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Frasier star Kelsey Grammer his new girlfriend, British flight attendant Kayte Walsh, 29, are expecting their first child together and his 5th child. "Kayte and Kelsey are happy to confirm what Kayte's father told the London Daily Mail is true," Grammer's publicist confirms with People magazine. The pregnancy news comes one month after Grammer's wife of 13 years, Camille Donatacci, filed for divorce. His kids include Kelsey's marriage to Camille is mom to his kids Mason, 8, and son Jude, 5 he also has a daughter Spencer, 26, and Greer Kandace, 18, from previous relationships.
Kelsey Grammer and his new girlfriend expecting a baby
Posted by Alisa on Friday, August 13, 2010 / Comments: (0)
How I met your mother star Alyson Hannigan was spotted on the set of How I Met Your Mother with hubby Alexis Denisof and their 16 ½-month-old daughter, Satyana yesterday (August 12).
Former CSI:Miami star Eddie Cibrian his two adorable sons, Mason, 7, and Jake, 3 to visit girlfriend LeAnn Rimes before she took the stage at a fair in Orange County, CA yesterday (Aug 12).


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Car Tunes
8-track tape, cassette, MiniDisc, DAT. They all have two things in common. You don't find them in new cars anymore. And, like lots of other technologies that have come and gone, car radios have easily outlasted them. Actually, add CD to that list. Within a few years, that'll be gone. But is AM/FM radio on the endangered species list too?
It seems inconceivable. For starters, it's a dirt-cheap feature to put on the window sticker. But so was cassette. At some point, probably for no other reason than to prove how hip they are, some car makers will probably advertise that they no longer offer radios. And many customers probably won't care.
In a Deloitte survey of car buyers aged 19 to 31, 59% said that in-car connectivity is the most important aspect of a car's interior. And 72% wanted to use smartphone apps in the car. These buyers don't care about AM/FM; they are tuned into customized streams such as Pandora. Pandora has deals with most car makers and not far behind are streaming rivals such as Slacker, Stitcher, and TuneIn.
Clearly, new cars will offer streaming music services; the question is whether they piggyback into onto your smartphone, using it for communication, or whether they develop proprietary vehicle hotspots. The former makes sense; why reinvent the wheel when everyone already has one (a smartphone, not a wheel) in their pocket. But the latter is appealing to car makers because it allows ways to distinguish one system over another and lets them bundle infotainment into their highly profitable in-dash GPS systems. We're already seeing diverse solutions, and that will continue until someone finally gets it right, and everyone else copies it.
The other issue still up in the air is driver distraction. Car makers certainly aren't getting any guidance from the divine powers in Washington DC. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood recently cancelled the 3rd annual Distracted Driving Summit and – unbelievably, in my opinion – said that hands-free calling "isn't a big problem in America" and called for more study. Seeing that as a green light, car makers are quickly inventing the "Connected Car." Consider – I kid you not - a 17-inch touchscreen display with four USB ports and Internet access coming to your teenage daughter's next car. Radio? Are you serious? She'll be so busy updating her Facebook page that she won't have time to listen to radio.
A final comment: talking on a cellphone while driving increases your crash or near-crash risk by 1.3 times; physically dialing increases risk by 2.8 times; texting increases risk by 20 times. Odds to consider while you're hurtling down the road.
So, happy motoring, and keep the shiny side up. And hopefully, your 20-inch wheels off of my ribcage.

subset: commoncrawl


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I've been having nightmares for the past few days. I don't have many nightmares, generally, so these are really standing out to me in a scary, disturbing way. I have a lot of silly, wacky, surreal dreams usually, or dreams that don't make sense, or an very rare sex dream (very very rare) about having sex with someone I am not even remotely attracted to. In the sex dreams I'm always extremely skinny, and extremely HOT. That's how I know they aren't real.
But I digress.
For the past week, with regularity, I'm dreaming about dead babies.
Not my babies - no fears, I'm not about to snap and do something rash.
I'm having two distinct dreams, the second of which has lots of themes and variations but I always know it's the same dream.
In the first dream, I'm standing on a dock. A few hundred yards away from me is a big flat pontoon with several helicopters parked on it. I know, somehow, that this is a helicopter landing pad - a floating one. I'm waiting on a helicopter to come and get me. While I'm waiting I'm trying to figure out how you get to the pontoon over there? Do we have to swim? Then my helicopter comes flying in. It's full of toddlers. And as it lands it just misses the pontoon and plunges into the ocean. I'm leaping into the water - the blades have slowed remarkably because of the water -in my dream I knew this would happen, and I swim inside and get two toddlers and bring them up to the surface, where I hand them to someone on the pontoon. I'm screaming that I need more help. There are more of them, there's still air inside, someone please help me. It's sinking. And no one will move. I go back and bring up two more. And two more. And then I can't find any more alive so I start bringing them up dead and screaming for CPR. I bring the last of them up and I'm screaming in this dream but it isn't loud. I'm just pleading for someone else to help me with CPR, I can't do all of these toddlers myself. I need someone to do chest compressions. I keep crying that I can't keep this up, I can't do this. There are too many of them and they're doing to stay dead if someone doesn't help me.
And then I wake up.
The other dream I am having involves the baby that died between me and my brother Matt. In this dream I've gone to the cemetary just to look at the burial places of my loved ones and they've messed up the baby row. If you haven't ever seen it - most cemetaries have a special area for babies and children to be buried. It's possibly the saddest place you'll ever see, so be happy you haven't been there, or ever had to be there. I used to drive through the cemetary once in a while, just to say hello, pay respects to my dead, make sure all was as it should be, and to check that the baby's marker was where it was supposed to be. Her marker is metal, and unfortunately moveable. I've been known to put it back where it goes, although I haven't been back for years now, so who knows where it is.
But in my dream, they've put a snack bar right in the middle of the row where the babies are buried. And although her marker is there, I can't tell where it goes anymore because they destroyed the concrete wall that was all along the baby wall. My dad notched it with his keys the day we buried her, and showed me, so that we would always be able to tell if her marker was in the right place. In this dream, after discovering the snack bar (and purchasing a coke, because who am I NOT to support the baby cemetary snack bar) I spend the rest of my time trying to determine where my sister is buried now. The entire dream is like that, me talking to people who don't understand why I care and what does it matter - it's been 30+ years so they don't understand why it would matter to me.
In my dream I don't know why, I just always felt like (and this is true in real life) that my dad showed me the notch in the concrete for a reason. So that someone would know. And now no one knew. In my dream it's more about her being lost than dead. Which, at least in my dream, is worse.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
The Nightmares of a Mother
3 comments:
- Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah said...
Have you recently started taking any new medications? They can make you have crazy dreams like this.
- Wed Dec 20, 09:09:00 AM
- April Brandon said...
I have had dreams similar to that. It's incredibly frightening. I hope that you figure out the cause soon.
- Thu Dec 21, 11:12:00 AM
- Elizabeth said...
Oh honey, that sounds awful. I'm so sorry.
- Sat Dec 23, 10:15:00 PM


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Executive Director
Associate Executive Director
Law Enforcement
Medical Services
Shelter Operations
Our Mission is to protect and advocate for all animals. We are dedicated to enforcing animal cruelty laws; providing a safe haven for homeless, abused and abandoned animals while they await adoption; reducing over-population through spay/neutering; and cultivating their humane treatment through education and advocacy services as a valuable community resource.
Our Vision is to be established firmly with our own unique identity throughout New Jersey and the animal welfare community as a leader in all things related to animals in Monmouth County and the people who care for them. We will be responsible for ensuring that all animal abuse is prosecuted and will increase our support of campaigning for the rights of animals in New Jersey. We will be a strong partner with other animal welfare organizations throughout the state in order to develop and share best practices, and to work together to make New Jersey a place where every animal is treated with respect, kindness and love.


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Filters: Author is Ponte, R. [Clear All Filters]
Decadal Trends in Sea Level Patterns: 1993-2004." Journal of Climate 20, no. 24 (2007): 5889. Abstract"
Self-attraction and loading effects on ocean mass redistribution at monthly and longer time scales." Journal of Geophysical Research 116, no. C8 (2011). Abstract"
The mean seasonal cycle in sea level estimated from a data-constrained general circulation model." Journal of Geophysical Research (Oceans) 113 (2008): 03032. Abstract"
Low-frequency variability in coastal sea level from tide gauges and altimetry." Journal of Geophysical Research 116, no. C7 (2011). Abstract"
Annual cycle in coastal sea level from tide gauges and altimetry." Journal of Geophysical Research (Oceans) 115 (2010): 04021. Abstract"
Impact of self-attraction and loading on the annual cycle in sea level." Journal of Geophysical Research 115, no. C7 (2010): 07004. Abstract"
Barometric tides from ECMWF operational analyses." Annales Geophysicae 21, no. 8 (2003): 1897-1910. Abstract"
Uncertainty in ocean mass trends from GRACE." Geophysical Journal International 181, no. 2 (2010): 762. Abstract"
Uncertainties in ECMWF Surface Pressure Fields over the Ocean in Relation to Sea Level Analysis and Modeling." Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology 20 (2003): 301. Abstract"
Effects of Unresolved High-Frequency Signals in Altimeter Records Inferred from Tide Gauge Data." Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology 19 (2002): 534-539. Abstract"
Atmospheric pressure corrections in geodesy and oceanography: A strategy for handling air tides." Geophysical Research Letters 29 (2002): 2153. Abstract"
An assessment of deep steric height variability over the global ocean." Geophysical Research Letters 39, no. 4 (2012). Abstract"
Satellite-derived interannual ocean bottom pressure variability and its relation to sea level." Geophysical Research Letters (2013): n/a - n/a. Abstract"
Buoyancy-driven interannual sea level changes in the southeast tropical Pacific." Geophysical Research Letters 39, no. 5 (2012). Abstract"
Mechanisms of interannual steric sea level variability." Geophysical Research Letters 38, no. 15 (2011). Abstract"


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Seibertron.com - The Ultimate Transformers Fansite
jazzrules wrote:This sounds like a really cool project. Is that First Aid or is it someone else, and will the story include more Autobots than in the pic?
wordmongerer wrote:jazzrules wrote:This sounds like a really cool project. Is that First Aid or is it someone else, and will the story include more Autobots than in the pic?
It is First Aid and there are more autobots than the ones to be revealed in this pic...
Psychout wrote:To deliberately leave your allies and friends outnumbered and out-gunned in missions for personal gain in the arena is cowardice, end of.
jazzrules wrote:Coolio - I can't wait for this - The New Year can't come soon enough
i_amtrunks wrote:Front Paged and Credited.
Count my curiosity as piqued.
Jazzz wrote:Protectobots?
1337W422102 wrote:Give 'em hell Defensor!
Richter wrote:1337W422102 wrote:Give 'em hell Defensor!
Sadly there is no appearance of that gestault in this story.
Duke of Luns wrote:Thought that's what it was, as it was mentioned in the Newsrama interview.
It'll be great I have a feeling .
Burn wrote:ahhhh full length tales of non-major characters.
I like the idea ...
jazzrules wrote:I'm gonna say that Superion is the gestalt we'll be seeing
MisterNewUzer wrote:I'm casting a vote for Powerglide, anybody with me on that? Only cuz the guy next to First-Aid looks to have a conehead
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April 11–14 • Second Annual Seneca Allegany Casino RV Show
SALAMANCA – With spring weather finally here in Western New York and Northwest Pennsylvania, people are beginning to think road trips and entertainment. Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel will offer the best of both worlds from April 11–14 with the Second Annual Seneca Allegany Casino RV Show. The show is presented by Colton RV, "New York's Premier RV Dealer."
The free event takes places indoors and outdoors at Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel in Salamanca, N.Y., located at exit 20 off Interstate 86 and just minutes from U.S. Route 219. More than 150 RVs in all shapes and sizes will be available for purchase at discounted prices and low interest rates. Show hours will be 1–9 p.m. on Thursday, April 11; 10 a.m.–9 p.m. on Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13; and 10 a.m. –5 p.m. on Sunday, April 14.
An E-Z Up tent comes free with any RV purchase. RV brands are available from a variety of manufacturers including Coachmen, Keystone RV Company, KZ Recreational Vehicles, Prime Time Manufacturing, Tiffin Motorhomes, Winnebago Industries and more. Parts and accessories will also be on sale at the show.
The Seneca Allegany Casino RV Show also features RV towing seminars on Saturday, April 13 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to educate show-goers about hitch equipment and setups for safe towing of RVs. Seminar attendees can register to win a weight-distribution hitch. In addition, all show attendees can register to win an iPad™.
Before and after the show, guests can enjoy 2,000 slot machines, 33 table games, seven dining locations and live entertainment inside Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel. For more information, please contact the Seneca Allegany Casino RV Show hotline at 1-888-491-3388 or visit www.alleganyrvshow.com.


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Forbes, Martini Media Strike Unconventional Ad Deal
Business site's editorial content will appear in blue-chip ads
Advertising Week has come and gone, and while we're arguably no closer to cracking the code on digital advertising, Forbes and Martini Media are tacitly voting in favor of content-branded digital ads.
In a deal that's unconventional even for the likes of Forbes, the business news brand reached a deal with digital ad company Martini Media to integrate the magazine's staff-written editorial content into ads for blue-chip advertisers. And while there are plenty of native ad units that combine branded editorial content with the advertiser's own material, what's notable about these units is that they're running outside of the Forbes ecosystem.
"The most success I've seen is with integrated sponsorships with an editorial and advertising blend," Martini Media chief revenue officer Tom O'Regan explained. "There's way more engagement when content aligns with brand message. We felt it was something that Martini needed more of."
The ads will let the marketer surround their own rich media with Forbes articles that are specific to the brand's message. For example, one launch client, Emirates Airlines, will include in its ad travel and thought leader-related articles from Forbes that are aimed at high-income executives. When the Forbes link is clicked, the ad unit will redirect to Forbes' site, where the sponsor's ad content will surround the article.
Advertisers will be able to choose from any Forbes staff-written content, and their bylines and photos may appear in the ad as well. The ads will then run as IAB Rising Star portrait units across Forbes' and Martini's publishing networks, which includes such sites as Salon, LexisNexis and Kayak.
It's not uncommon for a publisher to seek wider distribution of its content; what's unusual about this deal is that the content is being distributed outside the publisher's own site. It's a bold move, even for a publisher like Forbes, which radically broke with church-state convention in 2010 when it let advertisers publish alongside staffers in an overhaul of its print and Web products. While the marketers' posts carry a BrandVoice logo, they, by design, look just like the editorial-produced content.
In this newest program, O'Regan said the Forbes content would be editorial-driven and not created for the advertiser. Still, some writers may have mixed feelings about their articles appearing in an ad, even if the result is more pageviews. Forbes clarified in an emailed statement noting that, "Forbes is simply including the content in the ads with links back to the original article. Since all of Forbes' content is transparently labeled, showing whether the writer is a staffer or contributor that will be made very clear to the user. Martini—in partnership with its clients—will be selecting the articles."
O'Regan noted that the 300 x 1050 rich portrait units will only use Forbes staff content, not material from Forbes' thousands of freelance contributors and BrandVoice partners. In addition to Emirates, Martini has ads scheduled to launch this week with the luxury auto company Bentley Motors.
Martini and Forbes are hoping that packaging financial and travel content from the well-known business magazine will help cure banner blindness. O'Regan said ads containing custom content get interaction rates and four times higher engagement rates than ads containing rich media or banners. Time will tell what the return on the ad is when the content comes from an established editorial voice.


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Now showing items 1-2 of 2
Assessing medical students' attitudes towards learning communication skills – which components of attitudes do we measure?
(BioMed Central, 2007-03-30)
Background. The Communication Skills Attitudes Scale (CSAS) created by Rees, Sheard and Davies and published in 2002 has been a widely used instrument for measuring medical students' attitudes towards learning communication ...
Curriculum factors influencing knowledge of communication skills among medical students
(BioMed Central, 2007-10-10)
Background: Communication training builds on the assumption that understanding of the concepts related to professional communication facilitates the training. We know little about whether students' knowledge of clinical ...


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Thousand-year-old Spanish pilgrimage upstages Hollywood stars at academic colloquium
An academic colloquium is not usually where one would expect to see Hollywood stars, but the Camino de Santiago is said to have caused greater miracles to happen.
The thousand-year-old Spanish pilgrimage is the setting for The Way, a new film written and directed by Emilio Estevez and starring Martin Sheen. Thanks to the efforts of William & Mary Professor George Greenia, the two Hollywood stars screened their film in February at Georgetown University, kicking off the Workshop on Pilgrimage Studies, co-hosted by William & Mary and Georgetown's department of Spanish and Portuguese.
"The historic trek to that World Heritage Site is a unique example of a universal urge to leave home to find yourself," said Greenia, a professor of Hispanic studies. "From the Ganges to Ground Zero to Graceland, we are all pilgrims on the way."
Greenia, who has travelled the 500-mile Camino every year since 2005, said that plans for the pilgrimage workshop were almost complete when organizers learned of the Estevez's film, which had premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and in Spain.
With the assistance of The Washington Post's Ann Hornaday, Greenia connected with Estevez and asked whether the actors would be interested in screening the film at the workshop.
"He graciously said yes," said Greenia, "and a studious academic affair immediately turned into a Washington event."
President Taylor Reveley noted that William & Mary faculty have been teaching on the Camino for nearly two decades and that Greenia has led students on the journey for each of the past six summers.
"Their research projects conducted on the 500-mile trek have spanned a host of disciplines," said Reveley. "As George has described in the brochure tonight, the rhythms of the walking offer a stark contrast to the immediacy of modern travel. Though an individual person takes each step along the Camino, there are many partners in the journey."


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Food Artisans: Pulse
A different New York artisan every week.
Impressed by the texture and nutritional value of her workout buddy's roasted chickpea snack, Linda Kim began experimenting with making her own. Eventually, she started a company, Pulse, to sell them. "I wanted a name that represented a heart healthy snack, she says, "and it just happens to mean beans."
There are three flavors available at the moment, which were developed to complement the chickpeas' natural flavor: lightly salted Original, Balsamic, and Spicy Lemon Zest. A fourth, Chocolate Cayenne, is on the way. Since Kim chose to work with chickpeas in large part because they make a healthful snack, she works hard to flavor them in ways that don't add a lot of sugar or sodium. She explains, "they are high in fiber, a great plant-based source of protein and naturally gluten free. I don't want to compromise the nutritional value for taste and vice versa."
She adds, "To bring sweet flavors that, I rely on ingredients like organic balsamic vinegar and organic coconut sugar that are low on the glycemic load. Chickpeas are low on the glycemic index, so it only makes sense to avoid adding ingredients that would disrupt this health benefit."
Kim works out of an incubator kitchen in the Bronx, roasting 150 pounds of chickpeas a week. Like many small business owners, she wears many hats, doing all production, R&D, sales, demos, and business-related tasks herself, working long days, and getting little sleep. "It's worth it though," she says, "because there's been positive growth on a business and personal level."
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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Rookies Miller, Maurer shine as Mariners top A's
Shortstop's grand slam, five RBIs back right-hander's solid outing
SEATTLE -- Right-hander Brandon Maurer closed out his season with a third straight solid outing and shortstop Brad Miller ripped a pair of home runs as the two rookies helped the Mariners top the playoff-bound A's, 7-5, in the second-to-last game of the year at Safeco Field.
Miller, 23, launched a solo shot in the third and a grand slam in the fifth off Oakland's Jarrod Parker for his third two-homer game of the season. The youngster has hit eight home runs in 75 games and six of those have come in three contests.
Miller became the first Mariner ever to have three multi-home run games in a rookie season and the first Major League rookie to do so since Ryan Braun of the Brewers (three) and Chris Young of the D-backs (five) in 2007.
"I don't know, but I'll take it," Miller said of his penchant for coming through in pairs. "It felt good up there and I'm glad I could drive the ball and drive some runs in."
The five RBIs equaled Miller's season high and give him 36 for the year since taking over as the club's starting shortstop at midseason.
"He swung the bat well for us today," manager Eric Wedge said. "He's up there ready to hit and he's doing a better job of getting on top of that high fastball that he likes. You really need to get your top hand involved with that and he's done a better job of that. It was obviously big for us, especially the way they came back on us."
Maurer, 23, allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings with six hits, one walk and five strikeouts. Maurer, who made the jump from Double-A ball to earn a spot in the season-opening rotation, finished the year 5-8 with a 6.30 ERA.
The rookie from Costa Mesa, Calif., closed out on an uptick with a 2.55 ERA over his last three starts after returning to the rotation from a long-relief stint.
"It felt good," said Maurer. "I got to put everything together here in this last one, working on mound presence and just going out there and trusting my stuff. Early on [in the year] I was going out there trying to throw the best pitch or throw a little harder. I just have to go out and trust what I've got."
Wedge has announced he won't be back next year, but the third-year manager said Maurer took big strides this year and will help the club in 2014.
"I'm so happy for him," Wedge said. "You look at his last three outings and he's been really consistent and really making strides in regard to his composure and handling his emotions out there. And his stuff has played up because of it.
"They're a tough team to play against because they've got you matched up both ways with the platoon situation with their righties and lefties. It's tough to match up against them, but he did a really nice job again today. He really has something solid to take into the offseason."
First baseman Justin Smoak started things off for Seattle with a two-run homer in the second inning, giving him a career-best 20 long balls on the season with 50 RBIs.
The three home runs increased Seattle's season total to 188, tied for second most in the Majors and most by the Mariners since 2000, when they hit 198 in their first full season at Safeco Field.
Parker gave up all three bombs and has allowed 18 home runs on the road this year, tied for third most in the AL.
"He just missed in the middle of the plate with some pitches, and when he did, they didn't miss them," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "Miller was hunting the heater. If [Parker] makes his pitch, maybe it's off the barrel. But he throws it down the middle and he gets him."
Oakland cut the margin to 7-5 in the seventh with back-to-back jacks by Brandon Moss and Alberto Callaspo off reliever Chance Ruffin. Moss's two-run line drive over the right-field fence was his 30th of the year.
Yoervis Medina loaded the bases in the top of the eighth, but he got out of that jam by striking out Jed Lowrie looking at a nasty curve before Danny Farquhar came on for his 16th save with a perfect ninth.
Mariners rookie second baseman Nick Franklin was 2-for-3 with a double, though he got thrown out trying to stretch that to a triple just before Miller let loose with his solo bomb in the third.
Parker fell to 12-8 on the season as he lasted just 4 1/3 innings for an A's team that has already clinched the American League West with a 95-66 record going into Sunday's finale. The Mariners have won four of their last six to stand at 71-90, including an 11-7 record against the A's.
Miller, who had two hits to raise his average to .262, said the Mariners are just trying to finish strong and take some momentum into next year.
"There are still games to be played. There's one more tomorrow," Miller said. "We're learning, but that's part of being a professional. Just going and getting your work done and going out there and trying to win every day. We're playing a really good team, a playoff team, and we want to set the tone."


text: Take Control of Your Comfort Room by Room with Zoning Systems We all have a unique idea of what comfortable is when it comes to temperature, and when one person gets hot it's almost a sure thing that another will get cold. So why not make everyone happy? All you need is a temperature zoning system from Lennox and you can set different room temperatures so that everyone is in their most comfortable place. Whether your home has large windows or consistently has a top floor that is warmer than the lower floors, a temperature zoning system is ideal and will help take care of all your comfort needs. Here are a few other circumstances where a temperature zoning system might be the answer: House level that's completely or partially under ground Rooms you hardly use Muggy rooms A room that was added since your heating and cooling system was put in High heating and cooling costs iHarmony® Zoning SystemPerfect comfort has never been easier to reach than it is with the iHarmony® Zoning System. Not only can you change the temperature for the entire house, you can hone in on specific areas with only a couple inputs. Oh, you can also change it from your phone so you don't have to get up from your chair. Achieving comfort year-round is now literally at your fingertips with the iHarmony® Zoning System, so why not take advantage of everything it has to offer? Features include: Four-zone capability, allowing rooms to be set to a custom temperature Wireless access offering full control over your home's temperature from your smartphone, tablet or laptop Product Brochure Contact Us to Learn More Harmony III™ Zoning SystemDetermining balance in your home as it applies to heating and cooling can be a bit difficult, but with the Harmony III™ Zoning System it just got a little easier. Through directing airflow to specified areas only, you can control your home's temperature with ease. It is truly ultimate comfort control. And with the money you can save by only heating and cooling necessary rooms, maybe you can go buy that toy you've been eyeing. Perks include: Outstanding efficiency that might reduce your heating and cooling bills when you use it with variable speed heating and cooling equipment from Lennox Four-area zoning allows you to take-on hot and cold spots Easy integration gives youan almost seamless transition to an unexperienced level of comfort and savings Product Brochure Contact Us to Learn More LZP-4 Zoning System When you talk about flexibility and heating and cooling, great power comes along with it. In this case, the LZP-4 Zoning System offers maximized comfort along with it as you are able to regain control of those areas that never seem to stay the correct temperature. The zoning system also has a time delay feature so you can make sure your system isn't always turning on and off, wasting energy. Benefits include: Excellent energy efficiency— may lower your energy costs alongside a programmable thermostat Four-area zoning helps make hot and cold spots stay away for good Easy integration with your standard heating and cooling systems so that you can use the precise comfort that comes with the LZP-4 Zoning System Product Brochure Contact Us to Learn More LZP-2 Zoning SystemSimply separate your home into two separate climate-controlled zones when you install the LZP-2 Zoning System. When you need a simple solution to improve your comfort without spending a fortune, this system is the best choice for you. Created to operate with standard, single-speed systems, the LZP-2 Zoning System allows you to truly get the most for your money, which you may be seeing more of when your energy bill comes every month. The system features: Outstanding energy efficiency— may lessen your energy costs when you use it alongside a programmable thermostat Two-area zoning lets you meet your comfort needs in one zone, without altering the other Easy integration with standard, single-speed heating and cooling systems so you can improve your home's comfort Product Brochure Contact Us to Learn More Zoning systems can seem a little overwhelming and we understand that, so if you need to ask any questions, let us know. The specialists from Mustang Mechanical in Grand Prairie are here for you, so give us a call at 972-445-9504 or schedule an appointment with our online scheduler to find out more.


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'Pen quiets Yanks as Price's effort stands up
Three-run sixth inning sparked by Zobrist, Longoria sufficient
ST. PETERSBURG -- A crowd of 32,862 crammed into Tropicana Field on Saturday night to see the ninth installment of David Price vs. CC Sabathia. Once again, their battle met expectations.
Particularly those of Rays fans.
Seven of the eight times the aces had faced each other, the Rays came away winners. The storyline once again followed that script on Saturday, as the Rays took a 4-2 win over the Yankees.
Tampa Bay (74-53) kept pace with Boston to remain in first place in the American League East by percentage points. The Red Sox defeated the Dodgers, 4-2, on Saturday.
The Rays won for the eighth time in their last 10 games while moving to 21 games over .500 to match their season-high mark. They are now 9-6 against the Yankees this season.
Price gave up two runs in the fifth, issuing a bases-loaded walk to Austin Romine and allowing an RBI groundout to Ichiro Suzuki that scored Vernon Wells. But Price got a much-needed lift from Sean Rodriguez in the sixth, when the Rays' left fielder grabbed Alfonso Soriano's one-out drive at the wall.
"There was nobody on, but that's how stuff gets going," Price said. "Him getting back there, finding the wall, making the jumping catch at the wall, it's big for us."
Soriano's body language indicated that he thought he had just collected his 27th home run. Rays manager Joe Maddon also said he thought the ball was gone.
"I didn't think he hit it that good," Price said. "But when I saw the replay in here and he did his hop, jump and a skip, I figured it was 30 rows deep. ... That's definitely seven rows deep in New York, but it's an out here."
Price liked the play so much that he stepped off the mound to face Rodriguez, then tipped his cap.
Price allowed two runs on five hits in six innings to improve to 8-5 on the season. Since his July 2 return from the disabled list, Price is 7-1 with a 1.97 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 11 starts. He has issued just six walks to the 308 batters he has faced during that period.
"It was big," said Price of the win. "With what Chris Archer was able to do with us getting that first win last night off an extremely tough pitcher in [Hiroki] Kuroda, it's huge for us. We want to continue to win series, and that's what we did tonight."
Sabathia entered the contest with a 4.83 ERA, which was indicative of the struggles he's had this season. Pitching with an extra day of rest on Saturday, Sabathia threw fastballs that seemed to have a little extra giddy-up. That translated to a quality start, just not a victory.
Just when Sabathia appeared ready to tuck away the game after five scoreless frames, the Rays got busy in the sixth.
Sam Fuld singled to open the inning, and Desmond Jennings followed with a walk. Ben Zobrist then doubled to the gap in left-center field to drive home two. Evan Longoria then singled to left-center field to drive home Zobrist with what turned out to be the winning run.
"I just lost my command and tried to nibble," Sabathia said. "I cost us the game. … It's frustrating. Something that I've expressed over the past two years is not being able to hold a lead, and it happened again tonight."
Maddon noted that Sabathia looked "as good as I've seen him in a while."
"His stuff was outstanding. His fastball -- everything. His location, changeup, slider," Maddon said. "David kind of matched it up well. We had the [big] inning finally -- pretty much different once we got him in the stretch. Out of the windup, he was extremely comfortable. But a couple of big knocks there, first and second. Zo puts the ball in the gap. And then Longo had himself a pretty good evening."
Longoria added a solo home run in the eighth, giving him three hits on the evening and 27 home runs for the season while pushing the Rays' lead to 4-2 heading into the ninth.
"I think sometimes you just have to have a couple of good at-bats and feel what it's supposed to feel like before you can actually start doing it on a consistent basis," Longoria said of his recent hot streak. "Just continue to work in the cage. After a couple of good at-bats, they've just started to pile up lately."
Fernando Rodney retired the Yankees in order in the ninth to preserve the win and record his 30th save of the season.
"I'm really pleased with our guys," Maddon said. "You've got to be in the dugout to understand. That game began today, and our guys believed we were going to win that game somehow. Not in a cocky way, just in a very confident way. When you get to that point in the year -- almost September -- and you get that vibe among your group, it's kind of a good thing. We've been there before as a playoff team, and it really smells that way right now."


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William McGrauth 1926-2012
William Jr. McGrauth, son of William Allen and Julia (Lee) McGrauth, was born Dec. 3, 1926 in Emmetsburg. He attended school in Emmetsburg, graduating in 1945 from Emmetsburg High School. During his high school years, Bill worked for the railroad. Following graduation, Bill served in the United States Army.
Bill married Betty Rogers and ten children were born to this union.
On June 16, 1967 Bill was united in marriage to Janis Crow in Sioux Falls, SD. They were blessed with four children.
After returning from the service he was employed by Emmetsburg Municipal Utilities where he worked for 39 and a half years until his retirement. Following his retirement, Bill went back to work part time for EMU locating water lines and utility hook ups. He also enjoyed taking Meals on Wheels to individuals around town.
Bill was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Emmetsburg. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed hunting pheasants and rabbits. During the summers, Bill always had a very large garden.
Bill died Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012, at the V.A. Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD, at the age of 85.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Kathryn Ulrich (Frank); a brother, Archie Stubblefield (Elsie); and a grandson, Steven Crow.
He is survived by his wife, Janis of Emmetsburg; his children, Marsha Crow (Steve) of Anaheim, CA, Rosemary Young (Mark) of Rathdrum, ID, Michael McGrauth (Janice) of Elmo, MT, Sherry Ayala (Robert) of Oro Valley, AZ, Peggy Wilson of Moreno Valley, CA, Kitty Cabellero (Valentine) of Miami, FL, Patty Coolidge of Moreno Valley, CA and Stephen Harold McGrauth of Corona, CA; Kerry McGrauth (Brenda) of La Palma, CA, Kim King (Michael) of Palmer, Mark McGrauth (Julie) of Ruthven, Corey McGrauth (Kristen) of Boone, Terry McGrauth (Christine) of Graettinger, and Keith McGrauth of Emmetsburg; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; and a sister, JoAnn Gjere (Gordon) of St. Paul, MN.
Funeral services were held Monday, Dec. 3, at the First United Methodist Church, with burial in Evergreen Cemetery, Emmetsburg.
Condolences can be left at www.martinmatticefuneralhome.com


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Social Security is committed to the principles and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to improve the lives of our beneficiaries and our employees who have one or more disabilities.
You may not like to think about the possibility of becoming disabled. However, if sometime in the future you find that you're unable to work because you have a disabling condition that's expected to last at least one year or result in death, then the thought will become a reality that you need to address.
When people become disabled under the strict statutory definition Social Security must follow, Social Security helps them meet their basic needs and sustain a higher quality of life. Our disability program provides financial and medical benefits for those who qualify, to pay for doctors' visits, medicines, and treatments. It's important to note that twenty-year-olds have a one in four chance of needing our disability programs before they reach retirement age.
We pay disability benefits through two programs: the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. The SSDI program provides benefits to people who are disabled or blind, and who worked and contributed to the Social Security trust fund as required by the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. The SSI program makes cash assistance payments to people who are aged, blind, and disabled, who have limited income and resources. The SSI program is financed by general tax revenues, not the Social Security trust funds.
Our disability programs continue to be a mainstay in the lives of many people – people just like you. What makes their otherwise similar stories unique is that they live with debilitating conditions that inhibit their ability to work. Social Security disability beneficiaries are among the most severely impaired people in the country.
Our Faces and Facts of Disability webpage highlights the real life stories of people who have disabilities. We invite you to learn the facts about the disability insurance program, and see and hear these stories of hardship and perseverance.


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Colombian Tamales How-2 Guide
December 29, 2006 in chicken, Colombian Food, cooking, How-2, latino, pork
Christmas in Colombia is QUITE a production. Its not just one or two days like here in the US and it can be exhausting if you are not used to partying constantly for a better part of some 15 days, day and night after day and night. If you think you will be spending Christmas in Colombia next year be sure to condition your liver with a serious regimen of rum training over several months. Otherwise, you will be such a light-weight that you will not remember past December 15th or so.
One of my most enduring memories from Colombian Christmases would have to be eating tamales at midnight on Christmas Eve. Even though I now live way the h*ll north of the beautiful equatorial paradise that is Colombia and far from my mom, I set out to make my own tamales this year (first time for me). I have put together a few pictures of the assembly process to help you with the how-to. Since I was shooting in the kitchen with low crappy lighting and also taking care of three kids and dealing with a delivery man, all at once, my shots are not the best here and not in great focus. I apologize for that ahead of time!
This is best done surrounded by all of your favorite relatives (preferably mamas, abuelitas, and tias who know how to do this and who have all sorts of stories to tell) so that you have help and make it all go by quickly. I had just myself!
- 20 chicken thighs, skinned and defatted (save this. Can be rendered to crisps and schmaltz for other recipes).
- 20 pork ribs about the length of your finger with a good amount of meat on them. You'll probably have to buy them as a rack and chop them up yourself. (If you don't want pork ribs, use 20 chicken legs)
- 3 bunches of green onions, finely chopped
- 6 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 heaping tsps of ground cominos
- 1 tsp of salt
- Pinch of ground annatto seeds
- 5 large ripe tomatoes, chopped
- 2 bunches of green onions, finely chopped
- 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon of ground cominos
- Pinch of ground annatto seeds
- 1/2 cup of packed, chopped cilantro
- 1/4 cup of olive oil
- salt to taste
4 C "La Venezolana" or "ArepaHarina" precocida (extremely fine precooked corn meal – you simply can not use any substitutes here, find this ingredient)
- 5 large carrots, peeled and 1/4″ sliced
- 2 cups of frozen green peas
- 5 large red potatoes, scrubbed, 1/4″ sliced (put in water to prevent discoloration)
- 8 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and 1/4″ sliced
Package of thawed/frozen banana "platano" leaves (latino food store), cut into 12 inch square pieces and rinsed in VERY hot tap water.
Clean string or cord used for tying meat roasts.
Aluminum foil
A very large crab or lobster steamer with a bottom rack and lid. Fill with salted water about 3 " above the bottom rack.
Pique Sauce:
- 6 cleaned green onions
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup of minced cilantro
- 1 tsp of ground comino
- 1/8 cup of sugar
- 1/2 cup of white vinegar
- salt to taste
Two or three days before:
Put the chicken and ribs in separate containers. (Or if you are substituting more chicken, you can put all the meat in one container). Prepare the marinade from the ingredients listed above, divide and put 1/2 on the chicken and the other 1/2 on the ribs. With your hands, work the marinade into the meats. Cover and refrigerate until the next day.
Saute the listed "hogao" ingredients in the olive oil until wilted, set aside.
Preparation of the "Masa":
Corn dough or "masa". Put 4 cups of "La Venezolana" or "ArepaHarina" in a large bowl or container. Slowly add 5 cups of lukewarm (not hot) water or chicken broth. You'll probably have to use your hands to mix well. Most likely, you will need to add more water to get the "masa" to the consistency of cooked oatmeal or grits. This dough does not have the stiff consistency of "empanada" dough.
Assembly and cooking of the Tamales:
Place about a cup of the dough in the center of the banana leaf. Place one rib and one chicken thigh on top. Place about 3 slices each of the carrots, potatoes and egg on the meat. Spoon about 3 tablespoons of "hogao" on top of the vegetables and egg. Then spoon about a 1/2 cup of "masa" on top of all of this and gently spread as much out as you can. Now, fold the edges of the banana leaf over the filling so as to make a package. Do not let any of the filling show. If the leaf splits, just take another smaller piece of leaf and fold it around the package.
Tie up the package/tamale with the string or cord. Believe me, this tying up of the tamales in banana leaves takes practice!! After you have tied up the tamale/package, tear off a 12″ sheet of aluminum foil and wrap it tightly around the tamale. Continue with the other tamales according to the above directions. Stack the tamales all the way to the top in the steamer pot and turn up the heat to high. If your pot does not hold all of them, just refrigerate the rest until you can steam them later, or, borrow another steamer pot. When you hear the water boiling furiously, turn the heat down to medium. Always make sure that the pot is steaming and that there is enough water in it. Cover tightly and steam for at least 3 hours. After that time, remove the top tamale and open it up to make sure that the meat is thoroughly cooked. It should be falling off the bone.
Serve the tamales on a section of banana leaf. (Warn guests not to eat the leaf! A favorite Colombian story is that a Gringo was served a tamale. When he finished it he said,"Boy, was this delicious!! However, the lettuce was kind of tough!!" (har,har).
Some Colombians like to put "pique" on their tamales.
To make pique sauce:
This sauce/relish is similar to "pico de gallo" except it does not include the minced jalapeno. If you want to use jalapeno, you can, but it's not legitimate Colombian. This relish is spooned into a bitten-off empanada or onto arepas, into tamales, etc. Yummmm! Its like a taste of sunshine!
Finely mince the green onions and the garlic. Add the other ingredients and let marinate for at least 2 hours. There should be enough liquid to almost reach the top of the relish. You may have to adjust by adding a little more vinegar.
I made enough to freeze (raw) and will see how they cook up out of the freezer at a later date!
Related Posts:
- How-2 guide on how to make Platanos (fried plantains or tostones)
- Yucas Fritas (Fried Yucas or Cassava Root) Recipe and How 2 photos
- Empanadas – The Recipe
- Flash Flickr Movie of How to make Colombian Empanadas
- Chicharron – Deep fried pork belly – How To
- How to make Colombian Empanadas – directions
- Latest full recipe for Colombian Bunuelos (2006 post)
- Last year's Christmas Bunuelo Decadence
- A Colombian breakfast How-2 guide
- Colombian Frescos
- Lechona preparation
Technorati taggage:
food, Colombia, Colombian, tamal, christmas, navidad, latin, latino, hispanic, tamales.


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Alan Ball's directorial debut "Towelhead" tackles the disturbing topic of a 13-year-old girl's sexual awakening and abuse. The subject matter is unsettling because it involves a child, but the presentation remains uncomfortably erotic, perhaps because Summer Bishil — the actress playing the central character — doesn't look like a child.
Because she wasn't. Bishil was 18 when the movie was filmed, which doubtless made things easier on everyone involved. As an adult, the producers needn't worry about on-set tutors or doting parents and could explore the sexual scenes more starkly.
Although sexual situations involving teens are prevalent in movies and TV, depictions of teenage sexuality are rarely child's play — primarily because actual teenagers seldom play those roles. But do filmmakers push further, even subconsciously, precisely because they've hired older actors? And is Hollywood's exploration of teenage sex skewed by the fact that those fictional teens are really adults, who behave and carry themselves differently than most authentic teenagers would?
In television, this is hardly an academic exercise. Primetime dramas are filled with precocious teens, brought to life by actors in their late teens or 20s. This includes the stars of such series as the CW's "Gossip Girl" and "90210" — who look 15 or 16 in the same way that I look like Brad Pitt.
In Showtime's "Californication," the central character played by David Duchovny has a tryst with a girl he meets in a bookstore. He later discovers she's 16, although the actress playing her (Madeline Zima) is now 22 and looks it. So he slept with a teenager who looked like an adult, who was in fact an adult playing a teenager.
Then there's Ellen Page, who was four years older than her character in each case when she played a pregnant 16-year-old in "Juno" and before that a 14-year-old who turns the tables on a pedophile in "Hard Candy." Apparently, being 5'1″ means never portraying anybody old enough to vote.
Casting age-appropriate performers raises its own issues, such as the controversy over "Hounddog," which caused a stir at the Sundance Film Festival over a rape sequence involving Dakota Fanning, who was 12 at the time.
It's no wonder producers prefer dealing with older actors. For starters, those actors have had longer to hone their craft. Child labor laws also limit the number of hours a minor can work — a buzzsaw CBS ran into last season even with an unscripted program, "Kid Nation." Such restrictions can add time and money to already-stressed scripted budgets.
The Screen Actors Guild — which has more than 5,000 members under 18 — has strict guidelines in place to protect them. In addition to curtailing work time, they include ensuring parental access, along with educational and dressing-room requirements.
"It is not uncommon for producers to cast and employ actors over 18 who can portray minors because, for example, they are not required to conform to the on-set educational provisions that are required for actors under age 18," Pamm Fair, SAG's deputy national executive director, explained via email.
Putting kids into sexual situations also tends to be thorny. Yet writers and directors love telling edgy coming-of-age stories, and networks welcome series featuring school-age characters — hoping to connect with coveted younger demographics.
Granted, employing older actors as teens is hardly new. Anybody who saw "Grease" might recall how the "students" at Rydell High all looked about 30. But because scenarios have become more explicit, the bar on what feels inappropriate (as with every other content taboo) keeps being reset — and appears to be racing ahead faster, seemingly, thanks in part to the actor-character age disparity that frequently exists.
Contemplating this topic brought to mind the early Woody Allen movie "Bananas," where a small country's new dictator rattles off a list of insane proclamations, among them, "All children under 16 years old are now … 16 years old!"
Hey, we get it: Life's simpler when the kids aren't really kids. Still, here's a question for filmmakers before they wade much deeper into this swamp: Would you want your own children participating in such scenes if they were anywhere close to the age of the characters as written? And if the answer's a big fat "no," is it really less offensive — other than making your job easier — if the actors involved can go out afterward and buy their own beer?


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Edward Jay Epstein is the author of several fascinating books on the Kennedy assassination and related intelligence issues. Among these books are Legend: The Secret World of Lee Harvey Oswald and Deception: The Invisible War Between the KGB and the CIA.
Also related to the subject are his ebooks Killing Castro and James Jesus Angleton: Was He Right? as well as his classic 1992 New Yorker article, "Epitaph for Jim Garrison: Romancing the Assassination." Three of his books on the assassination have been collected in The Assassination Chronicles. Ed is also the author, most recently, of the ebook Three Days in May.
When I met up with Ed in New York earlier this month, I asked him if he had read Brian Latell's new book on Castro, Castro's Secrets: The CIA and Cuba's Intelligence Machine. He hadn't at the time, but he has now, and he has forwarded us his take on it. Ed writes:
In 1976 Thomas Mann, who had been the U.S. ambassador to Mexico in 1963, told me that he believed that there was "an indictable case" that Castro had been involved in the Kennedy assassination, but when he continued reporting this view in cables to the State Department, he was fired. Now there is a new book by Brian Latell, the CIA's former national intelligence officer for Latin America, that again raises the question: What did Castro know — and when did he know it — about the Kennedy assassination?
Prior to this book, here is what has been established. On November 22, 1963, there were actually two jackals on the prowl: one in Dallas, Texas, the other in Paris, France.
In Dallas that day, Lee Harvey Oswald, who previously had attempted to assassinate General Edwin Walker, was working under a false name at the Texas Book Depository, which overlooked the route that President John F. Kennedy would take that day. Oswald had arrived at work that morning with a package that, as the FBI lab would later establish, contained his rifle.
Less than two months earlier, Oswald, under his real identity, had gone to the Cuban Embassy in Mexico City and met with Cuban officials. Even though the Cuban government did not then grant visas to individual American citizens who were not sponsored by government organizations, on October 15 his application was processed in Havana. On October 18, the Cuban foreign ministry notified the embassy in Mexico that it could issue Oswald a visa if he also obtained a Russian entry visa, so an exception was made in his case.
The jackal in Paris was Major Rolando Cubela who, as a close associate of Fidel Castro, was allowed to travel abroad for the Cuban government. What Castro supposedly did not know was that Cubela had been recruited by the CIA and given the code name AMLASH. His CIA mission would be to assassinate Castro. During the Collegiate Games in Porto Alegre, Brazil, that took place from September 5-8, 1963, he met with CIA case officer Nestor Sanchez and tentatively agreed to this mission. Although he had asked to meet with Attorney General Robert Kennedy, the best the CIA could do was arrange a meeting in a safe house in Paris on October 29, 1963, with Desmond Fitzgerald, a high-ranking CIA officer, who identified himself as the personal representative of Robert Kennedy.
At this point, the jackal asked Fitzgerald to supply him with a high-powered rifle with telescopic sights that could be used to kill Castro from a distance and to insert an agreed-upon phrase in a speech President Kennedy would give in Miami. The phrase was inserted, thus confirming that the CIA had the backing of the President.
The next meeting took place in Paris on November 22 at the time that JFK's motorcade was moving past the Texas Book Depository. Instead of the requested rifle, the CIA offered Cubela a poison pen with a concealed syringe. In the midst of the meeting, the news arrived that Kennedy had been shot. Cubela returned to Cuba but never carried out the assassination assignment.
The burning issue for the CIA was whether Castro learned about this plot. It knew that Castro had intentionally revealed he knew about CIA support for an operation to eliminate him on September 7, 1963. It also knew that was the very day that the CIA was meeting with its jackal in Brazil.
Even more ominously, Castro chose a diplomatic reception at the Brazilian Embassy, which was Brazilian territory. At the reception, he went directly over to the US correspondent for the Associate Press, Daniel Harker, and told him, in an on-the-record interview, that "United States leaders should think that if they are aiding terrorist plans to eliminate Cuban leaders, they themselves will not be safe."
The timing and Brazilian connection were enough to convince James Jesus Angleton, the CIA's legendary counterintelligence chief, that the Cubela operation was "insecure." He warned Cubela's handlers that the fact that Cubela had refused the CIA request to take a lie detector examination made him suspect and recommended, without success, that the operation be ended.
The question of whether Cubela was a double agent persisted for three decades and was only answered when Miguel Mir, who served in Castro's security office from 1986 to 1992, defected. He told the CIA that he had personally reviewed Cubela's file, and it showed that Cubela was working as a double agent under the control of Cuban intelligence from the time when he allowed himself to be recruited in Brazil.
His real mission was to ascertain whether President Kennedy was behind the CIA plots — hence his request to meet with his brother and have words scripted by Cuban intelligence put in JFK's Miami speech. If so, Castro knew 1) CIA officers in Brazil were recruiting an assassin to kill him 2) the CIA was prepared to deliver an exotic assassination weapon, and 3) the CIA was supported by President Kennedy.
What Castro knew about Lee Harvey Oswald is less clear. During his stay in Mexico City between September 27 and October 2, 1963, Oswald made at least two visits to the Cuban Embassy. To convince the Cubans of his bona fides — and seriousness — he had prepared a 10-page dossier on himself, according to the testimony of his wife, Marina. This resume included photographs he had taken of General Walker's home just prior to Oswald's attempt to assassinate him with a high-powered rifle. So the Cubans could have known that Oswald was a potential assassin with a high-powered rifle.
When the Cuban Consul argued with him over the requisites he would need for a Cuban visa, Oswald reportedly made claims about services he might perform for the Cuban cause. According to the 2009 book Brothers in Arms: The Kennedys, the Castros, and the Politics of Murder, by Gus Russo and Stephen Molton, Oswald then met with at least one Cuban intelligence officer outside the embassy. Whatever was said in or outside the embassy, Oswald's file, presumably containing this information, was sent to Havana in support of his application, which was conditionally granted.
Five months after the assassination, Castro told Jack Childs, a courier for the Communist Party USA, that Oswald had shouted in the Cuban Embassy in Mexico that he was going to kill Kennedy. Unknown to Castro, Childs was working as an informant for the FBI and duly reported his conversation with Castro to US intelligence.
While Castro's statement coincided with what other witnesses in the embassy claimed to have overheard, it was not evidence Castro had prior knowledge. He could have been briefed on Oswald's file after the assassination. But if this threat was in Oswald's file, why was Oswald's visa approved?
Brian Latell now addresses this question in Castro's Secrets: The CIA and Cuba's Intelligence Machine. He reveals that Florentino Aspillaga, who defected from Cuban intelligence in 1987, and whom he interviewed, told the CIA that just hours before Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, he had received an extraordinary order from the high command of Cuban intelligence when he was in charge of the communications unit located near Castro's compound.
Up until then, his unit had focused its antennae on Miami to monitor clandestine radio transmissions from anti-Castro groups. But now he was instructed to redirect all his antennae to Texas and report immediately any transmissions of interest. He assumed from his conversations with his superiors that they had been desperately seeking a transmission from Texas. Latell deduces from this shift that Cuban intelligence had prior knowledge of the Kennedy assassination.
Such a conclusion, however, requires a leap about the purpose of the shift. It is possible that it was not related to Oswald or the Kennedy assassination. Cuban intelligence may merely have been awaiting a burst transmission from an asset in Texas who had no connection with Oswald. But if Castro did have advance knowledge about Oswald, he had little reason to stop him, especially since he also knew by this time that Kennedy's CIA had plans to kill him. Until we have further information about the activities of Cuban intelligence on November 22, 1963, the antennae shift, along with the visa approval, will remain a central part of the mystery.


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The glass back enables easy wireless charging.
Retina HD. All-New Display
A Retina HD display that's more beautiful than ever. With True Tone, a wide color gamut, and 3D Touch.
Now with True Tone
True Tone technology automatically adjusts white balance to match the light around you. For a better viewing experience in all kinds of environments.
Retina HD Display with Brilliant Colors
With a wide color gamut and the best color accuracy in the industry, everything on the screen looks more brilliant and vibrant.
Great View with Wide Viewing Angles
Dual-domain pixels give you a great view of the screen from almost any angle.
The world's most popular camera. Even better.
All-New Sensor
iPhone 8 features a more advanced 12MP camera. With a larger, faster sensor. A new color filter. Deeper pixels. And optical image stabilization for photos and videos.
Digital Zoom
The wide-angle lenses on iPhone 8 enable digital zoom of up to 5x for photos.
A11 Bionic, The most powerful and smartest chip ever in a smartphone
Introducing A11 Bionic. With four efficiency cores that are up to 70 percent faster than A10 Fusion. And two performance cores that are up to 25 percent faster.
Augmented Reality
A11 Bionic powers extraordinary augmented reality apps and games that will change the way you see the world.
Power Efficiency
A second-generation performance controller provides more power when you need it. While delivering the same great battery life.
Introducting Wireless charging for a wireless world
With no charging cable required, iPhone 8 is truly designed for the future of wireless.
A Wireless World, Designed to work everywhere
We wanted people to enjoy the convenience of wireless charging anywhere. So iPhone 8 works with Qi wireless chargers commonly found in hotels, cafes, airports, and cars. Belkin and mophie have also developed two new wireless chargers designed for iPhone 8.
AirPower. Radically simpler wireless charging
The elegant, ultrathin new AirPower mat lets you charge multiple devices wirelessly, without requiring them to be fixed in one spot. Just lay up to three compatible devices - like the latest iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods - anywhere on its surface to charge them simultaneously.
New iOS 11, A giant step for iPhone.
iOS is the most advanced, intuitive, and secure mobile operating system in the world. It's designed to help you get the most out of iPhone.
What's New with iOS 11
Get to apps in Messages with fewer taps. Create bold new Live Photo effects. And discover new music with friends in Apple Music.
Augmented Reality
Experience mind-blowing AR games and apps on the world's largest platform for augmented reality
Apple iPhone 8 12MP 4.7" 4G LTE - 64 GB - Silver
|iPhone 8
|A11 Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture
Neural Engine
Embedded M11 motion coprocessor
|Phone OS
|iOS 11
|Barometer, Three-axis gyro, Accelerometer, Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor, Fingerprint
|Storage Capacity
|Expandable Memory
|Display Size
|Display Type
|Retina HD display
4.7-inch (diagonal) widescreen LCD Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
|Display Resolution
|1334-by-750-pixel resolution at 326 ppi
|Rear Camera
|12 Megapixels
ƒ/1.8 aperture
Digital zoom up to 5x
Optical image stabilization
Six-element lens
Quad-LED True Tone flash with Slow Sync
Panorama (up to 63MP)
Sapphire crystal lens cover
Backside illumination sensor
Hybrid IR filter
Autofocus with Focus Pixels
Tap to focus with Focus Pixels
Live Photos with stabilization
Wide color capture for photos and Live Photos
Improved local tone mapping
Body and face detection
Exposure control
Noise reduction
Auto HDR for photos
Auto image stabilization
Burst mode
Timer mode
Photo geotagging
Image formats captured: HEIF and JPEG
|Front Camera
|7 Megapixels
1080p HD video recording
Retina Flash
ƒ/2.2 aperture
Wide color capture for photos and Live Photos
Auto HDR
Backside illumination sensor
Body and face detection
Auto image stabilization
Burst mode
Exposure control
Timer mode
|Yes, Quad-LED True Tone flash
|Video Recording
|4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
1080p HD video recording at 30 fps or 60 fps
720p HD video recording at 30 fps
Optical image stabilization for video
Quad-LED True Tone flash
Slo-mo video support for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps
Time-lapse video with stabilization
Cinematic video stabilization (1080p and 720p)
Continuous autofocus video
Body and face detection
Noise reduction
Take 8 Megapixels still photos while recording 4K video
Playback zoom
Video geotagging
Video formats recorded: HEVC and H.264
|Battery Type
|Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, Wireless charging (works with Qi chargers), Fast-charge capable
|Battery Life
|Standby Time: Upto 10 days
Internet Browsing / Play: Upto 12 hours on 3G, LTE, 14 hours on Wi-Fi
Talk Time: Upto 14 hours on 3G
|Supported Network Type
|Number of SIM Slot
|Sim Size
|Nano SIM
|Yes, Assisted GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS, iBeacon microlocation
|Other Features
|FaceTime HD Camera , Touch ID , Apple Pay , Siri
|Audio Playback
|Audio Supported Formats
|Audio formats supported: AAC-LC, HE-AAC, HE-AAC v2, Protected AAC, MP3, Linear PCM, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Dolby Digital (AC-3), Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3), and Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+)
|Video Playback
|Video Supported Formats
|Video formats supported: HEVC, H.264, MPEG-4 Part 2, and Motion JPEG
Supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 content
AirPlay Mirroring, photos, and video out to Apple TV (2nd generation or later)
Video mirroring and video out support: Up to 1080p through Lightning Digital AV Adapter and Lightning to VGA Adapter (adapters sold separately)
|Height: 138.4mm
Width: 67.3mm
Depth: 7.3mm
|148 grams
|Keyboard Language
|What Inside The Box
|iPhone with iOS 11, EarPods with Lightning Connector, Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter, Lightning to USB Cable, USB Power Adapter
|1 year warranty for device. 6 months warranty for in-box accessories including batteries. From date of purchase
|Operating System
|iOS 11
|Phone RAM
|Internal Storage
|Display Size
|4.7 inch
|Network / Cellular
|SIM Slot
|Single SIM
|Expandable Memory


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Based on a batch of documents released in the Skyhook/Google lawsuit, it seems that Google's Andy Rubin is not only the boss of Android, but the boss of just about everyone in the Android ecosystem. Freshly unsealed court docs reveal that Google is using Android's "compatibility standards" to bully OEMs into choosing Google products for their smartphones.
Basically, anytime a manufacturer wants Android — or at least, Android with all of its best perks, like the Android Market or Google's ultra slick Gmail client — on its smartphone, the device must adhere to Google's compatibility standard. In an email dated August 6, 2010, Dan Morrill, a manager in the Android group, mentioned that it's pretty obvious to phone manufacturers that "we are using compatibility as a club to make them do things we want."
Obviously, that "club" could be seen as a method of stifling competition, but analysts have mapped out another potential motivation. Since Google's Android OS must function across a variety of devices, and remain compatible with different software made by other companies, the company must protect its technology. "Google has the same problem today that Microsoft had 20 years ago, when Windows started to takeoff in the personal computer market," said David B. Yoffie, a professor at the Harvard Business School. "It needs to maintain the integrity of its technology, and control it."
However, Skyhook Wireless is alleging that Google's control over Android wasn't to protect its operating system, but to put a foot on the neck of its competitor. In April of 2010, Motorola chose Skyhook's location-based services over Google's for a new line of Android phones. The decision was reversed in less than three months. The same story played out with Samsung, too.
Upon news of the Skyhook win with Motorola, an Android product manager Steve Lee offered up a reason for the deal in an email, writing "Skyhook […] is a hungry start up […] actively engaging and selling. Google hasn't prioritized 'selling' it so it is easy to be outsold." As word of the Skyhook/Motorola deal made its way around Google offices, the tech giant knew it needed to find a way to positively spin the loss of business.
"Are there any seeds we can plant with Motorola's P.R. team to that effect?" wrote Google manager Andy Mathis. "Perhaps there is language we can plant with them for a blog post?" Within the same day, an Android communications manager Anthony House forwarded along pieces of Motorola's response, which stated: "Motorola's relationship with Skyhook demonstrates one of the many benefits of working with Google in an open partnership. We remain committed to the Android platform."
About a month later, in May of 2010, Google switched up its strategy with concerns about technical compatibility. Skyhook's location-based services work by combining location data from Wi-Fi hotspots and other sensors to locate the user. Google claimed that this system may bring about data "contamination." Stephen McDonnell, a Motorola manager, responded in an email dated May 25, 2010, writing, "we feel the contamination concern you have is unfounded."
Despite Motorola's resistance, Google won out in the end. In an email dated June 2, 2010, a Motorola executive by the name of Tim Vangoethem wrote to Skyhook personnel, informing them of the latest word from Google on the matter. He relayed that Skyhook's location service on the smartphone "renders the device no longer Android Compatible."
My only question is: if throwing out "Android compatibility" was all it took, why didn't you start with that strategy in the first place, Google?
[via NYTimes]


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I got asked this question:
"Any decent reusable / plug-able Spring user management systems (registration, change pwd, reset etc)?
How do you guys do authz in Spring, including managing those roles in ui?"
My first thought was http://static.springsource.org/spring-security/site/ but I haven't used it in a while and am not sure if it is easy to implement and deploy.
Any good recommendations?


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The NBA released a Brian Scalabrine highlights video today to commemorate the conclusion of his 11-season career. If you don't find yourself grinning like a fool as he sinks catch-and-shoot threes and banks in one layup after another, you are a cold person. And don't miss the moment at 0:51 where he borrows a baseline-drive-and-reverse move from another iconic Chicago Bull. The White Mamba didn't accumulate awards, averaging 3.1 points and 13.0 minutes per game for his career. Still, over the course of more than a decade, that's 1,594 points in the NBA. And this video definitely shows some of them.
More from Deadspin


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Phyllis Borzi, Assistant Secretary of Labor at the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), laid out on Monday EBSA's regulatory agenda for the rest of the year and clarified one area that's caused a "backlash" from retirement planning officials—the department's position on the use of brokerage windows under fee disclosure rule 408(b)2.
While stating that she couldn't predict the timing of EBSA's release of its reproposed rule to amend the definition of fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Borzi restated comments she made to AdvisorOne in a recent interview that Labor will not be releasing a fiduciary rule that mirrors the one being crafted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). "I will not promise anybody there will be a single fiduciary standard," Borzi told attendees at the Society of Professional Asset-Managers and Record Keepers (SPARK) Institute's annual conference in Washington.
However, she added that compliance with EBSA's fiduciary standard "won't put you out of compliance with another [fiduciary] standard" such as the SEC's.
Borzi also said the reproposed fiduciary rule will "make clear what types of investment counseling constitutes advice versus education," and include a more "robust" economic analysis.
'Backlash' on Brokerage Windows
Borzi also noted the "backlash" that EBSA has received from the industry regarding its guidance on use of brokerage windows as part of EBSA's fee disclosure rules 408(b)2 and 404a-5. The industry has complained that the department has ushered in a new requirement involving brokerage windows. But Borzi said during her comments that's just not true.
The department, she said, has noticed an accelerating trend that has occurred due to rule 408(b)2: "There appears to be a notion that the best advice to give employers is if they want to avoid fiduciary duty they should provide an unlimited choice of investment options," Borzi said. "People are advising [their plan sponsor] clients that the way to get around the 404c [participant] disclosure [rule] is to move to a brokerage window" that offers unlimited investment options.
In its recent Field Assistance Bulletin providing guidance to help plan administrators and service providers comply with the requirements of new rules, Borzi said the department was "trying to reiterate that a brokerage account or window is not a designated investment alternative (DIA); that's not groundbreaking." What the department is concerned about, she said, is disclosure.
She said the guidance reiterated another point, "again not new … that a plan fiduciary needs to prudently select and monitor service providers. So once you choose a service provider you can't just walk away."
Added Borzi: "You need to look at what people are actually selecting because you have to tell them what the fees are associated with that. It is entirely possible that many in the industry haven't captured that information. But if you're going to give people these kinds of choices and fulfill your fiduciary duty, you can't just set it and forget it." 408(b)2, which was published on Feb. 3 and becomes effective in July, requires, in part, that certain covered service providers furnish specified information to plan administrators so that they in turn can comply with their disclosure obligations to participants. As plan sponsors "get the information first" about the fees they pay, Borzi said, "there will be some sticker shock." She added that the department is "not naive enough to think" that both fee-disclosure rules will be "smoothly implemented."
Coming Out Soon: Lifetime Income Illustration, Target Date Fund Guidance
As part of its joint effort with the Treasury Department on how to best integrate lifetime income products into 401(k) and other types of employer sponsored retirement plans, Borzi said DOL is "optimistic" that it will soon seek comment on a "lifetime income illustration."
The lifetime income illustration would be contained in the pension benefit statements and could show participants the amount of money they would receive per month—as an annuity defined-benefit like payment, not lump-sum cash-out—at retirement. EBSA is currently considering whether it should show an estimate of the monthly allotment based upon one's current savings balance, or on a projected account total at retirement.
In collaboration with the SEC, Borzi said DOL also hopes to release soon a "simple guide" for fiduciaries on what to look for in a target date fund. "Ordinary people, which includes plan sponsors, don't understand jargon," she said. "We've spent hours trying to get this guidance into a form that people can understand."


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Quinnipiac University: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney runs even with President Barack Obama 45 – 45 percent in Florida, while the president holds a strong 50 – 39 percent lead over former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Today's results compare to a 46 – 43 percent Romney lead over Obama January 11 and a 47 – 40 percent Romney lead September 22.
The big difference between Romney and Gingrich in the November matchup is among independent voters, who support Romney against President Obama more than they back Gingrich against Obama, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum trails Obama 49 – 40 percent while Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul trails the president 47 – 39 percent.
Romney also scores substantially better when non-Republicans are asked whether they see a candidate favorably or not.
"At least in Florida and at least at this point in the campaign, the data indicates that Gov. Mitt Romney is clearly the stronger Republican candidate against President Barack Obama," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "As our mothers told us growing up, 'You never get a second chance to make a first impression,' and Speaker Newt Gingrich's initial impression on the overall Florida electorate is not a positive one. It is certainly possible that Gingrich can change the overall unfavorable view that Florida voters have of him, but for him to carry Florida in November he would have to prove mother wrong.


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Yellow Brick Drafthouse and Pizzeria was Columbus Alive's winner for Best New Restaurant in 2011 - and for good reason - but that meant its merits as a bar may have gone overlooked in the face of the delicious pies (and tots). Well, no more. I'm here to report the Olde Towne East pizzeria is also an excellent spot for a drink.
Yellow Brick Drafthouse and Pizzeria was Columbus Alive�s winner for Best New Restaurant in 2011 � and for good reason � but that meant its merits as a bar may have gone overlooked in the face of the delicious pies (and tots). Well, no more. I�m here to report the Olde Towne East pizzeria is also an excellent spot for a drink.
Boasting 15 excellent craft beers on tap, plus 72 bottled brews, wine and mead, Yellow Brick has plenty of options for imbibing despite not having a full liquor license. There�s even a beer cocktail, the Laura Palmer, that combines Bell�s citrusy Oarsman Weissbier with Timmermans Strawberry lambic to create a strawberry lemonade brew. It�s perfect for �Twin Peaks� Tuesdays, a Lynchian happy hour that shows the ground-breaking drama on TV.
Of the drafts, the only staple is Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale � it�s one of those beers that are astoundingly better on tap � with the other taps constantly rotating in new selections. Last week Weasel Boy�s Bitter Sable Imperial Black IPA ($4.50) was available, and I couldn�t recommend it more. Yellow Brick is one of the only places in Columbus that consistently has Weasel Boy products, which are excellent and made in Zanesville.
Yellow Brick�s website is regularly updated with a list of drafts and bottles available. Also, make sure to check out Yellow Brick�s keg tappings � Founders Breakfast Stout, Cerise (fruit beer) and Double Trouble IPA are on the schedule for mid-August.
The happy hour at Yellow Brick offers some excellent deals. All drafts are half-off, and single-topping pizza slices are $2. Additional toppings are $.50. The slice of sausage I tried was plentifully topped with juicy hunks of fennel-flavored pork.
Slices are a fine way to grab a quick, cheap bite, but the specialty pizzas are a must. The Elliott Smith ($21 for a large), with olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme, light mozzarella, green pear, bacon, shaved parmesan and a light honey drizzle, caught my eye for its namesake and then had my mouth watering. The Spicy Chicken Corn Chowder ($19.50 for a large) is also recommended, and it comes topped with best sauce (Yellow Brick�s spin on Alfredo), mozzarella, chicken, corn, roasted red pepper, red onion and spicy kale.
Photos by Joe Maiorana


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SACRAMENTO (AP) — A bill to promote greater use of renewable energy in California while allowing for changes in how consumers pay for electricity has been signed into law, Gov. Jerry Brown announced Monday.
The Democratic governor said in a signing message that AB327 will provide "comprehensive rate reform," but what that means will be determined by the California Public Utilities Commission.
The new law authorizes the PUC to restructure electricity rates while protecting low-income customers and encouraging greater use of renewable energy. The bill includes legal guarantees of rate discounts for low-income consumers that the commission must follow as it sets rates, but the bill's impact on the majority of ratepayers is unclear.
Mark Toney, executive director of The Utility Reform Network, a consumer advocacy group, said he expects the regulatory rate-setting process to take at least the next two years.
"We're pretty hopeful that the PUC will adopt something that's fair to consumers," he said.
For instance, he is confident that advocates can fight provisions that would allow the commission to charge ratepayers fees of up to $10 a month or change the tiers that generally limit costs for consumers who use less electricity. He also was satisfied with protections built into the law for low-income and residential consumers.
Assemblyman Henry Perea, D-Fresno, previously said his bill will let the state replace outdated regulations adopted during the state's energy crisis more than a decade ago.
The bill also makes it clear that California's goal of obtaining a third of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 is a minimal requirement and not an upper limit — "a floor, not a ceiling," Brown said in his signing message. He said the measure will "maintain robust incentives for renewable energy investments."
Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar Energy Industries Association, said in a statement that the bill should encourage more consumers to switch to solar energy.
Brown said in his signing message that he expects the utilities commission's pending rules to protect customers who previously paid for solar installations. The bill also allows for a new unlimited net energy metering program.
Net metering lets renewable energy producers turn their electricity meter backward as they contribute electricity to the system. Previous law limited the number of consumers who could take advantage of net metering to 5 percent of each utility's peak load.
Other portions of the bill address hold-over regulations from the energy crisis that brought rolling brownouts and high energy costs to California in 2000-2001 following an attempt to deregulate the electricity industry.