text: Mark ChesnutContributing WriterShare Home Travel Central South AmericaIs Colombia the Next Hot Destination in South America?Aug 28, 2016 Cartagena, along with other destinations in Colombia, has seen a dramatic increase in tourism in recent years. // © 2016 iStock 2 When Matt Nilsson first told his family and some older friends in 2015 that he was moving to Colombia at age 26 to teach English, they were concerned."A lot of them thought I was out of my mind," he said. "There's a huge generational divide in terms of how people view the country. But when talking to colleagues, friends and people my own age, they had no concerns at all." Today, Nilsson serves as a Colombia specialist at Audley Travel, an upscale tour company based in the U.K. that recently began selling packages to the U.S. market. And if recent statistics are any sign, generational differences in how people view Colombia may be disappearing. Visitors from the U.S. jumped 30 percent between the first quarter of 2015 and first quarter of 2016, according to Luis German Restrepo, U.S. executive director for ProColombia, the government trade bureau that promotes tourism abroad — and older travelers are among those who visit most, he says. "The U.S. is our No. 1 partner and top source for tourists, with somewhere around 445,000 visitors last year and increases of about 20 percent year over year for the past five or six years," Restrepo said. Sign Up for Our Daily Newsletter Subscribe I accept the T&C and Privacy Policy. The number of international visitors has increased by 12.9 percent over the past five years, according to ProColombia, and Restrepo points out that this figure is nearly triple the 4.7 percent growth rate for Latin America overall, as reported by the World Tourism Organization.Figures from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) are equally impressive. Money spent by foreigners in Colombia is forecasted to jump by 8.2 percent in 2016, as the nation attracts an expected 2.75 million international visitors by the end of the year. By 2026, the WTTC predicts that international tourist arrivals will reach more than 4.3 million per year.Not to say that the news is entirely positive — at least according to some U.S.-based tour operators."The market, understandably, still has an overall negative feeling about Colombia and it will simply take time, sustained effort and sustained investment for the bookings to really roll in," said Bill Robison, director of program development for International Expeditions in Helena, Ala. "If stability and continued promotion can be sustained, it's just a matter of time. After a strong publicity push two years ago, we've seen fewer guests in 2016 and, if concern about Zika continues into late this year and next, we expect growth will be slow in 2017."Ignacio Vallin, senior destination manager for Cox & Kings in the Americas, reports more positive sales trends to the region."Even though this has been a challenging year for everyone, given the ongoing global issues, Cox & Kings still sees continued steady growth in sales to Latin America," he said. "Additionally, we continue to see interest in Colombia year over year and expect an increase of 30 percent in Cox & Kings' sales to Colombia."What's Driving Growth?Vallin says several factors have helped boost arrivals to Colombia, including increased airlift, favorable exchange rates, positive media coverage, improved security and "a better understanding and comprehension of what Colombia has to offer, along with improved infrastructure, which opens the doors to a wider range of traveler profiles."Colombia's economic stability has also encouraged investment in infrastructure, according to Gerardo Murray, vice president for Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean for InterContinental Hotels Group."Colombia has experienced the most exciting growth in the region, with a number of hotel additions in 2015," he said. "Colombia is indeed a hot spot for development."Hilton Worldwide also has a growing presence in Colombia, with three hotels — Hilton Bogota and two recently opened DoubleTree properties — in the country's capital. Klaus Ziller, general manager of Hilton Bogota, sees a strong business environment as a key to the country's success."The Colombian economy is experiencing growth, making this stable country one of the best places in Latin America to invest and do business," he said. When it comes to luring actual vacationers, however, improved security is one of the most important selling points, according to Thomas Doyer, general manager of De Una Colombia Tours in Bogota. The U.S. State Department has said that security has improved "significantly" in recent years, including in the cities of Bogota, Cartagena and Medellin."Colombia is not considered a dangerous destination anymore," Doyer said. "And I think the peace negotiations between the government and FARC [a guerrilla group] is helping to change the image of Colombia." 1/6The Rise of Travel to ColombiaColombia is quickly becoming one of South America's hottest destinations, and Cartagena is one of the top cities for visitors. // © 2016 ProColombiaPreviousNext2/6The Rise of Travel to ColombiaMedellin blends the modern with the classic. // © 2016 ProColombiaPreviousNext3/6The Rise of Travel to ColombiaColombia attracts active millennials. // © 2016 iStockPreviousNext4/6The Rise of Travel to ColombiaThe Cano Cristales river is an emerging hot spot. // © 2016 iStockPreviousNext5/6The Rise of Travel to ColombiaVisitors can see famous stone statues in San Agustin. // © 2016 iStockPreviousNext6/6The Rise of Travel to ColombiaBogota is a safe, modern metropolis. // © 2016 ProColombiaPreviousNext What's Selling?First-time visitors to Colombia tend to stay in one or two of the most popular destinations, but there are many more opportunities to sell throughout the country, according to Cox & Kings' Vallin."Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena and the coffee region remain the best-selling regions of Colombia," he said. "However, for more experienced travelers, cities such as Cali, with its wonderful markets; Villa de Leyva, with its beautiful architecture and rich history; and Tayrona National Park are all trending as well. Also, new destinations in Colombia that will be on the must-see list include the Pacific Coast, San Agustin, Cano Cristales and Amazonas."Doyer of De Una Colombia Tours is already seeing these types of alternative destinations rising in popularity. He notes that the multicolored Cano Cristales river, the ecotourism hot spot Casanare and the historic town of Salamina are among the top emerging destinations, as is the Pacific Coast. He says including the better-known cities is a must when selling Colombia to first-time vacationers, but that lesser-known places often create the most lasting memories."The major highlights in each itinerary are necessary to sell the product to our clients," Doyer said. "But the other part — the unknown — is often considered the best part after clients return home."Who's Buying?Colombia now attracts a variety of different age groups from the U.S., according to Maria Jose Abuabara, tourism director of the U.S. market for ProColombia."The number of millennials is increasing, which for us is less challenging to attract," she said. "They want the adventure, and they want to experience different cultures."Cruises, which provide an important introduction to Colombia for many first-time visitors, bring mainly older travelers, according to Abuabara."It's a different approach for each age group," said Nilsson of Audley Travel. "With the younger market, they are up to speed with the news and the situation on the ground. They know it's safe, but there's still that adventurous, off-the-beaten-path sense."Colombia is also popular with experienced travelers who are comfortable traveling in the region."I find that Colombia is usually visited on a second or third trip to Latin America, after travelers have gotten their feet wet elsewhere and they know what to expect logistically," Nilsson said. "That experience makes them more comfortable."International Expeditions' Robison says that Colombia's authenticity is another major draw."Overall, Colombia appeals to affluent, well-traveled people who are willing to put aside some of the historic concerns to discover a country still very authentic and not overrun by the masses," he said. "While most first-time travelers may not venture out of Bogota or Cartagena, the fantastic hiking and biodiversity has made this a must-see destination for adventure travelers and birding enthusiasts."Vallin says that most of the travelers his company sends to Colombia are older."For Cox & Kings, it is generally the well-traveled 50-year-old-plus person with an interest in history, nature and culture — although we do have a family-friendly journey as well," he said.How Does It Compare?Colombia doesn't have the reputation that Brazil or Argentina has as a tourism magnet, and it's not considered a bucket-list destination like Peru's Machu Picchu or the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. But its relatively recent arrival on the mainstream tourism map is part of its allure, according to Doyer."Colombia is the 'new' popular destination in South America," he said. "You see more and more tourists choosing Colombia because it's new and different.Besides, I think the bad image of Colombia in the past is now a positive factor. It makes it interesting."Robison also sees a potential upside to Colombia's troubled history."Among most travelers, Colombia is perceived as more mysterious," he said. "Few people know much about Colombia initially, beyond what they see in movies. Colombia can be positioned heavily as a multicultural destination, and travelers will love absorbing the colonial charms, music and food representative of the many cultures — 87 different tribes — that have influenced the history and evolution of Colombia. And, of course, the nature is spectacular."Vallin says that travel agents and tour operators need to educate clients about the realities of present-day Colombia."It's often perceived as dangerous and underdeveloped, when in fact it is one of the safest destinations in the Americas and is very sophisticated," he said. "Many visitors are surprised at the level of development and the warmth and generosity of the Colombian people. The most common feedback we receive is how safe visitors to Colombia feel."Stepanie Schneiderman, owner of Tia Stephanie Tours, singled out Colombia as an ideal destination when she decided to expand her tour offerings beyond Mexico, which had been her company's sole focus."We began researching and scouting destinations in Colombia a few years back, knowing that it would be one of the world's top emerging destinations and one of the biggest growth opportunities in the Western Hemisphere," she said. "Without a doubt, it's the perfect triangle of connectivity, promotion and press. Colombia is seeing travelers from all segments — from the well-heeled traveler who has seen the world and is looking for new destinations to curious travelers who want to learn about Colombia. Cartagena has beckoned the luxury travel segment, and even the islands of San Andres and Providencia are drawing beachgoers. There is something for everyone."Certainly, there is still room for growth. Some 230 tour operators offer a Colombia itinerary, according to ProColombia. But many big tour operators that offer South America itineraries haven't ventured into Colombia yet. That's something that ProColombia's Restrepo hopes to change."We are targeting those tour operators that have not been to Colombia," he said. "We need to bring them down to show them why we're growing and why they shouldn't miss the opportunity to offer this product to their clients."Hotel Growth in Colombia- Marriott International plans to open two new hotels in Cartagena by 2018: the 210-room AC Hotel by Marriott Cartagena and the 201-room Cartagena Marriott Hotel.- Four Seasons has opened two hotels in Bogota: the 62-room Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina and the 64-room Four Seasons Hotel Bogota.- The 373-room Grand Hyatt Bogota is scheduled to open in 2017 in the Ciudad Empresarial retail and business complex.- InterContinental Hotels Group has expanded its presence with multiple properties. In 2015, the company opened InterContinental Cartagena de Indias, Holiday Inn Cucuta and Holiday Inn Express Cartagena Bocagrande. Holiday Inn Express Barranquilla Buena Vista opened this year, and Crowne Plaza Barranquilla is scheduled to debut before the end of the year.- In February 2016, the 153-room Hotel GHL Collection Barranquilla opened.The DetailsAudley Travelwww.audleytravel.comCox & Kingswww.coxandkingsusa.comDe Una Colombia Tourswww.deunacolombia.comInternational Expeditionswww.ietravel.comKensington Tourswww.kensingtontours.comProColombiawww.colombia.travelTia Stephanie Tourswww.tiastephanietours.com Tell Us What You Think! forum Enter your email address Share your throughts... Send Comment Related ContentLearn about a unique (and luxurious) way to visit Machu Picchu: the Salkantay Trail. 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Railway Station from 1838 to 1859 used as a summer house about 1910 [Z1306/74]
Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service has a number of plans and photographs of Leighton Buzzard station, as it is known, despite being well over the boundary in Linslade. The London North Western Railway Company built the railway through Linslade, and thus also Leighton Buzzard station, in 1838. The original station was a small wooden building some three hundred yards north of the current station where a goods yard and offices later stood.
In the past, as now, railways were dangerous places. Railway workers were sometimes killed going about their business. In the 19th century this could result in destitution for the man's widow and family as this letter, written on 6th March 1852 shows:
"Susan Smith the Widow of William Frederick Smith a Railway Porter who was accidentally killed at the Leighton Station upwards of twelve months since is now with her 4 children chargeable to the Parish of Leighton. Her husband was the son of George Smith now an Inmate of Saint George's Workhouse, Hanover Square [London] and it appears that the son never gained a settlement in his own right and that his widow and family are removable to the Parish of Saint George as the place of his father's settlement.
I am directed by the Board of Guardians of this Union to enquire whether you will accept the above Paupers without an Order of Removal or will repay such relief as may be afforded by this Board".
In other words Leighton Buzzard did not wish to continue giving charity to the remaining members of the Smith family but wished to move them to Saint George's, Hanover Square, in London where, presumably they would either have to live with Mrs.Smith's father-in-law or, more likely, enter the workhouse.
Leighton Buzzard station about 1920 [Z1306/74]
A new station was built, on the present site, in 1859. Fred Cockman, in his book The Railway Age in Bedfordshire quotes the Bedfordshire Mercury of 16th October 1865 reporting an attempted burglary at the station: "Very early in the morning of Sunday 8th October 1865 a rough looking fellow was seen loitering about the station. Mr.Maltby, telegraph clerk, heard a crash and taking a light saw that someone had broken the window of the ticket office. He saw two men standing at the corner nearest the bridge crossing the line and called to them. They ran off. He went for assistance but they had decamped in the meantime. At the corner of the bridge were found a cudgel, a muffler, a whistle, a knife and a taper and matches".
Plan of the station area [X410/19] to see a larger image, please click on the image above
A brand new station was built in 1992 on the site of the 1859 buildings. Sadly, during the rebuild, the opportunity was not taken to assist disabled passengers when changing platforms. A new accessible footbridge, funded by the Department for Transport 'Access for All' project, was constructed in 2014. It has lifts to all platforms.
Leighton Buzzard station May 2008
Directories and census returns give us a partial picture of 19th and early 20th century station masters as follows (none of the dates is necessarily the beginning or end date of the station master's tenure, just the first and last known dates):
1841: James Drumgele, overlooker;1847: George N.Rich, superintendent;1851-1854: Robert Miller, station master;1861: John Vorce Jarrett;1864-1869: Thomas Bell Dickson;1876-1883: George Cable Thomas (or George Thomas Cable);1899-1911: Robert Anthony Dunleavy;1915: Albert G.Sykes;1920: Alfred Seabrook.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Financial institutions in the UAE financial free zones are having to rely increasingly on electronic signatures and records as they adapt to the new reality of doing business during the Covid-19 pandemic. In this article, we consider the validity and enforceability of electronic signatures and records under applicable law.
Since the Covid-19 outbreak, working remotely has become the new normal. This adds an additional set of challenges for FIs, which are subject to a regulatory requirement to maintain records and ensure business continuity. In that context, it is crucial for FIs to be able to continue to enter into valid and enforceable transactions, and keep electronic records which would have full evidentiary value, and satisfy their regulatory record-keeping requirements, using electronic means.
We set out below an overview of the legal frameworks in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) regarding the use of such electronic signatures, with a quick reference to the UAE regime outside the financial free zones (Onshore UAE)).
What is an electronic signature?
An electronic signature can come in many forms, for example:
- a signature which is simply typed in to a document, including an email;
- a scanned image of a person's actual signature which is pasted into a document;
- a signature which is drawn on a web or app based system using a stylus or finger on a mobile phone, touch screen computer or a tablet;
- a tick-box or a clickable button on a webpage or in an email;
- a secure signature applied to a document using software which encrypts the signed document which is then authenticated by a third party certifier acting as a "witness"; or
- a secure (commonly referred to as "digital") signature which is authenticated using a private (unique to the each signatory) encrypted signature key embedded in the document itself.
Under DIFC Law
Electronic signatures are recognised and enforceable under DIFC law, with a few exceptions. The DIFC Electronic Transactions Law (ETL) ensures the validity, legal effect and enforceability of "Electronic Signatures", "Electronic Records", and contracts created by "Electronic Communications".
What is a valid Electronic Signature under DIFC law?
There is no prescribed form for an Electronic Signature under the ETL. An "Electronic Signature" is very broadly defined under the ETL to include an electronic sound, symbol or process, which is attached to or logically associated with a record, and executed by a person with the intent to sign the record. This means that a scanned copy of a signature affixed to document could be deemed to be an Electronic Signature.
An Electronic Signature can be attributed to the person signing the document if the signature "was the act of a person". The act of signature can be established in any manner, such as comparing a scanned signature to a counterparty's signature specimen or previously signed agreements. Finally, not all documents can be recorded or signed electronically. Powers or attorney, declarations of trust, wills, affidavits for evidential use in the DIFC court and real property transactions are excluded from the application of the ETL.
Can a FI rely on an Electronic Record?
An "Electronic Record" is defined under the ETL as any record which is created, stored or transmitted using electronic means. Under the ETL, a record is an Electronic Record if such record:
- preserves the information it contains and is able to be printed
- is retained in its original format or in a format which can accurately replicate the information it contains (such as a scanned copy)
- retains information on its origin and destination (such as the details of the sender and recipient) and its date and time.
This is a relatively low threshold for scanned documents or electronically generated documents (such as a .pdf file) to meet, provided these have not been tampered with (such as having their contents or metadata altered). Such records would also satisfy a record keeping requirement under DFSA rules.
Furthermore, the exchange of Electronic Records, such as an exchange of emails, or scanned copies of signed counterparts, is sufficient to form a valid contract under the ETL.
Under ADGM law
ADGM has not yet implemented any legislation dealing with the validity of electronic signatures. Therefore, in the absence of a specific ADGM law, the English law position would apply to the validity of electronic signatures.
Under English law, in order for a binding contract to be created, the key elements of offer, acceptance, consideration, intention to create legal relations and certainty of terms must be present. The application of these principles does not depend on the particular technology that is used to create the contract. Therefore, when seeking to contract by electronic means, the parties will need to consider whether the key elements for contract formation are present in the electronic communication or contracting process that is being used.
If parties wish to enter into a contract that is subject to certain statutory requirements, important questions arise as to whether the prescribed formalities can be satisfied by the particular electronic means adopted, and the extent to which a contract created electronically is capable of having the same effect as a traditional paper contract. In such a situation, the matter would need to be considered on a case by case basis.
Can ADGM FIs rely on electronic signatures?
The short answer is yes, in the absence of any (usually statutory) requirement for a wet-ink signature. Under English law (which applies in the ADGM), there is no need for contracts to be in any particular form; in fact, they can be entered into orally, provided there is offer and acceptance, consideration, certainty of terms and an intention to be legally bound.
We understand that unless a document is expressly required under ADGM legislation or regulations to be provided with a wet-ink signature, in hardcopy and/or notarised, it can be signed electronically. Therefore, a simple contract may be concluded using an electronic signature in the ADGM.
Under Onshore UAE law
To the extent that FIs are dealing with clients and counterparties in Onshore UAE, with a few exceptions, electronic signatures are recognised and enforceable under Federal Law No. 1 of 2006 on Electronic Commerce and Transactions (ECL). The ECL includes the same exclusions as those found under the ETL, with the addition of "negotiable instruments", which is not defined under the ECL, but we understand to include cheques, drafts, bearer bonds, some certificates of deposit, promissory notes, and bank notes.
Summary table
Can I sign electronically?
Is email execution valid?
Is a scanned signature inserted into a document valid?
Is a signature backed by a third party vendor valid?
What are the exclusions?
Documents which are expressly required to be provided in hardcopy and/or notarised under ADGM law.
We regularly advise on electronic contracting throughout the Middle East and would be happy to respond to requests for advice on the use of e-signatures in any jurisdiction. Please contact our specialist lawyer Dino Wilkinson if you would like to find out further information.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.


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An Apple A Day……..
Excerpt from the HUFFPOST :
….. And while the list is comprehensive, the ranking doesn't capture all information:
For example, though apples were ranked as the most contaminated overall,
imported nectarines had the unique distinction of having a full 100 percent
rate of positive pesticide test results, above any other product. Bell peppers
and grapes were both commonly contaminated with 15 different pesticides
in a single sample — the highest overall diversity of contamination.
Still, even the researchers who conducted the pesticide exposure studies
don't recommend giving up the "Dirty Dozen" outright.
Read more HERE


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These are questions any business will have to ask themselves, if they want to leverage digital to increase their bottom line. Fortunately, Custom Creatives has the answers.
Founded in 2004, and located in Agoura Hills, Los Angeles, our digital marketing agency has years of experience testing and identifying best approaches to modern online advertising challenges.
Given the number of competitors in our industry, we're particularly honored that our efforts have been recognized by B2B market research firm Clutch.
In a recent report, they have named Custom Creatives a top Los Angeles digital marketing and SEO agency for the second year in a row!
In one of their recent surveys, Clutch found that nearly 1 in 5 respondents had a negative experience with an SEO firm before finding the right service provider. Given a specific budget and type of project, identifying the right agency can be a challenge. If a business wants a strong return on investment, they have to do their due diligence. The process demands a holistic evaluation, and with Clutch, this is possible. Clients don't just leave a one to two sentence testimonial about their experience with a featured company. Rather, Clutch Analysts interview clients directly, and produce reviews that reveal the entire scope of a collaboration.
While Custom Creatives has excelled on Clutch based on the quality of our work, market presence, and clientele we serve, the most significant factor has been our ratings and reviews. The fact that our clients have taken the time to provide their feedback is a testament to how highly we regard customer service and client satisfaction.
Below are some comments highlighting our unique attributes:
"I like the fact that Custom Creatives brings in new ideas and lets us choose how to spend our marketing budget." – Owner and Director of Sales, Rochester Homes Inc.
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It's impossible for a business to thrive without a smart digital strategy, but it is possible to select an agency that doesn't deliver on their promises. For this reason, we're grateful to Clutch for including us in a list among other highly reputable firms in the Los Angeles community, and thereby allowing prospective customers to be more confident in our ability and business acumen. We're hopeful that this recognition will lead to new partnerships, whereby we can provide the answers to a business' immediate digital marketing questions.
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WASHINGTON—In a call with journalists today, National Security Advisor John Bolton and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats outlined an executive order just signed by President Donald Trump that would result in automatic sanctions against any foreign entities found to have attempted to interfere in US elections. The order, not yet released, is meant as a deterrent against interference in the 2018 midterm elections.
The White House imposed a number of new sanctions against Russia in March for election interference, and the Justice Department filed indictments against 12 Russian intelligence officers in July. But these sanctions have apparently not deterred the Russian government and other countries with an adversarial relationship with the US from maneuvering to affect the outcome of some 2018 congressional races, according to Coats. While Coats said that "we have not seen the intensity of activity from 2016," the intelligence community has seen signs that there are efforts underway by a number of actors to manipulate the political process this year. "We have several that we are tracking," he explained, "and have seen signs, from not just Russia, but China, Iran, and North Korea."
Bolton had previously warned that there were signs of election meddling from China, North Korea, and Iran, though he offered no specific evidence. And evidence would not be forthcoming in the event that the White House considers sanctions under this order—the first word of any assessment would come with the sanctions themselves, Bolton told reporters. "These are sensitive, sometimes very dangerous operations, and we have to operate with respect to sources and methods," he said.
Lock them up
Bolton said that the executive order, entitled "Imposing Certain Sanctions in the Event of Foreign Interference in a United States Election," would "protect the US against interference in our elections and the political process more broadly." The order declares a national emergency, Bolton said, and requires DNI to make regular assessments of activities targeting the US electoral process, reporting findings to the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security. Bolton noted that the scope of the order included not just attacks on election infrastructure but also "the distribution of propaganda" intended to impact the electoral process.
Coats explained that the process outlined by the order called for a 45-day period within which the intelligence community was to assess whether election interference had occurred and who the actors behind that interference were. The finding would then be passed to the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security, who would then make a determination within 45 days whether the interference took place and warranted sanctions. The 45-day period is based on when interference is believed to have happened and not specifically tied to Election Day. "We're looking at having evidence that interference has occurred," Bolton explained, "and that happens after the election but doesn't preclude there would be evidence in the course of the election."
If DOJ and DHS officials concurred with the director of national intelligence's report, sanctions would "automatically" be leveled against those determined to be behind the interference; the State Department and Department of the Treasury would then review the sanctions and determine whether they were sufficient and appropriate to the severity of the activity. Sanctions authorized in the executive order include blocking of assets, transfer of property, US investment in sanctioned companies, and restriction of travel.
Coats said that the administration acknowledges that there was interference in the 2016 election, and "we've learned our lessons. Our focus is, going forward, that we have the integrity of the election in place and we have the measures in place to deter and retaliate if necessary."
Cutting Congress off at the pass?
The executive order comes as bills in the House and Senate have gained support that would require sanctions against any government or person determined to have engaged in electoral interference. The Deter Act, proposed in January by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) and Marco Rubio (R-Florida), would mandate broad economic sanctions against Russian companies and require the White House to identify other countries that had been involved in electoral interference and provide proposed sanctions within 90 days. A similar bill is moving forward in the House.
Update, 2:30 PM ET: Van Hollen and Rubio issued a joint statement on the executive order, stating, "Today's announcement by the Administration recognizes the threat, but does not go far enough to address it. The United States can and must do more. Mandatory sanctions on anyone who attacks our electoral systems serve as the best deterrent, which is the central tenet of the bipartisan DETER Act. We must make sure Vladimir Putin's Russia, or any other foreign actor, understands that we will respond decisively and impose punishing consequences against those who interfere in our democracy." Van Hollen and Rubio urged colleagues in the Senate to quickly pass the Deter Act before the November elections.
Update, 3:30 PM: In a statement issued by the White House after the announcement, a White House spokesperson said that the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation will "host a live Election Day Watch at the FBI's Strategic Information and Operations Center to monitor and coordinate election-related activities" as part of the effort to ensure the security of the election. The executive order was positioned as part of an ongoing effort to shore up the security and integrity of the election system, including efforts last year by DHS to assist states in checking their information security and an August "National Election Cybersecurity Table Top Exercise" run by DHS to work on information sharing and working with state and local authorities on election security efforts.


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Marked Lib/E (Compact Disc)
If one touch can infect . . . then a kiss is deadly. All Ruby Behl wants for her seventeenth birthday is a good career path match, and to kiss her best friend and longtime crush, Wesley Fairchild. Unfortunately, the simplicity of teenage wishes evaporated a decade ago when the Tercera virus nearly wiped out the human race. Transmitted through touch, the slightest contact is prohibited in the safe haven community of Port Gibson. An innocent game of Spin the Bottle, a rite of passage for Port Gibson's teens, provides the opportunity Ruby's been waiting for, but when Wesley winds up Marked, Ruby realizes her first kiss may also be her last. Ruby races the viral clock to uncover long buried secrets about her dead parents, and her once cloudy future becomes clear. She's the key to finding the cure, but is she willing to pay the price?


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Profile: Dr. Jonathan Gubbay
Research in Action
2 Feb 2016
Studying and battling the complexities of respiratory viruses
As a medical microbiologist at Public Health Ontario, Dr. Jonathan Gubbay wears many hats. From leading research projects, to providing advice and guidance on test results, and working with other laboratories and organizations on approaches to emerging viruses like Ebola and MERS-CoV, he's an expert in the study of respiratory viruses.
Originally from Australia, Gubbay came to Canada to do advanced training in medical microbiology, and found a fit with respiratory viruses. "By training, I'm a pediatric infectious diseases doctor, so I thought it would make sense to develop some expertise in virology, as kids tend to be more affected by viral infections." He remains connected to clinical work as a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at Sick Kids Hospital, and says that role helps him do his job at the PHO laboratory. "Based on my clinical work, I can see where we might improve on testing procedures at the lab. When I'm faced with a problem with a patient, I can better understand and consider what kinds of research questions I'd like to answer in the laboratory."
At PHO's laboratory, a centre of expertise for the detection and identification of infectious diseases, Gubbay studies the complexities of respiratory viruses, like influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus, to name but a few. The author of over 70 publications, he's currently looking at whether the quantity of virus present in a respiratory infection is clinically important and can be used to predict health outcomes. "In current clinical testing, we only look to see whether a respiratory virus is present or absent, but no one really knows to what degree it's important to know the quantity of virus that's there." This research could also impact recommendations for patient isolation, for example, highlighting whether a certain amount of virus will mean that a patient is more infectious and will require isolation.
Gubbay also applies his unique set of skills to the study of emerging pathogens like MERS-CoV and the recent outbreak of Ebola in West Africa. "With Ebola, we had historical information about how Ebola behaved, but this was a different type of outbreak; we had to balance new information about the virus with what was historically known about it in terms of infection control and how we could handle the virus safely, especially if it came to Canada," says Gubbay. "With emerging pathogens, our main role at the laboratory is setting up new laboratory tests, either by designing our own protocols or rapidly implementing test protocols from the World Health Organization." Gubbay was a key member of the laboratory working group that developed Ebola protocols for laboratories across the province.
Technology, he notes, has greatly influenced his work. Leaps in the last decade to molecular technologies and next generation sequencing have helped him do his work more efficiently. PHO's state-of-the-art laboratory employs both molecular testing and viral culture to test for respiratory viruses, with molecular testing a much more sensitive way of understanding viruses. The lab is starting to deploy next generation sequencing in addition to traditional sequencing methods for influenza surveillance. Further, the laboratory is looking to implement new tests that can pick up 14 different viruses with one sample. Putting his clinician hat back on, Gubbay says having access to tests that will detect multiple pathogens at the same time will streamline diagnosis, as clinicians won't have to order unique tests for every potential pathogen, as many respiratory viruses have similar clinical symptoms.
Gubbay credits his colleagues for their support.
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YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–"The problem of energy safety is top priority. One way to improve the situation–is through close cooperation between the CIS countries," Armenian Prime Minister Armen Darbinian said June 10 at the opening of the 16th meeting of the CIS Energy Council.
Problems in the sectors of fuel and energy are still "quite complicated."The government is working its hardest to effectively implement the sector's financial resources in order to secure recovery."
Attending the meeting are representatives of Armenia–Belarus–Georgia–Kazakhstan–Kyrgyzstan–Moldova–Russia–Tajikistan–Ukraine–Iran–Japan as well as leaders of the CIS Energy Council Executive Committee and other international organizations. The meeting is to discuss the organization of domestic and interstate energy markets–develop acceptable relations with international energy organizations and organize the exchange of information in the energy sphere.
"CIS countries are ready to supply energy to the population and to cooperate with outside countries in the development of better markets for energy," Chairman of the CIS Energy Council Executive Committee Vladimir Jangirov told reporters. According to him–the CIS countries generate a total of 1,160 billion kW/h of energy. The current exports of energy total 20 billion kilo-watts per hour/h–which is twice as less as before. Moreover–energy is mainly supplied under short-term agreemen's–long-term contracts are yet to be developed.
"Our task is to provide CIS countries with substantial energy potential with profitable markets in which to sell their energy," Jangirov said. He pointed out that there are several promising markets–especially in the north; cooperation already exists with Iran. Energy is also to be supplied to the Eastern Turkey.
The agreement "On energy supplies and transit," is to be established with foreign countries in attempt to further energy cooperation.
Also speaking at the opening of the Energy Council meeting was Armenia's Minister of Energy– Meruzhan Mikaelian. "We are very hopeful to develop regional cooperation not only with the CIS member-states–but also with the energy-producing companies of neighboring countries,"
According to Mikaelian–Armenia's government is working extremely hard to see to it that Armenia could meet its energy needs–while at the same time try to export energy to other countries.


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Become a leader in Discrete Manufacturing
Leading companies in discrete manufacturing are data-driven companies
What does it take to be an industry leader? Companies that integrate innovative technology and ICT in the whole process of design, manufacturing and distribution are showing the way. Smart industry, or industry 4.0 is what it's all about. Data analysis and intelligence provide real-time and sometimes predictive information, so you can adapt and innovate faster and make more accurate decisions.
4 trends in discrete manufacturing
Internet of things
Thanks to widely available internet access, better and smaller sensors and cloud computing that connects sensors and IT-infrastructure, manufacturers are increasingly adopting the Internet of Things (IoT). By connecting machines and products to the internet infrastructure and gathering valuable data, IoT makes it possible to deliver better customer and worker experiences, increase efficiency and safety and produce ever improving and more innovative products.
Predictive maintenance
Through automated data collection, such as via IoT sensors, manufacturers can not only develop a better understanding of how systems work but also when they are (about to) fail. Smart companies can save valuable time, money and resources when they are able to predict the best moment to perform maintenance and reduce production downtime events.
Supply chain optimization
Modern supply chain technology solutions, such as Dynamics 365 Operations, help companies to deliver more value and stay ahead of the competition. Solutions include tooling for better and more efficient logistics and planning, sales and operations, product lifecycle management, integrated BI solutions, inventory optimization and the integration of IoT.
Virtual- & augmented reality
Virtual Reality (VR) tools support product developers to quickly innovate in the product design stage, before commencing expensive manufacturing processes. AR and VR are also very helpful by shortening inspection time and helping to detect errors. By using AR devices, (service) engineers can team up with remote experts and have real-time help at hand when performing a task or repair. AR technology also adds huge value in helping onboard, train and support new employees.
A process of change called servitization
Industry 4.0 involves robotization, cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing and more and more use of big data. It also means a shift for manufactures from production to service. We call this process of change, servitization. Today, cloud applications are up and running 24/7 and data and technology together enable services such as remote maintenance and repair and in advanced cases even predictive maintenance.
In a market where people are our most valuable and scarce asset, smart technology, such as Augmented Reality (AR), and smart Apps (e.g. Power Apps) that we can build quickly to help improve the mobile user experience, help us to train and empower our employees to do more. Are you ready for the next step in digitization?
Contact us


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Wrapped Shrimp with Asian Barbecue SauceFrom peetabear 13 years ago
- Makes 30 skewers shopping list
- 1 pound fresh trimmed pineapple, about 1 pineapple shopping list
- 30 medium shrimp, peeled and deveined shopping list
- 1 tsp salt shopping list
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper shopping list
- 15 bacon slices, partially cooked and cut in half shopping list
- 1 Tbsp olive oil shopping list
- 1 cup diced onions shopping list
- 1/2 cup diced celery shopping list
- 1 garlic clove, chopped shopping list
- 1/2 cup ketchup shopping list
- 1/2 cup chili sauce shopping list
- 1/2 cup plum sauce shopping list
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar shopping list
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce shopping list
- 2 tsp worcestershire sauce shopping list
- 1 cup thinly sliced green onions shopping list
- 1/4 cup toasted coconut shopping list
How to make it
- Soak thirty 6-inch bamboo skewers in water to prevent burning. Cut thirty 1/2-inch chunks of pineapple and finely chop whatever remains.
- Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Place a chunk of pineapple on each shrimp and wrap with a piece of bacon.
- Place a 6-inch skewer through each shrimp assembly and reserve. (Do not reserve for too long before cooking as the pineapple will begin to break down the shrimp.)
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat and sweat the onions, celery, and garlic until softened but not brown, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the reserved chopped pineapple, ketchup, chili sauce, plum sauce, vinegar, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce to the onion mixture. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce is glossy and thickened, 15 minutes. Adjust the consistency with water, if necessary, and season with salt and pepper. Keep the sauce warm.
- To cook the shrimp, spoon or brush a small amount of sauce (about 1 tsp each) over each skewer and place in a preheated 400 degrees F oven until the meat just turns white, about 10 minutes.
- Remove the skewers from the oven and neatly arrange on serving platters. Sprinkle with the green onions and coconut. Serve immediately with the remaining sauce on the side for dipping
People Who Like This Dish 6
Reviews & Comments 5
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The Cookpeetabear Mid-hudson Valley, NY
The Rating5 people
Gosh this sounds great!chihuahua in Sonoma County loved it
This looks amazing!elgab89 in Toronto loved it
This sounds so delicious! I voted a five for it :o)bizzielizzie in Orillia loved it
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We're lucky to live in a country with an abundance of fresh, local produce that's affordable and accessible. But this often leads to food wastage – the statistics actually say that the average Australian household throws away over $1,000 of food every year. This equates to one in every five bags of groceries, and it doesn't include produce that's considered "imperfect".
Here are a few alarming facts I came across drafting this post*
At Christmas it can be tempting to fill your shopping trolley – it's a time of year when you buy things you never normally would (in case distant relatives make a surprise visit). With this annual extravagance looming it's worth knowing a few ways you can plan ahead and avoid your excess festive food ending up in landfill.
Follow these 3 steps to reduce your food wastage:
1. Be smarter about food storage and using your freezer
You're in danger of fresh produce spoiling if you don't properly preserve it. Good storage involves glass containers, cling wrap, bags with seals and more. GLAD, famous for its plastic wrap, has recognised this problem and released a free digital guide called "Keep it Fresh" – it educates Australians on how to protect and preserve fresh produce to maximise nutrients and freshness and ultimately reduce food waste. Download the guide at glad.com.au/keepitfresh – it's an easy way to learn how to protect and preserve fresh produce.
When it comes to food preservation your freezer is your biggest asset. Buy bags of frozen vegetables like peas and carrots and you won't have to worry about using them quickly. You can also double or triple the ingredients for 'freezable' meals like soups and casseroles and store individual portions in the freezer portions for later use. What else can you freeze? Your can freeze all types of meat. So if you buy too much beef mince or too many sausages for your Boxing Day BBQ then freeze what you don't need in a seal-able storage bag.
2. Cook only what you need
A quarter of school lunches go to waste and every night kilos of dinner leftovers go straight from the table to the bin. To avoid this excess turning into waste consider yours and your family's likely appetites when planning Christmas meals. For example if you know your kids are likely to leave half of the sandwiches you make them, or you had a late lunch then plan smaller meals. Save yourself the guilt of throwing away leftovers and cook just a little bit less. A table of clean plates will also be a happier ending to a family dinner.
3. Support Australian initiatives aimed at reducing food wastage
OzHarvest: Over the last 10 years OzHarvest has saved over 10,000 tonnes of food that would have otherwise been wasted. That food has been re-distributed to provide over 30 million meals to Aussies in need. OzHarvest now operates as a perishable food rescue operation across all major Australian cities. You can support OzHarvest by making a donation, purchasing the OzHarvest cookbook and even through volunteering.
Imperfect picks from Harris Farm: According to Horticulture Australia 25% of fruit and vegetables never leave the farm gate simply because they're a bit ugly and don't meet strict requirements set by our supermarkets. Here Harris Farm is leading a change – with their 'Imperfect Picks' range – imperfect produce at as much as half the cost of standard produce. The colour, size or shape may be slightly unusual but it's still tasty and fresh. Get on board and you'll reduce food wastage and save money.
If you've got any other tips to reduce food wastage I'd love to hear from you.
By Feast Wisely
* From OzHarvest and GLAD
Find out more:
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The Atlanta CARES Mentoring Movement, a 501c3 organization and affiliate of the National CARES Mentoring Movement founded by Susan L. Taylor, editor in chief emeritus of Essence Magazine, has recruited over 500 mentors annually since founding 2006. We are a galvanizing force working on behalf of mentoring organizations in desperate need of volunteers, particularly minority volunteers. We are leading the mentor-recruitment movement focused on closing the huge gap between the relatively few available mentors and the thousands of children in Metropolitan Atlanta who are in need of caring mentors, tutors and role models. Through our youth match mentoring program, we have addressed the core needs of the youth and young adults we serve through our mission: establishing a personal relationship with a caring adult capable of providing positive feedback and facilitating the development of students' self-efficacy. Since our inception, we have supported struggling families with hard to reach children by recruiting and training caring adults poised to make a difference within the community by making a difference within the life of a child. Through the support of our partners, Atlanta CARES has impacted thousands of youth through mentoring and direct services including academic tutoring, and coaching, reducing dropout rates and influencing their post-secondary college and career success.
Our mission is to secure and transform the lives of children by inspiring, recruiting and mobilizing masses of caring men and women to mentor and nourish them. Our national volunteer affiliate network connects adults to local youth-serving organizations. Our national group-mentoring programs focus on the emotional, social and academic development of our children and the wellness of the adults who parent, care for and mentor them.
To recruit 1000 mentors annually
To train and place 500 mentors and foster sustained long term mentoring relationships annually
To strengthen our mentoring outreach by incorporating more group mentoring models
Susan L. Taylor, founder of the National CARES Mentoring Movement.


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FDIC Law, Regulations, Related Acts
[Table of Contents] [Previous Page] [Next Page] [Search]
5000 - Statements of Policy
This statement of policy sets forth the treatment that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as the conservator or receiver of an insured depository institution will give collateralized "put" options issued by the insured depository institution.
On August 9, 1989, the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) was signed into law. This statute amended the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDI Act) to clarify the FDIC's rights as conservator or receiver to repudiate contracts. With regard to secured contracts, the FDI Act provides that the repudiation provisions are not to be construed as permitting the avoidance of any legally enforceable or perfected security interest in any assets of the institution except where such interest is taken in contemplation of the institution's insolvency or with the intent to hinder, delay, or defraud the institution or the institution's creditors. 12 U.S.C. 1821(e)(11). Absent this provision for legally enforceable or perfected security interests, the conservator or receiver arguably could avoid such security interests and render any claim on the repudiated contract unsecured.
Reading these statutory provisions as a whole, it is clear that even secured contracts may be repudiated; that damages are limited to the extent set forth in the statute; and that legally enforceable or perfected security agreements must be honored to the extent of such damages but no further or otherwise. In other words, if there is a repudiation, the collateral securing the contract may be liquidated and the proceeds paid to or retained by the creditor up to the damages allowed by the statute, i.e., damages for actual direct compensatory losses measured as of the date of the appointment of the conservator or receiver. The remaining collateral or proceeds must then be remitted or returned to the conservator or receiver as property of the institution or its estate, or to a bona fide junior lienholder to the extent applicable.
While the preceding statement sets forth the existing law and is applicable to all contracts which have been or will be repudiated by a conservator or receiver after August 9, 1989, regardless of when the contract was entered into, certain issues have been raised regarding collateralized put options.
The FDIC has maintained a longstanding position that contingent obligations have no provable damages under the FDI Act's statutory damages limitation, if repudiated by the receiver or conservator, because the damages are not fixed and certain as of the date of the appointment of the receiver or conservator. As FIRREA has made this result more apparent, market certainty and stability have been affected.
Statement of Policy
The FDIC has considered a number of relevant policy factors, including its legal rights and powers under FIRREA; the assurances provided by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board prior to the enactment of FIRREA and market reliance on those assurances; the need for market certainty and stability; the potential long-term cost to the FDIC of outright repudiation of collateralized put options; and the potential for immediate acceleration of the isser's obligations under these collateralized put options. Based on its consideration and balancing of such factor, the FDIC has determined to adopt and implement the following Policy with respect to the treatment of collateralized put options after its appointment as conservator or receiver of insured depository institutions having these types of obligations:
(1) This policy will apply to collateralized put options in all respects where the collateralized put options were originally issued by insured depository institutions prior to August 9, 1989.
(2) It is recognized that the FDIC as conservator or receiver has the right to call, redeem or prepay any collateralized put options by repudiation or disaffirmance either directly by cash payment in exchange for release of the collateral or by the repudiation of the contract evidencing such borrowings followed by liquidation of the collateral by a trustee or other secured party. Accordingly, the FDIC in its capacity as conservator or receiver may accelerate the collateralized put options, in which event payment will be made to the extent of available collateral up to an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount or accreted value of the secured obligations, together with interest at the contract rate up to (and including, if so provided in the contract) the date of payment, plus expenses of liquidation, if so provided in the contract. If the holder of the options for any reason fails to accept the amount tendered, the FDIC will deem the options contract and the related collateral arrangement terminated. If the FDIC does not accelerate the contract, the terms of the contract will be enforceable during the pendency of the conservatorship or receivership.
(3) The FDIC shall have a reasonable time, which is specfically defined as 180 days from the date of appointment of any conservator or receiver, to make a determination whether or not to accelerate a collateralized put option. In the case of institutions for which the FDIC already has been so appointed, the 180-day period shall begin to run as of the date of adoption of this policy.
(4) This policy is intended to cover only collateralized put options issued in connection with capital markets financing transactions, including the formation of publicly offered unit investment trusts and other sales of insured depository institutions' portfolio securities in capital markets transactions.
(5) This policy shall apply in all respects to collateralized put options issued on or after August 9, 1989 only if the put option was issued in renewal, replacement or extension of a put option issued prior to the enactment of FIRREA.
(6) This policy shall only apply to transactions where the underlying security interest is in collateral owned and pledged by the insured depository institution to secure its obligations and the security interest is both perfected and legally enforceable.
(7) It is understood that persons involved in secured transactions with insured depository institutions may reasonably rely upon this policy statement.
By order of the Board of Directors, July 9, 1991.
[Source: 56 Fed. Reg. 36152, July 31, 1991] [The page following this is 5339]


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Girls' Generation Kwon Yuri And Choi Sooyoung Shine For Harper's Bazaar
Girls' Generation's Kwon Yuri And Choi Sooyoung showcase their winning visuals in the March edition for Harpers Bazaar. The two members were featured in separate editorials within the publication.
In the images, Yuri looks sophisticated and timeless. She is wearing a nude and classic red lip complemented by dark smokey makeup.
In an interview following the shoot, Yuri revealed her beauty and health tips during COVID-19. She said she prefers "minimal beauty" and does yoga on YouTube for about 30 minutes after waking up to stay rejuvenated. She also added that she is addicted to lip products and carries around 7 in her handbag.
In contrast, Sooyoung looks stunning wearing the latest Jimmy Choo collection with brighter and more colorful tones.
After the success starring as Seo Dan in the JTBC drama Run On, the concept suits Sooyoung. It displays her effortless beauty and style perfectly.
The two women may have taken contrasting images, but they both look equally ethereal.
Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation's Sooyoung Stuns With At The Buil Film Awards, Showcasing Her New Short Haircut Publicly For The First Time
Girls' Generation's Yoona Has The Wittiest Response When Asked To Pick Between Lee Jong Suk And Hyun Bin
Girls' Generation's Yoona Proves She Was The Main Event At MIU MIU's Paris Fashion Show With Unexpected Appearance In Alexa Chung's Instagram
Girls' Generation's Yoona And IVE's Jang Wonyoung Cause A Visual Explosion After Interacting At MIU MIU's Paris Fashion Show


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And news of older games becoming available again keeps on coming. Atlas Games confirms they have the new printing of the Dungeoneer set Tomb of the Lich Lord in their warehouse. While not a core set for Dungeoneer, as they are intended to be all played independently, it was the first and works as a solid introduction to game play. And one I lack at the moment.
Since I'm running a session of Dungeoneer at Carnage, this is good because it will expand our options. We could play Tomb and Call of the Lich Lord, an epic level set, in sequence for a longer game. Or mix Tomb together with Vault of the Fiends for a bigger dungeon to explore — and I'm curious to find out how mixing sets changes the usefulness of keyword-specific effects and overall feel of a given set's theme.
One other variation I would like to try at Carnage, assuming the players are interested, is Overworld / Underworld. Heroes begin exploring a wilderness region, as in Realm of the Ice Witch and then must find the entrance to the dungeon in order to delve for further glory. You end up building two separate maps, one for the wilderness and one for the dungeon, so it is probably space intensive.


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Animals, They're All Animals!
My favorite is the beat-box rodent.
What's yours?
This is gmom,
peace out.
My favorite is the beat-box rodent.
What's yours?
This is gmom,
peace out.
Damn dog.
Down Cujo.
Hoo's Momma went away for a few days.
Gmom, Rose and Grandpa took over.
We are having a busy but awesome time.
We bought a Hoo- size motorcycle to amuse him so if he had a meltdown we had a good distraction handy.But the boy is doing fine, so we just gave it to him.
He did take one spill off of it which required a band- aid,several kisses and quick application of one dum-dum lollipop.
The toe scrape was from chasing Cujo with a handful of sand from the sandbox.
For a special treat we let Hoo use a real screwdriver to meddle in the workings of a broken fan. It's his current mechanical obsession. Anytime he started walking away with the screwdriver I say, Hoo get back to fixing that fan or give me the tool. He would give me his blue eyed grin and get straight back to work on the fan. I expect with all the banging it will be be working again in due time.
We have watched a fair bit of Baby Einstein videos both in English and Spanish.
The English versions are quite lovely with Pachelbel Canon in D Minor playing beautifully while a soft female voice recites barnyard animal names. The pictures show sweet images of baby cows, chicks and horses.
The Spanish version has the theme to Mama Mia playing with a child reciting animal names.
Rat, snake, iguana and turtle.
I don't know what to make of that.
It's been busy. But a lot of fun.
Hope your weekend was good.
This is gmom.
Wiping the sticky from the keyboard.
Peace out from Hooville.
This is actually two topics in one. I have run away from home. The pressure cooker of some home events drove me to take the sage actions of a friend and skedaddle to higher ground for a breather.
So I write to you from the beachfront. I am watching the waves rolling inexorably into the shore. I am eating bagels and cream cheese with lox, the TV is turned on a rerun of Project Runway, I have a six-pack of beer cooling on ice.
It's all wrong, but exactly what I need. A short break from a difficult reality. Hubby didn't exactly give me his blessing, but I did notice he put the 'easy-pass' in my car' and called to check up on me a few times. All good. This is working for me.
So Rose and I, you know Rose, my 21-year-old? Works full-time and goes to college full-time? My own little overachiever. She and I were discussing things you should try at least once in your life.
We settled on:
Sky diving
Scuba diving
Rock climbing
Bungee jumping
Singing in front of a crowd
Go surfing in Malibu
Visit India
Climb an active volcano
Participate in Burning Man
Now of course we then went on to name a bunch of things we thought we wouldn't try.
So here is that list too. Be sure to add yours in.
We wouldn't try cocaine or heroin. One time may be one time too many.
We wouldn't…
Get a big 'name tattoo' on our face.
Run a marathon. (ewwwww)
Join a 'hold your breath' under water contest.
Run naked through church.
Read War And Peace. Uh no.
See the Taj Mahal. I seen it in Las Vegas it ain't all that!
Backpack through the rainforest. No No No.
Learn an indigenous language. I'll stick to pig-Latin.
Listen to Enya for 5 hours straight. Just shoot me instead.
Give someone directions, even though you have no idea where they are going.
Get drunk and ruin someones special day.
Photocopy your butt. Why do people do that???
Join a self-help group. I actually did that once with my sister and they kicked us out for laughing.
Last but not least, marry someone you met in an online dating site who you have only met one time. Don't ask! I know someone who did this. What a disaster.
So there you go kids.
What are your ideas. Hmmm?
This is gmom,
at the beach,
watching the waves and wondering,
why do I live in the city????
Peace and I am outa here!
(On the anniversary of my brother's passing I am grateful for the small miracles of today. Hey Jeff, miss you bud, you would have loved this story, you would have loved Hoo)
Baby boy Hoo was mad rushed into the house by his momma Eggs on Friday. "Mom! The daycare called me, he is burning up with fever!!!" My daughter was panicked, struggling to hold a hysterical Hoo.
Undress him, let's check his temperature.
I watched the mercury rise in the thermometer tube as Eggs pinned Hoo across her lap.
Okay let's get him into the bath, get the tylenol and call his doctor.
I poured cool water over his shaking body. It was controlled chaos.
We wrapped him in a sheet and rushed him to the pediatrician who saw him immediately.
Hoo sat on Eggs lap as the doctor examined him. He cried continuously.
The doctor did a strep test with the looong q-tips swirled down his throat.
Poor Hoo, he gagged hard, when he could draw breath he cried out "T'ank you, t'ank you."
That is a Hooism for "thank you". The doctor was charmed by our little darling. The we waited until a nurse came in to draw
blood. Hoo cried and cried and when she finished he cried "T'ank you, t'ank you." She also was
touched by this tiny tot. She said that was the first time a 23 month old thanked her for poking them.
The doctor came back in and listened to Hoo's chest again and pronounced him to have
pneumonia. Of course Hoo turns red-eyed and says, "T'ank you, t'ank you."
Eggs and I shared a secret smile over Hoo's head.
You see dear reader, whenever Hoo wants someone to leave he says "Thank you."
Today Sunday he is better. Bouncing around as recovering children do.
Watching Sesame Street and eating jelly toast.
T'ank you God, really T'ank you!
Who drives a van with no reverse????
No one in their right mind maybe?
No reverse, that means no backy- uppy.
What the heck? How can the van have no reverse???
Imagine that said in a very loud voice, mine to my mild-mannered husband.
Tell me dear, how long has this
piece of crap van not had a functioning reverse?
Weeks??? This is unacceptable. (That's me being patronizing).
We were in Annapolis on a date. Yes kids even after 30 years of marriage this grandma and grandpa go on dates. That's all you need to know.
We were going to walk along the waterfront after dropping an oil drum at a restaurant. It was 10 p.m. I was driving the van which had about 8 (200 gallon) empty drums behind the seats. I had pulled in to a parking spot behind the restaurant when my husband started shouting, "Don't park head in, don't park head in!!!"
"There's no reverse!!!!"
WHAT????? No Reverse???? Honey that is just messed up….
Too late, I was parked. Husband got out and had to push while I gunned the engine of the van-from-hell to try to force some backward movement. We need help. Some guys walking by came over and put their weight with my husband's and the van was pushed out of the parking spot.
I climbed into the passenger seat muttering, I am not driving this lousy piece of….
We pulled to an alley behind the restaurant and parked on the street. Husband unloads the drums. It was dark and vacant back there. I kept my eyes open for trouble from the relative safety of the van-with-no-reverse.
"I'll be right back." and husband jogs off. What? Where is he going? Leaving me in this dark alley in this good for nothing van! I was outraged. Until the police car pulled up alongside the van. Great!
I started to get out of the van until the cop shining a flashlight in my face yelled "Stay in your car!"
Okay fine, you don't have to yell.
Now my heart is pounding in my chest. I am sitting in a dark van with several very large oil drums in it. I have a rag tied around my head. It's only been 5 days since Osama was killed, and Annapolis, if you don't know is neighbor to DC. The security is tight.
I figure I have 2 maybe 3 minutes before the Cavalry shows up and my face is on the pavement. I'm scanning the van to think could Bart or my husband have any weapons on board that I need to declare to the cops but I don't dare move, especially not to look for a weapon. No that will definitely raise the ire of the cop watching me and probably get me shot. No I'll just sit quiet-like and curse my husband for running off and leaving me here.
Then just as suddenly the back of the van flies open and it's husband grabbing out another drum and talking a mile a minute.
"They need another drum, they are doing a bang up business, saw 2300 people in the last 2 days…" he doesn't see the cop.
The police car rolls forward as my husband is carrying the clearly empty drum off the van. The cop slowly drives off. I want to cry.
Husband gets into the van. "Now we can take that walk on the waterfront! Romantic!" He rubs his hands together and smiles like a kid.
Take me home.
Just take me home.
"I don't understand you."
You just ran off and left me here. There was a cop who yelled at me to stay in the van. He thought I was a terrorist or something.
"You're fine, there's no cop."
There was! Now take me home.
"Try to do something nice for you…"
Just drive. Oh and first thing tomorrow this 'gadawfulpiecacrap' better be at the mechanics!
No reverse! Give me a break!
"Wow! That's nice talk dear."
I can laugh about it now. But at the time? I was fit to be tied. No reverse…who drives a car with no reverse……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
I don't know about any other families but with ours….?
It's not a picnic to put all the extended family together in one room.
There should probably be some law prohibiting it.
Between the mass alcohol consumption and the golden rare opportunity to finally tell Uncle so-and so what he did in 1986 that still has you making excuses.
Cousin Chris? Who married your girlfriend after you broke up but before you were sure you absolutely hated her, as he claims you did..
You just can't resist revisiting that time can you.
For myself, honestly I hate having to remember who I told what to,
and who I told never to breathe a word about something…
but about what I'm not sure anymore.
It's a regular Jerry Springer marathon event but with a seven piece band and eight course dinner.
The wedding is out-of-town.
My dear mother in law.
Who I really love, by the way, wants us to stay with her and Dad.
How do I politely tell her no thanks I'll be hightailing it out of there before the,
""so what are you up to these days…"
from my third cousin twice removed,
turns into,
"Did you hear Jen's husband Bob is in rehab?".
("Uh, Jen is standing behind you, with Bob.")
I'll spend an hour trying to remember everybody's kid's names and ask the little darlings how third grade is treating them.
I'll be patient and understanding when they cry out loud during the wedding ceremony and while their mom hustles them out to the hallway.
I'll be okay when I go to the women's room to find 3 adolescent girls in tears over a torn dress hem.
I'll spend time with the ancient aunt who never fails to ask after the health of my dog Cujo but can't remember my name to save her life.
I'll hug my brothers and sisters. We don't say much, foxhole buddies.
We leave feeling exhausted,
and mortal,
riding the New Jersey Turnpike at 2 a.m.
I drive back to Baltimore with one of my children.
We will meet in the parking lot of the wedding hall.
I'll probably share a smoke with Bart and a few laughs over something,
like dad pulling the cord on the band's amplifier. Ha! He did warn them to turn that dang music down.
China and Silver will be waiting like sentries for everyone to be present and accounted for before we go. Silver sneaking short drags on his skinny cigars, like he knows he's doing something wrong.
And on that night,
when two lives are bonded in the crucible of marriage,
I'll pray that the younguns' find some happiness in this complicated world of relationships.
I'll pray that the husband loves his wife in the way mine loves me,
just as I am.
A hopeless non-conformist, sarcastic, cynical, talk too much, say too little.
A person so completely smitten with those people standing in the dark,
waiting by the car.
Those people whose jokes I get.
And always think are funny,
even when they are not.
Laughing too loudly in a tight little impenetrable mob,
The other guests give them a sniffy wide berth.
But I walk straight into their midst,
and take my place.
This is gmom,
peace out.
1. Call me when you get there.
2. Clean up, I am not the maid here.
3. You want to leave? Do you need help packing?
4. Wait until your father gets home.
5. You only have to be tall enough for your feet to reach the ground.
6. Don't smart mouth me young man (lady).
7. You're going to take an eye out with that thing.
8. You can't take care of anyone else if you don't take care of yourself first.
9. It doesn't matter what other people think,you can't control that.
10. Don't tell me to mind my business, you are my business.
1. How do you know it tastes bad you haven't tried it yet?
2. If you don't have something pleasant to say, don't say anything at all.
3. It's for your own good.
4. No one said life was going to be fair.
5. What if all your friends were jumping off a cliff would you jump too?
6. If I didn't care, I wouldn't say anything.
7. It's never going to heal if you don't stop picking.
8. Be home before dark.
9. Put other people's needs before your own.
10. Mind your own business.
Now which group of 10 were my 1950-1970's mother and which are mine?
What do you say to your kids?
This is gmom,
peace out.
Hoo, 20 months old pointed desperately at the carousel.
"Oh gosh, that's fun let's take him on!"
Good idea, right?
Started out okay. His mama, Eggs sat with him on one of the painted ponies.
We waited for the ride to start.
The Calliope played the tinny tune while we, Hoo's fan club stood at the fence and waved madly.
Then the meltdown.
Hoo started crying and slithering in that way he does where the only thing you can do is gather bunches of his clothes and drag him up off the floor like spilt milk.
The carousel started up and Eggs quick tossed Hoo on to the chariot seat and held on. Hoo cried and wrestled pointing at the horses. Eggs tosses him back up on to a horse and jumps on behind him…and he cries…and he cries.
We his cheering section…are laughing our ever-loving' heads off.
"You're doing it Hoo! Yay Hoo! You're riding!" We called every time he went by, then we collapsed in hilarious laughter until he came around again…still crying, with Eggs hanging on to him.
"Yay Hoo! You are awesome dude! You are riding!"
Finally the carousel stopped. Eggs carried Hoo over to us and happily handed him over….and…he started crying!
What is it? Why are you crying now?
Of course he wanted to go back on the carousel again.
That destroyed us. We couldn't stop laughing after that.
He rode the carousel all day long.
If you ever wonder is the world going crazy or is it you.
Hang out with a 2-year-old. Chances are (sigh) it's you.
I mean me.
This is gmom,
peace out.
Hoo is on the computer……again.
Staring intently at the screen.
Typing two handed.
Wearing his shades.
Doesn't want Grandma to read what he wrote.
It's a secret.
A new blog post, a tell all, an SOS sent out to the world.
Traitor. Teeny tiny traitor.
Hoo you little rockstar!


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- On Sexism and Misogyny in Science Fiction Fantasy – Author Kyoko M is at Black Girl Nerds talking about sexist portrayals of women in SFF film and fiction.
The only way to combat sexism and misogyny in our favorite fiction is to simply speak up about it. Any authors worth their salt hungrily devour their readers' comments, and if they are well-meaning authors, they can address these issues. Few writers go into a project wanting to make enemies. For the most part, they want their readership to be happy with what they've done. That's why it's so important to stand up for things that are generally awful like Riddick. That's why it's important for authors to read lots of material and recognize the signs of bad female characterization. It may happen by accident, but it's still something that can be remedied. Everyone wants to be represented fairly. Women are no different. We're fantastic and flawed. Write us that way.
- Is ANY representation better than NO representation? – Disability in Kid Lit had a quick roundtable to answer this question and it was a resounding no. The first comment, though, is totally gross in how it argues that bad portrayals are good because non-disabled people can learn from them. This is derailing to center the privileged at its finest.
s.e. smith:
NO! If a representation is bad, it's harmful, and it perpetuates negative beliefs, attitudes, and stereotypes — or just erroneous information. This argument is totally invalid, because it suggests that we should be grateful for the scraps from the table, even if they're stale or molding. That's ridiculous. We're owed a duty of care and respect, and people who want to integrate diversity into their storytelling (which everyone should!) need to be prepared to take it on seriously, not include it as a slapdash afterthought
- Google Is Being Forced To Censor The History Of Merrill Lynch — And That Should Terrify You – I know fuck all about this law, but it sounds ridiculous if public figures like CEOs can get Google to shitcan links to newspaper articles about them.
The European Union's new law giving people a "right to be forgotten," which requires Google to remove links to information about them, is having exactly the effect its critics predicted: It is censoring the internet, giving new tools that help the rich and powerful (and ordinary folk) hide negative information about them, and letting criminals make their histories disappear.
- A day in the life of a physics student with autism – Anytime a parent or, say, a large advocacy organization like Autism Speaks that lacks any board members who have autism purports to speak for autistics, this is your reminder that they can speak for themselves just fine.
Is your book aimed at people with, or without, autism?
I was diagnosed as having high-functioning autism as a child but as an adult I have learnt to develop social skills and can communicate fairly well. Because of this I can relate to both people with autism and those without. I think my new book will give people without the disorder an understanding of what it is like. Autistic people focus on the details, all the little things and it can be much more difficult to understand metaphors and idioms. In my book I write what a journey from Guildford to London for a day out is like for me and the complexities of what people without autism think is a simple journey. So for example waiting at the train station the announcer might say "passengers must remain behind the yellow line", and when the train actually comes it is confusing then to cross the yellow line to board it. I've also published illustrations which show my understanding of phrases like 'you're pulling my leg'.
- The game developer, the CIA, and the sculpture driving them crazy – I'm not sure how I happened upon this longform article about a woman who indulges in cryptology as a hobby who's been working for years to solve the code embedded in a work of art at the CIA, but it was fascinating.
Although Dunin is now recognised as one of the leading authorities on Kryptos, arranging that first sighting would not be easy. Kryptos is an unusual piece of corporate art and, since the corporation in question is the Central Intelligence Agency, your chances of just rolling up at the gates and getting inside to take a look at it are not high. Kryptos was commissioned by the agency in 1988 for its new headquarters, and the piece was finished and installed in 1990. In essence, it's a large wood and copper sculpture shaped like a scroll or perhaps a flag, with its face divided into sections. These sections contain four stencilled ciphertexts, sometimes known as K1 through K4. To date, the first three texts have been cracked. Only K4, almost a quarter of a century after it was installed in a building that's atypically full of people of the code-breaking persuasion, continues to repel all efforts.
Latest posts by Ridley (see all)
- Links: Me Before You Edition - June 2, 2016
- Remembering Meoskop - September 16, 2015
- Links: Tuesday, May 5th - May 5, 2015


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If you have specific rules for how magic works in your world, you can do some pretty fun things with it. A couple weeks ago, I analyzed 5 unique magic systems and why they're interesting. Today, I'm giving some suggestions on how to build your own!
Ask Questions About Your World's Magic
- How do characters gain magical abilities? Are they born with them? Do they receive abilities through worshiping a deity? Can they learn them through study or science?
- What is the source of magic? Is it an all-surrounding energy, like the Force in Star Wars? Does it come from certain elements, like in Avatar: The Last Airbender or metals in Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series? Is it based on music, colour, nature, light, time, space, or something abstract? Is it a mystery?
- What are the limitations and costs of magic?
- What is magic primarily used for?
- What are magic users called? Wizards? Mages? Elementalists? Something unique to your story?
- How are spells cast? Is a wand, staff, book, or other object required? Do they need incantations, hand, or body motions? Do different types of magic users cast spells differently?
- How does magic affect societies and cultures in the world? Are magic users respected or not? Are they involved in politics or leadership? Are they outcasts? Do people know they exist?
- Are there magical groups or a hierarchy of magic wielders in the world?
- How has magic impacted the history of the world?
Study Brandon Sanderson's Laws of Magic
Sanderson's magic systems are renowned for their intricacy. He's an author who knows what's what, where magic is concerned, so studying his advice is worthwhile!
Sanderson's First Law: An author's ability to solve conflict with magic is DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL to how well the reader understands said magic.
Sanderson writes about soft magic, where the rules of magic aren't very clear. Think J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings or George R.R. Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice series, where magic is a mystery and is very seldom used to solve problems. He then compares this to hard magic, where the rules of magic are explicitly stated. Think superhero powers or his Mistborn series. When readers understand how magic works, magic can be used to solve problems because it's a tool that the characters can figure out how to utilize in a variety of ways. Then there are systems somewhere in between, like J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, where there are some laws and rules but readers don't completely understand how magic works.
To decide where you want your magic system to exist on this scale, figure out what is the most fun for you to write. Do you like knowing every nuance about how magic works, or do you prefer a bit of mystery?
Sanderson's Second Law: Limitations > Powers.
To put it simply, solving ALL THE PROBLEMS with magic is boring. This is mostly why I find Superman an uninteresting character—because he has many abilities that make him near-invincible. Sanderson posits that Superman's weaknesses, his code of ethics and sensitivity to kryptonite, are what make him interesting.
When you grant your characters magical abilities, make sure they have limitations and weaknesses as well. It is often the cost of magic that makes it more interesting, rather than the super amazing abilities it grants your characters. It is the weaknesses and limitations of your characters and how they overcome them that make them heroic, not the powers.
For example, Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender has many challenges to overcome in the series even though he's the Avatar and able to use all four elements, unlike any other magic-user. His weaknesses include the fact that he's a child, his moral code, and his difficulty learning earthbending because it's the opposite of airbending.
Sanderson's Third Law: Expand what you already have before you add something new.
Simply put: don't load on the worldbuilding too soon, and consider what Sanderson refers to as "deep" worldbuilding instead of "wide" worldbuilding.
Often, the more interesting facts about magic are how it affects societies and the world as a whole. In Garth Nix's The Seventh Tower series, the world is covered in a veil that has enshrouded it in complete darkness. This has made Sunstone magic invaluable and created classes within society where the "Chosen," who use magic, are elevated and the "Underfolk," who do not, are servants.
Expanding on how your magic affects the universe and interconnecting its powers so there are common themes can help you streamline your magic system.
Consider the Effects of the Cost
The more specific you can be about the rules, the more possibilities open up for the story. For example, say the cost of magic is blood. That could mean:
- A mage pricks her finger to cast a small spell, but makes deeper cuts for bigger ones. Thus, the more scars a mage has, the more powerful they are perceived to be.
- A mage sacrifices an animal to cast a spell, and many decorate themselves with pieces of the animals they've killed (teeth necklaces, cloaks made of hide, etc.).
- A mage cuts someone else to cast a spell, making the slave trade a big thing in magical societies because mages need living bodies to mutilate.
- A mage kills someone else to cast a spell, causing them to be incredibly feared and distrusted.
The possibilities are vast, but the more specific you are, the more you can play with how magic affects your world's culture. Now, go forth and make magic!


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Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.
Movie Info
as Colonel X
as Sacha Seramona
as Steward
as Burglar
as Strange Man
Critic Reviews for Secrets of Sex
All Critics (3) | Fresh (2) | Rotten (1) | DVD (2)
A worthy experimental horror film with a sense of humor and a demented atmosphere...
Some people will get a kick from its eccentricities, while others will probably be dismayed by its ADD-style approach to filmmaking.
Like listening to an absent-minded blue comedian telling dirty jokes and forgetting the punch lines...
Audience Reviews for Secrets of Sex
Bizarre is right, this is one of the weirdest movies ever, and not in a good way. It's a horrible movie, it doesn't make much sense at all, and there aren't any good actors in it either. I do not recommend seeing this movie.
Super Reviewer
There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.


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Closed Except for the Fourth
Agustin Brasserie will be closed for the months of June and July. The restaurant in the Mercado San Agustin will re-open again on Aug. 1, with an expanded menu, new wine list, raw bar, and artisan cheeses. They will still have the 2nd annual July 4 Pig Roast and Festival presented by Mercado San Agustin and the Tucson Food Truck Coalition.
Beginning at 5 p.m. on July 4, guests can enjoy food from some of Tucson's finest food trucks, and a pig-roast presented by Agustin Brasserie will be offered in the courtyard at the Mercado, along with live music and cold drinks.
Wilko's Tiki Tuesdays
Here's another summer special to put on your radar: Tiki Tuesdays. Starr and Garrett of Wilko, 943 E. University Blvd., will be serving up "classic" tiki drinks from 6 p.m. till close. Drinks are bar master's choice, but they are happy to take requests for the spirit. From their Facebook page, "These drinks will be big, boozy, and over-the-top garnished, like your own personal mini rainforest." At $11, they sound like a good time to me.
A Change to Local Rewards Program
Starting on June 15, the "Tucson Originals Rewards Program" will be replaced with the new "Eat Local Tucson" program. If you belonged to the old program all your points and earnings will transfer, but the rewards program will no longer be affiliated with the Tucson Originals. For further information or to see all the restaurants participating, go to www.eatlocaltucson.org.
Summer Hunger
On a serious note, most people donate food during winter holidays, but it is summer vacations, when children are out of school, that put the most strain on families struggling to put enough food on the table.
New "Map the Meal Gap" data recently released showed that almost 1 in 5 Arizonans, or 1.2 million people, were food insecure in 2011. "Food Insecurity" refers to individuals not always knowing where their next meal will come from. This data helps to paint a picture of how many households are struggling with hunger, and highlights how they can be found in both our urban and rural communities.
Complete data, including interactive maps for Arizona and the entire country, can be found at www.feedingamerica.org/mapthegap and at www.azfoodbanks.org.


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Blog: Ohio Psychology Board
- Page 1 of 1
September 3, 2013
Ohio Court Rules Licensing Board Need Not Investigate Torture Allegations Against Local Psychologist
Posted by Deborah Popowski
This summer, the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas in Ohio ruled that the state's psychology licensing board did not have a legal obligation to conduct a meaningful investigation into whether Dr. Larry James had committed grave violations of professional ethics in his role as Guantánamo senior interrogation psychologist.
The state court dismissed the case on procedural grounds, meaning that, like the Ohio Psychology Board, it did not engage with the evidence of abuse and made no finding as to Dr. James's conduct. After almost 18 months of silence, the court issued a decision that is three pages long, and, for reasons not explained or reflected in the docket, was not written by the judge to whom the case was assigned. It offers virtually no legal or factual reasoning to support its conclusion that the people of Ohio were insufficiently harmed by torture left unexamined and unaccounted for, and that they therefore lack standing to challenge the Board's inaction.
Our clients have decided not to appeal the decision. They made this choice not because they agree with the ruling, but because this latest chapter in their legal fight has convinced them that the courts are not where justice, accountability and truth will be found—not on this issue, not at this time. As a lawyer and teacher of law, this saddens me. But, like them, I am not surprised. In the seven years that I've worked on human rights violations in the U.S. counterterrorism context, the greatest victories and examples of moral courage that I've seen have taken place far from the courtroom, thanks to people like Trudy and Josie, Colin and Michael, whose consciences move them to action when officials charged with accountability choose to remain silent.Continue Reading…
- Page 1 of 1


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