text:
Pope Benedict XVI wished Christmas peace to the world Tuesday, decrying the slaughter of the "defenseless" in Syria and urging Israelis and Palestinians to find the courage to negotiate.
Delivering the Vatican's traditional Christmas day message from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, Benedict also encouraged Arab spring nations, especially Egypt, to build just and respectful societies.
He prayed that China's new leaders respect religion, a reference to persecution Chinese Roman Catholics have at times endured under communism.
U.S. & World
As the 85-year-old pontiff, bundled up in an ermine-trimmed red cape, gingerly stepped foot on the balcony, the pilgrims, tourists and Romans below backing St. Peter's Square erupted in cheers.
Less than 12 hours earlier, Benedict had led a two-hour long Christmas Eve ceremony in the basilica. He sounded hoarse and looked weary as he read his Christmas message and then holiday greetings in 65 languages.
In his "Urbi et Orbi" speech, which traditionally reviews world events and global challenges, Benedict prayed that "peace spring up for the people of Syria, deeply wounded and divided by a conflict that does not spare even the defenseless and reaps innocent victims."
He called for easier access to help refugees and for "dialogue in the pursuit of a political solution to the conflict."
Benedict prayed that God "grant Israelis and Palestinians courage to end long years of conflict and division, and to embark resolutely on the path to negotiation."
Hours earlier, in the ancient Bethlehem church built over the site where tradition holds Jesus was born, candles illuminated the sacred site and the joyous sound of prayer filled its overflowing halls.
Overcast skies and a cold wind in the Holy Land didn't dampen the spirits of worshippers in the biblical West Bank town. Bells pealed and long lines formed inside the fourth-century Church of the Nativity complex as Christian faithful waited to see the grotto that is Jesus' traditional birthplace.
Duncan Hardock, 24, a writer from MacLean, Va., traveled to Bethlehem from the republic of Georgia, where he had been teaching English. After passing through the separation barrier Israel built to ward off West Bank attackers, he walked to Bethlehem's Manger Square where the church stands.
"I feel we got to see both sides of Bethlehem in a really short period of time," Hardock said. "On our walk from the wall, we got to see the lonesome, closed side of Bethlehem ... But the moment we got into town, we're suddenly in the middle of the party."
Bethlehem lies 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of Jerusalem. Entry to the city is controlled by Israel, which occupied the West Bank in 1967.
For those who couldn't fit into the cavernous Bethlehem church, a loudspeaker outside broadcast the Christmas day service to hundreds of faithful in the square.
Their Palestinian hosts, who welcome this holiday as the high point of their city's year, were especially joyous this season, proud of the United Nations' recognition of an independent state of Palestine just last month.
Israel, backed by the United States, opposed the Palestinian statehood bid, saying it was a ploy to bypass negotiations, something the Palestinians deny. Talks stalled four years ago.
Back at the Vatican, Benedict offered encouragement to countries after the Arab spring of democracy protests. He had a special word for Egypt, "blessed by the childhood of Jesus."
Without citing the tumultuous politics and clashes in the region, he urged the North African region to build societies "founded on justice and respect for the dignity of every person."
Benedict prayed for the return of peace in Mali and harmony in Nigeria, where, he recalled "savage acts of terrorism continue to reap victims, particularly among Christians." He also recalled the problems of refugees from fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo and decried brutal attacks hitting places of worship in Kenya.
The Vatican for decades has been worried about the well-being of its flock in China, who are loyal to the pope in defiance of the communist's government support of an officially sponsored church, and relations between Beijing and the Holy See are often tense.
Speaking about China's newly installed regime leaders, Benedict expressed hope that "they will esteem the contribution of the religions, in respect for each other, in such a way that they can help to build a fraternal society for the benefit of that noble people and of the whole world."
Acknowledging Latin America's predominant Christian population, he urged government leaders to carry out commitments to development and to fighting organized crime.


text:
I'm able to send strings through sockets with a pc server and android client, but theres an issue.
I use this
output = new PrintWriter(MyClient.getOutputStream(), true);
to send data from client and from server(MyClient changes between the two.)
and this
input = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(MyClient.getInputStream()));
to get data from the client and from the server(MyClient, again, changes.)
but on the server, when i get the input and try to actually use it, such as
but of course, nothing happens and it seems to just skip it, i'm thinking maybe it does something to the encoding, but i really have no idea. Any ideas?String in = input.readLine(); if(in == "example"){ do something }

subset: commoncrawl


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The judge overseeing the case of Jodi Arias put off setting a date for the convicted killer's sentencing phase retrial Monday to give prosecutors time to respond to a defense request for the Twitter user names of jurors.
The judge overseeing the case of Jodi Arias put off setting a date for the convicted killer's sentencing phase retrial Monday to give prosecutors time to respond to a defense request for the Twitter user names of jurors.
The request filed last week by Arias attorney Kirk Nurmi said the user names were needed so jurors' interactions with others on the social media site could be monitored during the trial. He cited an exchange a backup juror had on Twitter during Arias' original trial and the ability of other users of the social media site to send messages directly to jurors that might influence their decision.
Legal experts said the motion reflects the challenges courts face in dealing with social media during trials, and they believe the request could give jurors another reason to try to avoid sitting on the case. It also raises questions about the privacy of jurors, they said.
"There are just too many constitutional rights that would be violated," said Michael Cardoza, a San Francisco defense attorney. "What's next? Put a 24-7 guard on them? At some point, you just have to rely on the integrity of the jurors."
Arias was convicted of first-degree murder on May 8 in the 2008 death of boyfriend Travis Alexander in his suburban Phoenix home. The same jury failed to reach a decision on whether she should get the death penalty, setting the stage for a second penalty phase.
Arias, 33, appeared in court Monday dressed in faded black and white striped jail garb, her black hair pulled into a bun and wearing wire-rimmed glasses. She said nothing during the minutes-long hearing. She nodded to a member of the audience as she was led out of the courtroom.
Judge Sherry Stephens delayed setting a date for the new sentencing phase trial, saying she needed the prosecution's response to the Twitter request and one seeking to limit live television coverage of the trial. Those requests will be heard Sept. 16.
That live coverage helped turn the months-long trial into a hit on websites and cable TV, drawing hordes of spectators and media to the case.
Cardoza and Loyola Law School professor Laurie Levenson both said they thought Stephens would deny the Twitter motion.
"To give a convicted murderer and her team wholesale access into your personal information, that seems to go against the general approach of the court to try to protect the jurors while also conducting a fair trial," Levenson said.
Judges admonish jurors to avoid talking about a case during trial, following media coverage and engaging in social media exchanges while the case is being heard. But Nurmi wrote that the admonition alone, without the ability to monitor jurors' social media activity, could affect his client's fair trial rights under the 6th Amendment.
"If every juror were to understand and follow this warning throughout the entire trial there would be no issue with a juror choosing to "tweet" information about the case," Nurmi wrote. "However, even a juror that follows this admonition could still receive a tweet containing extraneous information."
A University of Dayton law professor who has written a book on social media use and courts said judges are struggling to figure out how to supervise jurors in the digital age. Jury instructions should be clearer, with an explanation of why it is important not to use social media during trial.
Thaddeus Hoffmeister said a better approach is for attorneys to ask questions of prospective jurors during selection process, and excuse those "who can't go a week without going onto social media."


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Golden Pan Rolls
When I'm having company for dinner, I bake these rolls during the day. Then the house has a wonderful aroma when the guests arrive. The ranch dressing mix adds terrific flavor. —Kimm Avans, De Soto, Texas
Total TimePrep: 35 min. + rising Bake: 15 min.
Makes2 dozen
- 3-1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix
- 2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
- 1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cheddar cheese soup, undiluted
- 1/4 cup butter, cubed
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons cornmeal, divided
- In a bowl, combine 1-1/2 cup flour, sugar, dressing mix and yeast. In a saucepan, heat the soup, butter and milk to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat until moistened. Add eggs; beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a stiff dough.
- Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 8-10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
- Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into 24 pieces; shape each into a ball. Grease a 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon cornmeal. Place rolls in pan; sprinkle with remaining cornmeal. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes.
- Bake at 400° for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to wire racks.


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Andrew Garfield Makes His Hilarious 'SNL' Debut [VIDEOS]by Thomas Chau | PopCrush
Andrew Garfield made his 'Saturday Night Live' last night on May 3 to promote this weekend's release of 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2.' Among the best moments included getting help from real-life girlfriend Emma Stone, getting kisses from Chris Martin of Coldplay and daring to question the awesomeness of Beyonce in a faux movie trailer.
In his opening monologue, a nervous but confident Garfield informed the live audience that it was his first time hosting the weekly comedy sketch show but that his girlfriend Emma was a pro at it. She then appeared on stage and adorably gives him pointers while criticizing pretty much, well, everything about his monologue.
Later in the show, Garfield donned the Spider-Man costume and Emma appeared as Gwen Stacy in a sketch that mocked a kissing scene towards the end of 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2.' The two actors, as themselves, are in front of a green screen and are directed to kiss each other. Things don't go so well, however, when the two can't seemingly be able to kiss each other in a normal, acceptable manner. Enter Chris Martin, who lends his support to help with the kissing scene in an awkward twist that you will want to see.
Another great sketch in the evening included the faux movie trailer for 'The Beygency.' The trailer opens with Garfield with three other actors talking about Beyonce, to which Garfield says that he's not a fan of 'Drunk in Love.' Suddenly, a mysterious government agency starts stalking Garfield and hunts him down for daring to admit not being a fan of Beyonce. The fake trailer is reminiscent of the movie 'The Adjustment Bureau' starring Matt Damon and we see Garfield running for his life — all because he's not a fan of Beyonce.
You can watch the videos below and see more from last night on Saturday Night Live's website. So how do you think Andrew Garfield did in his first time?
Watch Andrew Garfield's Opening Monologue With Emma Stone
Watch Andrew Garfield & Emma Stone's 'Spider-Man' Kiss Troubles
Watch the Trailer for 'The Beygency'


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Citrus Turkey Roast
Total TimePrep: 15 min. Cook: 5-1/4 hours
Makes12 servings
- 1 frozen boneless turkey roast, thawed (3 pounds)
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 8 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 cup chicken broth, divided
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup white wine or additional chicken broth
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- Cut roast in half. Combine the garlic powder, paprika, oil, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper; rub over turkey. Place in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Add the garlic, 1/2 cup broth, water, wine, orange juice and lemon juice. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until a thermometer reads 175°.
- Remove turkey and keep warm. Discard garlic cloves. For gravy, combine cornstarch and remaining broth until smooth; stir into cooking juices. Cover and cook on high for 15 minutes or until thickened. Slice turkey; serve with gravy.
Nutrition Facts1 each: 162 calories, 6g fat (0 saturated fat), 66mg cholesterol, 652mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 23g protein.
Recommended Video
Dec 22, 2013
I made this for a small get together on Thanksgiving and it turned out great! The gravy was one of the intriguing features of this, little sweet, little spicy, and went extremely well with the turkey and side of mashed potatoes. It doesn't have a pronounced citrus flavor however everything blended together very well. Thanks for a great turkey that's out of the ordinary!
Apr 29, 2013
I had 3 turkey breast rolls, wrapped with bacon and rosemary and tied (bought this way) that I cooked in the slow cooker following this recipe. I forgot the paprika but followed everything else and my turkey rolls were to die for along with the gravy! Since I was cooking them one day and eating the next, I was able to drain off the grease (there was not too much) and then thicken the gravy. Thanks for a wonderful recipe!
Jul 31, 2012
Good recipe, but seems to be lacking a little bit in the citrus flavor. Still good though.
Feb 8, 2011
My future son-in-law adores this and begs for it every other week. It's one of the best turkey roast recipes I've ever come across.


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<![CDATA[Zara and Mike Tindall have spoke of the joy of becoming parents for the first time to Mia Grace.
In an exclusive interview with Hello! magazine, the proud parents are pictured with their daughter who was born on January 17.
"She's pretty relaxed and happy so far," new mum Zara reveals. "She's cool but then perhaps all parents say that."
Speaking from their house on the Gatcombe Park Estate, the Gloucestershire home of Princess Anne, the couple reveal they are still amazed at their first child, who is the Queen's fourth great-grandchild.
"I still keep looking at Mia and thinking, 'Oh! We made that!'" Zara says, while rugby player Mike adds: "The baby is a great feeling and it just goes on…"
Mia Grace, who takes her place at 16th in line for the throne, was born at the Royal Gloucestershire Hospital weighing 7Ibs 12oz. The newest addition to the family comes six months after the birth of Prince George, although unlike the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first child, Mia will carry no royal title.
Mike also explained that the couple informed the Royal Family immediately after the birth and Zara phoned her grandmother The Queen upon returning home.
"As soon as we had Mia I sent a text to all the family," he says. "Zara is very close to her grandmother, so of course she made a phone call once we got back home."
As reported previously, the couple say they didn't know if they were expecting a baby boy or girl. "No we wanted to keep the surprise," Zara tells the magazine.
A representative for The Queen explained there would be no comment on whether Her Majesty was consulted about the interview.
"Zara looks after all her own publicity. We wouldn't comment on whether the Queen was informed."
Hello!, one of the country's most popular weekly magazines, has enjoyed a close relationship with the Royal Family, and has previously done interviews with the Duke and Duchess of York, Princess Anne, and most recently Prince and Princess Micheal of Kent's son Lord Frederick Windsor and wife Sophie who introduced their daughter Maud during a photoshoot.
The full interview with Zara and Mike Tindall appears in this week's Hello! magazine and is available now.
photo credit: jimbo0307 via photopin cc


text:
Earn 5 Together Rewards points on this item
Stitch Your Own Hanging Moon Decoration
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Have hours of crafting fun with this gorgeous Stitch Your Own Felt Moon Decoration.

 Simply follow the instructions provided to create a colourful hanging decoration for your home.

 Includes:
• Pre-cut felt pieces
• Thread
• Needle
• Stuffing
• Instructions

 A lovely li
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text:
Look around your house. There are probably books you never read, CDs you never listen to, and DVDs you never watch. Wouldn't it be great if you could trade them in for something new you'd enjoy? You can. Swaptree.com is here to help. The site lets users barter goods they're willing to part with (say The DaVinci Code in hardback) for something they want (say The DaVinci Code on DVD). Maybe that's a bad example. There's a staggering amount of stuff ready for the swapping: Swaptree currently has about 2.5 million items listed for trade, and the number of users doubles every four months.
The best part is that Swaptree does most of the work for you; after you set up a "have list" and a "want list," the site automatically lists all of the permutations—including complicated triple trades—that'll hook you up with your picks. And it's free. You only pay for shipping, and you can do that for a couple of bucks via media mail at the post office.
Swaptree co-founder Mark Hexamer was kind enough to answer some questions. One thing we found out: If you're willing to unload your DVDs of The Sopranos, you're in the driver's seat.
Cheapskate: Where did the idea for Swaptree come from? Why did you create it?
Mark Hexamer: Simply put, we all have too much stuff. Swaptree was conceived on the idea that you shouldn't have to buy a new bestseller when you have last month's sitting on your bookshelf. Swaptree solves both your spending problem and your "stuff" problem. With the state of today's economy who can spend $60 on a new Wii game or support a healthy reading habit?
CS: What can people barter? Why is it limited to certain types of items?
MH: On Swaptree you can trade books, DVDs, CDs and video games. We chose these items because every household contains hundreds of them and people are already familiar trading them offline. Furthermore, they are all of similar value and can be easily and inexpensively mailed. We will be expanding to other items in the future.
CS: What are some of the most popular items being bartered for?
MH: In terms of number of trades, books are our most popular media type. However, given that Swaptree is popular with moms who are often charge of their family's media budget, children's DVDs, like Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Madagascar, etc. are always in high demand. If you have a little girl who is growing out of her Dora the Explorer phase and is now obsessed with any movie with a princess in it, Swaptree is for you. Also, lately we have seen lots of trades involving the Twilight series. People use Swaptree, to get the first book in the series, and then upon finishing it, trade it for the next book.
CS: Are there any items that are particularly difficult to swap for—either to unload or to get?
MH: At some point, Alanis Morissette went platinum with "Jagged Little Pill," and we've all been hiding that CD ever since. For a few items, supply will always outweigh demand. On the other hand, if you have any television series DVDs, like seasons of Lost or The Sopranos then you can get practically anything you want in trade, as these items are in very high demand. Swaptree certainly proves the theory that "one man's trash is another man's treasure", and because of that we see lots of trades everyday that have convinced us that any trade is possible.
CS: What are some the funniest/oddest swaps you've seen?
MH: Since Swaptree sets up multi-way and cross-media trades (book for a CD, CD for a DVD, DVD for a video game, etc.) it's always surprising to see what other people want. For example last week a user received a brand new Mario Batali cookbook (around $40 in the store) for a Perry Cuomo CD. We certainly didn't see that one coming. Also a Swaptree employee who recently became new dad, traded the DVD Fear and Loathing in LasVegas for the children's DVD Baby Mozart. Now that's responsible parenting.
CS: How much does shipping cost typically? Do you have to ship using a specific carrier like UPS or FedEx, or is regular old mail OK?
MH: Shipping items usually costs between $2 and $3. The vast majority of our users take advantage of our postage label service and print postage labels directly from the site and simply drop their packages in their outgoing mail. These labels are tracked by the USPS and provide the security of delivery confirmation. However, if standing in line and licking stamps is more your thing, you're always welcome to make a trip to the local post office, and mail your item the old-fashioned way.


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STOCKTON - A former probation supervisor accused in a road rage-fueled murder attempt has filed a wrongful-termination lawsuit against the San Joaquin County Probation Department, which he blames for causing his mental decline.
STOCKTON - A former probation supervisor accused in a road rage-fueled murder attempt has filed a wrongful-termination lawsuit against the San Joaquin County Probation Department, which he blames for causing his mental decline.
Larry Alan King, a former supervisor in the juvenile probation division, had been on paid leave for about one year when authorities say he shot into a car he said was trying to run him off the road.
King is ordered to stand trial on various charges, including attempted murder and child abuse/endangerment for having his children in the car during the incident.
In the midst of the criminal investigation, King was fired from his job last March.
His attorney, Lodi-based Russell Humphrey, said King was let go for reasons other than the shooting.
Prior to that incident, Humphrey said supervisors had raised false accusations against King, including a refusal to obey orders from his supervisor, who also is his ex-wife, and the assault of a juvenile.
Probation Department officials could not be reached for comment Thursday.
King's civil complaint described increasing hostility against him following a contentious divorce from wife Carla Contente. King had a spotless employment record before that, the complaint says.
It says the alleged harassment caused King to take stress leave, and when he returned, Contente was promoted to oversee him as deputy chief probation officer of his division.
Contente made up accusations against King with the intent to force him out, according to the complaint.
King "knew defendant Contente was very close both professionally and personally with many of the other supervisors" at the Probation Department, the complaint says.
"The only rational reason for the assignment was to put (King) in a position where (his) physical and mental condition would worsen and (King) would leave (the department)," the lawsuit says.
King was placed on paid leave shortly after an incident with a ward at juvenile hall.
A review panel found King assaulted the ward, but according to King's lawsuit, the video shows otherwise, and the juvenile confirmed the probation officer did not hit him.
Humphrey said leading up to the shooting, King had been depressed, severely stressed and had experienced weight loss.
"The conduct on the behalf of the Probation Department was inexcusable, unfortunate and illegal," Humphrey said.
The lawsuit also names Contente, her direct supervisor, Marilyn Martin, and former probation chief Patricia Mazzilli as defendants. King claims Mazzilli offered to allow him to resign and keep his retirement benefits if he agreed not to sue the department.
King filed an internal complaint with the county in September, but it was rejected.
He is being held at the San Joaquin County Jail awaiting trial for the road-rage incident.
Sheriff's reports say King fired his rifle into the window of another car near East French Camp Road and South Airport Way on Jan. 15, 2012.
King's children, who were inside the car with him, told investigators the other car had cut them off.
The road quarrel escalated along French Camp Road, where the other driver said he stopped his vehicle in the middle of the road facing oncoming traffic, and King stopped behind him.
King pulled out his weapon and pointed it from his window, according to court testimony from the victim. As the man sped off, King fired into one of his back windows, the man said.
King is scheduled back in court Monday on the shooting case. Attorneys are in the process of attempting to negotiate a resolution.
Contact reporter Jennie Rodriguez-Moore at (209) 943-8564 or email@example.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/courtsblog.


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A horrible loss at Minnesota likely the last game for Illinois under coach Ron Zook.
If there was any chance for a last-minute pardon, Illinois coach Ron Zook didn't bring forward any evidence for a change of heart.
With athletic director Mike Thomas remaining tight lipped in the press box Saturday, Illinois gained just 18 yards and earned only one first down while trailing by 20 points at halftime before losing 27-7 to rebuilding Minnesota in a Big Ten Conference game played before a smattering of fans at windy, wet TCF Bank Stadium.
Unquestionably, this was the worst performance of the year by the Illini. Zook, who is 34-51 in seven years at Illinois, isn't expected to make it through the week. After the game, the body language from the coaching staff showed they knew what was coming.
"There's nothing I can really say,'' Zook said. "I've not talked to Mike. The thing that got back to me was when the season over, he's evaluate it. I'm sure that's what he's doing now. When the time is right, he'll talk to me.
"It doesn't matter what I think. It's up to what they think. This program is on very solid footing. There's a pretty good team coming back. They have to decide that.''
Illinois hasn't won a game since Oct. 8 at Indiana, when Zook left the field with six fingers jammed into the air to signify bowl eligibility. The Illini fell to 6-6 overall and 2-6 in the Big Ten after trailing 27-0 in the third quarter.
Hired in August, Thomas quickly showed he would be aggressive, claiming the Illini should be "King of Chicago.'' He made the rounds in the press box after flying separately from the team earlier in Saturday morning, bouncing into the media but having nothing to really add.
"I will continue to assess the situation,'' said Thomas, who wouldn't divulge a timetable. "Whether it's minutes, hours or days, you will know as soon as anybody.''
Thomas wasn't on the field for a handshake with Zook, who has two years left on a contract that pays him $1.75 million per year. The buyout is $1.3 million per year.
With 10 Big Ten teams bowl eligible and only eight Big Ten bowl tie-ins, the Illini stand far down the pecking order. They could land a Big Ten bowl, but they're more likely to fill a slot left vacant by another conference. Nevertheless, this team wants to keep playing.
"I honestly hope we do and I'm here to be able to do it,'' Zook said.
Available Big Ten teams are popular with bowl reps. The likely option among the Big Ten bowl tie-ins is the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit. The Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium, the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco's AT&T Park (home of the Giants), New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque and the New Orleans Bowl are possible destinations for the Illini.
Bowl bids are released on Dec. 4.
Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase, yanked in the second quarter when the Illini were going nowhere, felt the pressure of playing for his coaches' jobs.
"Personally, I feel like I let those guys down today and in weeks past,'' Scheelhaase said. "That's the most frustrating thing. I know how much those coaches love me and put their heart into making me a successful player. When you go out there and don't get it done, it hurts.''
The Illini stumbled out of the gate.
"I didn't see that coming,'' said subdued offensive coordinator Paul Petrino.
The Illini also had trouble corralling Minnesota quarterback MarQueis Gray, who rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns while also throwing for 85 yards and another score.
Minnesota (3-9, 2-6) won for the second time since September under coach Jerry Kill, the former coach at Southern Illinois and Northern Illinois who battled through medical issues this season.
John Supinie can be reached at email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @JohnSupinie.Illinois report card Offense -- F An offense that started the season fast has been the biggest disappointment in the season's second half. Reilly O'Toole took over at quarterback in the second quarter and started the second half.
Defense -- C-I guess you could successfully lobby to bring that grade down, but the Illini D was on the field way too much. They were worn down by halftime, when this one was already over.
Special teams -- BReceiver Ryan Lankford looked good working the rugby punt. The only question -- why did the change take so long?
Overall -- FInstead of giving their embattled coach a vote of confidence, the Illini produced their worst performance of the season. If the decision wasn't already made -- logic would tell you it was -- the Illini didn't do anything to make their coach look good.


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Same Dna - Red Bone [Unsigned Hype]
Y reports "*World Premiere* Philly Own Same Dna Official Music Video for "Red Bone" off of their new mixtape on the way "Show Time" be on the look out for download www.myspace.com/samedna www.mysapce.com/malmil215 www.youtube.com/samedna www.twitter.com/acesamedna www.twitter.com/therealmilsde Original track by Ricochet produced by Dorrough "
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The Bazza MGP Aluminum Collection:
Dining Height Stacking Cafe Chair
Item #: 8Z50
Consisting of aluminum legs and MGP (Marine Grade Polymer) seat and back, you can mix and match your frames and seats to create a contrasting look.
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B.C. athletes will dominate Olympic team
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Gary Kingston, Vancouver Sun
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Swimmer Martha McCabe is from Ontario but trains in B.C. - Ric Ernst
VANCOUVER — Swimmer Martha McCabe was born, and grew up in, Toronto, and first became an Olympic dreamer when her family would hold the "McCabe Olympics" in the summer at their cottage at Lakefield, Ont., complete with an opening ceremony and a pretend torch.
But as far as the Canadian Sport Centre Pacific is concerned, the UBC kiniesology grad and a medal favourite at London this summer in the 200-metre breaststroke is one of us — a B.C. athlete.
Ask McCabe if she considers herself a B.C. athlete or an Ontario athlete and she pauses and laughs nervously, perhaps conscious of not wanting to offend anyone, or any region.
"Uh, I would consider myself, probably a B.C. athlete actually because I've done all my serious training out in B.C.," she says. "That's where I've got all my benefits from."
The CSCP said Tuesday it anticipates that B.C. athletes — those born in the province or those who train here — will potentially make up 40 per cent of the Canadian squad in London and be expected to achieve close to 50 per cent of the country's medals.
That's up from 30 and 14 per cent, respectively, in 2000 at Sydney. There has also been an upward trend for Paralympic numbers.
"Just think about that for a moment, 13 per cent of the population and close to 50 per cent or more of [Olympic] medals will come from this region," says Wendy Pattenden, CSCP's chief executive officer.
There are a number of factors in play, she said, from coaching to climate, facilities to support staff. Those support staff include everything from nutritionists and dietitians to physiologists, psychologists, massage therapists and sport scientists.
"Honestly, in 2004, we had one sport scientist, now I have over 35 full-time sport scientists, sort of that pit crew, who work on the daily training environment," said Pattenden. "So it's really grown."
Pattenden says B.C. has about a quarter of the 488 national support staff registered with Own the Podium.
"In my day, 30 years ago, the coach was jack-of-all-trades, did everything. You can't compete on the world stage with that now.
"You need the best technical, world-class coach, but supported by a pit crew of experts that are the best in the world, which I really believe we have in B.C. I call them better than world class here."
At a news conference Tuesday at CSCP's Vancouver campus at False Creek, McCabe, 2008 Olympic bronze medallist swimmer Ryan Cochrane of Victoria and wheelchair basketball Paralympian Bo Hedges, a Fort St. John native, said the coaches and support staff here have been critical in their development.
"Everything from our sport psyche to our physiology is covered," said Cochrane. "It's nice to know when we get to London that nothing is left to chance. It really allows me to feel like a professional athlete. I really hate the term amateur athletes because I feel that that's not fair to what we do every day. Having all this in place really allows me to feel like a professional in my sport."
McCabe, who turns 23 midway through the London Olympics, moved to B.C. five years ago to join the national swim centre and to train under noted breaststroke coach Jozef Nagy.
"He had just started coaching Annamay Pierse and she was breaking Canadian records pretty quickly under his support. So I figured it would probably be a pretty good match for me.
"He sets up an environment that makes success very available."
McCabe, the bronze medallist in the 200 breaststroke at the 2011 world championships in Shanghai, said the CSCP resources have been invaluable.
"We've got our massage therapist and our trainer. And recovery is one of our biggest focuses. We've got a nutritionist working with us, a physiologist, a physio-therapist ... any time we need them. That's been pretty amazing for us and allowed me to get that extra competitive edge."
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Have you been searching for the best way to simultaneously cool and brighten your small dark space? Flush mount ceiling fans with lights, and hugger fixtures with light kits, provide a tight housing with hanging lights to circulate air and illuminate the dim areas around your living area. Modern brands, like Minka Aire and Hunter, manufacture these special accessories to update your room's close quarters. Flush mount ceiling fans with lights provide comfort, convenience, and heightened visibility regardless of your home's ceiling height, some with help from led illumination.
Indoor Hugger Fixtures with Light Kits for Your Home
Flush mount ceiling fans with lights are well-known across the industry for not only providing the extra air flow and lighting that you desire, but doing so in a safe manner. Thanks to their carefully engineered design, hugger fixtures with light kits eliminate the worry associated with the installation of fans in indoor rooms with low roofs. Our selection of close-to-ceiling accessories offers the best of both worlds in terms of circulation and illumination, and they also can spruce up an area's appearance with their wide variety of stylish fashions, from bronze to brushed nickel. Hugger fixtures with light kits differ the most from other categories due to their design and the fact that they can be installed without the need for a downrod.
As you browse through Del Mar Fans and Lighting, a few factors should be considered before making your vital purchase. The most important consideration is the fan size, which will come from the dimensions of the space to be cooled. We sell close to ceiling accessories that range from 26 inches across the blades to a radius of 56 inches to provide accommodation of all types of areas. Choose a standard size ceiling fan for your guest bedroom, office or study to add a bright, relaxing ambience. To get the fixture that is the right fit for your needs, calculate the square footage of your room by measuring its length and width. You can then compare your number to the manufacturer's ratings listed on the product page to confirm that it will supply the proper performance you desire. Other factors to consider while shopping to add amplify circulation in spaces with low roofs include lighting and other accessories, such as remote controls.
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Most of the time making the decision to choose the correct fixture to satisfy all of your needs over the one with your favorite design is not easy to make. There is a plethora of types and styles available but the modern hugger ceiling fans are a very popular choice when it comes to merging quality with visual appeal. The compact motor housing allows for tight mounting in low, restrictive areas while the endless design allows for a seamless unification with the existing décor in your room. Please visit our helpful tips and instructions on how to choose the best ceiling fans for more knowledge and confidence that you are purchasing the correct fixtures for each location around your house.


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BRAUN: 'Period poverty' on the International Day of The Girl
Ever run out of tampons?
Ever had a crisis with your period when you were stuck without supplies?
Imagine going through that every single month.
The International Day of The Girl is a good day to be aware that something called "period poverty' affects 1.2 billion girls and women all over the world. (The United Nations General Assembly designated Oct. 11 as International Day of the Girl six years ago.)
When women have no money for menstrual pads or tampons, the results can be life-altering. With no supplies available, adolescent girls in developing countries often stay home for a week every month, falling behind in school and eventually dropping out altogether. Obviously, their employment opportunities are limited thereafter.
Compassion Canada, a Christian group working with children around the world, has had success with this issue in Mulatsi, Uganda. They funded a church group there so that church staff could educate locals on the importance of menstrual hygiene and teach people how to make reusable sanitary pads.
Teachers, parents and local leaders — male and female — got involved. The girls got sustainable, reusable period supplies; some of the local men got work (and a paycheque) doing the sewing, and a lot of people let go of the usual misinformation about female bodily functions.
Misty Ropp, of Compassion Canada, shared this success story with the Toronto Sun by telephone on Wednesday. (Ropp and her husband sponsor three children in Honduras through Compassion.)
"We are promoting awareness of some of the unique challenges girls face," says Ropp. "I certainly don't think about it when I have my period. Just realizing the impact of not having proper materials — girls miss 25% of their schooling, they can't keep up, and eventually, they drop out. And then they can't get good jobs later." Worse yet, says Ropp, they can become fodder for child marriage, trafficking and domestic abuse.
"They need pads just to stay in school."
It's not cheap. Someone in the UK did the math and determined that a woman spends about $8,500 over a lifetime to manage her period. That's no small chunk of change. Here is where we might insert a joke about PMS and the cost of bullets, but … nah.
Ropp notes that period poverty exists in Canada, too. "It's not just in developing countries. About a third of Canadian women under 25 said they struggle to afford supplies. In low-income families girls miss school over this."
Meanwhile, the project in Uganda is a win/win, and it's remarkable that the men in the village took part. Now they work hard to empower their daughters. How did that happen?
One man joined in, and despite being shamed by his peers, he held firm and began to influence other men. More got on board, and then more.
"The women led, and the men slowly got involved," says Ropp.
Sounds familiar.
Compassion Canada supports nearly two million children worldwide. Their work is undertaken on a local level, in partnership with churches, and each church helps between 200 to 400 children.


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ses5909 had een nieuw webpagina ontwerp nodig en lanceerde daarom een wedstrijd op 99designs.
Een winnaar werd gekozen uit21 ontwerpen ingezonden door19 freelance designers.
Need an uncoded website with a professional feel. The farm is what the website is about with the focus being on a stallion.
Kox Creek Farm
Desired Color Scheme:
The client has expressed no preference as to the colors being used. This means you can be creative.
Desired Style:
Professional yet friendly and welcoming
Accepted File Formats:
PSD, vector
The purpose of the website is to advertise a stallion that will be used to stud. They hope to have potential mare's find them through this website (well, not the mare but the mare's owner ;)). To show off their stallion they will show off their barn and facilities as well as the main manor. They wish to be portrayed professionally and with class.
The exact number of pages is unclear as of this time. This means you will need to create a design that allows to a fluid number of pages. Our expectations are about 5 or 6 pages but we cannot confirm that at this time.
The client has expressed no preference as to the colors being used. This means you can be creative.
Inspiration: I tried to find other websites that were similar in concept to use as a guide but they all sucked!
This client is in a hurry so we expect feedback to be timely. Of course that's good for us and you.
Rights: We will retain the rights once the money is transferred. The designer is welcome to use the design in their portfolio.
The client does not have a logo and is not looking for one. We just need their name in the header. We also don't have pictures yet, so if you use any from the web, make sure you can use them in the design (even though we will most likely change them) and please site your source. We don't want any copyright issues here.
The farm is what the website is about with the focus being on the stallion.
I will not be able to provide feedback on entries until tomorrow evening as I will be on the road. if you have any questions about the contest, you may ask them and stymiee will answer them as well.


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Ok, this has come up before many years ago, but I wanted to know if general consensus has changed at all since that time regarding this type of worldtimer. It is currently an upcoming lot in Watches of Knightsbridge. I saw these previously called re-dials, but the print and lume seem so precise no?
It has a JLC-signed movement versus the LeCoultre-signed dial. Anyways I am asking out of pure horological interest.


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Thermal design power (TDP) is the value that the CPU would generate with running applications. When the CPU is operating, it should not generate high TDP in order to save it from overheating. Generally, the heat can be easily cooled by a small fan or a passive heat sink. Intel i3 8130U vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X thermal design power helps these two processors differ in accordance to their power performances and annual cost estimates.Intel i3 8130U from has TDP 15.00 Wattand AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X from Desktop Processors has 180.00 Watt as its TDP.By comparing Intel i3 8130U with AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X power consumption, you would know which processor is energy efficient. The annual home energy cost also reduces with lesser thermal design power.
Performance per watt is related to energy efficiency of the processor. For every watt of processor it measures the rate of computation that can be delivered by the CPU. Observing Intel i3 8130U vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X performance per watt, which is an important factor to decide the working capability of the processor. Intel i3 8130U gives Not AvailableandAMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X gives Not Available as its output. There are other parameters like annual commercial energy cost and typical power consumption for considering their Differences to segregate them.
© 2015-2020. A softUsvista venture!


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BlueHeron necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 16 diseños de 3 diseñadores freelance.
Heron Ridge Landscaping
We are a landscaping company that has been in the community for years under another (boring) name. Looking to change things up and become fresh and new with our favourite theme: The Blue Heron.
We need a really cool looking blue heron (in a steel blue colour) that can be printed both in colour and black and white and still look good. Also need to put the little guy on the side of our trucks and, possibly, shirts.
Colour scheme should be a nice steel blue colour along with green and white. Like the looks of CURVES and shadowing. Might even be nice to see the heron placed within a curving line or circle. Would also probably like to see the name printed not in all one colour. Maybe Blue for "Heron" and green for "Ridge"...maybe even two different fonts.
We are a small company that our customers rely on for trustworthy/personal service. We are clean and professional. No bare chests with beer guts hanging out or standing around smoking on the customer's property! That is the opposite of what we are. We want the new logo to symbolize the clean, professional, friendly, detail-oriented service we provide. The "Heron" is a bird we see a lot around here and everyone loves them! See them a lot as garden statuary. The "Ridge" is for the escarpment we work around.
So, "Heron Ridge Landscaping".
Good Luck!!
Any Questions? Don't hesitate to ask. We will be checking in OFTEN! :)
Our customers are upper-middle class to upper-class. These are people who can afford top-of-the-line property maintenance and, generally, it is the woman of the house who does the hiring. So, we are appealing largely to women ages 35 and up. However, we don't want anything too "girlie". The heron should be beautiful and sleek...not cute. Above all, the look must be clean and professional, sleek but not too flashy.
Our customers hire us for year-round property maintenance, landscape design, snow-plowing, gardening, etc. We are in Canada so we have (and cover all) four seasons.
Name: "Heron Ridge Landscaping"
"Heron Ridge" should be set-off from "Landscaping"...
in that "Heron Ridge" should stand out, but "Landscaping" can be more plain and printed below.
Theme: A Blue Heron
We want to see a blue heron in a nice steal-blue colour that will look equally as good printed in black and white. It will need to be simple enough to be printed on business cards and on the side of our trucks and, possibly, shirts. Elegant and Sleek, NOT CUTE.
Colours: Steal Blue (a "pretty" steal blue...not "muddy") and a co-ordinating green...and, of course, white.
Design Details: Hubby loves curves and shadows. Would like to see the Heron inside a curve or even a circle. My business "Pea Tree Photography" (design by KhingKhing) got a great logo here {you should be able to find that winning design for "Norma-ann" without too much trouble if you wanted to} and we both love the curves and the the writing that incorporates the theme...although that particular font may be a bit too "girlie" for this project. But, we did LOVE KhingKhing's work and how he used curves and a great font which used the theme.
Any other questions, please just ask. I will be checking in on this project OFTEN.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Counseling Services offers a broad range of preventative, remedial, and developmental services to the Valparaiso University community. Our mission is to promote the psychological well-being of students so as to enhance their healthy decision-making and overall functioning. Counseling Services assists students in overcoming personal issues that may negatively impact their ability to be successful and to make the most out of their experience at Valparaiso University. In addition, Counseling Services works with staff and faculty to improve the quality of the living and learning environment of their students. Counseling Services consists of the Counseling Center, the Office of Alcohol and Drug Education, and the Sexual Assault Awareness and Facilitative Education office. We encourage you to learn more about these offices by using the links above.
The staff of Counseling Services welcomes all students and embraces a philosophy respectful of diversity. We are supportive of students' diverse racial, ethnic, national, and cultural backgrounds, sexual orientation, mental and physical abilities, language, class, gender, age, and religious/spiritual beliefs. We are committed to helping all students deal with discrimination and identity issues.
For immediate medical attention, or if you or someone is in imminent danger, please call 911.
For other emergencies, please call 219.464.5002 for assistance, or you may call 911 or go to the nearest hospital if our office is closed. An emergency may involve thoughts and plans of suicide or hurting yourself or others.
To learn more about various topics related to mental health, please go here. You can also check out our Suggested Apps & Websites page by going here.
Our Stress Relief & Relaxation Room is open to all students, faculty, and staff. To learn more about this, please go here.


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UK Manufacturer
Semi rotary, double acting hand wing pumps are suitable for handling various liquids free from suspended solids such as water, diesel fuel, paraffin, oil, etc with temperatures up to 80ºC.
The pumps are suitable for various domestic and industrial applications.
The pump has a rugged design and is of robust cast iron construction. It is very simple to operate and self-priming.
The K5 model has 1 1/2" BSP female connections. Other sizes are available - the smallest being the K00 model (3/8"), ranging up to the K7 model (2").
Pump International developed the customised pumps for the world famous Red Arrows which enables the trail of red, white and blue smoke. This supports our status as a global leader in the manufacturer of industrial, chemical & marine pumps.
To buy any of the Pump International products online please access our ONLINE PUMP SHOP.
Pump International is a hand pump manufacturer established in 1964 with the Patay brand.
We supply the industrial, service industries and marine markets with pumps for de-watering; fuel, oil or chemical transfer, pressure test and bilge pumps.
We also design and manufacture pumps for all manner of special purposes
Pump International will be attending the landscape show on the 17th and and 18th of September at Battersea Park in London. The show established as the


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Become a seasoned spice blender under the direction Lior Lev Sercarz. Over the course of two hours, Chef Lior will lead the class through an immersive and educational spice blending experience. The Intro to Spice Blending Class will be held at La Boîte and all materials for the class are provided.
- Intimate class size with hands on blending using different spices under Lior's guidance.
- Learn Chef Lior's blending tips and techniques to use at home for your spices.
- Discover new tastes and flavor profiles to elevate your cooking!
- Take home your very own custom spice blend and jar.
- Class Date: September 8th 2020 from 6-8 PM
- Light refreshments and snacks are provided.
Additional Info
Private Group classes (up to 6 people) can be arranged per request. Please email us at email@example.com for further information.
Cancellation Policy
We understand that things can come up. Please email us as soon as possible to let us know if you cannot attend the class you purchased. Up to 7 days before the class, a full refund can be issued. Any cancellations received after 7 days will not be refunded.
Confirmation & Details
We will email you with all necessary details prior to the class so look out for an email! If you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Stampede Acquire Hodge From Dubuque
SIOUX FALLS, SD -- The Sioux Falls Stampede have acquired defenseman Preston Hodge from the Dubuque Fighting Saints in exchange for a conditional draft pick in the 2013 USHL Draft, head coach Cary Eades announced on Friday. He is expected to join the team in time for their game tonight at Tri-City. A roster spot became available when the Herd had to place Zach Habscheid on injured reserve.
Hodge (5-foot-11, 190-pounds) appeared in seven games with the Saints this season, registering seven shots and two penalty minutes.
The Bloomington, Ill. native spent last season skating with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders posting 10 points (2g, 8a) and +3 rating in 50 games. He led the team with 96 penalty minutes.
The 20-year-old spent the 2010-11 season with Faribanks of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), helping them earn a Robertson Cup championship.
The Stampede are traveling to Kearney, Neb. to face the Tri-City Storm at 7:35 PM Friday. Sioux Falls plays at Sioux City on Sunday at 5:05 PM.
Courtesy: Jim Olander/Sioux Falls Stampede


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663 members104 Comments 48 Likes
Started this discussion. Last reply by Jessica Arcega Dec 9, 2010. 23 Replies 0 Likes
as i have posted in my recent blog.i have a colleague that saw me reading post here. she then, made me her "mission".she told me read a verse from the bible each day, reflect on it, live it etc....…Continue
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Posted on March 22, 2014 at 6:55pm 6 Comments 2 Likes
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:54pm 6 Comments 0 Likes
My colleague and I were discussing his topic on science, which was about taxonomy. Another colleague overheard what we were discussing and he butted-in and asked "What's the importance of that to our salvation?" I wasn't able to answer because I got mad and I was worried that if I gave my answer it'll just create an endless debate on science vs. religion. And we all know it's difficult to reason with a religious.
My friend said that I shouldn't mind what my colleague asked, but it…Continue
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 12:32pm 4 Comments 0 Likes
Posted on February 11, 2011 at 10:42am 8 Comments 0 Likes
Just this week we found out that one of my colleague is pregnant. What did the people, religious people, around her did? Talk behind her back, criticize her, make her feel more miserable. They avoided her like she had lupus. When I was accompanying my colleague at lunch, I swear I could feel the cold stares of disgust from our other colleagues. I thought the faithful were understanding and were concerned of the well-being of other people, but they weren't.
I know it was against the…Continue


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Comparing Gorilla Trekking – Uganda versus Rwanda
Gorilla Permits
Gorilla Habituation Experience – Information – Tips – Advice
Spend more Time with the Gorillas in Uganda – 4-Hours with a Gorilla Family
Comparing Gorilla Trekking with the Habituation Experience in Bwindi Forest
Value+ Gorilla Safaris
Gorilla Habituation Experience Safaris in Bwindi Forest – Uganda
Best Family Gorilla Trekking Safari with Teens in Uganda
10-Fun and Serious Facts about Mountain Gorillas in Uganda-Rwanda
Gorilla Trekking in the Virunga Volcanoes or in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Luxury Gorilla Safaris
Best Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Mgahinga Gorilla Park in Uganda
Why a Luxury Gorilla Safari in Uganda is right for You
Chimpanzee Tracking & Habituation Safaris
Chimpanzee Trekking – Habituation Experience Information-Tips-Advice
All Day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience – Kibale Forest
The Best Gorilla Trekking Safaris – Uganda – Rwanda
Best Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safaris In Uganda
Best Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Mgahinga Gorilla Park in Uganda
Fly into Rwanda – Trek Gorillas in Uganda
Fly-In Safari
Packing flying afari
4-Day Luxury Fly-In Kidepo Valley Park Wildlife Safari
4 Day Fly-In Twice Gorilla Trekking Safari – Uganda
8-Day Fly-In -Drive – Gorilla-Chimpanzee Trekking – Wildlife Safari
Honeymoon Safari
Luxury Gorilla Safari Honeymoon in Uganda- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Honeymoon Information – Advice
Best Honeymoon Places
Planning Your African Honeymoon Safari in Uganda – Rwanda
Solo Safaris
Photographic Safaris – Uganda – Rwanda
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – UNESCO World Heritage Site
Why Visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda? 10-Reasons why you should
The Best Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Hiking Trails in Uganda
Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale Forest Safaris
All Day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience – CHEX – Kibale Forest
Hiking Trails in and near Kibale Forest
Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary
The Explosion Craters
The Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru Caves near Kibale Forest
Kidepo Valley Park
Practical Guide -Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley Park Wildlife Safaris
Best Time to visit Kidepo Valley
Africa as it used to be –Kidepo Valley
Murchison Falls Park
Best Murchison Falls Park Wildlife Safaris in the largest Park in Uganda
Top Things to do and see in Budongo Forest
Top Things to Do and See – Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Queen Elizabeth Park
Best Queen Elizabeth Park Wildlife Safaris in the Pearl of Africa-Uganda
Experiential Safari Activities in Queen Elizabeth Park – Uganda
Lion Tracking Research in Queen Elizabeth Park
Lake Mburo Park
Lake Bunyonyi
Mgahinga Gorilla Park
Golden Monkey Trekking – Mgahinga Gorilla Park
Golden Monkey Habituation Experience – Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Semliki -Semuliki Park
Mount Elgon and Sipi Falls
Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon
Top Things To Do and See in Jinja on the River Nile
Lake Mutanda
What to See and Do in Uganda the Pearl of Africa
Uganda – Tourism Awards – Accolades – Recognitions
Why is Uganda called the Pearl of Africa? Where did it come from?
Uganda is Africa Condensed into a small Country-The Pearl of Africa
The Weather and Climate in Uganda – East Africa
Uganda Travel Tips and Advice for Visitors-Tourists to the Pearl of Africa
When – Where do I get my Uganda Tourist Visa?
Uganda Money Information – Tips – Advice for Travelers
Health Advice – Tips – Information for Uganda-Rwanda Travelers
Fun and Serious Facts about Uganda – The Pearl of Africa
Cultural Mistakes to Avoid
Luganda 101- Simple Lugandan Phrases
Visiting the Batwa People in Uganda-The First People of the Forest
Visiting the Karamojong
Visiting the Ik Tribe
Visit the Abayudaya – the Jews of Uganda
The Bagisu Imbalu Public Circumcision Rites
Dance-Drumming Lessons
Hands-on Experiences
Best Places to buy Arts and Crafts in Kampala
African Village Stay
Safari Tips
Gorilla Trekking Tips – Advice
Gorilla Habituation Experience Advice
Chimpanzee Trekking – Habituation Experience Information-Tips-Advice
Practical Hiking – Climbing Advice
Honeymoon Safari Advice
Family Safari Advice
Traveling Solo on Safari
Top Travel Tips for Women Travelers to – Uganda – Rwanda
Is Uganda safe for Americans -and anyone else?
Safe Gorilla Trekking
Tourism Police
Is Uganda Safe in 2019
LGBT Safety
Kampala Nightlife – Safety and Security
Uganda Wildlife Authority Rangers
Avoid being kidnapped while on a Safari
Is it SAFE to visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest?
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All-new all-wheel-drive sporty compact crossover.
Compact Cars
Editor: Sam Moses
$18,960 Base Price MSRP
$24,550 As Tested MSRP
Model Lineup: Nissan Juke S CVT FWD ($18,960), Juke S CVT AWD ($20,460); Juke SV 6MT FWD ($20,260), Juke SV CVT FWD ($20,760), Juke SV CVT AWD ($22,260); Juke SL 6MT FWD ($22,550), Juke SL CVT FWD ($23,050), Juke SL CVT AWD ($24,550)
Standard Engine: 1.6-liter 16-valve turbocharged I4
Engine Options: 1.6-liter turbo I4
Standard Transmission: CVT
Transmission Options: 6-speed manual; CVT with manual mode 6 ranges
Basic Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles
Assembled In: Japan
Model Tested MSRP: Nissan Juke SL CVT AWD ($24,550)
Standard Equipment: fabric upholstery, air conditioning, power windows, power locks and mirrors, 17-inch wheels, 6-way driver's and 4-way passenger's manual seats, AM/FM/CD sound system with steering wheel controls, Bluetooth, speed-sensing electric power steering, and 60/40 fold-flat rear seat
Options As Tested: none
Standard Safety Equipment: dual-stage frontal airbags, side-impact airbags in front, airbag curtains, tire pressure monitor, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist, electronic stability control
Optional Safety Equipment: all-wheel driveDestination Charge: $745
Small crossovers are the fourth largest and fastest growing segment, so watch for more vehicles like this, many with all-wheel drive like these three.
The Nissan Juke is built on Nissan's global B platform, that's been around long enough to be well proven. Its 1.6-liter turbocharged intercooled direct-injection engine is being seen for the first time in the U.S., but it too has been used by Nissan in Europe and Japan for some time now.
The name Juke is meant to suggest flitting around town, or as a boxer might juke around the ring, and the vehicle does just that. It's got a short 96-inch wheelbase, and a stance and style that looks rather jukey. Its styling is aggressively quirky, as Nissan likes to take chances. It's 7 inches shorter and 3 inches wider than a Nissan Versa hatchback, so you might get the picture.
It's a 5-seater, but naturally this size doesn't leave much legroom in the rear. The standard rear seat is a fold-flat 60/40, however, so there is good cargo space behind the front seat.
The seats are comfortable and the fabric sporty in the Juke SV, while the leather in the Juke SL is lovely. The center console design is inspired by a motorcycle gas tank, and its hard plastic is painted a glossy color, deep metallic red in our test model SL. It's distinctive, and cool.
The 188 horsepower with 177 pound-feet of torque provides brisk acceleration. The CVT transmission with its manual shifting is quick and sharp, however we found the 6-speed manual transmission detracts from some good qualities in the car, including the quietness and steering. The fuel mileage with all-wheel drive is an EPA-estimated 25 City and 30 Highway, and we're surprised that it's not more, given the modern 1.6-liter direct-injection engine.
The all-wheel-drive system divides the torque 50-50, with the capability to move all the torque between left and right wheels, to meet traction demands.
The suspension is fairly standard, MacPherson struts in front and multi-link rear, and combined with the short wheelbase and relatively big 17-inch wheels and tires, the ride catches every undulation. It's not sharp or harsh, but when you're driving the Juke over bumps you're fully aware you're in a tight little car.
The 2011 Nissan Juke uses a 1.6-liter direct-injection turbocharged intercooled 16-valve engine making 188 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque with a choice of 6-speed manual transmission or CVT continuously variable transmission.
Juke S ($18,960) comes with cloth upholstery, air conditioning, power windows, power locks and mirrors, 17-inch wheels, 6-way driver's and 4-way passenger's manual seats, AM/FM/CD sound system with steering wheel controls, Bluetooth, speed-sensing electric power steering, and 60/40 fold-flat rear seat. Juke S comes with the CVT and front-wheel drive, and is available with all-wheel drive ($20,460).
Juke SV models add upgraded fabric upholstery, power moonroof and privacy glass, intelligent key with pushbutton ignition, leather-wrapped steering wheel, integrated control (I-CON) system having Sport, Normal and Eco modes for programming of engine, transmission and steering. Juke SV comes with a 6-speed manual transmission ($20,260), CVT ($20,760), or CVT and AWD ($22,260).
Juke SL models add a navigation package with upgraded speakers and USB connectivity, leather upholstery with heated front seats, leather-wrapped shift knob, rearview monitor, and foglamps. Juke SL is available with 6-speed manual transmission ($22,550), CVT ($23,050), or CVT and AWD ($24,550).
Safety equipment on all models includes six airbags, stability control with traction control, 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS and EBD, and tire pressure monitor. Optional all-wheel drive enhances safety in slippery conditions.
Walk Around
The Juke is certainly eye-catching. Nissan isn't afraid to go out there with quirky styling, not even after the failure of the asymmetrical Cube, too quirky for its own good.
The Juke has features that shout originality. Hyper-aggressive edged fender flares outline big arches and suggest room for monster tires, making even the large 17-inch wheels look small. The 12-spoke wheels (six twin-spokes) on our fully equipped Juke SL CVT AWD test model were fancy (not a bad thing) for a little car, but still lost in the cavern. The conspicuously high ground clearance adds to that effect. It's 3 inches wider than a Nissan Versa five-door, and it shows.
The hood and nose of the Juke are loaded with things that shout for attention, namely the big round headlights inspired by rally lights, and amber running lights with turn signals that seem slapped onto the tops of the fenders like barnacles. Nissan says integrated but we'd argue that definition. Add foglamps in the air dam and the nose is full of circles. Our co-driving automotive journalist at the launch said the Juke looked angry, and furthermore was butt ugly, but we think she might have been a bit harsh. Many people will find it cute. On the ferry from Vancouver, B.C. over to the peninsula, our Jukes drew crowds of admirers, led by women. The Juke might turn out to be a chick car, if not a rock star.
The Juke looks great in metallic charcoal brown, with gold specs in the paint catching the sun; we like that color best by far. There's also a nice metallic blue, but after that there are too many shades of gray: four of the eight colors, in fact.
From the side, especially the window outlines, the Juke appears to have borrowed from the Kia Soul with its reverse wedge. From some angles you can also see Infiniti G. With invisible rear door handles, which we like, you can be fooled into thinking it's a two-door. There's a raked windshield, high beltline and broad shoulders.
The roof slopes down and the hips climb up, or at least they lend that illusion, thanks again to the arches and flares. There's a family resemblance to the Infiniti FX. There's a radio antenna in the middle of the roof that would be cool if it were a shark fin like on the Honda CR-Z. At the rear gate, the taillights borrow the boomerang shape from the Nissan 370Z.
So you've got bits of Soul, G, FX and 370Z. Still, the Juke comes across as original.
The seats are comfortable in the standard quality fabric, or superb optional leather. The fabric looks best in dark charcoal, and the leather in a rich brown. There's good bolstering that does its best to keep the driver's body in place, but the suspension allows a lot of upper body sway, or head toss, as it used to be called in the older Jeep Cherokees.
The seating position is high, and that affords good forward visibility. There's also a good view in the mirror through the rear glass; it looks like it should be pinched, but there's no problem.
Overall, the Juke offers more comfort and room inside than the compact outside suggests. There's tons of cargo space, 35.9 cubic feet, when the 60/40 rear seat is folded flat, which it does with one touch. However, not surprisingly, there isn't much legroom in the rear seat, only 32.1 inches. The Juke is a 5-seater, but three people in the back seat will be squeezed in every direction but up, and maybe that too.
Nissan says the center console was inspired by a motorcycle gas tank. Hmm. Fair enough. It's awfully pretty, and a great idea to add shape and contour to a car's interior. It's not just a long box with levers and crannies on it, which might describe the current state of center consoles. It's a long shapely tube, hard plastic with glossy paint, for example a rich and deep candy apple red that looks terrific. It begins at the bottom of the wide center stack, where the shift lever rises out the top, flows down and back and narrows, with a long black E-brake lever on the left and two cupholders and a coin holder on the right, before ending with an open bin between the seatbacks.
The gauges behind the steering wheel are good: black faces, white lettering, red needles, brushed aluminum-like rings around the speedo and tach. Digital information is displayed in a little window between them, but there's a problem: in order to scroll for info, you have to reach a button that's nearby, meaning either stick your right arm between the steering wheel spokes or wrap it around the wheel, while you're driving. The Juke isn't the only car with this poor design. We wonder how it gets by.
The center stack is nice and big and wide, more like a square with rounded corners. Our Juke SL included the navigation package with the 5-inch screen that's at the top of the stack. All the buttons, knobs and dials allowed easy function. There's a small screen near the bottom that displays some graphics relating to your driving mode: it indicates turbo boost in Sport mode, torque in Normal mode, and we're not sure what in Eco mode. After we watched it and thought about it for a while, we realized it's useless. Basically all it tells you is how far your foot is down on the gas pedal. You don't need to take your eyes off the road and refocus them on a small screen down at the bottom of the center stack to know that.
We played with the navigation a bit, and we liked the way it gave you ample notice before a turn. However it wasn't challenged much because our route on the launch kept us on one highway. Also a waterway, which the navigation lady who lives in the center stack couldn't see. Stay on the road for 28 miles, she said, as the ferry pulled away from the dock and headed 28 miles across the water.
Driving Impressions
So you've got those three modes, Sport, Normal and Eco. There's a distinct performance difference between them, and not just horsepower. For example, Sport mode tightens the transmission shifting and steering, as well; in Eco mode, shifts are slower and sharp cornering doesn't exist.
The 1.6-liter turbocharged engine isn't new, but this is its first use in the U.S. The power is good in Sport, and the acceleration sprightly up to 6400 rpm where the rev limiter gently chokes the engine. Don't expect much freeway performance in Eco mode, although you could hum along at 60 mph with the cruise control set, no worries. And if you're lightfooting it around town, Eco mode is great.
We didn't have a chance to test the traction in ice and snow, in August, but we like the way the all-wheel-drive works. Nissan calls it torque vectoring. It's a 50-50 split from front to rear, but the torque can shift fully to the left or right wheels, as needed.
Nissan claims that the full 177 pounds of torque is available at 2000 rpm, and we trust they have charts from an engine dynamometer that say so. But there's a lot lost in the translation to the seat of a driver's pants, for example through the transmission. All we know is that when you floor it and watch the tach climb, you feel a nice surge at about 3500 rpm. And when you floor it in a high gear at 2000 rpm, it feels like the torque stayed back there on the dyno bench.
We were impressed by the responsiveness of the CVT, in its manual mode with six ranges like speeds. That means a lot to a car like this.
As with any car having a short wheelbase, the cabin is going to feel the bumps more. In the Juke, you maybe feel them a little bit more than that. They're not sharp or harsh, but they are plentiful. It hugs every bit of the road. The big 17-inch tires, on 215/55 tires, likely have something to do with that.
We also got seat time in a Juke with the 6-speed manual transmission, and we say: forget it. For one thing, there's torque steer that doesn't exist with the CVT model. For another, the NVH is significantly higher. For a third, it just makes the whole car feel bigger, with the loss of its sharpness.
Finally, the fuel mileage. The AWD CVT Juke is government-rated at 25 mpg City and 30 Highway, which is about what we got; closer to 25, actually, in the real world. We think a 2011 compact car with a 1.6-liter direct-injection engine ought to do better than that.
The all-new Nissan Juke is an all-wheel-drive (or fwd) compact crossover with distinctive fun styling, sharp sporty performance, and good cargo space. A well-equipped model will cost nearly $25,000 and get 25-30 miles per gallon.
Sam Moses filed this NewCarTestDrive.com report after his test drive of the Juke near Vancouver, British Columbia.
Top Cars


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By Father Scott M. Lewis, SJ
Special to Catholic News Service
The prologue to the Gospel of John — Chapter 1, verses 1-18 — consists of a poetic hymn of great beauty and symbolic power. In centuries past the words themselves were thought to contain spiritual power so the prologue was often read over the sick. It also used to be recited by the priest at the end of the liturgy.
The prologue itself has been likened to the overture of an opera — it contains all of the themes that will be developed throughout the Gospel. Make note of some of the special words like "light," "truth," and so on and then watch for their repetition in later chapters as their meaning and application are unfolded.
Let us examine two of those words: "life" and "truth." Life (zōē) is used 36 times in John, 17 of these with the qualifier "eternal." This is the life not of world to come but world above. Jesus — the Word of God — is identified with life itself. The logos or Word which is life (zōē) (1:3-4) came into a world alienated from God (1:10-13). He has the power of life within himself (5:26) and anyone who receives eternal life through belief in Jesus passes from death to life (5:24). Jesus can grant it to anyone whom he wishes.
Jesus insists that he has come so that we might have life and have it abundantly (10:10) and that he alone has the power to lay down his life and take it up again. In 11:25, he tells the grieving Martha that he is the resurrection and the life, and that anyone who believes in him will live even if they die, and anyone who lives and believes in him will never die.
A literal or superficial understanding of these words is absurd: many devout people have died. But John's seemingly mundane words always have a transcendental meaning, and here he is definitely not speaking of biological life and death. The life that Jesus grants — eternal life — is living in the presence and awareness of God. Believers in Jesus experience eternal life even while still living their earthly life. In order to prove his claim to be able to give life to whomever he wishes, he promptly goes to the tomb and restores physical life to Lazarus. But this is not a resurrection, for Lazarus will still have to die again.
Truth is another of those rather vague and illusive Johannine terms. In 1:14, Jesus is described as full of grace and truth. What can that mean? In the encounter with the woman at the well in 4:24, Jesus denies that the worship of God can be tied to any particular place. The time has arrived for all true worshippers of God to worship Him in spirit and truth.
Jesus promises his audience in 8:32 that they will know the truth and the truth will make them free. Human knowledge is not what he had in mind, despite the dismaying tendency of many libraries to inscribe that verse over their doors.
Jesus told a perplexed Pilate that he had come into the world to witness to the truth, and Pilate responded with a rather weary and cynical, "What is truth?" not realizing that truth was quite literally staring him in the face. In fact, Jesus identifies himself in 14:6 as both life and truth and as a visible manifestation of the Father. This means that Jesus lives totally in God and God in him, and he is able to manifest the true God and the truth about God to a world ensnared in ignorance. Only by knowing and experiencing God directly and personally will we be freed from fear and ignorance and live as free children of God.
John is subtle and complicated. We should be wary of throwing Johannine verses around to prove theological points. John's "truths" are meant to be experienced personally, not analyzed or rationalized.


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A 76-year-old monk dying of cancer can now be buried at his beloved monastery, thanks to a bill OK'd by California's governor, who studied to be a priest himself.
Gov. Jerry Brown, who was a Jesuit seminary student in the 1950s, signed a bill on Tuesday allowing Archimandrite Theodor Micka to be buried on the grounds of Holy Cross Monastery in Castro Valley.
The bill, which was authored by California Sen. Majority Leader Ellen M. Corbett (D-Hayward), allowed an exemption to the current law regarding burial sites. As the law is written, it's a misdemeanor to bury someone in a place other than a designated cemetery without the proper state and county permits.
In what's known as a "gut-and-amend bill," Corbett wrote the bill to allow Alameda County to expedite the permittng process.
"He had a very compelling story," Corbett said in a phone interview on Tuesday from Sacramento. "We wanted to fulfill his dying wish."
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
Micka's wish is to be buried on the monastery grounds where he has lived for three decades. The monastery is the only Orthodox one of its kind in the San Francisco Bay Area, and there, monks perform weddings, baptisms and services for Orthodox Christians of all ethnic backgrounds.
Micka is the abbot, or the head monk.
"[Corbett] called us today," Holy Cross Monastery Father Stephen Scott, who is Micka's caregiver, told NBC Bay Area. "We were very impressed. Father Theodor has been the abbot here for basically 50 years. He wanted to be buried here."
When Micka was diagnosed with stage IV cancer last April, Scott said that he discussed his friend's burial issue with members of the Stanford Religious Liberty Clinic, who were already helping the monastery with other legal matters. Students Greg Schweizer and Caitlin Bradley helped draft a narrowly crafted bill, CA SB 124, to allow Micka to be buried on the 9-acre rural grounds of his home. Micka's cancer has spread to his lymph nodes, Scott said, though all his friends and supporters are hoping that "he will rally."
Micka has been "courageous" in the face of his diagnosis, said Scott, the monastery's co-founder. The two have been friends since 1970, when Micka was a parish priest in Los Altos Hills.
When Micka's mother died, she left her son all that she owned. He decided to use her inheritance to buy the 9-acre monastery, helping to build its walls and plant its gardens. Nature is Micka's passion.
"He made a vow to build a monastery," Scott said. "He creates beauty and order out of chaos. We have no fences so that deer can come onto our lawn. We are surrounded by green and parkland. Father Theodor loves the idea of finding God through the beauty of the place."


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hello im new here
and im having problems with this objective.....
here is the instruction.....
General Specification:
Create a game that asks for a players name and then shows scrambled letters. The objective
for the game is for the player to guess the unscrambled word. A user is given 2 minutes to guess the
word and the user is given points in the following manner.
100 points: if the player guessed the word in the 1st minute.
50 points: if the player guessed the word within the succeeding minute.
The player has the option to keep scrambling the letters of the word to be unscrambled
either by clicking the button on the games interface or by pressing the spacebar of the keyboard.
This game ends when the player was not able to guess the word within the allowable time or if the
user was able to guess all the words in this games list of words to be guessed.
Name and score of the player is shown in the games interface if the player beats the current
highest score (the games highest score and scorer are shown with 0 and blank, respectively when
the game is first executed).
Detailed Specification:
o The program must read a text file containing 100 words with the following information for
each of the words:
The word (comprising 5 to 7 letters)
The classification of the word: noun, verb, or adjective
Definition of the word
Note: Just choose one classification/definition for the word if it has more than 1
o You are to use an ArrayList object to store the words read from the file.
o When running the program, the program must jumble all the 100 words before showing the
first word to be guessed. Note also that the jumbled letters of the word are shown to the
o Your games interface should provide for the jumbling the letters of the word being guessed
through a button or by pressing the space bar.
o The time remaining for the player to guess must also be shown (starting with 2 minutes
o When the first minute has elapsed and the player has not yet guessed the word, the words
classification (noun, verb, or adjective) is shown together with the definition of the word to
serve as a hint.
o Be creative in creating your games interface.
o Make sure that your projects game interface (GUI) shall utilize a logic class that has the
direct access to the text file.
how do u use the Timer class for this activity?
if im in the wrong thread.....
jst tell me where should i place this thread to ok?.......
ur help is most appreciated......


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|Enrique Peña Nieto/Foto: Maria Luisa Severiano, La Jornada
65% of the over 50 million Latinos who live and work in the United States are of Mexican origin. But President Barack Obama's embrace of Mexico's new president, Enrique Peña Nieto, in their meeting this Tuesday, November 27th in Washington, DC is the wrong way for him to appeal to this growing sector of the electorate. Peña Nieto hails from the old guard Party of the Institutional Revolution (PRI) which ruled the country for 71 years and represents the worst of Mexico's authoritarian past. By cozying up to this new face of reaction in the region, Obama sends a clear message that his Latin America policy will be equally as shortsighted in his second term as it was during his first. It also estranges the millions of Latino voters who were forced to leave Mexico because of the gross economic mismanagement and authoritarian politics of Peña Nieto's predecessors from the PRI.
The July 1st, 2012 Mexican presidential election was a far cry from normal democratic politics.Independent civil society groups reported that at least 28% of the voters were illegally pressured to vote for a particular candidate, 71% of those for Peña Nieto, and the secret ballot was violated in over 20% of the voting booths. The day after the election, mobs of people inundated local supermarkets to cash in on the rebate cards they had been given in exchange for their votes.Television news coverage has for years been strongly biased towards Peña Nieto. Hugo Chávez most definitely received far more criticism from the local media during his most recent presidential campaign than did Peña Nieto during his.
Peña Nieto and the PRI are under investigation by the authorities for possible gross violations of Mexico's strict campaign spending limits. They triangulated enormous amounts of cash to their political operatives by using debit cards issued by little known financial institutions. There is widespread suspicion that a significant portion of these resources were funneled off from government budgets and may have even come from money-laundering operations. Official observers from the European Union have condemned the Mexican electoral authorities for their insufficient efforts to prevent fraud and assure a level playing field. Mexico's Chamber of Deputies has just opened up a special inquiry into the possible use of illegal funds for Peña Nieto's campaign.
Nobody has taken to the streets to celebrate Peña Nieto´s victory or the return of the PRI to the presidency. To the contrary, immediately after the election, tens of thousands of youth protested throughout the country demanding the election be annulled due to overspending, media bias and favoritism from electoral authorities. This December 1st, Peña Nieto will be greeted at his inauguration by thousands of angry protesters...


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[With Jason Bourne set to open this weekend, we'll be taking a look back at the original Bourne trilogy. These reviews will contain spoilers since the movies have been out for years. Click here for my review of The Bourne Identity.]
The identity of the Bourne franchise begins in the third act of The Bourne Identity. It's when the character's strengths and weaknesses begin to arise, and The Bourne Supremacy director Paul Greengrass took note of where not only the character was going, but where America was going. The Bourne Identity came out in June 2002, and the sense of our country's post-9/11 world was still hazy. By the time The Bourne Supremacy arrived on July 23, 2004, the reverberations were clear. We had been led into a war based on faulty intelligence that was cherry-picked so that we could attack a country that had nothing to do with 9/11. Greengrass wasn't obligated to insert the subtext into his spy thriller, but he was savvy enough to leave the political commentary simmering underneath an intense action flick that not only boosted Matt Damon's credibility as a kick-ass hero, but found a way to use hand-held cinematography to its full effect rather than a lazy shortcut.
Treadstone is dead, but its memory still haunts Jason Bourne (Damon). He's living happily with Marie (Franka Potente) in India, but he still can't piece together his past. The two have learned how to live on the run, but his past is inescapable. Half a world away in Berlin, CIA Deputy Director Pamela Landy (Joan Allen) is running an operation to uncover a mole, but the op is sabotaged when a mysterious assassin, Kirill (Karl Urban), kills Landy's operatives in the building, and leaves a fingerprint to frame Bourne. He then makes his way to India where he attempts to assassinate Bourne, but accidentally kills Marie instead. Thinking Bourne is dead, Kirill makes his way back to Europe, but a very-alive and very-pissed-off Bourne goes on the hunt thinking that Treadstone is responsible for Marie's death.
There's a lot of confusion at the outset of The Bourne Supremacy. Part is due to the multiple mysteries in the narrative. We want to understand Bourne's fractured memory of a hit in Berlin, and we want to understand why Russian oil oligarch Yuri Gretkov (Karel Roden) wants to sabotage Landy's operation and kill Bourne. In one of the film's few weaknesses, a pat resolution reveals that Landy's original operation ties into Bourne's search to understand his past. However, rather than simply retread the Bourne-discovers-his-past yarn of Identity, Supremacy has the two investigations colliding towards each other. Landy's investigation is charging at Bourne thinking he's responsible for the hit on Landy's people, and Bourne's operation is charging at the CIA thinking that they're responsible for Marie's death. It turns out the man behind both plots is CIA Deputy Director Abbott (Brian Cox). He sees an opportunity to finish cleaning up Conklin's (Chris Cooper) mess from the first movie, and a way to cover up his illicit deal with Yuri.
The movie is filled with people pursing bad intelligence, which has been created by an opportunistic government higher-up. That's not to say that this is a nutso parable that's implying the government caused 9/11. Rather, it's about the government creating a false target for its own benefit. It's about the power of lies, which was becoming exceedingly clear in the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq. Abbott, the government surrogate, is a character who consistently sacrifices others for his own protection. He attempts to use Bourne as a fall guy since Bourne doesn't register as a real person to Abbott. "They'd be chasing a ghost," he reveals to Landy. Abbott also kills his hapless assistant Danny Zorn (Gabriel Mann), who stumbles upon his boss' scheme. Everyone is expendable, and when Abbott is finally exposed, he chooses to commit suicide rather than face the consequences.
However, there's a similarity between Abbott and Bourne in that neither can face their past. Abbott eventually takes the easy way out rather than own up to his crimes. Even before he blows his brains out, he claims he's a patriot (this despite siphoning off $20 million from the government and then splitting it with Yuri). Bourne, on the other hand, is forced to finally confront what happened in Berlin on his first and off-the-books mission for Conklin. Bourne eventually remembers that he was sent to kill Russian politician Vladimir Neski (Jevgeni Sitochin), who was going to expose Yuri and Abbott's scheme. In a way, Bourne is responsible for Landy's troubles by killing the case's first informant (Landy's operation was meant to find a second informant).
Identity was going to let Bourne off the hook. Granted, the character came to terms with no longer being Conklin's weapon, but screenwriter Tony Gilroy and Greengrass seized on the fact that the mission to kill Wombosi was Bourne's last mission for Treadstone, not his first. Supremacy forces Bourne out of a happy, reconciliation-free ending. Bourne isn't allowed to live in happy ignorance; he has to confront his past sins in order to move forward. The film has a powerful emotional climax when Bourne sits down with Neski's daughter, Irina (Oksana Akinshina) and reveals that he was the one who killed her parents. It's a small measure of solace to a young girl who had always believed her mother killed her father before killing herself. It's a scene that shows the immeasurable value of truth.
These are heavy thematic issues, but the film never feels preachy or pedantic because Greengrass wraps The Bourne Supremacy in an intense action flick. The shaky-cam style has become a gigantic crutch among action directors (ironically, Bourne Identity director Doug Liman would attempt to use the style for the drama Fair Game; it ended up detracting wildly the movie), but Greengrass provides a master class in making it work. It's not simply a matter of getting up close and personal with the action. It's a delicate combination of understanding the distance between the camera and the action, careful editing to capture the best angle, keeping the pacing in time with the action rather than overshadowing it, and letting the score support the overall scene. Greengrass pulls it off brilliantly with the help of cinematographer Oliver Wood, editors Christopher Rouse and Rick Pearson, and composer John Powell.
It's worth pointing out that both Wood and Powell worked on Identity, but Greengrass gives his cinematographer and composer more time to shine. Wood never lets the camera get so shaky that we're simply watching a blur of punches and car crashes. Powell is a standout because he gets to put more of a stamp on the movie. Supremacy gives the franchise its own score and rhythm, and his music is a crucial piece of the action scenes. Whereas Liman was content to set his car chase to a Paul Oakenfold song, Powell compliments Greengrass' unforgettable climactic car chase with a powerhouse track.
Greengrass plays the shaky-cam style not to imitate a sense of action, but so that the cinematography matches the brutality of the set pieces. Before you can stop and think about how Bourne found former Treadstone operative Jarda (Marton Csokas), the two are having a no-holds-barred fistfight, which highlights not only Bourne's physical ability, but his resourcefulness. Up until this movie, 99% of the world's population believed you couldn't use a rolled-up magazine as a dangerous weapon.
The movie does a tremendous balancing act when it comes to understanding the limits of Bourne's abilities. The movie gives Bourne scenes where he's completely in control of the situation and gets to be a total badass (most notably, his carefully orchestrated kidnapping of Nikki (Julia Stiles)) but also when he's frantically on the run. Greengrass understands that if Bourne is all-powerful, then there's no danger, but if he's constantly under attack, then we'll seriously doubt his abilities. This amazing blend comes together in the movie's final car chase where Bourne has serious maneuvering skills, but he's frantically trying to get away from both the cops and Kirill. Bourne may be able to swerve in and around most cars, but when he gets broadsided by another vehicle, we feel it.
The Bourne Supermacy isn't without a few problems. As I said earlier, the coincidence between Bourne's flashbacks and Landy's investigation is a major coincidence. The movie also glazes over how characters are able to find each other, like Bourne tracking down Jarda. But these register as minor blips on an action movie that goes above and beyond what audiences expect from a summer spy thriller. Greengrass created a film that captured the zeitgeist, but doesn't feel dated because thrilling action scenes are evergreen. The movie also ends on an uplifting, and more honest note than Identity's pat conclusion. Bourne, having confessed his sins and provided the truth to Neski's daughter, is in turn given a bit of truth about himself. Landy tells him his name is David Webb, and while it's not much, it says that Jason Bourne wasn't always Jason Bourne, and he doesn't have to be Jason Bourne for the rest of his life. Thankfully, we got to see him be Bourne a little longer with the franchise's best installment (to date), The Bourne Ultimatum.
Rating: B+