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Rose Marie Pearson Interview
Friday, January 11, 2013 - 10:00 a.m.
Rose Marie Pearson attended the conference where Jared Plunk was murdered. Detectives Murphy and Parker interviewed her at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department. The interview was recorded with the witness's knowledge and consent.
- Detective S. Murphy
- Detective E. Parker
- Rose Marie Pearson
Detective Murphy: Good afternoon, and thank you for coming in.
Rose Marie Pearson: Good day. I'm willing do whatever I can to help, although I'm glad that dreadful man is dead.
Detective Murphy: Would you state your name and address before we begin?
Rose Marie Pearson: My name is Rose Marie Pearson, but you can call me Rosie. I live at 6848 Bay Point Drive in Macon, Georgia.
Detective Murphy: Where were you when Mr. Plunk was murdered?
Rose Marie Pearson: Why, I was right there, standing in the lobby. I had no idea what had happened until I saw the police.
Detective Parker: What time was this?
Rose Marie Pearson: Oh, about 5:30, 6:00 a.m.?
Detective Murphy: Can you tell us what you saw, if anything?
Rose Marie Pearson: Oh, I'm happy to tell you. I saw the strangest little man snooping around. I could hear him mumbling to himself. I distinctly heard the words "aliens" and "man turned into a woman." I think he must have escaped from a mental ward somewhere or the other.
Detective Murphy: Do you know his name?
Rose Marie Pearson: No, I never saw him before, and I don't fancy seeing him again.
Detective Murphy: Did you see anyone else?
Rose Marie Pearson: Yes, as a matter of fact, I did. I saw another Elvis tribute artist, and he did the same thing I did. I guess his clothes were scratching him, too.
Detective Murphy: What do you mean, "the same thing I did?"
Rose Marie Pearson: When I do my singing and dancing tribute to the King, I wear my Elvis costume, so I put it on early that morning and went downstairs to the stage to practice. I hadn't been asked to perform, but I wanted to be ready just in case, you see? I was wearing one of my white jumpsuit costumes, and it was scratching me, so I just removed it. I had on a t-shirt and leggings underneath, of course.
Detective Parker: So this other tribute artist also removed his costume? Is that what you're saying?
Rose Marie Pearson: Yes, but he wasn't very professional because he had it all wadded up in a ball under his arm. That's just going to make it all wrinkled.
Detective Parker: Then how did you know it was an Elvis costume?
Rose Marie Pearson: Detective, nobody knows Elvis better than me. I know an Elvis costume when I see one. Besides, he still had the wig on.
Detective Murphy: Can you describe what he looked like?
Rose Marie Pearson: I didn't really pay attention. I was more focused on what he was doing to that jumpsuit. So disrespectful.
Detective Murphy: Did you see where the other tribute artist went?
Rose Marie Pearson: No, I didn't. I was more worried about that tomfool crazy man.
Detective Murphy: Did you see anyone else that morning?
Rose Marie Pearson: Yes, I saw that Mr. Boyd earlier, upstairs in the hallway when I left my room to go downstairs.
Detective Parker: You know Mr. Boyd?
Rose Marie Pearson: I met him at the conference.
Detective Murphy: Did you notice what he was doing or which way he was going?
Rose Marie Pearson: I think he must've been heading for the elevator because he went in the opposite direction. I was going to the stairs. I like the exercise.
Detective Murphy: Did you see him after that?
Rose Marie Pearson: No, but I did see that nice Mrs. Boyd. Seems like a lot of people were up early that morning.
Detective Murphy: Yes, it seems so. Now can you tell us what you know about Mr. Plunk?
Rose Marie Pearson: I know he was a despicable human being. He was going to say bad things about the King.
Detective Parker: Excuse me, but are you nervous? You've been waving that scarf around a lot.
Rose Marie Pearson: Oh, this is my special scarf that Elvis gave me. I'm never without it.
Detective Parker: Are you crying?
Rose Marie Pearson: No, not on purpose, anyway. When I think of Mr. Plunk and his intentions, I feel so sad for Elvis.
Detective Murphy: How did you learn of Mr. Plunk's intentions, Mrs. Pearson?
Rose Marie Pearson: I know a lot of Elvis' fans, and one of them told me that she had heard it through the grapevine. So I knew I just had to attend this convention and stop him if I could.
Detective Parker: How did you plan on stopping him?
Rose Marie Pearson: I guess it's OK to tell you now since someone else killed him. I knew when Elvis threw his scarf to me that he loved me. So I wanted to do something to show him how much I cared for him. I was going to murder Jared Plunk. He didn't deserve to live, especially not since he was intending to spread some kind of horrible lies about our beloved Elvis.
Detective Parker: So you went to the conference to kill Jared Plunk?
Rose Marie Pearson: That's right.
Detective Parker: And then you stabbed him.
Rose Marie Pearson: Mercy me, no. I would never stab someone. Too messy. I was going to put rat poison in his drink.
Detective Parker: You don't think that would be messy?
Rose Marie Pearson: It doesn't matter anyway. Someone else saved me the trouble.
Detective Parker: And who might that be?
Rose Marie Pearson: I haven't a single clue.
Detective Parker: Are you sure?
Rose Marie Pearson: My mama taught me to never tell a lie.
Detective Parker: Did your mama also teach you to never murder anyone?
Rose Marie Pearson: How dare you insult me in that way, and my poor dead mother too! I was beside myself when I realized I had to get Plunk out of this world. And besides, I told you I didn't do it.
Detective Parker: Maybe you had this planned all along and thought this would be a good way to fool us into believing that you're innocent.
Rose Marie Pearson: Wouldn't that be hard to prove? You need to learn some manners, young lady. Do you go around accusing everyone of murder? I'm ready to leave now. I've offered my services, and this is the way you treat me!
Detective Murphy: OK, OK. Everybody settle down now. You may go, but we might need your services again, so please keep that in mind, Mrs. Pearson.
Rose Marie Pearson: You can call me Rosie, ma'am. But Detective Parker, it's Mrs. Pearson to you. Good day.
Detective Parker: Goodbye for now. I'm sure we'll be seeing you again.
Interview ends - 10:29 a.m.


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Mission Gallery
Mission Gallery is one of Wales' most unique arts venues showing the very best in the visual arts and craft in one of the most distinctive, and best adapted, spaces for the arts in Wales. Hosting a stimulating programme of contemporary visual art and craft, it successfully combines the historic and contemporary within its beautiful exhibition and gallery spaces. An independent art gallery in Swansea's vibrant Maritime Quarter, Mission Gallery is situated in a prime location; a part of Swansea designated as an area of regeneration and where there is a concentration of cultural activities supported by the City and County of Swansea.
Divided into two spaces, an Exhibition and a Craft Space, Mission Gallery is highly regarded in Wales and beyond. The Craft Space features a changing display of contemporary glass, ceramics, jewellery and textiles, specialising in a comprehensive selection of work by top designers/makers. The Exhibition Space hosts an exciting programme of contemporary visual art and craft featuring the work of established and emerging artists and makers, many with national and international profiles.
Venue Type:
Tuesday - Sunday 11am - 5pm
Closed Mondays
Open Bank Holidays
Mission Gallery
Gloucester Place
Maritime Quarter
Vale of Glamorgan
01792 652016


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United African-Asian Abilities Club et al v. West Park Apartments, LLC et al
Plaintiff: United African-Asian Abilities Club and Ralpha Harold Mack, Junior
Defendant: West Park Apartments, LLC and J & R Land Company, Inc.
Case Number: 4:2018cv00244
Filed: January 11, 2018
Court: California Northern District Court
Office: Oakland Office
County: Alameda
Presiding Judge: Kandis A. Westmore
Nature of Suit: Americans with Disabilities - Other
Cause of Action: 42:405
Jury Demanded By: Plaintiff
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Did you read today's front page stories & breaking news?
From the Wires
FreightCenter Ramps Up Hiring Efforts, Announces Expansion and Office Relocation
New hires immediately needed to fill account managers positions before relocation takes place
By: PR Newswire
Nov. 9, 2012 09:23 AM
TRINITY, Fla., Nov. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Due to continued growth, Chairman of the Board and Owner James Brosious announces plans to expand and relocate his company FreightCenter, Inc. to a new office in northern Pinellas County beginning in 2013.
The freight service provider will relocate its Trinity-based operations to a larger corporate park in the Highland Lakes area of Palm Harbor. The move is expected to triple office space and allow for the addition of 60 new employees.
In anticipation of the move, FreightCenter is seeking resumes from interested applicants who are willing to start employment at its current office located at 7916 Evolutions Way. "We are looking for people who are willing to commute a short distance north for a few months," says HR Manager Tiffany Brown. "New hires can expect to continue working out of our new office in Palm Harbor after the new year."
Intending to increase staff by more than 30-percent, the company's expansion comes ahead of plans to double annual revenues for a fourth consecutive year. "We are outgrowing our current location in Pasco and the new office space will accommodate our existing staff, as well as make room for dozens of new account managers," says Brown.
The new location accommodates up to 170 staff members and supports further growth and development. The significant increase in square footage allows FreightCenter to provide an environment where its highly experienced and skilled team of account managers, corporate staff and development group can continue to support, develop and deploy its advanced transportation management software.
The physical address for the new corporate office will be announced in the first quarter of 2013. All phone numbers and email addresses will remain the same.
All interested candidates should send an email with their resume to the attention of Tiffany Brown at firstname.lastname@example.com.
About FreightCenter.com
Founded by James Brosious in 1998, FreightCenter.com is a third-party freight and logistics company developing Web-based tools that simplify freight shipping for both individual shippers and businesses. FreightCenter.com offers instant carrier rates and services for LTL, truckload, international, specialized, intermodal and trade show transportation. To see FreightCenter's customer reviews and testimonials visit our Website http://www.freightcenter.com/testimonials.aspx.
SOURCE FreightCenter, Inc.
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Hot tags Galaxies Blackholes Planets and Asteroids Space Exploration Telescopes
Science subject and location tags
This tag library is an archive and is no longer updated. For current content go to ABC News.
RSS | MapWeird and Wonderful
No stars in jump into hyperspace: study
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
Jumping into hyperspace onboard the Millennium Falcon won't result in cascade of streaking stars, according to a study.
Microquasar shines bright in Andromeda
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
StarStuff Podcast Astronomers discover a microquasar in Andromeda. Also; the truely amazing Nile River of Saturn's moon Titan, and will the world end on December 21st? NASA says no.
The end of the world. Really?
Wednesday, 12 December 2012 69
Opinion Mayan apocalypse? Rogue planets? Relax. We've heard it all before. Peter Bowditch slays the latest crop of end-of-the-world soothsayers.
Aussie scientists un-discover Pacific island
Friday, 23 November 2012
A South Pacific island identified on Google Earth and world maps does not exist.
Boozy birds pay the price for flying high
Monday, 5 November 2012
A bizarre spate of young blackbird deaths in England was likely caused by the feathered teens getting drunk on fermented berries.
Meet Koshik the elephant who 'speaks' Korean
Friday, 2 November 2012
An Asian elephant named Koshik can imitate human speech, say researchers from the University of Vienna.
In defence of pseudoscience
Tuesday, 30 October 2012 46
Opinion Believe it or not; pseudoscience provides the perfect launch pad for logical thought, says Dr Paul Willis.
Clever beetles cheat heat with dung balls
Friday, 26 October 2012
Dung beetles use the balls of manure they collect as mobile air conditioning units.
Survival reflex sparks gender bias
Wednesday, 17 October 2012
You glimpse a stranger standing in the street. Chances are you will think it is a man, according to an unusual study.
Austrian skydiver breaks sound barrier
Monday, 15 October 2012
Felix Baumgartner has set a record for the highest skydive and broke the sound barrier in the process.
Mystery of ball lightning solved?
Friday, 12 October 2012
A team of Australian scientists believe they have uncovered the cause of one of nature's most bizarre phenomenon - ball lightning.
Swinging ponytails and sloshing coffee win IgNobels
Friday, 21 September 2012
Why ponytails sway from side to side, how to avoid spilling your coffee have received recognition at this year's IgNobel Prizes.
Eurekas reward patience and ingenuity
Wednesday, 29 August 2012
The Eureka Awards last night honoured some of the leading innovations in Australian science in the past 12 months.
Pop music too loud, sounds the same
Friday, 27 July 2012
Comforting news for anyone over the age of 35, scientists have worked out that modern pop music really is louder and does all sound the same.
Fornicating flies attract hungry bats
Tuesday, 24 July 2012
The sex sounds flies make can lead to a violent death - luring predator bats to their love nests while their defences are down, a new study reveals.


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Brad Keselowski's 2013 Year Wrapup
November 13, 2013
With three races remaining in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) season, Brad Keselowski made an inauspicious move to Penske Racing. Sure, after two consecutive top-three finishes in NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) competition in 2008 and 2009, while driving for Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Keselowski was labeled as a "driver to watch."
Four years later he has become so much more.
Being described as a "driver to watch" was not good enough for Keselowski. Supremely confident in abilities that were hardened on the short tracks of Michigan and Ohio, along with an upbringing in a family of racers, the young driver knew just how good he could become by joining an organization like Penske Racing.
For several decades, Penske Racing has been at the top of the motorsports world. 15 Indianapolis 500 wins and 12 IndyCar titles on the open-wheel side. 78 NSCS wins, one Daytona 500 trophy and an NNS driver championship prior to the 2012 NASCAR season. Drivers with names like Donohue, Wallace and Allison have all sat behind the wheel of cars prepared by Penske Racing.
Only Keselowski was able to give "The Captain" the one mantelpiece he was missing, the NSCS championship.
As he comes to the close of his first year as a NSCS champion Keselowski has missed the Chase for the Sprint Cup, meaning a new champion will be crowned. Still, he has won a NSCS race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, kept the No. 22 Discount Tire/Hertz team in contention for the NNS owner's title with five wins and used his champion's pulpit to express his opinions on how the sport can continue to be better.
"I've definitely enjoyed my first year as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion," said Keselowski. "Unfortunately we couldn't defend our title, but that makes us even more determined to get back to our old form for 2014. But to have our hauler parked in the first spot all year, to know that Roger (Penske) could finally walk through the garage as a champion car owner, made it a very special year."
In 2010, Keselowski gave Penske Racing its first NASCAR title by winning the NNS driver's championship by a large margin. However, the team lost out on the owner's title. That title, the one piece of hardware that Penske Racing has never won, is a major goal for the team this year.
Keselowski's first win for Penske Racing came in the NNS race at Talladega Superspeedway in May of 2010. The following spring, at Kansas Speedway, Keselowski scored his first NSCS win for Penske. He would follow that up with two more victories and a top-five finish in the series standings, all while racing with a bad ankle and back suffered in a testing accident at Road Atlanta. That set the table for the five-win, championship season of 2012.
"What we've been able to accomplish since I came to Penske Racing has been incredible," stated Keselowski. "I wouldn't have made the move over here in 2009 if I didn't think we could do it, but you never really know. I think we're just tapping into our potential and that is exciting."
Keselowski, who recently signed an extension to remain at Penske Racing, doesn't see himself racing anywhere else in his career. He wants to be a cornerstone of the organization for many years to come, while still continuing his endeavors as owner of Brad Keselowski Racing.
"This is where I want to be. I believe we have championships left in us, including this year's Nationwide Series owner's title. That's the goal."


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Latest Features
Prospect of the Week: December 17, 2012
This week we continue our Prospect of the Week award, an honor (virtually) given to one Tampa Bay Lightning prospect for their recent contributions on and off the ice.
This week's winner is the only person to walk on this earth that can say he completed his Harvard University degree while winning a Calder Cup championship.
The Prospect of the Week for December 17 is … Alex Killorn, C/W, Syracuse (AHL – USA)
No one can claim they completed their Harvard degree while winning a Calder Cup championship except Alex Killorn.
Killorn made his AHL debut late last season for the Norfolk Admirals after finishing an outstanding collegiate career at Harvard University. He finished his last Harvard paper during Norfolk's Calder Cup run, contributing three goals and 12 points when he wasn't hunched over his computer.
"When he came in, the game slowed down for him right away, within a couple of games," his current head coach, Syracuse's Jon Cooper, told Bolt Prospects in early November. "You look at some of our other rookies… It took those guys a little bit more time."
This year Killorn is still a rookie only on a technicality. He played 27 AHL games last year, including both regular season and playoff appearances.
The Tampa Bay Lightning, who moved their affiliate from Norfolk to Syracuse in the offseason, have high hopes for the 23-year-old Montreal-area native, as Killorn has an intriguing blend of power, skill, drive, and smarts in his 6-1 frame. Now all he needs is some more professional experience.
Killorn started his official rookie year by registering just two goals in his first 15 games for Syracuse – and those were both scored in the same game. The 2007 third round pick has caught fire recently with goals in his last four consecutive games and five in his last six games.
This past week Killorn had three goals and an assist in three games – all wins. He was also plus-4 in those three wins, helping the Crunch stay atop the AHL standings at 17-6-1-1. For the season, Killorn has seven goals and 18 points in 25 games.
He is ranked fifth in our top-25 Lightning prospect rankings and projects as a versatile NHLer in the near future. Killorn has a skill-set that will enable him to contribute on a scoring line, but with a checking liner's mind-set. He will dive to block a shot, backcheck, take or give a hit to make a play, and gladly volunteer to take the shot in the closing seconds of a tie game. The fact he can play both center and wing is a bonus, especially considering the Lightning don't appear to have a third-line center of the future.
With a full season of AHL experience, Killorn will have a resume Lightning GM Steve Yzerman and Head Coach Guy Boucher prefer to suit up for the Lightning next season.
And in this rare case, a Harvard degree is just a bonus.
Honorable Mention: Luke Witkowski, D, Western Michigan University (NCAA – USA). A captain for the Broncos, Witkowski notched his first goal of the season this week in a win over Michigan. This gives us an excuse to promote the stay-at-home defenseman for not only his current play, but also his career body-of-work for USHL Fargo (captain) and WMU (captain). He is a big, right-handed, character defenseman who is deserving of a pro contract at the end of this, his senior season. He projects as a third pair defenseman who can rush the puck, but also be trusted in his own end to provide a physical, responsible presence. If he is signed this year, he will likely be in AHL Syracuse next year gaining professional experience.
Previous 2012-2013 Prospect of the Week winners:
December 10, Nikita Kucherov, RW, Rouyn-Noranda, QMJHL-Canada
December 3, Cedric Paquette, C, Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL-Canada
November 25, Tyler Johnson, C, Syracuse, AHL-USA
November 20, Richard Panik, W, Syracuse, AHL-USA
November 12, Alex Hutchings, W, Florida, ECHL-USA
November 5, Nikita Kucherov, W, Quebec, QMJHL-Canada
October 30, Slater Koekkoek, D, Peterborough, OHL-Canada
October 23, Dustin Tokarski, G, Syracuse, AHL-USA
October 15, Cory Conacher, W, Syracuse, AHL-USA
October 9, Cedric Paquette, C, Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL-Canada
October 2, Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Ufa Jr, MHL-Russia
September 25, Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Ufa Jr, MHL-Russia
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23 Mar 2013 18:00:53 PM
World Series of Fighting 2: Arlovski vs. Johnson — Live Results and Commentary
(Admit it. You kind of missed that tongue. / Photo via facebook.com/MMAWorldSeries)
Tonight in Atlantic City, former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski headlines World Series of Fighting 2 against former UFC whateverweight Anthony Johnson, in a battle that will surely earn the 2013 Minowaman Freak Show Hall of Fame Award. Also on the card: UFC vets Josh Burkman and Aaron Simpson throw down in the welterweight division, Paulo Filho hopefully shows up to fight David Branch, and Marlon Moraes returns from his win over Miguel Torres to face Bellator champ killer Tyson Nam.
Our man Oliver Chan is on the scene tonight at the Revel Casino, where he and photographer Rick Albrecht will be posting round-by-round updates, commentary, and visual aids after the jump, beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest from the NBC Sports Network main card broadcast, and let your voices be heard in the comments section.Read More DIGG THIS


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Purveyor of hospitality services
Since 1876, Fred Harvey, a prominent purveyor of hospitality services and products throughout the Southwest, has lived on in the spirit of our stores in our nation's historic parks and famous resorts. For a unique selection of memories and gifts visit the Rim Gift Shop located near Crater Lake Lodge or the Annie Creek Gift Shop located at Mazama Village.
Who was Fred Harvey?
Arriving from England in 1850 at the age of 15, Frederick Henry Harvey worked as a dishwasher before creating the very first chain of hotels in the United States.
By 1887, the Santa Fe Railway was struggling through the difficult Colorado and New Mexico terrain to compete with the more mature Union Pacific and Northern Pacific routes and emerged from the depression of 1893 as a major line.
The travelers of that era moved through Chicago on a slow journey westward on hard board seats in overcrowded crude coaches. At a time when most railroad food was poor and even inedible, Fred Harvey provided appetizing meals in comfortable dining quarters. He opened his first railroad restaurant in Topeka, Kansas in 1876.
Fred Harvey's restaurant business coincided with the dramatic changes taking place in a growing America. The new railroad sliced through the primeval grazing grounds and hunting routes of the Plains Indians.
Fred Harvey's rest houses became gathering places for visitors searching for mementos of Indian land and the Native residents of some of the West's most striking cultural and geographic terrain.
Perhaps more than any single organization, the Fred Harvey system introduced the New America to Americans.
The history lives on …


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April's Guide to Higashi-Kurume, Tokyo
Name: April
Neighborhood: Higashi-Kurume
City: Tokyo, Japan
My Home: One-bedroom apartment
Higashi-Kurume is a great place to raise a family if you are foreigners in Japan. There's an international school (Christian Academy in Japan) within walking distance of the train station (Seibu Ikebukuro line), several beautiful rivers and parks, and many little fields where you can buy fresh produce directly from the farmers.
April's Guide to Higashi-Kurume, Tokyo
There are lots of restaurants and and plenty of shopping, but since it's suburb of Tokyo, it's still a quiet and safe neighborhood. And if you want to go downtown, in just a few minutes the train will take you right into the heart of Tokyo city.
1. Go-to Shop for Gifts
- There are department stores (like Ito Yokado) to buy things from, or you can buy from local thrift stores and flea markets for more Japanesey charm (great gifts to send to relatives back home).
2. Best Vintage Shop, Thrift Store, or Flea Market
- The local international school (Christian Academy in Japan) has a huge school-wide market called "Thrift Shop" every April and October. It's open to the public. But you can also find local flea markets, particularly in the fall. A great place to find Japanese antiques is in Kawagoe, not too far from Higashi-Kurume, at the Narita-san Betsu-in temple, where they host a flea market once a month (I've found some fantastic treasures there).
3. Favorite Coffee Shop, Café, or Restaurant
- Unfortunately, it doesn't have a Web site, but it's just outside of Higashi-Kurume train station on the Seibu Ikebukuro line. "Reno's Bistro" has fantastic wings, burgers, and beer. The owner studied culinary arts in Europe (Italy, I believe), and you can really see his talent in his food. Delicious, great presentation, and well worth the price.
4. Best Place to Pick Up Groceries
- Surprisingly, we buy most of our groceries at a local 99 yen store (just outside the west exit of the train station). It's cheaper than most grocery stores for the same quality. We buy our produce directly from farmers in the area since they each build their own booths right next to their fields. Once every 2 or 3 months I go to Costco and stock up on meat. We bake our own bread.
5. Best Place to Buy Flowers
- There are lots of lovely florists in the area, especially on the west side of the train station.
6. Best Neighborhood Park
- If you come out of the west exit of the train station and turn left (headed south), stick as close to the train tracks as possible. Within five minutes you'll see a park on your right side (just after you've passed the train crossing). A great place to take your kids. But if you want beauty, you have to go to the local bamboo forest (takebayashi park). Ask any local foreigner (there are plenty, especially near the train station on a week day) and they can give you directions in English.
7. Best Spot to Take Visitors
- We love to get lost in our own neighborhood. Just pick a direction and go! You find so many interesting things that way. Little hole-in-the-wall shops, rivers filled with ducks and koi, beautiful personal gardens, ancient temples, etc.
Photos: April
Thanks, April!


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CANCUN, Mexico (AP) — A state prosecutor says one of the U.S. FBI's 10 most wanted fugitives has been arrested in the resort city of Playa del Carmen.
Prosecutor Gaspar Armando Garcia Torres says Walter Lee Williams, 64, is wanted on charges of sexual exploitation of children and traveling abroad for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with children.
Garcia said Williams was captured late Tuesday while drinking coffee near a park in the Caribbean beach town.
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Williams in Los Angeles in April, according to the FBI website.
Garcia said he didn't know how long Williams had been in Playa del Carmen.


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Decentralization as a Strategy for improving Service Delivery in the Botswana Public service Sector
The Botswana public Service has been faced with service delivery challenges since independence in 1966. Like other developing and under developed countries, the Botswana government has reviewed its service delivery processes and initiatives with a view to better productivity across the public service sector. Many strategies and initiatives were introduced by the Botswana government over a long period of time to mitigate poor service delivery across the public service sector. One of these initiatives were the decentralization of certain functions from central to local government.
However, the implementation of this initiative was not without problems. This paper will highlight the decentralization in general terms will be discussed and the focus will be narrowed to how decentralisation has to improved public service delivery in thepublic service sector. The evaluation of the process will be highlighted; recommendations and closing remarks will be made.
Full Text:PDF
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5296/jpag.v4i2.5719
Journal of Public Administration and Governance ISSN 2161-7104
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NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock futures slipped Tuesday after the Standard & Poor's 500 index closed at an all-time high. Another glimpse into the mind of the all-important American consumer is due early in the day.
Dow Jones industrial futures are down 7 points to 14,741. The broader S&P futures have gave up 1.5 points to 1,586.70. Nasdaq futures fell 0.25 points to 2,858.50.
How Americans feel about their jobs, their homes and their prospects has played out this week in new data from the government.
On Tuesday, The Conference Board releases its report on consumer confidence for April.
Economists expect the private research group to report that Americans overlooked a tax hike to start the year, and are spending more freely as the job and housing markets recover.
Forecasts put the index at 60.7 for April, according to a survey by FactSet. That would be up from 59.7 in March, when across-the-board government spending cuts began taking effect and raised uncertainty about the economy.
The index has lurched higher in fits and starts, but it remains a far cry from the reading of 90 that would suggest a healthy economy.
Incomes are moving in the right direction, and that has given Americans some breathing room as the government takes a bigger cut to reduce a soaring U.S. deficit.
The Commerce Department said Monday that consumer spending rose 0.2 percent in March from February. That followed a 0.7 percent jump in February and a 0.3 percent gain in January.
Consumers play an outsized role in U.S. economic growth, accounting for about 70 percent of all economic activity.
The U.S. Federal Reserve is watching those numbers closely as it kicks off a two-day policy meeting Tuesday, taking yet another look at historically low U.S. interest rates.


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Style # 198060
AVAILABILITY: Unavailable for immediate shipment.
Perfect for cycling or yoga class, this pair of bebe leggings features a bold stripe at waistband and down sides. Made for high-impact activity from moisture-wicking fabric.
- 88% polyester, 12% spandex.
- Rise: 8" (20 cm).
- Inseam: 27" (69 cm).
- Leg opening: 8" (20 cm).
- Machine wash.
- Exclusively available online.
- Made in USA with imported materials
- Model is 5'9" and is wearing a US size S.
Colorblock Seamed Legging - BEBE SPORT is rated out of 5 by 1.
Rated 5 out of 5 by ErykhaCD from The fit is perfect! These have to be the best legging I have ever worn. I love the placement of the seams, they grip your legs and hold your butt tightly in place. The thickness of the material is perfect, I like it much better than the new material bebe sport is using. I'm 5 ft 6 in, 135 lbs and buy medium size. Buy these before they're gone.
Date published: 2013-04-03


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You can use here-documents in PHP but not for printing to a file pointer.
There's a lot to say on them so just go to the page: http://www.php.net/manual/language.types.string.php
fputs — Alias of fwrite()
This function is an alias of: fwrite().
You can use here-documents in PHP but not for printing to a file pointer.
There's a lot to say on them so just go to the page: http://www.php.net/manual/language.types.string.php
Adding to Adam (Nedstat):
fputs without the length parm just writes all data up to but not including the first 0 byte it encounters.
Therefore fputs($fp,"hello\0world") will only write hello to $fp whereas
fputs($fp,"hello\0world",11) will write both words.
If this doesn't make sense for you, remember strings are always terminated with that 0 byte. Binary data doesn't have such a terminator byte as a 0 byte can be a completely valid piece of data therefore you always need to know the length of the binary datapart.
BTW strlen() is binary safe, so you can use that to get the length of the binary data part as well - this is different from C which counts the number of chars up to the 0 byte. So the example above could also be written as:
This will create a visitor count for your webpage
$filename = 'sitevisitors.txt';
if (file_exists($filename))
$count = file('sitevisitors.txt');
$count[0] ++;
$fp = fopen("sitevisitors.txt", "w");
fputs ($fp, "$count[0]");
fclose ($fp);
echo $count[0];
$fh = fopen("sitevisitors.txt", "w");
die("unable to create file");
fputs ($fh, 1);
fclose ($fh);
$count = file('sitevisitors.txt');
echo $count[0];
The way I understand fputs (which is purported as an alias to fwrite which can be "Binary Safe")...
$fp = fopen("something.txt","w");
$string = "Hello World\\n"; // escape the slash from being magically
// being transformed into a newline
fwrite($fp, $string); // will proccess /n as newline ...
fwrite($fp, $string, strlen($string)); // will write the entire string to file without changing the '/n'
// into a single byte for newline on Unix-like machines or CR/LF on Win32 machines
Hope this helps explain the definition of "could be Binary Safe". This is the reason why you must specify the length!
This might seem silly for experienced users, but this bugged me for about two hours (searching and trying to debug the damn thing).
If you're on a Windows system doing tests on a Linux/Apache setup, and you're writing stuff to a text file (then load that file to see if your content is being written properly) and you realize only your first string is in there, your problem is not your Windows, not Linux and not Apache. It's probably Samba (the thing that makes it possible for your Linux and Windows boxes to talk to each other) that's caching your file... Try viewing your file via telnet or simply copy your file then read that copy.
You can see content is being written to your file anyway, because even though you don't see your new content (using notepad for example), you do see your filesize increasing as you add more text to your file.
Length is required if you are writing out a lot of data. For instance, if you are base64 decoding an email attachment and writing it out to a file you have to specify the length if the file is over a certian size or else the binary data will be corrupt.
Will yield the desired results.
When tested with a 1k the length wasn't required but with a larger file, around 27k it needs the length to work properly.


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While the current trend in internet security suites is to sit quietly in the background and protect the user's PC with the minimum of fuss and nuisance, we found that Panda Internet Security would occasionally display a popup from the taskbar.
These messages, known as 'Panda Bulletins', can be turned off, but they are distracting.
The interface is straightforward and clear, with an emphasis on delivering essential information rather than eye-pleasing graphics. This is one reason why Panda Internet Security 2012 feels less system resource hungry than some of its flashier competitors.
While we ran the initial scan, we found our test PC was much more responsive than when Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 was running, with CPU usage hovering around 28 to 30 per cent and peaking at 70 per cent.
The scan took one hour 52 minutes, and highlighted a number of tracking cookies that Kaspersky and G Data ignored. This is as much a case of over-zealousness on Panda's part as it is carelessness on the others'. The files identified were annoyances a best, yet Panda identified them as 'Spyware programs'.
The Panda SafeBrowser is sandboxed browser that runs in VirtualBox and can be used to access potentially dangerous websites. A virtual keyboard is also included to help thwart keylogging software when you're typing in passwords.
We can't help but feel that this addition is a bit redundant – if the antivirus scan, download scan and included firewall are doing their jobs then there should be no keylogging software installed on your PC in the first place.
An over-cautious internet security package is better than one that takes securing your PC for granted, and Panda Internet Security 2012 works hard to offer a feature-packed security suite.
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Funeral services for 85 year old Betty J. Kirk, a resident of the Alice-Hyde Nursing Home in Malone and formerly of Norwood, will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Norwood with Pastor Pat Paige presiding. Burial will be held in the Riverside Cemetery, Norwood. Mrs. Kirk passed away early Wednesday morning at the Nursing Home.
Betty is survived by her three daughters, Mrs. Jefferson Marilee Toppins, Arlington, Texas, Mrs. Daniel Karen Peterson, Morris, IL. and Mrs. Clifton Cheryl Nolette, Malone; thirteen grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; and her only living sibling, Mrs. Olive Haggett, Norwood.
Betty was pre-deceased by her husband, Leal; a son, Alan Kirk; two grandchildren, Gary Stump and Kevin Kirk; her three brothers, Ray, Clyde and Fred Morgan; and her sisters, Alice Dunbar, Mildred Orr, Helen Breakey and Ethel Matson.
She was born in Potsdam on May 19, 1927 to the late Edson H. and Alta L. Marsh Morgan. She married Leal Kirk on March 14, 1953. Betty worked as a Bank Teller for the St. Lawrence National Bank in Norwood. She was very active in the Norwood United Methodist Church where she was a member of the United Methodist Women, the United Methodist Choir and the Adult fellowship Group. While she resided in Ohio, Betty was a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Choir, where in 1974 they were featured on a Grammy Award winning album. Betty also loved to spend time with her grandchildren and enjoyed painting and doing crafts.
Memorial Donations can be made to the Norwood United Methodist Church. Memories and condolences may be shared online atwww.buckfuneralhome.com . The Buck Funeral Home in Norwood is serving the family of Betty J. Kirk.


text:
When Paula Patton took her husband and her mom to the premiere of her new movie, she felt she had to give them a warning.
"I just said, 'Mom, you're gonna see my boobies.'" Patton said. "She was like, 'OK, I think I can handle that.'"
Patton stripped down for her new movie, "2 Guns" starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg, and felt she needed to warn her mom, Joyce, and husband, singer Robin Thicke, ahead of the screeining.
"This is [Thicke's] first time seeing it on screen," she explained. "He sees it at home all the time. But yes, this is the first time he's seeing it. And my mom."
Patton defended the decision to use nudity -- "It's for the art, always" -- especially after Thicke's new "Blurred Lines" video stoked controversy with its dancing, topless models.
But Patton loved it.
"My initial response was I love the clothed version, I don't think we should put out the naked version," Thicke said. "And then I showed it to my wife and all of her girlfriends and they said 'You have to put this out, this is so sexy and so cool.'"
"2 Guns" hits theaters Friday.


text:
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 speakers.
Celebrated Blogger and Thinking Person's Cartoonist
Types: Author, Entrepreneur, TED
Bio Info
As the creative force behind the blog Wait But Why and a champion of long-form thought, Tim Urban has kept the attention of millions of readers around the world. Tim captivates audiences with his unique ability to distill a diversity of complex and fascinating topics, from why we procrastinate to how we could become a multi-planetary species.
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 speakers.


text:
Take no chances
Catholics should stop gambling.
[Please take the survey the immediately follows this essay.]
St. Agatha's Catholic Church in Milton, Massachusetts is sometimes referred to as the "Caesar's Palace of Massachusetts bingo." On Monday nights as many as 400 people show up to compete for the $3,000 top prize. In 2009 St. Agatha's and the other licensed bingo hall in Milton generated more than $1.2 million in gross revenue, a small but significant portion of the $44 million of bingo revenue generated in all of Massachusetts that same year. The proceeds from St. Agatha's will go to support the St. Agatha School for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Bingo is the school's largest fundraiser.
Like St. Agatha's, many Catholic parishes have become dependent on gambling revenue from bingo and raffle tickets in light of dwindling numbers of parishioners and lower overall giving. It is not uncommon for a parish to fund its building project or a youth group event with a raffle, sometimes with exorbitant ticket prices, such as $50 tickets that offer the chance to win anything from a flat screen TV to a new Mustang convertible.
Sure, the funds from gambling at church are for a good cause, but there's something wrong with this picture. In the words of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, "gambling, whatever its benefits, [comes] with undeniable and significant costs."
Ironically, while voicing opposition to the expansion of casino gambling in Massachusetts, the church in Massachusetts was also sponsoring its own gambling houses. In fact, the Roman Catholic Church at the time was affiliated with close to one third of the bingo parlors in the state.
In light of the conference's arguments against casinos, I think it is important to reevaluate what kind of example the church is setting by sponsoring (and encouraging) its own form of gambling.
The Catholic Church has a complex history in its moral thinking about gambling. Although the Bible does not forbid it outright, early Christians were largely opposed, with some of the earliest accounts of canon law forbidding games of chance under the pain of excommunication. The Fourth Lateran Council (1215) forbade clerics to even be present at games where any betting was taking place.
St. Francis de Sales in the 16th century addressed gambling in his Introduction to the Devout Life under the title, "Of Forbidden Amusements": "Dice, cards, and the like games of hazard, are not merely dangerous amusements, like dancing, but they are plainly bad and harmful, and therefore they are forbidden by the civil as by the ecclesiastical law."
Today, however, gambling is generally considered a harmless pastime, dangerous only when indulged excessively, as reflected by the Catechism of the Catholic Church: "Games of chance (card games, etc.) or wagers are not in themselves contrary to justice. They become morally unacceptable when they deprive someone of what is necessary to provide for his needs and those of others. The passion for gambling risks becoming an enslavement."
This is also the argument the Massachusetts Catholic Conference made in its legislative testimony: "The Roman Catholic Church is not opposed to gambling," wrote the conference, citing the above passage from the catechism. But in light of the many dangers associated with gambling such as abuse, victimization of the poor, addiction, and broken families, the conference argued that "the state should not depend on gambling for resources to pay for needed services."
Neither should a parish. The problems with gambling in general apply to church-sponsored gambling as well, but there are several more.
Gambling is not an efficient way to raise money. Lotteries, for example, are extraordinarily inefficient. Administrative costs, marketing and advertising, and prize payouts mean lotteries bring in significantly less revenue than a broad-based tax. Nationally, an average of 71 percent of lottery revenue goes back into prizes. Parish-sponsored bingo may be even less efficient at generating profit. According to statistics on charitable bingo in Michigan, 77 percent of net revenue went back into prizes. Parishioners who play "for a good cause" might be surprised how little is actually going back to the church.
Gambling doesn't generate a significant percentage of income. State lotteries still only bring in an average of 2 percent of a state's budget. Even though bingo is often the biggest fundraiser for a given parish, as it is at St. Agatha's, the overall revenue earned is only a small percentage of what the church or school needs to function. Moreover, the revenue earned through bingo is an unreliable source of income. Most parish-sponsored bingo halls have lost money during the recent recession as attendance plummeted. As a result, parishes have had to seek out other sources of income to fill the void left by bingo.
Gambling revenues are regressive, unfairly distributing financial burdens to the poor while benefitting the rich. While both poor and rich gamble, the "recreational cost" is a much higher percentage of the poor's overall income than it is for the rich. In Massachusetts welfare dollars can be used for lottery tickets, which is especially problematic for poor people who trying to dig themselves out of a hole on the off chance of a big win. Church-sponsored gambling is also regressive, but more importantly, it also potentially preys on the poor who may not have the money to spend on Friday night bingo, yet still play. One member of a parish that had to shut down its bingo operation recalled a woman who came to play with a check from the government. He was concerned that this may have been her only income, but he still let her play.
Even for those who win, gambling is problematic. About one-third of lottery jackpot winners will end up bankrupt. More will end up divorced or estranged from family and friends. The repercussions may not be as grave for those who win smaller prizes at the local bingo parlor or parish lottery, but the excitement of the win still fosters a sinister materialism and greed that is ultimately antithetical to the sort of character the church aims to foster in its members. Church leaders should ask themselves if the call to discipleship really includes fostering a competitive spirit for a $3,000 payout.
While church-sponsored bingo may unintentionally prey on the poor, parish lotteries may also exclude the poor from what amounts to an important social event in the life of the parish. A struggling family is not likely to have the ability to afford many raffle tickets, despite the allure of the prize. Wealthier parishioners can fork over relatively large sums to support a parish fundraiser—despite the fact that the "prize" is not likely to benefit them as much.
The biggest problem with church-sponsored gambling is that it gets people used to seeing gambling as fun, exciting, or even charitable, making them more inclined toward more dangerous forms of gambling that the Massachusetts Catholic Conference opposed in its testimony.
A fundamental insight of Thomas Aquinas' moral theology is that we form our character through our actions. Those who gamble at a church-sponsored bingo parlor are more likely to see casino gambling as a desirable pastime—and indeed, once casinos come to town, churches have had to close their bingo parlors. For the clientele, it makes little difference whether the revenue is going to the church or to the house. The act itself is the same.
The habits developed by church-sponsored gambling feed societal enthusiasm for more insidious forms of gambling and all their associated dangers. We saw this with William Bennett, the Secretary of Education under President Ronald Reagan who lost millions gambling. Bennett's gambling problem began with church bingo. It is hypocritical for the church to oppose these "predatory" forms of gambling while fostering in their own parishioners those very same habits that support a more widespread cultural acceptance of gambling.
According to the catechism, a fundamental moral precept of the church is that "the faithful are obliged to assist with the material needs of the church, each according to his own ability." Maybe the next time the collection plate comes around or we get that letter in the mail from our parish priest requesting a pledge, we will remember our obligation and give a little more abundantly. The solution to the church's "gambling problem" rests largely in our own hands—and wallets.


text:
The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center—operated by The Fund for Animals in partnership with The HSUS—is an oasis in Ramona, Calif., where orphaned and other injured wildlife are treated with the goal of releasing them back into the wild. In addition, The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center cares for nearly 40 full-time residents rescued from the exotic pet trade and other acts of cruelty.
Fund Flight
Hundreds of birds need rehabilitation each year, and The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center needs your help to make sure they get it. A damaged aviary needs to be replaced before the 2014 rehab season.
Find out more about our great need»Donate now to give them a future»
February 19, 2016
Bear Cub Overcomes Lost Limb at The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center
A curious and friendly three-legged bear cub gets care and help adapting at The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center, operated in partnership with The HSUS.
March 24, 2015
Three Baby Owls Are Recovering at Fund for Animals Wildlife Center
Spring is in the air, which for most people means warmer weather and longer days, but for the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation community it means baby season. And this baby season has started off a little earlier than expected with our Fund for Animals Wildlife Center taking in three baby Great Horned Owls from the same nest over the course of one week.
November 18, 2014
Three Orphaned Bear Cubs Are Making a Full Recovery at FFAWC
The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center in Ramona, California is used to caring for orphans of native predatory species like coyotes, bobcats and hawks. But they had never taken in an orphaned bear cub. Until now.
November 4, 2014
Take a Hike for Wildlife
Join The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center on Saturday, January 31 for their first annual wildlife hike-a-thon. The hike will take place at Poway Lake at all proceeds will benefit the work of the FFAWC.
July 16, 2014
Emaciated Bobcat Rehabilitated at FFAWC
When your backyard is a national forest, seeing—and avoiding—wild animals is a fact of life. So when a couple in San Diego County, whose home borders the Cleveland National Forest, saw a bobcat on their property they didn't think much of it, until they noticed it was acting strange.


text:
Don't like being pigeon-holed? Neither do we. A lot of people see us as just another big accounting organization, but that's not the case. With the breadth and depth of our audit, financial advisory, tax and consulting services, we're in a position to offer our clients a more complete perspective and you the opportunity to have more fields and specialties to choose from.
What we believe in is that Deloitte is where leaders thriveWith a bold vision "to grow the world's best leaders," Deloitte University, The Leadership Center, is a learning and leadership development facility. The university is the heart of our organization, a place that serves as a powerful catalyst for lifelong learning and in helping foster our talent's growth both personally and professionally.
Deloitte Awards & Accolades
2012GI Jobs Top 100 Military Friendly Employers, G.I. Jobs Magazine, 2012100 Best Companies to Work For, Fortune, 2012Consulting 50(#4), Vault, 2012Tech Consulting 25(#1), Vault, 2012Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality, Human Rights Campaign Foundation, 2012Top 100 Military Friendly Employers, GI Jobs, 2012
2011100 Best Companies for Working Mothers, Working Mother, 2011Company of the Year, LATINA Style, 2011Top 50 Companies for Diversity, DiversityInc, 2011Top 10 Companies for Latinos, DiversityInc, 2011Top 10 Companies for Asian Americans List, DiversityInc, 2011Top 10 Companies for Executive Women, DiversityInc, 2011Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities, DiversityInc, 2011Top 10 Companies for Global Diversity, DiversityInc, 2011Best Companies for Multicultural Women, Working Mother, 2011Best Companies for Women's Advancement, Working Mother, 2011100 Best Companies to Work For, Fortune, 2011100 Top MBA Employers, Fortune, 2011Top 10 Internships, Vault, 2011Top 100 Accounting Firms, Accounting Today, 2011Best Firms to Work For(#5), Consulting Magazine, 2011Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility, Alfred P. Sloan, 2011LearningElite Organization, Chief Learning Office Magazine, 2011Learning Leader, Bersin & Associates, 2011Leadership 500, Leadership Excellence, 2011Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality, Human Rights Campaign Foundation, 2011Top Company for Generational Communications, DiversityInc, 2011Catalyst Award, Catalyst, 2011Model Employer, Shriver Report, 2011
2010100 Best Companies to Work For, Fortune, 2010Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality, Human Rights Campaign, 2010Best Companies to Work for in Texas (Large), Best Companies Group, 2010Catalyst Award, Catalyst, 2010Top 50 Companies for Diversity(#25), DiversityInc, 2010
Connect with usThe best way to get to know us is to join us online:Meet Deloitte professionals with high-powered careers and interesting lives outside the office: www.deloitte.com/global/careersBecome a fan of our page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/deloitteuniversity
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text:
Pravda, where else?
The euro rate dropped to its all-time minimum over the recent two years on the Russian market on Tuesday. *** "[W]orld central banks have recently changed their attitude to the European currency and looked at it in a more critical way," [Elena Khrupova, an analyst with BrokerCreditService] said. Such a change has been caused with the ongoing political crisis in Germany. *** To crown it all, the chairman of the European Central Bank Jean Claude Trichet stated Monday that the EU's economic development potential was close to the level of 2 percent, but not 2.5 percent as it was supposed before.
The fast rise of the US dollar occurred not only because of the negative news about the European economy: the dollar went up against the background of positive news about the American economy. The US currency started strengthening in the world after the publication of data about the September index of industrial activity in the USA. "The index was expected to slide after the destructive hurricanes. However, it showed a considerable increase of up to 59.4 points vs. 53.6 points in July. It is noteworthy that the majority of market analysts were expecting a reduction to 52.0 points," Elena Khrupova said.
High prices on fuel and the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina have obviously exerted their negative influence on companies' activities. Specialists believe, though, that it is only a temporal phenomenon. The basic factors, which make the US industry move ahead and develop, are still stable. The unexpectedly registered economic growth also testifies to the fast recreation of the American economy after the two hurricanes, which obviously adds more optimism for the US currency, specialists say.
You can link to Pravda and dozens of other international newspapers, in English, at Power Line News.


text:
Beyonce, Jay Z And Blue: The Family That Rocks Gold Together…
::Screams:: We be all night! Beyoncé and Jay Z turned down after turning up (or…we off that?) while partying at the Versace Mansion on New Year's Eve with Diddy and co.
The fam, Blue Ivy included, was spotted leaving a hotel in South Beach yesterday. Peep Yoncé's gold sneakers, Blue's gold vest and Hov's gold chain dripping.
Photo Credit: KDNPIX


text:
OAKLAND — A 20-year-old man on probation for grand theft has been arrested on suspicion of robbing five East Bay banks, including one North Oakland branch twice, police said Monday.
Police said Amanuel Moreno, of Oakland, has admitted his involvement in the robberies, telling investigators he needed money to feed his family.
Investigators say the robberies happened Jan. 16 and Dec. 6 at the Bank of the West, 4900 Telegraph Ave., in North Oakland's Temescal district; Dec. 18 at the U.S. Bank in San Leandro; Dec. 18 at the Chase Bank in Union City; and Dec. 13 at the Wells Fargo branch in Hayward.
He is also suspected of robbing a Chase Bank branch in Alameda on Dec. 6 but has not admitted his involvement in that heist, police said.
Police said in the robberies Moreno, a former security guard, gave demand notes to tellers and occasionally indicated he had a gun, although none was ever seen. In the Dec. 6 Bank of the West robbery, a dye pack was included in the cash that was taken. The dye pack later exploded. Moreno told police he had put the money in a plastic bag, preventing him from getting doused with dye when the pack exploded, authorities said. The same branch was robbed three other times in December, but no arrests have been made in those cases.
Oakland police Officer Nick Calonge said a fellow officer recognized Moreno from a Bank of the West surveillance photograph, and he was arrested Friday night at his home on 38th Street.
Authorities said Moreno was arrested for robbery in 2011 but in a plea deal was convicted of grand theft in March 2012 and placed on probation. He is being held without bail for violating probation pending filing of formal charges in the bank robberies, authorities said.


text:
June 18, 2012
Members of the MBA and Leaders for Global Operations Class of 2012 gathered together at the Boston Opera House with their friends and family to celebrate the completion of their MIT degrees at the fourth annual Convocation held Thursday, June 7, 2012.
Convocation celebrates the achievements of the Class while also welcoming students to the MIT alumni community. This year's ceremony included speeches by Deputy Dean JoAnne Yates, David Schmittlein, John C Head III Dean, student speaker Charles (Chuck) Frantz, Distinguished Alumni speaker Martin Trust, SM '58, Industrial Management, President of Brandot International Ltd., and Alumni Ambassador Alex Min, SB '91, MBA '07.
Yates was the first to address the audience, congratulating the Class of 2012. She also thanked their friends and family, many who traveled halfway around the world, to attend Convocation and Commencement ceremonies.
Yates told the graduating students, "You will each, in your own way, be called on professionally and personally to improve your organizations, your communities, and the world. The relationships you have formed with each other and with the larger Sloan community will support you in these endeavors."
Yates then introduced student speaker Chuck Frantz, MBA '12.
Frantz quickly set expectations for his talk by announcing that he was not class valedictorian nor would he tell his life story. Instead, he spoke of community.
Addressing his classmates, Frantz said, "I liken the Sloan community to that of a team. Nearly every class has a group project component, and we as students pride ourselves on our collaborative nature."
Frantz then spoke of Bruce Tuckman's high performing teams and the stages they go through as they develop: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.
In the first phase, Frantz noted that team members remain positive and polite. The storming phase begins when people stop being nice to each other—especially during the first semester's Core classes. "As challenging as the academics were for many of us, we each had an incredible Core team."
He added, "In the norming stage, a community becomes comfortable with each other, and the true socializing begins. Deep friendships are formed that for many of us will last a lifetime."
Performing is the next stage—this is when students build high functioning teams. The final phase is the adjourning phase. Frantz said, "Sadly, this is where we find ourselves today, as our short time together comes to a close as a class. But I can tell everyone that they should instead focus and celebrate our pride and our accomplishments."
Laura Esnaola on the violin and Helen Ma on the piano—both members of the MBA Class of 2012, then performed "Gypsy Airs," by the Spanish composer Pablo de Sarasate. The piece was selected to reflect their feelings at graduation time.
Dean Schmittlein then addressed the Class of 2012. "Congratulations! You've experienced a great deal of change, personally, here at MIT Sloan. You are now armed with analytical tools, leadership skills, and the support of a global network of alums. I am confident that you will achieve success."
The Dean then introduced the distinguished alumni speaker, Martin Trust, calling him a visionary entrepreneur. Trust started his first business, Mast Industries, with just $1,000. In 1978, his company, a contract manufacturer, importer, and distributor of clothing, merged with The Limited Stores, now Limited Brands.
To this day, Trust is still involved with the MIT and MIT Sloan communities. He and his wife, Diane, have provided fellowship and support for 129 graduate students through the Martin Trust Graduate Management Fellowship, the Martin Trust Community Fellowship, and most recently the Martin (1958) Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship.
Trust spoke of his time as a student and told the audience that much has changed since he arrived on campus—noting that tuition was just $1,100 when he began. He conducted research for his thesis using an IBM 704 mainframe computer—which took up an entire room. Many students used the computer, so Trust often found himself in the computer lab at 3 a.m.—one of the few free times available.
"I believe that back then, we also tried to understand what we didn't know. The Sloan education doesn't teach you all the things that you need to know. Rather, it helps you better understand what you don't know, and what questions to ask," he said.
Trust then expressed his thoughts on the values he would like to see in today's graduates. "I wish more were interested in buying to build, and building to own. It is much harder to build something from nothing than to simply buy and sell."
"The shine of entrepreneurs has become tarnished recently. Instead of buying to build, many have opted to strip and flip," he said. Adding, "I think that we need a renaissance–a refocusing–on the values that first made entrepreneurs revered and respected figures in society."
Trust then shared six values that he believes are important for success.
First, entrepreneurs should have vision to understand potential. Second, entrepreneurs know that partnership and teams are essential.
Trust advised, "We is more important than I. Developing great partnerships and teams is the key to a successful career. Work with partners you trust, are ethical, and can be relied upon."
Third, entrepreneurs do not make money out of money. Entrepreneurs use money to turn ideas into profitable enterprises. Fourth, entrepreneurs should embrace failure. Fifth, entrepreneurs should think long term. Lastly, entrepreneurs must have values, he said.
Trust concluded his speech by adding, "We need to start earning back the trust and confidence of whatever societies our businesses impact."
Dean Schmittlein then presented Trust with the Dean's Award for Excellence in Leadership for all of his contributions as a principled leader who has improved the world.
Deputy Dean Yates then introduced the Class Gift Co-chairs, Clara Brenner, Josh Rider, and Eddie Liu. This group, along with 17 other students, worked with their class to raise $250,000.
Dean Schmittlein then introduced Alumni Ambassador, Alex Min.
Min said, "It is an honor to be here today to represent the MIT Sloan Alumni Community, and to welcome you into this dynamic group. I am especially grateful for the chance to acknowledge Martin Trust and his wife, Dena, for their generosity and commitment to MIT Sloan."
Min added, "The strength of the MIT network rests in your willingness and eagerness to carry on the bonds formed on campus. Carry the MIT name with you, and carry it with pride."
In closing, Dean Schmittlein told graduates, "I am proud of you. All of us assembled will follow your progress with great hopes. We won't say goodbye then, but, best wishes."


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YouTask is a small startup task-management application suite focused on simplicity and elegance. This logo takes into account the uniquely simple nature of their applications in order to present a refined, but clear representation of what the app is about and how it'll help you get things done.- Continue Reading -
Gliimpse is a new healthcare technology company focused on doing astounding things that I'm not allowed to mention. In effect, though, it intends to simplify things for the average person. The logo we wanted to create needed to also represent simplicity, and we liked the idea of doing something in a monogram fashion since it […]- Continue Reading -
Pivotshare is a (my) tech company building software to help video creators distribute and sell their high-quality stuff from pretty much anywhere. For our business cards, I designed these lovely die-cut, spot-glossed cards to fit in-line with existing branding and also be a bit memorable.- Continue Reading -
Mifitto is a sophisticated bit of shoe-measuring software that exists entirely within an app.- Continue Reading -
Logo design for Hunie.co, a new design community focused on bringing startups and designers together for mutual benefit. The logo spawned from a few symbolic ideas: the windup key representing startups, the pencil representing designers/creatives, and both are extremely busy bees (especially together). Featured in Communication Arts Design Annual 53, 2012.- Continue Reading -


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Espresso Grinders for Your Home
Coffee-shop quality at home starts with a consistent grind. A good espresso grinder is a must for pulling excellent shots for friends and family. Most home grinders can't grind fine enough or consistently enough to meet the specific grind requirements for brewing espresso. We've sought out the best home grinders for your espresso needs to make sure that you can get a consistent grind. Once you pick out your grinder, you'll be a third of the way there. The last two-thirds includes an espresso machine and thorough training. Our carefully selected lineup of quality home espresso machines can help along the way. All of our espresso grinders ship for free and are backed by our price-match pledge.


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Ski and Golf Resort in the Shadow of Mount Hood National Forest
The Wee Burn stream flows across The Courses, a 27-hole golf course at The Resort at The Mountain, before feeding directly into the nearby Salmon River. The stream was an important breeding spot for coho salmon and steelhead trout until the early 1900s, when construction efforts disrupted its flow. In recent years, however, the Wee Burn restoration project has enabled the return of spawning coho through the addition of natural logs, boulders, and native trees that provide food and protection to the fish as they make their way across the resort, set in the shadow of Mount Hood National Forest.
Some of the resort's guest rooms look out onto the links, whereas others open onto forest or mountain views. While closed until May, mallard's café & pub has some of the best scenery views at the resort. Go here for crab omelets, pulled-pork-belly sandwiches, and other upscale pub food, or head to Altitude for their small plates and pan-seared, oatmeal-crusted trout.
When the snow falls, pick up a discounted lift pass at the front desk and hit the slopes at one of the nearby ski resorts. Alternatively, keep warm inside the resort's heated pool or at The Spa, where you can get a river-rock massage or a body polish made with indigenous Mount Hood plant extracts.
Mount Hood, Oregon: Forest Hikes, Trout Streams, and Ski Trails on Volcanic Peak
Located about an hour from Portland in northern Oregon, Mount Hood is technically an active volcano, though it hasn't shown any real geothermal activity for more than 100 years. Still, it's the towering centerpiece of Mount Hood National Forest, which encompasses more than one million acres of forested mountains and lakes. During warmer seasons, visitors come to pick berries, fish, and hike along some of Oregon's best trails. The 1-mile hike to Buried Forest Overlook reveals a dramatic vista of White River Canyon, a forested area that was buried by ash and mud during one of Mount Hood's eruptions centuries ago.
Though winter is the mountain's most popular ski season, the Timberline Ski Area often sports snow-covered slopes through Labor Day, making it the only resort in North America to offer year-round skiing. Across the mountain, you'll find several miles of cross-country trails and a handful of distinct downhill areas, including one of the country's largest nighttime ski areas at the Mt. Hood Skibowl.


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Peoria- An idea has morphed into a great opportunity for area gymnasts.
Peoria Elite Gymnastics Academy is a brand new, state-of-the-art gymnastics training facility. PEGA, which is located on Altorfer Drive, opened its doors in February and has seen its program grow at an exponential rate.
In the middle of June, PEGA went over the 200 athlete mark and, according to owner Doris Kwok, it is constantly growing.
Actually, Kwok is just one of the many owners of PEGA. A group of parents decided to pool their talents and purchase a place where gymnasts can train.
Those owners' occupations range from an accountant to a facility project engineer to a substitute teacher to a stay-at-home mom to a mechanical engineer. Kwok, an engineer with a management degree, credits an incredible marketing team — with an incredible website, www.peoriaelite.com — for spreading the word about PEGA.
"We didn't really have a good facility to do what we wanted to do and we saw an opportunity to do this, not only for our girls, but for girls who love the sport of gymnastics," said Kwok, whose oldest daughter, Lindsay started gymnastics at age 4 and is a Level 8 gymnast, while her youngest, Tara, is a Level 4. "All of the owners are involved. They have girls here and know a lot about the sport."
A boys program should be in place at PEGA in the next few months.
"We care about the quality of the program we provide," she said. "We have the right equipment and very good coaches."
Those exceptional coaches start with director and head girls team coach Brad Epperson, who holds numerous certifications with USA Gymnastics.
His résumé of 34 years oozes with gymnastics experience, teaching the most intermediate classes to Level 10 gymnasts.
He's coached state team championships to Level 9 national champions. Epperson, who returned to the Peoria area in March 2012, also worked with three-time Olympic men's coach Kevin Mazeika in Houston.
Epperson takes great pride in the new facility.
Some of the equipment includes a balance beam area with four high beams and two floor beams.
A loose foam pit — about 8,000 blocks — with a full size in-ground trampoline along with two sets of uneven competition bars, a channel pit bar and an entire vault area. Also featured is competition floor exercise mat and 24-foot Tumbl Trak.
"We just think that's a big advantage for them," Epperson said. "It's exactly the equipment they'll see at competitions They don't have to adjust from using the old equipment to the new equipment."
A live video feed tape is up and running at each of the different areas. The playbacks give the athletes access to immediately fix any mistakes or replay a correctly executed move, according to Epperson.
"It's really kind of a coaches' helper," he said.
There's even a roughly 80-foot zip line with handles and a seat, which Epperson calls a "a big hit."
But the main attraction is its gymnasts. In just five short months, PEGA has produced five state champions — Karley Boyer (floor exercise), Morgan Dexter (balance beam), Natalie Collinson (beam), Katherine Lansford (vault) and Tara Kwok (beam).
"We love it here," said Boyer, 12, who started tumbling at age 3. "It's a great training place. I would love to stay here for as long as I do gymnastics."
Talk to any of those five girls and gymnastics has become a passion. Training — some spend close to 15 hours a week — plus gaining confidence in themselves have been the building blocks of a strong foundation for the athletes.
On top of that, all of them cherish the relationships they have formed.
"Gymnastics is challenging, competitive and I get to see my friends every day," Dexter, 12, said.
Adam Duvall can be reached at 686-3207 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.


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Winter chilled the Hill Country.
A rose garden planted near the north entrance of the Capitol stood spiny and dormant.
Brown stems studded with thorns twisted and curved upward in a manicured rectangle of earth. Dead leaves, brittle and crisp as thin corn chips, adorned the bushes in the dull garden. Wind whispered through dark, crackling petals.
Inside, tucked away in a subterranean government boardroom, signs of the season issuing from muted voices fell on deaf ears and echoed into oblivion.
The state comptroller predicts a loss of at least $15 billion in state revenue for the biennium budget compared to the last. With more than 40 percent of the budget slated for education, it will suffer the largest bite.
Last week, the Senate Finance Committee poured over state funding items.
On Monday morning, it was standing room only in the committee chambers – the array of seated senators were slated to spend the day discussing where cuts would be made in higher education. Representatives from universities packed the aisles.
The committee was going over an almost $50 million loss in funding to a school for the deaf. Members of the school were praying for relief before the senators. A pair of sign language interpreters conveyed the discussion to the audience, but the ones unable to hear were seated on the senate panel.
Before it got to this point, administrators at school districts and colleges had already set signal fires blazing across phone lines, message boards and in pensive meetings with faculty and school boards.
The early draft of the budget, Senate Bill 1, calls for $5 billion per year to be cut from public education spending. Our state senator is in agreement with the bill. Like a budgetary surgeon, he said he wants to make the cuts as painless as possible. But it all seems like serious bloodletting to districts already stretched due to an ever-growing seam of federal and state mandates.
One local school superintendent (Eddie Bland, Bridgeport ISD) called the proposed cuts "catastrophic" with the current funding formula. It calculated as a 25-percent loss. Meanwhile, Slidell is facing a potential trip back in time. That district might be forced to combine grade levels into a single classroom if the proposed slashes stand.
This isn't a slow, leach-like loss. Blood gushes from the wounds of the education budget, gashed by red pens like the needle tips of countless thorns raked across soft flesh.
This comes purely from a down economy. Our state budget is funded mostly through sales tax. Despite Gov. Rick Perry painting rosy portraits of the Texas economy, it's reeling. Many of the new jobs created during this recession have been low-paying, low-skilled service industry jobs. There's no way to depend on the powers that be.
If the cuts come, it's going to be up to local taxpayers to bail districts out. Districts will be forced to cut countless jobs or hold rollback elections in an attempt to raise school property taxes. Politicians talk about the need to scale down standardized testing mandates and such programs that burden districts and take the creativity out of teaching, but nothing ever happens in Austin.
But green shards of leaves on the large live oaks surrounding the Capitol grounds show sparks of life. At least locally, sales tax numbers are up, but the rest of the state leans a different color, red as the roses now gone from the steps of the Capitol. And deaf ears can't listen, much less act.


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Despite now using Mac OS X as my main OS, and being completely up to date on all of my software, there is one old program I still use: Visual Basic 6.
Visual Basic 6 arrived on the scene in 1998 — 11 years ago. To put this in perspective, Windows 98 had only just been released, most developers would have been running Windows 95 on a 400 MHz Pentium II with 32 MB of RAM. The browser of choice was Netscape 4.0 (Microsoft had been late to the game but were now bundling IE4 with Windows 98), Netscape had announced the browser was going free and open source in January of the year and the Mozilla project was started.
You wouldn't even imagine using Netscape or Windows 98 now! Too old, too incapable, too unstable and no longer even compatible with anything. Why use Visual Basic 6?
For a piece of software so old, and so outdated when I sit in front of it I feel like it's home to me. I'm familiar with the ins and outs of the software and to me, its simplicity is a benefit compared to the more flash Visual Studio .NET. It's like a really good text editor, more than it is a swank IDE. Notepad with a play button. I can spend my thinking on the solution rather than managing the wealth of pop up panels and toolbars in newer versions.
For an 11 year old piece of software, I can be every bit as productive with it as I can be with TextMate on Mac OS X (an awesome text editor). The executables I can compile with it still run in even Windows 7 so I don't feel any disadvantage using old software when it still gets the jobs I need done. Backwards compatibility here hasn't been so side-swept like it has with web browsers.
Microsoft's radical switch from Visual Basic 6 to essentially an entirely different language Visual Basic .NET alienated a lot of people. Yes, .NET provided real Object Orientated programming and solved all the shortcomings of Visual Basic 6, bringing it essentially onto par with C#, but that wasn't the reason people used Visual Basic 6.
Visual Basic 6, for all the hate it receives, allows you to throw something together quickly to get complicated tasks done in a UI fashion that a batch script couldn't handle. You could write code as good or as crap as you wanted, and just as I always strive for code as art, so I did with VB6 too. I've seen people of all skill levels use Visual Basic 6 to do various tasks, including office automation. People who don't know the first thing about programming building database front ends. .NET just made Visual Basic more like Java - requiring so much formality that you had to learn to do things properly from the start, rather than learning that as you went along.
Over time, VB6 has been left behind, and the software has aged somewhat. There's a couple of things I have to do to keep my code up to date with modern operating systems. The VB6 IDE didn't have mouse-wheel scrolling as the scroll mouse was a new invention at the time. Thankfully an add-in for VB6 called MZ-Tools solves that.
The second main complication is that Visual Basic 6 executables cannot use a 32-bit Icon. Again, hacks can be done to resolve this. To provide high quality icons for Vista users I created a batch script that used ResHacker to replace the EXE icons after compilation with 32-bit versions up to 128x128.
Visual Basic 6 to me is one of those rare oddities of software that doesn't age too badly and still remains practical to use despite a computing environment inconceivable at the time it was released.
So what old software do you still use (and love)?


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Synology announced today that version 4.1 of its DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system (firmware) for DiskStation NAS servers, such as the DS1511+ or the DS712+, is now in beta state. This means the final update will be available in a month or so.
DSM has been one of the main reasons why Synology NAS servers are the best among network-attached storage devices, thanks to its vast amount of features and robust and easy-to-use interface.
The new version offers some major additional features to the already feature-rich OS, including a Video Station and mobile apps for Windows Phone 7. The Video Station allows users to organize their movies and adds support for USB digital TV tuners. Users can also stream videos and recorded TV programs to standard network media streamers. Synology's mobile apps, including DS Audio, DS Photo +, and DS Finder have been available for iOS and Android devices. Version 4.1 of the OS will bring this support to Windows 7 Phone users.
The new DSM 4.1 version will also include improvements for the Audio Station (better design), the Cloud Station (now supporting two shared folders), the Photo Station (now supporting timeline and faster thumbnail creation), and the Surveillance Station (refreshed design).
In addition, version 4.1 also refines and adds more business features to the server, such as making the NAS compliant with VAAI (vStorage APIs for Array Integration) and offering RAID Fast-Rebuild Technology, Mail Server Enhancements, and support for authentication security with NTLM v2 and Kerberos v5.
As withprevious versions, Synology says it will award beta testers who provide the most valuable assistance and feedback during the beta-testing period with a Synology NAS server. To do that you just need to download the beta firmware and try it out with your Synology NAS.


text: Swan Lake Resort is pleased to have been selected as a 2013 winner in The Knot Best of Weddings, a special section featured on TheKnot.com/BOW. TheKnot.com, the number one wedding destination, is most trusted by brides. This is the 2nd year Swan Lake Resort has been voted the Best of Weddings for The Knot Best of Weddings. The Knot Best of Weddings 2013 provides a "by brides, for brides" guide to the top wedding professionals across the country, and is a must-have when it comes to selecting the best-of-the-best wedding resources. Whether they're trying to find the wedding dress salon with the best service in Philadelphia, the most creative wedding photographers in Los Angeles, New York's top cake bakers or Miami's hottest reception sites, engaged couples across the country want the inside scoop on the best from real brides. Amber Hart, Wedding Sales Manager at Swan Lake Resort, shares, "This again is a true honor that our brides think so highly of their experience at Swan Lake Resort. It is a true testament to our team's commitment to make sure the details of such an important day are handled delicately and completely to fulfill their visions. We thank all the brides who selected us and we look forward to serving many more couples and their families just as well in the coming years." Swan Lake Resort offers the full wedding package. They offer indoor and outdoor wedding venues, multiple banquet and reception facilities, exquisite banquet services, lodging options from hotel to log cabins, two 18 hole golf courses, restaurants and much more. To learn more about Swan Lake Resort's year-round wedding options visit www.swanlakeresort.com or contact Britt Rose at email@example.com.


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Since daylight begins earlier and the air has turned warmer, the color of sky and water here in Chicago is becoming more vibrant, more saturated and glorious. It is always mesmerizing to drive along the lakefront and see how the one determines and shades the other. I always fantasize winning the lottery and getting a gorgeous vintage condo overlooking Lake Michigan so I could begin and end every day with a new shade of Water, a unique shade of Sky, never the same color, forever changing.
But living inland means taking the color with you in your mind's eye. It becomes an oasis where one can take a visual time-out and perhaps feast the senses, relax or invigorate!
The transition of season might still need a nudge, a helping hand to jump over the chilly morning grey skies still lingering around the ever-greening grass. I have my St st project pulling me around that bend and am now one sleeve and a neck-band away from a commuter cardi:
This BCHoodie (Universal Yarn Long Print colors 01 Sea & Sand and 08 African Summer) has all the colors of the March sky & water and more. I'm waiting for a good day to shoot the variations in this yarn because it is really sensational close up. I have a lot of tees in shades of aqua, blue, chartruese and browns and with jeans (and my red hair) makes a nice little daily cardi ready to take over topper duty from the dreary parka parade!


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How To Get Classic Americana Style Inspired By Badlands
Keep reading to see how you can easily mimic the film's on-point look for the new season.
Photo:DKNY, Chloe
The Terrence Malick-directed flick takes place in the late '50s and follows Holly (Sissy Spacek), a teenager living in South Dakota, who meets and falls in love with a young rebel named Kit (Martin Sheen). Blind to Kit's sociopath ways, Holly joins him on his rampant murdering spree across the country. Like Holly's signature style—a mix of James-Dean inspired denim and crisp button-ups—the F/W 13 runways were filled with plenty of boy-meets-girl appeal, including DKNY's Spray Indigo Cotton Oversize Cropped Boxy Denim Jacket ($188, 800.231.0884) and Chloe's button-front, ruffle dress.
AV Room Portable USB Turntable ($160)
Our favorite Badlands moment, you ask? When Kit and Holly dance out infront of their treehouse in the woods. For all of the spontaneous dance moments in your life, this portable record player is a must.
New Tailored Chambray Shirt ($50)
If we're going to go the tomboy route, we're taking cues from Holly and pairing this chambray shirt with dark-wash jeans for denim-on-denim perfection.
Boy Jeans ($235)
True blue denim played a big supporting role in the film, with both Holly and Kit sporting their own versions of the straight-leg jean. A.P.C.'s Boy Jeans make a stellar of-the-moment substitute.
Ruffle-Front Organza Blouse ($495)
It's not all oxford shirts and blue jeans for Holly. The teen had her fair share of girly moments too, which is why we imagine she'd appreciate this ruffle-front organza blouse by Red Valentino.
Women's Solid Cotton Blend Anklet Sock (3-pack) ($16)
Thanks to Holly, the white sock is making a comeback—or at least becoming our favorite new thing to wear with penny loafers!
The Jean Jacket ($118) in Storm Cloud Wash
This denim jacket is our nod to Kit's bad boy style, and also happens to be our favorite transitional layering piece too.
Paisley Bandana ($16)
Tie this paisley bandana as a headscarf a la Holly or wear it as a neckerchief; either way, the results will be noteworthy.
Pique Shorts ($40)
Tailored white shorts, like the pair Holly wore while twirling a baton in her front yard, ring of preppy summer style. Wear them now with a bright tee, then swap in a fitted navy sweater after Labor Day.
Wayfarer Penny Loafer ($99)
Your Badlands-inspired look—and fall wardrobe!—is not complete without a pair of menswear-inspired loafers. We've got our eye on Bass' classic and affordable style in Brown Leather.
Yellow Gingham Skirt ($195)
Not only does this circle skirt look almost identical to the one Holly wore while strolling the river bank with Kit, the gingham print is also right on trend for the season. Two reasons we have to have it immediately.


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Established in 1979 Horizon Air Services is locally owned and operated and one of the largest trucking companies in the port of Boston . We are a full service company with trucking, import, break-bulk, warehousing, and TSA Approved Cargo Screening services.
Providing daily line-haul service to and from JFK and Port Newark.
We maintain formal relationships with hundreds of commercial clients, airlines, brokers, freight forwarders, steam-ship lines, and NVO's.


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Tutored by a fierce little platoon of tireless, ambitious and well-connected neoconservative intellectuals, many of the most influential Catholic hierarchs in the United States did everything in their power to obstruct Barack Obama's first-term agenda. Fevered opposition to Obama was evident at the bishops' annual meeting in Baltimore, one week after the 2008 election, when one bishop after another warned, often in apocalyptic terms, of the grave danger that the new president posed to the nation and to the sanctity of life. First among the bishops' fears was that Obama would shepherd into law the Freedom of Choice Act, securing the right to abortion by statute and eliminating state and federal restrictions on the procedure.
Obama, a moderate politician with little interest in inflaming the public on the abortion issue, did no such thing. Yet the episcopacy's fears were not allayed, and in 2010 the relationship between the hierarchy and the administration flared into confrontation. After decades of advocating for universal healthcare, the bishops opposed the president's Affordable Care Act, alleging that it would open the door to federal funding of elective abortions—a judgment rejected by other anti-abortion Catholic groups, including the Catholic Health Association. Tensions escalated in 2011, when the Department of Health and Human Services determined that free contraception must be included in every healthcare insurance plan. Exemptions were given to certain religious institutions, such as parishes, but not to Catholic universities or hospitals. When the bishops objected vociferously (and rightly, in my opinion), the administration backtracked, proposing an accommodation that spares such institutions direct involvement in the funding of contraceptives while making free contraception available to employees through third parties. Accusing Obama of waging a "war on religion," the bishops and their allies scoffed at this compromise and proceeded to mount an even more aggressive political and legal campaign of resistance. (In February, the Obama administration issued a revised set of guidelines concerning the accommodation. So far, the bishops and their allies have rejected the proposal.)
In April 2012, as part of its effort to overturn the mandate, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued "Our First, Most Cherished Liberty," a broadside condemning the contraception mandate and other alleged threats to religious freedom. The document invoked Martin Luther King Jr.'s fight against legal segregation, characterizing the mandate as an "unjust law" that "cannot be obeyed" and calling for a national protest movement to resist "totalitarian incursions against religious liberty." A number of bishops went further, making it clear that no "faithful" Catholic could vote for Obama. One prelate in Illinois compared the president to Attila the Hun, Hitler and Stalin, a paranoid vision worthy of Gen. Jack D. Ripper in Dr. Strangelove.
This was not a view widely shared by Americans, or ultimately by most American Catholics, who voted to re-elect the president by a margin of 50 to 48 percent. The election results, a triumph for Obama and for pro-choice Democratic Senate candidates, also included the approval of same-sex marriage in three states over the church's voluble opposition. Mark Silk, a columnist and blogger for Religion News Service, observed that the bishops "got their butts kicked from coast to coast." Yet they remain obdurate. Many are convinced that the United States is moving inexorably toward a regime of religious intolerance, where those who hold to traditional biblical notions of sexual morality will not only be ostracized but discriminated against and even persecuted by the government. Stirring such fears, Chicago's Cardinal Francis George, former president of the USCCB, has warned that while he expects to die in his bed, his successor will die in prison, and his successor will die a martyr.