injuries and Hendry Thomas suspended after being sent off the week before. For Michel, it was his first start of the league season.
- "We just slid Michel and Victor (Ulloa) in and they did a tremendous job," said defender Kellyn Acosta. "(For) two players who don't exactly play with each other all the time, I thought they had a lot of chemistry together. They worked hard and they played well."


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Ratings & Reviews
See what our customers say about us…
Welcome To Red Wolf Golf
Our dedicated employees have worked very hard to get the golf course and facility ready. The Pro Shop and clubhouse will be open at 6:45am and closing at 6:30pm
For over 40 years, Red Wolf Golf Resort has been an example of fine Texas golf in the Houston metropolitan area. From the time that the club opened in 1972, the golf course has seen a few changes and has matured into a terrific test of golf skill.
Red Wolf Golf Resort in Huffman, Texas, provides much more than great golf. Our full-service restaurant and covered, open-air pavilion mean that we are ready to satisfy every need that may arise from banquets and business meetings to graduation parties and weddings.
For full access to the many privileges of Red Wolf Golf Resort consider an annual membership. We provide a number of affordable options that are sure to please families and individuals alike. Also, you can schedule a tee time at your convenience. Before hitting the golf course, feel free to visit our pro shop to purchase golf balls, or lessons. If you are planing on visiting the Houston metropolitan area we encourage you to visit the following links to find comfortable hotel accommodations:
Come visit us soon!
If you have a comment or a concern, please email firstname.lastname@example.com
Thank you!
Friends of Turtle Island is a non-profit organization created for the purpose…
Dinner, live Music, Bounce House & Lawn Game from 7pm to 10…


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RTC Live: Cincinnati @ Seton HallPosted by rtmsf on January 9th, 2010
Two teams fighting for respect in the Big East, not to mention a post season bid, meet tonight at the Rock in Newark, NJ. Cincinnati, led by freshman Lance Stephenson, sophomore Yancy Gates and senior Deonta Vaughn will face off against Bobby Gonzalez and his band of Pirates, led by junior scoring machine Jeremy Hazell and transfers Herb Pope and Keon Lawrence. In a season many predicted would overturn the old order in the Big East, the Bearcats and Pirates both had plans to move up in the conference pecking order. Cincinnati's plan is on track – they took care of business in their opening game, downing Connecticut at Fifth Third, then traveled to the RAC and knocked off Rutgers. But they stumbled in their last conference game when they dropped a 74-71 decision to Pittsburgh. A win tonight restores their momentum and puts them (well) ahead of Seton Hall in the New Order of Things in the Big East. Seton Hall had a plan too, but three close losses into their conference season, the plan is down to "just win". Join us at 6:00 eastern time for the tipoff.


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DS Podium Lady 33mm
Reference: C034.210.11.037.00
Diameter: 33.00 mm
A sporty and elegant timepiece with a small case and an innovative Precidrive™ quartz movement, it brings precision and day-to-day glamour to the female wrist.
EUR 370.- Recommended retail price (incl. VAT)
Case: DS Concept Stainless steel 316L
Bezel: Stainless steel 316L
Glass: Sapphire crystal Antireflection treatment on one side
Dial: Silver Index + Arabic
Movement: Swiss Made Quartz PrecidriveTM End Of Life
Water resistance: Up to a pressure of 10 bar (100m)
Bracelet: Stainless steel 316L
Buckle: Stainless steel 316L Butterfly clasp with 2 push-buttons
Slim lines
Sportiness and elegance are by no means mutually exclusive – on the contrary. With this model, a particularly slim case profile assures casual comfort for the wearer and an elegant silhouette.


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Egypt recently carried out its first democratic presidential election in the country's history. But five days after the vote, the question of who won remains a matter of contention. The contest pitted a former military man who had served in the regime of ousted president Hosni Mubarak against a leader of the regime's longtime foes, the Muslim Brotherhood.
Most observers believe the most votes went to Mohamed Morsy, the candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP). The party claims a 1.2 million vote lead over Ahmed Shafik, the former military man and Mubarak prime minister. Shafik, however, says he has 500,000 more votes than Morsy. And with the official results still pending, the tension is rising as Egyptians wait to find out which candidate—if any—is telling the truth.
The presence of Egypt's decidedly undemocratic military in its fledgling democratic process has only added to the atmosphere of uncertainty. Shortly after the polls closed on Sunday night, the junta, which has ruled Egypt since Mubarak stepped down, issued a decree that served to dramatically limit the powers of the incoming president. Just a few days before, the country's constitutional court had moved to dissolve Egypt's first democratically elected parliament—which had been dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood. And analysts say this latest decree seems tailor made to limit the impact of a Brotherhood win at the polls.
The Islamists have reacted to the pressure with a show of popular force; taking to Cairo's Tahrir Square every night since, as the country awaits the electoral outcome. So far, the demonstrations have been largely symbolic. But they could turn violent if Shafik is declared the winner—an outcome that the Islamists have already said would be the product of electoral fraud.
Abigail Hauslohner is TIME's Cairo correspondent.
Yuri Kozyrev is a contract photographer for TIME and was named the 2011 Photographer of the Year in the Pictures of the Year International competition.


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At Legacy State Bank, our accounts are flexible enough to serve you through life's changing needs. Plus, they are designed to earn you money, not cost you money. And that makes more sense than ever. Combined with our other services such as Online Banking and Bill Pay you will find you have more control over your finances – and financial information – than ever before.
We also strive to ensure your banking experience is a pleasant one and that you receive high quality, customer service and individual attention.
Call or stop by today. At Legacy, you really will find we offer More Banking for Less.


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'Caveman Conrad Stoltz is expecting to set some important firsts in 2015.
In the next month the four-time winner of the XTERRA World Championships and Olympic triathlete will become a father for the first time.
It means he will be racing less in 2015. But does that mean he'll lose his fiercely competitive edge? Hell no, he says. In fact, this year he expects to gain an edge.
Conrad says 2014 was the toughest year of his sporting career. © Lighttrapper Photography
Having a child means another first; he'll be staying put in South Africa for his first winter – anywhere – in 23 years. He's been following a summer racing circuit since 1992, racing in the US and Europe over summer, then returning home to South Africa for its summer. "It's been one long, extended summer," he says.
Constant travelling to races around the world can be thrilling, he says, but also stressful and disruptive for high-level training.
"I think being based here is going to add a nice new dimension to my racing," he says. "I will be fresher and better prepared because I'll have my regular massage and my regular training venues."
Caveman hopes staying based this year will improve his performance. © zooom.at/Markus Berger
He hopes this year is better than 2014, which he describes as the most challenging year of his entire sports career. Flat tires in races, sickness, falling down a flight of stairs before a race, injuries – lots of annoying little mishaps plagued his 2014.
"Being a professional athlete is such a roller coaster ride," he says. "The highs are really, really high and the lows and really, really low.
"You need a special personality to cope with that."
You have to have strong character to be a professional athlete, Conrad says. © zooom.at/Markus Berger
This year, however, will be different. Conrad has a quiet ambition for 2015; four and four. He's won the XTERRA World Championships four times and the ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships three times. He'd be pleased to make it an even four and four.
"This year the Cross Tri champs are being held in Sardinia," he says. "I've been looking at the maps and it seems the race suits me quite well."
Off the race circuit, Conrad is also working on one business project he says will revolutionize the way sport coaching is conducted online and on another project running events specifically catered to kids.
This year will also be the last year he will race professionally, Conrad has announced. Becoming a father of a baby girl, desiring more family time, writing an autobiography, riding his motorcycle more often all mean it's time for the 41-year-old to ease up on the gas pedal. Will he continue training and pushing himself after professional retirement? You bet it. But just for fun.
This year he aims to make it four and four. © zooom.at/Markus Berger


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Controversial and unpopular Police Chief Dan Weast was placed on Admin leave in Montebello by interim City Administrator Randy Narramore.
From James Wagner's story:
"In my opinion, the situation was not going to come to any settlement negotiation or conclusion with that current chief in there," Molinari said.
Thirteen police officers filed the claim in July accusing Weast of being racist and only promoting his "white friends."
Weast did not return a cell phone call late Monday.
In Weast's absence, the 80-officer police department will be led by veteran captains Greg Wilsey and Ralph Newcomb, who will report to Narramore, city officials said. Wilsey is one of the officers who filed the claim against Weast.
Narramore, a former police chief in Huntington Park, did not return two messages left at City Hall.
The Montebello Police Officers Association voted no confidence in Weast in August.


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OK, for those of you who are not deeply into the FamilySearch Research Wiki, you can zone out. But for those of us into the program, today marks a monumental day of rejoicing. The so-called "Discussion Pages" have finally been changed to the more consistently called "Talk Pages."
If you have read this far and you are more than mildly acquainted with the Research Wiki, you might just be aware that every page in the Research Wiki has an accompanying page for discussion about the content of the main page. In fact, every page in the Research Wiki, just as in other wikis, has a bundle of associated pages. As it was set up originally back in 2008, the Research Wiki used two different names for this discussion page; Discussion and Talk. We have never quite understood where the idea came from to call these pages "Discussion Pages" because the general wiki world calls them "Talk Pages." This issue has been a source of confusion for those working on the Research Wiki since the beginning.
Now, today, thanks to Janell Vasquez, this issue has finally been resolved. It may seem like a small change, but it is really a big deal because now the identity of these pages will be consistent, not only in the Research Wiki, but also with the larger wiki world on the Internet.


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This incredibly deep flowchart nails the entire spectrum of decision-making Ken presents to 98.7 percent of those who play Street Fighter - especially jump backwards-Hadouken!
Of course the best part is, no, you never learn anything. Even if you do manage to land the jumping kick to a shoryuken, it was probably just dumb luck or your equally self-unaware foe spazzing on his controls.
The pic uploaded to the Intertubes around March and hit reddit earlier this week, so here's the obligatory pardon-fucking-me if one of you have seen this before. See everyone back in here tomorrow.


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PS: In reply to a mail received: For those who don't know, you click on a Vine to make it start/stop.
The Daily IKN email digest, get all daily posts sent to you next day (& no ads)
Pablo Hernández's goal today
PS: In reply to a mail received: For those who don't know, you click on a Vine to make it start/stop.
The Saturday OT: Itzhak Perlman plays Bach Partita Nº 2 (BWV 1004)
How English language media frames its LatAm agenda, Bloomberg Argentina edition
Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story, they say.
Oh mah gerd, you say, on reading the dramatic header. Then you continue with...
"Argentina risks quadrupling its poverty level as the economy stalls, the World Bank says.
Those living on $4-$10 per day, or 33 percent of Argentina's population as of 2012, are vulnerable to falling into poverty in the case of an adverse shock, according to the World Bank's 2015-2018 report on the South American nation. The poverty rate for the country's 43 million people may increase to more than 40 percent from about 11 percent, it said."
1) What "vulnerable" really means in the context of the World Bank data
2) Where Argentina stands compared to peer countries.
First that word "vulnerable" and as it happens, IKN did a little explainer on that just a couple of weeks ago in this post. Here's the relevant extract:
1) Poor. Says what it means, standard definitions apply.
2) Vulnerable. This is the sector of the population that has either a) risen out of poverty but is at risk of falling back in if things don't go well or b) dropped away from the secure middle class category and runs the risk of becoming poor. For what it's worth, in LatAm this is usually the a) group.
3) Middle class. Says what it means, standard definitions apply. People just like your author who are fortunate enough to have disposible income and the trappings thereof.
4) Residual. I like that word, much cooler than the rich or the one percent. For example people who live in Peru, run the country's media and tell you how wonderful Peru is. For another example people who live in Venezuela, run the country's media and tell you how crappy Venezuela is.
- Argentina has the second lowest level of vulnerable in Latin America
- Argentina has the third lowest level of poor in Latin America
- Argentina has the second highest level of established middle class in Latin America
UPDATE: Site friend Abel has done a wonderful job of translating the above post into Spanish as part of this post on his blog, as well as adding more context and comment about the way in which the Bloomberg note was picked up by opposition media inside Argentina.
The Friday OT: The Prodigy; Speedway
For @pabloet84
Primero (P.to) $PPP reports a fatality
And those market darlings at B2Gold (BTG) (BTO.to) still have a lot to learn about doing things the right way. Remember that, Clive.
Silver today: All you need to know
Mexico: When the army becomes your police force
Go to this link at Pan American Post and read "Witnesses: Mexican Soldiers Killed 21 in June Massacre". Here are some excerpts:
Mexican authorities have persistently stuck to the official version of events. On July 17, Mexico State Attorney General Jaime Gomez Sanchez assured reporters that there was "no evidence whatsoever" that the 21 victims were executed.
But this story became harder to defend this week.....only one suspect was killed in a shootout, which broke out after soldiers opened fire first. The rest surrendered, but were then killed after being interrogated. A medical examiner who carried out an autopsy on one of the victims, a 15-year-old girl, told Esquire that her wounds were the result of a point-blank execution.
In addition...the army killed two men claiming to be kidnapping victims, as they were apparently unconvinced of their stories.
Chart of the day is...
A Flash update...
...has just been sent to subscribers, pre-opening bell Friday morning. Selling something at a loss.
It happens.
In 2014 it happens too often.
Robert Frost: Design (again)
IKN continues to be nasty to Sandstorm $SAND (article from IKN279, last weekend)
Catching up with 48 hours of newsflow...
"Baja is deeply saddened to report that there was one confirmed fatality involving Boleo personnel. Tragically, Mr. Kyoung Jin Park, Chief Operating Officer of MMB, was drowned in the town of Santa Rosalia, located adjacent to the Boleo Project, by a flash flood attributable to heavy rains from the storm. In addition, Mr. Sung Keun Chai, Chief Executive Officer of MMB, who is thought to have been with Mr. Park at the time of the incident, is currently missing. Baja has been advised that the Mexican authorities continue their search for Mr. Chai. The leadership of these two executives has been important in advancing the Boleo Project, and Mr. Park, and Mr. Chai, if confirmed deceased, will be greatly missed."Full NR here.
On the road
"Fortuna Silver's San Jose Mine Can Handle Lower Silver Prices"
This Modern World
More rebuttals to The Economist
Scotia and the Blue Oyster Bar
Here's a still from Police Academy and one of the memorable scenes from the Blue Oyster Bar.
Streaming royalty companies have a date with the law of diminishing returns
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Sep 16, 2014) - Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd (the "Company" or "Osisko") (OR.TO) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with National Bank of Canada for a $100 million Revolving Credit Facility to be used for investments in the mineral industry, including the acquisition of royalties and the funding of precious metal streams. The facility may be increased by $50 million at Osisko's request.
The Revolving Credit Facility will be secured by the Company's assets and will have a two-year term, which can be extended by one year. The facility is subject to initial standby fees of 0.30%. Drawn funds with base and prime rate advances will bear interest at a base/prime rate plus between 0.50% and 2.50% and LIBOR loans will bear interest at LIBOR plus between 1.50% and 3.50% depending on the Company's leverage ratio.
Sean Roosen, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Osisko, noted: "We are pleased yada yada continues here.
a) It ignores the smaller sector, congratulates them, wishes them continued good luck, gets back to work on its unprofitable business model.
b) It copies the moneymaker.
Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse for B2Gold $BTG (BTO.to) than its performance in August...
...September came along.
We noted back on August 25th in this post that BTO was underperforming the PM ETF benchmark, GDX. So here we are three weeks later and...
Peru GDP July 2014 1.16%
Here's the news, here's the chart, over there on the right is the new figure added in:
The government and the probiz press is now busily spinning this figure as good news. They think we're idiots.
The Economist keeps up its pathetic track record in South American coverage
"Memorials are a shorthand, yes. You can't include the whole complexities of a country's experiences on a plaque. Memory, in its wider sense, tends to include the testimonies of victims and relatives and it encompasses a whole range of commemorative acts, both formal and informal."
Is memory history? Not in and of itself, no. But memory is a part of history, and a vital one.
"The historical truth silenced by "memory" is that the cold war in Latin America was fought by two equally authoritarian sides."
To suggest that "both sides were equally authoritarian" is nonsense, because in order to be authoritarian, you actually have to have access to the instruments and mechanisms of power that allow you to rule in an authoritarian fashion. The leftist movements, armed or unarmed, never did; the right-wing military dictatorships did.
UPDATE: Setty has a different angle and lots of good background material thanks to a transcript of an interview he did with Ricardo Brodsky, executive director of the Memory Museum in Chile. Find that right here.
Your junior mining quote of the day
The IKN Weekly, out now
Luis Miguel Castilla, Finance Minister of Peru, resigns
And about time too. News link here.
UPDATE: The new FinMin has now been sworn in. His name's Alonso Segura and his is a direct promotion from the head offices of the finance ministry. Here you see him, on the right of this photo, posing with four of the most recent Finance Ministers of Peru. Biog and background here.
What I have learned from my mailbox today
People don't read to the ends of posts before writing in.


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UH Manoa prepares to celebrate Charter Day with High Tea at historic Hawaii Hall on March 25
Program will benefit Women's Campus Club grants and scholarships fundUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
UH Manoa Centennial Celebration Office
HONOLULU - The UH Manoa campus is gearing up for a celebration of Charter Day as a part of the university's centennial commemoration. Sunday, March 25, marks the 100th anniversary of the signing of Act 24 by Territorial Governor George Carter to establish the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts — direct predecessor to today's UH Manoa.
Charter Day will feature High Tea at historic Hawaiʻi Hall, with Windward CC theatre director and actor Tom Holowach as emcee, members of the university family in period costume to play the role of the university's first faculty and a program with these characters talking about the early years at UH.
Music by the Royal Hawaiian Band will greet arriving guests, and the ʻukulele trio Hoʻomalie will perform through the afternoon. Organizers promise "a delicious menu of foods appropriate to a high tea for everyone's enjoyment."
The event is planned as a fundraiser for the grants and scholarships programs operated by the Women's Campus Club — one of those "heritage" organizations that has been at Manoa since 1920, and whose main source of funding is the small but spectacular thrift shop the Club operates on campus Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tickets in advance only, please, at $30 per person for a very worthy cause and a fun Sunday afternoon. Reservations at 956-5526 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
The Women's Campus Club (WCC) is among the oldest organizations affiliated with the University of Hawaii. Organized on May 7, 1920 the WCC is just thirteen years younger than the University itself. Early officers included Mrs. Arthur Dean, Mrs. Charles Edmondson, Mrs. Arthur Andrews, and Mrs. Arthur Keller. Buildings on the Manoa campus bear these family names.
This organization has a proud history, living up to its original goals and more. Over the years, members have welcomed new faculty and their families through programs and activities aimed at sharing the rich traditions of the islands. Times have changed and the dinner dances of 50 years ago have been replaced by other social activities. Each year we hold a tea at College Hill and a dinner at the Fine Dining Room at Kapiolani Community College. Our business meetings, held in conjunction with interesting activities, are often held at a variety of sites and campuses throughout the University system. This affords members a richer understanding of the many missions of the University. We also organize off campus programs, field trips, and tours. Additionally, a number of special interest groups (bridge, books, hiking, mahjong, the Lunch Bunch, the Thrift Shop, etc.) are available and new ones formed as other interests develop. Surely, there is something for everyone.
WCC operates a Thrift Shop located at the Manoa campus. Money raised by the shop and through The Exchange fund grants, which are then used to benefit the University, faculty, and students. Applications for grants are accepted from all campuses of the University system. Through its grants program the WCC has rewarded over a quarter of a million dollars. Members take great pride in this program, which awards grants annually to various departments, programs, and projects.
The desire to be significantly involved is the great legacy of the Women's Campus Club. This legacy is strengthened by the good works of the present and fueled by faith and hope for a better tomorrow. The WCC continues to promote friendship among members, encourage scholarship, render service to the University, and promote fellowship.