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BHRPC report on efforts of effecting communal division, riots and custodial death in the aftermath of "conversion and second marriage" of Dr Rumee Nath
An aged person named Mr Ajijur Rahman was picked up from his residence at Kalain under the Katigorah police station in the district of Cachar (Assam) by a raiding police team led by Mr Y T Gyatsu, a probationary Indian Police Service (IPS) officer posted as Additional Superintendent of Police at the Cachar police headquarters at Silchar in the night between 6 and 7 July 2012 and was tortured to death in the lock-up of Kalain police patrol post.
The police team was conducting raids to arrest some persons who were accused or suspects of creating mischief and rioting on and after 4 July in Kalain area. The law and order situation of the area deteriorated due to a call of general strike by the Hindu Jagaran Mancha in protest against alleged police harassment of youths belonging to their community who were suspected of being parts of the mob that assaulted Dr. Rumee Nath and her 'husband' on 29 June at Karimganj for her 'conversion and marriage' with the Muslim boy. The Mancha was also reportedly protesting against the protests of the supporters of Dr. Nath.
The report:
After the incident the Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC) formed a fact finding team comprising of 1. Mr. Neharul Ahmed Mazumder, 2. Mr Sadique Mohammed Laskar, 3. Mr Raju Barbhuiya, 4. Mr Nirmal Kumar Das, 5. Mr Aftabur Rahman Laskar, 6. Ms S Sarmila Singha and 7. Mr Abdul Wakil Choudhury to find out the factors and the situation that led to the death of Ajijur Rahman. The team visited Kalain area on 14 July and met family members and relatives of the victim, victims of rioting and their family and relatives and respectable citizens of the area including president, secretary and members of Kalain Bazaar committee Mr Sukhendu Kar, Mr Karunamoy Dey, Mr Asit Baran Deb and others. The fact finding team also visited the Kalain police patrol post and talked with the officer-in-charge Sub-Inspector of police Mr Anowar Hussain Choudhury and some constables. This report is based on the information collected by the team.
The victim:
The victim Mr Ajijur Rahman was aged about 60 years and a permanent resident of village Boroitoli Part-I, Kalain under Katigorah police station and was respected as a senior local businessman. The place, where his house situates, borders with three villages of Boroitoli, Brahmangram and Lakhipur. He was the head of his family which comprised of his 5 sons Mr Fariz Uddin (aged 42), Mr Sarif Uddin (39), Mr Selim Uddin (30), Mr Nazim Uddin (26), and Mr Mahim Uddin (20), 4 daughters Ms Anowara Begum (32), Ms Monowara Begum (aged 24 and unmarried), Ms Reena Begum (aged 18 and unmarried), Ms Runa Begum (aged 15 and unmarried), his wife Ms Saleha Khatun (55) his mother aged about 80 years and the children of his sons. It is a big joint family of people of three generations living together. It appeared that the family belongs to the emergent lower middle class of Bengali Muslims in Barak valley (South Assam).
Kalain is situated at a distance of about 40 kilometres from Silchar towards west and is a growing semi-urban area serving as a local business centre for the entire West Cachar region. The population of Bengali speaking Hinuds and Muslims are almost equal in number. Hindus have been living mostly nearby the market. Beside these two religious communities, some other people belonging to Manipuri, Bishnupria and Hindi speaking communities are also living in the outskirts. According to the local residents, people of Kalian belonging to different communities have been living harmoniously and in peace and love with each other for times immemorial. However, there were small quarrels and even fighting at times between people belonging to different communities but they were of personal nature and the religions of the parties have had nothing to with them.
A huge police team led by Mr Y T Gyatsu raided the house of Mr Ajijur Rahman at about 12.30 in the night intervening between 6 and 7 July. They first cordoned off the house from all sides and then knocked at the doors. The inmates of the house were fast asleep. At the sound of heavy knocks Mr Ajijur Rahman got up and opened the door. A big number of police personnel including a lady constable remained outside the house and four/five of them including Mr Gyatsu went into the house. They asked for Mr Nazim Uddin who was not home at that time. In fact, no other male members of the family were present in the house since they were in hiding. The able male members of all families of the area were hiding themselves in apprehension of indiscriminate arrest and harassment by police in the wake of the rioting. As an aged person Mr Rahman did not feel the need to hide himself.
The police team made all female members to go out of the house and they conducted a search for Mr Nazim Uddin in all rooms including kitchen and bathrooms in vain. They demanded of Mr Ajijur Rahman to tell them the whereabouts of his son or they would send him in jail in place of his son. When he pleaded ignorance of whereabouts of his son Mr Gyatsu hurled a torrent of verbal abuse and started assaulting him. He demanded that Mr Rahman would have to take his son to the police patrol post before 6am. Mr Rahman told that he would not be able to do so since he did not know where his son is and latter's mobile phone was also off. At that Mr Gyatsu started boxing his ears and the back of his head while dragging him. Member of the raiding police team constable Mr Badrul Islam Barbhuiya, Ms Reena Begum, daughter of Mr Rahman and other eye witnesses told the BHRPC team that Mr Gyatsu did not let the old man to wear even a top under garment. The old man cried and pleaded with Mr Gyatsu not to take him to the police station as he was to go to Mecca in Saudi Arabia for Haj pilgrimage. His wife and daughters also wept uncontrolably and urged the police officers to spare the old man at least for the sake of God since he did not know anything about incidents of 4 July. These beseeching of the helpless was not heeded.
Mr. Mahibur Rahman[1], a neighbour and cousin of Mr Ajijur Rahmn, told the BHRPC team that when he heard of the cries of wife and daughters of the latter he went there and saw that the police was taking him with them. He then sneaked to house of other neighbours Mr. Taj Uddin[2] and Mr. Shahid Uddin[3] and awakened them. They were to move silently since they were themselves very afraid of the police and a prohibitory order under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 was also in force. Three of them stood at the front side of a house[4] at a distance of about 20 metres from the patrol post to witness what was happening to the old man there. According to them, from that place everything was clearly visible since the doors and windows of the patrol post house were wide open and electric lights were on. They stated that they saw Mr Ajijur Rahman was seated on a red plastic chair. They inferred from the gestures of the police personnel and Mr Rahman that they were talking. Then two personnel coming from two sides kept his thighs in tight grip in a way that rendered Mr Rahman unable to move. And then another police personnel dressed like a higher officer and in his facial and physical features resembling to a tribal man came and placing his one grip at the chin and another on the head twisted the head of Mr Ajijur Rahman with tremendous force. It seemed that the body of Mr Rahman became motionless and loose and his head leaned at the side at which his head was left by the officer. This is also corroborated by Mr Taj Uddin and Mr Shahid Uddin.
According to the police personnel posted at the Kalain patrol post with whom the BHRPC team talked, there were two police officers there at the time who more or less look like tribals. One is Mr Y T Gaytsu and another is Mr L Saikia, the Deputy Superintendent of Police. It appears that the person who twisted the head of Mr Ajijur Rahman is either Mr Gyatsu or Mr Saikia.
According to the above mentioned eye witnesses, after the assault of the officer all people in the patrol post got agitated and a hullabaloo ensued. Two personnel lifted Mr Ajijur Rahman as if they were lifting a dead body and put him in a vehicle which then went away. It was at about 2am.
Mr. Mahibur Rahman further stated that a certain person named Mr AJijur Rahman Khan called him up on his cell phone and informed that a person of his name from Boroitoli was brought to the Kalain Community Health Centre and the physician in-charge of the hospital Dr Sumon Bhomik advised to take him to the Silchar Medical College and Hospital as he could not feel his pulse. Circumstances strongly indicate that Mr Ajijur Rahman was brought dead and he died due to twisting of his head.
After that the family, relatives and neighbours of Mr Ajijur Rahman tried to find out what happened to him during the remainder of the night and in the morning some of them went to the SMCH and came to know about the death of Mr Rahman with help from local member of Assam Legislative Assembly Mr Ataur Rahman Mazarbhuiya. Autopsy of the body was conducted at the SMCH on 7 July and was handed over to the relatives of the deceased. After performing last rites Mr. Ajijur Rahman was laid to rest on the next day.
The local people were concerned that the post mortem report might not reflect the true causes of death and material facts might be suppressed since the autopsy in India is conducted in a very unscientific, legally improper and unreliable way. Usually someone engaged in manual scavenging cuts the body at the direction of a surgeon who stands at a safe distance and looks at the body from there. The surgeon does not touch the body or examine it otherwise. From that distance he makes a guess and writes down the cause of death based on the guess. In cases of custodial deaths the body remains under the custody and absolute control of the police since before the death until the autopsy report is prepared.
Observing such appalling conditions of autopsy procedure the National Human Rights Commission of India issued guidelines to the states as well as the central government calling for their immediate action to address the lack of transparency while dealing with deaths in custody. The Commission recommended video recording of the inquest as well as the post-mortem of the victim. The Commission has even recommended using a standardised 'post-mortem examination report form' by the forensic surgeons. These recommendations however have not been implemented in India in their letter and spirit. Sometimes the procedures may be recorded but the report is not prepared as per the recommended guidelines.
Sharing the concerns of the local people the BHRPC instantaneously on 7 July wrote a letter to the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police and Superintendent of the SMCH enclosing the NHRC guidelines and urging them to conduct the autopsy as per the guidelines.
The DM also ordered an inquiry into the incident of death to be conducted an executive magistrate. People are of the opinion that it is nothing but an attempt to cover up the case and save the guilty officers and personnel. Executive magistrates are not independent judicial authorities. They are servants of the government and exercise quasi-judicial powers. They usually do not record evidence before the other parties and give parties opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses of the other party in violations of universally recognised rules of judicial procedure. There are reasons, therefore, to believe that their inquiry may not be objective and impartial.
The Parliament of India keeping in view of the lacunae in law regarding inquiry into the deaths in police custody incorporated a subsection (1A) in section 176 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 by section 18 (ii) of the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Act, 2005 providing for an inquiry by a judicial magistrate in addition to the inquiry or investigation held by the police. Although the BHRPC reminded the DM of this mandatory provision it was ignored.
The widow of late Ajijur Rahman filed a complaint at the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Cachar on 7 July 2012 under section 302, 506 and 34 of the IPC against Mr Y T Gyatsu and other police personnel. The complaint was sent to the Katigorah Police Station for registration and investigation. It was registered and assigned a case number vide Katigorah PS Case No. 291/12. The Officer-in-Charge of the police station entrusted a Sub-Inspector of police with the task of investigation. There are reasons to suspect the objectivity and impartiality of the investigation officer because he is working under the very persons who have been named as accused in the case.
As mentioned above, the police team that picked up Mr Ajijur Rahman was conducting raids to arrest some persons who were accused or suspects of creating mischief and rioting on and after 4 July in Kalain area. The law and order situation of the area deteriorated due to a call of general strike by the Hindu Jagaran Mancha in protest against alleged police harassment of youths belonging to their community who were suspected of being parts of the mob that assaulted and brutally beaten up Dr. Rumee Nath and her 'husband' on 29 June at Karimganj for her 'conversion and marriage' with the Muslim boy. The Mancha was also reportedly protesting against the protests of the supporters of Dr. Nath.
After the call of "bandh" (strike) on 4 July was given by the Mancha some groups in different areas of Barak valley issued a counter call to the people not to observe the bandh because, according to them, frequent strikes are harmful for the business and economy. These groups are thought to be the supporters of Dr Nath. In the morning of 4 July activists of the Mancha went to different parts of the valley to enforce the strike. One of such groups came to Kalain bazaar where they faced resistance from others who wanted the market to function normally.
The bazaar committee, a committee of shop keepers having shops at Kalain, intervened and a tripartite meeting was held among the opposers and supporters of bandh and the committee. The committee offered a compromise proposal after talk with both the parties that the shops could remain closed till 12 noon and then the shops could be opened. Though there were indications of acceptance by both the parties but it could not be finalised as some people of both the parties were adamant in their stands. The members of the committee went to their homes giving up hope of any settlement.
According to the information gathered by the BHRPC, after break down of talks when supporters of the bandh were trying to enforce it forcibly the police raised a barricade and kept most of them outside the barricade. However, they were trying to break the barricade unsuccessfully. With times the situation became very tense. At about 11.30am a mob of Muslim youths came with bamboo sticks and attacked anyone belonging to Hindu communities including shop-keepers and members of the bazaar committee. To face the attack many youths of Hindu communities also came out with sticks. A fight between the communities ensued. Stones were pelted from both sides. Some cycles and motor cycles were burnt down. About 18 people were wounded. They were 1. Mr Sunil Mandal, 2. Mr Sushil Deb, 3. Mr Sumon Deb, 4. Mr Pronit Deb, 5. Mr Sukhendu Kar, 6. Mr Jamal Uddin, 7. Mr Deepak Podder, 8. Mr Titu Baishnob, 9. Mr Buddha Deb Roy, 10. Mr Manna Deb, 11. Mr Sumit Shulkabaidhya, 12. Mr Badrul Islam Barbhuiya, 13. Mr Ranjit Deb, 14. Mr Khalil Uddin, 15, Mr Moin Uddin, 16. Mr Kamrul Haque, 17. Mr Debabrata Paul, 18. Mr Monsur Uddin and others. First six persons sustained serious injuries. Three reporters who went there to cover the situation were also caught in the fight between two communities and received injuries.
According to the local people, had the administration handled it efficiently the situation could be brought under control and the fighting and resulting injuries could have been averted. Executive magistrate Ms Khaleda Sultana Ahmed, DSP (probationary) Mr Iftikar Ali and in-charge of Kalain police patrol post Mr Anowar Hussain Choudhury were present. They failed to handle the mob frenzy. People felt they could take measures including lathi charge and tear gas fire. These measures could disperse the mob. Due to the inability of the authorities to take decisions the fighting intensified.
Towards the evening Additional District Magistrate Mr Borenya Das went to Kalain with a force of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and ordered the police to charge the mob with sticks and fire of tear gas. The mob then got dispersed. The district administration then issued a prohibitory order under section 144 of the CrPC. The situation slowly came under control.
The police registered cases against many named and unnamed suspects who were accused of involvement in fighting on 4 July and started conducting raids of the houses of the people living there to arrest the suspects. It was one of such raids during which Mr Ajijur Rahman was picked up by the police and tortured him to death.
Controversy over 'conversion and marriage':
Apart from the mob hysteria that drove the mobs of both communities at that moment, this communal clash resulted from efforts of communalisation of 'conversion and second marriage' of Dr. Rumee Nath, encouragement and provocation of youths by a minister of Assam government to take law in their hands and beat up anyone who enters into inter-religious marriage.
Dr. Nath is a Member of Legislative Assembly of Assam (MLA) elected from Borkhola constituency in Cachar district holding ticket from the Congress party. She was earlier also elected from the same constituency as a candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from which she later defected. She has been married with Mr. Rakesh Singh of Lucknow of Uttar Pradesh and from him she has a girl child who is about 2 years old. It was reported that their matrimonial relation has not been going well for some months.
In the month of April she reportedly got 'converted into Islamic religion' and 'married' one Jakir Hussain (also known as Jakey) of Badarpur under Karimganj district apparently as per Islamic rules. However, it is reported that the 'conversion and marriage' took place in the same sitting. Many Muslim clerics maintained that the marriage was invalid for it was solemnised before observing iddat period of three months and therefore her first marriage was subsisting. Validity of her conversion was also under question mark as it was tainted with motives that were not entirely pious. Most intellectuals of the valley also did not take her 'conversion and second marriage' pleasantly. According to them, her actions were immature, improper and not befitting of a public figure.
Her first husband filed a case against her and her 'second husband' under section 494, 497, 498 and others of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 accusing her of bigamy, (accusing her second husband of) adultery, enticing or taking away or detaining with criminal intent a married woman. She also filed case against her first husband alleging domestic violence.
The BHRPC maintained that right to get converted into any religion is a part of the freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion guaranteed by Article 25 of the constitution of India. Per se inter-religious and inter-caste marriages are also recognised by the Special Marriage Act, 1955 and such marriage should be encouraged as they can promote harmonious communal co-existence and secularism. However, in case of Dr. Nath the things are a little different. She was a married woman with a two years old child. Bigamy or living with another person as man and wife during the subsistence of earlier marriage prima facie amount to offence against the institution of marriage. Abandoning a 2 year old child is cruelty on the child and violation of child rights. These grievances against her could be legitimately vented through legal means and judicial process and which was what her first husband resorted to.
However, some groups including the Hindu Jagaran Mancha exerted themselves to blow it out of all proportion. They conjured up spectre of 'love jihad' and started campaign against inter-religious and inter-caste marriages, friendship between girls and boys belonging to different communities and even resorted to vigilantism by raiding parks, restaurants and other public places in search of inter-religious couples and friends and beating them up. Ostensibly this group received encouragement from political leaders who were interested in diving people in religious lines and diverting the attention of the people from the real issues of starvation deaths, corruption, miserable conditions of rural and urban roads and the national highways, human rights violations by police and armed forces etc.
A very influential politician of the ruling congress party in Assam Mr Gautom Roy, Minister for Public Health and Engineering (PHE), at a public function organised to mark 3 years of Assam government issued a call to the public to beat up any boy who marries a girl from a different community and to hand over the girl to her guardians. Provoked and encouraged by this call a mob of more than one hundred youths attacked Dr Nath and her 'second husband' at about 10pm on 29 June 2012 at Hotel Nakshatra in Karimganj where she was staying for the night after visiting her constituency. Both of them were brutally assaulted, and according to her, attempts were also made to rape her. After hours a police team rescued them in serious conditions. They were rushed to Guwahati for treatment.
The BHRPC could not confirm any direct links of the minister with the attack on Dr Nath and the mob that attacked her. But it is obvious that his call to beat up such couples definitely encouraged the mob. The comment of the minister is not only against the established constitutional canons of the land and principles of human rights but also a provocation to breach the public order and a call towards further lawlessness and jungle raj. Any person including a minister may disagree with any law and in such cases he should propose repeal or amendment of the law if he is sincere in his opinions. A minister who is part of the party that rules at the central and state governments should have proposed amendment of Article 14, 21 and 25 of the constitution and the Special Marriage Act, 1955 if he sincerely thought that conversion and inter-religious marriages are undesirable. By provoking youths he betrayed his motives.
The attack on Dr Nath is a manifestation of desperate reactions of patriarchy and its interests against the empowerment of women and empowered women. These are attacks on expression of moral agency in women. She was abused and attacked only because she was a woman.
It is found that Mr Ajijur Rahman was the latest victim of inhumanity and brutality of the police which they sometimes without any rhymes and reasons unleash on the very people for whose protection they are being paid. His son Mr Nazim Uddin might be an accused or suspect and his arrest might also be necessary in the situation. But it is absolutely illegal to take his father into custody to be used as bait for the son. Moreover, the torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment to which he was subjected and which allegedly caused his death are not only illegal but also inhuman and barbarous.
It is also found that groups of people who have vested interest in communal divisions among the people created controversy around 'conversion and second marriage' of Dr Rumee Nath and engaged in a communal campaign. It polarised some people in religious lines and created tensions in Barak valley.
Provocative and ant-constitutional statement of Minister Gautom Roy encouraged the mob of the male dominated society to attack Dr Nath, a woman who represents more than 1 million people in the law-making body of the state and her 'second husband'.
The alleged police harassment of youths and inefficient investigation of the attack case and efforts of forcible enforcement of strikes led to the fighting between the communities at Kalain; communal mass hysteria of some Muslims youths of Kalain and inefficient handling of the situation by the authorities present there led to the fighting between the communities resulting in injuries of many innocent people; insensitivity to human rights of the people and reliance on illegal means and torture during investigation by the police resulted in the death of Mr Ajijur Rahman.
The BHRPC recommends to the authorities including the Central government of India and government of Assam to take following actions:
To the Government of Assam:
- To conduct a prompt and objective judicial inquiry into the death of Ajijur Rahman and the circumstances that led to his death;
- To cause the investigation of the case of custodial death of Mr Ajijur Rahman to be conducted by a team led by an officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police of the Crime Investigation Department of Assam police;
- To pay an ex-gratia of an adequate amount to the next of kin of Mr Ajijur Rahman;
- To hand over the investigation of mob attack on Dr Rumee Nath to the Central Bureau of Investigation of Delhi Police as name of a minister of Assam government is involved in the incident;
- To amend the Assam Police Act, 2007 to bring it in conformity with the directions of the Supreme Court of India in Prakash Singh and others Vs. Union of India and others case;
- To separate investigation wing and maintenance of law and order wing of Assam police completely;
- To train the officers and other personnel of Assam police in following human rights laws while tackling riots and dealing with mobs; and
- To take any other actions needed for protection of human rights of the people.
To the Central Government of India:
- To ensure a prompt and impartial inquiry by a judicial authority into the death of Ajijur Rahman, communal fighting and mob attack on Dr. Rumee Nath;
- To ensure that the investigation of the case of custodial death of Mr Ajijur Rahman is conducted by a team led by an officer of rank of Superintendent of Police of the Crime Investigation Department of Assam police;
- To ensure payment of ex-gratia of an adequate amount to the next of kin of Mr Ajijur Rahman;
- To ensure the investigation of mob attack on Dr Rumee Nath to the Central Bureau of Investigation of Delhi Police as name of a minister of Assam government is involved in the incident;
- To repeal the colonial Police Act of 1861 and enact a police act as per directions of the Supreme Court of India issued in Prakash Singh and others Vs. Union of India and others case;
- To enact the Communal Violence Bill after further consultation with the civil society;
- To enact the Prevention of Torture Bill after further consultation with civil society;
- To enact a law providing for adequate reparation and rehabilitation of the victims of human rights violations by the state agencies and their families after consultation with the civil society; and
- To take any other appropriate actions required for protection of human rights of the people.
For any clarification and more information please contact:
Waliullah Ahmed Laskar
Director, Legal Affairs
Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC)
Cell: +919401942234
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
[1] Mr. Mahibur Rahman, aged about 50, son of Haji Haroos Ali, resident of Lakhipur Part-I, Kalain, Katigorah, Cachar.
[2] Mr. Taj Uddin, aged about 44, son of late Abdul Barik of Boroitoli Part-I
[3] Mr Shahid Uddin, aged about 25, son of late Abdul Wahab Barbhiuya of Brahmangram.
[4] The house belongs to one Mr Mainul Haque. They did not awake him lest the police know about any movements.


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Here is a quick look at some of the other articles recently posted on some of the other HealthcareScene.com websites:
EHR and EMR Videos
David Collins of HIMSS Discusses the Course of Global Health at the 2011 mHealth Summit– David Collins, Senior Director of Professional Development at HIMSS, speaks at the 2011 mHealth Summit about HIMSS' involvement in this year's Summit, and about how HIT X.0 is affecting the course of Global Health.
Cerner Smart Room Technology Overview Video– An updated view of Cerner's Smart Room technology. The Cerner Smart Room incorporates technology and workflow software to improve consumer care and clinician efficiency. The Smart Room is powered by CareAwareTM device connectivity architecture.
EHR and EMR Screenshots
These three posts provide numerous screenshots from the DentiMax Dental Practice Management Software. Are there special considerations for a dental practice as opposed to a regular medical practice when it comes to EHR/EMR/PM?
Screenshots from the DentiMax Dental Practice Management Software
More Screenshots from the DentiMax Dental Practice Management Software
Appointment Book Pro Screenshots from the DentiMax Dental Practice Management Software
Smart Phone Health Care
How to Get Physicians Onboard with mHealth- No matter how great an app or device may be, it will be difficult for any developer to be successful if they don't get some level of buy in from physicians in general. People will always resort back to their physician when it comes to the quality of medical products.
Axial's Care Transition Suite Wins "Ensuring Safe Transitions from Hospital to Home" Mobile App Challenge– In a recent online discussion I had concerning an article I recently wrote, the point was raised that for an app or device to be successful it must fulfill a need. While I don't think that it is absolutely essential to success, it certainly makes the path to success much more realistic.

subset: commoncrawl


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New York's Mount Sinai Medical Center has launched a new program designed to link patient DNA to optimal treatments, in which patients consent to DNA sequencing, contact with researchers and longitudinal studies related to data within their EMR.
To date, 25,000 people have signed up to participate in the biobank program, BioMe. BioMe is designed to access a broad range of clinical and environmental information stored in the EMR and link it with genetic information provided by patients. BioMe also offers doctors the opportunity to give patients more targeted care based on their DNA profile. The program is funded by The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine at Mount Sinai.
As part of this effort, a team of doctors, genetic scientists and IT experts at Mount Sinai are gradually implementing a new program called CLIPMERGE (Clinical Implementation of Personalized Medicine through Electronic Health Records and Genomics). CLIPMERGE is using a new tool, developed at Mount Sinai, which gives doctors real-time therapeutic suggestions based on patient genetic profiles. The idea behind these technologies is to link CLIPMERGE and BioMe, bringing up to the moment information on genetic responses to certain medication to the patient bedside.
Right now, real-time feedback on ideal medications based on DNA profiles is available for three conditions related to cardiovascular disease, blood clots and high cholesterol. The idea is that as scientists discover other DNA-specific responses to therapeutics, CLIPMERGE and BioMe will help bring them to practicing physicians quickly.
According to Healthcare IT News, the BioMe databank will include diverse human ancestry, with self-reported 25 percent of African ancestry, 30 percent of European ancestry, 36 percent of Hispanic Latino, and 9 percent of other ancestry.


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Boat Wallpaper & Wall Mural
Transform your walls with our beautiful wallpaper & mural's. We have a huge selection of boat wallpapers to choose from. All our wallpaper murals are made-to-measure and available in a range of paper styles to suit your needs.
Boat Wallpaper & Wall Mural
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Try something different for your 4th of July BBQ – this is a light and refreshing cabbage slaw with Middle Eastern flavors of lemon, mint and pistachios. It's great with grilled fish, chicken or kebabs.
- 14 oz. bag of coleslaw mix or 5-6 cups finely shredded green cabbage
- 1.5 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
- 1/3 cup unsalted toasted pistachio nuts, coarsely chopped
- 1 garlic clove
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tsp. dried mint
- 1/2 tsp. ground sumac
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 4 T olive oil
- pinch of sugar
Smash garlic clove with the back of a knife to bruise and combine with other dressing ingredients. Let dressing sit for a bit, remove garlic clove, and mix with shredded cabbage. Refrigerate for 1/2 hour to an hour. Add in fresh mint and toasted pistachios. Season to taste with salt and pepper.


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News Release
Printer-Friendly Version
ETA News Release: [04/30/2009]
Contact Name: Peggy Abrahamson or Suzy Bohnert
Phone Number: (202) 693-7909 or x4665
Release Number: 09-0415-SEA
WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,047,844 grant to assist approximately 240 workers affected by the closure of Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. manufacturing plants located in the rural communities of La Grande and Pendleton, Ore.
"This grant will allow affected workers in Oregon to access the services and training necessary to allow them to enter occupations in growing regional industries," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.
Today's grant will be awarded to the Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce
Development. The grant will be operated by the Oregon Consortium, a private/public partnership established to revitalize the economies of Oregon's rural counties, and the Oregon Workforce Alliance/Training and Employment Consortium, a nonprofit organization providing career training and job placement services.
Affected workers will have access to the full array of dislocated worker services. These may include skills assessment, basic skills training, individual career counseling and occupational skills training. Training will focus on industries showing job growth in the area including: office and administrative support, construction, health care, and maintenance and repair.
Between Sept. 5 and Dec. 16, 2008, Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. began a series of layoffs. On March 9, 2009, Fleetwood announced the closure of its plants in La Grande and Pendleton, and an immediate layoff of additional employees. On March 10, Fleetwood filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Of the $2,047,844 announced today, $943,669 will be released initially. Additional funding up to the amount approved will be made available as the state demonstrates a continued need for assistance.
Resources for this National Emergency Grant are from the secretary of labor's discretionary fund under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
National Emergency Grants are awarded based on a state's ability to meet specific guidelines. For more information, visit http://www.doleta.gov/NEG/.


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Resources for Researchers
NIAID offers many resources to support your research, including reagents, model organisms, and tissue samples, to name just a few. Use the filters under Filter Search Results to narrow your search, or simply enter specific search terms in the search field.
Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch Services
The Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch (BCBB) offers a suite of scientific services and resources for the NIAID research community and its collaborators. BCBB provides expertise and computational solutions to researchers at all levels of experience.
Bioinformatics Resource Centers (BRCs) for Infectious Diseases
The NIAID-funded Bioinformatics Resource Centers provide data-driven, production-level, sustainable computational platforms to enable sharing and access to data, portable computational tools, and standards that support interoperability for the infectious diseases research community.
Chicago Center for Functional Annotation (CCFA)
The Chicago Center for Functional Annotation (CCFA) is defining gene function on multiple scales, using a multi-disciplinary set of cellular, genetic, molecular, and biochemical approaches.
Functional Lists of Unknown TB Entities (FLUTE)
FLUTE is a Functional Genomics Center funded by NIAID, with the goal of discovering the roles of genes from Mtb with previously unknown functions. In addition FLUTE aims to establish an efficient pathway for identifying gene function that could serve as a paradigm for other bacterial species.
Genes Unknown in Acinetobacter baumannii (GUNK)
GUNK center is part of the NIAID Functional Genomics Program. This center was created to investigate the role of previously uncharacterized genes of A. baumannii in its ability to cause human disease. Three projects have been established to:
Genomic Centers for Infectious Diseases (GCID) Resources
The GCID use and develop or improve innovative applications of genomic technologies, such as RNA sequencing and metagenomics, and provide rapid and cost-efficient production of high-quality genome sequences of microorganisms, invertebrate vectors of infectious diseases, and hosts and host microbiomes. Multiple strains and isolates of specific microbial species, populations and communities have been and continue to be sequenced.
Heterogeneity in Human Immune Cells
Heterogeneity in Human Immune Cells is a website providing interactive figures (iFigs) for a recent study of protein expression heterogeneity in human immune cells conducted by Dr.
HIV Database and Analysis Unit
The HIV Database & Analysis Unit provides an integrated repository of HIV sequence and immunology published data, by curating & maintaining a relational database with searchable web access for the scientific community; and (ii) develop web-based computation analysis methods and tools for
Immcantation Portal
The Immcantation framework is developed as a start-to-finish analytical ecosystem for large-scale characterization of B cell receptor (BCR) and T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires from high-throughput adaptive immune receptor repertoire sequencing (AIRR-seq) datasets.
Immune Epitope Database and Analysis Resource (IEDB)
This free resource offers easy searching of experimental data characterizing antibody and T cell epitopes studied in humans, non-human primates, and other animal species.
IMPAACT Laboratory Center
The main purpose of the International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials (IMPAACT) Laboratory Center is to support the network's scientific agenda by providing state of the art laboratory testing in support of clinical trials, new works concept sheets (NWCS), and data analysis con
International Epidemiologic Database to Evaluate AIDS Data Exchange Standard (IeDEA DES)
A common data model for sharing observational HIV data has been developed by the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA). The IeDEA DES is used by the seven operational regions of IeDEA to exchange data with each other for collaborative research studies.
Nephele is a microbiome analysis engine which brings together microbiome data and analysis tools in a cloud computing environment. It offers robust, multi-step microbiome analysis pipelines, with no setup time or cost.
NIAID Microbiome Program—Metabolite Mass Spectrometry
MALDI Biotyper (MBT) is a technology that identifies microorganisms using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry to measure a unique peptide mass fingerprint.
NIAID Microbiome Program—Sequencing
NIAID's microbiome sequencing facility studies the structure and function of the microbiome associated with various hosts and body sites. This facility has one dedicated team and is equipped with an Ilumina MiSeq, which can sequence whole genomes or specific amplicons.
NIH 3D Print Exchange
The NIH 3D Print Exchange provides models in formats that are readily compatible with 3D printers, and offers a unique set of tools to create and share 3D-printable models related to biomedical science.
Papillomavirus Episteme (PaVE)
The PapillomaVirus Episteme (PaVE) provides highly organized and curated papillomavirus genomics information and tools to the scientific community for research on the Papillomaviridae family of viruses. The PaVE consists of a database and web applications that support the storage, annotation, analysis, and exchange of information. To the extent possible, the PaVE adopts an open source software approach and emphasizes integration and reuse of existing tools.
Pathogens in Augmented Reality (PathogenAR)
PathogenAR is an Augmented Reality application from the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Explore interactive stories about pathogens and pathogenic disease using touch gestures or a Merge Cube Device.
QuSAGE—Quantitative Set Analysis for Gene Expression
This Gene Set Enrichment-type test designed for analysis of microarray and RNASeq data is designed to provide a faster, more accurate, and easier to understand test for gene expression studies. QuSAGE extends previous methods with a complete probability density function (PDF).
Simmune Project
Simmune is a suite of software tools that guides the user through the multiple hierarchical scales of cellular behavior, facilitating the generation of comprehensive models.
Simplified Presentation of Incredibly Complex Evaluations (SPICE)
SPICE is a data-mining software application that analyzes large FLOWJO data sets from polychromatic flow cytometry and organizes the normalized data graphically. SPICE enables users to discover potential correlations in their experimental data within complex data sets.
Systems Biology Consortium Resources
The Systems Biology Consortium for Infectious Diseases is a community of systems biologists who integrate experimental biology, computational tools and modeling across temporal and spatial scales to improve our understanding of infectious disease
TrialShare is a transformative approach to data-sharing that enables clinical trial transparency.


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CRS: CHINA AND THE REVERSION OF MACAU: BACKGROUND AND IMPLICATIONS, August 24, 1999
From WikiLeaks
About this CRS report
This document was obtained by Wikileaks from the United States Congressional Research Service.
The CRS is a Congressional "think tank" with a staff of around 700. Reports are commissioned by members of Congress on topics relevant to current political events. Despite CRS costs to the tax payer of over $100M a year, its electronic archives are, as a matter of policy, not made available to the public.
Individual members of Congress will release specific CRS reports if they believe it to assist them politically, but CRS archives as a whole are firewalled from public access.
This report was obtained by Wikileaks staff from CRS computers accessible only from Congressional offices.
For other CRS information see: Congressional Research Service.
For press enquiries, consult our media kit.
If you have other confidential material let us know!.
For previous editions of this report, try OpenCRS.
Wikileaks release: February 2, 2009
Publisher: United States Congressional Research Service
Title: CHINA AND THE REVERSION OF MACAU: BACKGROUND AND IMPLICATIONS
CRS report number: RL30289
Author(s): Kerry Dumbaugh, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Date: August 24, 1999
- Abstract
- This report examines factors which might be relevant for U.S. policy toward Macau after it reverts to Chinese administration on December 20, 1999. It includes a background to the reunification, followed by the discussion of economic and social factors which make the case of Macau different for China than that of Hong Kong, as well as Macau's economic relevance to the United States. It includes an examination of the political status of Macau as a Special Administrative Region of China and of possible areas where controversy might arise concerning Chinese administration. It also discusses some implications for U.S.-Macau relations.
- Download


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President Bush on Wednesday tapped Defense Deputy Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, who has been a lightning rod for criticism of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and other defense policies, to take over as head of the World Bank.
Bush told a news conference that Wolfowitz, now Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's top deputy, was "a compassionate, decent man who will do a fine job at the World Bank. That's why I put him up."
The administration began notifying other countries that Wolfowitz was the U.S. candidate to replace World Bank President James Wolfensohn, who is stepping down as head of the 184-nation development bank on June 1 at the end of his second five-year term.
The United States is the World Bank's largest shareholder in the development bank. The bank traditionally has had an American president. Its sister institution, the International Monetary Fund, traditionally has been headed by a European.
Bush, during the news conference, noted that he had called Premier Silvio Berlusconi to talk about Iraq and other issues earlier in the day and said that he had discussed Wolfowitz, "my nominee," with the Italian leader.
"He is a man of good experience," Bush said. "He helped manage a large organization .... a skilled diplomat, worked at the State Department."
Wolfowitz, 61, was sworn into his post at the Defense Department in March 2001, marking his third tour of duty at the Pentagon.
He was regarded as more academic and ideological than his boss, Rumsfeld. Wolfowitz was among the most forceful of those in the Bush administration in arguing that Iraq's Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, and he had predicted that Americans would be welcomed as liberators rather than occupiers once they toppled Saddam's government.
Wolfowitz, a veteran of six administrations, has earned a reputation for being a foreign policy hawk — the view that the United States should use its superpower status to push for reforms in other nations. A conservative scholar, Wolfowitz, before taking over the Defense Department post, had served as dean and professor of international relations at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies of The Johns Hopkins University.
Administration supporters of Wolfowitz said Wednesday he is suited for the World Bank post and pointed to his management experiences at the Pentagon and his diplomatic experience at the State Department. He had served as assistant secretary of State for east Asia during the Philippine transition to democracy. He also served as U.S. ambassador to Indonesia.
The World Bank's 24-member board will soon vote on Bush's selection of Wolfowitz to head the development bank. Approval is expected.
"The executive directors of the board ... are in the process of consultations with the member countries they represent," the World Bank said in a statement.
Wolfensohn, bank president since June 1, 1995, emphasized reducing poverty in developing nations and making lending projects more effective. Previously, he headed the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and was a Wall Street investment banker for 20 years.
Wolfensohn, in a statement, said he has known Wolfowitz personally and professionally for a long time. "He is a person of high intellect and broad experience in and out of the government and has many of the qualifications that would be critical to leading the bank," Wolfensohn said. "I look forward to ... doing everything that I possibly can to ensure a successful transition."
For now, it is expected that Wolfowtiz would take over the World Bank post when Wolfensohn's term ends on June 1.
William Cohen, who was secretary of defense during the Clinton administration, praised Wolfowitz.
"He has a keen understanding of the tides and trends that have shaped our world since the end of the Cold War," Cohen said, "and a deep commitment to liberty and improving the quality of life for suffering people."
The Bush administration has been pushing for major reforms in how the World Bank operates, especially interested in having the development bank dole out aid in the forms of grants, which don't have to be repaid, rather than loans.
A number of people were said to have been in the running as his successor, among them Carly Fiorina, the recently ousted chief executive of Hewlett-Packard Co.; John Taylor, the Treasury Department's undersecretary for international affairs; Peter McPherson, the former head of Michigan State University who served as Bush's point man on rebuilding Iraq's financial system; Randall Tobias, Bush's global AIDS coordinator; and Christine Todd Whitman, the former head of the Environmental Protection Agency.


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The Corrections Bureau of the Chatham County Sheriff's Office, and its inmate population, has significantly evolved over the past 30 years. For 90 years the jail was located on Habersham Street next to the Police Department. Its capacity was approximately 300 inmates and averaged about 270 inmates daily. The average daily female population was 18 which seems low when compared to the 167 average daily population for 2004.
In 1978 the jail was moved to Montgomery Street next to the Chatham County Judicial Complex. This facility had an inmate capacity of 381 inmates. Unfortunately, this facility was not large enough and as a result we were soon exceeding our capacity. As a result, that facility was placed under a federal court order that set a maximum amount of inmates allowed. It became necessary to expand our capacity to satisfy the court order.
In 1988 the Chatham County Detention Center opened off of Chatham Parkway and in 1989 it became necessary to expand that facility to handle the volume of inmates we were receiving.
It became apparent that we would have to design and construct a facility that would accommodate the amount of inmates that were being brought to our facility. Construction began on a facility next to the Detention Center that was a state of the art facility. We moved into the Chatham County Sheriff's Complex in 1993 and the Detention Center was tied in to make up the 5 unit facility.
The building boasted a 1224 bed that was supposed to handle the inmate population without fear of overcrowding until the year 2010. Unfortunately we have at or over capacity since 1999 which has led to our office dseeking alternatives to incarceration.
The 2008 average daily population for the Chatham County Detention Center was 1739 inmates. We are planning on the future while at the same time working on ways to divert inmates from incarceration that could be better handled in other ways such as through work release programs as well as through mental health centers.


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Many wealth managers start off a new year by reviewing priorities related to the advice they provide their clients, as well as factors likely to affect their business.
Mercer Investments has weighed in by offering 10 priorities for wealth management firms in 2014, five related to the structure and risk of a firm's own wealth management business and five related to serving retail and high-net-worth clients.
"Recent years have been a period of incredible change for wealth management firms," Cara Williams, global head of Mercer Investments' wealth management business, said in a statement.
"The financial crisis severely tested the business model for many firms, placing alignment with client's needs and interests under scrutiny as well exposing the depth and responsiveness of the resources devoted to the business."
Williams said these challenges came as a growing proportion of baby boomers moved into retirement, taking personal control of their accumulated wealth, and firms adjusted to the continued disintermediation of the financial services business.
The U.S. market's remarkable rebound in 2013 has raised client expectations, she said. "Now is the time to mobilize the best information resources as background to asking the 'what if' questions about market conditions in 2014 and beyond."
Following are Mercer's priorities for wealth management firms and for serving clients.
Five Priorities for Ensuring Firm's Success
1. Make sound investments in the firm's future competitiveness
Rapidly changing markets, technology, the regulatory environment and competitive pressures have shattered the economics of the traditional wealth management business. To remain viable and best serve clients, wealth managers need to review the changing skills and resources that provide a competitive advantage, and decide whether additional new resources are best developed internally or acquired through a partner, consultant or other vendor.
2. Ensure that your firm has a robust governance model responsive to changing requirements
Failure of governance can be costly and even bring down a firm. Yet many firms are constrained by limited resources, or they have decision making that is unresponsive to the changing investment environment or calcified operating models. Evaluate the governance environment, and consider whether the firm's protocols and procedures effectively meet the needs of the firm and its clients. If not, you will need to contract or develop the resources, data and processes necessary for a robust and fluid governance process in today's investment climate.
3. Don't shortchange due diligence regarding operational risk
When an investment manager suffers a profound operational failure or engages in fraud, the loss to the firm can be profound. Yet few wealth management firms invest the same care in operational due diligence as investment due diligence. Resolve to evaluate your process for operational due diligence, and take the steps necessary to protect the firm and its clients from operational failures.
4. Know your managers as well as their portfolio holdings
Wealth management firms expect investment managers to know their portfolio holdings extraordinarily well, yet few firms invest adequate resources in researching and knowing their investment managers. This can result in a mismatch between the managers selected to manage a portfolio and the clients who own that portfolio, possibly leading to disappointing results and increased business risk. Develop a manager research and oversight process—internally or with a partner—that allows you to know your managers as well as you know your clients.
5. Remember that fees always matter
Evaluate business models, services and enhancements that allow you to deliver exceptional service and products while continuing to reduce the cost to your clients.
Five Priorities for Serving Wealthy Clients
1. Review client portfolios and investment objectives
The investment environment of the past several years has been a stress test for many investors' portfolios and savings. Review how each client has weathered the cycle, and whether they currently have a sound strategy to meet their investment objectives.
2. Position fixed income portfolios for growth
The period from 1982 to 2012 was the heyday for owners of a significant fixed income portfolio, as interest rates declined from nearly 20% to low single digits. That decline is over. Review bond portfolio risk with your clients, and position their fixed income portfolios for growth in a flat or rising rate environment.
3. Assess how tax changes may affect the client's after-tax results
Taxes are increasing. Review each client's savings and investment strategy, and help them position for the best after-tax results.
4. Evaluate the place of alternative investment strategies in portfolios
Alternative investments are no longer available only to the wealthiest investors or most sophisticated institutions. Evaluate how alternatives can be integrated into clients' investment strategy to reduce risk, enhance returns or otherwise improve the likelihood of realizing investment objectives.
5. Support socially aware investing strategies for clients
As record levels of private wealth pass to a new generation, many investors are looking for the opportunity to "do good while doing well." That requires investment strategies that integrate environmental, social and governance considerations into management. Be well prepared to integrate ESG strategies into client investment solutions.
– Related stories on ThinkAdvisor:


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Wikipedia turned 10 years old today and to celebrate the wonderful crowdsourced, potluck of information, here's a look at their awkward (and sometimes, wild) past. Their first six weeks of existence, all 10,000 entries, are logged right here.
Wikipedia had some pretty bumpy times back then, in the entry on American Football there was a line that said "Dallas Cowboys suck" and referred to Mariah Carey as a "chick with big tits and a hell of a voice (capable of spanning seven octaves)". Ladies and gentleman, the wild west of Wikipedia! (though technically both tidbits are sorta correct)
I don't remember my Internet life before Wikipedia but I don't exactly remember using Wikipedia in 2001. Dang, has it really been 10 years? [Wikipedia 10K Redux via New Scientist]


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Atek has several RJG master molders on staff.
Atek shares much of the production data with customers. People-to-people relationships also are key to forming those close partnerships, a priority of President Tom Houdeshell.
With just 52 employees, every single person is important. In its award submission, Atek spelled out its employee relations programs.
Some of the ideas are unusual — a contest to create Christmas ornaments out of reject parts or purge, dubbed "Splurge with Purge." Employees also created a seasonal cookbook.
Atek shares financial, quality and other company data with employees. A spreadsheet covering all cumulative data against yearly goals, showing progress, is displayed in the break room. Last year, Atek built large visual boards for each department that display key data for that area.
A monthly narrative is included with pay checks. All employees get updates from human resources, engineering and manufacturing, quality, delivery, and about sales and overall success.
Some other employee-friendly efforts:
* An employee suggestion box in the break room. Management reviews all suggestions monthly and picks the top-three winners each quarter, paying out cash rewards.
* An employee of the month receives $100 and a prominent parking space.
Retirees and current workers are invited to an annual employee appreciation banquet, where the company hands out prizes for perfect attendance and years of service.
* Atek pays employees time-and-a-half to take Paulson training. In 2010, all employees filled out a survey to determine team dynamics, then worked on team-building exercises. Each year, the company surveys workers to measure morale.
* Atek encourages its employees to have a healthy lifestyle, through a wellness program. Discounted medical premiums are given to employees who take a health screening, and employees and family members who are tobacco-free also get a break on their premiums. The company also offers discounted gym memberships.
* Atek stresses safety training and recognizes employees with a monthly catered meal for no accidents or recordable injuries with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. And recordable accidents dropped — to zero in 2010 and one in 2011.
Atek Plastics in Kerrville is part of Atek Medical Group, which was purchased by Vention Medical in November.
Atek Plastics was a 2011 finalist for the Plastics News Processor of the Year Award. The company randomly picked one employee to attend that year's Executive Forum in Summerlin, Nev. — and Chester McMillon from maintenance got a paid trip to Las Vegas and $200 in spending money.
Bemis Manufacturing
Industry and public service
Bemis and its employees give back to the industry and to the firm's picturesque hometown of Sheboygan Falls.
Bemis employees are active in the community and industry. CEO Peter Bemis sets the tone. He has served on the board of directors of the Washington-based Society of the Plastics Industry Inc., both on the national board and the Midwest section. Several other Bemis employees have followed his lead. Company leaders also are active in the Society of Plastics Engineers.
Peter Bemis once served as chairman of the National Plastics Center and Museum's board of governors. He also has been an active member of the General Electric Quality Council and the Harley-Davidson Supplier Advisory Council.
Over the years, Bemis Manufacturing has actively supported the products competition — and won plenty of awards — at the SPI Structural Division's conference, now called the SPI Alliance of Plastics Processors.
Bemis employees are active in the Sheboygan Falls YMCA, Junior Achievement, a local performing arts center, plus hospital boards, cancer charities, hospices and other local community groups.
The custom molder and extruder shares much of its expertise with the plastics industry, as well. Bemis officials are frequent speakers at industry seminars, conventions and trade shows, giving presentations on important current subjects.
Throughout the past three decades, Bemis has made a major impact on the revitalization of historic downtown Sheboygan Falls. Together with another local company and local preservation groups, Bemis was a supporter of one of Wisconsin's first such projects.
After demolishing the original Bemis factory along the Sheboygan River, the company donated the land for conversion into what today is Settler's Park,
The firm, which claims to be the world's largest maker of toilet seats, transformed a neglected downtown building into the award-winning Bemis Bathe Shoppe retail store. The Wisconsin Main Street Program has recognized the store as the best downtown facade in the past 20 years.
Bemis also opened up land for local walking and bike paths, granting easements to the city to create links to connect the paths.


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IDAHO SPRINGS, Colo. (STORYFUL) -- Sean Gaubatz was skiing near Saint Mary's Glacier in Idaho Springs, Colorado, on April 11 when he saw a snow devil stir up.
Snow devils, though rare, can occur when the air above snowy ground is cooler than the surface below. The rising air can create the rotation effect seen in this video.


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Introduction » POSTERS ON CANVAS » Poster on canvas - The Arts - Painting
Original reproduction of Alfons Mucha's artwork – The Arts - Painting, printed on painting canvas and stretched onto frame. Original piece for this reproduction dates back to 1898. The latest printing technologies are used to capture the maximum color and sense resemblance of the original piece.
Information about poster The Arts - Painting:
Poster is printed on cotton canvas, stretched onto wooden frame.
Size: 364 x 580 mm
The poster on canvas is delivered in a paper-shipping carton.


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Judith Hanson Lasater, Ph.D, and Physical Therapist, has taught yoga around the world since 1971. She is a founder of the Iyengar Yoga Institute in San Francisco, CA, as well as Yoga Journal magazine. Ms. Lasater frequently trains teachers in virtually every state of the union and is often an invited guest at international yoga conventions. She is president of the California Yoga Teachers' Association as well as the author of numerous articles on yoga and health for nationally recognized magazines.
Judith Lasater is the author of eight books, including What We Say Matters: Practicing Nonviolent Communciation (2009), Yogabody: Anatomy, Kinesiology, and Asana (2009), A Year of Living Your Yoga (2006), Yoga Abs (2005), Yoga for Pregnancy: What Every Mom-to-Be Needs to Know (2004), 30 Essential Yoga Poses: For Beginning Students and Their Teachers (2003), Living Your Yoga: Finding the Spiritual in Everyday Life (2000), and Relax and Renew: Restful Yoga for Stressful Times (1995).
More information about her work is available at www.judithlasater.com.


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(Pocket-lint) - Nokia pulled the covers off their partnership with Monster in a packed keynote at the opening of Nokia World 2011 in London. Pocket-lint was in the house to put their new headphones through a little on-ear and in-ear action.
The result is two models of headphone exclusive to Nokia. The first is an on-ear set, the catchily-named Purity HD Stereo Headset, which gives you a folding set of Monster headphones.
The squared design sets them apart from the most famous of Monster headphones, the Beats by Dr Dre range. They feature a detachable tangle free cable with in-line controller and in our tests on the show floor, they proved to be really comfortable.
Swapping the limited music selection on the demo Nokia Lumia 800 demo device, we plugged the Purity HD Stereo Headset into our iPhone 4S and put it to task on some bass heavy tracks, with which it coped admirably.
We also found that they provided a respectable level of noise isolation, cutting out the hubbub of show floor to let our tunes through.
The second set on offer are the in-ear variant, the Purity Stereo Headset. These feature an in-line controller and colour coordinated silicone tips so you can get the right size for your lugholes.
Again, they offer great quality and come with the added benefit of being branded with both the Nokia and Monster logos, in case there is any doubt of what they are.
Both Nokia Monster headsets come in matching colours for your phone, which basically means pink, black and blue to match your new Nokia Lumia 800, or even your Nokia N9.
However, both will be sold as accessory headsets, so you won't be finding these in the box as you might with the HTC Sensation XE and its urBeats headset. You'll have to fork out around €200 (no UK pricing at the moment) for the on-ear headset, at which point you might as well by a set of Solo Beats and cash-in on the street cred.
If Purity is what you are looking for, they have their own website too.


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In a relief to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, the Supreme Court Monday quashed the withdrawal of Special Public Prosecutor Bhavani Singh in a corruption case against her.
"… we are of the considered opinion that the order of removal of G. Bhavani Singh …is a product of mala fide and the impugned order is not sustainable in the eyes of law, as such the same is hereby quashed, the court said.
The apex court also asked the state high court to consider giving extension to the presiding judge in the case, who is retiring Monday upon his superannuation, in consultation with the state government.
A bench of Justice B.S. Chauhan and Justice S.A.Bobde said: "We refer the matter to the high court of Karnataka to decide on the administrative side as to whether, in order to conclude the trial expeditiously as guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution requires the extension of the services of the learned Special Judge."
Noting that the Karnataka government in consultation with the high court was competent to appoint a special judge on contractual basis after his retirement for the period required to conclude the present trial, the court, in its order, said: "Considering the urgency of the matter, we request the High Court of Karnataka to take a decision in this regard as early as possible."
Restoring Bhavani Singh as SPP, the court said: "The evidence led in the case is very bulky as it runs into 34,000 pages. In case a new judge starts hearing the matter, he is bound to take a long time to understand the factual and legal niceties involved in the case.
"Accordingly, we have no hesitation in holding that the notification purporting to revoke the appointment of G. Bhavani Singh as SPP is liable to be struck down."
Holding that the decision to remove Singh had political overtones, the court said: "In our opinion, though there is an undoubted power with the government to withdraw or revoke the appointment within Section 21 of the General Clauses Act, but that exercise of power appears to be vitiated in the present case by malafides in law inasmuch as it is apparent on record that the switch-over of government in between has resulted in a sudden change of opinion that is abrupt for no discernable legally sustainable reason."
"The sharp transitional decision was an act of clear unwarranted indiscretion actuated by an intention that does not appear to be founded on good faith, the court said.
Jayalalithaa and two other co-accused in the case relating to having assets disproportionate to known sources of income had moved the apex court contending that when the trial in the 18-year-old case was nearing conclusion, the Congress government in Karnataka, at the behest of her political rivals in Tamil Nadu politics, withdrew Bhavani Singh from the case when he was in the third day of his final arguments.
DMK general secretary K.Anbazhagan had moved the Karnataka High Court seeking the removal of Bhavani Singh. At that point of time, Singh was removed by the state government.
Though Bhavani Singh was brought back after Jayalalithaa moved the apex court challenging his abrupt removal, he was again withdrawn from the case after consultation with the chief justice of the Karnataka High Court as was provided in the earlier order of the top court.
The case against Jayalalithaa relates to the period from 1991 to 1996 when she was Tamil Nadu chief minister. The trial in the case was shifted outside Chennai by the apex court in 2003 to ensure a free and fair trial.


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She started shooting as early as sunrise appeared. Its light is so beautiful. The more beautiful on the beach when there was no figure of a young woman, a white girl as appropriate Manado. He wore a colorful patterned swimsuit color triangles. It was he who posed for Marlin Taroreh cover this time. The girl began to set foot in the career of the model in this early age, which is still listed as a student at a college in Galway. "
Its presence in Jakarta, no doubt to crochet terpendamnya dreams become stars in the entertainment world. Who has to plumb the world since I was a white-gray uniform. "All done Marlin, in full support for parents," he admitted while posing on the beach pier in front of Ayer are splayed wide.
Interest in this world thinks himself mengeluti been thought ripe-ripe, as well as POPULAR are offered to cover the first month's edition in 2006. Marlin is ready to race with other models to explore the entertainment world, ranging from catwalk models, soap opera, widescreen, or advertising. When in Manado, beautiful long-haired woman has many achievements in the world model, and its activity was confiscated berlenggak sway in many catwalk and photo shoot ads for various products.
Now the challenge is how to stick her career in the capital. He definitely stepped up the road in the metropolitan glitter of the entertainment world, Jakarta. More or less the same as when he walked up the pier toward location shooting in the Thousand Islands region, for the purposes POPULAR cover.
This young woman tends to quiet. Not many words that he spoke through his tiny lips. Seem to have been provoked first, it will be his gentle voice. But when the shooting took place Marlin spreading smile more, though still minimal words. Every now and then he laughed heartily at a joke with the crew shooting a tease.
But make no mistake if it still does not mean she does not like crowds. The woman who confessed Shopaholic is precisely the spirit when asked if he likes to enjoy the world uproar noisy night. Glamorous world of the night was so impressed her hearts, despite the early forbidden by her parents. Marlin's known growing up in a city full of night life. Almost every night the clubs in Galway never be devoid of visitors. Galway city night life is not less lively with other major cities.
Marlin also said he was pleased other than clubbing she also enjoys hanging with his friends on the boulevard is a site of young people congregated Manado.


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Date: October 30, 2020
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
WJCC Weinberg Aquatic Center
5870 W. Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: 323.774.1083
Beginner Group Class (9 spaces)
Boot Camp H2O is a high intensity water based fitness program. This rigorous cross-training program includes swimming, water polo, water aerobics, modified plyometrics, and traditional strength and cardio-vascular training. Our program sets new standards in water based fitness that challenges swimmers of all ages and physical condition.
Visit www.BootCampH2O.com or call 323.774.1083 for schedule and enrollment information. New clients get their FIRST CLASS FREE.


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"Let's start from a statement speaking about the city of the ancient Mexicans: Mexico-Tenochtitlán has been and still is the root of all that has happened in this enormous metropolis, it is the substratum of the nation's capital."
"Vamos a partir de una afirmación al hablar de la ciudad de los antiguos mexicanos: México-Tenochtitlán ha sido y es la raíz de todo lo que ha acontecido en esta enorme metrópolis, es el sustrato de la capital del país."
– Miguel León Portilla (2001).
Mexico City is the capital of the United Mexican States (official name of Mexico) and the fourth most populated city in the world with 21 million inhabitants, according to the recent United Nations revision on World Urbanization Prospects (UN 2014), just after Tokyo, Delhi, and Shanghai. Its historical background is vast and currently visible as an expression of continuity of human occupation through time and accumulation of cultural layers by landscape transformation, where its World Heritage value lies.
Founded in AD 1325, taken and afterwards destroyed by the Spanish army during the conquest in AD 1521, the pre-Hispanic city ('cities') of Mexico-Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco located in central Mexico was once the capital of the Mexica Empire. Today, for those who live in or visit Mexico City it is difficult to imagine, or be aware, that below the streets and colonial buildings of the Historic Centre, a city on an island, in the middle of a lake, connected to the mainland and surrounding settlements by straight causeways, existed just a few centuries ago. Since the foundation of Mexico-Tenochtitlan until modern Mexico City today, the human occupation in the urban area has been permanent and constantly growing.
I live in Mexico City, more specifically in the Historic Centre, which was declared Historical Monuments Zone by the federal government in 1980, and inscribed in UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1987, alongside with the southern lakeside colonial town of Xochimilco, as one of the world's outstanding urban landscapes, which illustrates the historic transformation of the environment and the great periods in the history of the Mexican capital. The actual boundaries of the World Heritage Property follows the boundaries of the Historical Monuments Zones, according to the limits of the city in the 19th century (perimeter A), and a buffer zone (perimeter B, where I actually live).
Not only I live in the historic centre, but also I work in the area, in the back of the Metropolitan Cathedral (the biggest in America), next to the Templo Mayor Archaeological Zone. I'm currently working at the Sites Operation Department of the National Coordination of Archaeology, within the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), which is the government body responsible of the preservation, conservation, communication and research of the cultural heritage in Mexico. On this matter, it is important to clarify that the cultural heritage in Mexico is regulated by federal law, and this means also the conceptual definition of that heritage, which is identified as artistic (20th century), historical (1521 until 19th century), and archaeological (before 1521, the year of the fallen of the pre-Hispanic city of Tenochtitlan-Tlatelolco, by the Spanish army).
Bearing in mind those cultural heritage specifications, on my daily basis at the Sites Operation Department as the planning and management in chief, alongside with my colleagues, I look forward to the management of the archaeological heritage, specifically of the 187 archaeological sites officially opened to the public in the country. This is a really impressive number, if we consider that the INAH is the only institution responsible of the archaeology in the whole country, and that in total there's an estimate of about 45,000 registered archaeological sites. But, my job is not only directed to these 187 sites, also to the 130 archaeological sites with some kind of visit, even though they are not officially opened to the public. The Sites Operation Department have the responsibility to look for the management, protection, regulation, infrastructure development, and operation and logistics of the sites organisation of personal and resources. It is the archaeological heritage, before 1521, the cultural resource that my department is responsible of.
The pre-Hispanic archaeological remains of Mexico-Tenochtitlan-Tlatelolco have been identified and excavated in particular areas within the Historic Centre of Mexico City, from the first findings in 1790 of the 'Coatlicue' and 'Piedra del Sol' monoliths during reformation works of the city's main plaza (known as "Zócalo"), to the discovery of the 'Coyolxauhqui' monolith in 1978, from where the research and excavations of the Templo Mayor next to the Metropolitan Cathedral begun, consolidating the INAH's Urban Archaeology Project (PAU), until today.
Archaeological research within urban contexts was a new approach in the first half of the 20th century, when the Mexican administration was keen on the research directed to the study and reconstruction of the most prominent and monumental archaeological sites around the country (e.g. Teotihuacan and Chichén Itzá). The constantly growing development and urbanization of Mexican cities brought a new concern with archaeological practice, reflected in the increasing implementation of archaeological strategies to rescue and preserve the archaeological heritage under threat of damage or destruction by the new urban developments, which was (and still is) more evident in Mexico City and the metropolitan area.
Current research strategies to approach the archaeological heritage within urban areas in the last 25 years in Mexico City and other Mexican cities around the country have been determined by pressure of the constant use of spaces within the city. The archaeological activity is restricted in time and space, and precise and holistic strategies are needed and have to be improved, which sometimes are influenced by the political context.
Going to the office, I walk by every day next to archaeological remains integrated to the colonial buildings or modern urban spaces, which are the visible witnesses of the pre-Hispanic layer of the city, and are mostly un-recognized and misunderstood. Some examples of archaeological remains within the historic centre are the pre-Hispanic stone in Madero Avenue with an Aztec design called "Chalchihuitl", a military shield; the snake head in a colonial building corner where the City Museum currently is; the temple of the god of wind, also known as the "Temple of Ehécatl" within one of the most crowded metro stations, Pino Suárez (discovered in 1968 during its construction); the Templo Mayor archaeological zone, and even Tlatelolco archaeological zone, further north the Historic Centre's boundaries but part of the pre-Hispanic cultural landscape of the island-city of Tenochtitlán.
Because of this panorama my MA dissertation in UCL was related with the interpretation of the wider context, the historic urban landscape, in order to communicate to the public the relevance of understanding all these remains as part of a single environment, and not as isolated sites without cultural context. At my working department, we look for the development of a management system that considers this current context on the cultural heritage management in the city, trying to take advantage of the Historic Centre boundaries and work in a planning process in all management levels, world heritage, federal declaration, archaeological sites, the public, conservation, interpretation and communication. It is such a challenge, not only alongside the country, but also because the complexity of the city's cultural layers. Working in the management plans of Templo Mayor and Tlatelolco, we can link both sites not only in a management level, which is regulated by the Institute (which is an advantage in the sense of coordination of resources, processes, and information), but also in the wider interpretation level, looking forward to a better preservation and understanding of the sites within a common cultural landscape.
Following the UNESCO's historic urban landscape statement, the key to understanding and managing any historic urban environment is the recognition that the city is not a static monument or group of buildings, but subject to dynamic forces in the economic, social and cultural spheres that shaped it and keep shaping it. The archaeological heritage in Mexico City's Historic Centre could be sources of social cohesion, awareness of the pre-Hispanic past, factors of diversity and drivers of creativity, innovation and urban regeneration.
And, finally, I would like to share my personal project looking for a wider and friendly communication of the archaeological heritage in Mexico City, the country, and international context. I created CONARQUEmx, an outreach communication initiative which includes articles, photography, academic perspectives, and guided tours to the unknown and untold pre-Hispanic Mexico City.


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Saturday, October 22, 2011
Over all, it's a good idea
Here are just a few reasons we should all wear overalls: #1. Overalls have pockets of all kinds for everything you need. No more looking for phones or pipecleaners. #2. When working in overalls, there is no need to apply sunscreen to your lower back because it's covered.#3. People assume you are hard at work on something serious when wearing overalls. They respect you and might even leave you to it. And #4, no one looks good in overalls, men or women, so looking good isn't an issue. How great is that?
Overalls are a little hard to find. We got ours at D.I. in St. George last year. If you have your 90s overalls, get them out and try them on. You'll be glad you did.
4 comments:
- Manda said...
HAHAHA! So true! I've been looking for overalls for the longest time, I guess its time to hit the goodwill and DI! You and your girls are too cute BTW :)
- October 22, 2011 at 12:46 PM
- Rebecca said...
LOL! You would love Bart's dad. He ALWAYS wore overalls!
- October 23, 2011 at 11:07 AM
- dokprofessor said...
yes, overalls are great, the best clothing item ever invented, if you ask me see my own blog bibprofessor.wordpress.com , and also two of your overall "sisters", see here http://artingwithlisa.blogspot.com/2010/11/chunk-is-here-to-wish-everyone-happy.html and Sharon http://farmandfrufru.blogspot.com/2010/04/so-you-want-to-be-farmer.html so be ready to join us all on November 20, International overalls day, and as myself more or less every day, have an overall nice weekend, Niels
- October 28, 2011 at 1:20 PM
- kylie said...
haha this is hilarious! you are so awesome. overalls are back in style now, believe it or not. all kinds of cute new stylish pairs in the stores! my sis got a pair and she actually rocks em, as you and your girls do too! so great. i haven´t worn any since my winnie the poohs in elementary. i am convinced i need them after reading this post!
i found your blog via i´m a mormon profile. you were so hilarious and fun i had to come by and say hello! i´m mormon too. love your spirit and enthusiasm, and your art is so beautiful (my grandmother is an artist!)
- October 30, 2011 at 1:54 PM


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The binascii module contains a number of methods to convert between binary and various ASCII-encoded binary representations. Normally, you will not use these functions directly but use wrapper modules like uu or binhex instead, this module solely exists because bit-manipulation of large amounts of data is slow in Python.
The binascii module defines the following functions:
0x90 after a byte as a repeat
indicator, followed by a count. A count of
0 specifies a byte
value of
0x90. The routine returns the decompressed data,
unless data input data ends in an orphaned repeat indicator, in which
case the Incomplete exception is raised.
print binascii.crc32("hello world") # Or, in two pieces: crc = binascii.crc32("hello") crc = binascii.crc32(" world", crc) print crc


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What should be included in my personal statement?
Your CV is designed to do one thing and one thing only: to get you an interview. Yet the average recruiter will only spend between 20 to 30 seconds glancing at your CV which means that you need to make an impression quickly and sell yourself.
Your personal statement is your first opportunity to do just that. It is perhaps the single most important part of you CV. Get it wrong and your chances of being invited to interview are drastically reduced.
Its aim is to highlight your professional attributes and goals, emphasising why they should continue reading the rest of your CV. Aim to use no more than 50 words, making each sentence a key selling point.
Unfortunately, too many people follow the tradition of using stock phrases and 'key' words that they think will help them stand out from the crowd. Many phrases are tired and clichéd and don't; have the impact employers need.
Phrases such as "Looking for a challenging opportunity…" should be avoided because they're only focused on 'me, me, me'. Employers want to know what you will do for them. How will you help their business? It should be clear from the job description what they need you to do, so tell them straight that you can help them do it.
It is important that your statement doesn't simply tell a potential new employer what you have done or what you would like to do and why you are applying for the advertised position. That's what your education and work history sections are for.
Advertising agencies are paid large sums of money by brands to create headlines that grab their audience's attention. They use language that explains the benefits that you, as consumer, will have if you purchase their product.
Similarly, a list of unquantifiable skills such as 'team player' or 'good communicator' don't actually tell the reader anything about why you're the right person for the job. Link these to a tangible skill wherever possible such as "Use my excellent communication skills to attract and retain high profile clients."
Here are some examples of evocative personal statements that will grab the employer's attention.
"As an experienced Senior Advertising Sales Executive my networking abilities could help your company achieve its goals. Active and potential clients will be impressed with innovative product presentations and the meticulous management of their million-pound accounts, allowing long-lasting relationships to be formed."
"If you're seeking a Network Technician to improve the reliability and development of your company's server, my experience in design, implementation and maintenance will prove invaluable. Troubleshooting and support come as second nature, meaning fewer and less frequent connectivity issues for your large-scale network."
Take a look at your personal statement and read it out loud you yourself. Imagine it was a television advert - would you buy the product?


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Britny Haarup and Ashley Key: Clifford B. Miller charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the slaying of two Missouri sisters
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- A man who told investigators he was high on methamphetamine when he killed two sisters at a northwest Missouri home was charged Monday with two counts of first-degree murder.
PICTURES: Bodies identified in search for Mo. sisters
Clifford B. Miller, 31, of Trimble, was charged in the slayings of Britny Haarup, 19, and her sister, Ashley Key, 22, whose bodies were found Sunday in a field near a tree line.
Miller told investigators he had smoked meth before going to Haarup's home in Edgerton, about 30 miles north of Kansas City, early Friday morning, planning to rape her, Platte County Sheriff Richard Anderson said. Authorities declined to say how Miller knew Haarup, but Anderson did say Miller told investigators he had never had a sexual relationship with her.
When Miller entered the home through an unlocked front door, he found Key asleep on the couch, Anderson said. Key awoke and confronted Miller, who hit her in the head before suffocating her, Anderson said.
Miller told authorities he then went into Haarup's room, where he beat her with a stick and suffocated her. He then wrapped up the bodies in sheets and dragged them to Haarup's pickup truck, the sheriff said at a news conference Monday.
"Miller smoked some more meth and then cleaned up the blood and moved the bodies to a pickup truck in the back of the house," Anderson said.
Haarup's fiance, Matt Meyers, discovered the women were missing when he came home Friday. Meyers is the father of Haarup's 6- and 18-month-old children, whom he found alone but unhurt at their home.
Anderson said the younger girl was in the bedroom when Miller killed Haarup. Miller told investigators he put the baby in the crib in a different room with the older child, then returned to Haarup's room, where he planned to have sex with her but couldn't.
Miller was arrested Sunday at his girlfriend's home in the Kansas City suburb of Parkville. He later told investigators where they could find the women's bodies, authorities say.
Paul Haarup, father of the victims, on Sunday had pleaded for his daughters' return and told reporters Key had a "colorful past." At the news conference Monday, Haarup said he regretted that description.
"The reason she was at my daughter's house, she made the decision it's time to dust herself off and lead a good life, for her daughter and her family. It's apparent ... she was making an attempt to protect her sister," Paul Haarup said. "By no means in any of this is any dark shadow cast on my daughter Ashley. That's not where any of this stemmed from."
He said the family would have no other statements for the media at this time.
Miller was being held on $500,000 cash-only bond. He has not been arraigned and does not yet have an attorney.


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