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As reported in The Riverside Enterprise, Wednesday morning, December 25, 1907
Horace Magee, Inflamed with Liquor, Shoots Without Provocation – – – Is Struck Down With Billiard Cue
P.V. Swanguen, a constable at Temecula and Louie Escallier, a Frenchman, were shot and instantly killed last night at 8:45 o'clock at Temecula by Horace Magee, a half breed Indian. Magee was struck twice over the head with a billiard cue in the hands of John Jackson, a bystander, and is not expected to live until this morning.
Details of the tragedy, which has shocked the whole of Temecula, were received by The Enterprise after considerable difficulty. The double murder took place in a billiard hall owned by Albert Degonmos, a Frenchman.
A good sized crowd of men of the town was in Degonmos place playing billiards when Magee entered with Albert Golch. It was plain to all that both Magee and his companion had been drinking. Both men entered talking Spanish. Finally Magee turned and made an insulting remark to the proprietor of the place. Degonmos apparently did not pay much attention in the vile epithet hurled at him and made no reply. When Degonmos did not pay any attention to him, Magee spied Louie Escallier, a Frenchman, and spoke to him insultingly.
Magee's language was very obscene. Escallier came over and in an apparently jokingly way burnt Magee with the lighted end of a cigar which he had been smoking. This put Magee in a murderous mood. He went over to the shake hands with Constable Swanguen, who did not at first accept the proffered hand. Finally he grasped the Indian's hand and told him that he was all right and to go away and behave himself.
Then, without apparently and provocation, Magee pulled out his revolver and began shooting. His shots were aimed at Swanguen, the man whom just a moment before he had shaken hands with. The first two shots went wild, one of the shots going over Swanguen's shoulder. By this time the whole pool room was in an uproar.
The third shot plowed through Swanguen's heart, and he sank to the floor, dying almost instantly. The murderous glare in the Indian's eyes indicated that he was bent on killing everyone in the hall. Nobody seemed willing to interfere but Louie Escallier. He rushed to take Magee's gun from him. The murderer started to run out of the door. The two men grappled near the door, Magee still discharging his revolver. Three shots were likewise fired by Magee at Escallier.
On the third shot Escallier fell groaning to the floor, pierced through the heart with a bullet. He did not live long enough to speak a word. Still snapping his revolver, Magee staggered out the door into the street.
At an early hour this morning Magee's condition was serious, and he was not expected to live. His head is badly lacerated and his skull is fractured. At this hour the information given out was that Magee would not probably last until daybreak. The cue used by Jackson was a heavy one and was wielded by a powerful man.
When the tragedy occurred, Deputy Sheriff Hugh McConnville, who is agent at Temecula for the Sunset Telephone Company was attending a Christmas entertainment at the schoolhouse. As soon as receiving news of the double murder, he hastened to the scene and helped to carry Magee to the jail.
Magee, who is slightly known in Riverside, is a brother of Dan Magee, the famous football player of Sherman Institute. Word from Temecula announced that fifteen minutes before the shooting he had purchased a revolver from Frank Furneld. He has always borne a bad reputation and considered a dangerous man when intoxicated. For the last few weeks he had been hauling rock for the quarry at Temecula.
Sheriff Wilson was the first in Riverside to receive announcement of the double murder. He was notified by Deputy Sheriff McConville. The first particulars of the tragedy received here were very vague. The sheriff assisted The Enterprise in every way to get the correct particulars. The full news of the tragedy was given The Enterprise by Deputy Sheriff McConville and John Jackson, an eyewitness to the scene.
The sheriff gave instructions to bring Magee to Riverside this morning. If Magee is alive, Deputy McConville will start from Temecula this morning at 8 o'clock. Coroner Blackson will go to Temecula this morning and hold an inquest.
According to particulars received here, there was no provocation whatever for ht double murder. Magee evidently came in the pool room looking for trouble because of the fact that 15 minutes before he had purchased a revolver from Frank Furneld.
When once started Magee seemed determined to kill everyone in the billiard hall. Both victims of his reckless shooting were sober. It is said at the time and had no thought of raising trouble with Magee.
Both men who were murdered by Magee are among the best known citizens of Temecula. They have friends in Riverside, who will be shocked at the news of their untimely death.
Constable Swanguen has been a citizen of Temecula for twelve or more years. During that time he has always been an officer of the law. He was about 43 years of age and has borne a good reputation as an officer. He leaves a large family. He owned a large bee ranch near Deluz.
Escallier also leaves a large family and is about 35 years old. He and his brother, Hy Escallier, it is said, have always been law abiding citizens. Temecula ……….. place, is about 48 miles from Riverside, near the south border of the county. Sheriff Wilson would have gone over last night, had advices from Deputy McConville assured him that it would be no use as Magee was a captive and in almost a dying condition.
A Ghost in Tuolumne County – 1859
Reported in the Daily Alta California – December 12, 1859
We have been aware for some weeks past that there were rumors of a ghost having been seen at Lyons' Ranch, situated on the Mountain road, about four miles from town; but have not been able to gather the particulars until this week. Lyons' Ranch, it will be remembered, was formerly the property of Jim Lyons, who assassinated one of the Blakely brothers there, after having sold the property to them. It is now owned and occupied by Mr. Gilkey. It appears that some five or six miners, with Mr. Gilkey's permission, were in the habit of sleeping in the barn attached to the ranch, but have now abandoned their lodgings, in consequence of having their slumbers disturbed by the pranks of a ghost. According to their story, it appeared to them in the shape of a huge man, about sixteen feet high, who arose from amidst the hay piled up in the barn and tossed bales around as if they were light as feathers in his grasp. The story goes that this unwelcome visitor, on several occasions, chased the lodgers from the barn, making giant strides after the fugitives. On one occasion, one of the men fired at the ghost, but the ball had no effect. The upshot of the story is, that his ghostship remains master of the field (or rather the barn). It is rumored, that some gentlemen of this place, who are deeply interested in the subject of spiritualism, intend paying a visit to the barn some fine night, for the purpose of questioning the ghost, and ascertaining whether it is a "spirit of health, or goblin damn'd." The investigation will doubtless be highly interesting and we await the result with most intense anxiety. – Sonora Age.
A Ghost in Vallecito – 1859
As reported in the Daily Alta California – 16 February 1859
Vallecito has been excited for two weeks about the supposed doings of a ghost occupied by a family in that town. Every night, says the Calaveras Chronicle, loud knockings have been heard in the house, sometimes in the garret, at others against the partitions, and again upon the tables – sometimes upsetting tables, chairs, etc. and raising a general row throughout the house. The neighbors have watched, night after night, with double-barreled guns, revolvers, etc. without being able to get sight of the midnight intruder. Latterly they have come to the conclusion that it is a spirit from the other world, who is desirous of communicating with the occupants of the house. A medium was sent for, but the spirit refuses to communicate with any but the gentleman of the house, and he refuses to communicate with the spirit. How they will settle matters remains to be seen. The spirit informs the medium that he will not leave them in peace until he obtains an interview with the person desired. The editor of the San Andreas Independent, referring to the same ghost, says: "He will rap and stamp upon the floor and weather-boarding, each knock of his invisible mallet increasing the amazement of the watchers. So far he (or perhaps she) has baffled every effort at detection. The "critter" is absolutely intangible, invisible, uncomatible (sp.?), and pronounced by judges a 'genuine ghost!' – an institution never before dreamed of in the philosophy of this practical age and country."
Note: Vallecito is a small former mining town located in the Mother Lode of the Sierra Nevada, southeast of Sacramento.
A Historical Ghost Story
The San Francisco Call, Tuesday, January 4, 1910
– Stand By in Awe as Furniture of Mission Street House Begins to Dance –
With an evident desire to cut up fittingly on New Year's eve, a healthy and energetick and adult spook of playful tendencies and obstreperous sense of humor injected himself into the festivities of the family of Max Barnett, a tailor at 2487 Mission street, last Friday afternoon and in the presence of two pale policemen, two popeyed detectives and several neighbors and friends proceeded to upset the furniture, open windows and generally prove itself a nuisance.
So impolite and ungentlemanly was the demeanor of the spirit that Detectives Burke and Gallagher were officially detailed on the case, but though they watched the spirit perform its tricks they have yet no clew (sic) on which to work.
Barnett, after seeking his furniture banged around promiscuously for two days, packed up his belongings and fled, hoping to put the spook off his trail. Contrary to all the rules and regulations of spookdom the wraith appeared in the afternoon. It did not wait for the witching hour. It started the fireworks in broad daylight and then, evidently talking a liking to Barnett's furniture, hung around for a couple of days having a perfectly giddy time.
It floated in through a closed window about 3 p.m. Friday. Mrs. Barnett, with her two children, was downstairs and hearing a commotion upstairs proceeded to investigate, but when Mrs. Barnett saw a chair doing a cancan on the floor and a blanket trying a skirt dance without outside help, she decided it was time to call up her husband on the telephone.
"I reached the house about 3:30 p.m.," said Barnett "and went to a rear room. There I found the furniture overturned, the beds unmade and everything in an awful mess."
According to Barnett he, scouting the idea of spirits, proceeded to fix things up, but the pillows would insist on hopping to a chair, and finally a suitcase jumped upon the pillows. With a groan he turned for the door, and as he did so chairs were turned over, the bed clothes were ripped off and the bureau began a waltz. Also the bedding tried a twostep.
"My first act was to call the police," he said. Policeman M. H. King and James Drennan responded and on their heels were Detectives Gallagher and Burke.
"Come out of that," said four stern voices. The bed gave two hops and the pictures began dropping from the wall. With their own hands the policemen tidied up the room, but no sooner had they finished than the spook overturned the furniture. Then they wiped their brows and grew pale and popeyed. In the meantime the statue of Hiawatha took a stroll to the bathroom from the dining room, and a mattress in another bedroom started physical culture exercises.
"I am a skeptic." Moaned Burke, "but what can a fellow do when he sees such things?"
Brett Pratt, a brother in law of Barnett's, who was called in to take in the show, openly scoffed, but as he did so a bureau rolled over and hit him on the shin. Carl Schulz, a nephew, also was present, and another scoffer went through the front door like a chain of greased lightning when he saw Hiawatha taking his constitutional. The last act of the spook was to hurl a box over the banisters as the Barnetts were moving out Saturday afternoon.
There is a belief that the spook was the spirit of the old year moving out. "But why does it pick on me?" asked Barnett.
The Civil War in Temecula Valley – Arrest of the Showalter Party
As reported in the Sacramento Daily Union, 7 December 1861
SOUTHERN SECESSIONISTS ARRESTED – The Los Angeles News of 27th November says:
On the morning of the 23rd instant, a party of men, who have for sometime past been encamped in the [El] Monte, left there on their way to Texas. There are various estimates as to the number of men in the party, but we have been informed, on what we consider reliable authority, that they numbered, all told, forty-four. Dickey, one of the party, called en (sic) us last Saturday, and informed us that the party was 175 strong; that they had organized themselves into three companies, by electing a captain to each, as follows: Captains, Dan. Showalter, H. H. Dickey, and Wilson; that they were bound to Texas, not withstanding all that has been said to the contrary; that they were going home to their families and friends, and as to what they would do when they arrived was their own business. He informed us that he would not fight unless forced to. Dan. Showalter was their commander-in-chief. We have also been informed that these men were regularly enlisted soldiers in the Southern army, and were going with no other purpose than to join forces now in arms in the seceded States. We understand that Dickey was left behind at the Monte, to ascertain if any movements were to be made to stop the party. The time will probably arrive, if it has not already, when parties of men on their way from this State to the States in arms against the Government will be detained and the objects for which they are going inquired into. No person is allowed to go South from the loyal States, without a passport from the Government, but parties are continually leaving here for the seceded States, without any such permission. However, their leaving this State may be considered a blessing, as they might create a disturbance here, on not being allowed "to go where 'glory' awaits them."
[Dan Showalter and seventeen others have been arrested by Major Rigg, at Camp Wright, near Warner's ranch.]
As reported in the Sacramento Daily Union, 12 December 1861
San Francisco News – A dispatch to the Bee yesterday has the following:
The party of rebels arrested by Major Rigg, sixteen in number, headed by Showalter, were armed with rifles and two revolvers each. Showalter advised resistance, but was overruled and the party surrendered. They had a complete outfit for crossing the desert. The names of the party are as follows:
T. A. Wilson, Tennessee; W. Woods, Missouri; Charles Pendworth, Kentucky; Wm. Sands, Tennessee; T. L. Roberts, South Carolina; R. H. Wood, Mississippi; T. W. Woods, Virginia; J. M. Sampson, Kentucky; S. A. Rogers, Tennessee; J. Laurance, Arkansas; A. M. Edwards, Arkansas; Levi Rogers, Alabama; Henry Crowell, Pennsylvania; William Turner, Georgia; Dan. Showalter, Pennsylvania; A. King, Tennessee; E. B. Summers, F. N. Churn. The two last named were the advance of the party.
General James Shields was yesterday afternoon sworn in and received his commission as a general officer in the United States Army. His rank is that of Brigadier General and Major General by brevet. He leaves by steamer today for the seat of war, and will at once be assigned a command with his rank.
NOTE: Shields served as a brigadier general of volunteers from California during the Civil War. He commanded the 2nd Division of the V Corps, Army of the Potomac (subsequently part of the Army of the Shenandoah), during the Valley Campaign of 1862. He was wounded at the Battle of Kernstown on March 22, 1862, but his troops inflicted the only tactical defeat of General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson during the campaign (or the war). The day after Kernstown, he was promoted to major general, but the promotion was withdrawn, reconsidered, and then finally rejected. His overall performance in the rest of the Valley Campaign was poor enough that he resigned his commission, and his departure was not resisted by the War Department [Source: Wikipedia]
As reported in the Sacramento Daily Union, 19 December 1861
PARTICULARS OF THE ARREST OF D. SHOWALTER AND PARTY – A correspondent of the UNION, writing from Camp Wright No. 2, San Diego county, December 8th, has the following:
Showalter, as I suppose you have heard ere this, was captured near a place called Ocampo's Rancho in the valley of Santa Ysable, by Lieutenant Wellman of the First Cavalry Regiment, by order of Major Rigg, First Infantry, California Volunteers. On the 28th of November, near one o'clock, P. M., Major Rigg ordered Captain Henry A. Greene, Company G. to have his command on the march for San Ysabel as soon as possible, to intercept Showalter and his party. In the short space of fifteen minutes the Captain and his company were ready, with knapsacks and haversacks packed. At 2 o'clock, P. M., they were on the road, and marched the distance of thirty-two miles without halting but once, to detach Lieutenant W. B. Smith, Sergeant C. H. Hyde, Corporal Handy and twenty-three privates to guard a mountain pass, near San Jose, which it was thought Showalter's party might venture upon. Upon the arrival of Captain Greene at San Ysabel, he immediately sent out Indian scouts to ascertain the position of the enemy, halting the command at San Ysabel, it being a central point. In a few hours scouts returned, informing the Captain that the enemy had been captured by Lieutenant Wellman of the Cavalry, who had been following in their rear from Temescal, a point on the road toward Los Angeles from this place. A message was immediately sent to Major Rigg, at Camp Wright, informing him of the fact, whereupon he ordered Captain Greene to return to quarters, where he arrived on the morning of the 30th November. The Cavalry came in with the prisoners the evening of the 29th.
To-day, the 4th of December, a man was brought into camp, prisoner, by Lieutenant Wellman (cavalry), who was found about sixty miles from here, toward Los Angeles, having papers on his person that would in a "Court of justice" crush by evidence of bad behavior, according to what I can learn, Showalter and some of his party. It seems that Showalter had, some two or three days ago, taken the "oath of allegiance," and had orders to "take up his bed and walk" whenever he might wish, after "taps" this morning. But, upon the arrival of Lieutenant Wellman with a new prisoner who had abundant papers that appear against the Showalter arrangement, the orders were countermanded, much to the discomfiture of Senor Showalter, who has since made divers threats, for all the oath went down so slippery.
As reported in the Sacramento Daily Union, 11 July 1861
EVACUATION OF SECESSIONISTS. – According to a correspondent of the Alta, writing from Los Angeles, the following parties recently left for Texas:
Alonzo Ridley, George W. Gift, David McKenzie, Thomas Stonehouse, Hugh May, William Skinner, William Bowers, Camran Frazer, William Jones, Dillon Jordan, J. J Dillard, James D. Darden, Dr. F. Sorrel, and some others – who are accompanied by ex-army officers General A. S. Johnston, Major L. Armistead, Lieutenant R. H. Brewer, A. Shaaff, E. B. Dudley, Riley, Mallory, Hardcastle and Wickliffe. Some of these persons expressed their intention of seeking service in the rebel army. Gift, according to report, will go into the navy. Crittenden, ex-member of the Legislature from El Dorado, who had conditionally offered his services to South Carolina, started with the party, but turned back on reaching Temecula.
Note: Major L. Armistead is General Armistead of Gettysburg fame (Pickett's Charge) and the 'High Water Mark of the Confederacy'.
Lewis Addison Armistead (February 18, 1817 – July 5, 1863)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
When the Civil War began, Captain Armistead was in command of the small garrison at the New San Diego Depot in San Diego, which was occupied in 1860. Armistead was friends with Winfield Scott Hancock, serving with him as a quartermaster in Los Angeles, California, before the Civil War. Accounts say that in a farewell party before leaving to join the Confederate army, Armistead told Hancock, "Goodby; you can never know what this has cost me."
When the war started, Armistead departed from California to Texas with the Los Angeles Mounted Rifles, then traveled east and received a commission as a major, but was quickly promoted to colonel of the 57th Virginia Infantry regiment. He served in the western part of Virginia, but soon returned to the east and General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. He fought as a brigade commander at Seven Pines, and under Lee in the Seven Days Battles (where he was chosen to spearhead the bloody, senseless assault on Malvern Hill), and Second Bull Run. At Antietam, he served as Lee's provost marshal, a frustrating job due to the high levels of desertion that plagued the army in that campaign. Then he was under command in the division of Maj. Gen. George Pickett at Fredericksburg. Because he was with Lt. Gen. James Longstreet's First Corps near Norfolk, Virginia, in the spring of 1863, he missed the Battle of Chancellorsville.
In the Battle of Gettysburg, Armistead's brigade arrived the evening of July 2, 1863. Armistead was mortally wounded the next day while leading his brigade towards the center of the Union line in Pickett's Charge. Armistead led his brigade from the front, waving his hat from the tip of his saber, and reached the stone wall at the "Angle", which served as the charge's objective. The brigade got farther in the charge than any other, an event sometimes known as the High Water Mark of the Confederacy, but it was quickly overwhelmed by a Union counterattack. Armistead was shot three times just after crossing the wall. His wounds were not believed to be mortal, being shot in the fleshy part of the arm and below the knee, and according to the surgeon that tended him, none of the wounds caused bone, artery, or nerve damage. When he went down he gave a Masonic sign asking for assistance. A fellow Mason, Captain Henry H. Bingham, a Union officer and later a higher officer and then a very influential Congressman, came to Armistead's assistance and offered to help. Bingham informed Armistead that Hancock, Armistead's old friend, had been commanding this part of the defensive line, but that Hancock, too, had just been wounded. This scene is featured in Michael Shaara's novel, The Killer Angels, in which Armistead is a principal character. He was then taken to a Union field hospital at the George Spangler Farm where he died two days later. Dr. Daniel Brinton, the chief surgeon at the Union hospital there, had expected Armistead to survive because he characterized the two bullet wounds as not of a "serious character." He wrote that the death "was not from his wounds directly, but from secondary fever and prostration."
Temecula Breaks Ground for 20-Ton Historical Monument
As reported in the Rancho California News – September 1969
Temecula, the oldest community in California still known by its original name, has a unique new monument honoring its first visitors and inhabitants which sets the town apart as one of the state's most historic spots.
Ground breaking ceremonies for the monument took place at 1 p.m., Aug. 14, on the grounds of Temecula's old school house just west of Front St. near the entrance to Rancho California.
The monument, when completed, will have a base 20 ft. square and approximatley three ft. high constructed of granite blocks taken from historic Temecula quarries.
On the base will stand a 20-ton boulder towering more than nine feet in the air. On the face of the boulder will be carved names of early explorers who passed through Temecula, Indian chiefs' names, and name of pioneers who settled in the valley.
Guest speaker at the ceremony was Tom Patterson who is with the Riverside County Historical Society and a reporter for the Riverside Press Enterprise. He talked about Temecula and her glamorous past.
The project is sponsored by the Temecula Chamber of Commerce with Howard Raish as president and Sam Hicks as chairman of the Historical Committee.
Jet Crashes on Vail Ranch
As reported in the Lake Elsinore Valley Sun
Thurday, 19 July 1962
(courtesy of Jeffrey Harmon, Temecula Valley Historical Society Field Researcher)
Monday morning at 9:30 just south of the Vail Ranch in Temecula, a F9F-8T Marine jet fighter trainer from El Toro, piloted by Capt. John C. Coffin of 2814 W. Castor in Santa Ana crashed. The plane was from the Marine Training Squadron Two at El Toro.
The crash resulted in three separate brush fires and wreckage was strewn over a wide area. Seventeen units of the State Division of Forestry were called to the scene and with the aid of three Hemet based borate bombers, the fires were quickly extinguished.
The main section of the plane made a crater in the ground approximately 10 feet deep. The largest part of the plane, a section of wing about 3 ft. long and 1 ft. in width was found. A picture of the plane part and the crater may be seen elsewhere in the Sun.
The pilot radioed to his base that he was bailing out. He landed in Vail Lake. According to an Elsinore Sheriff's deputy, Mrs. Anna Dagle, who is an employee at the ranch, heard the jet pass over and saw the pilot bail out. She then took a row boat and rowed out to the pilot who was apparently unharmed except for a wrenched back. By the time they reached shore a military helicopter was on hand to return the pilot to his base.
Temecula Blacksmith Escapes Mob Lynching
As reported in the San Francisco Call – Thursday, 15 November 1900
RIVERSIDE, Nov. 14. – Thomas P. Jones, a blacksmith of Temecula, a town forty miles south of this city, is under arrest, after having narrowly escaped lynching, charged by his own daughter with the paternity of her new-born babe.
Three months ago, Jones' daughter, who is 22 years old, was married to D.J. Tripp, a Temecula butcher. At the time of the marriage, it is said, the girl confessed all to him. When the child was born the husband made known its real paternity and Mrs. Tripp swore to a complaint against her father.
Jones, hearing of this action, attempted to escape into Mexico and had a good start when he was apprehended at Murrieta, fourteen miles away, by Deputy Sheriff Zimmerman. He returned to Temecula pending a preliminary hearing but when the citizens of the town heard of it, a mob soon formed and threats of lynching were openly made. Fearing that vengeance might be wreaked upon the prisoner, the officers quietly secured a buggy and spirited him away.
As reported in the San Francisco Call – Tuesday, 20 November 1900
Light Punishment for Thomas P. Jones' Crime
RIVERSIDE, Nov. 19.—Ten years in San Quentin was the sentence imposed upon Thomas P. Jones, the Temecula blacksmith, by Superior Judge Noyes this morning, after Jones had entered a plea of guilty to the charge of intimacy with his own daughter, who was recently married.
Jones had confessed since his arrest that this relation had existed for over four years and as a result two children had been born- Jones has been on the verge of nervous prostration ever since his arrest, fearing the infuriated citizens of Temecula would yet carry out their threats to take the law into their own hands. The prisoner will be taken north to-morrow in charge of Deputy Sheriff Hugh McConnville.


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These are also known as seven-layer or Hello Dolly bars. They take 30 minutes of hands-on prep and call for just eight ingredients, making them the perfect dessert for taking, well, just about anywhere!
How to Make It
Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottom and sides of an 8-inch square metal baking pan with parchment paper; cut off excess parchment paper around top edge of pan.
Place crumbs in a medium bowl. Drizzle with butter and 1 tablespoon water; toss with a fork until moist. Gently pat mixture into an even layer in prepared pan (do not press firmly). Sprinkle chips and morsels over crumb mixture. Top evenly with coconut and pecans. Drizzle milk evenly over top. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly around edges. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
Baking 101 Tip The bars can create a sticky mess in the pan, so it's crucial to line it with parchment paper. Because the milk needs to seep into the graham cracker crumbs, don't pack the crumbs too tightly in the bottom of the pan.
Cooking Light Lighten Up, America!

subset: commoncrawl


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West Side Laundromat is owned and operated by Trinity Lutheran Church. It is a great way that we can reach out to our community and provided a needed service, all while offering the hope and love of Jesus Christ with those who enter the doors. Dennis & Jocelyn manage the laundromat, along with volunteers Irv & Jerry, and they all do an awesome job keeping up with maintenance, and providing a warm, welcoming environment. Customers appreciate their welcoming smiles and the clean, well-kept facility!
Laundromat volunteers are needed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9-11 a.m. Volunteer opportunities include: cleaning the floors, vacuuming the rugs, cleaning the washers & dryers thoroughly, removing trash, recycling items, wiping counters, cleaning bathroom, coin box collection, and maintaining outside premises. If you would like to volunteer or learn more about our wonderful laundromat outreach, please click here. Thank you!


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!! History Commons Alert, Exciting News
This is a scalable context timeline. It contains events related to the event January 4, 2003: Witness Gives Stunning Details about Madrid Bombers and Their Attack Plans. You can narrow or broaden the context of this timeline by adjusting the zoom level. The lower the scale, the more relevant the items on average will be, while the higher the scale, the less relevant the items, on average, will be.
European operatives connected to al-Qaeda appear to be making preparations for a summit between lead hijacker Mohamed Atta and associate Ramzi bin al-Shibh in Spain to finalize the details of the 9/11 plot (see July 8-19, 2001). As these European operatives are known to Spanish authorities, the preparations are monitored. For example, a conversation between operatives Barakat Yarkas and Amer el-Azizi is overheard. However, Spanish authorities do not pass this information on to their German counterparts. [Wall Street Journal, 3/19/2004; Vanity Fair, 11/2004] El-Azizi is also overheard talking to an Algerian, possibly Mohammed Belfatmi, based in Tarragona, where Atta stays for part of the time he is in Spain. [Los Angeles Times, 4/29/2004] In one recorded conversation between Yarkas and another militant, Yarkas says that "Amer"—presumably a reference to Amer al-Azizi—is handling the arrangements for a meeting. [Los Angeles Times, 4/14/2004] Police will later find el-Azizi's address book; it contains the names of three contacts in the small town of Reus, where bin al-Shibh landed when he flew in from Germany. [Wall Street Journal, 4/7/2004] These European operatives hold a parallel meeting elsewhere in Spain (see July 6, 2001 and Shortly After) and some may also meet with Atta and bin al-Shibh (see July 8-19, 2001). El-Azizi's arrest will be frustrated by Spanish intelligence after 9/11 (see October 2001 and Shortly After November 21, 2001) and he will go on to be involved in the 2004 Madrid bombings (see Before March 11, 2004 and 7:37-7:42 a.m., March 11, 2004).
Entity Tags: Mohammed Belfatmi, Spanish intelligence, Amer el-Azizi, Barakat Yarkas
Timeline Tags: Complete 911 Timeline
The Spanish intelligence agency CESID (later renamed CNI) frustrates the arrest of a senior member of al-Qaeda in Europe, Amer el-Azizi, by Spanish police. Most members of the cell of which el-Azizi was a member were arrested shortly before, but el-Azizi had avoided the round-up by fleeing abroad (see October 2001). After returning to Spain, he again falls under police surveillance, but, according to Spanish police union head Jose Manuel Sanchez Fornet, his arrest is prevented by "interference" from CESID. Fornet will later say that a police recording made at this time shows two CESID agents going to el-Azizi's house. This alerts el-Azizi that he is under surveillance and he flees his home. [El Mundo (Madrid), 4/29/2004] El-Azizi then remains in Spain for some weeks, selling his car to an associate. When his apartment is searched, police find more than a dozen bags with radical Islamic books and videos. They also find videos of bin Laden on his computer and pamphlets from groups like Hamas. [Wall Street Journal, 3/19/2004; Wall Street Journal, 4/7/2004; Los Angeles Times, 4/29/2004] El-Azizi was arrested and released twice before (see October 10, 2000). He helped plan a meeting for Mohamed Atta just before 9/11 (see Before July 8, 2001 and July 8-19, 2001), and will go on to be involved in the Madrid train bombings (see Before March 11, 2004 and 7:37-7:42 a.m., March 11, 2004).
Entity Tags: Centro Nacional de Inteligencia, Amer el-Azizi, Jose Manuel Sanchez Fornet
In early September 2001, an Egyptian militant named Rabei Osman Sayed Ahmed moves from Germany to Spain. By December, Spanish officials open an investigation about him after noticing he is in frequent contact with other Islamist militants. One month later, Spanish investigators notify German officials that they have Ahmed under surveillance and request information about his background. Ahmed apparently is aware he is under surveillance and tries to keep a low profile. [Washington Post, 11/14/2004] But through him, investigators led by judge Baltasar Garzon begin monitoring other militants he meets. In May 2002, they start tapping the phones of Fouad el Morabit and Basel Ghalyoun. In June, they realize Ahmed is in contact with Serhane Abdelmajid Fakhet, who has already been under surveillance since 2000 (see October 19, 2001). They also learn at some point that he is in contact with the brothers Moutaz and Mouhannad Almallah. Investigators lose track of el Morabit a near the end of 2002 when he changes phones. They also lose track of Ghalyoun aroun the same time because his conversations apparently are not interesting enough. Ahmed also moves to France. [El Mundo (Madrid), 7/31/2005] However, in early 2003, investigators begin monitoring an apartment where all the suspects mentioned live or meet (see January 4, 2003). All of them will later be accused of being key players in the 2004 Madrid train bombings (see 7:37-7:42 a.m., March 11, 2004).
Entity Tags: Rabei Osman Sayed Ahmed, Serhane Abdelmajid Fakhet, Mouhannad Almallah, Basel Ghalyoun, Baltasar Garzon, Fouad el Morabit, Moutaz Almallah
It will later be alleged that in August 2002, radical imam Abu Qatada calls Spanish militant Moutaz Almallah and asks him to live with him in London. Almallah does move to London one month later. For most of 2002, Qatada is supposedly hiding in London, but in fact British intelligence knows where he is (see Late September 2001-Summer 2002 and Summer-Early November 2002), and he has a history of being an British informant (see June 1996-February 1997). The account of Moutaz moving to London comes from the estranged wife of his brother Mouhannad Almallah. Shortly after the Madrid bombings, she will tell a Spanish judge about the call and much more. She will say both brothers had frequent contact with Abu Qatada before moving. Spanish authorities also are aware that the brothers are linked to Barakat Yarkas, who frequently traveled to London to meet with Abu Qatada for many years (see 1995-February 2001). Abu Qatada will be arrested in October 2002, not long after Moutaz moves there (see October 23, 2002), but Moutaz will continue to live in London while making occasional trips back to Spain. Moutaz will be arrested in Britain in 2005. He will be extradited to Spain for a role in the 2004 Madrid train bombings, but will not have been put on trial by July 2007. In 2007, Mouhannad will be sentenced to 12 years for his role in the bombings (see October 31, 2007). [El Mundo (Madrid), 7/28/2005]
Entity Tags: Mouhannad Almallah's wife, Abu Qatada, Barakat Yarkas, Mouhannad Almallah, Moutaz Almallah
The wife of Mouhannad Almallah gives a statement against her husband to police. She says that he systematically beats her. She also accurately describes in detail his Islamist militant ties: She says that militants regularly met at her apartment. She and her husband have just moved, and militant continue to meet at their new apartment on Virgen del Coro street in Madrid. She says that her husband lived with Serhane Abdelmajid Fakhet for a month in December 2002. Mustapha Maymouni, Fakhet's brother-in-law, visited as well. They moved when they felt they were suspected by police. She saw her husband open several boxes and noticed they contained books and videos about Osama bin Laden. Her husband and his brother, Moutaz Almallah, strongly suspect their phones are being monitored. Moutaz lives in London but frequently visits Spain (see August 2002). She describes four particularly important meetings held in her apartment beginning in November 2002. Moutaz and Mouhannad Almallah, Fakhet, and Mayoumi attended all the meetings. Basel Ghalyoun attended the fourth one. In these meetings, they always speak of attack and jihad. They talk about bin Laden, but refer to him as "Emir." Sometimes her husband Mouhannad and Fakhet discuss Amer el-Azizi, who fled a police raid in November 2001 (see Shortly After November 21, 2001). She finds out they helped him escape Spain dressed as a woman. El-Azizi is believed to be linked to the 9/11 attacks (see Before July 8, 2001). Both Mouhannad and Fakhet remain in contact with el-Azizi by e-mail. Her husband's brother Moutaz does as well. She occasionally sees her husband with Jamal Ahmidan, alias "El Chino." Police apparently take her warnings seriously because they begin monitoring her apartment in March 2003 (see January 17, 2003-Late March 2004). Most of these people—Fakhet, el-Azizi, Ghalyoun, and both Almallah brothers—are already under surveillance (see December 2001-June 2002). [El Mundo (Madrid), 7/28/2005] All of the people she mentions are believed to have important roles in the 2004 Madrid bombings (see 7:37-7:42 a.m., March 11, 2004), except for Maymouni, who will be arrested and jailed later in 2003 for having a pivotal role in the May 2003 Casablanca bombings (see May 16, 2003).
Entity Tags: Basel Ghalyoun, Amer el-Azizi, Jamal Ahmidan, Serhane Abdelmajid Fakhet, Mouhannad Almallah, Moutaz Almallah, Osama bin Laden, Mouhannad Almallah's wife, Mustapha Maymouni
Beginning on January 17, 2003, Spanish police begin monitoring an apartment on Virgen de Coro street in Madrid owned by the brothers Moutaz and Mouhannad Almallah. Moutaz owns it but lives in London, so Mouhannad is the landlord and works there every day as well. Police were tipped off about the house earlier in the month by Mouhannad's estranged wife. She revealed that a group of Islamist militants are regularly meeting there (see January 4, 2003). [El Mundo (Madrid), 8/10/2005] Both Almallah brothers ties to known al-Qaeda figures such as Barakat Yarkas and radical imam Abu Qatada, and Moutaz moved to London in August 2002 to live with Qatada (see August 2002). In 2007, an unnamed Spanish police officer testifying in the Madrid bombings trial will give details about the surveillance of the apartment. He will call it an important place for both meetings and recruitment. The police note that both brothers travel frequently to and from London and also regularly call London. These calls are usually followed by calls to the Middle East or North Africa. Police are aware that Moutaz has no job in London and is in the circle of people around Abu Qatada (although Abu Qatada himself was arrested in late 2002 see (see October 23, 2002)). Basel Ghalyoun and Fouad el Morabit live at the apartment and frequently meet there with Mouhannad Almallah and Serhane Abdelmajid Fakhet. [El Mundo (Madrid), 3/21/2007] Ghalyoun will later admit that in early 2003, Fakhet began to "talk of carrying out an attack in Spain, making jihad…" He will say that others attending jihad meetings at the apartment in 2003 include Arish Rifaat and Rabei Osman Sayed Ahmed. [El Mundo (Madrid), 10/15/2005] Mohammed Larbi ben Sellam is also frequently seen there. [El Mundo (Madrid), 9/28/2004] The surveillance intensifies in subsequent months, and soon the apartment is monitored with video as well (see Spring 2003 and After). Police will keep watching the apartment until arrests are made after the March 2004 Madrid train bombings (see 7:37-7:42 a.m., March 11, 2004). Rifaat, Fakret, and others will allegedly blow themselves up shortly after the Madrid bombings (see 9:05 p.m., April 3, 2004). There are allegations Fakret was an informant (see Shortly After October 2003). Mouhannad Almallah, Ghalyoun, ben Sellam, and el Morabit will be convicted in 2007 and each sentenced to 12 years for roles in the bombings (see October 31, 2007). Ahmed will be convicted of different charges in Italy (see October 31, 2007). Curiously, when the apartment is raided shortly after the Madrid bombings, two documents belonging to police officer Ayman Maussili Kalaji will be found inside. Kalaji will admit to having a friendship with Moutaz Almallah dating back at least to 1995 (see May 16, 2005).
Entity Tags: Moutaz Almallah, Rabei Osman Sayed Ahmed, Mouhannad Almallah, Serhane Abdelmajid Fakhet, Mohammed Larbi ben Sellam, Mouhannad Almallah's wife, Basel Ghalyoun, Abu Qatada, Fouad el Morabit, Barakat Yarkas, Arish Rifaat
The wife of Mouhannad Almallah gave Spanish police stunning details about a group of Islamist militants planning attacks in January 2003 (see January 4, 2003), and she returns to the police to give them a new lead. She previously said that her husband, his brother Moutaz Almallah, Serhane Abdelmajid Fakhet, and Mustapha Maymouni have been holding meetings planning attacks. Now she says that her husband told her that "one day" he would like to attack the Torres Kio towers of the Plaza de Castilla, an important Madrid landmark, with a car bomb. That attack does not occur, but all the men she mentions will be killed or arrested for roles in the 2004 Madrid bombings, except for Maymouni, who will be arrested for a role in bombings in Casablanca several months later (see May 16, 2003). Police apparently take her warnings seriously because they begin monitoring her apartment one month later (see January 17, 2003-Late March 2004). The wife's brother, who is also Mouhannad's business partner, will testify in 2007 that Mouhannad also told him about a desire to destroy the Torres Kio towers. [El Mundo (Madrid), 7/28/2005; El Mundo (Madrid), 3/13/2007]
Entity Tags: Serhane Abdelmajid Fakhet, Moutaz Almallah, Mouhannad Almallah's wife, Mustapha Maymouni, Mouhannad Almallah
In January and February of 2003, the wife of suspected Islamist militant Mouhannad Almallah gave stunning details on the activities and planned attacks of a group of militants including her husband Mouhannad (see January 4, 2003 and February 12, 2003). She apparently grows estranged from him and sees him less and less in subsequent months. However, Spanish investigators are impressed with her revelations, especially since they had most of the group already under surveillance (see December 2001-June 2002). At some point, she is given a phone and a special number to call at any time she learns more about the group. The group frequently watches violent videos promoting jihad. For instance, one video shows a person in Afghanistan being buried up to his head in sand. There are also videos of radical imam Abu Qatada preaching. She manages to sneak some of the videos to the authorities and return them without being noticed. But most details about what warnings she gave after February 2003 remain unknown. [El Mundo (Madrid), 3/13/2007; El Mundo (Madrid), 3/13/2007]
Entity Tags: Mouhannad Almallah, Mouhannad Almallah's wife
In April 2003, Spanish police alert judge Baltasar Garzon to the existence of an Islamist militant cell in Madrid. Garzon has generally led al-Qaeda related investigations in Spain. An intelligence report to Garzon details a cell led by Mustapha Maymouni. Its assistant leaders are said to be Driss Chebli, Serhane Abdelmajid Fakhet, and the brothers Hassan and Mohammed Larbi ben Sellam. The cell is linked to the radical Takfir Wal Hijra movement and the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (MICG). The MICG is said to be led by Amer el-Azizi, who escaped arrest in Spain (see Shortly After November 21, 2001), and an international arrest warrant has been issued for him. The cell has links to el-Azizi as well. In fact, the wife of one of the cell members recently told the authorities that Fakhet and others are staying in contact with el-Azizi by e-mail (see January 4, 2003), a lead that apparently is not pursued. In May 2003, suicide bombings in Casablanca, Morocco, kill 45, and the MICG is quickly identified as the group behind the attacks. Maymouni had gone to Morocco just before the bombings and is arrested there later in May (see Late May-June 19, 2003). On June 25, 2003, Chebli is arrested in Spain for his links to the Casablanca bombings. He will later be accused of a minor role in the 9/11 plot and sentenced to six years in prison (see September 26, 2005). However, the others are not arrested at this time. The police who are monitoring Fakhet will later say they do not understand why Fakhet at least was not arrested after the Casablanca bombings due to his link to Maymouni, who is his brother-in-law. Authorities will claim he was not arrested because there was no evidence he was involved in any plot. [El Mundo (Madrid), 3/3/2007] However, this cell is being monitored by a variety of means, including the use of
an informant named Abdelkader Farssaoui, a.k.a. Cartagena (see October 2002-June 2003). Even before the Casablanca bombings, Farssaoui tells his handlers that this cell is discussing launching attacks in Morocco and Spain. [El Mundo (Madrid), 10/18/2004] Furthermore, a 2002 report said that Fakhet was preparing for "violent action" (see 2002). Farssaoui will later claim that he came across evidence that Fakhet was also an informant (see Shortly After October 2003). Fakhet will take over leadership of the group after Maymouni's arrest and will lead most of them in carrying out the Madrid train bombings (see 7:37-7:42 a.m., March 11, 2004).
Entity Tags: Takfir Wal Hijra, Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group, Serhane Abdelmajid Fakhet, Mustapha Maymouni, Mohammed Larbi ben Sellam, Driss Chebli, Abdelkader Farssaoui, Amer el-Azizi, Baltasar Garzon, Hassan ben Sellam
The Casa de Spain was one of the bombed buildings in Casablanca. [Source: Associated Press]Twelve suicide bombers attack five targets in Casablanca, Morocco, including a Jewish cultural center. Forty-five people are killed, including most of the bombers. Moroccan authorities link the bombers to the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (MICG), which is allegedly linked to al-Qaeda. After the attacks, Moroccan officials sentence two surviving bombers to death and round up thousands of people suspected of having ties to terrorism. [PBS Frontline, 1/25/2005] The suspected mastermind, Saad al-Houssaini, has extensive al-Qaeda ties and lived in Afghanistan for four years before 9/11. He will be captured in 2007. [Washington Post, 7/7/2007] The leader of the MICG is said to be Amer el-Azizi, who has links to the 9/11 attacks and the 2004 Madrid train bombings (see Before July 8, 2001 and Before March 11, 2004). [New Yorker, 7/26/2004] Some of the other leaders of the bombings are also said to be linked to the 2004 Madrid bombings (see 7:37-7:42 a.m., March 11, 2004). Also, Mohammed Fazazi, a radical imam who preached at the Hamburg mosque attended by some of the 9/11 hijackers, will be convicted for a role in the bombings (see 1993-Late 2001). [Irujo, 2005, pp. 241-242]
Entity Tags: Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group, Mohammed Fazazi, Al-Qaeda, Amer el-Azizi, Saad al-Houssaini
Jamal Ahmidan. [Source: Spanish Interior Ministry]Jamal Ahmidan, alias "El Chino," has a long history of drug dealing in Spain. In 2000, he returned to his home country of Morocco and was arrested on murder charges there. In July 2003, he is released and returns to Spain. He continues to deal drugs, but he allegedly became a radical Islamist while in prison as well. He soon meets Serhane Abdelmajid Fakhet, the leader of a group of Islamist militants in Madrid, and joins their group. But the group is being heavily monitored and soon Ahmidan is being monitored as well. For instance, Spanish police notice that Fakhet sometimes uses a car owned by Ahmidan's relatives (see Spring 2003 and After). The wife of one of the militants also informs for the police and reports on Ahmidan (see January 4, 2003). Ahmidan will prove to be the key link between the militants and a group of drug dealers (who are mostly also government informants) that supply the explosives enabling the militants to conduct the Madrid train bombings (see 7:37-7:42 a.m., March 11, 2004). [El Pais (Spain), 3/8/2007]
Entity Tags: Jamal Ahmidan, Serhane Abdelmajid Fakhet
Multiple bombs destroyed this train in Madrid, Spain. [Source: Rafa Roa/ Cover/ Corbis] (click image to enlarge)At about 7:40 a.m., four trains are bombed in Madrid, Spain, killing 191 people and injuring about 1,800 more. These are not suicide bombings, but were set by cell phone timers. Basque separatists are initially blamed, but evidence later points to people loosely associated with al-Qaeda. It will later be reported that 34 out of the 40 main people suspected or arrested for involvement in the bombings were under surveillance in Spain prior to the bombings (see Shortly Before March 11, 2004). Most of the bombers had never been to any training camps. In 2006, Spanish investigators will announce that the bombings were inspired by al-Qaeda, but not ordered or funded by al-Qaeda's leadership. Specifically, the bombers are said to have been inspired by a speech allegedly given by Osama bin Laden in October 2003 (see October 19, 2003). [New Yorker, 7/26/2004; Associated Press, 3/9/2006] However, there will also be evidence against this that will not be refuted. For instance, the investigators will claim that all the key participants are either dead or in jail, but a number of them remain free overseas. For example, Amer el-Azizi is implicated in the Madrid bombings (see Before March 11, 2004), and he has links to well-known al-Qaeda figures such as Khalid Shaikh Mohammed (see (November 2001)), Ramzi bin al-Shibh (see Before July 8, 2001), and Zacarias Moussaoui (see Before August 16, 2001). In late 2002 or early 2003, el-Azizi is said to have met with Serhane Abdelmajid Fakhet, one of the key bombers, to discuss a bombing. He reportedly gave Fakhet permission to stage a bombing in the name of al-Qaeda, but it is unclear if he gave any funding or other assistance. [Associated Press, 4/10/2004; New Yorker, 7/26/2004] There are suggestions that el-Azizi was protected by Spanish intelligence (see Shortly After November 21, 2001), so the government may not be eager to highlight his involvement. Fakhet, considered one of the three masterminds of the bombings, may have been a government informant (see Shortly After October 2003). Many of the other plotters also appear to have been informants, and almost all the plotters were under surveillance before the bombings (see Shortly Before March 11, 2004). Former counterterrorism "tsar" Richard Clarke will say later in the month: "If we catch [bin Laden] this summer, which I expect, it's two years too late. Because during those two years when forces were diverted to Iraq… al-Qaeda has metamorphosized into a hydra-headed organization with cells that are operating autonomously like the cells that operated in Madrid recently." [USA Today, 3/28/2004] It will be noted that the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US and the Madrid train bombings are separated by a total of 911 days. [MSNBC, 3/19/2004; Bloomberg, 4/22/2005]
Entity Tags: Osama bin Laden, Amer el-Azizi, Al-Qaeda, Richard A. Clarke, Serhane Abdelmajid Fakhet
On March 12, 2004, just one day after the Madrid train bombings (see 7:37-7:42 a.m., March 11, 2004), Spanish police ask for the monitoring of two likely suspects in the bombings to stop. Police ask that wiretaps on the phones of Jamal Ahmidan (alias "El Chino") and Othman El Gnaoui be halted. The reason for this request is unknown. Police have been monitored Ahmidan since at least 2002, and have linked him to a group of suspect Islamist militants (see July 2003 and January 4, 2003). Most of the key Madrid bombers will be linked to this group. Police had asked a witness about Ahmidan less than a week before the bombings (see Evening, March 4, 2004). It is not known how long El Gnaoui has been under surveillance, but he was questioned at a police station five days before the bombings, and Ahmidan had frequently called him in late February when both their phones were tapped (see Evening, March 5, 2004). In the early morning hours of March 12, investigators discovered a phone card belonging to Jamal Zougam that was connected to an unexploded bomb (see March 12, 2004). By 10:00 a.m. investigators begin tracing who Zougam called using that phone card. Several hours later, it is discovered that Zougam called Ahmidan and many of his associates. It is not known which comes first, the discovery of a link between Zougam and Ahmidan, or the request to stop monitoring Ahmidan and El Gnaoui's phones. But it appears the tapping of their phone does come to a stop and is not restarted for some days after that. Interestingly, the police also request to begin monitoring the phones of Rafa Zouhier. He is an informant who had a role in selling the explosives used in the bombings to Ahmidan (see September 2003-February 2004). [El Mundo (Madrid), 8/24/2005] Ahmidan will reportedly blow himself up a month after the bombings (see 9:05 p.m., April 3, 2004), while El Gnaoui will eventually be arrested and sentenced to life in prison for a role in the bombings (see October 31, 2007). Curiously, someone from within a police station will call El Gnaoui four times several weeks after the bombings and then try to hide this from investigators (see March 27-30, 2004).
Entity Tags: Jamal Zougam, Jamal Ahmidan, Rafa Zouhier, Othman El Gnaoui
The estranged wife of Mouhannad Almallah goes to the judge in charge of the Madrid train bombings investigation and tells him that her husband had been planning attacks in Madrid. So far Jamal Zougam is the main suspect known to the public, as his arrest was announced three days before (see 4:00 p.m., March 13, 2004). She says that her husband knew Zougam and talked about doing business with him in Morocco. [El Mundo (Madrid), 3/13/2007] A police officer confirms to the judge that she had already discussed many of these connections with police in January and February 2003. At that time, she named her husband, his brother Moutaz Almallah, Serhane Abdelmajid Fakhet, Basel Ghalyoun, Amer el-Azizi, Jamal Ahmidan, and others (see February 12, 2003 and January 4, 2003). These men will turn out to be most of the key players in the train bombings. All of them have been under surveillance for over a year at her apartment and elsewhere (see January 17, 2003-Late March 2004). She tells the judge additional details about the Almallah brothers' links to Abu Qatada, an imam linked to al-Qaeda (see August 2002). [El Mundo (Madrid), 7/28/2005; El Mundo (Madrid), 7/28/2005] Seemingly, her account, plus all the data collected from monitoring these suspects prior to the bombing, should be enough evidence to arrest the suspects. Strangely, many of the suspects continue to live where they lived before the bombing, and continue to use the same phones as before. For instance, Ahmidan, whom she named, lives at the same residence as before until March 18 (see March 27-30, 2004). But there seems to be no urgent effort to arrest or monitor them, nor are their names or pictures published until March 30. In fact, the apartment where Mouhannad Almallah and his wife lived that was monitored for over a year is not raided until March 24 (see March 24-30, 2004). [El Mundo (Madrid), 8/5/2005]
Entity Tags: Moutaz Almallah, Mouhannad Almallah, Serhane Abdelmajid Fakhet, Jamal Ahmidan, Amer el-Azizi, Jamal Zougam, Mouhannad Almallah's wife, Basel Ghalyoun
Spanish police raid the apartment of Mouhannad Almallah, an Islamist militant suspected of involvement in the March 11, 2004 Madrid train bombings (see 7:37-7:42 a.m., March 11, 2004). The apartment is owned by his brother, Moutaz Almallah. Mouhannad is arrested, but Moutaz is not, since he has been living in Britain since 2002 (see August 2002). Police also raid another apartment on Virgen del Coro street in Madrid owned by Moutaz, where several other bombing suspects, Basel Ghalyoun and Fouad el Morabit, have lived. Years of Surveillance - It is surprising police took so long to raid either apartment, since the Almallah brothers have been suspected militants for many years. [El Mundo (Madrid), 3/2/2005] Moutaz was considered the closest assistant to Barakas Yarkas, long-time head of an al-Qaeda cell in Madrid, and it appears he was monitored since 1995 because of his ties to Yarkas (see November 13, 2001). He also is known to have lived with the al-Qaeda-linked imam Abu Qatada in London in 2002 (see August 2002). Curiously, a police officer later suspected of a role in the Madrid bombings sold Moutaz an apartment in 1995 and then remained friends with him (see November 1995). [El Mundo (Madrid), 3/2/2005; BBC, 3/24/2005] Wife's Tips Do Not Lead to Arrests - Mouhannad had been a suspect since 1998, when it was discovered that another member of Yarkas's cell had filed a false document using Mouhannad's name. Furthermore, in January 2003 Mouhannad's estranged wife began informing against him and his militant associates (see February 12, 2003 and January 4, 2003). She exposed the brothers' connections to many suspect militants, including Jamal Zougam, who was arrested just two days after the Madrid bombings (see 4:00 p.m., March 13, 2004). As a result of her tips, police had monitored the Virgen del Coro apartment for a year and were still monitoring it when the Madrid bombings took place (see January 17, 2003-Late March 2004). Mouhannad's wife spoke to police five days after the bombings, reminding them of the link between Mouhannad and Zougam, so it is unclear why police waited 13 days to raid the Virgen del Coro apartment. [El Mundo (Madrid), 3/2/2005] Let Go Despite Confessing Knowledge of Attack Plans - Mouhannad is finally arrested because two witnesses saw Ghalyoun, one of the two militants living in the Virgen del Coro apartment, near the Madrid trains when they were bombed. Mouhannad admits knowing Zougam, the main suspect. He says he had gone to Zougam's shop to buy a charger for his phone. He says he knows Serhane Abdelmajid Fakhet, another prime suspect in the Madrid bombings, and that in the summer of 2003 Fakhet had proposed several times to "rob banks and jewelers" to finance an attack in Spain. Fakhet even told him that he wanted to go into police stations and kill as many people as possible. The police are also aware that Mouhannad's brother Moutaz and Fakhet were in telephone contact until at least a few days before the bombings. Yet incredibly, on March 30, Mouhannad is "provisionally released," while still be accused of having a link to the bombings. He continues to live openly in Madrid and is not rearrested. [El Mundo (Madrid), 3/2/2005; El Mundo (Madrid), 8/5/2005] Possible Involvement in Planned New York Attack - In the apartment where Mouhannad had been living, police find a sketch of the Grand Central Station in New York with precise annotations, leading to suspicions that some militants in Spain were planning a New York attack. However, it will take investigators several months to analyze and understand the sketch, as it is on a computer disc and accompanied by highly specialized technical data. [El Mundo (Madrid), 3/2/2005] He will be rearrested in Madrid on March 18, 2005, two weeks after it is widely reported that possible plans for a New York attack were found in his apartment. [El Mundo (Madrid), 8/5/2005] In 2006, a Spanish police report will conclude that the Almallah brothers had such important roles in the Madrid bombings that the bombings "possibly would not have occurred" without them. [Reuters, 3/8/2007] Mouhannad will eventually be sentenced to 12 years in prison (see March 18-19, 2005).
Entity Tags: Mouhannad Almallah's wife, Mouhannad Almallah, Fouad el Morabit, Serhane Abdelmajid Fakhet, Jamal Zougam, Moutaz Almallah, Basel Ghalyoun
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When you mention woodworking, the first thing that often comes to mind is power tools. However, you will also need a variety of hand tools for your workshop. For the beginner, it can be confusing and difficult to decide what to buy. Building a collection can be expensive and often small tools are overlooked. There are some ways to build your collection inexpensively. Hand Tools for Shaping Wood o Clamps: you will need a variety of types and sizes. Fortunately, these are generally inexpensive........ Read More
Keep Your Automotive Tools Handy
Now that you have your own car, it is important that you do have the right automotive tools in handy. This is because you would never know when your car might act up and you would need to do some adjustments or repairs yourself. You should have a set of the basic and the most used automotive tools for car owners. These automotive tools should be kept handy either in a car repair kit or box inside your car or even in your car's trunk. One of the first things that you should purchase for your ........ Read More
Keep Them Handy: Budgeting Tools That Work
Budgeting your monthly expenses in order to get the greatest return on your income (and perhaps, even put aside some for saving!) doesn't have to be extremely hard. Various budgeting programs are available for use. Money management programs provide you with a usual package that allows you to enter your cash inflows and outflows, categorizes your expenditures, and at times, presents to you analysis of your spending behavior. Through these programs you can also input the various payments y........ Read More
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January 6, 2017
So I want to get to know you slowly, gently - with no promises of tomorrow. I want to unfold like wild flowers that only bloom by the changing light of the moon. Quietly, mysteriously, with no need to arrive for anyone else - existing just as we are, bathed in midnight.
May 20, 2016
There is no way to predict upon which lands we will build our shelters,
or which waters will fill our wells and bathe our babes.
Try as we might to rearrange the stars or meddle with our tea leaves,
all we serve is to bring laughter to the lips of Fate,
and the planets continue their orbits.
No matter how neat and tidy our calendars,
and how well-penned our budgets,
They will be burned within the fires that warm future nights,
and blow as ashes into the atmosphere.
We can lay our bricks and dream up our dreams,
and still nothing we try to make certain is guaranteed to be.
For we can till our land and dirty our hands
and still not force forth from the earth
that which she does not yield willingly.
At least not for very long.
We certainly can chase upon the heels
the exasperated future that just does not want to be.
We can set upon the hunt
to trap the partners and unborn children never meant for us.
We can live lives we steal,
and sleep in beds never meant for o...
May 13, 2016
Tomorrow. Later. Next week.
The minutes slide by seemingly unnoticed, the earth's rotation lulling us in its subtle rhythm of moments come and gone. Each day, then year and finally decade filled with so many glorious memories and trivial trials that fade the vibrancy of the dreams we once promised we would never forget. With the best of intentions and the most complacent of energies, we put it all off. Let it all go.
And when those dreams sing out in the quiet of a sleepless night, it is a painful pang of what was once so important. We remember fully, a time of personal glory when we felt so capable and determined to be unlike those who told us we just could not. We remember the obstinance that filled our blood when those who gave up told us we should be responsible and realistic, and give up, too. We remember what it felt like to be sleepless for the passion, the excitement, the anticipation of chasing what our hearts wanted so, so badly. We remember.


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--:-- • --:--Пример экскурсии
There's a rosy-beige building with white brick decoration nestling between two brick buildings – it used to be a Mansion Apartment building. At the ground floor you'll find the entrance to the Yama beer-tavern.
The former Mansion Apartment block on Novaya or new offers a chance to imagine how office blocks in the 'industrial' style of the 1920s looked. This little corner of Moscow looks remarkably like parts of St.Petersburg. Behind one single street facade there might be several different buildings – just as Tsar Peter I wanted. It looks a little strange to see this kind of industrial architecture in the city centre. In bygone years this area on Novaya and Staraya or old Square was home to a teeming market. The market traders operated from specially-constructed rows of wooden stalls and kiosks. Today the building we see here houses the offices of several companies, while the ground floor has a beer-tavern called Yama.
Kitay-gorod is one of the oldest parts of Moscow. It appeared nearby the old wooden Kremlin. Although the name translates as "Chinatown," it probably derives from kita (wattle), referring to the wall that surrounded this early Kremlin suburb. Today, remains of an old city wall and colorful churches are scattered throughout this ancient neighborhood.
The stone walls were erected in the 16th century by an Italian architect known under the name Petrok Maly and originally featured 13 towers and six gates. They were as thick as they were high. The last of the towers were demolished in the 1930s, but small portions of the wall still stand. One of two remaining parts of the wall is located in Zaryadye and the other near the exit from the Okhotny Ryad station of Moscow Metro behind the Hotel Metropol.
Kitay-gorod starts at Red Square. Apart from Red Square, the quarter is bordered by the chain of Central Squares of Moscow, notably Theatre Square (in front of Bolshoi Theatre), Lubyanka Square (in front of the KGB headquarters), and Slavyanskaya Square.
Since time immemorial Kitay-gorod has been developing as a trading area. And for centuries it was known as the most prestigious business area of Moscow. Its three main streets — Varvarka, Ilyinka, and Nikolskaya — are lined with banks, shops, and storehouses. There are also lots of historical buildings that relate to the heritage of the federal and global importance now.
In our tour you will walk along Nikolskaya Street that is famous for being the site of Moscow's first university, the Slavic Greek Latin Academy, housed in extant Zaikonospassky monastery (1660s). Another monastery cathedral, the main church of Epiphany Bogoyavlensky Monastery (1690s), is the oldest male monastery in Moscow, stands in the middle of Kitay-gorod in the eponymous Bogoyavlensky Lane. The 18th century survives in the exterior walls of the otherwise rebuilt Gostiny Dvor (Guest Merchant's Court) by Giacomo Quarenghi.
A whole quarter of Kitay-gorod adjacent to the Moskva River and known as Zaryadye (now just Varvarka Street) was demolished in the 20th century, sparing only those structures that were classified as historic monuments. These include the Cathedral of the Sign (1679–84), the Church of All Saints (1680s), St. George's Church on Pskov Hill (1657), St. Maksim's Church (1698), St. Anna's Church at the Corner (1510s), St. Barbara's Church (1796–1804), the Old English Embassy (1550s), and the 16th century Romanov boyar residence. The two last are the museums. You can visit them to see the life of the first Romanovs in the 16-17th centuries.


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West Coast Crab Strike Ends in 12-Cent Increase
(CN) – West Coast Dungeness crab fishermen struck a deal Friday with a major seafood wholesaler to end a strike that kept fishing boats from Washington to California docked for over a week.
Fishermen negotiated a 12-cent increase with influential buyer Pacific Choice Seafood, raising Dungeness crab prices to $2.87 per pound.
The strike began on Dec. 28, after Pacific Choice Seafood announced it was dropping crab prices from the negotiated price of $3 per pound to $2.75. Fishermen claimed the Eureka-based conglomerate abrupt price cut came less than two months after negotiating with West Coast fishermen.
Fishermen from Oregon and Washington joined the California strike and quickly tied up their boats. The Humboldt Fishermen's Marketing Association said nearly 1,200 boats were docked during the holiday strike.
Pacific Seafood's general counsel Dan Occhipinti said the agreement is good for both sides and helps put the fishing community back to work.
"The final agreement is a good result that gets fishermen back on the water, jobs going in the processing plants and fresh sustainable Dungeness crab onto family dinner tables across America," Occhipinti said in an email.
While the sides reached an agreement Friday, turbulent weather kept crab fishermen off the Pacific Ocean over the weekend. A series of storms battered Northern California and more wet weather is predicted this week.
California's commercial crab season, which was suspended for major stretches last year because of a toxic algae bloom, is open until July 30.


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POSA Membership
Thank you for your interest in joining our chapter! Your membership helps fund our self-sustaining organization and allows us to continue to serve as a resource for music educators in the greater Portland area.
Please note that the option below is for joining the local Portland branch of the AOSA. To access countless benefits of national membership, and to continue to strengthen your local POSA chapter, please also consider purchasing a membership with our national AOSA organization (register by clicking here).
Members receive reduced admission to workshops, and your membership helps strengthen the organization.
Category: Uncategorized


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BROOMFIELD, Colo., Oct. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) will make a Company presentation on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 at the Deutsche Bank 20th Annual Leveraged Finance Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona at approximately 8:30 a.m. MDT. A complete copy of the presentation will be available by visiting our website at www.vailresorts.com/investors.
About Vail Resorts
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resorts of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado, and Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada, and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.
SOURCE Vail Resorts, Inc.


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Torture and Pacifism
Marc Thiessen at National Review:
Jonah is absolutely right that opposition to waterboarding is an honorable position — but it's a little more like pacifism than opposition to the death penalty. As I explain in Courting Disaster, the evidence is overwhelming that waterboarding helped stop a number of terrorist attacks. Which means if you oppose waterboarding in all circumstances, it means you are willing to accept as the price another terrorist attack.
That does not mean we have to waterboard Abdulmutallab, or even use enhanced techniques on him. Use of those tactics should be rare, and reserved only for those who we are confident are withholding actionable intelligence on active threats.
Those who argue that we should not used enhanced techniques even on the KSM's of the world are effectively arguing from a position of radical pacifism. They are opposed to coercion no matter what the cost in innocent lives. We should respect their opinion, they way we respect the right of conscientious objectors to abstain from military service. But that does not mean we put pacifists in charge of decisions on war and peace. Same should go for decisions when it comes to interrogation.
Even the most cursory reflection on history demonstrates how blinkered this argument is. Were the Americans who fought World War II but objected to torturing knowledgeable German and Japanese POWs therefore radical pacifists? Are decorated combat veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq suddenly transformed into pacifists when they raise objections to waterboarding?
It wasn't so long ago that torture advocates insisted that it must be preserved as an option to prevent imminent attacks with weapons of mass destruction. Their ticking time bomb scenario was always unrealistic, and a flawed foundation for a legal regime, but somehow we've reached a far worse point in the debate where torture is deemed acceptable absent any imminent threat, or else opposing torture is deemed tantamount to pacifism, despite the obvious and incontrovertible fact that plenty of people who demonstrably aren't pacifists oppose it.
UPDATE: Isaac Chotiner adds:
The only bright spot in the cases of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian who tried to blow up that Christmas Day flight, and the five men who went to Pakistan to receive terrorist training, was that members of the wannabe-terrorists' families approached authorities because of their children's behavior. As an ever-larger percentage of right-wing commentators demand that Abdulmutallab be water-boarded or worse, it does seem worth asking whether parents will offer their children up to law enforcement if they—the parents—believe their kids will be tortured.
Nor will captured terrorists say things like "there are more guys like me coming" if the result is always torture to find out more.


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Like this link - blah.html. I have put this in the exclude box in many different ways, ie:blah.html
Ok I have added this link - [ External links are visible to forum administrators only ] - to the Do not Parse and Exclude Urls bot and it is still being added to my sitemap. I have tried many configurations like;
This solution didn't work either. What are these links? ( this=1, this=2. etc ). Like I said they don't exist in my website and are being generated by the Sitemap Generator.


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Terry Krezmer
Chief Human Resources Officer
Veteran corporate executive Terry Krezmer integrates more than three decades of human resources experience into her leadership role with LDG, with specialties ranging from performance management and organization culture development to team management and succession planning. As a valued business partner with the company's operating divisions, she focuses on connecting vision and core values to position LDG as a diverse employer of choice and to inspire an engaged, high performance workforce in 10 offices. And as an LDG board director, she brings a valued HR perspective to the company's most strategic decision-making.
Terry and her team have accomplished much in a short time. Their wins have included upgrading and simplifying employee payroll and benefits platform systems, creating an annual incentive compensation program to spur higher levels of achievement and strengthening a public-facing recruiting initiative to attract high quality candidates. She also has led revision of LDG's compensation system to meet industry standards and be more market-competitive and is a force for promoting safety in all workplace activities. She gives her team the freedom to pursue greater levels of responsibility and independence to bolster their development as professionals.
Earlier in her career, Terry served in HR management roles with global manufacturer Lonza Inc. and Williamsport Wire Rope. While with Lonza's Specialty Ingredient Segment, she helped provide support services for more than 2,800 employees working at 45 sites in 16 countries. She is an alumna of Leadership Lycoming and HR Leadership Academy of the Corporate Executive Board. She received her bachelor of science, summa cum laude, from Lock Haven University in 1991.


text:
The medical device field has its problems -- but Jan Wald thinks the stocks of medical device makers may be excellent defensive plays in the current market environment.
"Valuations of these stocks are pretty low at this point," the Stanford Group managing director told CNBC. "What you want to make sure of is that the markets are actually on the upward side of momentum."
Wald thinks the stent market fits that description.
"We've got data now from Boston Scientific, we've had data previously, that suggest that that market at least is stabilizing and starting to improve," he said.
"It looks like it might be a good time to move into Boston Scientific or Johnson & Johnson, one of the two players in the market right now in the U.S., Medtronic down the road, Abbott down the road as well," he added.
Wald owns shares of Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson, and Medtronic.


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Congratulations! You have decided to own your own home. At GreatNEST. we love to help first-time homebuyers better understand their purchase options. We'll be your dedicated
guides and advocates. Buying a home is exciting and can be overwhelming. Our experts will be with you every step of the way to make the process easy!
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text:
Generate Bar Code In Crystal Reports .Net
Please click the button above to download cruflbcsnet.dll for Crystal Reports .Net : Barcodesoft dot net solution for generating barcode in Crystal Reports .Net.
You will find different versions of barcode DLL for both x86 and x64 systems. Please choose the one DLL that fits your system and dot net framework version.
1. Unlock the DLL as instructed below. Right click cruflbcsnet.dll in Windows explorer and choose Properties from context menu. Click Unblock button as shown below.
2. Register the barcode DLL: cruflbcsnet.dll.
Right click DOS prompt and choose "Run as administrator" from context menu to open DOS prompt as administrator and type in the following command.
For x64 systems:
%windir%\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\regasm cruflbcsnet.dll /codebase
For x86 systems:
%windir%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\regasm cruflbcsnet.dll /codebase
It's supposed to return "Types registered successfully" message.
Now, you will be able to find all barcode functions in the Function List in Crystal Reports, such as BcsNetQRCode, BcsNetCode128B, BcsNetPDF417, BcsNetUPCA, BcsNetCode39, BcsNetDataMatrix etc.
3. Grant full trust to cruflbcsnet.dll.
Right click DOS prompt and choose "Run as administrator" from context menu to open DOS prompt as administrator and type in the following command.
%windir%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\CasPol.exe -m -ag 1.2 -url file://DLLPathName/* FullTrust
It will ask you the following question: The operation you are performing will alter security policy. Are you sure you want to perform this operation?
Please type "y" for yes and your system will grant full trust to barcode DLL for Crystal Reports .Net.
barcode space
To download crUFLBcsNet.dll for Crystal Reports .Net, please click the following URL


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Visiting London is a momentous occasion for anyone, it's a bustling city full of culture, diversity and sophistication, which promises each visitor a good time. However, if you're visiting London purely to mark a special occasion, then you'll certainly have a time to remember. Having a tight budget needn't hinder your celebrations either, as there are some incredible room rates available at various accommodation in Paddington, London.
Whether it's a milestone birthday or a special anniversary that brings you to the city, London is sure to be the perfect backdrop for any celebration. Regardless of whether it's an intimate dinner for two you're planning, or a big family meal, there's a restaurant within close proximity that promises perfection wherever you are in the city. In fact, if you've opted to stay in one of the luxurious hotels situated near Marble Arch, then you might even want to hibernate away in one of the London City suites by the Montcalm, and order some fine dining via room service.
For a really indulgent treat, why not surprise your loved one with a meal at Duck and Waffle situated on the top floor of Heron Tower? It's the perfect setting for a romantic night out for two, or even to pop the question! Imagine proposing against the cityscape back drop of the hub of Great Britain- can you picture your loved one's face as you ask them to be yours forever in such a magnificent setting?
If you were looking for something a little more low-key to celebrate, then how about planning a posh picnic and packing all of your favourite treats into a bag or basket and heading for the great outdoors? Visiting the zoo is always lots of fun, and London has a brilliant one that's great value for money. You could spend the morning wandering around the many different animal enclosures and then find a nice quiet spot to set out your picnic. This is an especially exciting way to spend a special day if you are travelling with children, as they will love being able to watch the animals in their habitats following the London Zoo guide and then getting to play in the park area.
However you decide to spend your special day, be sure to take lots of pictures on your smart phone or camera, as there's nothing quite like getting home and showing off your interesting photos to family and friends. Not only will it make them slightly envious of the amazing time you had, but you'll also get to prolong that exhilarating holiday feel simply by retelling your adventures. You can also print them off at a store or even on your home printer and create a scrapbook- it's a great rainy day activity and ensures that your memories stay alive forever.


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How to study abroad
Studying abroad – spend one semester in a different country, among different cultures, and in an international environment – acquire credits for your degree while improving your language skills and your intercultural competence – meet other students from all over the world and build your personal network – leave your comfort zone behind and develop both academically and personally – experience an unforgettable time and meanwhile, gain "that certain something" for your CV that most recruiters are looking for – got your attention?
1. Gather information
- Visit one of our information events at the beginning of every semester! Missed the events? You can find our presentations in the right column!
- Choose one or more of our partner universities which are interesting for you and your course of study – you can choose individually based on your interests!
- Please take attention towards the required language certificate for your chosen partner university so that you can attend relevant language courses or take an examination within time, for example at the ZESS
- Participate in our Exchange@WIWI events and the Study Buddy Program and get in contact with former outgoing students as well as international exchange students to prepare for your semester abroad
- If you need any more advice or have any questions - you are welcome to contact our Study Abroad Advisory team!
2. Send us your application
- You can apply for three different programs which you can find below. In any of your applications you are free to select a number of universities where you would like to study. Also, you can apply for more than one program at the same time. Please note the different application deadlines for all three programs:
- Erasmus+: 31th January for the coming academic year (for a stay in the summer or winter term)
- Worldwide Program of our Faculty: 15th January for the following winter term, 15th June for the following summer term
- Worldwide Program from Göttingen International: 1st December for the following winter term, 1st June for the following summer term
- You can find more information on our partner universities as well as required documents for your application under the three different programs above.
- After you sent us your application we are going to evaluate them. In certain cases there might be a personal interview before we nominate you at our partner university and all following preparations can start.
3. Apply at the host University and get ready!
- After the nomination there are a couple of documents and formalities which need to be handed in at the partner university. Afterwards, you will receive all important information for your semester abroad.
- Once you are registered at the partner university, we are happy to support you with all your questions regarding your preparations, your course selection, learning agreement, accreditation of your courses, etc.
- If you have any questions regarding these four steps, feel free to come to the office hour of the Study Abroad Advisory team. Otherwise, we are looking forward to receiving your application soon!


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July 30th, 2018: Meanwhile, in strategy games...30 Jul 2018 0
We're going to be making these updates an official weekly thing now, much like how our sister websites have their own weekly updates. We'll still be covering big news as and when it drops where possible but rest assured that if not it'll turn up in an update near you.
Meanwhile, in strategy games…
Gladius: Relics of War
Slitherine/Matrix Games have been focusing a lot more on their mainstream strategy initiatives lately than normal, so much so that our sister website Wargamer.com often doesn't have anything to talk about! Their most recent release was Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War, a 4X/Wargame hybrid that gave players a Civ-like experience in the 40K universe.
We really enjoyed it when it came to review, and for anyone else who's also been having a good time playing the game you'll be pleased to know that it was successful enough to warrant plenty more content post-release.
Along with plenty of patches and tweaks to keep improving the user experience, Slitherine also plan to add more races into Gladius as well. The base game comes with the Necrons, Orks, Space Marines and the Imperial Guard. We suspect the licencing deal with Gladius is a lot more flexible than with past 40K games from the company, so I'd be surprised if there's any faction left out this time around.
You can read the Q&A in full here.
Aggressors: Ancient Rome
We also have a release date for Slitherine's other upcoming 4X strategy release – Aggressors: Ancient Rome is set during ancients times, around the rise of the Roman Empire. You get to choose to play as one of twenty iconic civilizations from the Mediterranean. There's a detailed political and economic model, tactically engaging combat, as well as plenty of rich historical flavour.
Aggressors is due out on August 30th.
Age of Wonders: Planetfall
We've not been consistently checking in with Triumph Studios' Age of Wonders sci-fi spin off Planetfall. We were very impressed with what we saw back at PDXCON, and the dev diaries keep revealing more and more reasons why this is going to be a great game when it releases next year.
The past three dev diaries have been looking at the tactical combat layer. Unlike most other 4X games, Planetfall has a separate tactical layer where you can choose to fight your battles (making it more like a Total War game). The first diary looks at combat in general – accuracy, various tactical abilities as well as a quick look at the damage formula.
The most recent two diaries have been looking specifically at combat units, from the Vanguard Assault Bike, to last week's Amazon Lancer, amongst others. We highly suggest you check them out.
Blood Bowl: Death Zone
A new early access game has appeared recently – Blood Bowl: Death Zone. It's being developed by Cyanide Studios – the team who brought you Blood Bowl II. They've not partnered with Focus Home Interactive with this one, instead they're working with Bigben interactive.
We're not sure how Death Zone compares to Blood Bowl II at this point – it may be the focus is more on the action rather than the management aspects, but it's set to feature 15 Teams based on popular races from Blood Bowl, 10+ Star Players, over 20 unique abilities and five arenas.
There seems to be a focus on online multiplayer, so perhaps they're trying to make a more 'eSports friendly' version of the franchise?
That's all for this week's round-up - see you next time!
Log in to join the discussion.


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Not in your backyard?
I don't consider myself either pro- or anti- gas and oil industry. I do consider the options – safe, sound, and scientific energy. I sent the specs for the Sandy Hill water treatment facility project to a ground water engineer from an engineering firm in Centennial. Her assessment of the proposed project was, as she stated, "typical." That being said, the next sentence in her assessment stated that if this project was being built near her home she would be, "less than thrilled."
The largest and most pressing issue is that of safety. Contamination of groundwater aquifers is a concern in several states, including Colorado. Documented leaking of previously sound wells has occurred in many states. Don't be fooled by project engineers calling the waste saltwater or brine; it has also been shown to contain cancer causing ingredients such as benzene.
Additionally, we only have to look at the effects of the changes on Weld County Road 49 between Greeley and Kersey to see profound traffic pattern changes. What was once a primarily county ag road has turned into a major truck corridor. Fast moving waste water trucks have little time to react to people, wildlife or vehicles pulling out from adjacent county roads. In exhibit T on page 8 of the project permit,there is information that states at its peak, this project can have up to 400 trucks daily toting waste water to and from the facility. Do the math: 400 one way daily trips equals 16 trucks an hour, or one truck rambling by every 4 minutes.
Lastly, how is this going to benefit Morgan County residents? Weld and Logan County are harvesting natural gas and oil – and the residents of those counties are reaping the rewards with school improvements, safer roads, stronger law enforcement and new emergency management systems. This is not that kind of project. Truckers won't be stopping for lunch or banking at the local branch. They won't be filling up their tanks or moving their families to Morgan County. In the meantime, Are we really going to allow this project to move forward in the words of Tetratech company vice president Lee Robinson "with the hopes that someday several people will move to Morgan County if the county has a water source they can use for industrial purposes"? I contacted the project engineer from Tetra Tech, Elaine Porter. ""There will be financial incentives for the county. We just don't know what that will look like yet." That doesn't sound like a great business plan for Morgan County.
John Croswait and the Morgan County Planning and Zoning Department — take pause. Let's get all the facts. If you think it's not in your backyard because you don't live in or around Brush think again. My fear, and I hope I am mistaken, is that Morgan County could become the dumping ground toxic water with injection wells dotting our county. All it takes is a few landowners who are willing to sell to anyone for any reason if the price is right. If the board approves this injection well there is no reason to believe there won't be many more that spring up sooner than later- possibly in your backyard.
If you would like a forum for information sharing, important community and project contact information or pertinent research articles please go to brushtroubledwaters,blogspot.com
Roxanne Cook