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It was a beautiful night. The sun was out, the breeze refreshing and the people smiling as the annual Olde Tyme Family Picnic was held Tuesday evening at Roosevelt Park.
It was a beautiful night. The sun was out, the breeze refreshing and the people smiling as the annual Olde Tyme Family Picnic was held Tuesday evening at Roosevelt Park. Including the presentation of Unsung Heros awards, horse drawn wagon rides, supper and a performance by the Devils Lake Elks Band, the North Dakota Chautauqua event was a great time for all.
"It went really well," North Dakota Chautauqua President Jeff Frith said of the Tuesday picnic. "The weather was almost perfect, the program went well and the attendance was great."
As the final event of the season, the night turned out to be a nice wrap-up to a successful 2014 campaign for North Dakota Chautauqua. This year's schedule included events such as musical concerts, birding presentations, a theatrical performance, book talk and picnic.
"We try to bring different events that interest our members and the entire community each and every year," Frith told the Journal. "I think it was an excellent year for North Dakota Chautauqua."
One of the highlights of the 2014 schedule was a local performance of the national production, "Rachel Calof: A Memoir with Music." A joint effort between North Dakota Chautauqua, Sons of Jacob and the Lake Region Heritage Center, the show and subsequent events held throughout the week were a major hit in the community, he said.
"It was a resounding success," Frith commented. "I don't think anyone could have imagined it going any better."
As a whole the attendance for Chautauqua events was steady.
"Overall, the turnout was good," he stated. "There's always an event here or there that you wish the attendance was a little bit better. But as a whole, we were very pleased with how everything went. It was a great year."
It takes a lot of cooperation, effort and time for many to make events successful. Frith thanked the Chautauqua members, local businesses and community for all of their support in 2014.
"We really appreciate everything that the area has done to help make the events a success," he said. "All of that effort made this a spectacular year for North Dakota Chautauqua."


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Award-Winning Visual-Effects Pioneer Doug Trumbull To Speak At DCS 2011 On Creating A More Immersive Cinema, Home-Theatre Experience
White Plains, NY, 4 April 2011 - The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), the worldwide leader in motion-imaging standards and education, today announced that the legendary filmmaker, special-effects pioneer, multiple OscarÆ nominee Doug Trumbull will speak at DCS 2011.
Trumbull will speak on 10 April, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. at the Las Vegas Convention Center in the South Hall Rooms S222/223. Register today at: www.smpte.org/events/DCS2011.
Trumbull, whose credits as a director and visual effects pioneer span such seminal works as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Brainstorm, Blade Runner, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Silent Running, will discuss how the ascendance of 3D, IMAX, and giant-screen features are creating opportunities for technologies that can reduce production costs and improve the immersive quality the movie-going experience in cinema- and home-theatre environments.
His experiences with the ShowscanÆ 70mm, 60 frames-per-second process - a cinematic process which he developed and that is 2.5 times faster than standard movie and related films such as the legendary New Magic bear strongly on current issues of frame rates. Trumbull invented and patented the revolutionary Showscan process, which photographs and projects 2.5 times faster than standard movie film, rendering a picture that is not only extremely high in definition, but dramatically smoother and more realistic in its rendering of motion, similar to that seen in video.
"IMAX, 3D, and giant screens are now important factors in the movie-going experience, yet production costs and complex technologies are serious issues," said Trumbull. "I see tremendous opportunities for new technologies, including virtual sets and locations and improved high frame-rate camera and projection systems, to reduce expenses and deliver a more immersive experience in cinemas and home theatres."
Trumbull is highly regarded for both his technical conceptualization and creative vision. He won a Scientific & Engineering Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for his role in the creation of the CP-65 Showscan Camera System for 65mm motion-picture photography. He also earned three OscarÆ nominations for Best Visual Effects for Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and Blade Runner.
"As large-format and 3D technologies move into the mainstream, and we are now reconsidering higher frame rates, it's only logical to ask how we can use them to tell great stories, in even more compelling ways, while streamlining the production process," said SMPTE president Pete LudÈ. "We are thrilled to have Doug Trumbull, who is highly regarded in the technical and creative communities, to help move that conversation forward."
Spanning cinema, broadcast, and broadband, DCS 2011 - which is co-produced by SMPTE and NAB - is a premier industry event, drawing leading motion-imaging technologists, researchers, scientists, practitioners, manufacturers, and strategic thinkers. This year's gathering is themed Advances in Image and Sound: 3D, 4K, and Beyond.

subset: commoncrawl


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We embraced the news that Saul Goodman, the welcome shard of levity in any Breaking Bad episode, was getting his own show. Breaking Bad will end, yes, but in Better Call Saul we'll get regular doses of Saul Goodman, the criminal lawyer who took a Jewish last name to help business.
But for every spin-off that actually makes it to a network's schedule, there are many that never even get out of preliminary meetings.
Here are a few spin-offs that almost were.
The Farm (spun off from The Office)
Over nearly ten seasons, Dwight Schrute gave an absurd twist to the NBC hit sitcom The Office. Viewers had occasional glimpses into his life—the beet farms, his cousin Mose, his weapon collection. But it never went far beyond that. This spin-off was very nearly green-lit, and then was killed at the last minute.
Krusty The Clown (spun off from The Simpsons)
We like to think most Simpsons fans would have embraced the idea of that green-haired trident of rabbi-daddy issues being given his own show. There was a twist, however: Krusty's show would have to be live action. Which would have made a surreal mess—how can lion and fire gags be done live action?
Adriana La Cerva (spun off from The Sopranos)
Viewers of the The Sopranos must have felt a twinge of sadness when Christopher's girlfriend Adriana (played so well by Drea de Matteo) became an FBI informant — surely, somebody's days were numbered: Chris', Tony's, or even hers. But in 2004 there was a full-page New York Times article in which producers raised the possibility of giving Adriana a show of her own. It might have played like Jersey Shore with emotional depth—and it would have been interesting to see.
Lucas (spun off from House)
In the later seasons of House a PI almost as abrasive as Hugh Laurie's character began making appearances. House ignored social customs, but Lucas, the PI, seemed not to know them, or seemed convinced that his awkward ways were his best traits. It didn't stop him from dating Lisa Cuddy. There is no way this would have been a good spin-off. Lucas was House without much of the House-ness. A second-rate Sherlock Holmes.
Ari Gold (spun off from Entourage)
A lot like Saul Goodman, Entourage's Ari Gold was a energetic, profane narcissist, and a true spectacle to watch. Pretty much everything he said at work was a Don't Do This from the employee handbook—a lawsuit waiting to happen. Here's the problem with this show: while an episode of Entourage had too little of him, an Ari Gold series would have been far too much.


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While driving down PCH to run in the Santa Monica Mountains this morning, my peripheral vision caught some movement in the water as three California grey whales skimmed the surface and made little "leaps" above the water. (Okay, I confess: they didn't actually soar out of the water like the whale in the above photo, but I COULD make out the greyish-white spots on their skin.) It was a pretty cool sight for this near life-long Vermonter. What a treat. :) While running up and down the Ray Miller Trail I intermittently scanned the water for these magestic beasts to no avail. It was a good run anyway.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Grey whales!
Posted by RunSueRun
3 comments:
- Jamie said...
Sweet! I'm jealous. Sounds like a whale of a good time. (sorry)
- May 12, 2007 at 2:07 PM
hey! i just discovered your site here. cool!... anyway, if'n ya really wanna see some whales go up to isla vista (where ucsb is). i went to school there (mostly surfed actually, not much school) and the islands are real close to shore and the whales swim real real close to the cliffs in isla vista. lot's o' eyecandy up there too if'n you're innersted!
and the grand canyon run? damn girl! yer livin' da dream!!
- May 12, 2007 at 8:55 PM
- Alpal said...
- May 13, 2007 at 8:19 AM
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Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 9th Jul 2012 22:05 UTC, submitted by Mbg
Sorry for the delay in writing a story about this, but here we finally are: Nokia's MeeGo (or Maemo or whatever it's called this hour) is getting its successor. Yes, MeeGo, the short-lived but beloved platform running on the unicorn phone, the Nokia N9, will continue onwards in a slightly different form. Its new home? Jolla - a company formed by former Nokia chief operating officer Marc Dillon, who was the principal engineer for MeeGo/Maemo at Nokia since 2006.
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RE[2]: Comment by Wafflez
by Bill Shooter of Bul on Tue 10th Jul 2012 14:51 UTC in reply to "RE: Comment by Wafflez"
RE[3]: Comment by Wafflez
by sicofante on Thu 12th Jul 2012 23:12 in reply to "RE[2]: Comment by Wafflez"
That totally depends on how big your operations costs are. I build and sell professional workstations, match Dell, HP or Lenovo prices (beat them in performance, which is really easy these days) and earn quite a happy living. No need to become a millionaire.
These guys will have 100 employees by the end of this year. They don't need to sell millions of phones to feed them. They might as well aim for high quality at some higher price.
Edited 2012-07-12 23:13 UTC


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Throughout the year, attic ventilation is critical element in maintaining attic temperatures. In the summertime, vents help remove excess heat. In the wintertime, air vents prevent the excess moisture from building up and water condensation from accumulating due to the temperature differences between the attic and the floor directly below.
Aside from an actual leak in your roof, the winter months are the time when moisture can lead to the growth of attic mold. During cold weather, warm air from the house can escape to the cold attic area. When warm air meets the cold surface of the roof boards of the floor below, ice crystals and water droplets can form. This moist environment, combined with a food source comprised of wood creates the perfect conditions for attic mold infestation and wood rot.
This problem can be compounded by bathroom exhaust fans that vent directly into the attic or into the soffit areas rather than outside the house. Moisture from bathroom fans is often the source of the attic mold contamination.
A balanced ventilation system is important. Incoming and outgoing air should be equal within the attic. It is important that bathroom fans are insulated around the exiting vent pipe. This helps to prevent moisture from condensing within the pipe – and creating another potential haven for mold to grow.
One of the most common ventilation mistakes is when homeowners combine different ventilation systems. This may occur when incoming air enters into the attic through soffits in the underside of the roof overhang. When these are combined with a different type of exhaust ventilation, problems can occur. For example, combining a ridge vent and a box vent can cause the ridge vent to draft moisture-laden air from the box vent. This can cause a cycle of attic moisture accumulation that can lead to significant damage. Mold releases enzymes that can rot and destroy wood. Exposure to mold can cause a wide range of potential health problems.
There is usually some level of saturated moisture in your attic. This is usually due to extreme temperature differences between the air temperature outside and the interior attic temperature. If large black or colored areas of mold appear in the attic, it should be inspected by a professional. If mold does exist, it can be treated and removed in a way that will prevent future growth.
Getting removing attic mold is important, preventing it in the first place is even more important. Your home's bathroom ventilation and air exhaust should be designed to put moisture as far out and away from your home as possible -no matter the time of year!


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Eleven Brown Gridders Earn All-Ivy Accolades
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
The 2012 All-Ivy Football Team was announced today with 11 Brown players earning All-Ivy honors, including senior defensive back AJ Cruz (Lake Forest, CA), a unanimous First Team selection, who is the 10th Brown player to be named a three-time First Team honoree. Joining Cruz on the First Team is senior offensive guard Nathan Bernstein (Charlotte, NC), senior offensive tackle Cole Hooper (Oklahoma City, OK) and senior linebacker Stephen Zambetti (Germantown, TN). The head coaches of the eight Ancient Eight schools select the All-Ivy team.
Brown's Second Team honorees include senior wide receiver Tellef Lundevall (Highland Park, IL), senior defensive tackle Ross Walthall (Carmel, IN), junior defensive end Michael Yules (South Dartmouth, MA), junior defensive back Emory Polley (University Heights, OH), junior kicker Alex Norocea (Hermosa Beach, CA) and Cruz as a return specialist. Junior offensive guard Dan Austin (Franklin, TN) and junior linebacker Adewole Oyalowo (Bowie, MD) earned Honorable Mention All-Ivy accolades.
Cruz joins back Paul Choquette '60, kicker Jose Violante '76, wide receiver Sean Morey '99, quarterback James Perry '00, wide receiver Steve Campbell '01, running back Nick Hartigan '06, Zak DeOssie '07, Steve Morgan '08 and Buddy Farnham '10 as Brown's three-time All-Ivy selections. Only 41 players in Ivy League football history have been selected First Team All-Ivy three times.
A co-captain, Cruz ranked second on the team with 71 total tackles, and intercepted four passes, second best in the Ivy League. He had 10 tackles against both Harvard and Dartmouth, and nine tackles vs. both Penn and Princeton. Cruz intercepted two passes in Brown's shutout win over Yale and had one each against Holy Cross and Cornell. His 12 career interceptions ranks fourth in the Brown record book. An exceptional return specialist, Cruz also returned punts and kickoffs, and earned Second Team All-Ivy honors as a return specialist. He ranks sixth all-time at Brown with 929 career kickoff return yards.
Hooper, Bernstein and Austin were key cogs in the Brown offensive line that yielded just 2.8 sacks per game, 18th best in the nation. With injuries to the offensive line and tailback position, the trio helped the offensive line to four straight games without a sack to end the season, and did not allow a sack in 7-of-10 games. In addition, Brown's 4.4 yards per rush ranked second in the Ivy League.
Zambetti led the Bears and ranked third in the Ivy League in tackles with 8.9 per game. He led a Brown defensive unit that ranked 11th nationally in rushing defense (113.1 yards per game), and seventh nationally in scoring defense (16.6 ppg). He registered a career high 14 tackles against Princeton and had 12 tackles against both Holy Cross and Columbia. Zambetti had seven tackles for a loss, including two against both Princeton and Columbia.
Lundevall completed a terrific season for the Bears, making 72 catches for 718 yards. His 72 receptions rank 10th best in Brown football history, while he also moved into fifth place in Brown career receptions with 155 catches. Lundevall's 7.2 catches per game ranked 14th nationally. He turned in a record-setting performance against Penn with 17 catches for 170 yards and a touchdown. His 17 receptions rank sixth best in Brown football history.
Walthall, a co-captain, was among the Ivy League leaders with 12 tackles for a loss and three quarterback sacks. He ranked seventh on the Brown team and first among defensive linemen with 35 total tackles, including 22 solo hits. Walthall had six tackles against Princeton and Rhode Island, including three tackles for a loss in each game.
Polley led the Ivy League in passes defended, knocking down 11 passes. He intercepted four passes, second most in the Ivy League, and made 32 tackles for the season, including 22 solo stops. He had a season high six tackles against Harvard and Penn. The versatile Polley also returned kickoffs late in the season and averaged a team high 24.7 yards per return.
Yules had a breakout year for the Bears and ranked 13th nationally with 13 tackles for a loss of 59 yards. He had 32 tackles overall, and ranked fourth in the Ivy League with 6.5 quarterback sacks. Yules was named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week after he led the Brown defense that held Georgetown to one yard of total offense in the second half and zero first downs after halftime. He had two quarterback sacks for a loss of 13 yards and added another tackle for a loss against the Hoyas.
Norocea was the Ivy League's second ranked kick-scorer with 5.3 points per game. He connected on 9-of-11 field goals and 26-of-26 extra points in 2012, and converted 31-of-45 career field goals. He booted 46-yard field goals vs. Penn and Yale, the longest in the Ivy League this season, and 12th longest all-time at Brown.
Oyalowo emerged as one of the outstanding linebackers in the Ivy League and one of the top graded players on the Brown squad. His 65 total tackles ranked third on the Brown team and included 40 solo stops. He has a nose for the ball, intercepting two passes and making six tackles for a loss of 12 yards. Oyalowo turned in a strong performance against Dartmouth with 11 tackles against the Big Green. He had a season high six solo tackles against both Holy Cross and Princeton.
2012 All-Ivy Football Team
Dalyn Williams, Dartmouth (Fr., QB - Corinth, Texas)
Nathan Bernstein, Brown (Sr., OL - Charlotte, N.C.)
Cole Hooper, Brown (Sr., OL - Oklahoma City)
*J.C. Tretter, Cornell (Sr., OL - Akron, N.Y.)
Rob Bathe, Dartmouth (Sr., OL - Plymouth, Minn.)
John Collins, Harvard (Sr., OL - Hull, Mass.)
Jack Holuba, Harvard (Sr., OL - Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J.)
Joe Bonadies, Penn (Sr., OL - Leonia, N.J.)
Colton Chapple, Harvard (Sr., QB - Alpharetta, Ga.)
Marcorus Garrett, Columbia (Jr., RB - Marietta, Ga.)
*Kyle Juszczyk, Harvard (Sr., H-Back - Medina, Ohio)
Treavor Scales, Harvard (Sr., RB - Stone Mountain, Ga.)
Tyler Varga, Yale (So., RB - Kitchener, Ontario, Canada)
*Luke Tasker, Cornell (Sr., WR - East Aurora, N.Y.)
Michael Reilly, Dartmouth (Sr., WR - Denver)
*Cameron Brate, Harvard (Jr., TE - Naperville, Ill.)
Josh Martin, Columbia (Sr., DL - Aurora, Colo.)
Zach Hodges, Harvard (So., DL - Atlanta)
Brandon Copeland, Penn (Sr., DL - Sykesville, Md.)
*Mike Catapano, Princeton (Sr., DL - Bayville, N.Y.)
*Caraun Reid, Princeton (Sr., DL - Bronx, N.Y.)
Stephen Zambetti, Brown (Sr., LB - Germantown, Tenn.)
Michael Runger, Dartmouth (Jr., LB - Lisle, Ill.)
*Joshua Boyd, Harvard (Sr., LB - Hyde Park, Mass.)
Daniel Davis, Penn (So., LB - Norman, Okla.)
*A.J. Cruz, Brown (Sr., DB - Lake Forest, Calif.)
Garrett Waggoner, Dartmouth (Sr., DB - Sarasota, Fla.)
Sebastian Jaskowski, Penn (Jr., DB - Moorestown, N.J.)
Anthony Gaffney, Princeton (Fr., DB - Columbus, N.J.)
Special Teams
David Mothander, Harvard (Jr., PK - San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
Jacob Dombrowski, Harvard (Sr., P - Gaylord, Mich.)
Scott Lopano, Penn (Sr., P - Southlake, Texas)
Anthony Gaffney, Princeton (Fr., RS - Columbus, N.J.)
Anthony Fabiano, Harvard (So., OL - Wakefield, Mass.)
Christopher Bush, Penn (Sr., OL - Westwood, N.J.)
Michael Piniciotti, Penn (Sr., OL - West Chester, Pa.)
Spenser Huston, Princeton (So., OL - Summit, N.J.)
Roy Collins, Yale (Sr., OT - Carbondale, Ill.)
Jeff Mathews, Cornell (Jr., QB - Camarillo, Calif.)
Dominick Pierre, Dartmouth (Jr., RB - Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Lyle Marsh, Penn (Sr., RB - Bethel Park, Pa.)
Tellef Lundevall, Brown (Sr., WR - Highland Park, Ill.)
Grant Gellatly, Cornell (Jr., WR - Iaaaquah, Wash.)
Conner Scott, Penn (Jr., WR - Kenilworth, Ill.)
Roman Wilson, Princeton (Jr., WR - Broken Arrow, Okla.)
Mark Hayes, Princeton (Sr., TE - Tulsa, Okla.)
Ross Walthall, Brown (Sr., DL - Carmel, Ind.)
Michael Yules, Brown (Sr., DL - South Dartmouth, Mass.)
Teddy Reed, Dartmouth (Sr., DL - Boxford, Mass.)
John Lyon, Harvard (Sr., DL - Durham, N.C.)
Nnamdi Obukwelu, Harvard (Jr., DL - Brockton, Mass.)
Zach Olinger, Columbia (Jr., LB - Hoover, Ala.)
Bronson Green, Dartmouth (Jr., LB - Los Angeles)
Alexander Norman, Harvard (Sr., LB - Lewisville, Texas)
Andrew Starks, Princeton (Sr., LB - Plainfield, Ill.)
Emory Polley, Brown (Jr., DB - University Heights, Ohio)
Norman Hayes, Harvard (So., DB - Tucker, Ga.)
Chris Splinter, Harvard (Jr., DB - Middleton, Mass.)
Dave Twamley, Penn (Sr., DB - Princeton Junction, Mass.)
Dan Wilk, Penn (Jr., DB - Bethlehem, Pa.)
Special Teams
Alexander Norocea, Brown (Jr., PK - Hermosa Beach, Calif.)
Joe Cloud, Princeton (Sr., P - Edwards, Ill.)
A.J. Cruz, Brown (Sr., RS - Lake Forest, Calif.)
Tyler Varga, Yale (So., RS - Kitchener, Ontario, Canada)
Daniel Austin, Brown (Jr., OL - Franklin, Tenn.)
Patrick Lahey, Dartmouth (Sr., OL - North Andover, Mass.)
Wes Gavin, Yale (Jr., OL - San Diego)
John Oppenheimer, Yale (Jr., C - Menlo Park, Calif.)
Billy Ragone, Penn (Sr., QB - Chesire, Conn.)
Mordecai Cargill, Yale (Sr., RB - Cleveland)
Ryan McManus, Dartmouth (So., WR - Mendota Heights, Minn.)
Grant Sickle, Harvard (Sr., DL - Jupiter, Fla.)
Adewole Oyalowo, Brown (Jr., LB - Bowie, Md.)
Mike Waller, Columbia (Sr., LB - Wayne, N.J.)
Brett Buehler, Cornell (Jr., LB - Dublin, Ohio)
Bobby Schneider, Harvard (Sr., LB - Grapevine, Texas)
Tim Kingsbury, Princeton (Sr., LB - Palos Park, Ill.)
D.J. Monroe, Harvard (Jr., DB - Columbia, S.C.)
Phillip Bhaya, Princeton (Jr., DB - Haddonfield, N.J.)
Collin Bibb, Yale (Sr., DB - San Antonio, Texas)
Connor Loftus, Penn (So., PK - Villa Park, Calif.)
* Unanimous Selectionelection


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In 2011, the median property tax bill in Nassau County was $8,478, putting Nassau a close second to Westchester County for the highest property taxes in the country.
Last spring, Governor Cuomo and state legislative leaders agreed that suburban property owners were exorbitantly taxed, so they approved a 2 percent limit on property tax increases. Cuomo's plan became one of the toughest in the nation. The legislation capped hikes in school and local property taxes at either 2 percent a year or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. The cap has very few exemptions, and can be waived only with a 60 percent vote from the governing body that controls local spending.
Now, 18 months later, Nassau County residents are receiving their property tax bills and seeing increases that are greater than 2 percent. Newsday reported that one resident of East Williston saw her tax bill jump 16 percent. Given the cap, how could this be?
Concerned residents have been writing letters, asking Cuomo to explain the math.
The answer is simple: school costs. School boards like to blame Nassau County's broken assessment system, which probably is partly to blame, but according to the county's acting assessor, James Davis, the Assessments Department is not to blame for the tax increases that burden so many of the county's homeowners.
In a letter to the editor of Newsday, Davis correctly pointed out, "Nassau County uses the same assessment roll that school districts use to calculate a property's tax share; yet it's the school portion of the bill that increases."
While County Executive Edward Mangano only submits budgets that do not increase spending, Long Island schools continue the tradition of out-of-control spending that has caused taxes to rise exponentially.
Davis also duly noted that "a 2 percent levy increase does not equate to a 2 percent tax bill increase" because pension cost increases, which are rising as much as 10 to 20 percent per year, and health insurance increases, add to the 2 percent. Therefore, the so-called 2 percent cap is really much more when you add in the costs of these benefits.
It has gotten so bad that school taxes are forcing people to abandon Nassau County.


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9:00 am
Democracy Now! NULL
10:00 am
Outdoor Idaho "Nature's Healing Power" This episode features stories of Idahoans who have found strength and solace in nature as they confront illness and injury. It also shines a spotlight on four Idaho nonprofits that offer outdoor retreats for cancer survivors and disabled veterans - and the dedication of their volunteers.G
10:30 am
Dialogue "Pico Iyer, Travel Writer: Conversations from the Sun Valley Writers' Conference" Host Marcia Franklin talks with the former Time magazine reporter and author at the Sun Valley Writers' Conference. Iyer, who has just completed a book on the Dalai Lama called The Open Road, talks about his travels and writings.G
11:00 am
Asian Voices NULL
11:30 am
Asia Biz Forecast NULL
12:00 pm
Pacific Heartbeat "Keola Beamer: Malama Ko Aloha (Keep Your Love)" "The idea of Aloha is Hawai'i's greatest gift to the world. But a lot of people don't know what it is, or how to find it, or how to discover it in our own hearts." These words, spoken by legendary Hawaiian composer and musician Keola Beamer, provide insight to the multi-cultural musical collaboration featured in Keola Beamer: Malama Ko Aloha (Keep Your Love). D
1:00 pm
Rajneeshpuram In 1981, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, a spiritual leader from India, and thousands of his disciples moved to Wasco and Jefferson Counties. On what had been the Big Muddy Ranch, the "sannyasins" set out to build a new city, a utopian community in the desert - - Rajneeshpuram. Thousands of people from around the world gathered here to celebrate life. D
2:00 pm
Nature "The Himalayas" Despite their forbidding appearance, the mountains, which are considered sacred, are rich with a surprising array of plants and animals. Snow leopards, red pandas, Asiatic black bears, musk deer, snub-nosed monkeys, Tibetan foxes and high-flying birds populate the heights. Great valleys draw warm wet air in from the tropics, creating rainforests at 8,000 feet, each one a tropical paradise like the long-sought Shangri-la.G
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Charlie Rose NULL
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Journal NULL
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The Grove More Americans have been lost to AIDS than in all the U.S. wars since 1900. And the pandemic has killed 22 million people worldwide. D
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Independent Lens "Love Free Or Die" Faith, love, marriage, homosexuality and the Episcopal Church collide in the first openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. Robinson is a man whose two primary passions are in direct conflict: his love for God and for his partner Mark. Robinson is the first openly gay person to become a bishop in the historic traditions of Christendom. D
7:00 pm
Frontline "The Real CSI" From the courtroom to the living room (thanks to the hit television series CSI), forensic science is king. Expertise on fingerprints, ballistics and bite mark analysis is routinely called on to solve the most difficult criminal cases - and to put the guilty behind bars. But how reliable is the science behind forensics? A FRONTLINE investigation finds serious flaws in some of the best-known tools of forensic science and wide inconsistencies in how forensic evidence is presented in the courtroom. D
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PBS NewsHour NULL
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Nightly Business Report Tonight on Nightly Business Report, another big day of selling on Wall Street. What's pressuring stocks and should long term investors ignore all the recent volatility? And, Chrysler refuses to recall millions of cars the government says are a safety hazard. Is the automaker putting its reputation at risk? NBR will ask the former head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. D
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Journal NULL
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Charlie Rose NULL
11:00 pm
Independent Lens "Love Free Or Die" Faith, love, marriage, homosexuality and the Episcopal Church collide in the first openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. Robinson is a man whose two primary passions are in direct conflict: his love for God and for his partner Mark. Robinson is the first openly gay person to become a bishop in the historic traditions of Christendom. D


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Infinity #4 (Haggle like weak men Spoilers)
Hey you! Reader! Want to be a part of the GREATEST COMIC BOOK AND GEEK COMMUNITY on the web?! Well, they're not accepting new members, but we'll take anyone here, so why not sign up for a free acount? It's fast and it's easy, like your mom! Sign up today! Membership spots are limited!*
*Membership spots not really limited!
Hey you! Reader! Want to be a part of the GREATEST COMIC BOOK AND GEEK COMMUNITY on the web?! Well, they're not accepting new members, but we'll take anyone here, so why not sign up for a free acount? It's fast and it's easy, like your mom! Sign up today! Membership spots are limited!*
*Membership spots not really limited!
by Punchy » Thu Oct 10, 2013 10:59 amHOLY SHIT. That was awesome. I've been enjoying Infinity a lot so far, but this issue was the best yet, and it featured what is probably the greatest Thor moment ever. Seriously, this is on the level of 'Ultron, we would have words with thee' for me.
I've said before that my favourite side of the Infinity story is the Earth-based, Thanos stuff, but I want to start with the Builders story, because that's where the best stuff in this issue was. Captain America has convinced the rest of the Galactic Alliance to surrender to The Builders, and so sends his emissary, Thor. Thor is told to get rid of his weapon, and he does, flinging Mjolnir up into space. Thor and The Builder begin to parlay, but the Builder is not exactly up for negotiation, even going so far as to slap Thor across the face when he demands assurances. The Builder forces Thor to get on his knees, as he rants and raves about how Earth will be destroyed. Throughout all of this, we see shots of Mjolnir flying through space, into a Sun, and back out. You know it's coming, but when it does, it's still fucking fantastic. Mjolnir comes back down to Hala, right through The Builder and into Thor's happens. It doesn't sound like much when my idiot hands have typed it out, but trust me, it was amazing. Jonathan Hickman and Jerome Opena work together so well here, and it's just a fantastic sequence, and as I said, one of the coolest things Thor has ever done.
With the Avengers now demonstrating that The Builders can be killed, Thor gets Ronan and the rest of the Kree back on side, and the tide of the battle really has turned. Captain America says that what happens next is that the Avengers win, and I believe him. Man, that was so great.
As for the Earth stuff, that was good too, but it was ruined a bit by the fact that we all knew that Inhumanity was coming. Hickman gives us a bit of exposition about Thane, Son Of Thanos, and about the hidden Inhuman city he lived in. Thane was a healer, and hasn't been exposed to the Terrigen Mists because the city only has a small amount of it, and can only do 4 or 5 a generation.
We then head back to New York, where Attilan has crash-landed, and Thanos rises from the rubble to see that the Terrigen Bomb has been activated. Hickman shows us what this bomb has done, that every human with even the tiniest speck of Inhuman DNA has been activated, some get their powers instantly, whilst others go into cocoons. This is a game-changer for the Marvel Universe, and when the Hickman's narration says that 'the world was changed forever', you actually believe it. Black Bolt has also survived (though no sign of Lockjaw or Maximus The Mad), and he and Thanos have a gripping fight scene, with Thanos demanding to know where his son is.
Thane's metamorphosis is another great scene, with it having catastrophic effects on his city. In the process of becoming an Inhuman, Thane kills everyone else around him. From the looks of him, it looks like he can kill with one hand, and heal with the other. He should be a fascinating character for the future. Speaking of futures, it looks like Black Bolt doesn't have one, as Thanos wins their battle, killing him. It's strange that Black Bolt is dead, as Hickman is the one who brought him back in FF, but I suppose if Fraction's upcoming series is going to be based on Game Of Thrones, you need to have a dead king for the various factions to vie over.
This simply put, was one of the best comics I've read this year, and it was a true event comic, amazingly epic things happened in this issue, and even though some of it was expected, it was all very well-written, and the artwork from both Dustin Weaver and Jerome Opena is fantastic throughout. I complain about Hickman's complex and lengthy build-ups, but when the pay-off is as good as this? It's all worth it. And once again, that Thor scene was fucking amazing.
by ElijahSnowFan » Thu Oct 10, 2013 4:06 pmBest event I've ever read.
Best long-form arc I've ever read.
Between New Avengers and Avengers, the best take on what the Avengers are, and what their place in the 616 is, that I've ever read.
Hyperbole? Maybe for some.
But I say this with all sincerity: It pretty much doesn't matter how Infinity ends, for me. What Jonathan Hickman has done is far more valuable in my mind, my imagination. He's created a coherent world, a coherent universe, out of fictional characters that makes total sense to me.
There's a short list of creators who have done that, during their runs or minis. I totally understood what Frank Miller was saying in Batman: Year One and The Dark Knight Returns. I totally understood what Grant Morrison did in JLA. I totally understood Warren Ellis on Planetary, and I totally understood Alan Moore on Watchmen.
This kind of stuff is why I read comics, still, after all this time. Because I just want to be entertained by talented creators who tell stories that have ambition, that have weight, that have vision...that are also FUN. Where the heroes might suffer setbacks, but at no point do they question their cause and what is right, and they keep fighting and find a way to win.
"Accusers! Are you with me?!"
Why, yes, Ronan. Yes, I am.
by guitarsmashley » Thu Oct 10, 2013 6:56 pmyeah this issue kicked a lot of fucking ass. That's really all I can say that hasn't been said, and well it's already been said. Bendis large scale marvel events pail in comparison to how good Hickman is on these three titles.
by fieldy snuts » Thu Oct 10, 2013 8:13 pmbest event in ages. and i can't believe we only have two issues left, seems like a lot of stuff to resolve before then
by Juan Cena » Thu Oct 10, 2013 8:52 pm
I think a load of stuff is going to be left open for Hickman to deal with in Avengers and New Avengers.
by guitarsmashley » Thu Oct 10, 2013 9:21 pm
except there are really like 7 issues left.
by Draco x » Thu Oct 10, 2013 11:17 pmNice read and all and I suspect at some point Black Bolt will be back from the dead of course.
by fieldy snuts » Fri Oct 11, 2013 12:02 am
that assumes he is dead and not just beaten almost to death. he does appear in the inhumanity teasers after all.
by Draco x » Fri Oct 11, 2013 12:21 am
Exactly. Majority of notable comicbook characters always come back some way or the other.
by guitarsmashley » Fri Oct 11, 2013 3:03 pm
Just because thanos slams your head into concrete repeatedly and says you're dead man, does not make you dead.
by habitual » Fri Oct 11, 2013 3:04 pm
That's exactly what I was thinking when I read it.
by Stephen Day » Sat Oct 12, 2013 7:14 pmI agree with the folks who say that this is not a definitive death for Black Bolt.
As for the rest of this issue, I liked it. It looks like everyone in Orollan is dead. I'm sad to see that as a second set of Inhumans would have made for some interesting story possibilities. I am looking forward to seeing what happens with Thane now.
by Juan Cena » Sat Oct 12, 2013 10:12 pm
There probably are other "lost" Inhuman tribes or cities that are out there that Thane didn't know about. There were "four hidden kings and a lost queen" mentioned in Infinity #1. Orollan may have been just one city founded by one of the kings/queen.
by S.F. Jude Terror » Sat Oct 12, 2013 11:44 pmThis event is dumb.
by guitarsmashley » Sun Oct 13, 2013 12:10 am
Not a dumb as your penis.
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This article is a collaboration between MedPage Today® and:
Can artificial sweeteners help people reach and maintain a healthy body weight? Maybe, according to two major medical societies.
A scientific statement issued by the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association concluded that using non-nutritive sweeteners could cut down on added sugars and therefore lead to beneficial effects.
But an extensive literature search found sketchy, limited, and often contradictory evidence, researchers concluded in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association and Diabetes Care.
"Smart use of non-nutritive sweeteners could help you reduce added sugars in your diet, therefore lowering the number of calories you eat," said lead author Christopher Gardner, PhD, of Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.
That reduction "could help you attain and maintain a healthy body weight, and thereby lower your risk of heart disease and diabetes," Gardner said in a statement.
But any beneficial effects, the researchers noted, could be undone if people "compensate" for the calorie cuts by eating more high-calorie foods – drinking a diet soda, for example, and then having an extra piece of cake later.
A high intake of dietary sugars has been shown to contribute to cardiovascular disease and obesity, which can lead to the development of diabetes. In 2009, the American Heart Association recommended a population-wide cutback in added sugars in foods, urging that women eat no more than 100 calories a day and men no more than 150 calories daily of added sugars.
For this analysis, the researchers looked at studies of the non-nutritive sweeteners aspartame, acesulfame-K, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, and stevia.
Few studies have looked directly at whether non-nutritive sweeteners can replace added sugars in the diet, the researchers found, although there are data about their effects on such things as obesity and cardiovascular disease.
But those data are inconclusive. In several studies, use of the substances was associated with unwanted outcomes, such as obesity, presumably because of reverse causation – those using the sweeteners were doing so because they already were overweight.
On the other hand, some people might clearly benefit from drinks and foods that replace sugar with non-nutritive sweeteners, according to co-author Diane Reader, RD, of the International Diabetes Center in Minneapolis, Minn.
"For example, soft drinks sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners do not increase blood glucose levels, and thus can provide a sweet option for those with diabetes," Reader said in a statement.
But she cautioned that "just because a food product includes a non-nutritive sweetener" does not mean that it is healthy.
Reader added that non-nutritive sweeteners can be an important part of controlling carbohydrate intake in order to manage weight and control diabetes.
The researchers noted that the effect of non-nutritive sweeteners has to be considered in the context of the overall diet.
"Strategies for reducing calories and added sugars also involves choosing foods which have no added sugars or non-nutritive sweeteners – such as vegetables, fruits, high-fiber whole grains, and non- or low-fat dairy," Gardner said.
From the American Heart Association:
The statement was supported by the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association.
Gardner and Reader reported no conflicts. Rosett reported relationships with Kraft and Unilever, while Johnson reported relationships with Dairy Management, New England Dairy Promotion Board, Vermont Dairy Promotion Council, and Milk Processor Education Program Medical Advisory Board. All other authors had no conflicts to report.
- Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD Emeritus Professor, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Dorothy Caputo, MA, BSN, RN, Nurse Planner


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As the fight song goes:
"V-I-K-I-N-G-S, Skol Vikings, Let's Go!"
For the past 47 years, the Minnesota Vikings have epitomized winning. The Men in Purple have always been near the top of the division standings. Only four NFL teams have played in more Super Bowls, and one the Dallas Cowboys, have more playoff appearances.
Although the Vikings did not prevail in Super Bowls IV, VIII, IX, and XI, few NFL teams can say they've provided their fans with more pleasure, more thrills or more edge-of-your-seat excitement than the Vikings.
Sure, part of being a Vikings fan is having the ability to feel comfortable on football's emotional roller coaster, but if you're a Vikings fan, you can't ever say you've been bored.
In fact, from the moment they first took the field, the Vikings began providing their fans with unforgettable moments.
In their opening game on September 17 1961, the Vikings gave their followers a little taste of what the next 47 years would be like. After a slow start rookie quarterback Fran Tarkenton jumped off the bench and began working his magic. Tarkenton threw four touchdown passes and ran for another as he led the Vikes to a 37-13 victory over the Chicago Bears.
In 1986, exactly 25 years later, Tarkenton would become the first Vikings player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
In 1967, the Vikings brought in a new head coach. Bud Grant, a Minnesotan who had been leading the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers to glory, arrived in the Twin Cities and turned the struggling Vikings into an instant winner. Just two years after Grant arrived, the Vikes began an incredible streak of 11 division titles in 13 seasons.
The Vikings won the NFL championship in 1969 and NFC titles in 1973, '74 and '76. From Ahmad Rashad to Cris Carter, from Jim Marshall to Randall McDaniel and from Matt Blair to John Randle, the Vikings have been among the most exciting teams ever to strap on the pads.
V-I-K-I-N-G-S! Skol Vikings, Let's go!


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<UPDATED OCTOBER 11, 2011> Hannah and I combined are going to end up around $16 to $18 million in sales this year… without an assistant. The shared web of resources we have cultivated (not to mention the peer support through one of the craziest years of our lives) has made this possible. Because we have consistently refined our system, we felt it necessary to update this post from February.
And yes… it grew by 600 words. Hee hee.
Part of utilizing 19 years of combined experience is a depth of allies. Hannah and I use several of the same people for several of the same functions, but have each introduced the other to new resources that deepen our clients' experience. From REALTOR.com to Harris Interactive to REAL Trends, studies typically report that 90% of all consumers who buy a home start their home-buying experience online; with our client base being slightly younger than average, we know our numbers are 95% to 99%. So one of the things we do as a way of introduction is introduce our new people to resources that are online, and our resources that are local, so they can begin their process from a position of strategic strength.
I'm cheating of course, and creating a blog post out of a sent email. It's been a couple years, and Rob, I'm sure you're thrilled to see that I'm back at it; but here goes: The Resource Email BlogPost. Bookmark for your next friend that you refer our way. 🙂
This resource email is a bit of a boilerplate and isn't terribly personal. But a bit of our story and why these resources are important to us is reflected in the email.
www.BenjaminDay.com or www.HannahParsons.com.
Content-wise, everything is up and ready on our sites. These sites host a lot of information that you can use before, during and after a transaction. There is an IDX-search site, a term that means that you can search the live MLS. Our monthly market report, the Stat Pack is archived here (and found quickly at http://www.cosrealestate.com). Additionally, the 2011 Annual Report and Forecast is here. I can provide you with a hard copy if you would like one. Our buying process is summarized here and our recommended vendors can be found here. The underpinnings of our business approach are to educate our clients with measurable, objective data when they enter the market (buyers and sellers, both). We believe that it is important that our clients have as deep an education as they can handle in how the market works because the market rules how the game is played. Other companies flatter us with their imitation of the Stat Pack (one company uses the same name), but this is the original report, originating in April 2006 (ironically, the month the market tipped). We are also the only real estate organization that has produced annual reports for each of the last four years, and have projected the single-family sales numbers with 95% accuracy each of the last three years. This is a bit geeky, but it's also user-friendly. It has charts, it has graphs, it has numbers, it has analysis, it has bottomline answers, it has national perspective, local perspective and micro-market perspective. It's eight pages of goodness and we want you to at least skim through it. Please. Pretty please.
REALTOR.com: the behemoth of real estate, this is supposed to be current within 15 minutes of MLS listing and is the best place to see photos of properties. I say supposed to be because that is not our experience. We find it up to five days out of date. It is not the best place to get great mapping information or anything that is more personal, or connecting. But it is a good place to see photos and which homes stand out. Remember, REALTOR.com is not an even playing field, even though the name sort of implies that it is all REALTORS collaboratively working together to disseminate listings: I personally pay for premium positioning and add features for my listings. Just because a property is not displayed well (even over a million with only 16 photos and no additional text descriptions, a common occurrence), this should not be a reflection of the property. If you see something here that you want more information about, cross check it at www.PikesPeakUrbanLiving.com or simply text or email us.
<UPDATED!> Yahoo and Zillow.com merged this past March, and now they are the number one site for search. Yahoo is great for syndication purposes (putting real estate on many different web channels) and is outstanding for REALTORS to market their services. Zillow is where our consumers are increasingly spending a lot of their time.
Zillow.com: has become the go-to site for most of our clients, young and old. We are rare in the industry in that we're big fans. It now showcases most of the listings for sale, and is data-rich. Zillow zestimates are heavily subjective, and that is why most agents pan the site critically. The truth is, we have seen firsthand that Zestimates can be very accurate in any part of town. It also more often than not is a good projector of final selling price. Saying that, it is far less accurate when there is greater price elasticity in a neighborhood (something Hannah and I are big fans of as a concept, it's where you make your money in any investment, especially real estate). Example: one 3000 square foot home could cost 25% more (or less) than another 3000 square foot home in the same or similar area. That's pretty elastic. Or, one 3000 square foot home could cost 8% more (or less) than another 3000 square foot home in the same area. That is not very elastic. Most of the nicer neighborhoods built in the 1970's through 2000 on the westside fall are elastic to heavily elastic, and then there is our historic downtown and The Broadmoor. Zillow is only as good as the data input, and it occasionally misreads the assessor's site in terms of square footage or floorplan, which is the primary and most critical factor in determining price.
Not everyone uses Trulia.com but we like it for demographic information and trend-spotting. It is best known as a site where there can be all sorts of Q&A between prospective homeowners, lenders, REALTORS, and people who are bored and like to get 100 email alerts a day to answer questions about high-tension powerlines in Dubuque. It's also a great site to mine for ethics violations, but that's a REALTOR joke. Moving on: this is a very interactive site, and that's their niche. The problem for consumers with highly interactive real estate websites is that other agents use these as lead generators, and truthfully, agents love to respond with general, non-specific information about all sorts of things they don't know much about. So it's not at all uncommon to ask a question about Colorado Springs and have some one from Laguna Beach answer it. Trulia is a true social site because it is about starting conversations, and if you wanted to ask subjective questions about a neighborhood, this is a good place to do it, because fair-housing should be followed and it's free. I should note that Zillow has a similar Q&A feature, but you're less likely to get consumer feedback, and very likely to get broker feedback.
www.pprbd.org: showcases permit history for the county. This is a great place to see if that roof was really replaced after that hailstorm, or if the homeowner replaced that water heater with a buddy and a six-pack or if they hired a licensed trade. No one is really sure where the gap is, but it appears that online permit history is sketchy 1997 to 2002 on this site. You just don't see a lot of permits for those years. I still advocate using it.
www.springsgov.com: is technically, the most accurate demographic site, crime site, interactive site. The city provides a lot of information for public perusal. You can link to Trails and Open Space and almost every other entity in the city from here.
http://land.elpasoco.com: is the assessor site and the mapping on it is superb. I use this all the time. Not much in our city government works as well as this site. It's a very good place for instance to go and pull a plat map on a property and see if that advertisement for open space is actually city-owned open space, or something Jeanine Richardson bought and intended to develop into office condos. How you would do this is input the address you're looking for, when it pops up select the map, and then simply click on any of the surrounding parcels to find out who owns it. Probably way too much information for buyers just looking online right now, but hopefully it comes with the peace of mind that we will be able to drill down onto some of the specific use issues quickly when you're looking at property here.
Wanna look for foreclosures? Like the assessor's site, our trustee's site is impressive. Call it a nice consumer-centric response to a whiny populace, but in a city where people are constantly appealing their low tax valuations (Assessor) and where we were in the national vanguard of major foreclosures (leading the nation in '87 & '88, Top Ten counties nationwide in 2007 and early 2008, that would be the Trustee's job), the county got smart and made a slick site. You can find ANY foreclosure action on a property in the calendar year on this site. You can search by name, zip code, street, neighborhood, and go back in time with date ranges. It's great. If you're a buyer and you're worried about foreclosures in the townhome complex you like… pay this site a visit.
While we are talking foreclosures, let's cut to the chase on where to find those suckers. Yeah, that's right, we said suckers.
Our favorite is www.Homepath.com. That's because we like getting paid for our work, and these are Fannie Mae foreclosures. Fannie Mae prices their properties right, they're usually not criminal in their condition, they winterize them before stuff explodes, they pay to de-winterize when you inspect them, and they don't blink at closing costs. Conventional buyers can buy them with as little as 3% down (inflated rate, but not much) and no mortgage insurance. We almost like www.HomeSteps.com as much, this is the sister quasi-government entity, Freddie Mac's way of wholesaling properties. Freddie Mac offers some weird two-year home warranty and usually takes more steps to improve property condition before reselling. They don't price them as well and they're laborious as all get out in getting deals closed. In both cases, they offer programs in the initial offering for primary resident purchasers only. Investors can come in after 15 days usually. After about 30 days and no contract, Homepath especially will make an aggressive price cut.
Way down the list of foreclosure sites is www.HUDHomestore.com. You can read more about Ben's personal sentiments of HUD properties in this post which is one of my five most popular posts all time. The new site is a lot better, but HUD homes are a bit more of an adventure and they're a lot more expensive to inspect for buyers. They also lack the cool $100 down program these days. They still do offer Good-Neighbor Next Door programs for primary resident Teachers and First-Responders.
VA, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and small, local or Colorado bank-owned properties? These list in the MLS. That's where a custom automated search from us to you is likely necessary. All our clients, once seasoned online, get custom searches, as many as they need (one client this year had 16 different automated searches going on at once).
www.spotcrime.com and www.familywatchdog.us are two "popular" sites for researching crime statistics and other nasty information about areas. Like anything, these sites are only as good as their data, and we don't endorse either site or any crime-related research site and recommend you use as you choose. We cannot and will not advise you on whether or not a neighborhood is safe. Please keep this in mind about any site that has the intention of showing crime information: it is a lens into the past, not an oracle of the future. As the stock guys say, past performance is no guarantee of future returns. It is very important
that you clearly communicate your impressions of neighborhoods to us as we
cannot enforce our own subjectivities on your lifestyle.
If you would like to see a copy of the Colorado Contract to Buy and Sell Real Estate, a Residential Listing Contract for a Residential Property or Brokerage Relationship (Buyer), we would be happy to send you one via E-Contracts along with the Definitions of Real Estate Relationships. E-contracts is a life-saver for agents, but is usually seen at first as a nuisance by buyers and sellers because the signatures are so shaky-looking. But they usually end up being a great time reducer and have become the standard in our community among agents. We usually like to meet and strategize for 30 to 60 minutes with buyers before showing properties, then show a sample of properties that represent the width and breadth of opportunities for the customers. If this process goes well, at that point we ask for a Buyer Agency contract. This contract is a two-way street and we are a good bit more selective in who we work with; we are talented at what we do, and we offer several very unique services that most brokers do not. We are
strategic negotiators, effective communicators and our personal name and
brokerage have high credibility with real estate peers. Correspondingly, we work with clients that want those skills and reputation working for them, and are willing to work within some of the "constraints" that system provides in order to
reap the privileges and benefits it produces.
Lenders: Colorado went from the least regulated state in the nation for
lending to one of the most severely regulated in 2009. We were in "the
vanguard" of criminal lending activity and the number of licensed lenders
has been sliced in half by these regulations. Correspondingly, it is
critical that a buyer have an ally in the lending process.
We have a number one… and a number one… and a number one. You're in
great hands with one of these three:
Jim Harmelink
ERA Mortgage
(719) 535-7405
Tim Duvall
Academy Mortgage
Marcy Langlois
Residential Mortgage of Colorado
We encourage you to contact AT LEAST TWO LENDERS EARLY IN YOUR HOME-BUYING PROCESS and do not be afraid to let them know you are shopping around. Each of our recommended lenders have attributes and skills that are unique and we want you to find a good fit. Every one of these lenders has pulled deals out of the fire that should have died and got them to the closing table. Quiz these individuals with your personal questions, your strengths and weaknesses and see what loan they recommend for you. We believe in helping clients make sustainable financial decisions, so do not worry about being over-qualified with any of these lenders; they respect the way we do business and are long-term minded, not transaction-minded. If it's a toss up and you're looking for the best loan, it is a good idea to request the same size loan at the same rate on the same day among lenders. Analyze the Good Faith Estimate that they will provide you with the same day, and compare the APR. Mortgage rates are volatile and you need to find out how and when you can lock your loan with each lender. Please allow 15 to 20 minutes per phone conversation when obtaining pre-approval. Hannah and I require Pre-approval in order to look at home (the only exception are cash buyers); it is completely in your best interest to look only at homes you can afford and be able to pull the trigger on an offer that represents you as a solid and straight-forward buyer if you find the right home. Pre-approval dramatically benefits your negotiating position; it requires a credit check and analysis of your assets and income verification. The better picture you present to a seller, the
better you are. If you are a VA customer, it's a good idea to ask what fees are charged to sellers that are buyer non-allowables. This essentially is a cost of doing business, and it's good to know as you have to make that request in the initial contract. Each of these individuals are EXTREMELY well-regarded locally. The value to you is that in this day and age no one in the real estate industry likes uncertainty. If a listing agent can tell their seller "this is a lender of strong regard and reputation" that buys you a couple thousand dollars in negotiating. Local agents are generally less enthusiastic about offers from several lenders not mentioned here, and they may convey that to their seller when presenting an offer. By the way, you should know that Hannah and I both authorize these lenders to be "jerks" in the pre-approval stage with the sheer number of questions they ask you. What that means: it is your responsibility to give them everything they ask for, and if you don't have 100% certainty in an answer, please tell them that. This is not something you can skate through. If it can go wrong, it will. It is much better to get it all out on the table immediately and at the very beginning so you don't end up finding out three days before closing that your loan is denied, you've lost your earnest money, you've moved out of your rental and you might have taxes on that fat check Mom and Dad gave you to buy your home. Seriously: please cooperate. Getting a loan stinks with any lender. These three really have your best interests at heart, so no matter how invasive it feels, it's kind of like a surgery: everyone has a scalpel. Go with the person most skilled in using it who makes the smallest scar. We think we have three that fit that description.
A last note on lenders, many buyers have concerns about having multiple
credit inquiries. This is understandable. The reality is that you are allowed
multiple credit inquiries without it substantially impacting your credit (a dozen points or so) because your multiple inquiries are for the same purpose: primary residence home financing. It's not a good idea to get a new American Express or check out car financing at the same time, as those are multiple inquiries for different intentions.
Colorado does not license or certify home inspectors in anyway shape or form. It's terrible. It's stupid. Apparently there are more pressing legislative matters as there is no timeline for this to happen.
Since the state doesn't regulate inspector actions, real estate brokers have the responsibility of policing inspectors and promoting the best.
Lance Heyward
A Precise Home Inspection
(719) 272-0100
Mark McCafferty
Criterium-McCafferty Engineering
(719) 685-2285
Dan Parillo
Housemaster Home Inspector
(719) 799-6409
We also regularly recommend a structural engineer. This is the guy who can tell you if the building is falling down, or in one case "no Ben, this is actually built like a parking garage. This thing is safe in an earthquake. Be afraid of the asbestos in the ceiling, instead." He's also a home inspector listed above, Mark McCafferty. Criterium-McCafferty is a trusted name in the engineering world, and if something looks like a big problem, or you have a little problem that will lead to a big problem (a sump pump that chronically won't work), Mark's your guy.
After all this information, you will notice that there is something
surprisingly missing: schools. If ever there was a place that sending
information online was suspect or lead to inaccurate information or quite
simply, problems, it's online. Put simply, both Hannah and I are parents and
pretty involved with our kids' education. The variety of things that are
important to parents are so wildly subjective and the information that is
promulgated online is intended to be as neutral and objective as possible,
that it becomes very difficult to find exactly what you are looking for. The
last thing we want is to make the process more frustrating. So we recommend
that you actually find out what you can using the sites school districts provide for general information, and then make phone contact with schools directly for more specific information. It never ceases to surprise out of town buyers how open and friendly and accessible the administrations are for many of the schools in the Pikes Peak Region. School choice deadlines are looming, so it's a good idea to research that process (it is standardized and not subjective) at both school district websites.
Colorado Springs District 11 (central city, largest school district):
Cheyenne Mountain D12 (southwest city, small and generally elite):
Academy D20 (second largest, northern city):
Falcon D49 (eastern city):
Harrison D2 (southern city near Ft. Carson and Peterson AFB):
Widefield D3 (southern city, near Ft. Carson): http://www.wsd3.org
Fountain/Ft. Carson D8 (on post): http://www.ffc8.org
Lewis-Palmer D38 (Monument, northern county): http://lewispalmer.org/
Manitou Springs D14 (Manitou and Ute Pass, tiny): http://www.mssd14.org/
Woodland Park DRE2 (Rural, west of COS): http://www.wpsdk12.org/
Our business. Hannah Parsons and I teamed up in
November, 2010 under the name Pikes Peak Urban Living. Combined, we have 19 years of experience in helping customers achieve financial stability through
sound real estate decisions. I have been in the real estate business for 12 years after spending three years in the fly-tackle industry helping a company build it's brand entirely around best-in-industry customer service. Hannah's prior career was in financial services and when she says that she likes Profit and Loss Statements and Spreadsheets, that's her MBA speaking. We do not work the entire city, but together specialize and share resources, marketing collateral, vendors, processes and time to optimize our own business practices and personal well-being. Put it this way, there are a lot of burned-out real estate agents going around being all things to all people. Our structure is designed to keep us fresh,
rejuvenated and smarter than our competition. We both are married with
elementary school-age children. I live in D20 and Hannah's
kids are in D11. We encourage one another and our families share time
together. In business, we look at significantly more property firsthand than
our peers. We construct detailed market reports to help individuals see
clearly what is going on in the market. We take more educational
opportunities than are required to deepen our knowledge. We ask lots of
questions. We are bloggers and social media pioneers that operate in a
transparent, consumer-centric way. We are active participants on multiple
boards and organizations in our community. The majority of our clients
recommend us to a friend or peer within 12 months, something we deeply
appreciate, but also something that is consistent with the framework of our
business: we show our appreciation for our clients by working hard in a
uniquely advantageous way for them, and many of them feel obliged to share
that story with those they trust. This is not an instruction to start recommending us to your friends and family. But we don't mind when you do, and that's the gold-standard in our business: are we worth referring? Honestly, we better be. You deserve that care. That referrability is earned.
We are instructing you to have lots of questions and high expectations. And hopefully after reading a 4000 word blog post, you'll see that we operate in a strategic fashion rather than a reactionary fashion. We have plans, systems and processes to enhance the home-buying experience with the intention of maximizing the benefit for our clients. That might limit certain hours that we see properties, or it might force us to substantiate plans with specific, actionable data. Our job is to make this process as smooth and as easy as possible, to mitigate risk and maximize opportunity.
Hannah's contact is (719) 338-2755, firstname.lastname@example.com. Ben's is (719) 331-9170, email@example.com. Each of us have our specialties and there might be questions better suited for a male agent, others for a female agent. You have access to us both. And feel free to text us.
A quick blurb about Selley Group: Hannah and I are enthusiastic to be at this
high-powered boutique brokerage. Cherise Selley is our broker. Cherise has as great a reputation as you can find in the city and happens to be a superb agent and a top producer. The three rarely mix in our culture, and that's a big reason we are where we are. Cherise and her husband Gordon are internet pioneers in real estate and represent the new generation of consumer-centric business. There are only five licensed agents at the company, but all produce multiples more per year than the average agent, and all of us conduct ourselves with professionalism and respect for our peers. If for any reason you need to contact Cherise or Selley Group, the number is (719) 598-5101.
All our best to you, and we look forward to starting the journey together!


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May 3, 2008
The Bisons struck first for the second game in a row, but they could not hold on to the early lead as they were defeated 4-2 by Winthrop in game one on Saturday, May 3.
Blake Bratcher got the Bisons started in the second, walking to lead off the inning. Justin Sanders followed with a walk to put two runners on base. One out later, Brad Gooch singled to center to drive home Bratcher for the first run of the game, giving the Bisons the early lead. Branden Cadavid added to the lead, driving in Sanders on an RBI ground out to bring the score to 2-0.
Winthrop got one of the runs back against Bisons' starter, Brandon McClurg in the bottom of the inning. The Eagles took the lead for good in the fourth, plating three runs to take the 4-2 lead.
McClurg received the loss to drop his record to 5-4. In six innings, he gave up four runs, one earned, on five hits, while striking out five.
Right-hander, Charles Williams, threw the final to winnings for the Bisons, giving up just two hits.
The Bisons tallied only five hits in the game, with Gooch, Bratcher, Sanders, Clay Lehning, and Jorge Gutierrez recording one each.
Left-hander, Mike Dunn, is scheduled to take the mound for the Bisons in game two of today's double-header.


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April 20, 2013
The following image of the suspect being apprehended has emerged.
A glimpse of 19-year-old bombing suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, is visible through an ambulance window as the Boston Marathon bombing suspect is transported to the hospital.
Photo of suspect caught on boat in backyardBoston PD commissioner on capture, condition of bombing suspect


text: AgDay: Pork Producers Enter 'Survival Mode' September 18, 2012 01:30 AM Tweet TAGS: Marketing, Overseas December 18, 2014 By Tyne Morgan US Farm Report Host Email It's the perfect storm for America's pork producers—high feed costs and low prices paid to farmers. That combination could lead to the largest hog supplies in five years, pushing hog prices sharply down. AgDay National Reporter Tyne Morgan stopped in the top pork producing state of Iowa to see how record losses is fueling one producer's management decisions. As combines roll across the Midwest and the reality of a sobering corn crop hits the bins, pork producers are left just trying to survive. "Not only are we looking at hog prices dropping possibly down in the low 70s for a lean hog price going into the fourth quarter, but along with that, a lot of the feed going into those hogs has a market value of upwards of $8 or more," says Iowa State University Livestock Specialist Shane Ellis. Ellis says this double whammy is creating a collapse of margins. "And some of those losses we're seeing out there, we're expecting some of the heaviest losses that we've had in recent history," Ellis says. While producers usually see the lower prices in the fourth quarter, this year will be more extreme. This has producers like Todd Wiley crunching the numbers to prepare for what's to come. "When I take all the numbers and put them together, we're losing right at $57 per pig today," says Wiley, a Walker, Iowa, pork producer. Neither Wiley nor Ellis see that changing anytime soon. "Where producers need a breakeven price of 95 or even a full $1, they're looking to see somewhere in the low 70s," Ellis says. "So, we've got a long way to go to keep our money together, let alone make any margin," Wiley adds. This is forcing some producers to make a difficult decision—do they even produce or finish out hogs when margins are looking so tight? "For many operations, they're pulling back into what you'd call survival mode, maybe cutting back on their sow numbers and holding back as much as they can, because they know for every hog they're producing, they are going to be losing a tremendous amount of money," Ellis says. Wiley says while pork producers have been through some tough times, there's no real comparison to this year's forecast for record losses. But, Wiley thinks things will finally take a turn for the better in June of 2013. "Now unfortunately, since February, we haven't had a decent opportunity to crush our pigs at the margins we'd like to have, and so we're a little bit open after the first of the year," Wiley says. "I'm anticipating having to live through this for at least six months until June, when we get into hog prices that are substantially better, hopefully." Wiley says if there's one thing he's learned, it's that pork producers are resilient and he thinks the majority of producers will survive. "I think for the most part we're better managers than we were," Wiley says. "I think for the most part we take care of business a little further down the road than we used to. And so I'm hopeful that the damage, while it's going to be excruciating while it happens, I'm hopeful it's going to be relatively short-term." Back to news


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Unusual Elements: Arugula Arrangement
We usually say something's "gone to seed" like it's a bad thing- but it's often when things start to get interesting. I love arugula and could happily eat a pound of it every day, but I had no idea it would produce such delicate and lovely seed pods. "Rocket" in salads, on pizzas, and in vases!
According to the Wikipedia article about eruca sativa, the arugula plant, "in addition to the leaves, the flowers (often used in salads as an edible garnish), young seed pods, and mature seeds are all edible." If you'd like to save the seeds for planting, How To Save Seeds recommends: "leave plants in the ground to overwinter after harvesting leaves for eating during the growing season. As with any member of the Cabbage Family, allow seeds to ripen and dry on the plant in the spring — but do not leave for long after they are dry or the pods will shatter and the seeds disperse. Arugula pods are thin-walled, and shatter quickly after drying."
I, obviously, did not wait until spring, because the seed pods were so pretty and I needed to use them right now. We gently popped open each pod and brushed the seeds and pod into a bucket, leaving only the translucent white septum. Once we'd done them all, we shook the bucket so the seeds would gather at the bottom, threw the pods away, and saved the seeds for planting next spring (we'd already planted our autumn arugula last week, but otherwise would have used these seeds).
I was tempted to keep the pods intact in the arrangement, but as mentioned above, they would have shattered and dispersed their seeds all over the house. As cute as the pods were, the diaphanous papery component on its own has a certain magic reminiscent of arugula's cousin, Lunnaria annua, also known as "money plant" or "silver dollar plant". I combined the arugula with those fascinating clematis spirals — Wikipedia informs me that they are called achenes — and an unknown variety of horsetail fern. I'm hoping to collect more rocket stems later in the year, enough to make a wreath or two. We'll see!
(Images: Tess Wilson)


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Eurochef brauchte ein neues Logo Design und hat einen Wettbewerb auf 99designs gestartet.
Aus 130 Designs von 21 Designern wurde eine Gewinner gewählt.
Logo required for Catering Company. This logo will be incorporated into our website and business stationary. We are looking for a modern, fresh new look.
Eurochef Catering
Logo needed for catering Company with a Mediterranean food influence. The logo is required to be used on our website and business stationary. we want a fresh new look which is modern with a slight Mediterranean/ Greek influence, but at the same time we are open to new designs and ideas. Our current logo can be found at http://www.eurochef.com.au, we are willing to look at improved versions of our current logo but would be very interested in new designs.
* business name: Eurochef Catering
* open to colour schemes
* i am interested in the olive plant incorporated into the logo, this can be an olive wreath, grapevine, olive leaves, olive branch, olive fruit etc.
* font should look elegant and easy to read, not fast food style.
*Mediterranean / Greek feel to the logo.
* Please do not seperate the word eurochef into euro chef
*new colour scheme to the one found on http://www.eurochef.com.au
* i like the colours used in entry #6 by Glauk
* open to anything. if something doesn't look right I will promptly give feedback.
* I am not looking for any association with the european union in my logo. no european union stars. no euro dollar lookalikes.
* not too many colours
*no shading in writing
Finden Sie heraus, wie ein Designwettbewerb funktioniert, oder lernen Sie mehr über unsere Logo-Design-Angebote.


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Colorful Outdoor Seating for Kids
As the warm weather fast approaches, we're thinking about outfitting our urban rooftop. The children's experience of the space is at the forefront of our minds. Here are a few potential kid-friendly temptations that would work just as well in a garden or surrounding a pool:
1. Metal and Wood Chair, Pottery Barn Kids, $99.95
2. Offi Mod Lounger, $499
3. Ikea PS Vago, currently available in Europe and due to arrive in U.S. stores in August
4. Industry West Children's Marais Chair, $115
5. Tolix Kids' Chair, available at Antiquaire Online
6. Tuffet Seater from Land of Nod, $39
7. Marimekko Outdoor Bean Bag, $69.95
8. Flamingo Stool, Crate and Barrel $18.95, backordered until early July
9. Offi Tiki Stool, $79
10. Solid Oak Painted Rocking Chair, ilbot, Etsy, $40
11. Panton Junior Chair by Vitra, $140


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http://rooksandkings.com/killboard/?a=k ... l_id=25755
Fatal Ascension turned up in Aridia with a 100-man gang on Monday, to kill a Blind Octopus POS (small) that was coming out of reinforced in Sota. Our main fleet bases quite far from Aridia at present, so it was nice to make a visit.
The FA gang composition was a well defined formula: Maelstroms, Scorpions, Drakes and Scimitars. While they waited for the tower to exit RF, we moved to a nearby titan with around 35 armour battleships and a smattering of T3 (5). We switched the logi blob out for triage in this instance, with Linkeleo dropping the Bhaal and joining Agent Xer0 in his traditional Archon role.
While we waited, FA started pretty well: two Blind Octopus Abaddons were semi-afk on station and got alpha'd before they could dock. We'd planned to use a Blind Octopus Thanatos as bait but the hostile fleet then warped straight in on the tower.
Cyno up and Quindaster dropped us into them with his Proteus (which lived). Our two triage archons worked on staggered cycle and we the fight got underway. With 12 Scorpions their intial jamming was fairly decent.
Although our rep generally held very well, the din of a decent battle is often the sound of Abaddons calling for armour:
Not one to be unusued, the bait Thanatos from Blind Octopus also eagerly entered the fray, happily charging in and just about visible here behind Agent's Archon:
After an initial bout, the hostile fleet started warping out. We assumed that this might be the end of the matter and started a roll call for points. To their credit though, FA then warped straight back in and carried on fighting. With their Scorpions gone the Maelstroms began falling fast and once two-thirds of the Maelstroms were down, the hostile gang left the field.
We looted, said our goobyes and headed home. Well, sort of. Admittedly, we stopped off at the titan again and having noticed that remaining FA ships were now undocking to make a swift exit, we portalled on both sides of the gate as they tried to jump out of the system. I suppose it's the Eve equivalent for the Hollywood staple of walking down a dark alley, seeing some some hired goons (in the I-work-for-Monty-Burns sense, as opposed to the cigar loving bee) in front of you... turn around.. and more hired goons behind you. The difference being that Michael Jackson doesn't leap in from somewhere and launch into a rendition of Beat It (note to self: future video). Anyway, by doing this we managed to kill almost every remaining battleship and a few of the Drakes too.
This final jump on the retreating fleet may have been a little unsporting so let me say that they did very well by fighting to almost the bitter end, conducted themselves impecably in local and will be well served by keeping those standards up, win or lose.
As an eplilogue, I should add that they came back to Aridia a day later, yesterday, and hit a different tower, this time in Kamih. We portalled them again with a similar force (though this time with 12 guardians for rep, instead of triage) and managed to catch a dozen or so on the pos shield.
Main fight (Sota): http://rooksandkings.com/killboard/?a=k ... l_id=25755
Epilogue (Kamih): http://rooksandkings.com/killboard/?a=k ... l_id=25826
I assumed this would be the end of it - but with the post editing window still open, I found myself this evening once again forming a fleet against Fatal Ascension, who had managed to Rf the neutral tower in Kamih with their remaining forces from the 'Epilogue' drop, after we left.
The tower came out of RF and we decided to let them kill it, being a neutral tower after all. On the way out, Quindaster once again put us into the middle of them and we engaged their fleet in Nema. Similar ship types as before, although this time we had a less overkill logiblob, and they managed to score some kills before the rep stabilised. Nonetheless we cut through them quickly and once they realised they didn't have the ships remaining to break something, they left the field. http://www.rooksandkings.com/killboard/ ... l_id=25956. I have no idea how Blind Octopus managed to get their totemic bait Thanatos onto the summary yet again but somehow they did
I must confess that I then pointed out that they still had at least killed the neutral tower - only to realise that during the fight an RnK guy had an anchored a tower on the empty moon anyway
At that point Eld discovered goings on with a Wyvern in low sec (which PL soon feasted on anyway) but the ninja towering had set us down a griefing path. So we portalled on the remains of the FA fleet again 5-M as they returned home, for a few kills. http://www.rooksandkings.com/killboard/ ... l_id=25952
Despite Fatal Ascension taking a fair amount of losses between the engagements there, I would like to say that they fought hard - harder than some bigger entities, kept coming back (aside from the slightly excessive drops that took place after the main fights) and tried some different things (.e.g heavy amarr racial ecm, etc.). Although previously not a group on my radar, I now believe that if this general energy for pvp can be maintained, the future looks bright for them.


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Your exam day is almost here! You may be nervously flicking through a few quick notes, or perhaps you're getting read to confidently stride to your location. Either way, here are some very important last minute tips!
1. Print and take your admission ticket.
Once you are logged in to your ACE account, you can locate your admission ticket by clicking directly on "Please click here to print your admission ticket."
Or you can click on the "My Scheduled Exams and Results" link under My Exam Information on the left hand side of your account. You can print your admission ticket from this area as soon as your registration is confirmed up until the day of your exam.
2. Take your photo ID and make sure your name on the admission ticket matches your ID.
You must bring an official ID such as a driver license, military-issued ID or passport with a photo and signature. School or work IDs are not considered official identifications and will not be accepted. Your official ID must also be current. Expired documentation and/or temporary IDs cannot be accepted. Your first and last name (don't worry about your middle name) on the admission ticket must exactly match your official ID.
3. Positive self-talk.
A little pep talk can go a long way! Tell yourself you are prepared, you are ready to give it your best and you are going to pass. Take a deep breath and trust in your knowledge and exam preparation.
4. Arrive on time.
You don't want to get stuck in traffic and feel panicked while trying to find a parking space or the testing room. So plan ahead. You might even considering going the day before (if possible) to check out your exam location and find a convenient place to park.
5. Complete the Exam Program Tutorial.
Before you get started with your exam, you have the opportunity to use a demo of the exam program. Make sure you are familiar with navigating between questions, flagging and unflagging questions for follow-up, hiding the timer/clock and accessing the calculator. Tip: The asterisk (*) is the multiplication button and the forward slash (/) is the division button.
You can also access the exam program demo ahead of time: http://castleworldwide.com/cww/take-a-sample-test/
If you have any questions, please contact our Resource Center on 800-825-3636, Ext. 796. From Study Coach Belinda, Good luck in your exam!


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Chuck Hagel: Not a Dot-Connecter
by: Timothy Villareal on October 12th, 2013 | 5 Comments »
Over at The Atlantic, Steve Clemons has an in-depth interview with Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. It is well worth reading. Clemons, who has opened up avenues of U.S. foreign policy discourse that were virtually nonexistent ten or fifteen years ago, is an unabashed supporter of Chuck Hagel. Therefore, don't expect a Mike Wallace-style interview should you read it. Nonetheless, Clemons does draw Hagel out on a "whole host of issues" – as our dapper president would say – and that may not be such a great thing for Chuck Hagel, or the country. Indeed, if our nation's enemies learn what a terrible dot-connecter the Secretary of Defense really is, we're in more deep doo-doo than we thought.
Nowhere is the Nebraska-born Defense Secretary more open and transparent about his dot-connection issues than in his discussion about the crisis of military sexual assault. (By the way, this should not be read as a knock against Nebraskans. On the contrary, I find the state of Nebraska to be filled with the most polite people on the planet. I've driven across country several times in my life and I'm always glad when I enter Nebraska and sentimental when I leave. The politeness of that state is infectious. So for the record, there is nothing about the state of Nebraska which would suggest higher rates of dot-connection issues, which leaves the Hagel situation largely inexplicable.)
When Clemons brought up the current military sexual assault crisis, Hagel's first response was to note his steadfast committment to holding regular meetings with a Defense Department advisory board that was established in 1951, back when Bing Crosby was still topping the charts.
It is not clear from the interview transcript if the so-called "Secretary of Defense Women's Advisory Board" is the same group of military people with whom Hagel has "weekly one-hour" meetings to discuss military sexual assaults, but whatever the case, this much is clear: Chuck Hagel doesn't want outsiders – like the American people, for instance – taking control of the U.S. military's sexual assault epidemic. As Hagel explained to Steve Clemons:
I told the President one of the first times we talked about this, this – this problem will get fixed in this institution. We need help. Absolutely, we need – we need some changes in the law. Absolutely. But you can't take it [the problem and a solution] away or out of the institution because this is all about accountability. And everyone in this institution is accountable in some way. There are chains of command accountability.
That chain of command has failed over the years, obviously, for a lot of reasons. But if it's going to get fixed, it has to get fixed here in this culture, in this institution, in each service. And that's what we're focusing on.
The good part – and it's not polite to criticize someone without mentioning their good parts, which I learned from Nebraskans as I travelled about their polite state – is that Hagel is firmly recognizing that U.S. military culture is an entirely separate culture from mainstream American society.
In other words, Hagel knows he's the boss of a lot people, albeit a teeny-tiny minority of the U.S. population, who make a living off the practice of hot war. The fact that he recognizes the wholesale separateness of U.S. military culture, the fundamental "we for-pay soldiers are from Mars, those pansy civilians are from Venus" nature of the institution, is a good thing.
Where the acute dot-connection issues come in for Hagel is that he fails to realize that the teeny- tiny minority of men in this country who are perfectly content to inflict violence on others – namely the act of war – as a way to actually make a living for themsleves, not for anything remotely related to the actual defense of the nation, which the Iraq and Afghanistan wars so clearly proved, will at worst have a higher propensity to inflict sexual violence on others, or at minimum, not be shocked by those who do.
Indeed, one of the most pathetic things I've ever seen on TV was a news clip of a U.S. military "sexual assault training session." Grown, twenty-something men, in military uniform, and sitting around a table, were being "taught" that when women are being sexually assaulted in front of them they should step in and say to the other guy something like, "Hey, stop. That's not the right way to treat a lady."
It's so beyond pathetic.
I hope the American people, including our beloved Nebraskans, will eventually connect the dots that Chuck Hagel cannot: A human conscience that is not instinctively morally outraged by the very notion of salaried war-making, in and of itself, is not going to be instinctively morally outraged by other forms of wanton violence, in this case sexual violence. Thus, such a conscience will have to be mentally "reprogrammed" or "retrained" at twenty-five or thirty.
The bottom line is that war-making as a lifestyle in this country – even if only a tiny fraction of Americans are partaking in it – has wreaked total havoc on our nation, both moral and strategic, and both domestically and internationally.
Related Link: http://tyrannydissolution.wordpress.com. Section 6 of the proposedconstitutional amendment, which can be found in the About section,wouldend the for-pay soldiery in theUnited States.