text:
For three decades, Julie Flores was unable to stand upright — the result of a crushing combination of scoliosis and severe dystonia that twisted her spine, quite literally bending her body in half.
"Everybody just laughed at me and called me names, and they were rude to me, and I just didn't like it," remembers 39-year-old Flores, whose mild cognitive impairment causes her to speak in a simple, straightforward style.
But last fall, the pain from being bowed in half for most of her life became too much to bear.
"It got to the point where it was so severe, it was crushing her lungs, and her spine was crushing into the rib cage of her pelvis," says her mother, Lidia Flores, who lives with her husband and their daughter in their South El Monte, Calif., home.
Now, thanks to a remarkable spinal surgery, Flores stands upright, pushing 5-foot-3 — two inches taller than her mother.
At age 5, Julie Flores was diagnosed with a severe case of dystonia, a neurological movement disorder that causes repetitive muscle spasms, or abnormal posture. An estimated 300,000 people in the United States are affected, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.The dystonia twisted and jerked her body, hunching her back forward and eventually leading to scoliosis. She was about 8 when doctors diagnosed the condition that affects 2 percent to 3 percent of the population, or about 6 million people in the U.S., according to the National Scoliosis Foundation.
Despite being medicated for her dystonia, her muscle spasms persisted. By age 9, the little girl's spine and neck were severely deformed. "It was horrifying," her mother remembers. "Her childhood years were the ones that she was so bent in half, she was bowed."
To get an idea of her condition, try this: Raise your shoulders to your ears, tilt your head to the left, and bend your body at the waist. That's how her mother and her neurosurgeon, Dr. Frank Acosta, a neurosurgen at Cedar-Sinai medical center in Los Angeles describe her physical state before the corrective spinal surgery.
Find other TODAY Health fans,
During Julie's childhood, her pediatric neurologist suggested spinal fusion, a major surgical procedure that uses metal screws, plates or rods to join together two vertebraes in the spine. It can provide pain relief for patients suffering from abnormal curvatures of the spine, but Julie's dystonia made her parents hesitate: The surgery would straighten her spine, but the spasms that bowed the girl in half would continue. The idea of her body fighting with itself — the metallic rods working against the dystonia's twists and turns — made her parents too fearful to pursue the surgical route.
So Julie spent most of her life doubled over, her physical and cognitive impairments requiring her to rely on her mother for even the smallest daily chores like dressing herself.
Still her mom and dad, Porfirio Flores, tried to let their daughter live a life that was as normal as possible, and more often than not, they'd let her try things the other kids were doing — roller skating, sledding, even swimming and diving, each of which she managed successfully and safely.
"If she roller skated bent in half, if she came down the mountain the way the other kids did in their sleds bent in half, if she dived bent in half — there was no stopping her," her mother Lidia says.
After graduating from high school, Julie continued to live at home with her parents, filling her days with visits to the park, or activities with her family's church. But i nto adulthood, her spine continued to curve, and last fall the pain began to keep her awake at night. As her mother recalls, "It was very, very painful; it was excruciating pain. ... And it got to the point where Julie herself said, 'I need help, I need some relief.'" If sweet, uncomplaining Julie was actually complaining, her mother thought, then her condition must have become nearly unbearable, and surgery might be necessary.
Acosta, the neurosurgeon who performed the operation, said Julie's crooked spine was one of the worst he'd ever seen. "She was so far over, her ribs were literally touching her pelvis. And because she was so curved, (her left) lung was being crushed," says Acosta, director of spinal deformity and assistant professor of neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai.
Still, that's not what he recalls when he remembers his first impression of her. "The biggest thing that I remember — even considering how how much of a spinal deformity she had — was not even her body shape, but her face," Acosta says. "It doesn't take too much to make her happy, so she's always smiling. But when I first met her she did not have a smile on her face, which, for her, says a lot. If she's not happy, that means there's really something going on."
Acosta and the Flores family decided spinal fusion would be the best option for Julie, as the severity of her dystonia had lessened with age. In two operations — totalling 20 hours — in December, surgeons at Cedars-Sinai fused the bones in her back, using metallic screws and rods, and making cuts in the bones called osteotomies, to loosen the curves and straighten her spine. Acosta calls it one of the most complex cases he's ever undertaken.
After surgery, Julie was kept in the hospital for more than two months — one of her lungs had been crushed so badly that it was initially unable to properly inflate. Directly after the surgery, Julie required a ventilator to breathe. But she was eventually able to breathe again on her own, and after physical therapy, the results were remarkable.
"You straighten her out, and she's taller than her mom when she's standing up straight. It's amazing," Acosta says.
Since her recovery, Julie feels just "flickers of pain," her mom says. Julie herself uses just six words to simply, sweetly summarize her life after the corrective surgery: "I feel tall! I feel happy!"

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Girls Go Crazy For The Dancing Bear
Posted by Rick Diculous | Posted in Fuck | Posted on 24-05-2011
Summer is just around the corner and the girls are getting hotter and hotter. And you guys all know that when temperature goes up, the women get horny. This means thatit's the right for The Dancing Bear to throw a summer party. There is plenty of alcohol around for each chick to get drunk as fuck. Watch them go crazy when they see a huge cock. They each try to grab it and put it in their mouth as the crow cheers on. Some of them even get completely naked and get fucked right there in front of everyone. Now this is the kind of party i'm talking about.


text:
Arthur I. Cyr: Outer space successes should inspire Earth
Outer space is alive with the work of scientists, who monitor extraordinarily complex ships of exploration. These vehicles are probing ever farther within and beyond our solar system, the planets including our Earth which orbit the Sun - our special star.
Early in January, China landed a lunar vehicle on the dark side - the far side - of the moon. The Chang'e-4 craft has sent pictures that reveal predictably barren and cratered landscape. China's first lunar mission, the orbiter Chang'e-1, launched in 2007.
The exotic name Chang'e derives from the goddess, who according to Chinese legend, inhabits the moon. This space mission has generated extensive media coverage. This includes statements that space exploration represents the latest manifestation of China's threatening ambitions on Earth.
The United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) continues to be active decades after the successful 1969 mission to land men on the moon (and return them safely to Earth).
In 2004, President George W. Bush declared distant space flight a high national priority. Bush's low-key announcement contrasts with President John F. Kennedy's dramatic public commitment to a manned mission to the moon.
The U.S. landed the robot Spirit on Mars on Jan. 4, 2004, after a complex journey of 300 million miles through the solar system, ending with a perfect touchdown. The partner rover Opportunity came down equally successfully on the other side of the planet 21 days later.
Other lander and orbital missions have followed, but the durability of these two aptly named robots is distinctive. Scientists expected them to survive for approximately 90 days but instead they transmitted for years. Spirit eventually became stuck in sand and ceased transmissions to Earth in 2010.
Opportunity temporarily stalled in a sand dune. However, engineers on Earth 100 million miles away got the vehicle going. A dust storm last June interrupted operation.
Space flight generates far less public excitement than in JFK's time, in part because we are collectively much more cautious. Constant concern over safety of the Earth orbiting space shuttle flights represents this contemporary attitude.
Exploration of space is inherently unpredictable. Shuttle flights have remained relatively close to Earth, but two crews were lost. The only casualties of the moon program were one brave crew incinerated on Earth.
There are good reasons for continuing exploring. Tangible global cooperation is encouraged. Examples include the 2005 joint Russia-United States project in Kazakhstan to launch a satellite.
This time around, Sino-American along with Russian-American cooperation to explore Mars might improve relations between governments. Further, wider multiculturalism also beckons, including the European Union, Brazil, India, Japan and South Korea.
Perhaps the best news regarding space exploration today is cooperation on earth. Earlier in January, the National Space Administration of China (CNSA) and NASA shared technical information, spurred by the mutual desire to take maximum advantage of the Chang'e-4 mission. This is reportedly the first time since 2011 such sensitive scientific collaboration has occurred.
Science helped fuel the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, but even then, there was positive non-military cooperation. The International Geophysical Year (IGY) in 1958 had the ancillary benefit of agreement to keep Antarctica free of military activity.
In that realm, as in many others, President (and retired Army General) Dwight D. Eisenhower deserves great credit for orchestrating both scientific cooperation and arms control agreement.
American and other leaders should look to his example, more than ever.
Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College and author of "After the Cold War" (NYU Press and Macmillan). Contact him at email@example.com.


text:
Although Jennette McCurdy was ahead of the holiday style game when she rocked this adorable plaid look at the HALO Awards back in November, it's also the perfect festive outfit to rock for Christmas. The darker plaid is a little more unexpected than the usual holiday red but just as festive, and a sparkly cardi and pop of leopard make the preppy pattern feel totally glam. Whether you need a cute outfit for this weekend's holiday parties or are looking for something cute to rock on Christmas Eve, snag Jennette's flirty, festive look with these super-affordable pieces.
Sparkly Cardigan: Not only does a glittery shrug act as a necessary layer to keep from freezing, it also adds an extra festive touch to your look! A sequin-y black cardi adds the perf amount of glam to the navy-and-emerald pattern. (Darling Cardigan, $49, Yoox)
Plaid Dress: With the '90s trend still going strong, a punk-y plaid dress is a total must-have that you'll wear well into 2014! Green and navy feel fresh and festive (and less Santa-y) compared to bold red plaids. (Coincidence & Chance Collared Plaid Babydoll Dress, $59, Urban Outfitters)
More From Seventeen
Leopard Clutch: A little punch of leopard print does every outfit some good! Treat it like a neutral and mix it with preppy plaids and other prints to add a fashion-y feel to your look. (Arizona Ali Wristlet, $14.99, JCPenney)
Ankle-Strap Heels: Peep-toe heels look more appropriate for winter weather than strappy sandals and will look totally chic with a pair of black tights. Ankle-strap details are super trendy and make it easier to dance in your heels! (Night Moves Peep Toe Stilettos, $32.80, Forever21)
What do you think of Jennette's festive look? What's your go-to holiday outfit? Tell us in the comments!


text:
Key' (of Solomon/key access to compartments of the mind, parts of her system) alter which draws Kabbalah inspired work complete with the Tree of Life and scenes of child sexual abuse charted by various occult symbols; I suspect that this is an alter that remembers some of the abuse (the 'Ria' alter appears to remember the most of the basic sexual/physical trauma programming) and is conscious of her system as some appear to be depicting her Kabbalah programmed internal system based around the Tree of Life. Note in the above example the backwards/mirrored writing, though it is more likely the result of image manipulation (a lot of them have been reversed like this for some reason), if you flip it horizontally it is much easier to read; some Monarch slaves are taught to write (and read) backwards and/or mirrored (+ different scrambled ways) from a young age as part of their programming (to develop the brain in a set way; but as I said I think the images have just been flipped).
You can see the the Four Worlds/"planes of existence" in Kabbalah doctrine ("Kabbalah, from the Medieval circles around study of the Zohar, distinguishes between four different "worlds" or "planes of existence" that successively link the Infinite Divine essence (Ein Sof), with our physical finite Creation."): Atziluth, Briah, Yetzirah and Assiah. Atziluth being the highest of the Four Worlds: "known as the World of Emanations, or the World of Causes. In the Kabbalah, each of the Sephiroth in this world is associated with a Name of God, and it is associated with the Suite of Wands in the Tarot."
Briah the second: "intermediate between the World of Emanation (Atziluth) and the World of Formation (Yetzirah), the third world, that of the angels. It is, accordingly, of the purest essence and without admixture of matter. It is known as the World of Creation. In western occultism, each of the Sephiroth in this world is associated with a Holy Archangel, and it is associated with the suit of Cups in the Tarot. The Biblical Archangels dwell in the realm of Beri'ah."
Yetzirah: "the third of four worlds in the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, following Assiah and Briah. It is known as the "World of Formation". "Yetsirah" as in "making" is as opposed to "Briah" as in "Creating": actually taking whatever matter that was created in the "Briah" and shaping it into the basic elements. Within the Western mystery tradition, the different Sephiroth in this world are associated with the angels, and it is associated with the suit of swords in the occult tarot. On the Tree of Life diagram it is associated with the Sephiroth Hod, Netzach and Yesod."
And Assiah: "also known as Olam Asiyah, עולם עשיה in Hebrew, literally the World of Action is the last of the four spiritual worlds of the Kabbalah—Atziluth, Beri'ah, Yetzirah, 'Asiyah—based on the passage in Isaiah 43:7. According to the Maseket Aẓilut, it is the region where the Ofanim rule and where they promote the hearing of prayers, support human endeavor, and combat evil. Their ruler is Sandalphon. According to the system of the later Palestinian Kabbalah, 'Asiyah is the lowest of the spiritual worlds containing the Ten Heavens and the whole system of mundane Creation. The light of the Sefirot emanates from these Ten Heavens, which are called the "Ten Sefirot of 'Asiyah"; and through them spirituality and piety are imparted to the realm of matter—the seat of the dark and impure powers.[1][2] Representing purely material existence, it is known as the World of Action, the World of Effects or the World of Making. In western occultism it is associated with the Tarot card suit known as Pentacles (or Coins or Disks, the terminology varies according to the deck). The world of Yetzirah precedes it."
All four worlds are referenced, in a Kabbalistic Monarch programmed Tree of Life system these are internal worlds where certain ("blank slate") alters are placed. There are obviously many other pertinent symbols on the Kabbalistic box above (menorah, snakes, a lot of Hebrew script and letters Khaf, Pe, Zayin and Tet written on the side which probably spells something in Hebrew, tree with roots etc). The Hebrew letters and general symbols (some appear to be Alchemical/Zodiac signs/Hermetic) will have been part of her programming (used as codes/triggers and such) which I elaborate on a bit below.
Key's focus on Kabbalism, the above hexagon shaped covered in astrological/Alchemical and other symbols suggests to me that she may have been programmed using the Lesser Key of Solomon Goetia as a programming script (i.e. what theme their programming/system will be based around, a good example in modern times would be alien/UFO abduction scripted programming, and the classics Wizard of Oz/Alice in Wonderland and whatnot, just about anything can be used though), which Monarch Illuminati programmers have historically favoured (as society progresses though, so do the scripts to relate more to the contemporary age; so "demons" make way for "aliens" and such [not that they don't believe in goetia). According to this gallery's info (see further down for details on the images) she even has an alter called (the aforementioned Dawn, which I guess they shortened in her media portrayal for obvious reasons)... 'Golden Dawn' (again showing her occult/Hermetic programming).
The layer after that depicts two sets of three phallic serpents and more child traumatization/programming, and similar in the layer one further in. The the second innermost layer shows words such as 'Devil', 'fuck', 'shit' 'kill' and other emotive words; then the inner most rectangle depicts shows that all of this has happened to one individual I think with the arrows pointing towards the figure with a line through it's neck (decapitation; symbolizing losing control of your body). Memories of abuse do not 'disappear', every single one is stored in the brain behind amnesia barriers; they are dissociated to another part of the mind, to other alters/parts and fragments which can be accessed via the right trigger (this can happen unintentionally in an unorganized system, usually resulting in an anxiety attack/total breakdown, which is why I mentioned before the need to meticulously chart every single act of trauma [a code is used, often zodiac signs/Hebrew letters as shown on the artwork above], associated with a symbol in the system so it can be triggered and more dissociated to a deeper part of the system if need be [or triggered to simply traumatize them some more through the memory/flashback to make them do something]).
Kim Noble describes that 'Kim Noble' does not really exist and she is merely a vehicle/'house' for her alters/system, here is a quote from an Independent interview piece with her:
To all intents and purposes, each of Kim's personalities is an artist in their own right: Patricia paints the solitary desert landscapes, Bonny's pictures often feature robotic dancing figures or "frieze people", Suzy repeatedly paints a kneeling mother, Judy's canvasses are large, conceptual pieces while Ria's work reveals deeply traumatic events involving children.
These disturbing images are at the root of Kim's extraordinary condition; DID is a creative mental survival strategy whereby the personality splits at a young age due to severe and chronic trauma. The number of personalities that exist often depends on how long the trauma lasts. But Kim herself has no memory of being abused as a child; she has been protected over the years by her alters.
"I've been told I was abused and to me at this moment in time, it's too much. It goes in one ear and out the other. It's no good retraumatising me and telling me something I don't want to know - in any case, there would be a switch."
Kim has good reason to fear learning about her past as it's possible that if she acquires too much information, she won't be able to cope and will "disappear". It's happened twice before. (omega)
This is where it gets really weird - for Kim isn't Kim at all. The personality I am interviewing is Patricia and it is she who manages her and Aimee's lives, but Patricia wasn't always the dominant personality. Before Patricia took over, Bonny held the fort and two years previous to Bonny, it was Hayley.
Kim watches me closely as she explains: "You see Kim is just the 'house', the body. There isn't a 'Kim' at all - she has completely split. So we answer to the name Kim but really I am Patricia. When people call us 'Kim' I suppose many of us just assume it's a nickname, but once people know you they don't use your name very often in conversation."
Of the 20 or so personalities who share "Kim", some are easily identifiable: there is 15-year-old Judy who is anorexic and bulimic, maternal Bonny, religious Salome [whose paintings are not publicized but you can imagine they would be loaded with symbolic, more than likely occult imagery], depressed Ken, sensible Hayley, Dawn, Patricia and elective mute MJ. There are also a handful of children "frozen" in time. A few of the alters know about the DID but many are unaware - or refuse to accept it.
"Judy doesn't believe in the DID," explains Kim. "She's only a teenager and she calls our therapist a nutter when she tries to explain it to her. She's so young, she doesn't even think Aimee is her daughter. She knows about me and she thinks that I'm a terrible mother because I'm always leaving Aimee. To her, it's totally normal to keep coming and going. She probably thinks that you come and go too."
There are certain "triggers" that can force a change and gradually Kim has learnt what they are in order to avoid them - but it doesn't stop her switching up to three or four times a day.
"I don't really get any idea when I'm about to go except occasionally a feeling of drifting. Mostly it's instantaneous. I can lose six or seven hours but if you were asking another personality now, of course they'd say they lose days. So we haven't got much of a sense of time - I'm always in a panic to get things done.
More scenes of sexual programming, the above titled 'Unspeakable' and below with a similar theme along with a double bind (always used in mind control programming) suggestive title 'You're Special, Shut Your Mouth!"
Emphasizing the dehumanization programming 'Ria' is clearly portraying in these paints, the below image is named 'It's a dog's life'.
Note in the below rape scene the two fragmented floating figures (the children dissociated, having "left their body"/mind).
'Caged Up' below, note the programmer's cattleprod/electroshock (obviously it isn't accurately drawn but it seems likely it's that based on the other drawings like 'Shocking Pink', or some other phallic instrument used for torture), another scene that often occurs in Monarch programming.
These are obviously good examples of the half face/split mind motif I often discuss in the blog (with half face black/in darkness, half white/in light). The below one titled 'Memories'.
'Check Mate' displays a scene of domestic abuse then weeping on the staircase (hence 'check mate').
Above 'The Emotional Dinner'. 'Diary Check' below.
The faceless (facelessness/loss of identity) 'Class 7A' above (remembering her childhood more), below is 'Run, here comes the vic!' suggesting sexual abusive/paedophile vicars/priests/etc.
This one titled 'Journey' showing a figure spread eagle covered by cloud-like spacey field, with words written in a spiral shape (blown up below).
"Fire Goddess" and "Water Goddess"
More psychological trauma here symbolized by the cracked skull (fractured/split/broken mind which I've gone into many times), eyes covered and one bloody.
These are supposed to represent robots (note the internal mechanism of them; symbolizing the robotic nature of trauma-based [Monarch] slaves' systems). The one above called 'Robot Family', they're all quite similar so I'll only include a few.
The below one is pretty self explanatory (alter-personality coming out [splitting; hence half face] of the symbolically blindfolded person's head), with it spelled out "I am just another personality".
girl in the corner (potentially pyramid symbolic too) above and the cherry (+ an eaten cherry leaving behind the pip, symbolizing the broken hymen/child sexual abuse).
Some are created by alters she does not have names for/are 'unknown'; I think it's safe to say these ones come from an alter with attempted cat/kitten dehumanization programming (hence painting cats as human personalities).
The below two are by the alter MiMi (mimic) who "paints scenes through the eyes of a child" so is probably a young child alter. Note the rainbow and the symbolic, twin towers/pillars London's Tower Bridge.
Depressed alter 'Ken' portrays fairy tale scenes such as the above 'Lost in Play' and below 'Not Kansas' (invoking Wizard of Oz programming, "Not in Kansas Anymore"; probably abstractly depicting a figure spiraling around a cyclone into Oz/dissociation).
The style of these paintings by Ken appears fractured (+ the sad clown below symbolizing forced/false/programmed "happy" emotions, showing it's a facade as even the clown face is sad).
These last few are by unknown alters, the first one below depicts a typical programming scene (designed to make the victim feel worthless/like nothing) with her head bowed in shame and the words "I am stupid. Please kick me." on a bit of paper tied around her neck holding onto something bloody/may be her own injury/trauma.
This one (below) is called 'Shattered Time' and is fairly obvious (+ the different patterns/colours/worlds coming out of the victim's head symbolizing the vast system of alters contained in one mind).
This is the sculpture she is holding over her face at the top of this post.
"In America the largest amount of DID is diagnosed in connection with allegations of ritual satanist abuse, hence the discrediting of or inability to perceive the possibility of the one existing automatically precludes rational thinking about the other...
In our far more secular society with established churches in which leading members do not believe in a personal God, a personal Satan is incomprehensible. This leads the majority to conflate satanist abuse with Satan rather than with sadistic paedophilia carried out either by Satanists – people who do believe in Satan (Satanist paedophiles [which there certainly have been many of]) – or those who draw on the frightening power of occult paraphernalia. To the child victim it is irrelevant which group carried out the abuse.
I have stated elsewhere (Sinason 1994) that the number of children and adults tortured in the name of mainstream religious and racial orthodoxy outweighs any onslaught by satanist abusers. Wiccans, witches, warlocks, pagans and Satanists who are not abusive are increasingly concerned at the way criminal groups closely related to the drug and pornographic industries conflate their rituals.
In trying to deal with worrying patients who have to be treated regardless of the doubts around their disclosures, mental health professionals often have to face these contentious issues. This makes it much harder for a proper considered response because professionals, like everyone else, are affected by the consensus. In my past work at the Portman Clinic and in my clinic I have noted the secondary traumatisation of professionals caused both by the impact of the patients' narrative and then by the disbelieving stance of colleagues. Indeed, both professionals and, more importantly, patients, suffer from societal discrediting processes (including the media) in addition to their primary trauma. This applies to lawyers and police officers as well as mental health professionals."
Though I have not read through all of her material, it seems generally sound (going into the differing levels of dissociation which I have discussed; i.e. simply 'zoning out' in a class/when driving, to PTSD to full blown DID [and many other levels in between]) but I find some of it to be worded in a slightly confusing way. It's worth stating that a lot of people have worked out of Tavistock (and it's clinics etc) and the majority of their clinicians are looking out for the best interests of their patients (it is necessary to have an ignorant, innocent and genuine level to keep up appearances so their clandestine research/programming/social engineering can continue in secret). The other 'Tavistock and Portman Clinic' doctor she contacted was Doctor Rob Hale ("Former Director of the Medical Research Council's Cognitive Development Unit. He is now Visiting Professor in the Department of Psychology and Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London.") before finally making contact with (her current handler?): "leading psychology professor at University College London, Professor John Morton, [who states that] Kim has the misfortune to represent the British "gold standard" [curious choice of words] over genuine dissociation. In the last four years he has conducted extensive tests on Kim and found there is no memory at all between the different personalities. "Even when DID patients reported no memory between the different personalities, our tests usually showed massive leakage between them," he says. "Kim shows no leakage at all. She is proving existing memory theories wrong. She's doing things which we would say are impossible.""


text:
This website uses cookies to ensure proper functionality of the shopping cart and checkout progress. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to the use of cookies. We also use third party cookies from Google Analytics, these are not required for the site's functionality, so you can accept or decline them. Click here to learn about cookie settings.
* Required Fields
Rating 9 out of 10, based on 35 customer reviews
If you have an account with us, please log in.
By creating an account with our store, you will be able to move through the checkout process faster, store multiple shipping addresses, view and track your orders in your account and more.
Forgot Your Password?
Please enter your email address below. You will receive a link to reset your password.
Checking "Remember Me" will let you access your shopping cart on this computer when you are logged out


text:
Reporter's Note: I write to President Obama every day.
Dear Mr. President,
I think there is nothing that terrifies you political types so much as someone just blurting out the truth. Seriously, in this town that prizes "staying on message," and "talking points," it is hilarious to watch how upset everyone gets when someone unexpectedly lays out the facts.
Such is the case with Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who created a gasoline fire on the D.C. barbeque this weekend just because he told the truth. To recap: He took issue with your attacks on Mitt Romney over his actions while he was at Bain Capital, and he suggested Republicans are just as wrong to go after your distant past.
"This kind of stuff is nauseating to me on both sides…enough is enough," the mayor said. He followed it up with some other comments along the lines of saying our elections ought to be about who can lead, who has the best ideas, etc…not about cheap character assassination.
So what precisely is wrong with that?
As best I can make out, he didn't say anything untrue; most voters would agree with him; and he did not even pick sides. He just departed from the written script and I think it scared the heck out of your guys. What puzzles me is why you find his words so disturbing. After all, you've argued many times that we need a new age of politics that focuses less on attacks and more on solutions; less on the past and more on the future. Frankly, just a few years ago I can easily imagine you saying what Mayor Booker said.
Obviously you can run your campaign anyway you wish, and your guys must have made a pretty stern call to Mayor Booker, judging from the way he was backing and filling later on.
But I can't help but wonder if you should have thanked him instead; for reminding you of your own belief in such things. Sure, it is hard to campaign in a positive way by building up your record and ideas, instead of tearing down the other guy's, but is the office really worth having if you must become what you deplore to win? That's a question not just for you, but one that every candidate ought to ask him or herself. If they did, I think we might get cleaner elections, better leaders, and a lot more of that hope you once talked about so much.
Filed under: Letters to the President • Opinion • President Barack Obama • T1 • Tom Foreman
I'd be interested to read the letter Tom sent to Mitt Romney asking him to refrain from attacking the President.
Isn't Gov Romney running though on his expertise as a businessman? Isn't that why he's asking us to vote for him, because he was a successful businessman who ran Bain Capitol for years? So how can his performance there be off limits. That would be like Obama saying we couldn't criticize his record as a community organizer, senator or president.
There is a difference between criticizing someone's career and making up stuff like saying they are not a citizen and born in Kenya. One is a groundless attack. Guess which one?
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°


text:
Interdimensional Experiencers
About Dave
Dave Bunker Inventions
Recent Posts
hack snapchat password iphone
hack into someones snapchat account
how google can compete with amazone for voice app developers
Promotion of Cost-effective
Linking of Low-priced
The Touch Guitar
Guitar Traditions
Stump to Stage
Angels Aliens and Guitars
For God's Gift to the World: Artists
By David Douglas Bunker
Bunker Creek and the Guitar Dreamer
Journey to a world you've felt, but not yet understood. An experience down a path of the unknown.
Viewing archives for
"Wood Testimonials"
Nothing Found
Sorry, what you are looking for isn't here.


text:
Free makes money? surly this is science fiction…*schnuck*.
Publisher Experiments With 'Free' And Sees Book Sales Increase 20x
from the not-bad dept
We've pointed to numerous studies, at this point, that have all found that, when done right, free ebooks can greatly increase the sales of physical books (and, in some cases, even of ebooks). Here's another empirical example of that in action. Chris Anderson points us to a blog post by someone at a mid-list niche publisher, talking about how successful its experiments with "free" ebooks have been. In this case, the publisher would offer up the first book in a series as a free ebook, and found that it drove massive increases in sales:
One of our free titles was the #1 download on Amazon for the entire month of February. The subsequent sales of books 2 and 3 in the series increased by a rate of 20 to 1. For this series, digital sales are approaching 20% of the total product sales distribution and growing. With the visibility of the digital sales on Amazon, we have seen a substantial increase in print sales to the brick and mortar book chains. In this one instance, digital is driving print sales.
Basically, what this publisher realized is that with most books, obscurity is a greater threat than "piracy," and free helps deal with that:
Much of the talk by the big 6 publishers has been stress over cannibalization of print sales, or the idea of replacement sales, by ebooks. For midlist publishers such as ourselves, I believe we fight against substitution. We capture the "browser" market. If our title is not available or visible, a customer will simply substitute for another one in the genre. Free gave us the visibility that we could not purchase.
Filed Under: books, free, mid-market, obscurity, publishing


text:
Earlier this week, the Catholic Church marked the feast day of SS Martha and Mary. In my post here, and in the comments thread for Kittredge Cherry's corresponding post at Jesus in Love Blog, there was some attention given to the nature of their relationship. Were they literally "just" sisters? Was the word a euphemism for a different kind of relationship? Is it fair to call them "lesbians"? Does it matter?
I believe that the very attempt to force people into sexual categories is a trap. This is what has created the myth in the first place of a normative heterosexual identity within an opposite sex, monogamous marriage. The truth is that in nature and in human societies the world over and in all periods of history, relationships and forms of sexual expression are bewildering in their diversity. Trying to apply modern words to historic patters is particularly dangerous, as the attempt risks burying the past in the baggage carried by those words. This was clearly illustrated for me when I read this morning about Bernadetta Carlini, an Italian visionary whose description as a "lesbian nun" clouds more than it illustrates – even though the one thing that is not contested in her story is that it featured regular sex with a woman (sometimes described as the earliest recorded instance of lesbianism in modern history).


text:
The laughing twins are often referred to as the Immortal Hehe Erxian, the Twin Spirits of Harmony and Joy, embodying the ideal of accord. As such, figures of boys were often considered appropriate gifts on the occasion of marriage conveying the wish for happiness, abundance and the birth of many sons.
While there are several known varieties of pose associated with the figures of boys, the present pair represent an unusual stance. The better known type are a bit more columnar with hands and vase nestled close to the chest, there are also examples with double topknots and foreign features standing on a square plinth, holding a cup, as well as a seated figure with legs splayed and, finally, a boy hunched over, carrying a smaller boy on his back; the latter two types have the same jovial open facial features as the present pair.


text:
Finally jumping ship, huh? For better or for worse, you're not alone: If market reports are anything to go by, Android phones have carved out about three-quarters of BlackBerry's market share in just a few years.
Before you begin migrating your life from your BlackBerry to your new Android device, I'd like to review the main difference between BlackBerry and Android hardware. All BlackBerry devices have keyboards, but only some models have touchscreens; on Android it's the opposite, with every Android device sporting a touchscreen but fewer and fewer coming equipped with keyboards. Although most people seem to have gotten used to typing on a touchscreen, I'm not one of them, and if you aren't either you might want to look at our collection of the best smartphones with a full QWERTY keyboard for assistance in making a purchase.
Setting Up Email
Now, moving on to software. First–and probably most important for a majority of BlackBerry users–you have to set up your email accounts on your new Android device. Google really wants you to use Gmail, and the majority of Android phones are designed to reflect this, with a friendly home-screen Gmail icon that needs only your username and password to be effectively configured.
If you don't already have a Gmail account for personal email, by all means make one–it's a great service, and you're going to need it anyway to sync your Outlook calendar. If you already have a Gmail account, you may want to consider persuading your IT department to forward all of your business mail to Gmail automatically; many companies balk at this notion because they'd rather not have their mail travel through Google's servers, but the fact is that you could do a lot worse, and anybody who can arrange this option is rarely unhappy with it.
If you decide not to go that route, you'll have to use the alternate email application installed on Android phones. Depending on your version of Android, this application may be called 'Email' or 'Mail', but it'll certainly be present; open your App Drawer (the scrolling list of all the apps that you have installed), and take a look. While the setup options for the Email app seem simple (and they actually are, if you're using them to configure a common email address such as one from Yahoo), you'll probably need some technical information from your IT folks to configure a corporate email server. If your office uses Outlook for mail on your desktop PCs, you likely have a Microsoft Exchange server. Microsoft provides some good, straightforward instructions for configuring Exchange email. The only information you'll need that you might not have already is your email server name, and you should be able to find that information by clicking Help, About in Outlook and checking under the 'External POP Settings' line. If the setup process asks whether to use a secure connection and to accept any SSL certificates, it's a good idea to say yes to both. Input the necessary information, finish the setup process, and you should be all set.
Importing Contacts and Calendars
Next, you should import your contacts and calendars. The easiest way to do this is to go to http://m.google.com/sync on your BlackBerry device's browser; this action will automatically install the software to begin syncing your contacts and calendars with Google's cloud. Once the Google Sync app is installed, open it, input your Gmail account details, check the app settings to ensure that both Contacts and Calendar are checked, and press Sync Now. If you don't intend to keep using the BlackBerry, you can go ahead and power it down for the final time after sync has completed, as you won't need it anymore. You can and should also install the desktop version of Google Sync so that your new phone can remain automatically synced to your Outlook calendar–no docking or wires needed. Once this sync is complete, open the Calendar app on your Android phone, and see what you think!
Acquiring Apps
Finally, you're going to need some replacements for your favorite BlackBerry applications. If you're interested in handling your office documents on the go, check out our basic guide to managing documents on your Android phone. You might also like the Evernote app for keeping track of memos and automatically syncing them to a desktop computer. Unfortunately, you can't use BlackBerry Messenger on Android, but you can install Skype from the Google Play store (the equivalent of BlackBerry App World); Google also provides its own replacement, called Talk, which automatically makes you available for chat with anyone you've corresponded with via Gmail. If that doesn't sound like something you want, just open the Talk app, go to the Settings menu, and uncheck Automatically sign in.
You should try to use your Android phone on wireless networks when they're available, such as at home, in order to save on data consumption and battery life (if you weren't already in the habit of doing so with your BlackBerry). On most Android phones, the Wi-Fi configuration is somewhat unhelpfully buried under Menu, Settings, Wireless and Networks, Wi-Fi Settings (where you'll probably want to uncheck Network notification so that your phone will stop shouting about new networks being available). It's easy to set up, though: Just click on the network you want, and enter the password.
After that, all that's left is for you to get used to the Android interface. You'll probably find that it's quite nice–tapping and dragging are both very intuitive, and judicious use of the Back button at the bottom of your device will help you speed through menus. To access the notifications at the top of your screen (one of the best features of Android), simply drag them down and tap them individually.
Congratulations on your move, and good luck!


text:
I upgraded Linux on this server a while back and in the course of that upgrade PHP was upgraded too, to version 5.5.9.
Since I had a modified php.ini it asked me to check over any new options. There were a few but I fixed anything that looked like it might break things. I saved the php.ini and let the upgrade go on.
Some time later I saw odd notices in the PHP error log. Usually it referred to wp-comments-post.php but files outside of WordPress raised the warning too:
PHP Notice: Undefined variable: _SERVER in ..
It turns out the fix is rather easy. Jacques Marneweck on his blog posted a solution. Simply switch off "auto_globals_jit" in your php.ini and restart Apache (if required).
From the PHP manual entry for auto_globals_jit:
When enabled, the SERVER and ENV variables are created when they're first used (Just In Time) instead of when the script starts. If these variables are not used within a script, having this directive on will result in a performance gain.
The PHP directives register_globals, register_long_arrays, and register_argc_argv must be disabled for this directive to have any affect. Since PHP 5.1.3 it is not necessary to have register_argc_argv disabled.
It looks like the bug is ancient although I'm not using APC, and the JIT compiler can be fooled if you access the super globals like _SERVER through variable variables. Sneaky!
The default for auto_globals_jit is "On" so next time you upgrade PHP keep an eye on the error log.


text:
Bob Fair / artlicensing.com
Relax. unwind. and create Diamond Art! "Country Hay Ride" by artist Bob Fair is now available exclusively at Paint With Diamonds as a full-drill Diamond Painting Kit in your choice of Round or Square diamonds.
Choose a larger size (at least 40cm across) to guarantee the best result. Details & lettering may be lost in smaller sizes.
SHIPS FROM USA: Please allow 2-5 business days for delivery. Shipping timeframes not guaranteed. See full Shipping Policy.
SHIPS FROM CHINA: Please allow 12-30 business days for delivery. Shipping timeframes not guaranteed. Additional customs fees and duties may apply to EU customers. See full Shipping Policy.
PREMIUM DIAMOND PAINTING KIT: Official Diamond Art kit includes 1x stay-flat adhesive canvas. 1x set of shimmering eco-friendly resin diamonds. and 1x premium toolkit. Diamonds cover the whole canvas.
OFFICIALLY LICENSED ARTWORK: Paint With Diamonds partners with the world's most talented artists to officially license designs for Diamond Art. When you buy with us. know that the original artist is fairly compensated.
FREE 'OH SH*T' INSURANCE: Sh*t happens. When it does. know that we've got your back! If the cat walks on your canvas. kid turns your diamonds into confetti. whatever happens – we'll replace your canvas or diamonds for FREE.
POURED-GLUE CANVAS ADHESIVE: Each kit features a proprietary hand-poured canvas adhesive guaranteed to keep your diamonds locked in for life. Each velvety-soft canvas has a transparent cover so you can see the entire pattern while you work.
CRYSTAL-CLEAR CANVAS PRINTS: Canvas artwork is printed in ultra high-resolution using PrecisionDot Screening Technology to guarantee every symbol on your canvas is crystal-clear.


text:
BEIRUT (AP) – Heavy government shelling of rebel positions near the Syrian capital killed 16 people on Saturday, activists said, as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry lobbied European allies to back Washington's proposed military action against the ruling regime.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the mortar and artillery fire on the Moldokhiya agricultural area south of Damascus killed 14 rebels. A child and another civilian also died in the shelling, it added.
The group also reported heavy fighting between rebels and troops loyal to President Bashar Assad around the Christian village of Maaloula northeast of Damascus. The rebel advance into the area this week was reportedly spearheaded by al-Qaida-linked fighters, exacerbating fears among Syrians and religious minorities in particular that Islamic extremists are playing an increasingly important role in the rebellion.
Fighters from the Western-backed Free Syrian Army also have participated in battles around Maaloula, destroying two government checkpoints near the town earlier this week, according to a statement by the main opposition coalition on Friday.
The fighting comes as President Barack Obama's administration pressed ahead with efforts to win congressional backing and international support for military strikes against Syria over an alleged chemical attack in August outside Damascus. The U.S. says Assad's forces fired rockets loaded with the nerve agent sarin on rebel-held areas near the capital before dawn on Aug. 21, killing at least 1,429 people. Other estimates put the death toll from the attack at more than 500.
Obama, back in Washington after a trip to Europe that included a two-day visit to Russia to attend a Group of 20 summit, will intensify his efforts to sell a skeptical Congress and a war-weary American public on a military strike against Syria.
A passionate debate is already underway in Congress and the administration's lobbying campaign culminates Tuesday, the evening before a critical vote on the possible Syria action is expected in the Senate. Obama will address the nation from the White House that night to make his case for military action.
In Lithuania, Kerry met with European leaders, who have been skeptical about whether any military action against Assad's regime can be effective.
In a joint statement Saturday, European foreign ministers agreed with the U.S. that the Aug. 21 alleged chemical attack appears to have been the work of the Syrian regime. But, they added, any potential military attack against Syria should wait for a U.N. inspectors' report.
EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said that the available intelligence 'seems to indicate strong evidence that the Syrian regime is responsible for the attack.'
The report from the U.N. inspectors, who collected evidence in the suburbs hit by the Aug. 21 attack, is expected later this month, although some European officials are asking the U.N. to speed up the probe or issue an interim report.
Later Saturday in Paris, Kerry pressed the administration's case further, saying 'this is not the time to be silent spectators to slaughter.'
France, which firmly backs the Syrian rebels and has strategic and historic interests in the region, had been ready to take military action last week but held off after Obama declared he would seek the backing of Congress first.
The prospect of a U.S.-led strike against Syria has raised concerns of potential retaliation from the Assad regime or its allies. On Friday, the State Department ordered nonessential U.S. diplomats to leave Lebanon over security concerns and urged private American citizens to depart as well.
The Shiite militant group Hezbollah, an Assad ally that has sent fighters into Syria, is based in Lebanon.
On Saturday, dozens of people protested outside the U.S. Embassy against military strikes on Syria. Some of the demonstrators carried placards reading 'No War,' and 'Hands off Syria.'
Syrian officials have been trying to capitalize on reluctance in Europe and the U.S., and both the government and state media accuse Obama of 'supporting terrorism.'
'Any US aggression against Syria has no explanation other than (that it's) supporting terrorism,' Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said in an interview with state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV broadcast late Friday. He challenged the international community to present evidence that Syria had used sarin, and said military action against his country would be 'dangerous and might affect America's friends and the entire world.'
At the Vatican, an estimated 70,000 people answered Pope Francis' call for a four-hour Syria peace vigil late Saturday, joining Christians as well as non-Christians in similar vigils around the world.
The turnout in St. Peter's Square was believed to be one of the largest rallies in the West against proposed U.S.-led military action.
Francis spent most of the vigil in silent prayer, but during his speech he issued a heartfelt plea for peace : 'This evening, I ask the Lord that we Christians, and our brothers and sisters of other religions and every man and woman of good will, cry out forcefully: Violence and war are never the way to peace!'
— Associated Press writers Deb Riechmann and Raf Casert in Vilnius, Lithuania, Josh Lederman in Washington, Nicole Winfield in Vatican City and Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria, contributed to this report.


text:
Little Greene Lamp Black - Intelligent Exterior Eggshell
Little Greene - Intelligent Exterior Eggshell
Intelligent Exterior Eggshell is a water-based, high performance, self-priming opaque wood finish. With excellent penetration and fantastic colour choices from Little Greene, its the perfect choice for exterior joinery.
Key Benefits:
- Available in all colours
- Virtually odourless
- Extremely durable, flexible finish
- Inhibits mould and algal growth
- Weather resistant and completely washable
- Suitable for all exterior woodwork
- Can also be used on suitable primed metal
- Self-priming on new and bare wood - saving time and money
- Surface dry in 4 hours - re-coatable in 16 hours
- Available in 1ltr and 2.5ltr
- Coverage 12m2 per litre
- Low sheen level of 15%
- Washable finish
Little Greene is an independent, British paint manufacturer, committed to the socially and environmentally responsible production of high quality paints and wallpapers. With records dating back to the year 1773, the Little Greene Dye Works of Collyhurst Wood, on the outskirts of Manchester is one of England's most ancient industrial sites for the making of paints and dye solutions.
Little Greene are particularly proud of their paint's depth of colour – undertones that subtly change in different lights, providing real character and definition: the more complex the pigmentation the more interesting the colour. This complex and profound formulation and unequalled depth of colour (with over 40% more pigment than many ordinary paints) is what really gives Little Greene paint a point of difference.
Designer Paint Store is proud to be associated with such a high quality, sought after paint manufacturer as Little Greene. Bringing our customers only the highest quality paint and decorating materials.
In stock items, ordered before 2pm weekdays, will be securely packaged and dispatched the same day on a next working day delivery service. We keep huge paint stocks, however, some paints will need to be ordered in, or dispatched direct from the manufacturer which may take longer. To check our stock prior to ordering please contact us.
Please remember delivery dates are estimates only and we recommend taking delivery of your paints before booking a decorator.
Enjoy FREE delivery on all orders over £100.
Orders under £100 will carry a delivery charge of £6.95.
Sample pot orders are dispatched on a First Class signed for service with Royal Mail.
For more information and advice please see Terms & Conditions


text:
A long, long time ago, there was an event, usually held in Las Vegas, called the SMS User Conference. (For a full history of MMS, see Rod Trent's article at http://myitforum.com/myitforumwp/docs/the-history-of-mms/.) In 2002, the conference was rebranded as the Microsoft Management Summit (MMS), although that year it was still managed and maintained by Altiris. Over the years MMS grew with Microsoft's management and backing. Microsoft selected the speakers and topics, and the event became more professional as it continued to look more and more like a Microsoft conference rather than a user conference. After MMS 2013, Microsoft decided to "absorb" the Microsoft Management Summit into TechEd, an even larger event and held in Houston in 2014.
There were rumblings among many MMS alumni about the TechEd decision. If you haven't been to TechEd, it is huge, and it's certainly not limited to just management technology. It is easy to get lost in the shuffle of TechEd; think of the difference between attending a very large university versus a more specialized and smaller school.
Other events, including System Center Universe (also known as SCU, sponsored by Catapult Systems), have tried to bring the more personal feel of the earlier days of MMS.
SCU's third annual event, held in January 2014, was streamed live to over 4,000 individuals worldwide. SCU 2014, also held in Houston, Texas, was a full day of content including presentations on System Center, Windows Azure IaaS, Windows Server 2012, and Windows 8.1.
The Midwest System Center User Group is holding an event this November, called the Midwest Management Summit (abbreviated as MMS). This 3-day conference, November 10-12, is purposely limited to approximately 500 attendees to ensure no one gets lost in the crowd. Speakers will have time to meet and talk with attendees. The event is billed for "anyone looking for a conference like the early days of the Microsoft Management Summit..."; you don't really have to be from the Midwest!
At this time, most of the session submissions are from well known names in Configuration Manager community - including Wally Mead, Steve Rachui, Garth Jones, Greg Ramsey, Sherry Kissinger, and more. Travis Wright will be there as well. The list of speakers and sessions will be updated closer to the conference.
The conference website is at http://mms.mnscug.org/.


text:
Another Russian Warship Is On Her Way Home
13 Jan 2013 5 Comments
Another Russian warship is returning from the Eastern Mediterranean. On 12th January 2013,the Ropucha class large landing ship Novocherkassk passed through Dardanelles on her way to Russia. The ship spent 11 days in the Med.
The following warships are in the Eastern Mediterranean according to my tally:
Slava class cruiser Mosvka,
Kashin class destroyer Smetliy,
Alligator class landing ship Saratov,
Amur class repair ship, PM-56,
Boris Chilkin class tanker Ivan Bubnov.
Uda class tanker Lena
Neustrashimyy class frigate Yaroslav Mudryy
Sliva class tug SB-921


text:
This article is more than 1 year old
3 claims to have squared the circle
Operator reports positive earnings at last
Mobile operator 3 has finally hit a key profit milestone, ending a terrible week for the wireless sector on something like a positive note.
In its year-end results 3 said it had turned earnings-positive for the first time. It also relayed a host of other upbeat statistics.
"Barring any further unfavourable regulatory or market developments, 3 Group will turn a new page in 2008," said Li Ka-shing, chairman of 3's parent company Hutchison Whampoa.
The mobile operator has, since its 3G launch, been trying to produce positive earnings, or least positive EBITDA. Finally, it has achieved it, turning around EBITDA of minus HK$22bn ($2.83bn, £1.42bn) in 2005 to become marginally positive at plus HK$1.2bn ($154m, £78m) in 2007.
Revenue was up 18 per cent to HK$59.9bn (US$7.7bn, £3.9bn) and its subscriber base up 20 per cent on the year, partly driven by its cut-price mobile broadband offering which now has 823,000 customers.
El Reg did notice, however, that 3's customer numbers were massaged upwards by including rocketing 3G growth in Israel, Hong Kong and Macau. The UK figure for subscriber growth was 9 per cent.
3 also reported that its British HSDPA network was "progressing well", and that it now covers 89 per cent of the population.
The news makes a helluva change after a torrid two weeks for the 3G industry. Texas Instruments, one of the largest suppliers of chipsets for mobile phones, cut its financial forecast, blaming a lack of demand for 3G handsets from one of its major clients. Though it did not name the client, analysts suggested it was Nokia, and shares at the Finnish phone maker fell six per cent.
Days later, Motorola said it would make redundant half the staff at its Birmingham design centre in an effort to turn around its ailing mobile device division, which had reported a $1.2bn loss for 2007.
It didn't take long for Moto to go to even further lengths, saying it would sever that division from the rest of the company by 2009.
Moto has already lost its head of mobile Stu Reed, chief marketing officer Casey Keller, CTO Padmasree Warrior and CEO Ed Zander over the past year. ®


text:
Trucks: Significant redesigns for 2013, '14 models
Call it the year of the truck.
After a brutal half-decade of slow-moving sales and cautious manufacturers, 2013 is shaping up to be a great year for pickups.
"2013 is going to be pivotal. This many half-ton pickups coming to market is huge," said Mark Williams, editor at PickupTrucks.com, a Cars.com website.
"For the past four or five years, we haven't seen many exciting changes. Buyers have been tight with their money, but the indicators show that something is changing. People are ready to buy a new vehicle," Williams said.
There's a built-in demand for a vehicle that will get the job done, but buyers expect more than just torque and tow ratings. They want a tough truck that rides like a posh car equipped with standards like premium stereos, Bluetooth technology and leather interiors.
With gas prices headed nowhere but north, manufacturers are smartly engineering a new breed of fuel-efficient engines to give buyers more bang for their buck.
In 2013 and beyond, the highly competitive pickup market will see exciting redesigns and likely increased sales.
Here are a few trucks to sit up and take notice of.
2013 Ram 1500
Earning raves and Truck of the Year honors from Motor Trend and the Detroit auto show, the leaner, meaner 2013 Ram 1500 has been significantly redesigned and upgraded.
The biggest news is a new light-duty diesel V-6 engine making the Ram 1500 the only half-ton pickup to offer a small turbo diesel as one of its engine options. The new Pentastar V-6 engine delivers 42 percent more horsepower and 13 percent more torque than the previous engine along with impressive ratings of 18/25 mpg city/highway.
While the 2013 Ram 1500 is still unmistakably a Ram, it sports cosmetic changes such as a new lineup of grilles and a new front bumper, a roomier interior, top-of-the line hands-free mobile phone operation, HD radio and a rearview camera that comes standard. Bigger news is the introduction of an air suspension system that compensates for varying loads from one to five passengers and improves fuel efficiency.
2014 Chevrolet Silverado
After a wait of more than seven years, brand-loyal GM drivers are longing to get their hands on the completely redesigned 2014 Chevy Silverado, which should be available in early fall.
When the curtain came up on the 2014 Silverado, expectant buyers were introduced to a brand new family of engines, a 4.3-liter V-6, a 5.3-liter V-8 and 6.2-liter V-8, promising power paired with better fuel economy.
On the outside, the Silverado features improvements to minimize drag and wind noise for what Chevy promises will be one of the quietest cabins on the market. And to appeal to the family market, four-door crew cabs now come with more space and more comfortable car-like interiors.
2014 Toyota Tundra
With a bolder, more aggressive look, the third generation 2014 Toyota Tundra brings to market a cosmetic redesign meant to appeal to the luxury buyers. With no structural changes to the frame, chassis or three existing powertrains, the 2014 Tundra grabs attention with stylish improvements and an updated interior. A more integrated design gives drivers better access to audio and climate controls, a modern instrument panel and center-mounted multidata display screen. 2014 will bring Toyota an edge in the luxury market with two new high-end models and five trim levels each with its own unique front grille.


text:
I know that some of you use GoDaddy.com for your server space and to register your domain names. I want to let you know of some recent issues I had with my hosting so that you can hopefully avoid a similar fate.
From 2003 until about two months ago, I'd been extremely satisfied with my GoDaddy services. Not only were their rates reasonable but they had fantastic, LIVE customer service that was always willing to help.
That all changed quite suddenly about two months ago. One day, I began receiving concerned emails and texts from visitors to my blog stating that they were being redirected to potentially malicious third party websites when clicking in. I couldn't see the issue on my end and I hadn't made any changes to my files so I was completely unaware of what was happening. Luckily, two of my web-savvy developer friends came to the rescue and in less than an hour, they had diagnosed the issue (and fixed over 300 infected files). I was back up and running smoothly and that was the end of the issue. Or, so I thought.
On my end, I'd made a few key mistakes as a blogger. Firstly, I'd used nearly identical passwords to log into my FTP client, WordPress platform and GoDaddy account. Secondly, I hadn't been regularly upgrading my WordPress software. I actually preferred the way an older version I was running looked, not realizing that as time goes on, hackers figure out holes in security and can compromise your site (each upgraded version contains major improvements and fix). Thirdly, while I was dilligently backing up the files on my server, I didn't realize that another, equally important backup should be taking place — the WordPress database backup.
After making all of these changes, I was feeling pretty good (and safe). And, then the compromise happened again. And, unbelievably, AGAIN. Three times in less than a month!
I was dumbfounded. My passwords were now so ridiculous and long that I had to keep a list. My software was all upgraded to the latest versions. I couldn't figure out what I was 'doing wrong.' After some digging, my developers had some information — my site was being compromised by a Ukranian hacker who had found a way in through my shared server space. When you buy the cheapest option from a lot of providers, you're thrown into a heap with a bunch of other users. Someone was infecting sites on my shared server but interestingly enough, they weren't erasing all of our files. What they wanted was far more valuable — our traffic. My site receives a few thousand visitors a day and the hackers wanted that built-in audience to visit THEIR site.
Once we had pinpointed the issue, I called GoDaddy. Though customer service was friendly, they didn't offer any solutions that were particularly helpful (and buying dedicated server space is very expensive and not a necessity for my level of traffic at this point). I flat out asked them if they were familiar with the compromised server issue and they admitted that it 'was a possibility.' Yet, there didn't seem to be any fixes in place. At this point, I was so fed up that I didn't push it — I could tell that it wasn't going to get solved. And, I wasn't about to let it happen again. I understand that compromises in security happen, even to the best companies. But the same issue three times?! Surely, I wasn't the only victim and they had to know about this.
According to Kimberly Castleberry:
It appears that someone took a botnet…and using a vulnerability that exists between WordPress and the Host (GoDaddy), is attacking every single blog/site that lives on GoDaddy's servers. This round of infections appears to be unique to an exploit on GoDaddy.
By this point, I was sick of the headaches, the loss of traffic to my business and constantly having to readdress the same problem. I decided to get rid of a big chunk of my issue altogether — after upgrading all of my software, I moved my site over to DreamHost upon the recommendation of my web-savvy friends. And, I am about a million times happier. The user interface is much easier to use and the site doesn't bombard me with a pile of affiliate products and services I don't want or need. Thank you, DreamHost!
A Few Key Things You Should Do to Stay Safe
1. Use a different password for each of your accounts. Yes, this is a huge pain but totally worth it.
2. Always keep your blogging software upgraded to the latest version. In newer versions of Wordrpess, there's a one button backup that takes care of it for you. Couldn't be easier!
3. Use an SFTP client to upload content to your site as it's much more secure.
4. Take the time to back up 'both sets' of your files — the content on your sever as well as your WordPress database which contains all of your posts, comments and the general formatting of your blog.
The Bottom Line
If you're wanting to register a domain name quickly and at a great price, GoDaddy is fine. For hosting, especially for your blog, I would recommend looking elsewhere. Stay safe and happy blogging!


text:
µTorrent 2.0 Final
µTorrent 2.0 Final is released.µTorrent is an efficient and feature rich BitTorrent client for Windows sporting a very small footprint. µTorrent was designed to use as little cpu, space and memory as possible while offering all the functionalites expected from advanced clients. With BitTorrent, you can download files faster and contribute by sharing files and bandwidth.
Download:µTorrent 2.0 Final
0 Comments: Subscribe This Comments(Atom)
Random Related Topic


text:
MEMPHIS, Feb. 10 (UPI) — Tayshaun Prince led a contingent of four Grizzlies scoring in double figures Sunday and the Grizzlies bounced shorthanded Minnesota 105-88.
Prince (18 points), Zach Randolph (16, eight rebounds), Mike Conley (16, eight assists) and Austin Daye (16 points) combined to go 28-of-45 from the field as Memphis reeled off its ninth straight win against the Timberwolves.
Marc Gasol tallied nine points, nine boards and eight assists for the Grizzlies.
The spiraling T-Wolves, meanwhile, played without J.J. Barea (foot), Andrei Kirilenko (strained quadriceps) and Kevin Love (hand surgery) in dropping their 15th in 17 games.
Luke Ridnour and Ricky Rubio each provided 17 points for Minnesota.
Copyright 2013 United Press International, Inc. (UPI).


text:
Du legst Wert auf Details? Richtig so, denn das Glück steckt in kleinen Dingen!
Heart-shaped stud earrings in sterling silver
Colour SILVER
Low in stock
Get notified when your product is in stock
Size info
Normal fit
This product will be available soon. Click Notify Me to receive an e-mail notification.
Material: Sterling silver
Love is in the air! These stud earrings in a charming heart shape are small but lovely, are they not?
- Made of 925 sterling silver with high-quality rhodium plating and palladium coating to seal and prevent tarnishing
- Charming heart shape
- Stud earrings
- Logo box for storage and gift packaging
Material & Care
- Material: Sterling silver
— for 4,99 €
Fast, easy, risk-free shopping. We deliver from an order value of 24 € with DHL
- Your package will be ready for shipment within 1 to 3 business days.
- For only 4,99 € we ship your package with DHL.
— for just an additional 1.99 €
Do you want it to go faster? Then choose our premium service for only 1,99 € in addition to the standard shipping.
- Your order will be processed preferentially in our warehouse.
- Same-day shipping for orders placed before 2pm from Monday to Friday.
- Orders after 2pm on Friday or at the weekend will be dispatched on Monday.
— for 9,99 €
You are in a hurry? Then use our UPS express shipping for 9,99 €.
- Here we guarantee you a fixed delivery day.
- Order before midday from Monday to Thursday to receive your goods on the next working day.
- Orders placed after midday or between Friday and Sunday will be delivered the day after next.
Shop the look is loading...


text:
District News
National News
Welcome to the Whittlesea Lions Club in Victoria Australia
We provide a unique alternative to service club membership and we have a few, interesting projects on the boil, and in keeping with the club ethic they are humanitarian, fun and manageable.
We would love for you to join us if you have a little spare time, and an interest in helping your community.
Interested in philanthropy? We'd love to hear from you.
Find out more by contacting us
We meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month
2nd Tuesday 7pm for 7.30 start business meeting.
4th Tuesday 6.30pm for 7.00pm start dinner meeting.
Whittlesea Bowls Club
101 Church St.
Whittlesea, Victoria
All are welcome!
The public are welcome to attend as a guest of a Lion. Guests often attend to either speak about what they are doing in the community or to learn a little more about who Lions are and what they do.
Contact us if you would like to come along
David Cordell 0418348057
Tim Wood 0417056602
Becoming a Lion
Lions club members are men and women who strive to make a difference in
their local community as well as in communities worldwide. Their
volunteer efforts go beyond the support of vision care, to addressing
unmet health and education needs worldwide.


text:
Home » Difficult National History
Category Archives: Difficult National History
With Books and Bricks: How Booker T. Washington Built a School by Suzanne Slade & Nicole Tadgell #BookerTWashington #DiversekidsBooks
With Books and Bricks by Suzanne Slade is a beautifully written biography of an important historical figure whose life story is not nearly as well-known as it should be. Delicately illustrated by Nicole Tadgell, the book chronicles Booker T. Washington's evolution from enslaved biracial boy to dedicated educator and leader.
Washington was nine when the Civil War ended and all slaves were freed. But, as Slade writes, "Booker didn't feel free. He had to work long hours in a salt mine so his family could survive." Having been drawn to books as a child, he begs his mother to get him a book "And somehow, as often happens with mothers, a miracle appeared," in the form of a spelling book. (more…)


text:
Graffiti is a misdemeanor crime if the damage is under $400. Vandalism that exceeds $400 in damage results in a felony and up to three years in Prison. The City of Riverside charges $140 to remove a quarter size mark of graffiti, and $400 in damages can add up quickly.
|What are the consequences of graffiti vandalism?
Click Here to find out.
Parents who are criminally negligent in failing to supervise or control their children in a manner that causes their children to commit a crime, may be prosecuted for that crime and sentenced to 1 year in jail or $2,500 fine or both.
(A) Every person who maliciously (1) defaces with paint or any other liquid, (2) damages or (3) destroys any real or personal property not his own, in cases not otherwise specified by state law, is guilty of vandalism.
(B) If the amount of defacement, damage or destruction is $400 or more, vandalism is punishable by imprisonment in a state prison or in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine of not more then $10,000 of both that fine and imprisonment.
Provides that no aerosol paint containers be sold to persons under 18 years of age.
Provides that Cities and Counties may adopt laws regulating spray paint within their own jurisdiction.
Provides that parents are responsible to pay for damages caused by the willful misconduct of their children, including repair costs and attorney fees up to $10,000.
Authorizes the court to suspend, restrict, or delay the driving privileges of a person 13 years of age or older who is convicted of graffiti vandalism.
Omnibus graffiti bill consolidates graffiti legislation and strengthens penalties.
Makes it illegal to place graffiti on government property.
3900 Main St. 4th Floor
Riverside, CA 92522
Phone: (951) 351-6128
|Mon - Fri
|7:30am - 5:30pm
|Closed on Weekends and Major Holidays*
* Graffiti Removal Crews work 7 days per week


text:
Last 4 hostages freed in suburban Chicago standoff
HARVEY, Ill. – Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart says the last four hostages have been released unharmed to end a standoff with two armed men in a southern Chicago suburb.
Dart says the two adults and two children still being held were freed Wednesday morning without a shot being fired. He says two suspects have been arrested.
The standoff began about 21 hours earlier when police in the small city responded to a neighbor's report of a possible burglary at the home.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
Negotiators worked late into the night in an effort to persuade two men barricaded in a home in the southern Chicago suburb of Harvey to end their standoff with police and release the last of six children and two adults they took hostage.
Four of the children had been released after hours of talks between the suspects and hostage negotiators.
Authorities say the two men took the captives after Harvey police responded to a call of a burglary in progress at a home about 12:50 p.m. Tuesday. There was an exchange of gunfire that left two officers wounded.
Harvey spokesman Sean Howard said after the shooting, the two suspects ran into a nearby home, where they barricaded themselves.
Police had initially said five children and one adult were taken captive. However, Howard said one of the children released revealed to police that there were actually six children and two adults being held. Howard would not say whether the suspects know the hostages or whether the hostages are related.
Officers, including a SWAT team, surrounded the home and the entire block of homes was evacuated, affecting about 100 residents, Howard said. A nearby middle school was evacuated, but only staff members were in the building.
Howard said the first two children released appeared to be in good physical condition and were taken to a local hospital for observation. He said the third child, a 1-year-old, wasn't hospitalized. The fourth child was released nearly 11 hours after being taken hostage.
The first child has a breathing problem, Howard said. The men put the child on the front porch and a member of the SWAT team got the child.
"There have been no bumps in the road yet," Howard said of the negotiating effort. "We hope to get this resolved peacefully."
Howard told The Associated Press that authorities do not know the hostage-takers but have identified the hostages. He would not comment on the relationship between the hostages but said a woman hostage is believed to be a nurse. He did not identify the children who were released.
"Right now, we don't want to jeopardize the integrity of negotiation process," Howard said. "We want to protect those children as much as we can. The less information right now, the better."
Officer Darnell Keel, an 18-year veteran of the police force, was in stable condition at a hospital with a broken arm after the exchange of gunfire and will have surgery, Howard said. A second officer suffered a graze wound to an arm.
Twenty-six law enforcement agencies were assisting, Howard said. An armored vehicle and officers in body armor with high-powered rifles were seen in the neighborhood. The state police SWAT team responded, said Illinois State Police spokeswoman Monique Bond.


text:
This isn't going to be a philosophical debate on self-concepts or creative reasoning – I literally just want to tell you a little bit about myself (and I know how much you've all been dying to get to know me). To think that I've been blogging for close to two years now, and I have never properly introduced myself! Now that I think about it, I never even bothered with an 'Introductory Blog post', though I'm glad I never did as I would have only embarrassed myself:
Hey Everyone! My name is Milly, and welcome to my blog! I'm so excited to start blogging, Isn't blogging just great?? So the other day I was thinking…
Some of you may know me as the most rejected writer on the planet, the crazy cat lady who loves cat gifs, the quintessential non-bogan Aussie writer, that sarcastic 'blonde girl', the idiot who blogs about the wonders of self-publishing (while never actually having done so) or the Chuck Wendig quote sharer enthusiast.
And you'd be right about them all, except one.
I'm actually not a crazy cat lady, although it is a persona I am clearly to blame for (my website is named The Cat's Write after all). I am proud to be both a dog and a cat person. And don't ask me to choose one over the other, because I can't.
When I first flew the nest all those years ago… the first pet I ever bought was a snoring cavalier called Poppy. But while I do love dogs, they have nothing on the hilarity of cats and how innately relatable they are to the #WritersLife. Take one quick look at my twitter and you'll understand.
So crazy cat lady stereotype aside, who am I?
In a nutshell I'm a 30-year-old Aussie living in the New England (Australia) with my rescue cat Sven and my super-expensive-registered-Cavalier-King-Charles-Spaniel called Poppy. (Don't you love how writers always introduce themselves by letting you know how many pets they have? I think it fills the gap when you don't have a litany of children or significant other to talk about.)
I work full-time as a Quality Officer (please don't ask me what that is) and I am also studying at university part-time. Some more random facts: my favourite colour is white, I genuinely prefer water to any other drink (one exception: Little Fat Lamb), I'd do anything for a chicken burrito, I can't jog unless I'm listening to music, I know the Pilot Alphabet by heart, my favourite movie is Die Hard, I watch You've Got Mail every Valentine's Day and I'm a secret SG-1 fan.
If I had to pick one thing about me that even some of my closest friends don't know, it's that I grew up in Darwin. It's an oddity, I assure you. Australia is not evenly populated like say, the US, instead you have about 60% of the population clumped together in the South East (see circle below). The reason why? 70% of Australia is arid or semi-arid desert, and it's not really easy to live in those conditions.
If you don't know where Darwin is, here's a map:
I love that I spent my formative years in the perpetual heat of the tropics, swimming around crocodiles, killer sharks, sting rays and box jelly fish. That I am still alive is a miracle.
During the holidays and on the weekends we visited Kakadu, Jabiru, Litchfield Park, Coburg Peninsula, the Kimberley's and I have a memorable moment of breaking down on a remote section of the Gibb River road. We explored jungles, waterfalls, rock holes and remote island beaches with water so clear you could see the killer sharks coming (always a bonus).
My Favourite place on Earth: Nadab Lookout, Ubirr, NT.
When I was 12 we moved back down to the New England to resume normal life and reconnect with family. But this new place was hell. Snow and freezing temperatures were common in winter and I learned of this new thing called 'sleet', which is a mixture of snow and baby hail. And not only that, I was also quickly inserted into a private boarding school, in which I entered as a wild, self-assured Territorian, only to be spat out as a prim and proper New Englander with next to zero self-esteem. On the plus side, I did get to reconnect with some of my 27 first cousins. Yes, I have 27.
Since high school, I've lived all over Australia – from Sydney to Brisbane and Hay to Mt. Coolon. Subsequently, (and probably as a result of my childhood) I love the beach, the city and the country life. I enjoy swimming just as much as I enjoy hiking. I would be as much at home on a boat in the sun as I would a cabin in the mountains with the snow. I am neither an introvert nor an extrovert. I am incredibly social, but also severely hermit-like when I'm writing. I absolutely need to travel, but I also feel permanently tethered to the New England (this could be because I bought a house here, so I'm kinda stuck for the moment).
My writing style is eclectic too. I'm currently writing novels in a myriad of genres, including historical romance, contemporary chook lit, science fiction, fantasy, speculative, paranormal romance, thriller and crime.
Like WTF Milly!! Just pick a genre already and stick to it.
Growing up I always dreamed of being a published author, but I realised pretty quickly I had no chance in hell of that ever happening, so my first stop in this 'Game of Life' was to get a degree. At first I studied Communications (I wanted to work in the movie industry) before I transferred to the University of New England (AU) to study Criminology. Transferring was the best thing I could have ever done. I made some epic friends at UNE, got a perm, put on 5 kilos and came out the other side with that invaluable piece of paper.
Pretty much what I looked like at college…
With my undergrad degree under my belt, I moved to Sydney and started Grad Law at a prestigious university. Unfortunately Law didn't suit me and my creative brain, so I dropped out and I'm now studying Astronomy at Swinburne (Like WTF again Milly!!)
Between my full-time job and my part-time studies, I have barely enough time to breathe, let alone write novels, blog and socialise (online and in real life). Yet I wouldn't have my life any other way.
And while I may no longer be the wild kid I once was, I still want nothing more than to be a published author one day. Here's cheers to childhood dreams!
Milly out.


text:
Silicon Valley recoils at the government's cyber data-gathering done in the name of national security. It bristles at new potential Internet rules. It's fast-paced ethos doesn't understand Washington's gridlock.
Yet, President Barack Obama remains a popular political figure in Silicon Valley, and the wealthy tech entrepreneurs appear willing to part with their money to support the Democratic Party, especially if the president is making the pitch. Obama on Thursday was to attend two high-dollar Democratic Party fundraisers hosted by Silicon Valley executives, drawing attention to the complicated relationship between the president and the high-tech industry.
For Obama, Northern California and the high tech redoubt around Palo Alto has been a key part of Obama's campaign money base. And it is especially attractive to politicians because it is continually expanding.
"One of the dynamics that people on the East Coast and particularly in Washington, D.C., may not fully appreciate is that these folks are in a space that is growing," said California-based Democratic consultant Chris Lehane, a former aide to President Bill Clinton. "That adds an entire pool of fresh donor blood into the mix."
Obama's message at fundraisers has focused this year's midterm election and on retaining Democratic control of the Senate, essential to the remaining two-and-a-half years of his presidency.
Before heading to Silicon Valley Thursday, Obama warned Democratic National Committee donors at the La Jolla home of billionaire and former Qualcomm Chairman Irwin Jacobs that even though the economy has rebounded in the past five years, the American public remains anxious and that Democratic voters, in particular, may just stay home this election.
"The American public is on our side," he said. "They've just lost faith that we can make it happen."
"We're not going to be able to make the progress we need, regardless of how hard I push, regardless of how many administrative actions I take, we're not going to be able to go where we need to go and can go and should go unless I have a Congress that is willing to work with me," he added.
Later, Obama was to attend a fundraiser hosted by Anne Wojcicki, a biotech entrepreneur who founded the personal-genomics startup 23andMe. The event is advertised as a Tech Roundtable, with 30 guests and tickets set at $32,400 - a nearly $1 million potential haul for the Democratic National Committee.
He also was scheduled to be the featured guest at an event hosted by Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and Sam Altman, the 29-year-old president of Y Combinator, a venture capital firm that seeds tech startups.
On Wednesday Obama was the star attraction at a fundraiser for House and Senate Democrats at the Los Angeles home of Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn.
Earlier Thursday, he attended a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in Los Angeles, which was closed to the media, before heading to another.
The role of the computer and Internet industry in politics has grown sharply over the past 10 years, increasing political contributions and expanding its lobbying presence. Executives and employees in the industry favor Democrats, yet the political action committees set up by individual tech firms tend to split their money more evenly.
So far this election cycle, computer and Internet industry political action committees have contributed about $3.5 million, with about 54 percent of it going to Republicans, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks political money. Counting political action committees and individual donors, the industry has donated more than $14 million to federal candidates, giving $3 to Democrats for every $2 to Republicans, according to the center.
The revelations of National Security Agency data collection made public by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden have created an outcry from tech companies whose data have been gathered by the government. Obama has had to reassure Internet and tech executives that he is committed to protecting privacy.
In addition to cybersecurity, Silicon Valley executives also have been pushing for an overhaul of immigration laws, partly to secure more H1B visas for high-tech workers but also in support of giving immigrants who are living in the country illegally a chance to achieve citizenship.
They have also weighed on new "net neutrality" regulations being fashioned by the Federal Communications Commission and have raised fears that the rules would allow telephone and cable Internet providers to impose fees on internet companies.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the tech executvies Obama policy positions were donating because they support Obama policies and rejected suggestions that the tech executives were getting financial leverage to affect Washington issues of concern to the industry.
"There's no reason to think that that the policy making process is affected by those involved," Earnest said.
Among the major tech players, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg has been an especially high-profile figure. He launched an advocacy group that has been among the most active on the immigration issue.
And he has been a vocal critic of the NSA's data collection, calling Obama to voice his alarm. Shortly after, Obama met with Zuckerberg and CEOs from Google, Netflix and other tech and Internet companies, pledging to safeguard privacy rights.
The administration has since issued recommendations asking Congress to pass new privacy laws that would provide broader data protections for Americans from both the government and the private sector.
Still, Russell Hancock, the chief executive officer of Joint Venture Silicon Valley, a policy organization focused on regional issues, says the gridlock in Washington is hard to comprehend in a region that is constantly upgrading and acting on ideas. On the other hand, he said there is a libertarian streak in Silicon Valley that eschews government.
"There are different sets of sensibilities, there's a different set of priorities and they're not shared," he said.
"We like the president. We want to like him even more," Hancock said. "We wish he would spend more time here and not just to raise money."


text:
Girl Scout troop 2399 in Severna Park held a fashion show to raise money for the Girl Scouts of Japan relief effort and collect donations for the SPAN food pantry, the Capital reported. The Girl Scouts, who modeled spring casual wear and prom dresses, raised $200, which they donated to the Japanese tsunami relief effort.
"Art, fashion bloom in the Park," by Sharon Lee Tegler, published April 14, 2011 in the Capital.
Categories: 100 Stories - 2011 Annual Report


text:
I didn't know Aaron Swartz. He was one of those people I had run across once or been introduced to, but I've always been better at remembering Roman generals than people I've actually met. Now, like millions of others who have learned about who he was and what happened to him, I'm not merely saddened by his suicide -- I'm angered by it.
In particular, I take issue with this statement from Carmen Ortiz, the federal prosecutor who felt the 26-year-old Swartz should do 35 years in prison for copying files from a computer: "Stealing is stealing, whether you use a computer command or a crowbar."
[ Also on InfoWorld: Today we are all Aaron Swartz | Get the latest insight on the tech news that matters from InfoWorld's Tech Watch blog. | Cut straight to the key news for technology development and IT management with our once-a-day summary of the top tech news. Subscribe to the InfoWorld Daily newsletter. ]
Meanwhile, for its part in continuing the prosecution, MIT is running public relations interference by appointing a member of its staff who is also a co-founder of Creative Commons to investigate.
I don't agree with Swartz's methods, but I agree with at least some of his aims. Ultimately, his moral offense was minor and the moral offenses of MIT, the government, and the companies that have been writing our laws by proxy lately are major. While you were sleeping, an uneven global digital market was created.
Stealing nothing
Stealing nothingAaron stole nothing. Stealing is when you, without permission or purchase, take something away that is not yours. If in the act of stealing you decide to use a crowbar, as suggested by the federal prosecutor, you will most likely do some damage and commit more than one crime. Swartz merely hooked up his laptop and made a copy of something that wasn't his.
On the other hand, taking something from a car when the door is unlocked is stealing. Funny thing, though: If I left my car unlocked and someone were to burn a copy of one of my CDs and leave the original behind, I have a feeling the Durham, N.C., Police Department might be really busy that day with actual crimes to investigate. Theft normally deprives the original owner of the use of the thing stolen; Swartz didn't deprive anyone of the use of the information he copied from the computer.
If Swartz had knocked over a bookstore with the intent of depositing the books in a library, he'd have received a mental health evaluation and been threatened with less time. Moreover, if he was caught in the act of knocking over the bookstore, he'd be guilty of an attempted crime and face even lesser penalties. But for some reason, cyber crime is considered deadly serious. He was facing 35 years. You could murder someone and get less time.
So why punish some of the most capable members of our society disproportionately? I think the answer is whom you are offending. Crimes against the poor and the powerless are punished less than crimes against the most powerful forces in society. There is real force behind the lobbying efforts of the RIAA, the MPAA, the BSA, and the SIIA.
It's all about control
It's all about controlIn this new cyber world, we face a new kind of serfdom and face a new regime of global censorship.
We will compete in a global labor market, but we can't play videos across national borders. The bookstore can now snatch the electronic book out of our hands and control how many times we lend the book to a friend and even control what a library can loan. You can no longer buy a device and alter it to your liking without violating at least the license or terms of service and possibly the law. By the way, you can "steal" someone's idea even if you've never heard of it before and it was trivial -- good luck fighting the charges!
This isn't about stealing -- this is about controlling the channels of distribution. We're living through the days of Rockefeller oil monopolies and railroad robber barons all over again. Only now we're fighting for our very thoughts, our art, and our culture. From his writings, I think Swartz understood that.
Maybe if what was done to Aaron Swartz gives us pause, and we take some time to think of how this fits together and what we can do about it, maybe --just maybe -- a very sad and senseless death will start to have meaning.
This article, "In memory of Aaron Swartz: Stealing is not stealing," was originally published at InfoWorld.com. Keep up on the latest developments in application development at InfoWorld.com. For the latest business technology news, follow InfoWorld.com on Twitter.


text: I live in a part of the world rich in native and maritime history. Since retiring as chief designer at the Vancouver Museum and Vancouver Maritime Museum, I have fulfilled many commissions for educational publications, encyclopedias and museums. The interest fired by exposure to these fascinating subjects led to further exploration of their histories on my own. Some of the results are published in the following pages. Many of the maritime images were created for the book VOYAGES. They are part of a series of paintings and drawings describing the development of the sailing ship from the Vikings to the final voyages of commercial sail in the twentieth century, and some of the extraordinary navigators that discovered and charted the vast oceans of the world. The series of paintings of natives of the Northwest Coast were produced during a period of research of villages and artifacts of the natives of British Columbia for the UBC Museum of Anthropology and the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa. ~ Gordon Miller For Gordon Miller images of Natives of the Northwest Coast visit the Canadian Museum of Civilization: Civilization.ca Simon Fraser University, The Bill Reid Centre: sfu.ca/brc Sailing Into History Natives of the Northwest Coast VOYAGESTo the New World and Beyond Douglas & McIntyre, September 2011 Hardcover, 11½" x 10", 200 pages 91 paintings, 25 drawings and 5 maps.