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Top UK court overturns sanctions on Iranian bank
LONDON (AP) — Britain's Supreme Court quashed sanctions against an Iranian bank penalized over its alleged links to Iran's nuclear weapons program, saying Wednesday that Bank Mellat had been arbitrarily singled out.
The U.S. Treasury Department slammed the ruling as mistaken and warned that Bank Mellat remains under American sanctions.
Bank Mellat, a privately owned commercial bank, was seeking to overturn a 2009 order by the British Treasury barring it from operating in the country. That order, made under counterterrorism laws, shut the bank out of the British financial sector because it allegedly helped finance Tehran's nuclear program.
The bank had denied the allegation and argued that the order was unlawful, taking the case to the Supreme Court after failing to persuade Britain's High Court and Court of Appeal to overturn the order.
Britain's Supreme Court agreed, saying in a ruling Wednesday that the order was "arbitrary and irrational" and "disproportionate."
Lawyer Sarosh Zaiwalla, who represented Bank Mellat, called the ruling a victory for his client and "for the rule of law."
But the United States, which along with the EU has levied sanctions against Bank Mellat, said in a statement that it is "very disappointed" by the court's decision, which it called "mistaken."
"Bank Mellat was designated for sanctions by the U.S., the UK and the EU because it supports Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile proliferation activities," the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement. "It has no place in the international financial system."
The Treasury statement added that as the Bank Mellat remains under U.S. sanctions, under U.S. law any bank that transacts with the lender or provides it services can be cut off from the American financial system.
"We have exercised this authority in the past and will not hesitate to do so again in order to ensure that Bank Mellat is not able to operate," the statement said.
The EU sanctions against Bank Mellat were overturned by the European General Court in January, but remain in effect since that ruling is being appealed.
Separately, the British Supreme Court justices said in a related judgment that it had been unnecessary for them to hear some evidence in the case in secret. The decision for Britain's highest court to convene for the first time ever behind closed doors had sparked fierce criticism from anti-secrecy activists.
The justices said Wednesday there had been no point in hearing evidence in secret because there was nothing said behind closed doors that would have impacted the court's decision in the case.
Associated Press writer Marjorie Olster contributed from Washington.


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DURHAM, NC (January 3, 2014) – The National Press Photographers Association's 2014 Best Of Photojournalism competitions are now open for entry.
Entry is once again free to all participants. And you'll be able to enter and view your contest submissions online.
Renowned as "the contests designed for photojournalists by photojournalists," and incorporating the many facets of the visual journalism industry, NPPA's Best of Photojournalism competitions attract the most talented professionals in Still, Video, Multimedia, and Editing, year after year.
The closing deadline for the Best of Photojournalism Still, Picture Editing, and Multimedia competitions will be Friday, January 31, 2014, at 3:00 p.m. EST (UTC/GMT -5 hours).
The closing deadline for the Best of Photojournalism Video division will be Friday, January 24, 2014, at 3:00 p.m. EST (UTC/GMT -5 hours).
Revered as "an annual celebration of international excellence, in all forms of photojournalism and visual reportage," the contest underwent significant reorganization in 2012. Improvements such as ease of entry, category revisions and additions, and choosing winners using a combination of both online and on-site judging will highlight the changes for the entire contest's 12th year.
During the early rounds of the four contests more than 40 experts from around the world will be used as professional crowd-source judges to insure fairness and a broad-based selection. The final selection of winners in each contest will be juried live by a fresh group of working professionals who will be brought together for the final selection.
The Best of Photojournalism Contest Committee is led by Terry Eiler, professor emeritus at Ohio University's School of Visual Communication (VisCom). The Best of Photojournalism committee and organizing team includes associate professor Stan Alost, who is now the interim director of VisCom; Sherman Williams of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Deanne Fitzmaurice; former Sports Illustrated photography editor James Colton; ZUMA Press founder Scott Mc Kiernan; Merry Murray of KSNW-TV; and Regina McCombs of Minnesota Public Radio.
For more information about NPPA's 2014 Best Of Photojournalism contests, or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Thomas Kenniff at [email protected].
The current Best of Photojournalism 2014 sponsors include Ohio University and Camera Bits.

subset: commoncrawl


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Stone Temple Pilots sue ex-frontman Scott Weiland
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Stone Temple Pilots accuse former frontman Scott Weiland of misusing the band's name to further his solo career and want a judge to strip the rocker of his ability to use the group's name or songs.
A lawsuit filed Friday in Los Angeles accuses Weiland of being chronically late to concerts while the group was together and having his lawyer attempt to interfere with the airplay of the group's new single "Out of Time."
Weiland and Stone Temple Pilots parted ways in February, and the 45-year-old singer said at the time that he learned of his ouster from a statement released to the media.
The lawsuit sheds light on the band's breakup, accusing Weiland of interacting with band mates only through lawyers or managers and showing up late to the group's 2012 shows. It cites Weiland's addiction struggles and poor performances as detriments to the band's earning potential.
"The band endured much strife and lost significant opportunities because of Weiland," the suit states.
In a message posted to his website Friday, Weiland said his former band mates shouldn't call themselves Stone Temple Pilots either.
"First of all they don't have the legal right to call themselves STP because I'm still a member of the band," he said. "And more importantly, they don't have the ethical right to call themselves Stone Temple Pilots because it's misleading and dishonest to the millions of fans that have followed us for so many years."
The suit claims the band owns the rights to the name Stone Temple Pilots, and the band's songs, copyrights and trademarks. Weiland has used many of the band's hits in his solo shows, the lawsuit states. The band wants a judge to block him from even calling himself a former member of the band.
The band has been reconstituted with Chester Bennington of Linkin Park taking the frontman role.
Although he did not mention the lawsuit, Weiland disputed that he is using the band's name to promote his new shows.
"When I tour on my own, it's never as Stone Temple Pilots. It's as Scott Weiland," he wrote. "The fans deserve to know what they're getting."
The lawsuit claims that Weiland's lawyer called the head of programming at KROQ, a Los Angeles modern rock station, and said if the station played "Out of Time" it would be infringing on Weiland's rights.
"Enough is enough," the band's lawsuit states. "Without relief from the court, Weiland will continue violating STP's rights, misappropriating STP assets and interfering with the band's livelihood."
The lawsuit states the band entered into agreements in 1996 and 2010 that state that no former members can use the Stone Temple Pilots name.
The band's hits include "Vasoline," ″Interstate Love Song" and "Plush," which won a Grammy in 1993 for best hard rock performance with vocal.
Weiland alluded to lawyers getting involved when the band's statement about his departure was released.
Phone messages left for Weiland's manager Andrea Pett-Joseph and lawyer Gary Stiffelman were not immediately returned Friday.
Anthony McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP .


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Friday, February 07, 2014 - Jan and David - FULL CONTACT
Jan and David - FULL CONTACT
We have a great pairing in Jan Faust and David Kadera. We find Jan on the sofa watching something on his tablet as he gropes himself. David arrives and is soon running his hands over Jan's hot body. He pulls Jan up and they kiss. As they kiss David moves down and releases Jan's stiff cock from his underwear and starts to suck it. He sucks and licks the cock until Jan reaches up and begins to open his shirt. With David's chest exposed Jan starts kissing on his nipples. David stands, hard in his pants. He takes Jan's hand and rubs it over his erection in the pants. Then they open the pants, pushing them down and releasing David's rock hard cock from his underwear. Jan leans forward to suck on that stiff cock. David gets completely naked and they rub cocks together as they kiss some more. David moves onto his knees, presenting his hot ass to Jan, who starts rimming it. He tongues the hole and then begins to finger it too. With his cock throbbing Jan slides it into David's eager hole, fucking him nice and deep. His big dick really stretches that hole as he fucks it hard. Then Jan sits on the sofa, so that David can slide his ass over the big, hard cock. He rides that cock, with his own dick so hard. He really loves the feel of that cock and moves to missionary position with Jan deep inside him. As Jan fucks him David wanks his own stiff cock and quickly shoots his cum. Jan continues to fuck that hot ass until he is ready too and he pulls out, dumping his cum all over David. Then Jan leans forward and kisses him one final time.
... more about Jan and David - FULL CONTACT further in this newsletter
Our Coming Soon Set Preview
Simon Beber came is for a Screentest and we paired him up with Paco Mlaticka. They sit on the bed and Paco interviews Simon, briefly. Then they both move onto their knees and begin to kiss. As they kiss they rub each other's groins and Paco removes Simon's tee-shirt. He leans down and kisses Simon's nipples before moving back up to the mouth. Opening the pants Paco pulls out Simon's cock, which is already hard. Simon stands and Paco takes his cock in his mouth. He sucks on the rock hard cock, his mouth wrapped tight around it. Paco's mouth bobs up and down on that cock and then he licks the tight balls too. Paco stands, opening his pants, releasing his own hard cock. Simon drops to his knees and takes the cock in his mouth. Paco fucks his cock in and out of Simon's hot mouth. He then licks the shaft and the balls as well. Getting completely naked they then move to 69, with Simon on top. They suck and lick each other's dicks for a while before moving again. With Paco on his knees Simon is able to rim his hot hole. His tongue laps at the hole and then he shoves a finger inside. He fingers that hot hole as he wanks himself. Then Simon slides his throbbing cock deep into Paco's ass. He fucks that tight hole real good, moving Paco onto his back to continue. As Simon fucks with long, slow strokes Paco wanks his own hard cock. That big fat cock looks so good in Paco's ass and he speeds up his wanking, soon spilling his load all over his bot body. Simon pulls out and dumps his cum as well, and then he leans over and kisses Paco. Then they go to the shower to clean each other after a very hot scene.
You can watch my Vlog for this Newsletter by clicking above or by going over to the Blog :
If I didn't know better, I'd say that winter is over in Prague. Here we are in February, one of the coldest months of the year, in the Czech Republic, and we're experiencing spring weather. Right now it's 44ºF outside. Forecasts call for 50º weather next week. Figure that out.
Meanwhile down to work:
In what is a very good newsletter, I'll comment in the Blog about one of the shoots. We start with Jan Faust and David Kadera. Then we have a double erotic video with Ondra Radni and Vlado Tomek. We finish off with Milan Bartos in his session stills.
Our castings all look too too, they are Frantisek Adams, Michal Zeleny and Tomas Skoda. After due consideration my pick for today is Frantisek Adams.
MESSAGE ABOUT LINKS TO THE OLD WH WEBSITE - WILLIAMHIGGINS.com ARCHIVES:
Please be aware that the link www.williamhiggins.com takes you to this brand new website now. If you bookmarked our old website in the past and you want to keep the bookmark as a shortest way to access the old WH website you need to change the link in the bookmark to:
You do not need to remember this link, you can conveniently get to the old WH Website - WilliamHiggins.com Archives anytime you need through the "WH 2001-2010" in the top menu of the new WilliamHiggins.com website.
Today's Weather in Prague
We have launched our all new Kink only site with no solos. It's not for the feint hearted. Do take a look (if you dare):
At present, Members of CzechGuysNextDoor will be able to access the new site with their user information. If you have problems, write firstname.lastname@example.com
Latest Sets At Our NEW STR8HELL.com Website
Open Set "Ivan Mraz - SPANKING"
Open Set "Roman Koroza - CFNM"
Members of CzechGuysnextDoor.com - to log in the member's section of the new STR8HELL website use your present username and password, if you forgot your password or encounter a log in problem please feel free to contact us at: email@example.com
Non-members - you are welcome to browse our complete content - each regular set contains free video preview and free photos, if you decide not to become a member of our website you can also buy sets separately (we huge, well organized and easy to search library of models - there is always few models you may like) you can pay only for what you really want see ;-). You are always welcome to come back.
All members of www.CzechGuysNextDoor.com get a free access to STR8HELL.com till the end of November 2011!
Please use your present CzechGuysNextDoor username and password to log into the members area.
We have terminated updates to CzechGuysNextDoor.com website. CzechGuysNextDoor.com website will stay online, but now only as an archive of all CzechGuysNextdoor.com sets. Anyone who wants to access CzechGuysNextDoor.com Archives needs to have a STR8HELL.com membership. STR8HELL.com will continue with most of the czechguysnextdoor.com projects. Anyone who joins STR8HELL.com will gain access to two websites STR8HELL.com and CzechGuyNextDoor.com Archives which contain 2500+ sets. STR8HELL.com has exactly same features and controls as NEW WilliamHiggins.com website.
Direct access to CzechGuysNextDoor.com website is now through the link: archive.czechguysnextdoor.com or through "Archive Sets 2004-2011" links on the new STR8HELL website.
Thank you for your loyalty to CzechGuysNextDoor.com website,
William Higgins
BurnDVD.tv Website Latest Updates
Starting today you can download our videos in Full HD quality 1920x1080px!
Please remember that most of the videos available on BurnDVD are easily able to be downloaded with a single link, but some of the very large files, such as the newsletter DVDs have to be split into three separate links, as detailed below.
The videos with very large file sizes are now split into more than one part, using a program called HJSplit. If you wish to buy one of these larger videos to Burn to DVD, you will receive a link for file and then it is a simple process to join the downloaded files together to make the .iso file for Burning to DVD.
You can see all the available videos at www.burndvd.tv
Before downloading any videos to burn to DVD I advise you to read the BURNDVD Manual, which explains how you can burn the file to DVD. The file is an ISO file which contains all the required DVD files. The process for burning to DVD is fully explained.
The BurnDVD manual is easy to follow, with a step by step guide. Burning a DVD is easy to do, though it is helpful if you have previously burned DVDs or CDs.
The manual can be viewed here: BURNDVD Manual
Anyone who has any problems understanding the manual, or burning their download to DVD, or indeed any questions about this service please email email@example.com . Geoff will be happy to assist you.
You can view all the available downloads at www.burndvd.tv, by clicking the on the categories. A direct link to the latest files available will be published in each newsletter.
Our Latest Sets at www.BurnDVD.tv
Today we have Jan Faust & David Kadera and Ondra Radni & Vlado Tomek – Erotic Video, Milan Bartos– Backstage Video and CFNM – Roman Koroza.
The direct link to "Jan Faust and David Kadera"
The direct link to "DUO - Ondra Radni and Vlado Tomek"
The direct link to "Milan Bartos - BS"
The direct link to "CFNM - Roman Koroza - FULL"
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Is it just a harmless bump on the head — or something more serious? Our pediatric concussion experts have the experience, equipment and medical know-how to tell the difference. We take a team approach to assess and treat mild traumatic brain injuries and concussions in children of all ages.
A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury that occurs when someone's brain moves around inside the skull or bangs against it. Although the injury may seem mild, concussions in children can affect health, thinking ability, behavior/mood, school performance and social interactions.
A concussion can be caused by:
- a fall, especially in babies, toddlers and young children
- a sports injury
- a crash involving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), bike or automobile
- a physical attack, a school fight or child abuse
- whiplash
- any major head trauma, blow to the head
With plenty of rest and reduced activity, kids often recover on their own from a concussion in a week or two. Concussions in other children might require weeks or even months of therapy, rehabilitation, and taking a break from school, sports and other physical and cognitive activities. One of the most important factors for a successful recovery is easing back in to regular activities slowly over time, one activity at a time, with guidance from your health care provider.
New JerseySpecialty Care
FloridaHospitalSpecialty Care
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Nemours Children's Specialty Care, Jacksonville
807 Children's Way
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Get Map & Directions »
For Appointments: (904) 697-3600
- photo ID
- medical and pharmacy insurance cards
- preferred pharmacy name and phone number
- names and dosage of all medications, including over-the-counter medication, your child is currently taking
- guardianship and custody papers, if a legal guardian rather than a parent accompanies your child
New Patients
- Patient Registration (PDF)
Returning Patients
New Patient Forms
- Patient Registration (PDF)
Returning Patient Forms
- Release of Information (PDF)
English | Spanish
- Patient Presents Without Legal Guardian (PDF)
English | Spanish
Note: A parent or legal guardian must be with a child for a first visit.
Resources for Patients & Families
- Insurance We Accept: See accepted insurance, listed by location.
- Pay Your Bill: Use online bill pay or send by mail.
- Financial Assistance: Get help with your child's health care expenses.
- MyNemours: Access your child's medical record online.
A concussion directly involves the brain, and can affect how kids feel, behave and do in school. We know concussions in children can be scary, whether your child is an infant or adolescent. That's why our Nemours concussion experts team with other specialists at Wolfson Children's Hospital and Shands Jacksonville to give your child top-quality care.
Together, we'll evaluate and, if needed, treat your child's concussion. That includes gradually easing your child back into normal activities. And, hopefully, we'll give you a little peace of mind in the process, knowing that your child is in good hands.
Concussion Care at Nemours Children's Specialty Care, Jacksonville
Our concussion care team will develop a personalized treatment program based on the extent of your child's injury. Following a thorough medical and neurological exam, some kids may just need lots of rest and a careful return to normal activities.
Sometimes concussions in children may require a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed axial tomography (CAT) scan or other radiology (or medical imaging) tests to find out more. You can get medical imaging tests right next door to our clinic, at Wolfson Children's Hospital.
Learn more about the different kinds of imaging tests and what to expect »
If the damage is severe, or if your child has had previous concussions, your child may need to see more than one team member, including physician specialists such as:
- neurologists (who specialize in brain, nerves and the spinal cord)
- neuropsychologists (psychologists who specialize in thinking, reasoning and making decisions)
- orthopedists (who specialize in bones, muscles and joints)
- physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians (who specialize in physical therapy and rehabilitation to help kids recover)
- sports medicine physicians (who specialize in preventing and treating injuries in athletes)
Follow-Up Care
Our specialists focus on helping to relieve symptoms of concussions in children and improve your child's ability to function at school, at home and on the field. Your child may need monitoring at home, a reduced workload and activity schedule at school, and possibly physical and other kinds of therapy. Whether it's a mild or a severe concussion, our care team treats all children as we would our own – your child, our promise.


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|4:05 PM PT5:05 PM MT6:05 PM CT7:05 PM ET19:05 ET23:05 GMT7:05 4:05 PM MST6:05 PM EST6:35 PM VEN3:05 UAE (+1)6:05 PM CT, April 21, 2017
Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland Attendance: 34,442
Red Sox, Orioles on rolls heading into series
MLB Headlines
- Braves' Snitker gets 2-year extension
- Brewers-Dodgers shifts to LA tied at 1
- Red Sox bounce back to tie ALCS at 1-1
- BoSox ace Sale hospitalized with illness
- Cole off in 2nd playoff start as Astro
BALTIMORE -- The Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles are two of the hottest teams in the American League as they begin a three-game series Friday night at Camden Yards.
Boston took two of three games from reeling Toronto and improved to 10-6. The Orioles won twice in Cincinnati and have the best record in the majors at 10-4, leading the American League East.
The Red Sox and Orioles meet in Baltimore for the first time this season after splitting a pair of games in Boston on April 11-12. Baltimore is just happy to return home after a nine-game trip in which it went 6-3.
"We're going home to see some friendly faces," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "It's a quick turnaround, but we'll find a way to compete with the Red Sox."
The Red Sox will open the series with left-hander Drew Pomeranz (1-0, 5.23 ERA) on the hill. Pomeranz had a stem-cell injection in his elbow in the offseason and opened the year on the disabled list.
In his debut April 11, Pomeranz picked up a win against the Orioles. However, he was roughed up in his next outing against Tampa Bay, when he allowed five runs on five hits in just 4 1/3 innings.
Pomeranz was acquired from the San Diego Padres last season for Boston's top right-handed pitching prospect, Anderson Espinoza. That deal was marred when Red Sox officials discovered that Padres general manager A.J. Preller had withheld some medical information on Pomeranz.
Nonetheless, Pomeranz remained with Boston and the results have been mixed. Red Sox manager John Farrell was not surprised as Pomeranz is still getting his feet under him after the stint on the disabled list.
"Drew is going to run into a lot of deep counts," said Farrell, whose team is just 2-4 on the road.
The Red Sox have dealt with illnesses and injuries over the early part of the season. Still, Boston has managed to play well, and the immediate future is looking brighter, with Jackie Bradley Jr. (right knee sprain) expected to return from the disabled list for the series opener in Baltimore.
"We're getting to the point with Jackie coming back and getting to full strength," Farrell said.
Baltimore will counter with young phenom Dylan Bundy, who was moved up a day so he could pitch on normal rest. Bundy was the franchise's top prospect and has been stellar in his second season as a starter. He is 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA, 17 strikeouts and just three walks.
In his last outing against Toronto, he threw six scoreless innings, striking out six and walking just one. Bundy's only loss came against the Red Sox on April 6.
"It's a work in progress, like I've said from the get-go in spring," Bundy said. "Hopefully it keeps getting better."
Baltimore has one of the most powerful lineups in the major leagues. However, the Orioles struck out 35 times in three games against the Reds.
Nonetheless, the Orioles are 5-0-1 in series this month.
"The pitching has been really good," said shortstop J.J. Hardy, who had the go-ahead RBI in the 10th inning that gave Baltimore a 2-1 victory over the Reds in the series finale. "It seemed a lot longer than 11 days. But it's good we're going home."
Updated April 21, 2017


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In the Long Beach Unified School District, more than 1,400 students are treated by school-based mental health agencies each year, said Tiffany Brown, the LBUSD's director of coordinated student services.
The number of students treated for mental health problems has grown from 350 a year in 2000, largely to a growth in the range of services available, she said, adding that local schools expect to see more students seeking treatment in light of the mass shooting in Connecticut.
The school district collaborates with nine local community and mental health agencies to offer a comprehensive scope of services, ranging from individual and family counseling, to intensive, long-term therapy.
Teachers are often the first to identify problems in the classroom and are trained to recognize abnormal behavior, Brown said.
Students displaying warning signs such as violent outbursts, aggression towards others and longer-than-average temper tantrums are referred to a school psychologist who can determine the proper form of treatment.
Those who show a more withdrawn behavior, which teachers call "acting in," or those who show a sudden drop in academic performance, are typically referred to a school counselor who can determine if the child needs a more extensive form of treatment.
In addition to observations from teachers, counselors and administrators, schools also receive referrals from concerned parents who may have noticed abnormal behavior at home. At middle schools and high schools, students may come to a teacher with concerns about their own mental health or the health of a friend.
"Some of the best referrals we get are from a student who is concerned about a friend," she said. "We work with our students to recognize the signs of mental illness and how to access help, whether it's for themselves or for a friend."
Brown said the district's mental health programs are largely funded through Medi-Cal since about 70 percent of students in the LBUSD qualify for the state's Medicaid welfare program.
She said the district can usually find a way to provide some form of counseling or therapy for students who have no health insurance.


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The Port of Hood River is working to finalize an ordinance that regulates conduct at the Ken Jernstedt Airfield.
Airport Ordinance 23, currently in the draft and public comment phase, is the first port ordinance directed specifically and entirely at Hood River's airport, which the agency has owned and managed since 1976.
The ordinance, drafted by port staff at the request of the port commission, was created with collaboration from an airport advisory committee and Federal Aviation Administration staff. Pending public comments and revisions, port staff hopes to have the ordinance presented to the commission for approval by June.
"This draft has been about a year in the works," said Mike Doke, port marketing manager. "The airport, over time, is seeing more and more activity. It has changed a lot over the last 10 years; and it has done a lot of growing up over the last few years. Ordinance 23 is a broad-based ordinance intended to regulate conduct at the Ken Jernstedt Airfield for the safety and enjoyment of everyone who uses it."
In section 26 of the ordinance, a Declaration of Emergency is described, signifying that the ordinance would take effect immediately upon passage:
"Because it is important to reduce risks of harm to persons and property associated with Airport use as soon as possible due to increasing Airport use in spring and summer, and because the FAA has requested the Port to enact an ordinance regulating certain Airport activities, therefore, an emergency is declared to exist."
Some sections of the ordinance are general grounds keeping orders: No fireworks (section 5), no camping (section 7), no hunting unless with written permission (section 9), aircraft storage (section 11), parking regulations (section 13) and vehicle speed limits (section 16). For those sections, the ordinance spells out policies that have already been in action at the airport for years, while listing official penalties and fines for violating those rules.
Other sections propose new regulations and rules, some of which have drawn criticism from some airport users.
Written and verbal complaints about Ordinance 23 have been made to the port by several glider operators, who say that, if passed, the ordinance would be unfair, unsafe and, in some cases, potentially illegal.
"I've been flying in Hood River for more than 20 years," pilot Gary Boggs told the port commission at an April 19 public meeting. "The plan, as is in Ordinance 23, is not safe and should not be implemented. I'm really concerned that the port is setting itself up for a huge liability."
Boggs, a longtime Hood River pilot and the Soaring Society of America Governor for the state of Oregon, cites several sections of the ordinance in which he believes the port is overstepping its jurisdiction and creating potentially hazardous conditions with new rules.
"In my opinion, Ordinance 23 singles out glider operations and creates restrictions, specifically for gliders, that would create unfair restrictions and compromise our ability to operate as safely as possible," Boggs said.
Among his greatest concerns, Boggs sites section 17 of the draft ordinance, which addresses glider operations, includes layout plans for new "Glider Support" and "Glider Operations" areas and rules-out vehicles to be used to taxi gliders into position for takeoff.
"One problem is that it places gliders about a thousand feet down the runway," Boggs said. "If we are not permitted to use a vehicle to taxi a glider to the end of the runway, our option is to either push the glider back the thousand feet by hand - tying up the entire runway in the process - or take off from about a third of the way into the runway. Neither of those options makes any sense, and both would create safety hazards."
Judy Newman, glider pilot and director of Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum, also addressed the port commission this month with concerns about the ordinance.
"A glider cannot taxi itself around a runway; some kind of vehicle is needed," said Newman, who ran a glider business out of Hood River in the 1980s. She disagreed with Boggs about the safety of taking off from a location other than the back of the runway, however, noting that when she operated gliders at the airstrip it was common to take off from a similar location near the office and there were no incidents.
Since the April 19 meeting, Doke said the port had reviewed comments about the draft, both good and bad; and by deadline Friday morning, he said that some sections of the draft will be changed.
"That's the point of this process," he said. "We put the draft out to get feedback, and now we are making changes to account for it."
He said changes will include taking out the section that restricted vehicles that have been used at the airport for years to taxi gliders and antique airplanes.
"The point is to be as safe as possible," Boggs said. "And with gliders, the more space we have to take off, the higher the planes are when they cross the end of runway; and the safer it is. It just doesn't make sense to create a system for gliders that would have us take off from anywhere but the back of the runway."
In May 2009 the Hood River County Commission approved the Ken Jernstedt Airfield Airport Master Plan. A significant component of that plan was the agreement to shift the airport's 3,040-foot runway about 550 feet to the east to increase the buffer zone between the end of the runway and Tucker Road. The runway shift will require overtaking a section of Orchard Road adjacent to the east end of the airport, which will cut off through traffic and create dead ends on both side of the runway.
The plan, as explained on the port website: "While the airport's runway will not be any longer, it will see a significant move to the east, allowing westbound aircraft to gain more height before flying over the state highway. By vacating Orchard Road on the east side, the potential for accidents involving plans and ground vehicles is diminished."
Following comments on the issue, and changes regarding vehicle use to taxi gliders, Doke said the port would like to have tow planes and gliders take off from the east end of the runway.
"We're will need to figure out the best way to get gliders to the end of the runway," he said.
Newman credited the port's efforts, but did say there were issues with the scope of the ordinance.
"They are working hard and have good intentions," she said. "I think they're trying to make things run smooth and get everyone working together out there. But I think things got too detailed; they got into a can of worms. There's stuff in there that really isn't the port's problem to address; a lot of it is already covered in the FARs (Federal Aviation Regulations, a universal set of standards and guidelines required to be followed at all airports)."
"The important thing to remember is that this is still in the public review phase," Doke said regarding public issues with the ordinance. "People can submit letters and they can come to the commission's public meetings to voice their concerns. This is the time to hear those concerns, and to make changes."
As elected officials, Doke noted, the commission has a responsibility to hear legitimate concerns of the public and make decisions accordingly.
The FAA confirmed this week that they had received a complaint from an operator at Ken Jernsedt Airfield.
"There will be an informal review and assessment of information to determine further action, if appropriate," said Mike Fergus, FAA media relations.
Fergus explained that since the port receives federal grant money for the airport, the agency is required to adhere to certain rules and conditions, including nondiscrimination.
The FAA Airport Improvement Grant Program states, "It will make the airport available as an airport for public use on reasonable terms and without unjust discrimination to all types, kinds and classes of aeronautical activities, including commercial aeronautical activities offering services to the public at the airport.
"The allegation is based on possible violation of the Assurance of non discrimination," Fergus said.
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Rivalries in football are nothing new, some have been going on for ages, and some are just for bragging rights. No matter what the case here are the top ten biggest football rivalries in no particular order.
Liverpool vs. Manchester United
Probably the most well known rivalry, Liverpool vs. Manchester United has been a game to see for a long time. This is such a popular rivalry because these are the two best teams in England, with more than 110 trophies combined.
Although in days past fan violence was prominent, these days it's rare to see fights break out.
Barcelona vs. Real Madrid
This is yet another age old rivalry and again one of the most popular. Just like Liverpool and Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid are the two most successful teams in their country of Spain.
This rivalry exists mainly because of the fact that Madrid is coupled with the Spanish royalty and Barcelona sits on its own. There has even been discussion of making Catalonia, the place where Barcelona is located, its own country.
So between the two it's as if the rich pompous royalty is fighting against the common folk.
Penarol vs. Nacional
This is literally the oldest rivalry in the sport. It spans over a hundred years of competition, pretty amazing yea? Penarol claims 47 tophies and Ncaional claims 41, so you can see why they fight one another.
In fact, this rivalry takes place in Centenario, Uruguay where the very first world cup was played.
Olympiacos vs. Panathinaikos
A truly "old school" rivalry based out of Greece, these two teams have one of the meanest game nicknames there is. The Derby of Eternal Enemies or the Mother of all Battles, strikes fear just by itself, but when you add in the fact that this rivalry still faces violent outbursts, it really conjures up some emotions.
Much like Barcelona and Real Madrid these two teams represent different ends of the spectrum. Olympiacos is more of the blue collar working class whereas Panathinaikos represents more of the upper class of Athens Greece.
Al-Ahly vs. Zamalek
This particular rivalry runs so deep that when the two teams play each other officials are typically brought in from different countries entirely to avoid any sort of biased judgments. Although this doesn't do too much for the fans when they don't get the call they'd like to get.
The fans have become so unruly here in Cairo, Egypt in the past that even today different routes are strictly managed to make sure the opposing teams fans don't ever interact with one another.
Partizan vs. Red Star Belgrade
This rivalry makes the list strictly because of the fans in Belgrade, Serbia. While these teams are great in their own right and the two top cities in Serbia, it's their fans and their derby name that tops them all. Their game's nick name is the Eternal Derby, pretty ominous eh?
Well along with the great derby name there is a constant threat of fan violence. If you ever attend one of these games be prepared to see a lot of police in full riot gear ready to stomp out the flames of the fans.
Fenerbahçe v. Galatasaray
This is a pretty unique rivalry because they are based out of the same exact city except for one little thing. The Bosporus Strait is what separates them. As with a lot of rivalries these two teams represent the lower and upper class, Fenerbache is associated with the working class and Galatasaray is typically coupled with the upper class of Istanbul, Turkey.
Nowhere else is a rivalry in the same city split simply by a small body of water.
Flamengo v. Fluminense
These two teams are based out of Brazil which is a country we owe great thanks to for the game of soccer itself. When this match is played both teams go at it full throttle, and not to mention they have a, well, cute name for their rivalry.
Depending on which team you support you can switch it around but it's Flu – Fla, or Fla – Flu. Obviously this is just the name of the teams shortened but still, kind of funny isn't it?
AC Milian vs. Inter
Another great rivalry that spans just over 100 years, it is said that this whole rivalry started around 1908. Always a very exciting match both of these teams calls the Stadio San Siro, the stadium, in Milian, Italy their home.
Although these matches aren't typically known for being the biggest or most violent, the games are played fiercely and with full heartedly.
Esteghlal v. Persepolis
This is another interesting rivalry for a couple reasons, the first being that it is held at one of the world's biggest stadiums, in Tehran, Iran, with a capacity somewhere around 90,000 people. Another reason is because it dates back to the late 60's and at that time both teams were known by different names.
Possibly the most interesting fact about this rivalry is that there are no women allowed in the stadium. This ban was lifted very briefly in 2006 just to be put back in order and still stands today.
Soccer rivalries will never die and some last literally over a hundred years with another possible 100 on the way. Get out there and support your team, be sure to wear the right colors and join in all the chants badgering the opposing team. Don't keep switching your alliance or you may be labeled as a fraud and targeted on your own.
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Capitals Rookie Game Tix Available Online
August 28th, 2008 | 1 Comment | Posted in » Hershey Bears, Washington Capitals |
The Washington Capitals are set to kick off their rookie camp on September 14, 2008 — check in here for updates from our friend John Sparenberg. As part of the rookie camp, the Caps will host a rookie game against the Philadephia Flyers at Kettler Capital Ice Plex, starting at 3 pm on September 18th. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Philadelphia Flyers, Prospects, rookie, rookie camp, rookie game, training camp, Washington Capitals


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There are some things that should absolutely remain unsaid when speaking to a pregnant woman. Why would you ever ask someone, "Are you still with the father?" or "Are you going to keep it?" Yikes!
Here are some unbelievable comments said to pregnant women and what you should say instead.
"Was it planned?"
Does it really matter? Whether it was planned or not, she's obviously sharing the news because she's happy and excited not because she wants to answer to nosy people. Questioning her decision-making is unnecessary (and kind of rude).
What to say instead: "Congratulations, kids are great!"
"Did you take fertility drugs?"
Getting pregnant isn't easy for everyone and the struggle with fertility is emotionally and financially exhausting. When a woman is pregnant at a certain age or is carrying multiples, be mindful of the delicate story that may be behind her joy; intrusive questions just rain on her parade.
What to say instead: "Do multiples run in your family?"
"You look like you're ready to pop!"
The last thing a woman who is very pregnant wants to hear is how big she looks. She's already frustrated and tired of being pregnant and reminding her of this isn't good for anyone.
What to say instead: "How are you feeling?"
"Are you sure there aren't twins in there?"
(What she's thinking: What's your excuse? I'm carrying a life!) Come on, women are self-conscious enough as it is and when she's carrying an extra 20 or so pounds she's extra sensitive about her looks (and everything else for that matter).
What to say instead: "Do you know what you are having?"
"Can I touch your belly?"
(What she's thinking: I don't even know you!) Unless you're a close relative or friend, this is just awkward for her. Just because a woman is pregnant doesn't make her belly community property.
What to say instead: "Wow, you look great! What a cute belly!"
"Have you picked a name yet?"
It seems harmless, but trust us, she doesn't want to answer this question and subject herself (and her partner) to your opinions. It's hard enough agreeing on a baby name as a couple and input from strangers just makes the process more difficult.
What to say instead: "Are you having fun picking a name?"
"Enjoy ____ now because once the baby comes, you can kiss it goodbye."
Pregnancy is an emotional time for a woman especially if it's her first. She's very aware that her life is about to drastically change. She doesn't need you to suggest that she'll never enjoy sleep, skinny jeans or a minute alone ever again.
What to say instead: "Parenting is certainly full of ups and downs but it's worth it!"
"You shouldn't be eating/drinking that."
(What she's thinking: Thanks Dr. Stranger, but I'll eat and drink whatever I please and if you get in the way, you may lose a finger.) Pregnant women are well aware of their new dietary recommendations and restrictions and if you don't trust she's making wise decisions, keep it to yourself.
What to say instead: "Boy, does that look delicious!"
"I never had morning sickness."
All pregnancies are different, so bragging to a mother who is sick as a dog about your lack of pregnancy symptoms is downright insensitive.
What to say instead: "How have you been feeling? Any morning sickness?"
"I was sick my whole 9 months."
On the flip side, a pregnant woman doesn't want to be any more terrified than she already is. Keep the horror stories to yourself.
What to say instead: "Don't worry, you will feel better soon enough!"
"I was ripped open from end to end."
This falls into the horror story category. Like pregnancy, giving birth is different for every woman. And the fact is, most women don't end up "ripped from end-to-end" — one bad experience shouldn't set off panic in the mind of a new mother!
What to say instead: "I had a rough experience, but not all women go through what I did."
"Get an epidural!"
Deciding how and where to give birth is extremely personal — it's about what she wants, not what other people think she should want. Though hospital settings and epidurals are mainstream, not every mother chooses to go that route. Questioning her decision to do something you didn't gives her zero credit for making an educated decision.
What to say instead: "I decided to get an epidural because…but everyone is different."
You won't even believe what inappropriate comments have been said to our readers!
"Are you still with the father?"
— Sherri Middaugh
— Rita Reynolds Stachowiak
"When I told my boss I was pregnant (with my first child), the first thing he said was: 'Are you going to keep it?'"
— Dana Blackmon Carroll
"I was about 8 months pregnant when a co-worker said to me: 'Wow, Can you even see your feet anymore?' Thanks. And, no I couldn't see them anymore. I was crushed."
— Zoesmommy
"Although I had been with my husband for nine years, my MIL had the nerve to ask if the baby was his."
"My husband asked me if I wanted a scale for Christmas so I could keep track of my weight gain. Needless to say, he was not invited into the delivery room."
—Diane Hunt Andrews
"I was 37 and pregnant with my last child when I was told: 'Wow, it must be hard to be an old mom.' I didn't realize I was old!"
— Carly Frith
"We were having our weekly ultrasound and my doctor didn't say anything about the baby's heart or lungs…instead, she said: 'And there are his balls.' Really? Is that the medical term?"
— Kelsey Elizabeth Page
"I was working in a restaurant and attempting to seat some people, when they requested a table on the opposite side of the restaurant and said: 'You look like you could use the exercise anyway…'"
— Sarah Lahey
"As a 44-year-old pregnant woman I often heard: 'You know, the likelihood of Down's syndrome goes up as you get older.' Nice, huh?"
— Georgen Charnes
"When I told my MIL I would be opting for an epidural, she replied: 'I hope the doctor doesn't paralyze you, that would make taking care of a new born really difficult.' Ugh, seriously?"
— Anonymous
"When I was seven months pregnant someone asked me if I'd ever considered losing weight."
— beccarc
"I already had a one-year-old at home and people asked me: 'Are you sure you should be having another baby?' The kicker? It was from my own family members!"
— Katharyne E. Hale
"I was telling a colleague that the Down's syndrome test went well, and she pitched in with, 'There can be other things that go wrong that they can't test for!'"
— Nessie
"My OB was concerned that I was measuring very large as my due date was closing in and said: "I just want to make sure you're not having a monster baby."
— weegiemama
"I had someone tell me that they couldn't picture me as the mother of a girl. How do you even respond to that?"
— Amy Gentner


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A change in the 2002 farm bill that did away with the old quota system led to explosive growth in peanut farms in an 11-county region from Marion County to the Georgia line. Peanut farming was no longer restricted by pound limits to historic peanut growers.
The Sanchez family started growing peanuts on 1,500 acres of their Old Town farm in 2004.
As more peanut farms sprung up in the region, they added an operation where farmers brought peanuts to be dried and stored before shipping to shelling facilities.
Today, they grow 5,500 acres of peanuts and are the buying point for many peanut growers, with 60 dryers and two 12,000-ton warehouses to serve more than 30 farms.
A change in the 2002 farm bill that did away with the old quota system led to explosive growth in peanut farms in an 11-county region from Marion County to the Georgia line. Peanut farming was no longer restricted by pound limits to historic peanut growers.
Acres in planted peanuts grew from 9,600 to 52,000 in the region to take advantage of profitable market prices fueled by high demand.
Buyers wanted the high-quality peanuts grown in the white-sand Florida soil with its low levels of mold aflatoxins. The entire farm infrastructure expanded to meet demand — from suppliers to farms to shellers — becoming a major economic engine, especially for the small rural counties that rely on agriculture and forestry.
Area peanut farmers fear that all could come crashing down due to provisions in the 2014 farm bill passed in early February that provides incentives for cotton farmers to switch to peanuts and could lead to an oversupply that would drive prices below what it costs to grow peanuts. Insurance programs that support prices of peanuts on acres established for peanuts and cotton in 2002 are not available to farmers who have added acres since, estimated at 80 percent or more of the peanut acres in the 11-county North Central Florida region.
"It would be devastating to these rural counties," said Trey Sanchez, 28, whose father and grandfather started Sanchez Farms in Dixie County in 1980.
His mother, Virginia Sanchez, said they learned about the provisions in the farm bill during a national peanut buying point conference in Nashville two weeks ago and started spreading the word to local farmers.
The farmers got the ear of U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, the Republican congressman from Gainesville who hosted a meeting Monday with more than 130 farmers and support professionals at the Straughn IFAS Extension Professional Development Center at the University of Florida.
Yoho — who sits on the House agriculture committee — said he is concerned that American taxpayers would have to bail out peanut farmers if cotton farmers shift even a small percentage of acres to peanuts and drive down prices.
He said he plans to work with the agriculture committee to influence the agency rule-writing process that follows new legislation to see about delaying the shift of cotton acres or lowering the insurance support price. If that doesn't solve the problem, he said a legislative fix could be in order.
"If we can avert any unintended consequences that they're talking about in this farm bill and save American taxpayers money, that's what we're going to do before it's a problem," Yoho said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is the agency charged with writing the rules for the farm bill. Rick Dantzler, Florida executive director of the USDA's Farm Service Agency based in Gainesville, said he has communicated the requests from Yoho and peanut farmers to delay or mitigate the effects of the regulations.
"I've run that up the flagpole in D.C. but haven't gotten a response," he said. "Our job is to implement what Congress passes, so there are limits to what we can do, but I understand the concern and hope we can help."
Levy extension agent Anthony Drew is working with IFAS' Food and Resource Economics department on an economic impact study to measure the potential effects of the farm bill on peanut farmers and their local economies.
Drew said new and growing peanut farms, suppliers and buyers took on a lot of debt to expand operations. Farmers bought land and equipment. Buying points and shellers bought elevators, dryers, trucks and warehouses.
On top of paying off loans, farmers were already faced with break-even prices due to an oversupply from a bumper crop in 2012 and are now faced with even lower prices.
"That's potentially catastrophic," Drew said.
John Gray, president of the Williston Peanuts shelling facility, said farmers need about $450 per ton to break even. Last year, contracts paid $550 to $575 per ton. Earlier this year, buyers were offering $425 to $475 per ton but canceled offers after the farm bill came out. Gray said one buyer is now offering $400.
With planting season coming up in April, Trey Sanchez said they are very nervous. The farm holds debt on its own expansion and is worried about the 100 people they employ during harvest season and the many smaller farms that have started in recent years.
A young farmer already has to put up more collateral than established farmers to get loans, he said, "and when the farm bill gets written like this farm bill is written and the young farmers are left out, the banks sure aren't going to touch him."
Toby Bass, 38, started his own 300-acre peanut farm south of Chiefland six years ago after years of working for other farmers.
He said he just keeps his head above water to cover the $200,000 in costs every year for equipment, fertilizer, chemicals, land rent and fuel.
If prices drop, he said he couldn't afford to grow.
"I'll have to find another career, I guess, or worry about planting something else."
Gray said the collapse of the local peanut industry would have a domino effect, not just on the tractor, fertilizer and fuel dealers, but on grocery stores, retailers and gas stations that all of their employees support.
Sanchez agreed.
"I think everybody is going to be shocked when the University of Florida comes back with this economic study of just how many millions are at stake," he said.
The 2002 farm bill did away with quota restrictions on several crop commodities that limited supplies to prop up prices and instead allowed farmers to establish base acres for various crops depending on how many acres of those crops they had planted over the previous four years. Farmers with base acres have been eligible for crop subsidies.
While peanut farmers with base acres continued to receive subsidies, the growth in Florida peanut farming since 2002 was fueled entirely by market prices since base acres have not been expanded and the new farmers were not eligible for subsidies.
Florida had 78,049 acres of peanut base acres last year, mostly in traditional peanut growing areas in the Panhandle, while growing 130,774 acres.
The Florida Peanut Producers Association recommended that base acres be updated when negotiations on the farm bill started more than three years ago, but were told by Congress that that would be too expensive, said Ken Barton, executive director.
He said the provision that allows cotton acres to convert to peanuts and other crops was added a week before the final vote by a cotton-state member on the Senate agriculture committee.
The provision was in response to a World Trade Organization ruling on behalf of Brazil that U.S. cotton subsidies unfairly lowered prices. The U.S. agreed to pay Brazil $147 million a year since 2010 until passing new farm legislation that eliminated cotton subsidies.
The farm bill converts all cotton acres to generic base acres that farmers can use to plant any covered commodity eligible for crop insurance price supports.
Andy Robinson, co-owner of Williston Peanuts, said the $535 per ton insurance price on base-acre peanuts gives it the highest dollar per acre payout.
"With the price of corn and cotton now, with a $535 guarantee on peanuts, peanuts look like the prettiest girl at the dance," Virginia Sanchez said.
Yoho said that just a 5 percent shift in the 17 million cotton acres to peanuts would add 850,000 peanut acres and could ruin the market.
By comparison, U.S. farmers planted a total of 1.07 million acres of peanuts last year, according to the USDA.
Virginia Sanchez said cotton farmers and most peanut farmers who have base acres are happy with the farm bill.
The 2002 farm bill established 1.47 million base acres of peanuts, a figure that has been surpassed by planted acres three of the 11 seasons since 2002.
While the farm bill will allow the former cotton acres to switch to other commodities such as peanuts, corn, wheat and soybeans every year, it also allows farmers with base acres in those crops to make a one-time reallocation in proportion to their actual planted acres between 2009 and 2012.
For now, the local peanut industry is waiting to see how the USDA interprets the farm bill.
"This 11-county area is at the mercy of those regulations and how they are written," Trey Sanchez said.


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With plastics plastered all over the news I am working harder than ever to use less plastic in our home.
I thought I'd share some techniques that work for me in our home.
Use glass containers for food storage: My favorite way to store leftover foods in my fridge is the 6 Cup Rectangular Pyrex dishes with blue lids – we have 8-10 of these and I love this system.
- Leftovers always look good.
- They are the perfect size, not to big, not too small.
- They stack nicely – so things look organized.
- They are clear so you can see what is inside them and you are more likely to remember what you have and finish it off.
- They can go in the freezer, oven or microwave.
- They can go from fridge to table for service.
We use a round pyrex 10 cup bowl (with lid) to keep readymade salad in our fridge. The salad stays fresh for much longer in this bowl. Prepare your salad – leaving out anything mushy (in our house that's tomatoes). I'll often chop a few days of extra salad fixin's, throw them in the bowl. The next day or two, all I have to do is add more (organic) mixed greens – Salad is done.
I have a stack of 8-10 custard cups (a few with lids too). These are great for reheating small servings of food – they were perfect for warming baby food too.
Reduce plastics at your point of purchase:
When shopping, make glass packaging a criteria – you've been there. You're at the store, you've studied the label. You are trying to figure out which product is the best choice – all things being equal – pick glass.
For example – not too long ago I was trying to decide between Ralph's Brand and French's Brand Worcestershire Sauce -the only 2 brands of Worcestershire I've found without HFCS (this is really my life). They still had a few unknown ingredients – but they seemed to be relatively equal. One in glass, one in plastic. I chose the French's – it was in glass.
There are now many products that I routinely purchase in glass, Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, dressing, tomato sauce and such. Some things may be prohibitive to your budget (for most families I'm guessing Milk), but if you look you'll find you have a choice more than you realize.
Re-Use the Glass:
I'm gearing up to start making my own beans (to avoid the can), so I'm saving all these glass jars and lids. Soon I will have enough to get cooking – in the meantime they fill in as food storage when I'm out of pyrex.
I keep the salad dressing bottles, they are good for storing homemade fruit or berry pancakes syrups & I have visions of making salad dressing… one day soon. Help me Martha!
There you have it. A few simple ways we are using less plastic in our home.
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Garry Rayno's State House Dome: Expect new smoking ban debate
October 20. 2013 1:07AM
CONCORD -- Legislative efforts to ban smoking used to draw huge crowds to lengthy public hearings where heavy hitters testified for or against prohibition.
Social, fraternal or religious organizations have continued to welcome smokers because (1) they have restricted memberships and (2) some key lawmakers — including former state Sen. Jack Barnes, R-Raymond — did not want to restrict World War II veterans' activities after they had served and sacrificed for their country.
Two bills will be introduced in the 2014 session that may change things, however. A House bill will be sponsored by Rep. Steve Vaillancourt, R-Manchester, and a Senate bill will be sponsored by Sen. Lou D'Allesandro.


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Tito's widow hospitalized in Serbia
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Doctors say the widow of former Yugoslav communist dictator Josip Broz Tito has been hospitalized.
Jovanka Broz, 88, was rushed to Belgrade's emergency hospital Friday in critical condition, according to Zlatibor Loncar, director of the hospital.
Tito ruled the former Yugoslavia with a heavy hand from World War II until his death in 1980. Broz fell out of favor with his successors and was forced out of their luxurious Belgrade residence. Reports at the time claimed she had ambitions to take over the country.
His successors put Broz under virtual house arrest. Later, as Tito's personality cult crumbled and his once-glorified role in the country's history came under scrutiny, Broz still mostly remained in isolation. She didn't even hold valid Serbian identity documents until 2009.


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Blog Archives
Kristi Yamaguchi's "Dancing the Night Away"
Did you love "Dancing with the Stars"? Do you love Kristi Yamaguchi?
Yamaguchi hosts a fundraiser "Dancing the Night Away" for her Alway Dream Foundation at the Hilton in Union Square, San Francisco on 18 June 2011. "Always Dream" has been Yamaguchi's personal motto and inspiration and her charity aims to inspire and embrace the hopes and dreams of children.
Past grant recipients have included: All Stars Helping Kids, American Cancer Society, Chibi-Chan Preschool, Delaware Skating Association, Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California, Joy of Sports Foundation, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, National Youth Enterprise Institute, Andrea Rizzo Foundation, Salvation Army, West Coast Children's Center, Sports for the World's Children (SWC) Foundation, UCSF Children's Hospital and YES Reading.
- 5:30 p.m. Cocktails and Hors d'oeuvres
- 6:30 p.m. Dinner
- 8:00 p.m. Program/Show
The cast has yet to be announced. Past cast members have included:
• Kristi Yamaguchi along with dance partner Mark Ballas
• Evan Lysacek and Anna Trebunskaya
• Jane Seymour and Jonathan Roberts
• Cheryl Burke and Genya Mazo
• Marlee Matlin
• Natalie Couglin
• Shawn Johnson
• Louis van Amstel
• Chelsie Hightower
Individual tickets are pretty pricey: $850. If your company sponsors, you can get a table for six for $5,000 (silver sponsor), a VIP table for 10 for $10,000 which includes a pre-event reception with the cast (gold sponsor), or for a mere $25,000 you can get 2 VIP tables for 10 and a pre-event reception and hotel rooms and a private brunch for 20.
For more info, contact the Always Dream Foundation.


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Main Site - :: Why Won't God Heal Amputees? ::
Quote from: nogodsforme on July 11, 2013, 04:15:32 PMIf you find the possibility of all this ridiculous, you can only imagine how I feel about religion.You still don't get my point.Currently I have no interest talking about my religion or trying to defend my God.What I am saying is "We the the universe, earth, and human and no one seem to be able to understand or explain how those were created or came into existence with bullet proof evidence.""All we've got is speculations and theories and guesses with scientific studies and researches""Nothing was proven with factual evidence no matter how good they sound theories are theories not facts!""When you don't know for sure what causes the noise outside your house, why do you tell your kids that you know what it is and give them false information?" (e.g. the big bang theory.)"Who cares about Banshees, unicorns, and leprechauns?" "Isn't it more honest to just say I don't know"?
If you find the possibility of all this ridiculous, you can only imagine how I feel about religion.


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It's safe to say that the GOP is facing some challenges. Women gave twice as much money to Obama's presidential campaign as to Romney's. It looks like most Americans will blame the GOP if we sail over the fiscal cliff. And Republicans' most noted political victory of the last few months has been clearing the field so John Kerry can be secretary of state. Things could be better.And on top of all that, new data from Pew on the voting habits, and growing numbers, of the religiously unaffiliated doesn't seem to bode particularly well for the party. The bad news is, well, pretty much what you'd expect. The good news is that if Republicans play their cards right (not likely, but one can hope), they might be able to make inroads into Democrats' territory.
No, not interesting.-Nam
I think most of us here have to high of an IQ to consider being republicans.
So far as I can tell, their only purpose in noticing the non-religious is to convert us. The diehards among them are unable to change -- religion is not negotiable with them. They would rather die on the cross than to admit that some other world perspective is merely acceptable.
........... now that the Republicans have noticed "nones.............All this will do is give them more ammunition to freak out..................
Quote from: Chronos on December 19, 2012, 10:10:43 AMSo far as I can tell, their only purpose in noticing the non-religious is to convert us. The diehards among them are unable to change -- religion is not negotiable with them. They would rather die on the cross than to admit that some other world perspective is merely acceptable.What I found interesting is seeing them even talk about non religious Americans. The fact that nones are actually becoming noticed due to the voting power they're showing is very encouraging and I like to think is indicative of a change in American politics.
I honestly think the entire government needs to be destroyed and rebuilt.
A two party system is as moronic a system that there has ever been.
As a minority, I suggest a concerted effort of NOT voting... Yes I know, a lot of people died and went through a lot of BS in order to get that right. But at this point it doesnt serve its purpose.
I mean how are we still "debating" over equal rights for gays and lesbians? That shit is guaranteed in the constitution. Equal protection under the law has been confirmed with the civil rights movements of women and race groups. How are we still talking about such a goddamn stupid topic? And how come the democrats havent pushed this?
Personally, like I said earlier, I think the system needs destroying.
We need multiple parties that share power, not a winner takes all scenario.
The court system needs to be abolished as well...
I have an opinion on that but its a whole 'nother thread.
I don't understand how a concerted effort of not voting would achieve anything, unless you can somehow get every person in the US to withhold their vote. You can't even get most of the people in the US to cover their mouth when they sneeze.
Quote from: Bagheera on January 15, 2013, 01:39:55 PMI don't understand how a concerted effort of not voting would achieve anything, unless you can somehow get every person in the US to withhold their vote. You can't even get most of the people in the US to cover their mouth when they sneeze.Not everyone, only certain blocs of voters. Say for instance the black community, which typically votes democratic I believe at about a 90% clip, however a lot of the issues these voters vote on arent addressed sufficiently when either party is in office. Now, even though we have a diverse array of issues as does the entire population we still vote as a bloc because one "option" is hardly seen as an option at all probably because of the hatred and vitriol they spew for anything not like them. Because of this the democratic party doesnt have to do anything to get that 90% except not be republican. Work doesnt have to get done. However, if we withheld our vote there just is no way democrats could win the presidency and after a cycle or two they would realize that and either actually do something or fall to the wayside.Not that government solves all societies ills, but damn, I'm from Chicago and parts of the southside are a literal warzone right now and nothing is being done. Meanwhile we spend billions upon billions in neighborhoods across the globe (im speaking military $$). You cant tell me we cant afford some nation building right here at home.
Accepting your theory of blacks voting Democrats into power,
if you could in fact convince a significant voting block of African-Americans to NOT vote at all, it would simply mean that Republicans would rule the Senate, House and White House. Democrats would no longer be in power, and thus their desire to do anything would be hampered by their inability to do anything. Sweeping victories for the Republican party would allow them to pursue the traditional goals of the Republican party, and also allow them the opportunity to solidify their power against any attempts by the Democrats to challenge them in future elections. If that's what you want, why not vote republican?
The only possible upside I can see for this notion is that Republicans, seeing a chance to further solidify their hold on power, might begin marketing themselves much more heavily to minorities. . . but they will likely no change their policies to do so, because sticking to their policies is what got them into power in the first place. They'd be better off telling black people how much better off they'd be voting Republican, because the Republican party will do things that make business want to invest in the US (like reducing the minimum wage, gutting environmental regulations, doing away with taxes on the wealthy and businesses, eliminating welfare, Social Security and Medicare, getting rid of mandated medical insurance for large companies, etc) so all black people can have businesses back in their neighborhoods, and the resulting jobs booms will lower crime and increase prosperity all the way round.
Thats requesting a LOT of thought outta me, because its one thing to suggest destruction and another thing to suggest something in its place. I have probably come up with something if I were to have a database with the compilation of my thoughts, but sadly no such database exists.
1. Never happen internally, I agree. I dont think, however, that if it were to occur it would be more dictatoral. But then again it would probably depend on who did the destroying.
2. Technically it is not. In application it is. I mean, technically we dont have a theocracy, but how many confessed atheists are in office? Yes, the R is typically loyal. The D is a patchwork quilt that has probably come about to oppose the R. Nothing truly bonds the different groups.
3. Many people dont vote on both sides, this is true. However, to my knowledge this isnt a concerted effort of not voting, rather simply not going to the polls.
4. I agree. Many are not for. Thus I think they need to look at point 3 and concert their effort of not voting until D's get their shit together and demand the law be enforced or never be in office.
5. I say destroy because it is designed to keep existing as is. I dont think it can be broken w/o being destroyed.
6. Diversity doesnt affect how we divy up the power.
7. Hardly. The court system is designed to get a result, not necessarily arrive at truth. I'd have it built to arrive at truth. I mean the idea of committing a 1st degree murder but pleading down to 2nd degree so the state doesnt have to prove its case. Its wrong on all levels. As is someone innocent pleading guilty to a lesser charge because they fear they cant get a fair trial. The courts dont care. It needs destruction.


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text: Filmed in such a way as to evoke the slow rhythms of the African desert, this drama comments upon the negative effects of European settlers upon native African cultures while telling the inspiring tale of a woman determined to forge a better life for herself and her family. With three difficult children, a crippled, mentally unbalanced husband and no steady income, Zamiatou is the poorest woman in an impoverished desert village. Zamiatou could have plenty of money to survive if she would sell her petulant but beautiful daughter to the lecherous French settlers living nearby, but she would rather work herself to death than do that. Unfortunately, her family situation continues to spiral downward and she is finally forced to seek outside help.~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide


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Dining tables, unlike sofas, beds, or chairs, tend to have more staying power, which is to stay, they don't go out of style quite so quickly. For this reason, and others, finding the right modern dining table is well worth the effort involved. The sheer size of a dining table gives it both literal and visual weight in a modern dining room, so when shopping for your dream contemporary dining table, do so with particular care and consideration, bearing in mind some important facts.
Your dining table serves a primary function in both your daily life and on special occasions, so investing in a well-made, beautiful contemporary dining table that's also highly functional and practical makes complete sense. Whether or not your style is formal or casual, there's a no end to the range of modern dining tables available to anyone for whom both form and functionality are important. Take the time to select a modern dining table that clearly reflects your taste and your lifestyle. It's a decision you'll be living with for some time, and, providing you make the right choice, one that you're not likely to regret.
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The shape of contemporary dining tables will ultimately be informed by personal taste, of course, but also by the features of the area that they will occupy—and the number of people they will most often need to accommodate. Depending on the size of your modern dining room or dining space, a round modern dining table may be more functional than a rectangular one, and a table that expands on occasion may make more sense than a table that seats 12 all the time. The fact is that there are no rules for which shape is optimal for a modern dining table—so don't rule any particular shape out—but take into consideration design, materials, quality—and context—and make your decision with all those factors in mind.
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The Los Alamos Hilltopper football team fell behind the Española Valley Sundevils early in the first quarter Friday.
But the Hilltoppers rallied for 56 unanswered points to knock off the Sundevils 56-6 in the valley.
Los Alamos improves to 5-4 overall and 2-1 in district. It needed the victory to keep pace with the Santa Fe Demons in the District 2-4A standings, but still need the Demons to lose this upcoming week to Bernalillo.
The Demons were humbled this week in a nondistrict game against Class 4A Moriarty, losing that contest 62-8.
Española Valley tumbles to 0-3 in District 2-4A and 2-7 on the season.
The Hilltoppers will host the Capital Jaguars (1-8, 1-2). Capital lost 26-0 to Bernalillo this weekend.
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Reviewed by Austin A. (age 8)
I really liked this book because I am interested in snakes. I learned a lot of new things from this book. There were many facts about snakes that I didn't know before. I learned there is more than one kind of python. I also learned that snakes hatch from eggs. This book is different from other books I've read before. This book is non-fiction and uses real photographs. While I was reading this book I wondered about a lot of things about snakes. One thing I wondered about was how many different kinds of snakes there were. Another thing this book made me wonder about was how many different kinds of snakes live under water.
I recommend this book because it has a lot of facts about snakes. First graders who read well and second and third graders could read this book without any help. Anyone who likes snakes and wants to find out facts about snakes would also like this book.


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Sol 134 Update on Curiosity from USGS Scientist Ken Herkenhoff: Relatively Idle25 December 2012
I was Science Uplink Representative (SUR) for the last time for Sol 134 planning. The MSL Project decided to combine the SOWG Chair and SUR jobs starting in the new year, so the SOWG Chairs will be working longer shifts. Sol 134 planning was restricted (data arrived too late to affect planning) so we focused on ChemCam calibration observations. Therefore, it was not a complicated planning day and I recognized that combining the SOWG Chair and SUR jobs would not be difficult. Sol 135 was the last one planned tactically before the holiday break. While I'm disappointed that MSL will be relatively idle during the break, I and the rest of the operations team are ready for a vacation.


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COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) Len Bias, who died of a drug overdose soon after being the No. 2 pick in the 1986 NBA draft, will be inducted into the University of Maryland Hall of Fame.
Bias, who left as the school's career scoring leader, was among eight players announced Wednesday by the Terrapins' athletic department.
Bias was a two-time ACC player of the year and was the conference's athlete of the year and a consensus first-team All-American in 1986. The Boston Celtics drafted him with the second pick, but he died two days later from cardiac arrhythmia induced by a cocaine overdose.
The induction ceremony is set for Oct. 3 in the school's alumni center.


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College Commitment: South Carolina
|3B/SS Corey Seager, NW Cabarrus HS (N.C.)
6'3, 190 pounds
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
DOB: April 27, 1994
Baseball America: 19
MLB.com: 44
Minor League Ball: 48
Corey Seager, brother of Seattle Mariners' infielder Kyle Seager, is a sweet-swinging high schooler who profiles as a third baseman in the Major Leagues. At 6'3/190 as an 18-year-old, he could still grow, which would definitely prevent him from playing shortstop in the majors.
His rankings are all over the place, but Seager's ceiling might be higher than any player the Dodgers could conceivably get at No. 18. While there's significantly more risk with high-ceiling college hitters than with college hitters, Seager appears to be one of the best prep bats available.
Seager also was mocked to the Dodgers by Baseball America.
Scouting Report
Seager's ceiling is as a middle-of-the-order third baseman with power. In fact, he has legitimate opposite-field power as a left-handed hitter.
Defensively, he's destined for third base. However, he's been athletic enough to handle shortstop in high school. A lot of fringe high school shortstop end up moving positions. If he has enough arm to play shortstop, he likely has enough arm to play third base. It's an entirely different position, but the teenager has ample time and opportunity to learn the position.
From Baseball Prospect Nation:
"Seager is one of the surer bets among high school bats. He has an extremely advanced approach at the plate, actually rivaling that of the best approaches featured by high school players three and four years his senior. That, combined with the simplicity of his swing, physicality and easy power projection, leaves Seager with middle-of-the-order upside and the potential to go as high as the first 20 picks in the draft."All great things here and a lot to be excited about.
Video courtesy of Bullpen Banter, via YouTube
While Richie Shaffer is No. 1 on my draft board, Seager's potential is quite intriguing. He has a lot of "helium," as the MLB Draft gurus say, heading up to draft day, hence the disparity in rankings. If the Dodgers pass on Seager, it wouldn't be the worst thing -- especially considering there's a chance (small as it may be) he could be there at No. 51.
With a lot of helium comes the risk of overdrafting a player. The Dodgers need help at the corner infield spots in the minors, but they must take the best player available on their board at No. 18. If it's Seager, that would be fine with me.


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Newspapers look to unseal Spader documentsBy PAT GROSSMITH
New Hampshire Union Leader
June 20. 2013 10:46PM
MANCHESTER — The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office and two newspapers joined forces Thursday to argue that documents sealed in the case of killer Steven Spader, which include depositions by his parents and expert witnesses concerning his mental state, be made public.
Senior Assistant Attorney General Jeffery A. Strelzin did not object to the documents being unsealed, as requested by the Union Leader Corp. and The Telegraph of Nashua, although he suggested medical information contained in the depositions of Spader's parents could be blacked out.
He told Hillsborough County Superior Court Judge Gillian Abramson that, had a full evidentiary hearing been held in April when Spader was resentenced for the hacking death of Kimberly L. Cates, 42, of Mont Vernon and the maiming of her then 11-year-old daughter, those witnesses would have testified in open court, publicly revealing the information contained in the sealed documents.
Atty. Kathleen Sullivan, representing the Union Leader Corp., said she agreed with the state's position, but asked the court to release all the documents without any of the information being blacked out.
Jonathan Van Fleet, managing editor for content for The Telegraph of Nashua, told the judge that releasing the documents could shed light on why the murder happened and provide insight for parents of young teens who might have similar psychological problems as Spader.
Defense attorney Andrew S. Winters of Concord, however, contended the documents, which include the sentencing memorandum and exhibits, were the equivalent of a pre-sentence investigation (PSI) which is submitted to a court under seal and not made public.
A PSI includes information gathered by the state Department of Corrections concerning a defendant, the crime and the victims. The department is given access to the defendant, his legal counsel and may interview the defendant for input on sentencing. The PSI does not make any legal arguments and provides a neutral view of a defendant for the benefit of the court, Strelzin explained in court documents.
Spader, who prosecutors maintain is a psychopath, was a month shy of his 18th birthday when on Oct. 4, 2009, he and three other teens picked Cates' home at random, hacked her to death with a machete and maimed her daughter Jaimie. He was given a mandatory life sentence without chance of parole for first-degree murder, and another 76 years for attempted murder of Jaimie and other crimes connected to the home invasion.
However, a 2012 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Miller vs. Alabama, negated that sentence. The court ruled that juvenile offenders could not automatically be sentenced to life without parole, which in New Hampshire is mandatory for first-degree murder.
Strelzin said the sealed documents included information from depositions of expert forensic witnesses — a psychiatrist and psychologist — which is not protected by patient/doctor confidentiality.
The documents at issue, including the state's sentencing memorandum, were filed under seal at the request of the defense according to Strelzin, and after Spader said he would not contest the resentencing.The state spent about six months preparing for the court hearing and then Spader decided not to contest it. Spader did not attend the resentencing, but he had attorney Jonathan Cohen read a statement from him in which he called his actions impulsive, expressed remorse and begged forgiveness. Strelzin said Spader's statement directly addressed the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling which said juveniles had to be treated differently by the justice system because of their impulsiveness.Strelzin, however, maintained there was nothing impulsive about the killing and that Spader is a psychopath who is not going to grow out of his problems.
Strelzin told the judge Spader did not have to speak that day, but when he chose to have a statement read by his attorney he also opened the door for all the sealed documents being made public.
Spader, he said, turned an uncontested hearing into a contested one, one that was unfair for the state because none of its expert witnesses were on hand to refute what he said.
He told the judge prosecutors agreed to waive an evidentiary hearing in Spader's resentencing for expediency and to save the state the expense of calling expert witnesses.
Abramson did not say when she will issue a ruling.
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