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Read Part 1.
Cross-posted from the Colorado Progressive Jewish News.
Lampadusa had it right — things had to seem to change so that things could remain the same. There'd be elections; there'd be new faces and new promises, but all that would happen would be that different trotters would go into the trough, and new accounts would be opened in those discreet private banks … in Switzerland.
— Donna Leon, Death and Judgment
Two cheers for the Swiss!
Khaled Nezzar, Algeria's former defense minister and regime strongman during much of that country's civil war that raged throughout the 1990s, expressed 'surprise' as a Swiss court, the Swiss Federal Crime Court, refused to throw out a civil suit filed against him for alleged war crimes committed by the Algerian government against its citizens during that period. The case was brought by the Trial Watch Project at the behest of two Algerians residing in Switzerland.
Swiss refusal to dismiss the case has thrown the Algerian government into something approaching a panic. Algiers is scurrying to contain the damage, which, if made public would cast a dark shadow not only over Nezzar and the other Algerian junta that was in power at the time. It would also reflect poorly on the current leadership, inheritors of the junta's 'legacy', one that makes Pinochet's bloody rule in Chile look like something akin to child's play.
Algiers is threatening to cut off economic relations with Switzerland and appealing to France, whose hands are far from clean in the affair, to pile on the pressure as well. Although official silence has been the rule, the government is now beginning to mount a 'solidarity campaign' for Nezzar through the media. The issue is suddenly being widely reported in the Algerian press, portraying General Nezzar, now retired, as the victim. This is, admittedly, a very hard sell.
The attempts to pressure Switzerland to drop the case might work. It is a small country with big powerful neighbors, but then again, a stubborn one that does take well to bullying by its larger and more politically influential neighbors. Nor does it appear that Algiers, whose influence in Paris is undeniable, enjoy similar access to those in power in Berne.
Nezzar could not have been completely surprised with the indictment. As Algeria's 1990s Civil War unfolded, reports of excesses on all sides found their way into the media in Europe and beyond. The case against him has a long history in European courts. Eleven years prior to the Swiss indictment, Nezzar had filed a libel suit in a French court against the publication of Habib Souaïdia's La Sale Guerre, a book (discussed below) with a damning indictment of the military junta that ruled Algeria during the civil war (and still does) and of Nezzar personally.
At the time, Nezzar's complaint was rejected, his suit thrown out, a great embarrassment to the former defensive minister, suggesting that the allegations had, at least, legal credibility. Worse, the transcript of the trial – that included no small amount of damning testimony from expert witnesses – was published as a book by Habib Souaïdia, La Procès de la Sale Guerre by La Découverte in 2002, only discrediting the former Algerian junta leader that much more.
Of course, at that time, 2002, with the war fresh in the minds of many, it was admittedly hard to fathom the notion that the main source of terrorism in Algeria was important elements of the government itself. If, during the war years, Algeria's Islamic rebels were targeting innocent civilians – wiping out whole villages in some instances – rumors and then reports of military sponsored massacres surfaced as well, as did a mounting number of victims of 'collateral damage' – government attacks on rebels, extensive reports of arbitrary arrest, torture and the disappearance of thousands of innocent people.
As if that wasn't damaging enough, allegations of government collusion with Islamic terrorists, actual manipulation of their activities by the government security forces emerged. The military junta shook them off as cheap conspiracy theories, fabrications of the Islamic fundamentalists not to be taken seriously, claims a little too quickly accepted in Washington and Paris political circles, where 'the war on terrorism' had already become a standard pretext for military intervention.
But the allegations persisted and were taken seriously by human rights groups in Europe and North America, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. The junta-shaped narrative, that the government was in a war against radical Islamic fundamentalism, began to lose its potency. Questions began to emerge, the main ones being "What's the deal? What is the Algerian civil war about? Why is the French government essentially supporting the generals?"
Although virtually nothing had been resolved, the actual fighting and killing died down in the late 1990s, leaving the country exhausted, depressed and spiritually rudderless, the military junta still in power. At the turn of the millennium, Algeria's economic and political model remained unchanged, with the same forces within the security apparatus and military still in power and controlling the country's oil profits as before.
A country in tatters…
By 2000 the country was in tatters, its oil wealth hoarded and squandered, its 'example' as a 'left model of Third World development' forever discredited, the romanticism of its revolution morphed into an unending nightmare.
The rough summary of "the bloody decade" is chilling: 200,000 dead, 12,000 'disappeared' (and presumed dead), dozens of government "torture centers" organized on something approaching an industrial scale, 13,000 imprisoned, 400,000 people forced into exile another million displaced from their homes within the country.
The war exacerbated what was an already serious economic crisis. When the fighting ended, a clear majority of the population had been thrown into utter poverty; the unemployment rate stood at 30% of the active population; according to United Nations NGO figures, 15 million Algerians were living below the poverty level (out of a population of 31 million at the time). Diseases, earlier eradicated, such as typhoid, tuberculosis, bubonic plague, re-emerged.1
Cynicism prevailed; faith in the state as a positive mechanism for economic progress and democracy was at an all-time low, all but shattered, as was any popular support for Islamic fundamentalism. So it remains a decade later. The root causes of Algeria's crisis had been side-tracked. Too much bloodshed on all sides had been spilt.
Then in short order, two carefully written, well documented books appeared which put a considerable amount of meat on the bony contention of high level military and/or security apparatus complicity with the Islamic militant opposition. Together they were nothing short of a powerful intellectual one-two punch at the military junta's mid-section.
Both were published by well-respected French publishing houses (Editions la Découvertes and Folio-Actuel – which is owned by Gallimard; Les Editions DeNoel), both written by former members of Algeria's counter-intelligence unit. Habib Souaïdia's La Sale Guerre (The Dirty War) first appeared in 2001 and was reprinted the next year. Mohammed Samraoui's equally devastating Chronique des Années de Sang (Chronicle of the Years of Bloodshed) followed in 2003.
Habib Souaïdia
Originally from Tebessa in Eastern Algeria, some 40 miles from the Tunisian border, Habib Souaïdia is a former officer in the Algerian Army Special Forces unit who received his military training at Algeria's exclusive Cherchell Military Academy, some 55 miles west of Algiers, the capitol. There he was trained to be a tank commander. Graduated as a second lieutenant, in 1992 he was recruited into the army's anti-subversion unit. It was his participation in that unit that he came to have grave doubts about the army's role.
As described in La Sale Guerre, soon after having joined the special forces anti-terrorism unit, Souaïdia concluded that the terrorist groups were thoroughly infiltrated and manipulated by the Algerian secret service itself – referred to as the DRS (Départment de Renseignement et de la Securité – The Inforamtion and Security Department). The special forces / secret services / anti-subversion unit, controlled by the Ministry of Interior, had, along with military intelligence, exclusive responsibility for anti-terrorist operations.
Souaïdia alleges that many of the crimes blamed on Islamic terrorists were in fact the work of the armed forces. Specifically he accused the military of having committed two massacres, at Bentalha and Rais, and trying to place the blame on Islamic militants. Refusing to take part in what he believed to be war crimes, Souaïdia fast became a threat to the powers that be; he was arrested on charges of having stolen car parts from a military warehouse and served four years in prison (1995-1999). He barely was able to escape alive to Europe shortly thereafter.
The 2001 publication of Souaïdia's book was nothing short of a political bombshell exploding in the lap of Algeria's ruling High Council of State. The portrait painted of Khaled Nezzar's role was especially damning. But that was just the first blow. Strengthening the case, Souaidia's hypothesis was defended by Ferdinando Imposinato, at the time the honorary vice president of Italy's High Court of Appeal, in the introduction to the book.
In a Time Magazine interview the year that La Sale Guerre was published, Souaïdia summed up his case: "The generals were up to their necks in killing and their motive is to holding on to power, oil revenues and the business commissions that go with it…the real problem in Algeria is not Islamic fundamentalism, it's injustice."
If Souaïdia's expose of security forces-Islamic fundamentalist cooperation is true, it raises a question. What was the goal of the dirty war? What is it that the junta hoped to accomplish through its actions? The answer to this is not difficult to discern. The Algerian elite would do anything necessary to hold onto political power and the economic benefits that accrue from it. Destroy the possible coalition of forces that could come together to overthrow the state before it coalesces into a political force.
One way to accomplish this a la Algerienne is to encourage or facilitate a civil war in which regime's main opponents destroy or exhaust each other in conflict leaving the military-security elite as 'the only ones left standing' in the room so to speak. In the Algerian case, on the one hand there was the growing Islamist element, bitter about being shoved aside and marginalized after independence; on the other the more or less secular left.
Given the long-standing antagonism and distrust between the two streams of Algerian society, turning the one against the other was accomplished without much difficulty. What better way to maintain power than to have the two sides destroy each other in a civil war in which the anti-subversion unites of the security apparatus manipulate the players on both sides? Both Souaïdia and Samroui make clear this is precisely what the Algerian military junta did during the dirty war; they go even further, suggesting it was not the Islamic opposition that unleashed the violence that provoked the civil war, but the state, through its counter insurgency units.
During the Algerian Civil war, the secular opposition was wiped out in large measure by the Islamic radicals; the names of many of the victims were, according to Souaïdia and Samraoui, often supplied to the killers by the security forces! The Islamic radicals, in turn, were then largely crushed by the military. When it is over and all the dust has settled and the country exhausted by the orgy of violence unleashed, who is left standing with their hands still on the levers of economic and political power: the military-security cabal that was in power before the conflict began.
Mohammed Samraoui
The prologue of Mohammed Samraoui's Chronicle of the Years of Bloodshed begins in a Bonn, Germany hotel room with Algerian General Smaïl Lamari, second in command of the Algerian Secret Service, the Sécurité militaire (SM) asking Samraoui to arrange the assassination of two Algerian Islamicists, political refugees in Germany, Rabah Kébir and Abdelkader Sahraoui. Samraoui describes the two as "well known public figures, certainly regime opponents, but nothing close to being dangerous terrorists." His refusal to commit to the operation marks Samraoui's departure from the Algeria's counter-terrorism effort.
Like Souaïdia, Mohammed Samraoui appeared headed for an illustrious career in Algeria's security apparatus when he quit and defected to Germany. Samraoui was a senior officer in the Algerian army who was committed, until he knew better, to helping rid the country of its Islamic terrorists. By 1996, when he defected, he had risen up the ranks, having achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Joining the military in 1974, early on, Samraoui received a degree in engineering and biochemistry. He taught at the Institute for Military Security at Béni-Messous, and then occupied a number of positions within the Sécurité militaire throughout the country. From the outset he was involved in Islamic anti-terrorism effort but by 1992, that is to say relatively early in the civil war, critical of the way that the war on terrorism was being fought, he asked to be relieved of his duties.
As he tells it, in order to silence him, he was offered the post with the Algerian embassy to Germany, which he accepted that year. As the civil war wore on, Samraoui became increasingly convinced that this was not a civil war between the state and Islamic radicalism, but instead a war conducted by the Algerian government against its own people.
In 1996 he returned to Algeria, where once again he was offered a promotion and a position on the senior staff of Mohamed Médiène, head of the SM. As he notes, "I understood what that meant. I would have been put in the position of having to order Algerians to kill one another." Rather than do that, he defected, asked for political asylum in Germany. It was accepted and he's lived there since.
Samraoui's book lends legitimacy to and reinforces Souaïdia's claims. Early on in the text the former comments2:
As an insider close to the pulse of events, and able to observe the plans and actions of both the Sécurité militaire in which he participated as well as those of its twin organization, the Départment du renseignement et de la sécurité (DRS) – the secret police run out of the Ministry of Interior, Samraoui was able to piece together 'the system' as it functioned in the war against terrorism. He details the organizational structure of the anti-terrorism effort in considerable detail.
There have been no serious challenges to the facts and hypotheses Samraoui presents. As John Adams put it long ago – in a quote also later ironically attributed to Stalin: "Facts are stubborn things." For Khaled Nezzar, it appears, he's caught…Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
Part three on the collusion between French and Algerian intelligence will appear soon.
1Mohammed Samraoui. Chronique des Années de Sang. DeNoel Impacts. Paris: 2003. p. 19-20
2Ibid. p. 19


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OK – Bull Runnings is on another "top" list for Civil War blogs. I don't mean to be cavalier about these things, but I'm not sure why I'm on this or any other list – I don't know the methodologies behind the selections or the motivations of the selectors. But they have at least taken the time to compile the list, and I should at least take the time to acknowledge it. There were a few blogs I expected to see on the list and saw, a few I expected to see and didn't see, and a few I didn't expect to see and saw. But check it out – you may be turned on to something you didn't know about.
A List With My Name On It21 01 2011
3 responses
- 21 01 2011
Jim Rosebrock
Mine was on the list and it would fall in your category of "I didn't expect to see and saw." Hope to see you soon.
- 22 01 2011
Nick Kurtz
I agree, I was surprised to see mine on there. I just haven't had the time lately to do much anymore.
- 23 01 2011
Hi Harry,
It was nice to see Civil War Memory on the list as well, but this is a marketing scheme. It's an easy way for an Online "school" to bring visitors to their site. Just be very careful when applying third-party code to your blog. The code itself may damage your site and these badges almost always slow down the load time of the home page.

subset: commoncrawl


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Brad Pitt my be the best looking man on the planet. And he's having sex with Angelina Jolie.
The actor is actually underrated, in terms of his talent. Pitt has been nominated for an Oscar - for his role in 12 Monkeys - and has put on masterful performances in Se7en, Babel and Fight Club.
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Story highlights
Airport micro hotels let travelers sleep in cabins rented by the hour
The facilities give guests a private place to sleep during layovers
The concept is spreading outside airports too, with one design to be installed in downtown Moscow
Airports are no place to sleep, as any weary traveler who has tried to grab a few minutes shuteye during a layover can attest.
But that may be changing, thanks to a new breed of short-stay, pay-by-the-hour micro-hotels popping up in airport terminals around the world.
Based loosely on the concept of the Japanese "capsule hotel," these cabins and boxes allow sleepy travelers to seal themselves off from the surrounding commotion for a 30-minute power nap or a solid night's sleep without having to leave the terminal for a hotel. Some even contain toilets and showers.
In recent years, versions of the concept have emerged from London to Moscow and from Philadelphia to Dubai, with other destinations likely to follow this year.
And they are spreading beyond the airport terminal. Yotel, which operates short-stay "cabins" in airports in London and Amsterdam, has also opened a hotel in Manhattan based on a similar concept, while Sleepbox, which has a demonstration model in Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, will open 60 of its units in downtown Moscow in a matter of weeks.
Here are three of the best micro-hotels proving that size isn't everything.
Yotel has operated its pod hotels in London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports since 2007, and in Amsterdam's Schiphol since 2008.
Described by the company as being "inspired by first-class airline cabins," and by one user review as "a cross between a train compartment and a space ship," these small units pack in single or double beds, entertainment systems, a work desk and an en suite bathroom into between 7 to 10 square meters.
The cabins –32 at Heathrow, 46 at Gatwick and 57 at Schiphol – cost about £25 ($39) for four hours, or about £60 ($93) overnight.
Yotel also operates a hotel based on a similar concept in New York City, with 669 slightly larger rooms.
Yotel marketing director Jo Berrington said the airport cabins had very high occupancy rates, and the company planned to roll out its operations in other airports soon.
See also: World's best airport restaurants
Napcabs are 4-square-meter, self-service booths operating in Terminal two of Munich Airport. Six cabins are currently in operation, with plans to add more in coming months. They contain a bed, desk, air conditioning, internet access and a TV.
The minimum charge for their use is €30 ($38), which buys two hours between 6am and 10pm, or three hours outside those times. The company says it is moving to other airports shortly.
The cozy, 4-square-meter Sleepbox contains a maximum of three bunk beds, bedside tables, electrical outlets, and reading lamps and can be equipped with a television and alarm clock. A model Sleepbox was installed in the Aeroexpress terminal of Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport in August, and will be put into commercial use in coming weeks when 60 are installed for use in downtown Moscow.
The Sleepbox's designers envisage the units will also be used in train stations, shopping malls and exhibition centers. They can be booked for as little as 30 minutes; Sleepbox recommends a usage charge of U.S. $15 an hour.
See also: Techy hotels a hit with geeky guests
Minute Suites provides private rest spaces for travelers to relax, nap or work inside the security areas at two U.S. airports.
Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport has hosted the micro-rooms since late 2009. Philadelphia International Airport also installed 13 suites in 2011.
Standard features include a daybed sofa and an HD television. A desk, phone, office chair and Wi-Fi internet connection ensures each suite can also act as a makeshift office space.
A minimum one-hour stay costs $30, while every 15 minutes thereafter is charged at a rate of $7.50.
Situated in Terminal one of Dubai International Airport, SnoozeCube offers a compact and soundproof room complete with bed, touchscreen TV and internet access.
There are currently 10 units in operation and a one-hour stay costs as little as $16. All SnoozeCubes are connected to the airport's flight information system to ensure that passengers do not miss their flights.


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Recently I've had 3 different ex's contact me … was there a full moon or something? Don't you ever wish they would just disappear? I do … seriously, you delete their number and totally cut off contact. Then what? They find you again. Well I say if we are not together it's for a reason, it's because I don't want you or you were a naughty naughty boy. So why do they call you? Sometimes they miss you or sometimes they have ulterior motives … we've all heard of sex with the ex? Well it's a bad idea! The past should stay in the past … there's a reason you're not together anymore.
We tend to sometimes just think about and remember the good times and forget about all the times they screwed us over … they are Somebody That You Used To Know … keep them that way!!! How to do that? Well there's an app for that!! LOL … no really there is an app for that!!! They block all calls from any number you want to avoid. Hmm who would you block?
But let's get back to my "ex factor" stories …
So first I run into Mr. S at the store. Good thing I was in a rush. I saw him from far and he came up to me and hugged me, I didn't hug back. Guess what he did? Yup … he sniffed me. If you recall, he loved the way I smelled so much he would just sniff me in public. He would literally take a big whiff and look like he was in ecstasy. He let me go and asked how I was and I said I was doing great … he went on and spoke about what he was up to, but he saw I really wasn't interested in the conversation. He asked me what was wrong and I said I was busy and in a rush. He said "fine go" and so I did. Didn't hear from him since, weirdo.
Who else? Well, Mr. F keeps trying to woo me back, but it seems he is getting the picture now. He sends me random messages that he misses me and wants to see me, but I refuse. He comments on my pictures on FaceBook still and thinks I am so beautiful … OK I admit I never get tired of hearing that, but, flattery will get you nowhere. You made your bed bello, now lie in it!! Ciao!!!!
Then, Mr. Z comes back into the picture … guns blazing. He wanted to be in contact again. He wanted us to be friends. He started by sending random messages of questions or jokes. Well, what he really wanted to know is if what I wrote about him was bad or good to which I responded "I always write truth, if you were good, then I wrote good, if you were bad, I wrote bad". If you recall, he was the one with the fiance. He kept bugging me to send him the post but I didn't . He kept bugging me, even telling me he promised not to comment. So I caved, I sent it to him. He read it and responded that in addition to being so sexy and beautiful, I was also a great writer. I said thanks. Then he said "I didn't comment". I told him he could comment if he wanted because everyone was entitled to their opinion. He didn't comment. We are still in contact because he insisted we need to be friends because I am the most amazing woman he's ever met. He said that he tried to forget me and couldn't. I agreed (I mean about the friends) … but I told him I reserve the right to tell him off about what he did whenever I want. He agreed. He wants to see me, I haven't agreed yet. I didn't ask if the fiance was still in the picture. Perhaps I should … but it doesn't matter because, as you know "we will never ever ever get back together".
My Conclusion?
The more things change the more they stay the same. The relationship ended for a reason and that reason is still there. Why on earth would I go back to dating them? Friends, maybe, but no relationship. I've said before I'm very forgiving and believe in moving forward instead of staying stuck in the past. That doesn't mean I forget, however, how someone treated me will always be engraved in my head and my heart and I will never ever forget. Remember that "someone may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel" (Carl W. Buechner) and if someone hurt me and broke my heart then I will always remember. I will never give them the chance to do that again. Plain. Simple.
Your Sister in Dating Bliss,
Single Dating Diva
Copyright Single Dating Diva


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It might be a measure of the desperation of local Democrats that as part of a new campaign to "Stop Bruce McPherson" from being elected 5th District supervisor, they bring up McPherson's long-ago tenure as the editor of this newspaper.
Not that being editor of a community newspaper is any great recommendation to hold public office, of course — but is citing editorials written more than three decades ago a reason to vote against a tested state leader?
It's true that McPherson's family once owned the Sentinel, before selling it 30 years ago.
McPherson has had no connection with the paper since 1992. But it's what he's done since, and what he offers now, that make him our choice in the June 5 supervisorial election for the district, which includes the San Lorenzo Valley, Scotts Valley and parts of Santa Cruz.
McPherson has served in both the state Assembly and state Senate, winning elections for those seats handily despite being a Republican in a heavily Democratic region. He ran and lost a race for lieutenant governor, and subsequently was appointed secretary of state by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, later losing to current officeholder Debra Bowen in a statewide election.
Since then McPherson served as a key member of California Forward, a state government reform group he recently stepped away from.
McPherson's primary challenger in the June 5 election is Eric Hammer, who owns an SLV construction firm. Hammer has been active in Democratic party politics, has served on the Boulder Creek Recreation and Park District Board for seven years. and stresses his ties to SLV in contrast to McPherson's long identification with Santa Cruz. Like McPherson, a fourth generation Santa Cruz native born into a wealthy family, familial ties are important: His mother, Mary Hammer, has been influential in valley projects and organizations for decades.
Also running is Lompico water board member Bill Smallman, who has called for the creation of a county commission to attract business, but is mostly unknown outside the small SLV community.
While Hammer, as expected, has picked up the Democratic party endorsements, McPherson — an energetic 68 — has far outpaced him in fundraising and the former state legislator says he's out knocking on doors to deliver his message up and down the district.
McPherson long ago positioned himself firmly in the ever declining moderate wing of his party, a position that has sometimes put him at odds with conservatives. As a lifelong resident of Santa Cruz County, he says he's excited to tackle local issues such as deteriorating roads, budget shortfalls, even law enforcement staffing and coverage.
By temperament, McPherson is a conciliator who does not stake out overly partisan positions. This should serve him well on the ostensibly non partisan board, if elected. He has the political gift of putting people at ease and letting them know he listens — qualities that also will help him representing a diverse district.
Hammer is a qualified and engaging candidate who has a political future. But he simply doesn't have the experience and broad contacts across the state that McPherson has developed in 11 years in the Legislature and two years as secretary of state.
Local governments do not operate in a vacuum; what happens in Sacramento has a huge influence on Santa Cruz County. That in itself is enough to tip the scales. Voters in the 5th District should elect Bruce McPherson as their next supervisor.


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People have been exchanging customs and ideas in Western Africa as long as there have been people. Now, it's your turn. From the G Expedition, you'll get the chance to explore one of Africa's most vibrant (and curiously underexplored) regions from a hotel that goes wherever you do. A solid combination of activity and leisure, you'll have ample time to spot rare birds and endemic wildlife with skilled naturalists, mingle in local markets and learn about the region from our experienced expedition staff, including naturalists, historians, anthropologists, and ornithologists. While at sea we'll also enjoy South African wine tastings from our very own sommelier and enjoy daily lectures from experts. Africa by sea? We didn't believe it was possible either.
What's Included
- 15 nights on board the M/S Expedition
- Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
- 2 night hotel accommodation (Cape Town and Accra)
- Shore excursions, sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary
- Zodiac excursions with our expert expedition team
- Lecture and educational programs with expedition team
- Onboard Wine tastings with David van Niekerk, Vintner, High Constantia Winery, Capetown, South Africa
Learn the history of voodoo and the slave trade, visit multiple UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Explore bustling local markets and colonial architecture in historic West African ports, Gain insight into the region's modern history, Interact with our expert expedition team, wine taste while enjoying the comfort and cuisine of the G Expedition.
Dossier Disclaimer
The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.
VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.
Itinerary Disclaimer
While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
Important Notes
As a service to our passengers, the G Expedition will apply for group entry visas for shore excursions during West Coast of Africa Cruise. Passengers are responsible for the costs associated with obtaining these visas. Please see Visa section for more information.
The Expedition is an adventure Expedition ship and does not offer an elevator
Traveling West Africa is an opportunity to help developing nations embrace tourism. Do not expect tourism / public works infrastructure to be up to par with other areas of the world.
The port cites that are open to us are often a great distance from cultural points of interest and there may be shore excursions with extended bus trips to access sites of interest.
Group Leader Description
A carefully chosen team will lead our voyage. Our expedition ships boast an international team of professional naturalists and lecturers. Their goal is to provide an informed and balanced interpretation of the destination, accomplished through stimulating lectures, day-to-day briefings, and informal discussions. Your lecturers and Expedition Leader will cover all aspects of the voyage including ornithology, marine biology, geography, geology, history and the environment, as well as practical things like photography. The expedition staff work conscientiously with you on deck and in the field, improving your observational skills to allow you to experience all that the destination has to offer. Their strong sense of ethics and ecological knowledge make for stimulating and mindful conversation whether onshore or at the dinner table. The Expedition Staff will pilot the Zodiac landing craft used for shore landings and Zodiac cruises; they are experienced drivers who operate the Zodiacs in a responsible manner.
Group Size Notes
134 passengers
Meals Included
17 breakfasts, 16 lunches, 16 dinners
Onboard our expedition ships you'll find a diversity of gourmet international cuisines prepared and catered by professional chefs; all meals are included in the price of your expedition. Dining is casual, tables are unassigned and the dining room is capable of seating the entire passenger complement at one time. There is always a selection of different meals available, and vegetarians will find plenty of options. Special dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice, please advise us at time of confirmation. Coffee and tea are all provided free of charge. All other beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic are not included and can be purchased in the dining room, pub or the lounge.
G Expedition, Bus, and Zodiac.
Solo Travellers
We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and single travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Twin-share hotel (2 nights), G Expedition quad, triple, twin-share cabins, or suites (all with en suite bathrooms and porthole or window) (15 nights). Please note that all cabins consist of twin-sized berths and are ocean-facing. Suites have one queen size bed.
Joining Hotel
For details of your joining hotel please refer to your tour voucher, G Account, the G Adventures App or contact your travel agent.
Joining Instructions
Upon arrival into Cape Town, A G represntative will be at the airport to meet you. Upon leaving the baggage claim area you will see a large open area with sign boards all around. Look for a G Adventures sign board with your name.
In the event that you do not meet up with your transfer, please contact the emergency contact listed.
Emergency Contact
Should you need to contact us during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call either the G Adventures Local Representative (if one is listed below) or our G Adventures Local Office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.
G Adventures Local Representative, Capetown, South Africa
Ellie Brinklow:
Main Emergency Phone: +27 72 352 1645
Mobile Phone: +27 83 751 7428
If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, please call the numbers listed below, which will connect you directly with our 24 hour Sales team, who will happily assist you.
Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from UK: 0344 272 0000
Calls from Germany: 0800 365 1000
Calls from Australia: 1 300 796 618
Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999
What to Take
In the worlds most remote destinations that the G Expedition travels to we cannot offload our plastics, glass or tin waste for recycling. Therefore, we try to reduce what single use items that we use. You will see on the ship that every effort is being used to stop the use of single use plastic containers, bags and other items. In an effort to prevent plastic waste from entering the waste stream, we are asking for your help. We offer exceptional drinking water on the ship with refilling stations for your re-useable water containers. You will be provided a complimentary water bottle to fill up as needed. Plastic Items such as single use shampoo/conditioner plastic containers cannot be recycled, so please plan to bring any plastics back to your home countries for recycling. Please do not bring single use items that you intend to leave behind such plastic bags and throw away razors. Your participating in helping to prevent pollution and promote recycling is greatly appreciated.
Dress on board is informal. Plan to bring comfortable, casual clothing for all activities. Always pack one water proof layer in the event there is rain. However, it's important to note that the weather will be hot and lightweight clothing is strongly suggested.
It's helpful to note that we may have multiple visits to local schools in some of the villages visited. You may wish to bring donations in the form of school and art supplies. Our team will help facilitate with contributing these items directly to the head master of the school. Below is a suggested list
- Art supplies
- Pencils, pens and paper
- Deflated soccer ball
- 5 separate postcards of iconic places from your town, city or home country. These will be used for a piece of art we would like to create for the students.
Packing List
Health & Safety:
• Face masks (required)
• Hand sanitizer (required)
• Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)
• Rubber gloves
Suggested Reading
Achebe, Chinua, Things Fall Apart, 1958.
Akeampong, Emmanuel Kwaku. Themes in West Africa's History, 2006.
Bay, Edna. Wives of the Leopard: Gender, Politics, and Culture in the Kingdom of Dahomey, 1998.
Bender, Gerald. Angola Under the Portuguese: The Myth and the Reality, 1978.
Biddlecombe, Peter. French Lessons in Africa: Travels with my briefcase through French Africa, 1993 (reprinted 2009).
Bowen, Elenore Smith. Return to Laughter, 1954.
Conrad, David C. Empires of Medieval West Africa (Revised Edition), 2010.
Erdman, Sarah. Nine Hills to Nambonkaha: Two Years in the Heart of an African Village (Ivory Coast 1998-2000), 2003.
Hochschild, Adam. King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa, 1998.
Kingsley, Mary. Travels in West Africa 1897 (3rd. Ed. 1965.
Kryza, Frank T. The Race for Timbuktu: In Search of Africa's City of Gold, 2006.
Meredith, Martin. The Fate of Africa From the Hopes of Freedom to the Heart of Despair: A History of 50 Years of Independence,
Meredith, Martin. Diamonds, Gold and War: The British, the Boers, and the Making of South Africa, 2007.
Pakenham, Thomas. The Scramble for Africa: White Man's Conquest of the Dark Continent from 1876 to 1912, 1991.
Riley, Captain James. Sufferings in Africa: The Astonishing Account of a New England Sea Captain Enslaved by North African Arabs, 1965 (New Edition 2000).
Shostak, Marjorie. Nisa: The Life and Words of a !Kung Woman, 1983.
Spindel, Carol. In the Shade of the Sacred Grove, 1989.
Thomas, Elizabeth Marshall. The Harmless People, 1959.
Van der Post, Laurens. The Lost World of the Kalahari, 1958.
Wright, Donald R. The World and a Very Small Place in Africa: A History of Globalization in Niumi, the Gambia, 2009.
Aboard the M/S Expedition laundry facilities are provided at a nominal charge.
Visas and Entry Requirements
Important Information Regarding Visas
As a service to our passengers, the G Expedition will apply for group entry visas for shore excursions during West Coast of Africa Cruise. Each passenger is responsible for the costs associated with each visa. We expect the total cost of all Visas to range from $500 to $600 USD per passenger. Estimated Visa costs at time of sailing will be charged to each passengers shipboard account upon embarkation and reconciled at the end of the cruise if need be. Note that visa costs are at the discretion of each government and in our experience exact costs can change at short notice.
Passengers should confirm prior to departure that they are eligible to obtain a visa for each of the countries visited either with their home countries foreign affairs office or see your travel agent.
As always all countries require a valid passport (with a minimum 6 months validity). Your passport should also have 10 blank pages for Visas.
A final reminder is that travellers must also obtain the applicable travel Visas to enter South Africa. We encourage you to check with your local Embassy, Consulate or High Commission to see if you require a travel Visa to enter South Africa.
XVCADX – West Africa Cruise – Cape Town to Accra
Countries Visited:
South Africa
Sao Tome and Principe
Spending Money
Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
Money Exchange
Onboard the Expedition:
While on board our Expedition ships, cash and most major credit cards (VISA, Mastercard and AMEX) are accepted to pay for your onboard account to cover incidental charges such as bar bill, laundry visas and shop purchased.
As Expedition will travel to numerous countries during her voyage up the West Coast of Africa the crew of the Expedition will assist passengers in changing money into local currency at each port. We recommend bringing small denomination US Dollar and Euro BILLS as many markets and local mearchants will accept this.
Before and after the cruise:
Credit cards and debit cards are very useful for cash advances. Visa cards are the most widely accepted cards. While ATMs are widely available, there are no guarantees that your credit or debit cards will actually work overseas. Check with your bank. You should be aware that to purchase products or services on a credit card a fee of 5%-10% usually applies. Do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money. A combination of US dollars cash, travellers cheques and cards is best. Always take more rather than less, as you don't want to spoil the trip by constantly feeling short of funds.
Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. It is an expression of satisfaction with the persons who have assisted you on your expedition. The industry standard and suggested amount is USD $10 – 15 per person per day spent on board. Of course, tipping is a personal choice and the suggested amount is set only as a guideline. The money is collected by the Hotel Manager at the end of the voyage and distributed amongst the crew and Expedition Staff.
Optional Activities
No optional activities
All passengers on the West Africa Cruise are required to submit a medical form. Available here, https://www.gadventures.com/medical_form/ Follow the directions on the form, and if necessary, a Doctor's authorization will be required. It is very important that we are advised of any special meal requirements, food allergies, or prescribed medication when you confirm your tour. The ship is equipped with a small infirmary with typically required medications and limited equipment. The ship's doctor is available for visits during the day and is available 24 hours per day for emergencies.
Yellow Fever Certificate Note:
A Yellow Fever Certificate (International Certificate of Vaccination) is a REQUIREMENT for this West Africa itinerary, as we do visit yellow fever endemic countries. Please consult with a travel clinic / Doctor prior to travel. The yellow fever shot requires 10 days to become effective. The vaccination should be at the latest, two weeks prior to travel.
Health regulations in your country of residence may require specific inoculations for the countries that you will visit on our voyage. We suggest that you confer with your own physician to check specific requirements, and to be sure your routine immunizations, such as tetanus, diphtheria and hepatitis A, are up-to-date before traveling. Older travelers, in particular, may wish to consider preventive measures against influenza and pneumonia.
Safety and Security
Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers' cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home – you won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. When travelling on a group trip, please note that your CEO has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your CEO will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. While your CEO will assist you with options available in a given location please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an activity in your free time. Although the cities visited on tour are generally safe during the day, there can be risks to wandering throughout any major city at night. It is our recommendation to stay in small groups and to take taxis to and from restaurants, or during night time excursions.
Protests and Demonstrations- Protests and demonstrations, even those that are well intended, have the potential to turn violent with no warning. Counter protests can also turn violent. Action by security forces to disperse demonstrators and protesters may occur at any time. If you are in an area where demonstrators or protesters are gathering, avoid the temptation of staying for a good photo opportunity and leave the area immediately.
Water based activities have an element of danger and excitement built into them. We recommend only participating in water based activities when accompanied by a guide(s). We make every reasonable effort to ensure the fun and adventurous element of any water based activities (in countries with varying degrees of operating standards) have a balanced approach to safety. It is our policy not to allow our CEOs to make arrangements on your behalf for water based activities that are not accompanied by guide(s).
Swimming, including snorkeling, is always at your own risk.
We take all prudent measures in relation to your safety. For ways to further enhance your personal safety while traveling, please visit:
Trip Specific Safety
We recommend that you wear minimal jewelry and that you keep valuable items safely stored in our complimentary safety deposit box, which is located at the Purser's Desk.
A Couple of Rules
Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for our travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of people in the sex trade is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our CEOs have the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they utilize the services of paid sex workers, in any capacity.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required. G Adventures can provide you with the appropriate coverage. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Some tours include adventure activities that require extra coverage (e.g. crampon use); please review your itinerary and make sure that you are covered for all included activities. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Planeterra Foundation - the non-profit partner of G Adventures
Planeterra International Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to turning travel into impact by helping local communities earn an income from tourism. Planeterra connects underserved local communities to the benefits of tourism by developing and supporting small community-owned businesses. These businesses support Indigenous people, empower women, grant youth access to employment opportunities, and protect the environment. Planeterra also works to ensure these businesses have a thriving customer base by integrating their projects into G Adventures' itineraries globally.
G Adventures is Planeterra's largest corporate donor, covering all operating costs, so 100% of your donation will bring opportunity to people in need.
G Adventures Dollar-a-day Program – Make Every Day Count – Turn your travel into impact with Planeterra Foundation.
Did you know? Most communities around the world do not benefit from tourism. Give back to the places you visit on your travels by creating opportunities for local people to earn an income, and protect the environment.
Make every day count by donating $1/day for the length of your trip, and join us in empowering the communities you will visit when you travel. 100% of your donation goes directly to Planeterra projects.
After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback information is so important to us that we'll give you 5% off the price of your next G Adventures trip if your feedback is completed on-line within 30 days of finishing your trip. Your tour evaluation will be e-mailed to you 24 hours after the conclusion of your trip. If you do not receive the tour evaluation link in the days after your tour has finished, please drop us a line at email@example.com and we will send it on to you.
Our adventure travel e-newsletter is full of travel news, trip information, interesting stories and contests. To avoid missing out on special offers and updates from G Adventures, subscribe at www.gadventures.com/newsletters/
Stay current on how our company invests in our global community through our foundation – Planeterra. Sign up for Planeterra's monthly news to learn more about how to give back and support the people and places we love to visit.
Minimum Age
Minimum age of 10 years for this trip.
International Flights
Check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport.
Max Pax
Group Leader
One Expedition team member per 10 guests.


text:
Proponents of Amendment 64, the marijuana-legalization measure, frequently promote their initiative by talking about the money it would generate for state and local governments.
They argue that the measure, which would allow marijuana sales to anyone over age 21 at special retail stores, would put tens to hundreds of millions of dollars into state and local government coffers annually. One Colorado think tank estimates the measure would generate $60 million a year to start.
But other experts who have examined the issue say it is deeply uncertain how much money the amendment could generate. A dizzying number of factors — the number of stores, the demand, the price, the amount of tax evasion, the federal government's response and even the measure's impact on other industries — go into determining how much new revenue the amendment would create. Though the measure would make it legal for adults anywhere in the state to possess up to an ounce of marijuana, local governments could ban marijuana stores.
"It's tough to put a precise figure on it," said Vanderbilt University law professor Robert Mikos.
Money is never far from the conversation in debates about the initiative. In one television ad for the amendment, dollar signs float out of an image of Colorado toward Mexico.
"We all know where the money from nonmedical marijuana sales is currently going," a narrator says. "It doesn't need to be that way. If we pass Amendment 64, Colorado businesses would profit, and tax revenues would pay for public services and the reconstruction of our schools."
The left-leaning Colorado Center on Law and Policy estimates the measure would generate $60 million a year initially in tax revenue and savings and $100 million a year after five years. The state's nonpartisan voter guide estimates that the amendment would produce $5 million to $22 million per year in state sales tax.
But when Mikos looked at California's 2010 marijuana-legalization measure, which made similar revenue claims, he concluded: "Proponents have grossly overestimated the marijuana tax's potential by downplaying, or simply ignoring, the complexities of enforcing it."
Mikos said that holds true for Colorado's amendment. It's just too difficult to predict how the various factors would combine.
The tax revenue for the Colorado amendment would come from two places. Marijuana stores — which would be regulated by the state — would pay state and local sales tax. The store owners also might pay an excise tax of up to 15 percent when buying marijuana from licensed wholesale growers. The first $40 million collected each year from the excise tax would be put toward public-school construction.
The state legislature, though, would have to refer that excise tax to the ballot in a separate election, and voters would have to approve it. The measure's opponents cast doubt on whether it will be implemented. Even if it is, it could cause some marijuana sellers to stay underground and avoid the tax.
How much money comes in would also depend on the demand for legal marijuana, the number of people who choose to stay in the medical-marijuana system, where cannabis is not subject to a state excise tax, and the price of marijuana — which could plummet with legalization, said Beau Kilmer, the co-director of the Rand Drug Policy Research Center.
"If the taxes are set too high, you still have to worry about a black market," Kilmer said.
The Colorado Center on Law and Policy writes in its report on Amendment 64 that its estimate accounts for price drops and tax evasion, which it concludes won't be substantial.
"Legalization will reduce production costs that will offset the tax, so there is little concern about evasion affecting revenue," the report states.
A report this year by the National Cannabis Industry Association, a trade group for medical-marijuana dispensaries, found that dispensaries in 10 cities in Colorado in 2011 paid about $10 million in state and local sales tax.
Carnegie Mellon professor Jonathan Caulkins said some factors could boost revenue numbers. For instance, if Colorado becomes a hub for marijuana tourism, demand at marijuana stores would not only increase, but those tourists would also spend money on hotels, restaurants and rental cars.
"It's possible that could be a bigger impact than the excise tax," said Caulkins, adding that overall revenue amounts are unpredictable in both directions.
John Ingold: 303-954-1068, firstname.lastname@example.com or twitter.com/john_ingold


text:
Big day for Rick Riordan! He was named author of the year by hundreds of thousands of young readers at last night's Children's Choice Book Awards (we hope you caught our live tweets from from the awards show).
And 'The Throne of Fire' comes out today – the new and eagerly-awaited sequel to his best-selling 'The Red Pyramid'. Heroic young magicians! Powerful Egyptian gods! Chaos snakes! We can't wait to read it.
Of course, you probably know all that, because everyone loves Rick Riordan.
But what you didn't know is that, thanks to the generosity of Mr. Riordan and Disney Publishing Worldwide, First Book will be able to offer this brand-new title on the First Book Marketplace, our award-winning online site for schools and programs serving children in need. Not only that, but we'll be able able to offer the first book in the series, 'The Red Pyramid', as well. (Oh, and we have some of the Percy Jackson books, too!)
So if you're a teacher or program leader serving kids in low-income communities, register with First Book and get your students the books they're dying to read.


text:
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7.All the dresses are copies from the web pages,not exactly same absolutely.but we try our best to make the dress close to the pictures.so please purchase rationally.though it is cheaply.
Since your feedback is very important to our business`s development, we sincerely invite you to leave positive feedback for us if you are satisfied with our product and service. It`ll just take you 1 minute. Thank you!
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Buzz on over to see delightful new posts at www.catchingfireflies.com/blog
Thanks for traveling with us & see you real soon!
Buzz on over to see delightful new posts at www.catchingfireflies.com/blog
Thanks for traveling with us & see you real soon!
October 16, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (1)
1. In celebration of Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, we are donating a dollar for every facebook like we get in the month of October to Almost Home Animal Rescue & Haven. Our goal is to get 2,000 likes so we can write a check for $2,000 that will go to helping our furry friends find forever homes.
We rescued our Basset Hound, Gus over 2 years ago & he still makes us smile everyday :-)
2. FREE GOODY FRIDAY! Every Friday we give away fantastic finds to our firefly fans. All you have to do is tag yourself in the giveaway photo & you're entered. We draw three lucky winners on Monday & you get to pick up your loot at our Rochester or Berkley location.
3. Fun Firefly Facts that are interesting & amusing like...
Fun Firefly Fact #477: The delicious flavor of mushrooms intrigued the pharaohs of Egypt so much that they decreed mushrooms were food for royalty and that no commoner could ever touch them. Don't these stuffed shrooms look good enough for a queen?
Fun Firefly Fact #480: Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year & a popular observance during this holiday is eating apples dipped in honey as a symbol of a wish for a sweet new year.
Fun Firefly Fact #448: Lemon trees bloom and produce fruit year-round. Each tree can produce between 500 and 600 pounds of lemons in a year. Who knew you could do so many things with this pretty fruit?
4. Visit our store in your pajamas. Want to see our hip Halloween display... the latest scarves & hats we put out... the load of trend jewelry our UPS man just delivered or get ideas on what to get your dad for his birthday? You can tour through all our goods with a click of your keyboard.
5. Tasty recipes that will inspire you to mix up your same-old dinner routine. What's one thing we love besides whimsical gifts? ... Delicious dishes & tempting treats! That's why we can't resist posting links to recipes that make us drool like... mushroom & swiss sliders with spicy fry sauce banana cupcakes with peanut butter frosting and poor mans smores.
I warned you about the drool ;-) So what are you waiting for? Head on over to catching fireflies facebook page & give us a thumbs up so we can give Almost Home Rescue another dollar!
Thank you for helping us make days brighter for our furry friends!
Like to see how you can help us make days brighter for those in need? Stay in the loop by signing up to receive these inspiring updates in your email inbox!
September 29, 2011 in giving back | Permalink | Comments (1)
Tags: almost home animal rescue, catching fireflies facebook page
Soup season has officially begun now that the temps are dipping into the 30's & 40's in the evenings. One soup combination that I have a hard time resisting is the perfect marriage of broccoli & cheese.
This hearty variation I found in our Michigan Cookbook will definitely leave your family full & satisfied.
1 12oz package of frozen hash brown potatoes
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped carrots
4 cups chopped broccoli
2 packages of chicken broth mix
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups skim milk
6 oz pasteurized American cheese, cubed (Velveeta)
In a large stockpot, put water, potatoes, celery, onion, carrots, broccoli, chicken broth mix, salt & pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer until vegetables are tender, 15-20 minutes. Blend flour with milk. Slowly add to vegetables, stirring constantly, until thickened. Add cheese cubes & stir until melted & smooth.
Serve up with warm crusty bread & enjoy!
Like recipes that taste delicious & are easy to make? We love finding & sharing yummy dishes. Don't miss out on our future finds... simply sign up to receive these blog posts in your email in box.
September 29, 2011 in really good recipes | Permalink | Comments (3)
Tags: cheesy broccoli soup recipe
With the days getting shorter & the nights getting colder... it's the perfect time to throw on some chilled music like new beat & pop under the covers with book or in a hot bath.
A review reads, "Some albums are meant to be played loud. Toro y Moi's "Underneath the Pine" is not one of them. The second effort from Chaz Bundick expands on the dreamy bedroom haze of his debut - roll your eyes and call it "chillwave" - ditching laptop sounds for live instrumenta-tion. This is music that is meant to linger in the background - the hippest of on-hold tunes." -David Malitz
Like discovering chilled-out tunes that take you to a dreamy place? Simply subscribe to this blog and we'll email you our latest and greatest music finds.
September 28, 2011 in music to groove to | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: new beat, Toro y Moi's, Underneath the Pine
Since our Berkley catching fireflies location is turning 11 years old this Saturday, I thought it'd be fun to share a few fun birthday cake recipes with a twist like...
birthday cake pancakes ... now that's the way to start your birthday!
And for an afternoon treat, how about some birthday cake popcorn?
Take the edge off adding another year to your age by sipping on this fancy cake batter martini.
And since we have our resident store kitty, Piper... this pretty pink treat is just for her!
Like unique recipes that are outside of the box? We love finding & sharing fun treats. Don't miss out on our future finds... simply sign up to receive these blog posts in your email in box.
September 21, 2011 in really good recipes | Permalink | Comments (1)
Tags: birthday cake pancakes, birthday cake popcorn, cake batter martini, unique birthday treats
Thank you for participating in our Gettin' Organized Giveaway. I'm soaking in all that fall has to offer by reading all your fantastic comments about the season. Also, thanks for spreading the news to your friends through facebook, twitter and email forwards. Word of mouth has always been our best form of advertising and we couldn't do it without YOU!
Our lucky winner is Barb and her favorite thing about fall... "It probably seems really obvious but going to the Cider Mill for fresh apple cider and those yummy cinnamon sugar donuts!"
Don't want to miss out on future fantastic firefly giveaways? Be sure to stay in the loop by signing up here and we'll email our fun-filled blog posts to your inbox.
September 21, 2011 in fantastic firefly giveaway | Permalink | Comments (0)
Turns out there's this chic market filled to the brim with vintage goods called Junk Bonanza that was being held just a half hour from St. Paul the same weekend I was attending The Creative Connection. Lucky for me, the lovely Leigh Standley had extra room in her van for me to tag along for this treasure hunt.
We bought the early bird tickets to avoid the crazy crowds & score the best finds.
I love the repurposing of this seat spring.
So many different collections of all kinds and displayed so creatively too! It was hard not to indulge knowing I was limited to a suitcase.
Michelle scored a sweet letter A to pay homeage to her last name - Allen
Leigh & Michelle were capturing images with their snazzy SLR cameras. I'm very tempted to add one around my neck, but for now this slim point & shoot will do.
Slides for lampshades... bike seats for necklace displays ---- love clever repurposing & reinventing
Seriously... there was something for everyone.
Here's a few goodies that came home with us. I must say... I'm tempted to drive down next year -but that could be very, very dangerous ;-)
Stay tuned for more fun from my trip to the twin cites.
Like to see where I spend my time away from catching fireflies? Then sign up to receive blog posts like these in your email inbox HERE
September 20, 2011 in about town | Permalink | Comments (2)
Tags: junk bonanza
With summer vacations behind us and fall schedules getting into a groove, Steve & I thought it was a fine time to reconnect with our neighbors & hear all about thier summer adventures.
So I dropped these invites in their mailboxes a couple of weeks ago & we had a fine fall party last Sunday. (Not realizing that the 1st Lion's game was also on at this time, I made sure to have our television tuned to the channel for score updates throughout the afternoon. GO LIONS!)
Since tomatos & basil are so tasty right now, I made a few of these delish skewers to add to the appetizer selection.
So many of the neighbors thanked us for hosting this little get-together and it was soooo easy to make it happen. All you need is a few chairs, card tables (covered with cute tablecloths helps:-), some random weeds/flowers placed in flower vases/jars, a few of your favorite beverages on ice, paper plates, plastic forks & napkins. And voila... you've got an afternoon of getting to know your neighbors a bit better!
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September 14, 2011 in about town, really good recipes | Permalink | Comments (1)
Now that fall is in full swing, there's no better time to fine tune your organizational skills. Always have a card ready to send for any occasion with this handy greeting card organizer. Remember your summer concert experience for years to come by collecting your stubs in this clever ticket stub diary. Keep all your passwords in one spot with this cute & portable password book. And jot down the day's itinerary on this stylish dry erase message board wall sticker. ($59.84 retail value)
So how can you get organized for free?
There are 3 ways to enter - you can do 1,2 or all 3 to better your chances.
1. Comment at the bottom of this post and tell us: What's your favorite thing about fall?
2. Spread the word about our giveaway on your Facebook page by clicking the Share on Facebook link below then comment on this blog post saying that you did.*
3. Tweet this link: http://bit.ly/Gettin-Organized-Giveaway
-then comment on this blog post saying that you did.*
We'll draw 3 lucky firefly fans names on Wednesday, September 20th, 2011 and post it on the blog.
Have fun, good luck and thanks for playing!
Don't want to miss out on future fantastic firefly giveaways? Be sure to stay in the loop by signing up here and we'll email our fun-filled blog posts to your inbox!
September 13, 2011 in fantastic firefly giveaway | Permalink | Comments (95)
Can you believe our original Berkley location is eleven years old? We're pretty proud to have made it to the 5th grade of the retail world... thanks to fantastic firefly fans like YOU!
So to celebrate, we're offering 20% off our entire store on Saturday, September 24 from 10-6 at BOTH our locations & onine.
Plus, we're donating 5% of the sales that day to Camp Casey of Royal Oak. They brighten days by providing horseback riding programs for children with cancer.
And we'll be serving up sweet cider & donuts all day long... the perfect fuel for a day of serious shopping.
Still craving for more? Our sister store, Yellow Door Art Market in downtown Berkley will also be hosting a Day of Deals! You will be able to score bargains galore from 12 artists as they fill six tents with gobs of goodies marked at deliriously low prices!
Looking forward to seeing your smiling faces at the party on Saturday, September 24. Cheers to another year of making days brighter :-)
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September 13, 2011 in special store happenings, super sale items, whimsical window displays | Permalink | Comments (3)
Even though our firefly crew doesn't have to report to school tomorrow, they still have some favorite books they'd like to add to their backpack.
I absolutely love that this doodle book encourages imagination, which is why I recently bought it for my niece. She can pick it up or put it down whenever she's feeling creative. Do You Doodle? 12.95
Living in Michigan does not afford me this privilege, but believe me--I would live in flip flops year round if possible. I love the easy-going attitude of this book. It reminds me of things that I love, but tend to forget in the grind of everyday life :) How to Live in Flipflops $12.99
That's exactly what this book offers, a lot of little treats to make your party or get together a success. Mezza means a little bit of everything and this little book has everything. 500 Appetizers $16.95
The perfect place to keep your child's memories and of their school experiences. I can't wait to use the one that I bought for my son as he starts Kindergarten this Fall! School Years Keepsake Album $16.95
Each day write something that you are feeling grateful for. On a day of despair take out this journal and you are sure to put yourself in a better mood. Gratitude Journal $14.95
I bought this book for my daughter before our summer road trip and we spent hours playing! It brought back memories of my childhood and created new memories with my daughter. Cat's Cradle Book $9.95
Are you joking? There's a hole in Idaho that requires a boat to get to the green? I just added one more thing to my bucket list. Great gift for any golfer in your life. Golf's Best Kept Secrets $22.95
I bought this book for a very good friend of mine that i grew up with and we do not get to see each other often. So I bought this book and I wrote messages on some of the pages about things we did as kids together. She loved it and will cherish always. You've Got a Friend $14.50
Before there were snazzy books like this... I distinctly remember a middle school art project that involved coloring a full sheet of paper with various crayons, then painting over it with black paint & after it was dry, creating a a magical picture using a wood stylus.
How awesome that there is a book full of these fun sheets. I'm tempted to purchase one so I can doodle in it 25 years later :-) Scratch & Sketch Book $12.99
I purchased this book and use it all the time. Nothing is better then coming home from a busy day and having dinner already for you in your crock pot! It has wonderful recipes with simple ingredients that your whole family will love! 101 Things to Do with a Slow Cooker $9.99
Do you like seeing what our gals are loving? We're happy to share some of our favorite finds. Simply sign up to receive these blog posts in your email and you'll be in the loop & get our latest scoop.
September 05, 2011 in staff favorites | Permalink | Comments (1)


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Best Deals for Fall Shopping
Take advantage of reduced prices on jeans, lingerie and travel
Like so many things in life, when it comes to saving money, timing is everything. Or at least it can be.
See also: Explore a web of free stuff.
Knowing the right times to get the best deals — like maximizing savings on seasonal products by shopping at the end of the season and putting items away for next year — is a style of bargain hunting that has been elevated to an art form by some of my fellow cheapskates. In fact, I call these seasonal shopping specialists "discount druids."
No one knows more about when to get the best deals than Mark Di Vincenzo, author of the best-selling book Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon: A Guide to the Best Time to Buy This, Do That and Go There. I interviewed Mark at noon on a Wednesday, and given the boatload of money-saving advice he had to share with me, I'm convinced that Wednesday at noon is the best time to interview a discount druid guru.
Here's the skinny from Mark on when to find the best deals:
In the fall, you'll find discount druids in the back of most sporting goods stores, trying on last summer's reduced-for-quick-sale swimsuits amid the racks of full-priced parkas and ski wear. But beware: It's easy to forget how you actually look in a Speedo if it's marked down low enough.
"Fall is probably the best season of the year to find the most bargains on the widest range of things," Mark told me. (In case you're wondering, he says the worst season is actually summer.) "The Christmas shopping season has been getting longer and longer, so holiday sales now start in early fall," he says, adding that with the current recession, many retailers are slashing prices from the very first day of the elongated holiday shopping season in order to get more shoppers into the stores earlier.
Mark also says that fall is the season when manufacturers of many items — including cars, RVs and boats — release their new product lines for the coming year. This prompts retailers to cut prices on remaining inventory before it becomes "last year's model."
September: Stock up on items for your home office, since leftover back-to-school supplies will be marked down. Buy up bargain-priced end-of-season items like outdoor grills, lawn furniture, garden ornaments, lawn mowers, beach towels — and don't forget the Speedo. For September travel bargains, Mark says try Paris, Mount Rushmore or Martha's Vineyard.
October: October is usually the best month to buy jeans, as retailers stock up for the back to school rush and by now are discounting the leftovers. If you're looking for something sexier, lingerie (as well as jewelry) often goes on sale in October, as retailers make room for their holiday selection. Adding to a romantic evening: Wines are usually a bargain this month too, as vintners release new supplies to coincide with harvest time promotions. Gardening supplies and tools are often discounted, and remainder lots of perennial plants and other nursery stock can often be had for a small fraction of their original price as nurseries make room for mums, pumpkins and Christmas trees — plus, fall is the best time to plant perennials in many parts of the country. If you're in the market for a new bicycle, October is a good month to shop. And wait until the week just before Halloween to buy your costume — many retailers will have marked them down.
November: Start by stocking up on leftover Halloween candy at a deep discount (most can be frozen to keep it fresh). Many housewares, including cookware and kitchen utensils, are a bargain this month too. Travel in November if you can. Disney (World and Land) and the Bahamas are real bargains then. Cruise lines move their ships around the globe to accommodate winter schedules, sometimes offering dirt-cheap "repositioning cruises" to passengers rather than moving the ships empty. (FYI, they do the same thing — only in reverse — every April.) November is also the best time to buy toys for the grandkids. Don't buy just for the year-end holidays, but stock up for their next birthdays as well. Stock up on turkeys, hams and other holiday meats for the freezer. Look for special "loss leader" sale prices on these items at most grocery stores during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons that are likely to be the lowest prices of the year.
Jeff Yeager is the author of The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches and The Cheapskate Next Door. His website is www.UltimateCheapskate.com and you can friend him on Facebook at JeffYeagerUltimateCheapskate or follow him on Twitter.
Updated Fall 2012
You may also like: The "buy this, not that" quiz.


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Opportunity for Hungarian SpeakersWestern Union Processing Lithuania, UAB
- Skelbimas
- Atlygis/Miestas
- Apie įmonę
Opportunity for Hungarian speakers
Would you like to feel like a hero every day? Are you ready to unleash your potential in a global business that is committed to moving money for better? Join Western Union and start or continue your career in an international company.
Motivated by our values: purpose driven, globally minded, and trustworthy & respectful
We're a FinTech that's using insight from customers and colleagues worldwide to improve financial services for families, small businesses, multinational corporations, and non-profit organizations. We're a team of over 8,000 employees serving 200 countries and territories. We believe when money moves, better things happen.
Better starts and ends with customer
Western Union is looking for Hungarian speakers for various roles.
KYC (Know Your Customer) – Know Your Customer department is the team that analyses how customers are using our money transfer services as well as ensures anti-money laundering compliance by conducting customer interviews. For this role, previous customer service experience would be valuable. You would need to be flexible working in different shifts, according to business needs.
DRT (Digital Review Team) – Western Union provides our users an easy option to send money through our website by just accessing the site and entering personal information (payment methods, identity details, and the receiver's data). This information is extremely sensitive and valuable that needs to be protected from possible fraud or scam. The DRT department is fully trained and prepared to detect all patterns that may put our customer's safety in jeopardy and at the same time to take care of our business while proactively preventing risk in WU digital money transfers.
DCV (Digital Customer Verification) – The main responsibility is to respond to the need of Western Union to comply with regulations that require the identification of regular online service consumers. This role is a part of the Know Your Client (KYC) program, working with the process of identification of WU.com consumers. DCV is supporting WU.com consumers in the European region with their identity verification, conducting checks on Politically Exposed Persons, and providing support to consumers that are struggling with the identity verification process.
ADA (Agent Database Administrator) – Plays a key role in maintaining the consistency of databases amongst Western Union and central banks. You will be coordinating Agent's enrolment process with various functions based globally and activating Agents accounts. As well as maintaining data in multiple company databases.
Collections – Primary responsibility is collections. Under direct supervision, the associate contacts customers to determine the reason for payment delinquency and obtain payment commitment by placing outbound calls. Great opportunity to use your problem-solving and communication skills in different languages. A chance to get familiar with the Credit & Risk Finance team and work with the credit and payments cycle.
GFS (Global Field Support) – GFS department ensures support is provided to WU Agents regarding specific Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorism Financing, and Anti-Fraud laws and regulations, to create awareness of their role in detecting and preventing money laundering and terrorist activity while meeting their responsibilities as an Authorized Delegate of Western Union.
OCMI – Consumer Monitoring and Investigation (CMI) department is the team that investigates consumer activities to detect money laundering and other potential risks. They also undertake regulatory reporting, as required by law and by policies and procedures. Your responsibilities will include assisting and supporting the AML Compliance team to ensure that compliance requirements are being met. The key to meeting these requirements is your ability to use a wide variety of research tools, systems, and criteria.
Subpoena – Subpoena department plays a key role when Western Union receives compulsory requests from law enforcement agencies, police, and other responsible authorities. Your responsibilities will include reviewing all the incoming requests and ensuring they are compliant with our policies. You would need strong analytical, time management, and interpersonal skills as well as good knowledge of MS Excel.
Here are some skills, attributes, and qualifications you should have:
Bachelor's degree or equivalent
Fluent in the English and Romanian language
Outstanding verbal, written, and listening skills
A strong attention to detail, as well as a sense of initiative and proactivity
The ability to work successfully in a self-motivated team environment
A passion for customer service
Join us, and let's connect the world
Western Union is transforming its business and shaping the financial services sector by driving quality, convenience, and customer service to new levels of excellence. It's an exciting time for our organization, as the largest cross-border money transfer operator, trusted by millions of consumers around the world. If you're ready to unleash your potential to help drive change through bottom-up innovation, apply now.
We're a company on the move, and we want our people to grow and develop. You'll have plenty of opportunities to learn new skills and build a career, as well as a great salary and benefits package.
We are passionate about our diversity. Our commitment is to provide an inclusive culture that celebrates the unique backgrounds and perspectives of our global teams while reflecting the communities we serve. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, political affiliation, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, or veteran (U.S.) status. The company will provide accommodation to applicants, including those with disabilities, during the recruitment process, in accordance with applicable laws.
The monthly gross base salary range is 934.00 – 1670.00 EUR. This range represents the anticipated low and high end of the salary for this position. Actual salaries will vary and are based on factors such as a candidate's qualifications, skills, and competencies. Salary is one component of the Western Union total compensation package, which includes short-term incentives, multiple health insurance options, accident, and life insurance, and access to best-in-class development platforms, to name a few! The Recruiter will share other benefits specific to your location and role during the interview process.
Daugiau jūsų paiešką atitinkančių rezultatų:
€ 1180 – 1570
Galioja iki: 2023.04.19
€ 1571
Galioja iki: 2023.03.31
€ 1600 – 2000
Galioja iki: 2023.04.14
€ 1150 – 1500
Galioja iki: 2023.04.21
€ 1350 – 2200
Galioja iki: 2023.04.20
€ 1200 – 1700
Galioja iki: 2023.04.23


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America's Most Important Cities: 1978 vs. 2010
In many ways, the contemporary history of America's economy is really a story about cities. Metro areas rise and fall with each generation, buoyed or sunk by the industries and trends that support them.
The chart below, from the McKinsey Global Institute, does a beautiful job telling that story. On the left, we have the top 30 U.S. metro areas ranked by real GDP as of 1978. On the right, the top 30 for 2010. That cross-hatch of red and blue lines shows just how much churn there has been in the economy. But I think there are three main trends to take away from this.
First, there's the fall of the Rust Belt and the rise of the Sun Belt. As the country's economy eased away from manufacturing, which tends to be clustered in discrete regions, and towards services, which can be almost anywhere, people moved away from the old, frigid, and declining industrial centers towards states with cheap real estate and warm weather. Population growth ultimately means economic growth. And so you see the emergence of places like Riverside, Phoenix, Orlando, and Tampa.
Second, there's the dominance of finance. If New York had the same GDP today that did in 1978, it would still have the second largest economy of any American metro region. Instead, it nearly doubled. Same for Chicago. Not coincidentally, both of those cities consistently top lists of the world's financial centers. This has allowed them to overcome their slow population growth by generating more economic activity per resident. These are still massively populated metro areas. But they're also cities of bankers or commodity traders instead of retirees.
Finally, there's the shift West. As McKinsey notes, the locus of world trade moved from the Atlantic to the Pacific during this time period, which benefited cities in California and its neighbors. The tech sectors helped bolster San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle.
There are other stories inside this chart, such as the expansion of government that lifted Washington, DC, or the oil boom that built Dallas. But that's the broad sweep.


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Sagasta, Práxedes Mateo
Sagasta, Práxedes Mateo präk´sāᵺās mätā´ō sägä´stä [key], 1825–1903, Spanish statesman. A leader of the Progressive party in the Cortes, he was twice exiled for his opposition to the government of Isabella II. In 1868 he led, with Juan Prim, the revolution that resulted in the queen's deposition. He served as premier (1871–72) under King Amadeus and as cabinet minister under the first Spanish republic but retired after the restoration (1875) of Alfonso XII. In 1880 the Liberal party was founded under his leadership, and Sagasta alternated in power with Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, the conservative leader; he was premier five times (1881–83, 1885–90, 1892–95, 1897–99, 1901–2). In 1897, Sagasta granted autonomy to Cuba, which had been in revolt since 1895, but he was unable to prevent U.S. intervention and the defeat of Spain in the Spanish-American War of 1898. He was generally considered opportunistic, and blamed for the sterility of Spanish politics during the 1880s and 1890s.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Spanish and Portuguese History: Biographies


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Blagojevich hearing focuses on what's legal politics
CHICAGO — U.S. appeals court judges considering an appeal by imprisoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich focused their questions during oral arguments Friday on what constitutes run-of-the-mill politics and what crosses into political corruption.
During an hour-long hearing that was sometimes contentious, three judges of the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals frequently interrupted a prosecutor and pressed her to explain just how the 56-year-old Illinois Democrat's actions had strayed into criminality.
Blagojevich's attorneys want the court to toss his corruption convictions or at least agree to slash years off his 14-year prison term, which is one of the longest ever imposed for political corruption in a state where four of the last seven governors have ended up in prison.
The one-time contestant on NBC's "Apprentice" didn't attend the hearing; he remained at the Colorado prison where he's serving his sentence. But his wife, Patti Blagojevich, watched the proceedings, sometimes shaking her head when she disagreed with what was being said.
FBI agents arrested then-Gov. Blagojevich five years ago this week, and jurors convicted him of wide-ranging charges in 2011, including for trying to profit from his power to name someone to President Barack Obama's old U.S. Senate seat.
That allegation was at the core of Friday's hearing.
In seeking a cabinet post — possibly as secretary of health and human services — in exchange for a Senate appointment, Blagojevich was merely seeking to further political causes he'd long championed, including health care, Blagojevich attorney Leonard Goodman told judges.
"Mr. Blagojevich's defense is, 'I thought this was (legal) political horse trading,'" said Goodman, adding that Blagojevich was an avid student of political history and was therefore conscious of not crossing that line. "This wasn't some backroom deal."
Appellate judges often play devil's advocate, so questions they pose don't necessarily indicate that they are leaning for or against quashing a conviction. The three-judge panel in Chicago, however, clearly regarded the question of what is and isn't legal politicking as paramount.
Judge Frank Easterbrook, who has the reputation of liking to make attorneys squirm, even compared Blagojevich's bid to land a Cabinet seat to how President Dwight Eisenhower named Earl Warren to the U.S. Supreme Court after Warren offered Eisenhower political backing.
"It would be an act of shysterism to say that was OK, and this (Blagojevich's bid) was not," Easterbrook said.
Judge Ilana Diamond Rovner picked up that point, asking prosecutor Debra Bonamici, "Where is the line that differentiates legal horse-trading from a federal offence that puts you in prison?"
One distinction, Bonamici replied, lay in the fact that Blagojevich didn't seek favors primarily to help further his political causes. Instead, he always sought them to profit personally, she said, citing secret FBI wiretaps that were at the heart of Blagojevich's two trials.
"The defendant's message was that he wanted something for himself," Bonamici said. "This is not ... horse-trading."
In the most notorious excerpt from hundreds of hours of wiretaps, Blagojevich can be heard cursing as he talks about Obama's vacated seat, saying, "I've got this thing and it's f------ golden. And I'm just not giving it up for f------ nothing."
The panel isn't expected to issue a ruling on Blagojevich's appeal for at least several weeks. If it goes against him, he could try to appeal to the nation's highest court, though there's no guarantee the Supreme Court would even agree to hear his case.
Judges have already seen the 100-page appeal that defense lawyers filed in July and the government's 169-page response that was filed last month.
Blagojevich's filing includes a laundry list of alleged errors by trial Judge James Zagel. It says he allowed one juror — referred to only as Juror No. 174 — to remain on the panel during the second and decisive trial, even after he said about Blagojevich during jury selection, "I just figured him, possibly, to be guilty."
Blagojevich's appeal seems to face long odds.
Appellate judges at the 7th Circuit have a reputation for rarely quashing convictions unless a lower court's errors are egregious. According to 2012 court statistics, its judges reversed lower court findings in only around 15 percent of appeals.


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In April of this year it went live with a fresh look and exciting new content, features and videos: TRUMPF.com.
Starting on the first day of our in-house exhibition INTECH in April, TRUMPF invited all website visitors to a digital exploration through the new online presence. By the end of May almost 280 participants from 19 countries were looking for the right answers to eight questions – hidden in the new texts, videos or functions of TRUMPF.com. Among the most resourceful participants were Dennis P. from Garbsen, Michael W. from Berlin and Lucia D. from Stuttgart. In the draw from all correct submissions these three came out as the winners of a smartwatch from Apple (1st prize), an iPad (2nd prize) and a Bluetooth speaker (3rd prize).
We congratulate the happy prize-winners and thank you for all your participation! In the future TRUMPF.com will continue to be a site worth visiting. The new web specials, and constantly updated content and services make visits exciting again and again.