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Hopes grow for Idaho soldier's return
Sun., June 23, 2013
HAILEY, Idaho – The tearful mother of the only known U.S. prisoner of war said Saturday she's feeling "very optimistic" about his eventual release after his Taliban captors offered last week to exchange him for prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.
U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's mother, Jani Bergdahl, spoke to about 2,000 people gathered in Hailey, his hometown, in a city park where he played as a child.
About 400 in the crowd arrived astride motorcycles, adorned in leather and patches commemorating America's military missing in action.
Bowe Bergdahl, 27, was taken prisoner in Afghanistan on June 30, 2009. First Jani Bergdahl, then her husband, Bob Bergdahl, who accompanied the motorcycle procession on his son's 1978 dirt bike, spoke for a combined 15 minutes about rejuvenated hopes that their son's now-four-year ordeal will soon come to a joyful close.
"We are feeling very optimistic this week," said his mother, before addressing her son directly. "Bowe, we love you, we support you, and are eagerly awaiting your return home. I love you, my son, as I have from the first moment I heard of you, the never-ending, unconditional love a mother has for her child."
Buses also brought POW-MIA activists to the event from as far as Elko, Nev.
Though yellow ribbons on Main Street trees and "Bring Bowe Home" placards in Hailey shop windows are a constant reminder of Bergdahl's captivity, organizers of the event said the Taliban offer has lent an additional element of urgency – and hope – to Saturday's gathering.
Many in the crowd said they were Vietnam veterans; some of them supported the proposed prisoner exchange without reservation.
"Give them their guys and get our guy home," said David Blunt, of Elko, Nev., who said he served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam as a medic. "Bring our guy home. He's suffered enough."
Bergdahl is believed to be held somewhere in Pakistan, but the Taliban said they would free him in exchange for five of their most senior operatives at Guantanamo Bay, the American installation on the southeastern tip of Cuba that's housed suspected terrorists following the Sept. 11 attacks.
The militant group's exchange proposition came just days ahead of possible talks between a U.S. delegation and Taliban members.
Bob Bergdahl urged those gathered at Hailey's Hop Porter Park to remember everyone, regardless of nationality, who had suffered during the 12-year conflict in Afghanistan that began following the Sept. 11 attacks.
He described his son as "part of the peace process."
"I wish she was the only mother that was suffering in that way," Bob Bergdahl said of his wife. "Mothers all over the world are suffering because of this war, and I don't forget that for even one day."
He addressed his son's captors in Pashto, the Afghan language he's learned since Bowe Bergdahl went missing.
Bob Bergdahl, who has grown a beard and wore all black at Saturday's event, said that while he is physically in Idaho, he's living vicariously through his son, having set his cellphone to Afghan time, in a bid to share as much as he can of his son's experience in exile.
Both mother and father talked of Bergdahl as an adventurer, a young man who once helped crew a sailboat through the Panama Canal, disembarked in San Francisco and then rode a bicycle south along the Pacific Ocean to meet family in Santa Barbara, Calif., 350 miles away.
He joined the military at 22 because "he honestly thought he could help the people of Afghanistan," Bob Bergdahl said.
On June 6, the family said it received its first letter from their son in his handwriting in four years, ferried through the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The circumstances of his capture aren't completely clear, though U.S. officials on July 2, 2009, told the Associated Press a soldier had been taken after walking off his base following his duty shift. For some of the motorcycle riders who participated Saturday, those details are something to be sifted through later, after Bergdahl is safely in the arms of his family.
"He didn't go over there on his own," said Randy Danner, a former U.S. Air Force member from Mountain Home, Idaho, who rode his motorbike to Hailey with a group called the Green Knights. "No matter the circumstances, for our men and women over there who have put themselves in harm's way, we have a duty to support them in any way we can."
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When the 16 years old girl called Emily, decided to...
Passion '2 (15+)77936725392054
- by Emily A. H.
- Rating:
- Published: 20 Jul 2012
- Updated: 26 Aug 2013
- Status: In Progress
"Remember when I promised to love you forever?"
"Forever isn't over yet."
"Forever isn't over yet."
Join MovellasFind out what all the buzz is about. Join now to start sharing your creativity and passion
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subset: commoncrawl


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February 13, 20115: Patrick Schmeer (SPK, Bischmisheim, Germany) reports the announcement on the CBAT Transient Object Confirmation Page (TOCP) of the discovery of a bright transient in Sgr [V5667 Sgr] on 2015 February 12.852 at an unfiltered magnitude of 10.9 by K. Nishiyama, using a 105-mm f/4 camera lens with an SBIG STL6303E CCD camera. Nishiyama notes nothing is present on a previous image from 2015 February 02.887. The transient has been independently confirmed with two pre-discovery images: by H.
February 11, 2015: Patrick Schmeer (SPK, Bischmisheim, Germany) reports the announcement on the CBAT Transient Object Confirmation Page (TOCP) of the discovery of a bright transient in Sco [V1535 Sco] on 2015 February 11.8367 UT at unfiltered CCD magnitude 8.2 by Tadashi Kojima (Gunma-ken, Japan) using a 150-mm f/2.8 lens + a digital camera. Kojima reports nothing is visible on a frame from the same camera on Feb. 10.827 UT.
July 26, 2013: Patrick Schmeer (SPK, Bischmischeim, Germany) reports via baavss-alert and vsnet-alert that a bright (12.4 U) transient, discovered in M74 (NGC 628) on 2013 July 25.80 UT, has been announced on the CBAT Transient Objects Confirmation Page. The discover's name does not appear there. The presence of the transient has been confirmed by Andrzej Pigulski on 2013 July 27 0:00 UT in vsnet-alert 16057.
October 19, 2011: Further to AAVSO Special Notice #259, D. Fox notes in ATel #3692 that the bright transient in the M31 region reported by Ovcharov et al (ATel #3691) is coincident with the current position of minor planet Palma, currently transiting M31 at a magnitude of V=11.3. The object noted in Special Notice #259 is therefore unlikely to be stellar in nature. Special Notice #259 is therefore retracted.
This AAVSO Special Notice was prepared by M. Templeton.
October 19, 2011: Ovcharov et al. announced the detection of a bright transient in the region of M31 in ATEL #3691 (2011 October 19). They detected an object at R=10.95 on 2011 October 19.818. We are aware of no other confirming observations.
The object is at the following (J2000) coordinates:
RA: 00 44 55.27 Dec: +41 30 58.5
We note that this object is coincident with the blue source LGGS J004455.24+413059.7. Both visual and instrumental follow-up observations are strongly encouraged.
September 6, 2011: John Seach (Chatsworth Island, NSW, Australia) reports the detection of a transient object in Scorpius, having a magnitude of 9.8 on 2011 September 6.37 UT (JD 2455810.87). Observations were made with a DSLR and 50mm f/1.2 lens and 5 second exposure, with limiting magnitude 10.5. The object is visible on four separate frames taken after the discovery was made. No object appears at the location of the transient on an image taken 2011 September 5.36 UT.
High Energy Network Observing Section


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About our wine
To many people in Slovakia the word 'ríbezlák' (Slovak informal name for currant wine) certainly recalls the memories on their grandparents, who used to manufacture this beverage . In the minds of people there is still a tendency the currant wine to be seen as low-class, or at least inferior to wine grapes. This relates in particular because it is produced mostly at home for own consumption, which lackes a professional approach to manufacturing, which is sometimes reflected in the lower price and quality.
Here in Devin people began to produce ríbezlák in the early years of last century and its quality at the time acquired fans not only in Slovakia, but also far beyond our borders. Our goal is to revive this tradition and produce wine which quality is approaching the quality of popular grape wines. In addition to traditional sweet ríbezlák, our concept is to produce wines with lower sugar content - semi-sweet or semi-dry wines.
In our offer we have, of course, the traditional Devin currant wine - the one which has been being produced within living memory, and which is produced with a specific proportion of black and red currants. Less known is the wine from pure white currants Golden St. Urban (Zlatý sv. Urban), which has beautiful amber color. In addition to semi-sweet wines (Devin rose currant wine/Devínske ríbezľové víno ružové and Devin black currant wine/Devínske ríbezľové víno čierne), in our offer we included dry wine made from pure blackcurrant Black St. Urban (Čierny sv.Urban) with a residual sugar 4g/liter which taste and wonderful aroma will positively surprise even those who otherwise do not tend to drink currant wines. Exceptional taste acquired by aging in oak barriques is reached in Devin St. Urban barrique, which is certainly unique and exclusive.
We will be glad if you'll love our wine and enjoy the moments you spend with it.
Augustín Mrázik
- Read more about history of currant wine
- Look at our photogallery
- Here you will find what media wrote about us
- Become a Facebook fan and you will have the news always on time


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|Exercise equipment
Home aerobic exercise machines are available to meet any fitness level and can be used day or night. Before investing in any exercise machine, however, it is wise to test it out first at a gym, especially with supervised training to reduce the risk of injury. Read reviews of various brands in fitness magazines and on the Internet.
Very inexpensive exercise machines tend to be flimsy and hard to adjust, but many sturdy machines are available at moderate prices. The higher-end models may have computers to record calories burned, speed, and mileage. While their readouts may provide motivation and gauge the intensity of a workout, they are not always accurate. You might also consider buying a used machine, because it is common for people to buy a machine and then sell it when they realize they aren't getting much use from it. Of course, you can't return it if there's a problem.
Also, realize that there are very affordable ways to perform aerobic exercise. Shelling out money for an expensive machine may not have any impact on whether you actually exercise, although you might be tempted to think it will. A simple jump rope improves aerobic endurance for people who are able to perform high-impact exercise, and an aerobics stepping board and accompanying videotape will also give you a good workout. (Jumping rope should be done on surfaces that have some give to avoid joint injury. A good floor mat is important to provide cushioning for all home exercises.)
For burning calories, the treadmill has been ranked best, followed by stair climbers, rowing machines, cross-country ski machines, and stationary bicycles.
Elliptical trainers are also great for elevating your heart rate, burning calories, and increasing oxygen consumption, while lowering the likelihood of injury from high impact exercise.
Stationary bikes and stair climbers condition leg muscles. Stationary bikes are fairly economical and easy to use safely. The pedals should turn smoothly, the seat height should adjust easily, and the bike's computer should be able to adjust intensity. Stair machines offer very intense, low-impact workouts and may be as effective as running with less chance of injury. Rowing and cross-country ski machines exercise both the upper and lower body.
Strength-training equipment
Unlike aerobic exercise, strength training almost always requires some equipment. Strength-training equipment does not, however, have to cost much either. Dumbbells and resistance bands are inexpensive, portable, and effective.
Ankle weights strengthen and tone muscles in the lower body. (Such wearable weights should not be worn during high-impact aerobics or jumping.) Handgrips strengthen arms and are good for relieving tension.
A pull-up bar can be mounted in a doorway for chin-ups and pull-ups. More elaborate and expensive home equipment for working body muscles is also available.
Review Date:
Reviewed By: Jeffrey Heit, MD, Internist with special emphasis on preventive health, fitness and nutrition, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.


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The Emergent Continent Part 3 of 4: Smart Aid
This is a guest post by Carol Gallo, who blogs at the UN Dispatch, and is the third of a four-part series. (Here are parts one and two.)
The smart aid community has intercepted the received wisdom on development aid to change the way it orients itself with relation to beneficiary communities. Blogs, websites, and discussion centers such as Good Intentions Are Not Enough, How Matters, Tales From the Hood, Shotgun Shack, Stratosphere, Texas in Africa, A View From the Cave, Aid Watch, Find What Works, Throwing Down the Water, La Vidaid Loca, KM on a dollar a day, Project Diaspora, and many, many others all challenge the conventional wisdom and question the ways in which aid can be made more effective by listening and consulting with the people aid is supposed to help.
In November 2010, Villages in Action (VIA), presented by Project Diaspora, held its first conference in Uganda in response to the Millennium Summit held two months earlier. When heads of state and international diplomats discussed progress on the MDGs over wine and hors d'oeuvres in New York, they did so without inviting any of the poor people on whose behalf they claimed to be working. The keynote speaker of the VIA conference, village chair Ms. Milly Businge, represented 270 homesteads and over 1,000 people. She had no knowledge of the MDGs prior to the organization of the Villages in Action conference.
The smart aid camp has drawn attention to and greatly expanded on a point made by UNICEF in 2003 in its Human Rights Based Approach to Development Programming: "People who are poor constantly adapt and change their survival and coping strategies as the context changes and new information becomes available and understood. Because they engage in this process, it should be recognised that poor people are key actors in their own development—not passive beneficiaries of transfers of commodities and services."
This recognition is much more amenable to fostering entrepreneurship, investment, and growth than the traditional models. Smart aid sees development aid as providing assistance to teammates and equals rather than as benevolently donating resources to "less developed" people. The difference in attitude, characterized by a rejection of paternalism, does two things: it compels the development aid framework to afford poor people the respect owed to them, and it facilitates effective assistance by actively soliciting much-needed advice and input from beneficiary communities.
This meshes with the emergence of the Cheetah Generation: if information, ideas, and resources are flowing both ways horizontally rather than one way and hierarchically, all sorts of possibilities abound. Venture Capital for Africa (VC4A) is an organization that believes "entrepreneurship should be the main driver in Africa's economic growth" and "aims to connect innovative entrepreneurs (and their ideas) with access to knowledge, markets and capital i.e. mentors, business partners and investors." In "Rise of the African Entrepreneur," the founder of VC4A discusses the explosion in access to mobile technology in Africa and refuses to see African youth— an enormous percentage of the overall population— as part of the "problem."
Gillian Fox in The Guardian reported last month that half of Africa's population of 1 billion now has a mobile phone, "and not just for talking. The power of telephony is forging a new enterprise culture, from banking to agriculture to healthcare." In Nairobi, the tech incubator iHub serves as an open space for programmers to "grab coffee, create apps, find funders and build businesses," as Erik Hersman describes on his blog.
The open source platform Ushahidi, co-founded by Hersman and Kenyan lawyer Ory Okolloh, was inspired by Okolloh's creative combination of her blog and Google Maps to chart violence and other incidents in the post-election unrest in Kenya. The platform is now used to map trends all over the world.
In July The New York Times' Global Business pages painted an optimistic picture of post-revoltion start-ups and entrepreneurship developing in Egypt, and Tsega Belachew reported on the ICTworks blog that Google is eyeing Africa as "the next Internet hotspot."
All of this indicates contemporary challenges that are converging at the intersection of smart aid and international development on the one hand, and local economies and entrepreneurship on the other. The explosion of innovation in Africa represents an opportunity for smart aid to put into practice the principles it advocates. But if the smart aid approach is to be adapted, what does this mean for the current structure of the aid industry?
There is also a need to reframe the debate so that Africa is no longer seen as a Dark Continent in need of enlightenment or aid but as a rich resource of ideas, innovation, and human capital. This vision of Africa would recognize the utility of local solutions to local problems rather than solutions primarily formulated and implemented by outsiders, and would see such solutions as both more sustainable and more easily facilitated. These are great entry points for smart aid and local markets to work together.
The extent to which local innovation and entrepreneurship can be fostered in Africa will not only help solve African problems, but will help solve problems around the world. Harnessing the potential for smart aid to more effectively support locals at the same time it facilitates the flow of ideas outward requires a rearrangement of the relationship between the West and Africa from paternalism to partnership, a restructuring that is not limited to the aid universe.
The concluding post in this series will explore these challenges, discuss their implications, and suggest ways forward.
Tags #development aid, Africa, entrepreneurship, innovation, partnership, perspectives, smart aid


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GoGreen 13: The Evolution of Green -- Advancing Equity and Economic Vitality
This year's GoGreen conference pays homage to Portland's tradition of local leadership on sustainability with remarks from Mayor Charlie Hales. Mayor Hales will discuss the economic development opportunities that have grown up as a result of our region's investment in sustainable systems, and highlight ways to spread the benefits more equitably among our citizens.
GoGreen will also host New America Foundation Senior Fellow and retired Marine Colonel, Mark Mykleby, on the GoGreen Portland stage for a special presentation on the critical role of a triple bottom line approach in shaping a new strategic narrative and vision for the United States, plus insights on how a city like Portland is positioned to capitalize on the groundwork we've laid over the past decades.
The conference will again feature how-to workshops that are information-intensive and aimed to provide tactical knowledge of business fundamentals and actionable next steps to advance sustainable operations and practices in your organization.
A new feature will be the Leadership Think Tank Track. Some of Oregon's most inventive decision makers will gather for an interactive and participatory leadership think tank. This track will engage in conversations that bring diverse perspectives together to tackle the real challenges facing the sustainable economy in the state of Oregon. With a mix of roundtables, full group discussion and active participation, the primary emphasis is to utilize the magnitude of attendee expertise to develop opportunities for collaboration both within the conference and beyond.


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The Joint Commission
UPMC Chautauqua is accredited by The Joint Commission. The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations.
An individual who has concerns about patient care or safety at UPMC Chautauqua is encouraged to contact the hospital's Department Manager or UPMC Chautauqua Patient Representative at 716-664-8271. If the concerns cannot be resolved through UPMC Chautauqua, the individual may contact the Joint Commission:
Office of Quality Monitoring
The Joint Commission
Office of Quality and Patient Safety
One Renaissance Boulevard
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
If you have questions about how to file your complaint,
You may contact the Joint Commission
Toll free U.S. telephone number
8:30 to 5 p.m., Central Time, weekdays


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Harken® MKIV Hydraulic Jib Reefing and Furling allow sails to be reefed, furled, or set with the touch of a button. Both tack and head have double swivels, improving sail shape when partially reefed. MKIV hydraulic furlers are used on cruisers and high-performance cruising yachts with headstays up to -91 rod.
DO NOT use Harken equipment for human suspension unless product is specifically certified and labeled for such use.
N15W24983 Bluemound Rd.
Pewaukee, WI 53072, USAMailing & Delivery InformationTel: 262.691.3320 | Fax: 262.701.5780 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Technical Service: firstname.lastname@example.com our other locations


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Ellice Lieberman
Professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Department of Epidemiology
Other Affiliations
Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, HMS
Dr. Lieberman directs a multidisciplinary research program investigating a variety of areas related to pregnancy outcome, with a primary focus on term labor and birth. Her research focuses on the effect of labor management practices, particularly epidural analgesia used for pain relief, on the course of labor, method of delivery and outcome for the newborn.
She is currently conducting a randomized trial of epidural analgesia to evaluate the etiology, physiologic correlates and clinical consequences of epidural-related fever for the mother and infant. She has recently completed a study investigating the occurrence of fetal occiput posterior position at delivery, a fetal malposition that complicates the delivery process and an analysis of a multicenter study examining predictors of uterine rupture and other adverse outcomes among undergoing trials of labor after previous cesarean.
M.D., 1977, University of Florida College of Medicine
Dr.P.H., 1986, Harvard School of Public Health


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My mum Maureen started collecting postcards of Campbeltown and the surrounding villages when she realised her Grandfather Edward Keith was responsible for taking some of the photos and publishing the postcards. This hobby began at a young age when she found some of the cards in her house. In recent years the collection has grown considerably, with visits to postcard fairs and the internet.
She is always on the lookout for very old postcards, from anywhere in kintyre, but especially ones taken by her Grandfather, two of which are of Drumlemble, and one day her wish is that she will lay her hands on these
I hope you enjoy looking through this small sample of her cards, and if this makes you recall any old dusty postcards lying in the attic, please keep my mum in mind as I'm sure shed be interested in looking at them.


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FBI clears Zimmerman
Not a racist so Holder can suck wind or this one!
After interviewing nearly three dozen people in the George Zimmerman murder case, the FBI found no evidence that racial bias was a motivating factor in the shooting of Trayvon Martin, records released Thursday show.
Even the lead detective in the case, Sanford Det. Chris Serino, told agents that he thought Zimmerman profiled Trayvon because of his attire and the circumstances — but not his race.
Serino saw Zimmerman as "having little hero complex, but not as a racist."
The Duval County State Attorney released another collection of evidence in the Zimmerman murder case Thursday, including reports from FBI agents who investigated whether any racial bias was involved in Trayvon's Feb. 26 killing.
The evidence includes bank surveillance videos from the day of the killing, crime scene photos and memos from prosecutors.
Among the documents is a note from the prosecutor who said one of the witnesses said her son, a minor, had felt pressured by investigators to say the injured man he saw was wearing a red top. The boy's testimony had been considered key, because it backed up Zimmerman's allegation that he — wearing red — was being pummeled.
Federal agents interviewed Zimmerman's neighbors and co-workers, but none said Zimmerman had expressed racial animus at any time prior to the Feb. 26 shooting of Martin, a black teen, in a confrontation at a Sanford housing complex. As Sanford police investigated the circumstances of Martin's death, the FBI opened a parallel probe to determine if Martin's civil rights had been violated.
Several co-workers said they had never seen Zimmerman display any prejudice or racial bias.
Two co-workers told agents they spoke with Zimmerman the day after the shooting, and both said they noticed injuries to Zimmerman's nose and the back of his head. One person said Zimmerman was "absolutely devastated."
Zimmerman told both colleagues that he followed Martin — whom Zimmerman described as a "suspicious person" — so he could tell police where the teen went, but was then "jumped" by Martin. Zimmerman told both that Martin reached for Zimmerman's gun before Zimmerman shot Martin.
In all, the FBI interviewed 35 people about Zimmerman, from current and former co-workers to neighbors and an ex-girlfriend.
Among the revelations found in nearly 300 pages of records:
• Zimmerman arrived at one of his police interviews with a friend who works as an air marshal. That friend told police Zimmerman was physically abused by his mother and had been estranged from his family.
• The day Zimmerman turned himself in to be charged with second-degree murder, authorities confiscated a handgun from his car.
• A gun dealer called police to say that some time in mid-March, Zimmerman called to say he was afraid for his life and "needed more guns."
• An ex-girlfriend said Zimmerman had outbursts and sometimes threatened suicide. She suspected it was a result of Accutane, the acne medicine he took. She said he was the "last person in the world" she thought would be involved in such an incident.
• The ex girlfriend said she and Zimmerman had a violent argument when she caught him on a singles dating web site, even though they were engaged to be married.
• Trayvon's cousin said he would swear "on a stack of bibles" that the person shouting in a 911 tape that recorded screams during the struggle was Trayvon.
Zimmerman, 28, claims Trayvon attacked him, breaking his nose and slamming his head on the concrete at the Retreat at Twin Lakes townhouse complex. Specially appointed prosecutors who investigated the case charged Zimmerman with second-degree murder, which carries a potential life sentence.
The state attorney's office says Zimmerman wrongly assumed Trayvon was a criminal, and says he did not suffer injuries serious enough to require deadly force to defend himself.
The U.S. Department of Justice and FBI stepped in about a month after the killing, as protesters nationwide criticized the investigation. The original probe was conducted by police in Sanford, the central Florida community where Zimmerman lives and Trayvon was visiting while suspended from school.
FBI records: agents found no evidence that Zimmerman was racist | McClatchy.


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Did you place the rings down in the sleeves and check the end gap of each ring before placing them on the piston? Could you have cracked a ring while installing them on the pistons?
A new engine kit will cause more suction on the valve guides but still the guides would have to be in real bad shape to cause it to smoke all the time bad.
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Website Accessibility Policy


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Printing Fly, a top-rated print shop Los Angeles, specializes in creating custom prints and designs to meet every client's needs. This print shop company always helps clients craft a visual identity for their company. The staff at Printing Fly has many years of printing experience and can handle any project size. Located at 10586 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064, Printing Fly conveniently serves everyone in the Greater Los Angeles area (310.287.9982).
The print shop Los Angeles, Printing Fly, is a full-service shop that helps companies achieve their printing goals. The team at Printing Fly are experts at taking on projects from design and conception to ready-to-ship. This print shop Los Angeles is highly qualified to take on small to large projects with any type of complexity.
In the past, the print shop Los Angeles has customized flyer designs, mugs, notepads, stickers, and much more. The main goal for the staff at Printing Fly is to provide high-quality work at an affordable cost. They are a group of passionate and hard working employees who always focus on creating eye-catching and unique products. The print shop Los Angeles is more than just an ordinary print shop.
For those who are in need of a print shop Los Angeles, contact the staff at Printing Fly. You are guaranteed to get your money's worth at this shop. Not only is the team very helpful and creative, the prices for all services are very affordable. With assistance from the print shop Los Angeles, you will be able to increase your return on investment.
About Printing Fly
Printing Fly, a top-rated print shop Los Angeles, provides services that include branding and logo design, brochure printing, and flyer printing. Printing Fly is well-known for having affordable prices, when compared to other printing shops.
For more information about their services, visit www.printingfly.com or visit their location at 10586 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064.
Media Contact
Company Name: Print Shop Los Angeles
Contact Person: Andrew Carter
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: (310) 287-9982
City: Los Angeles
State: CA
Country: United States
Website: http://www.printingfly.com/


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Hello municipality. Um, where is my car?!
You might never ask that question again. We created a one-stop hub for drivers that makes retrieving a towed vehicle as headache-free as possible. So there's only one place you have to go hunting. Find your vehicle on our website or talk to someone in our customer service center. We'll guide you through the whole process of getting your vehicle back.
You didn't join the force to tow cars
The less time officers spend waiting for a tow truck to arrive on the scene the better. Our proximity-based dispatching platform reduces wait time to an average of 12 minutes, the best in the industry. Less wait time means more police doing real police work.
No More Telephone Games
Our online tools automate the tow request process and streamline communication from the officer on the street to the tow truck operator in the field. We eliminate unnecessary calls which keeps lines open and accessible for other important matters with a transparent, real-time view of a tow's progress.
We don't tow: You do.
With AutoReturn, you have access to the same data we do so you know jobs are assigned fairly. We've never owned a truck, and we use data to distribute law enforcement tows fairly, efficiently, and automatically. Companies get shorter hauls and get paid quickly with less administration hassle.
We process and sell unwanted vehicles
We process unclaimed vehicles in a way that's environmentally friendly and meets all local and state regulations. We hold weekly auctions to sell cars on lien, and since we aren't a salvage yard, there are no conflicts of interest.
Reduce costs to many departments.
AutoReturn lets cities recover the cost of towing management. We relieve cities of the day-to-day administrative burden of managing towing operators, from contracts and performance monitoring to licensing and auditing. Plus, with zero capital outlay, AutoReturn offers a higher return for cities than any other model.
Our Green Impact is Totally Black and White.
We reduce emissions first by picking the shortest route for a nearby tow truck. A prompt arrival allows us to clear accident scenes faster, which cuts down on slow traffic, which helps cut emissions further. It's not rocket science. We've successfully reduced consumption of over $1M gallons of fuel. The polar bears would be proud.
Configured to Fit Any Municipal Model
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text: Show Hide image Politics 12 July 2012 José Manuel Barroso: Why is Britain so closed to the EU? Britain will be reduced to the role of a "Norway or Switzerland" in Europe if Eurosceptics push us into leaving the EU, warns the president of the European Commission, talking to David Miliband. Sign-up For 40 years, Europe has been the future. But the eurozone crisis has been an unmitigated disaster for Europeans, and especially for pro-Europeans. It has brought to the surface political, economic and cultural divisions that were buried in the good times. And it is not yet solved. Hence the Eurosceptic claim that, far from being the future, Europe is the past: economically sclerotic, socially unstable and politically undemocratic. Britain is left in no-man's-land. The Prime Minister does not want to lead Britain out of Europe, yet he will not defend it. So he tacks towards the sceptics in his own party – most recently in his musings about a referendum on British membership of the EU – without embracing their demand for exit. His positioning makes the situation worse. Far from satiating the Eurosceptic beast, he feeds its appetite. This is a good time to seek answers from the president of the European Commission. If European countries, including Britain, are not to be left behind in the new Asian century, the EU is going to have to be part of the solution, not the cause of problems. David Miliband It's eight years since you arrived in this building [in Brussels]. You arrived at the time of boom, good times. Now it's a really tough time. What's your reflection on eight years? José Manuel Barroso Never a dull moment, I can tell you. In 2009 when I was re-elected Commission president, [it was] one of those defining moments of European integration. Either we advance, and recognise that now we are in the age of globalisation we have to do things together, or we run the risk of strategic irrelevance, fragmentation and not counting more in the world, not being able to defend our values and also to protect the interests of our citizens. Just to give a concrete example: very recently I was at the G20 summit in Los Cabos in Mexico. It was quite interesting to listen to the American president, the Chinese president, the president of Brazil. The basic message they were sending to us was: please go further in your integration. DM I can imagine G20 leaders saying to you, "Go further, make the integration work." Don't they also say to you, "What have you Europeans been doing for two years?" JMB They were so polite, not [saying] this specifically. But in fact, many of them think along those lines. That is why we also had to explain very clearly what is at stake and recognise that yes, we have some unfinished work regarding the euro area, because we have created the monetary union, but without all the instruments that should be there to support a common currency. I regret that sometimes our member states take too long but that is of course because of the democratic nature of our systems. We are a union of 27 democracies. DM The governor of the Bank of England said there is "a great black cloud of uncertainty hanging over the global economy". Do you agree with that? JMB Usually I don't comment on comments of others. My position is that there are still some problems in the euro area. It's fair to recognise them. I hope that now member states fully understand these concerns and are ready to make the next steps. Indeed, the Commission has been proposing, and in the last European Council it was broadly accepted, [we need] the principles of a banking union, afterwards a fiscal union, and further steps for what you can call a political union. I believe this is indispensable for the common currency. So at the same time as we have short-term stabilisation measures, and we are working on them, we give the so-called markets and investors an assurance regarding the determination of the member states of the euro area to sustain its currency. DM The markets don't seem to believe the commitment. I mean, yield rates for Spanish and Italian bonds are higher now than before the summit. Why do you think that is? JMB I think it was once again a problem of management of communication after the European Council. [There was] some contradiction between the statements made by the European Council at head-of-state level and the ministers of some of our governments. DM You're saying there are no circumstances in which a country could drop out of the euro? JMB I'm confident that it will not happen. DM Let's look at one important part of what people perceive to be a banking union, which is some form of debt mutualisation. JMB Look, the point is the following: we are in favour of the mutualisation of debt. This will be indispensable if you want to keep a common currency. The reality is that this is not feasible immediately. We have to create the conditions for this to happen. DM A last point on the euro crisis itself. The argument that all that's been done so far is "kick the can down the road" gets force because the problem seems to be getting bigger, not smaller. Do you accept that the problem is a bigger one than it was two years ago? JMB I think that if we had had quicker decisions, more robust ones, we could have avoided these negative developments, yes. DM Has the eurozone fleet been going at the speed of the slowest? Is that the problem? JMB Yes. But that's the condition of making decisions among member states. That's one of the reasons we have advocated the need for more integrated decision-making. And in some areas it was accepted, but not in others. DM Isn't the problem that the economics, the technocracy, is pointing towards more Europe, more integration of decision-making at European level? But the politics is pulling towards more local decision-making? JMB That risk exists. But one of our tasks as a political leadership is to make possible what is necessary. And I think it is necessary to go that way. For instance, the Irish people have accepted an unprecedented level of discipline and convergence in a treaty at European level. Why? Because they understood clearly that the other options were much worse for them . . . It is in times of crisis that people are ready to accept [the need to] change. DM Notwithstanding the Irish referendum result, it must worry you that there are fringe parties on right and left in a growing number of European countries which are arguing basically an anti-European case. JMB Yes, of course it worries me. I've already stated in the European Parliament that we should not forget that there are old demons in Europe – extreme nationalism, populism, xenophobia. You see in times of crisis that extremist forces, populist forces, have a better ground to oversimplify things and to manipulate feelings. Feelings of fear. Especially when there are problems of unemployment, particularly youth unemployment. But once again, let's be fair in our analysis: it's not just a problem of the euro area. In some of the most advanced economies there are some reactions against globalisation and people have doubts about the future. And this is the most fertile ground for this kind of populism. That is why I am asking all leaders to show leadership. DM Haven't pro-Europeans like you and me failed to develop a compelling enough story about what modern Europe is about? We know that for our parents' generation the story of Europe was the story of peace after tragedy and terror. Today the binding idea of Europe seems much less clear. What's your binding idea? JMB I agree. Let's be frank and honest. Not everything in Europe is well. There are many things we can do better. The new narrative for Europe should be about the need to have a responsible organisation, the need to be able to defend our interests and promote our values, like human rights. In the 21st century, this has not yet been able to mobilise people's minds and hearts. What I want to underline – and this isn't a way of escaping my own or the Commission's responsibility – is that, for this to succeed, it has to be done also with leaders at national level. We have to . . . make the case for explaining in a rational – but at the same time passionate – way what we have to lose, globally. And we may be in the margins of irrelevance if we don't do things together. DM That's an important phrase – "the margins of irrelevance". JMB Yes. That's the danger. Where we are not united, where we have 27 different national policies, we don't count. Or we count very little. DM Let's talk about the UK. The debate in the UK is often about these "monsters in Brussels" who want to take more power from Britain, or dominate decision-making. I wonder if you would echo my experience, which is that other Europeans don't just want Britain to play a leading role in Europe, but they think Europe is better off with Britain playing a leading role. JMB I really think that. Probably rightly, I've been called an Anglophile. I believe that Europe without Britain at the heart will be less reform-driven, less open, less an international Europe. That is why sometimes when I look at the debate in the UK, I ask myself: "How is it that this country is so open to the world, and apparently so closed to Europe?" It seems a contradiction. DM The debate inside the Conservative Party is now in some ways framed by the former defence minister Liam Fox, who said there should be "no terror" for Britain in leaving the European Union. What do you think life would be like for Britain outside the EU? JMB I will not comment on internal political matters, partisan matters of Britain. If and when there is a kind of revision, that's up to the British to decide. What I can see from Brussels is that, and also from a European perspective I find it a little bit ironic that, some people are suggesting for Britain a role comparable to that of, say, Norway or Switzerland. Norway and Switzerland are two marvellous countries I very much admire – the most advanced countries in the world, in fact, with great qualities of life. But I think Britain is expecting a bigger role in the world than small countries. The fact that some are suggesting for Britain a role that is smaller than the one Britain already has today seems to me a little bit curious. When the Prime Minister of Britain meets the president of the United States, or the president of China, he has much stronger status and much stronger leverage because everybody knows that Britain is a country that is very influential in the shaping of Europe as the biggest integrated market in the world, the first economy in the world, the biggest donor of development assistance in the world . . . DM So, in your estimation, the leaders in China have an enhanced relationship with Britain because they're in the European Union? JMB I'll put it frankly – Britain has more influence in China than Norway or Switzerland, with all respect for the other countries. One of the reasons being that everyone in China knows that Britain is a decisive voice in European policy and that it is much bigger because of its influence and its leverage. And by the way, there is today, if you look at the last few years, not a single policy of the European Union that has not been agreed with British involvement, including in some areas where the British position is not always in, let's say, full agreement. On all those issues the British positions have been very well reflected. DM People say Norway gets the trade benefits without any of the burdens. Could you explain to a British audience that Norway, by embracing the single market, embraces a whole range of social and other policies, too? JMB Norwegian legislation is more in conformity with the rules of the European Union than most member states. So they are accepting the conditions. In fact, the difference is that they don't vote when we make legislation. DM Do you know of any other countries, other than Britain, which are seeking to repatriate powers at the moment? JMB There is no explicit request of this from other countries as far as I know, even if the debate is also on in some countries. DM Moving on . . . What's going to happen first, Britain embraces the euro, or Germany embraces eurobonds? JMB [laughs] Interesting question. If you want my honest answer, Germany embracing eurobonds. DM And Germany will certainly embrace eurobonds before Britain leaves the European Union. JMB I hope so, too! DM Let's just wind back to where you started, because you started by essentially saying the stakes could not be higher. That there is a fork in the road, of either a more integrated and coherent European Union, or . . . JMB Irrelevance . . . DM Irrelevance: I think fragmentation and irrelevance. Talk about those stakes. JMB I've been saying that since 2009. Just to give you an idea, if there was by disaster a problem in the euro in terms of its sustainability, we'll be watching not only a problem with the euro, but also most likely renationalisation of policies and indeed the break-up of the internal market. So the consequences are difficult to estimate, even if there are by the way some projections. And some independent studies, some Swiss bank studies have estimated the losses in terms of GDP for Europe [at up to] 30 per cent. So it's very difficult to anticipate these doom scenarios, but it would indeed be extremely negative also from an economic and social point of view. Interdependence can work for the worst – contamination, for instance, between sovereign and banks, and also between countries – but it can also work for the best if we now use this opportunity to complete the unfinished work of Maastricht, to complete the European monetary union. A point I want to underline, though, is the following. Britain has a special position here. Because there is a legal opt-out in the treaties, when I say that we have to go further in integration for Europe I don't mean that all the member states have to do exactly the same at the same time. And we have mechanisms now in the treaties, be it through enhanced co-operation or some properly circumscribed derogation, that can take on board concerns of, for instance, Britain, which has an opt-out from the single currency. This is why I believe we are in one of those defining moments. I've used an expression before, I'm sorry to say it in Latin, but "non progredi est regredi". I mean we are not in a position where we can simply keep business as usual. And this is also because of the market pressure we are feeling regarding the euro. But I think apart from that there is an overall real strategic [challenge], from a geopolitical and economic point of view, which is: how is Europe going to place itself between the United States and China? We will simply not have the strength, the resources, the tools, the influence, if we are fragmented – if we want to keep our values and also to protect our interests. And this is why in the end I think the decision will be positive for Europe. I'm very confident that we are going to overcome this. DM The question I think people have about your vision would be less about whether or not it would be nice to have [it], but more who is going to make it happen? JMB In a union of states we need a critical mass of member states to go forward. In Europe, the European institutions, the community institutions, like the Commission and the Parliament, cannot achieve projects without the strong backing of European member states. And the reality is that, so far, this combination, this convergence, has not yet been possible – even if I believe the awareness among member states of the need to go this way is growing, in a spectacular way. Let's see now if we can rise up to the challenge. David Miliband is the president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee. He was UK foreign secretary from 2007 until 2010. Subscribe For more great writing from our award-winning journalists subscribe for just £1 per month! This article first appeared in the 16 July 2012 issue of the New Statesman, Age of Crisis SUBSCRIBE More


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BEIJING/LONDON - Health officials raised further questions on Friday about the source of a new strain of bird flu infecting humans in China after data indicated that more than half of patients had had no contact with poultry.
The H7N9 virus has been found in 87 people, mostly in eastern China, and killed 17. But it is not clear how people are becoming infected and the World Health Organisation (WHO) says there is no evidence of the most worrying scenario - sustained transmission between people.
The WHO's China representative, Michael O'Leary, issued data on Friday showing that half of the cases analysed had had no known contact with poultry, the most obvious potential source, but he said it appeared human-to-human transmission was rare.
"This is still an animal virus that occasionally infects humans," he said. "With rare exceptions, we know that people are not getting sick from other people".
Experts say it may be premature to definitely rule in or out whether people sick with the virus have been in contact with poultry, and note that contact with wild birds is even more difficult to establish.
A scientific study published last week showed the H7N9 strain was a so-called "triple reassortant" virus with a mixture of genes from three other flu strains found in birds in Asia. One of those three strains is thought to have come from a brambling, a type of small wild bird.
Ian Jones, a virologist and flu expert at Britain's Reading University, said none of the data or scientific analyses available so far have been able to pin down the exact source of the human infection or the route of transmission.
"Those are the things we need to know about," he said.
An international team of epidemiologists and other experts led by the WHO and Chinese government officials will visit live chicken markets and hospitals over the next several days in Beijing and Shanghai.
Some bird samples have tested positive and China has culled thousands of birds and shut down some live poultry markets.
A WHO spokesman in Geneva, Glenn Thomas, said that "evidence suggests that poultry is a vehicle of transmission, but epidemiologists haven't yet been able to establish a strong and clear link".
"We also know that, perhaps with rare exceptions, people are not getting sick from other people."
The official China Daily newspaper quoted an investigator at the Chinese Academy of Sciences as saying the H7N9 outbreak may linked to the migration of wild birds.
"The infection time and route coincided with the migration of water birds," He Hongxuan told the newspaper.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for efforts to strictly control sources of infection, boost checks of live poultry and release accurate information.
He said researchers should work to accelerate development of vaccines while local authorities should strengthen disease control, according to a statement released by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, of which he is the secretary.
China has warned that there could be more infections to come. Many of the 87 cases, and 11 of the deaths, have occurred in the commercial hub of Shanghai.
China's poultry sector has recorded losses of more than 10 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) since reports of the new flu surfaced two weeks ago, an industry official said this week.


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Drivers around the country could be facing significant increases in parking fees as councils prepare to coin in a record £1 billion in the coming year.
Research by the RAC Foundation has found many councils are planning to increase their parking charges from April, with some hiking prices by as much as 230 per cent.
Some authorities also plan to scrap free or reduced-price parking on Sundays in order to capitalise on weekend shoppers, according to the analysis.
The i newsletter latest news and analysis
Read more: UK's most expensive and cheapest parking revealed
Record income
Last financial year, councils in Britain collected an estimated £885 million in parking charges but in the face of falling funding from central government many are reportedly looking at ways to increase this income.
Councils say they need to increase the cost of on-street parking to cover the cost of parking services and road maintenance. (Picture: Shutterstock)
Nottingham, Cambridge, Reading and Brighton are among the councils identified by the RAC Foundation analysis and, in total, local authorities are expected to make a record £1bn from parking charges in the 2019/20 financial year.
Counter productive
However, Steve Gooding from the RAC Foundation said that the move to make more money from drivers could backfire on councils and force people away from town and city centres.
He commented: "With sums this large in play, the question must be whether they are actually helping or whether it feels more like motorists being targeted to help increasingly cash-strapped councils balance their books."
Councillor Martin Tett, transport spokesman for the Local Government Association, insisted that councils were not simply trying to rake in more cash from motorists.
He said: "They have to strike a balance when setting parking policy to make sure that there are spaces available for residents, high streets are kept vibrant and traffic is kept moving.
"Any income raised through on-street parking charges is spent on running parking services and any surplus is only spent on essential transport projects, such as tackling our national £9bn roads repair backlog and other transport projects that benefit high streets and local economies."


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Steelers release star linebacker James Harrison
The Steelers released linebacker James Harrison, the team announced Saturday.
"We have informed James Harrison that we have released him," Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert said. "James has been an integral part of our success during his years in Pittsburgh and has helped us win two Lombardi trophies during that time. We appreciate all of his efforts and wish him the best."
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin said, "James has played a major role in the success of this organization during his time in Pittsburgh. I appreciate everything he has done in my six years as head coach and wish him nothing but the best in the future."
Harrison originally signed with the Steelers as an undrafted rookie free agent on April 22, 2002. He started 95 of 131 games played for Pittsburgh and registered 64 sacks to rank fourth in franchise history. He was the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 after recording a Steelers' record 16 sacks. Harrison earned five consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl (2007-11) and was named All-Pro following three seasons (2007, '08 and '10). Harrison played in 12 postseason games with nine starts. He helped the Steelers win three AFC Championships and two Super Bowls. Harrison registered the longest interception return in Super Bowl history, a 100-yard touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII.
Shortly before the Steelers announced Harrison"s release, he tweeted "it's been a great run but all good things must come to an end. Thank you Steelers Nation I will miss you all."


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"Who?" first: planning successful social media strategiesPosted: May 8th, 2012 | Author: Chris Berendes | Filed under: Design, Metrics, Social networking | 3 Comments »
Not "Mac or Windows?"; rather "who's going to help?"
I used to dread when friends or family asked: "Chris, what sort of computer should I buy – laptop or desktop, Macintosh or Windows?" The people who needed me most were the hardest to help – they didn't know how they'd use a computer, weren't settled on much of a budget, had very high expectations, but little sense of what it would take for them to put a computer to good use.
But turning the question back on them ("how will you use the computer? do you need to hook it up to a printer or a PDA? how much do you want to spend?") led to embarassment, not insight.
Finally, I realized that people who asked me a question like this would rely on a friend or family member for troubleshooting, when things went wrong. It was surprising that most of my questioners knew right away, when asked, who that techie would be. Of course, if there were problems, they'd call on Cousin Amy, or Joe from church, or that nice man down at the High Tech Depot.
The next time I got the question I responded with a question that was useful, not annoying: "who's going to help you with your new computer, and what systems do they know?" A light went on in my friend's eyes: they knew what to do.
The moral: Those first questions about technology are almost always, really, questions about people.
Thus, for organizations, not "Twitter or Facebook?"; rather "who's going to make this work?"
Now, if you're an organization seeking social media strategy and technology advice you'll need a little more help.
Josh Bernoff and Forrester to the rescue, with a shiny (and useful) acronym: POST.
Consider, in order:
- People: "[K]now the capabilities of your audience."
- Objective: "Decide on your objective…. Then figure out how you will measure it."
- Strategy: What processes "will be different after you're done?"
- Technology: Twitter? Wiki? Facebook? Blog? etc. "Once you know your people, objectives, and strategy, then you can decide with confidence."
For non-profits and government agencies, I'd widen the circle of People: your staff, your management, your donors, and your partners are important, too. Who will need to participate in this new strategy to make it a success? What's their training? What are they capable and motivated to learn?
And I'd start the search for Objectives and – more importantly- measures by writing the stories you'd like to tell when the initiative is a success.
Say you're putting a state legislature online in a more friendly and accessible way. Wouldn't it be great to be able to say, once you were done, that a particular group of constituents that had been out of the loop for years used your new site to track a proposed law that threatened to hurt them and, instead, shaped the legislation to help them?
That gives you a rich picture of what success looks like — reaching new, non-expert audiences, providing early warning, making legislative content and procedures comprehensible — and how you might measure it.
So, those first technology questions are, almost always, really questions about People, Objectives, and Strategy. Technology, in POST and in life, is the last question, not the first one.


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Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow (Xbox) review
"Tom Clancy certainly had his numbers right when he penned the original novel, Rainbow Six, back in 1998. Though the concept may have seemed far fetched at the time, the book accurately predicted a rise in global terrorism sometime during the first few years of the new millennium. Well what do you know? He was bang on the money... quite literally in fact! Sadly enough as recent history has taught us, if you're going to fight terrorism then you're also going to need to rewrite the old rules of eng..."
Community review by midwinter (August 25, 2004)
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TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. (AP) — Will Smith has a new outlook on teenagers: Parents do indeed understand.
The rapper-turned-actor says he's "grown a lot" since writing the Grammy-winning 1988 hit that humorously declared they didn't.
All three of his children now at least dabble in music and acting, most notably 14-year-old Jaden, who stars with his father in the new sci-fi film "After Earth," opening Friday. Even in the midst of a globe-hopping promotional tour for the movie, Smith recognizes the downside to making stardom a family affair.
"I think that the major risk of this particular business is strictly emotional," he said in a recent interview. "The business has almost a narcotic quality. So it's almost as if you're introducing a narcotic into your kid's life.
"So for (wife) Jada (Pinkett Smith) and I, the most important thing is that they have to stay focused and grounded on the fact that they are giving. You don't make movies for your ego. You make movies to transfer information, to bring joy, to add value to the world."
At an "After Earth" promotional event at the under-construction Virgin Galactic spaceport in the New Mexico desert, Smith does everything he can to playfully poke at his son's ego.
When Jaden loudly drops a water bottle during a TV interview, he's quickly reprimanded: "You're kidding, right? You're kidding. That's the most unprofessional thing I've seen you do."
Smith reaches over to shield his son's face from bright camera lights, taunting the teen as a "super mega movie star, towering over you like a shadow over you. And you're living in his shadow. And you've got to do interviews in his shadow."
Jaden, obviously accustomed to the teasing, responds with calm confidence and some of dad's hammy humor, saying he lives "naturally" in the spotlight.
"You have to try to put your shadow on me," said Jaden, who rode his skateboard through a hall between interviews. "But eventually your arm gets tired and it falls away and you let me go back to my natural state."
His father nods in mock sincerity. "Oh that's deep. You are a deep being," he says.
Their film is set in a future where nature has turned on humans and survivors were forced to start a new civilization on another planet. Jaden plays a trainee trying to follow in the footsteps of his father, a famous military leader played by Smith. When the two crash-land on an inhospitable Earth, Jaden's character must prove his own abilities to survive, and save his father in the process.
"It is very allegorical in a way, right?" said screenwriter Gary Whitta, who developed the story with Smith and co-wrote the film with director M. Night Shyamalan. "Jaden I'm sure looks up to Will and is like 'Wow, my dad is like the biggest movie star in the world. How can I ever live up to that?' But he's trying."
Smith, 44, and Jaden first co-starred together in 2006's "The Pursuit of Happyness." Smith produced his son's hit 2010 remake of "The Karate Kid" with Jackie Chan, which made over $350 million worldwide. (Smith's last movie, last summer's "Men In Black 3," earned over $600 million globally.)
Smith said he wants his family to be successful in the entertainment industry across generations, and has searched Hollywood history for models.
"I've looked for a lot of years. The Barrymores got really close to what I see in my head for my family," Smith said, referring to the clan of theatre and film actors famed in the 1930s and now represented by Drew Barrymore.
Smith's daughter Willow, now 12, appeared in two movies but has focused on music. After causing a stir with the pop smash "Whip My Hair" three years ago, she's backed away from the spotlight but continued to release songs online. Smith's other son, 20-year-old Trey, has taken up DJ work and posts electronic dance songs and mixes online. Jada Pinkett Smith is an actress, author, singer-songwriter and businesswoman. She and Smith started Overbrook Entertainment, which has produced many of Smith's films, including "After Earth."
Smith makes no apologies for encouraging his children to follow their parents toward cameras and microphones.
"I grew up in a family business. So it's like everybody works together and that's how the family bonds and communicates and how we eat," he said. "In my mind, I'm a warrior and I'm teaching my son how to hunt. And how else would I teach my son how to hunt other than bring him with me and we're in an interview and this is what I do and this is the business I work in. To me, I can't imagine what the other option is."
That said, he approaches parenting differently than his own father, a former Air Force pilot who enforced strict discipline on Smith and his siblings.
"The major difference is I'm trying to release the sense of ownership," Smith said. "With our kids, Jada and I believe that it's their lives and we are helping them with their lives. And they're not our property. They are people that are deservant of our respect and consideration in the same way that any other human being should be."
Beyond acting, Jaden learned his father's early raps and now writes his own. While he isn't looking to replicate the one-time Fresh Prince's every move, it's clear he has internalized Dad's long-term outlook on the family business.
"If I wanted my career to be exactly like his, then people would keep telling me for the rest of my life, 'Wow, you successfully pulled off your dad's career. Congratulations!'" Jaden said. "If I was doing just what he did, then my son would feel like he had to do just what I did. I want my son to feel like he can be a classical pianist if he wants to."
Fame part of family business for Will, Jaden Smith
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. (AP) — Will Smith has a new outlook on teenagers: Parents do indeed understand.


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When Teachers Pray
- Vicki Caruana Author
- 2004 20 Jul
Pray the Issues: Discouragement
Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for your fee, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but healed instead.
I began to hear the horror stories of burnout even before my first teaching job. As soon as people found out I was going into special education, the "advice" started pouring in. Staying motivated is not an easy task when you are worried about your students' progress day and night. We're encouraged to look for small victories, but a special education teacher sometimes has to settle for minuscule victories.
I had many students whose interpersonal skills were lacking. They didn't know how to get along with others. They either were painfully shy or their behavior was painfully inappropriate. China was an eighth-grade, severely learning disabled girl who basically avoided contact with everyone, including me. I didn't know how to reach her. She was functioning on a third-grade level in reading. I knew that if someone didn't break through her hardened shell, she wouldn't make it through high school. But everything I did just drove her further inside herself.
At some point I stopped trying so hard. After all, she wasn't the only student who needed me. I didn't ignore her, but I no longer went out of my way to engage her. One day toward the end of the school year, there was a gift on my desk. China was absent that day. It was a beautifully crafted beaded change purse. The note attached said, "Thank you for being my teacher." I smiled to myself thinking, Like I had a choice. At the end of the day I was told China and her family have moved. My chances to reach her had run out. It really upset me, and I chastised myself for not trying harder.
Looking at the purse, I realized something. This was it – the small victory. China made that purse herself. I still have it to this day. It is a reminder of a seed planted that I pray someone else came along to water after me.
Sometimes just the simplest of steps are enough to encourage us to continue. Sometimes we need to see the "big picture" of God – who he is, where he is, and what his intent is. We all get discouraged, but if discouragement goes unchecked, it can turn into despondency. The circumstances of life can steal our joy. Whether they are physical, emotional, or intellectual, these circumstances can be overcome by the love of God. God has made certain promises for yourself in prayer.
When we are down and discouraged, we turn to ourselves or other people to encourage us. But since the heart is deceitful above all else (Jer. 17:9), we cannot trust our own ability to lift ourselves up. God is the only one who can lift us up. Sometimes we don't turn to God because deep down we don't trust him. We trust in our own abilities more. But God is worthy of our trust. Our dependence need only to lie in him. Encourage means "to inspire with courage, confidence, or hope." Who better to encourage then God?
If we are faithless, He remains faithful,
for He cannot deny Himself.
God is faithful, regardless of our previous experiences with man (Roman. 3:3-4).
And God is able to make every grace overflow to you,
so that in every way, always having everything you need,
you may excel in every good work. As it is written:
He has scattered;
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.
It is God who equips us to do what we have been called to do. It is God "who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think" (Eph. 3:20).
Lord, who will not fear and glorify Your name?
Because You alone are holy,
because all the nations will come and worship before You,
because Your righteous acts have been revealed.
By his very nature, God is holy. Everything he does is righteous. Everything he does is worthy of praise and worship. And since none of us is righteous – no, not one – we are better off putting our trust in the only one who is.
The Rock – His work is perfect;
all His ways are entirely just.
A faithful God, without prejudice,
He is righteous and true.
God is a just judge, showing no partiality (1 Pet. 1:17). Everyone who does wrong receives what he should for that wrong. It doesn't matter who we are or what position we hold. It doesn't matter if we are tenured or teacher-of-the-year. Can we say the same? No. Even in the midst of my discouragement, I know that God sees all and gives everyone according to his ways (Jer. 32:19).
Our God is trustworthy. His character demonstrates it. His actions illustrate it. His mercy confirms it. Because he is who he is, I have hope. I am encouraged!
In the midst of a storm we tend to look for God outside of it, asking him to come in and save us. But he is not outside the storms of our lives. He is there right in the middle of them. Even if we are not aware of his presence, he is indeed there. How do we know he is there? His word says so in many places. "And what agreement does God's sanctuary have with idols? For we are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said: 'I will dwell among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people'" (2 Cor. 6:16). Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, in order to know what has been freely give to us by God (1 Cor. 2:12). We never walk alone – especially during the most discouraging of times.
What then are we to say about these things?
If God is for us, who is against us?
God sent us a helper, a comforter for times of trial and trouble. The Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us when we pray. Sometimes we are so confused or discouraged that the words to pray don't come. That's when the Spirit, who lives inside of us and knows our every aching, our every desire, prays for us. What an incredible advocate! Jesus himself stands before the Father on our behalf. He took our place, one who knew no sin became sin for our sakes – for my sake. God poured out his wrath on Jesus, his only Son, on the cross that day – for you, for me. He is our champion, our confidante, our defender, our deliverer – our Savior! So when it feels as if no one is on your side or that no one cares about what you care about, remember that the God of the universe is for you – you personally.
"Haven't I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Teachers feel incredibly isolated in their jobs. Even though we are with students all day, we have very little opportunity to build relationships with fellow teachers. So when we are troubled and discouraged, we don't know how to reach out for help. Sometimes we even fear reaching out, thinking it makes us look weak; and in this day and age of accountability, no one wants to appear weak.
Our God commands us to be strong and courageous. It's not a suggestion or a piece of practical advice – it's a command! God commands us things he himself has already equipped us to do. Because he is for us, there is no one worth worrying about who is against us. Even if we are faced with a trial that seems insurmountable, God is with us. He may choose to calm the storm, or he may choose to calm his child. Either way he is there with us. So we have no reason to fear what man might do. God is here, and he's in control!
This is how we know that we remain in Him and He in us:
He has given to us from His Spirit.
In the Old Testament, God dwelled among his people in different ways. He accompanied them as a pillar of fire and cloud through the wilderness. He spoke to them through Moses from Mount Sinai. One of the most beautiful expression of God's love for us is seen in the New Testament. First, he humbled himself and was born as a man to walk among his people. That was a personal, face-to-face relationship. But then he took this very personal relationship one step further. He left his Spirit to reside and abide in the human heart. How much more intimate can a relationship be? He loves us so much that first, he died for us, and second, he placed his Spirit inside those who believe in him so that we could experience his love from the inside out.
Our God is more patient than any of us deserve. Over and over again he is rejected, ridiculed, and refused. Over and over again he forgives, blesses, and accepts us just the way we are. And although we are to fear him – his awesome power demands it – he does not intend us harm but good. Can we see clearly his plans for us?
"For I know the plans I have for you" – [this is]
the LORD's declaration – "plans for [your] welfare,
not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
Jeremiah 29:11
God spoke of Israel in this verse, but even now his plans for us, the church, are meant for good – his glory. We may find ourselves confused, but God is not the author of confusion, so we can trust in his certainty about what he has in store for us. Sometimes we brace ourselves in fear that God's designs are all against us. But even things that seem to be harmful are for good.
We know that all things work together for the good of those who
love God: those who are called according to His purpose.
God's purpose is to bring glory to himself. We are created for such a purpose. God will not give us what we fear or what we selfishly desire. Knowing this, we are better able to seek him in prayer. When our students don't achieve as we hope or our colleagues treat us with disdain, we can pray that God will be glorified through the situation, that our actions will be representative of a loving God who desires to bless his people.
Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise – dwell on these things.
Schools have reputations. If there is a high turnover at a school, that is a red flag and an indicator to many that you wouldn't want to work there. But sometimes you don't have a choice. My first teaching job was a two-hour commute, and I desperately wanted to work closer to home. After two years I finally got my chance. I was so excited about my new prospect and shared my enthusiasm with colleagues where I was teaching at the time. Surprisingly, no one shared in my enthusiasm.
They didn't know anything about my new school, and yet they were finding fault with it. It was in a more prosperous district, and they assumed I would be swimming in a huge budget. It was also a much larger school with more teachers, and they assumed I would get lost in the demands of teachers with more seniority. I started to feel as though they were trying to sabotage my excitement about my new school.
Not everyone was a naysayer, but enough were that it started to bother me. On my last day no one huddled around me to say goodbye and good luck. But one friend walked me out to my car with my last box in her arms. "It's going to be great," she reminded me.
We can choose to listen to the naysayers, or we can focus instead on the good. God directs us to focus on the things above. The world is full of bad reports, so we must consciously focus our prayers on the good and perfect gifts from above instead.
So often we focus on the things that discourage us. Instead we must set our minds on the things above (Col. 3:2), not on the things of the earth. In other words, we must deliberately train our minds to contemplate heavenly things, not earthly ones. This earth and all that is in it is passing away. It is not our reality. It is merely a shadow of what is real – God's will as it is done in heaven.
What specifically should we focus on then? Philippians 4:8 tells us:
- "whatever is true" – The Word of God is truth. Time spent studying and memorizing Scripture will help you to focus on the things that are true. Spend a few minutes in God's Word each morning at your desk before your students arrive. It will help set the tone for the rest of the day.
- "whatever is honorable" – Our feelings can betray us. The heart is wicked (Jer. 17:9), so it is difficult sometimes to trust our own honesty. Always compare what you say and what you think with what God expects.
- "whatever is just" – God is the only just judge. His statutes and judgments fit the behavior of every person without regard for their status in the community. As a teacher, I wanted to be known as a loving, strict, but fair teacher. We are tempted every day to be otherwise. Follow God's precepts and you will be a just teacher.
- "whatever is pure" – In the world's eyes you may be considered pure. But it's not the world's opinion that matters. We cannot purify ourselves; only God has the power to do that. Ask him to cleanse you completely. Just because everyone else in the teachers' lounge speaks ill of the new principal doesn't make it right. Things are not gray – they are black and white. Pray that God helps you to see the lines clearly and then focus on those things that are pure.
- "whatever is lovely" – The world is full of unpleasantness. Our news reports it every day. But we do not have to concentrate on it. We can instead concentrate on those things that are lovely, pleasant, and pleasing. I admit that it is a challenge at the end of a difficult school day, but we can make a deliberate effort to pay attention to those things that are lovely. They will then cause us to pray in thanksgiving to God, the Creator of such things.
- "whatever is commendable" – In this age of accountability and the grading of schools, we hear a lot about schools that are failing or being closed. Wouldn't you prefer to hear more about those that are succeeding? Wouldn't you prefer to hear about quality teachers? Find a way within your sphere to focus on those people and those things that are of good report. Is someone doing something wonderful in your school? Toot her horn! Raise a banner! Strike up the band! Call attention to the good instead of perpetuating the bad reports of others.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
I was less than thrilled with my first teaching assignment. It was in a sixth-grade center in an inner-city ghetto. It was frightening to say the least, especially when my own principal told me never to come in early or stay late and never to drive a car there that I cared about. It was two years with absent parents, uncooperative students, no budget to speak of, and chronic classroom vandalism. College did not prepare me for teaching in this environment. But it was that same environment that taught me to be creative in my teaching, my discipline, my communication efforts with parents, and my materials. Because of that experience I've been able to help many others faced with similar situations, and it has been so satisfying to be able to do so.
God comforted me through many trials during my years in the classroom. It was only because I was comforted that I am now able to comfort others. Only teachers really understand what other teachers are going through. Unfortunately, we often keep to ourselves and only communicate our discouragement in the form of a gripe session in the teachers' lounge. Have you been comforted by the Great Comforter? If so, reach out to that brand new teacher and soothe her spirit. Be a listening ear and a praying heart for the veteran who just can't take it anymore. Pray that God will reveal to you who needs to be comforted today. He will show you; just be willing to go where he points.
We have the hope of an eternity with God. Allow that hope to proclaim itself to all those around you. Then when things go wrong and you are at peace, others will want to know how. They will ask you about the hope that is within you. Be ready with your response!
- 2 Timothy 2:1: "You, therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."
- Hebrews 12: 12-13: "Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but healed instead."
Often we are discouraged because we try to change things in our own strength. We are unable to do it. Only God can do it through us.
Lord, it is so difficult to hide my feelings, especially when they border on despair. I want to protect my students from my emotions. I don't want my feelings to get in the way of my teaching and their learning. But when I cover them, I still don't feel at my personal best with the students. Even in this situation, I want the peace you have promised – the peace that passes all understanding. Lord, release that peace to me now. Yet if I still experience turmoil, cover any mistakes I might make with your love. Let your love trickle down as my love for my students. I will reveal my struggle, and then if I handle it the way you would have me handle it, others will ask about the peace that is within me. Thank you for this time of suffering. Let it work in me patience, perseverance, and finally peace. Amen.
Excerpted from "When Teachers Pray: The Power of a Personal Prayer Life" by Vicki Caruana. Copyright 2004. Broadman & Holman Publishers. Used with permission.
Vicki Caruana educates and encourages kids and those who live and work with them to strive for excellence. Trademarked as America's Teacher™, Vicki desires to educate America about education. She is the best-selling author of "Apples and Chalkdust" (over 500,000 copies sold). Vicki founded Teachers in Prayer for School (TIPS), which helps sponsor teacher mini retreats educators to gain rest and renewal.


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Ohio State's Bradley Roby, considered one of the top five cornerbacks in the draft and a likely first-round pick, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio, to physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Roby, 21, was sentenced to 180 days in jail, but that sentence was suspended on the condition that he take a three-day driver-intervention program, the Columbus Dispatch reported. Roby's attorney said his client planned to start the program Thursday. Roby also was fined $375 plus court costs for the April 20 incident.
Roby's agent, Michael Perrett of Sports Trusts Advisors, released a statement Tuesday morning on the matter: "Though my client, Bradley Roby, maintains his innocence and feels he would have been completely exonerated had he taken this matter to trial, Bradley has accepted the prosecutor's offer of a reduced charge to 'physical control' to bring some closure and finality to this situation ahead of next week's NFL draft. A 'physical control' citation is a non-moving violation that will not result in any points being added to his driving record and there will be no license suspension. Bradley is scheduled to complete a three-day alcohol educational class this week which will effectively terminate the case. This plea was accepted by the judge and entered into the record today (Tuesday April 29, 2014). Bradley is very focused and is excited about starting his NFL career."
Roby is among 30 prospects who have been invited to New York City to attend the draft. It remains unknown how seriously this situation will impact his draft status. There obviously will be some bad PR accompanying Roby because of the charge.
The Dispatch reported that Roby was arrested after a 911 call reported that a Dodge Charger "almost hit some kids on the sidewalk" and that the driver "was passed out drunk" in the vehicle, which had Georgia plates. Roby is from outside of Atlanta.
Police said Roby had an odor of alcohol and that he failed field-sobriety tests. He also submitted to a urine test. The traffic citation said a breath test by Roby showed 0.008 percent for blood alcohol, which is less than the 0.08 percent at which it is illegal to drive in Ohio.
Roby was arrested in July 2013 and charged with disorderly conduct after a fight outside a bar in Bloomington, Ind. The case ultimately was dismissed, but he was suspended for the 2013 season opener against Buffalo.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at email@example.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.


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Delegates at the recent United Nations climate conference in Warsaw decided that $1 billion a day, the amount currently being spent across the world on "climate finance," is not enough. Far greater funding is needed to save the world from what United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon calls the "greatest threat facing humanity." That climate science is highly immature and global warming that stopped 17 years ago was never mentioned.
Here's what our representatives have agreed on.
Starting in 2014, the UN's Green Climate Fund, a plan to divert an additional $100 billion per year from the treasuries of developed countries to those of developing nations to help them "take action on climate change", will commence operation.
A timetable was accepted to pave the way toward the establishment of a new international treaty in 2015 that will force developed countries to spend untold billions more to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The fine print in the negotiating text includes an out-clause for developing nations, indicating that CO2 emission targets their governments agree to will not be enforced. Developed nations do not have this escape clause.
The rules governing how developing countries will be financially rewarded, at our cost, for reducing deforestation were also established.
But this is only the tip of the financial iceberg we will soon face. Last minute concessions by our representatives have set us for a potential liability of trillions of dollars. They agreed to the establishment of an institution under the UN's legal framework: the "Warsaw international mechanism for loss and damage associated with climate change impacts."
In so doing, the door has been opened to requiring that we compensate developing countries for the impact of extreme weather events that are supposedly our fault. No one knows to what extent the charges against us will be retroactive, but for the first time, the costs of extreme weather events all over the world are about to be added to our bill.
This happened because developed countries did not challenge the scientifically-flawed notion that anthropogenic climate change is known to be responsible for causing extreme weather events. Consequently, Ban Ki-moon faced no opposition from delegates when he unjustifiably blamed the recent typhoon in the Philippines on man-made global warming.
Rather than accepting such mistakes, here are the sorts of things our representatives to UN climate conferences must raise.
Extreme weather has always been an integral part of the Earth's climate system. It is not within human control and there has been no worldwide increase in such phenomena.
The UN's science body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, stated in its March 28, 2012 Special Report on Extremes: "There is medium evidence and high agreement that long-term trends in normalized losses have not been attributed to natural or anthropogenic climate change." In its September 2013 assessment report, the IPCC had only "low confidence" that damaging increases will occur in tropical cyclones (typhoons and hurricanes) due to global warming.
The Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change agreed, asserting in its September report: "In no case has a convincing relationship been established between warming over the past 100 years and increases in any of these extreme events."
UN delegates also must ask critical questions of their leaders. For instance, extreme weather events occurred with about the same frequency during the 1945-77 global cooling period as they do today, yet no climate scientist pointed to human activity as being responsible in the earlier period. What is different now?
Why has Ban Ki-moon not answered the 134 skeptical climate experts who told him in their Nov. 24, 2012 open letter: "current scientific knowledge does not substantiate your assertions. Global warming that has not occurred cannot have caused the extreme weather of the past few years."
To maintain political pressure for the new climate accord, there will be additional UN negotiations in the spring, summer, and autumn, the latter played host to by Ban. Our negotiators must introduce the findings of real science at these meetings. Otherwise, we will soon be responsible for trillions of dollars in compensation for natural phenomena that affect rich and poor nations alike.
The correct response is to help vulnerable people adapt to extreme weather events, to the degree we can afford. The idea that we cause them and can prevent them from occurring is science fiction.
Tom Harris is executive director of the International Climate Science Coalition (www.climatescienceinternational.org). Dr. Madhav Khandekar, a former research scientist with Environment Canada, was an expert reviewer for the UN's IPCC 2007 Climate Change documents and contributed to the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change.


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Local Voices, Clever Choices | Nuestras Voces, Nuestras Decisiones
What we eat and where it comes from make a big difference for our personal health as well as the health of our economy and environment. Eating healthy food that takes fewer resources to produce and puts more money back into our local economy supports our community on many levels.
OMSI's interactive website shares personal stories about the challenges and benefits of making community-minded choices. www.omsi.edu/choices, www.omsi.edu/decisions
One of those stories is from Jennifer, a single mother on a tight budget who was looking for a cost-effective way to provide her family with healthy, local food. When Zenger Farm began a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program with food stamp dollars, she jumped at the chance to be involved. CSA participants pay a set price for a weekly box of fruits and vegetables.Call 503-797-4686 249# to hear Jennifer's entire story.


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Fruit Ninja from HalfBrick Studios was among the first iOS games to be available for Android. The game is among the top 5 best sellers in the Android Market, and costs $1.99.
Now, looking at its popularity, HalfBrick Studios has released a free version of Fruit Ninja, with ad-support. This move from HalfBrick, and Rovio's decision to release Angry Birds for free on the Android Market, clearly shows that free apps with ad-support generate more revenue that their paid counterparts for developers. The free version of Fruit Ninja can be downloaded from here.
In other gaming related news, another popular game for iOS Falling Fred has hit the Android Market. The game has quiet a high amount of violence and gore, so weak hearted people should stay away. In this game, users need to dodge the falling Fred from obstacles, and try to keep him alive.
The game has a simple plot, yet it's highly addictive. The graphics of the game are top-notch as well. The game is available for free on the Android Market. However, there are many more characters in the game, which users need to purchase via the in-app purchase option.
Falling Fred requires Android 2.2+ to work. The game can be downloaded from here.