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Last time we saw the prince of the undead, he was impaled on a cross and turned into that pink sawdust bus drivers sprinkle on the floor when kids throw up. For just about anyone, even the common vampire, that would signal the end, once and for all. But this is Dracula we're talking about, and if Dracula Has Risen from the Grave proved to be a financial success for England's Hammer Studio, then you could bet good money on the fact that they'd find yet another way to bring the Count back from the dead, even if he'd been impaled on a cross and even if series star Christopher Lee was back out on the streets again telling anyone and everyone who would listen that the Dracula movies were awful and he would absolutely, positively, under no circumstances ever play Count Dracula again. Anyone who knows the cycle knows that means that the next film in the cycle, Taste the Blood of Dracula, stars Christopher Lee as the titular count, and that in turns means we'd have to read even more quotes from Lee about how he was practically forced to do this film, but that he'd sure as heck never do another one.
There are two common paths of thought regarding Lee's frequent and increasingly irritating complaints about Hammer's Dracula movies. The first is that, well, Christopher Lee is just sort of cranky and overly pompous about the whole thing. The second is that he made these statements with the full blessing of Hammer and with every intention, despite what he was saying, of reprising the role so long as the movies proved profitable. Having the star of a film out there talking about how horrible it all is and how he never wants to do another one is a surefire way to get people curious. Certainly Hammer seemed to have suspiciously peculiar luck with convincing Christopher Lee to go back on his bold proclamations. So either Lee is was a talker who never lived up to his own assertions, or he's just a cog in a clever Hammer marketing ploy, or Hammer has some bundle of pictures or other bunch of material that they use to regularly blackmail Lee.
In fact, Taste the Blood of Dracula was originally scripted by Anthony Hinds on the assumption that Lee would make good on his boasts and refuse to appear. Much like Brides of Dracula before it, Taste the Blood of Dracula was going to employ the threat of Dracula and his disciples without actually featuring the bloodsucker himself. As originally written Taste the Blood was going to be a showcase for Hammer's great young hope, Ralph Bates, the man they hoped would serve as the banner star for a new era of revitalized Hammer output. It seemed like a good idea. Christopher Lee was becoming more difficult by the day, and one has to assume that despite the man's marquee value, Hammer would be happy to just move on without him for a spell. And Ralph Bates was certainly an able man around which to structure the faltering studio. Where as Cushing and Lee and the previous generation of Hammer actors had represented an older, more distinguished presence, Bates was young and handsome and would appeal, Hammer hoped, to the younger kids who were fast becoming the bread and butter of the movie industry.
As the studio entered the 1970s, they were beginning to feel the weight of a faltering British film industry, a dearth of ideas for new movies that would keep Hammer fresh, and most of all, the feeling that Hammer films were simply outdated and old-fashioned. Behind the scenes, Hammer was rudderless and without any real leadership or idea of where the studio was going. As a result, Hammer's output during the 1970s was notoriously uneven, though several high points managed to rise above the widening pool of substandard Hammer fare. One of the keys to Hammer succeeding in the 1970s involved a serious update of the stodgy and old-fashioned reputation. This meant, among other things, more daring scripts, less naive looks at life, and above all, some new blood in the acting department that would appeal to existing horror fans as well as those shaggy-haired hippies and burn-outs with their bell bottoms and their Sergeant Pepper albums.
Unfortunately Warner Brothers, who distributed the films in the important US market, wasn't going to buy any of this. They didn't know who Ralph Bates was, and more importantly, they didn't care. If Hammer wanted their Dracula film distributed in the United States, then it damn well better have Dracula in it. American audiences wouldn't put up with a bait and switch (the success of Roger Corman and Al Adamson disproves this assertion), and if Warner couldn't have Christopher Lee in the film, then the film couldn't have distribution in the United States. Hammer scrambled to appease Lee in the same way but for much less money than the producers of the James Bond films begged and bought Sean Connery back into the Bond series (at roughly the same time. Diamonds Are Forever came out in 1971, but given the speed with which Hammer films were made versus the more liberal schedule of a Bond film, it's likely this sort of desperate buying back of established stars was happening at around the same time). With Lee on board again, under protest as he couldn't stop reminding people, a hasty rewrite of the script was in order so that Dracula could actually appear in the film to see who it was that going around tasting his blood.
Taste the Blood begins with a clever intro that signals the film's intention to put more work than usual into the process of reviving Dracula. A merchant traveling via coach with a couple of your standard issue gruff, superstitious villagers is bragging about the rare wares he has acquired during his recent antiquing sojourn through the Carpathian hills. While he may be proud of his knick-knacks, the villagers aren't as impressed, and when the merchant mentions a certain village, they just haul off and kick him out of the coach. Stranded in the woods at night, the merchant begins to hear the standard "stranded in the woods at night" sound effects. Owls, scurrying, and a howl that may or may not be Oliver Reed from Curse of the Werewolf. When a blood-curdling shriek fills the air, the merchant realizes that some seriously foul things are afoot in this cursed forest. By and by he falls off a ledge and comes face to face with the thrilling climax of Dracula Has Risen from the Grave. Once that movie finishes up, the merchant twists up his courage and sneaks down to collect the remaining artifacts, which include, as the title suggests, the blood of Dracula, or at least the powdered "just add water" variety we're used to seeing once Dracula finishes dying.
Some time later, we meet three upstanding citizens of Queen Victoria's England, and as you can guess, all three of them aren't nearly as pious as they pretend. Ring leader William Hargood (Geoffrey Keene, who appeared in Cromwell every James Bond films beginning with The Spy Who Loved Me in 1977 and concluding with The Living Daylights) is the most despicable of the bunch as he beats and berates his daughter for smiling at a boy and engaging in other acts of harlotry while, the very same night, gathering his cronies together for a night of exotic pleasures at the local brothel. Hargood and his fellows form sort of a mini Hellfire Club, though their indulgences in the forbidden pleasures of the world consist almost entirely of going to same brothel every month under the guise of "charity work" and then sitting in a room, drinking liquor, and watching foreign women dance naked. I'm not saying that isn't a fine night out on the town, but as far as experiencing the taboos from the farthest reaches of the globe go, it's pretty pedestrian stuff.
Hargood seems to realize this, and their boredom with their panty-waist sin leads them to seek out eccentric dandy Lord Courtley (Ralph Bates), who is one of those broke counts who gads about town in the finest high society frippery, scamming free meals from expensive restaurants and mooching off exquisite looking women of loose morals and poor judgment as he twirls his walking stick, doffs his top hat, and snaps his hankie about. In other words, a perfectly fine role model. Courtley is rumored to have dabbled in the black arts of Satanism or voodoo or something sinister, and so the three upstanding gentlemen seek out his company, though they never stop insulting him — which seems to me a poor way to treat the madcap young fop you're asking to initiate you into the next level of debauchery. Courtley sees in the gentlemen the perfect opportunity to get enough money to do something he's always wanted to do: namely, visit that merchant from the pre-credit sequence, buy Dracula's stuff, and mount a ritual to return the count to life. Reason? For the hell of it, it seems, which is as good a reason as any, I suppose.
As one would imagine, the ritual goes awry when Hargood's friends balk at actually guzzling down the thick, foaming blood of Dracula milkshake with which Courtley presents them. The ensuing argument results in Courtley's murder as he thrashes and writhes about after drinking the blood himself. Hargood and Co. high tail it out of the ruined old building in which the fun was taking place, and Courtley, not surprisingly proves to be just the vessel Dracula needs to return from the dead once again to wreak his unholy vengeance upon those who murdered his assistant, which doesn't make a whole heck of a lot of sense when you remember that Dracula has no idea who Courtley is, and that Courtley's death was necessary for Dracula to return to the land of the living. But what do you want when the script gets rewritten at the last minute?
The remainder of the film sees Dracula (Christopher Lee) gaining control over the sons and daughters of the three men against whom he bears this grudge, so that he can have them murder their own parents, which frees Dracula up to stand nearby in the shadows and count down the number of people against whom he has successfully extracted his revenge. Considering there's only three of them, it's not much of a countdown.
One of the things that sets this film apart from previous Dracula films is that Dracula is arguably the hero of the film. Though we still have to see him destroyed in the end, there's little doubt that he's no more vile than the men he's hunting. When he manipulates Hargood's battered daughter Alice (Linda Hayden, Blood on Satan's Claw) into smashing her wretched father's head in with a shovel, one almost feels like cheering, especially since this comes after a grotesque scene in which a drunk and leering Hargood viciously beats his daughter and looks on the verge of flat out raping her. Previous Dracula films have had gray characters — the self-righteous blowhard Monsignor from the last film springs immediately to mind — but those characters always had redeeming qualities. Hargood possesses no such qualities. He is despicable from beginning to end, and the audience has no problem feeling that he got what he deserved. The only thing wrong with his death, as I see it, is that it's the first, leaving the other two far less revolting characters to carry the plot when, if you ask me, Hargood's death should have been the climax of the story. Instead, we get Dracula hunting down the remainder of Hargood's cabal while milquetoast Paul (yet another Paul — nearly as many of these in Dracula films as there are Kloves, or Hans's in the Frankenstein movie) tries to save the soul of his beloved Alice Hargood and, in the process, send Dracula back from whence he came.
Taste the Blood represents a more savage critique of Victorian society than any previous Dracula film. There has always been an undercurrent in the films of the ongoing struggle between enforced morals and repression and the wild animalistic abandon represented by Dracula. But in previous films, the scripts always came down on the side of society, preferring its ordered repression to the lust and passion of Dracula. Here, however, the tables are turned and if Dracula's lifestyle isn't exactly championed, it's at least shown as being no worse than the hypocrisy and deceit of modern society. The point is made in rather a heavy-handed fashion, but so it goes. Although a more counter-culture, youth-friendly message about freedom triumphing over repression was nothing new in 1970, Hammer was still a relative neophyte studio when it came to tapping into the anti-authoritarian trends that had defined and all but escaped Hammer during the 1960s. With Taste the Blood, they're attempting to play a bit of catch-up, so one can forgive the ham-handed way in which they deliver the message.
Dracula is, once again, little more than a supporting player, a sort of shadowy puppet master with very little screen time who does precious little more than lurk in the shadows rattling off the body count like the Count from Sesame Street. But then at the same time, he doesn't have any less screen time or involvement in things than he did in most of the previous films. What Taste the Blood does is the same thing that Horror of Dracula and Prince of Darkness attempted to do, which is to keep Dracula constantly present as a threat, an ominous atmosphere of dread, even when Christopher Lee himself is nowhere to be seen. Only in the finale, which is admittedly half-baked, does Lee get to do his crazed thrashing about, though one has to wonder if the lord of the undead couldn't think of a better way to fight off a weak opponent like Paul than standing on a balcony and throwing garbage at him. It's just one step away from having Dracula swoop down and whack Paul on the head, then flutter up into the rafters to taunt him.
The rest of the cast is spectacular. Paul (Anthony Higgins, Vampire Circus as well as a small part in Raiders of the Lost Ark) is more boring than the previous Paul, but no more boring than any of the other straights we've had on parade. Linda Hayden acquits herself well as the other half of the boring romantic couple. The real strength of the cast lies in everyone else, an impressive assembly of solid character actors that perform above and beyond the call of duty, with Geoffrey Keen and Ralph Bates in the lead. For the couple scenes where he's allowed to spring to life, Christopher Lee is as good as he always is. Michael Ripper, who seems to have appeared in just about every movie Hammer ever made, gets promoted from the role of "suspicious barkeep" to "lackadaisical inspector." It's probably one of the best casts ever assembled for a Dracula film, and although it's common to bemoan the lack of Peter Cushing as Van Helsing, there's really no place for him thematically in this film, where the humans are generally so contemptible. Van Helsing's compassionate authority figure would have stood out like a sore thumb.
Taste the Blood continues to take Dracula further and further away from Van Helsing's theory that Dracula is is a perfectly explainable creature well within and soundly defeated by the powers of human reason. In fact, by Taste the Blood, Dracula is hardly even a vampire any more so much as he is some kind of supernatural demonic force. If ever he was the human-made monster, you wouldn't know it at this point. The more secular means of dispatching a vampire — garlic, running water, so on and so forth — that were previously employed have, by this movie, been dispatched almost entirely in favor of religious iconography. Although Taste the Blood is as steeped in religious imagery as Dracula has Risen from the Grave, it doesn't have any particular comment to direct toward religion the way that previous film did. Religion is simply a matter of necessity as Dracula has become less the prince of darkness and more the Antichrist himself. Or wait, are those the same? Whatever the case, Taste the Blood again presents us with a monster which, unlike Dracula as we knew him in the first couple of films, exists entirely within a religious — or sacreligious — realm where bravery and reason have less to do with destroying him than do faith and Christ.
Despite the weak ending, Taste the Blood is an exceptional entry into Hammer's Dracula oeuvre. Director Peter Sasdy eschews the ultra-vivid palette that characterized the Terence Fisher films and goes for a more subdued hue to the film, something more akin to reality and less stylized. Buildings and street are dark rather than brightly lit, and there is a palpable sense of decay in everything. Even Christopher Lee grudgingly admits that it turned out to be a good film, though to this day he won't stop going on about how corny the title is — and at least on this, one kind of has to agree with him, though I'd pay good money to see something under the same title debut on the Food Network.


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Dental Health and Root Canals
If you found you had a tooth with a diseased nerve, in the past it probably would have been lost. Today, the root canal treatment is used to save that tooth. A root canal is a relatively simple procedure that involves one to three office visits. Best of all, a root canal can save your tooth and your smile!
What is the purpose of a root canal?
A tooth's nerve is not crucial to it's health or function after the tooth has emerged through the gums. The only function it has is sensory, it provides the sensation of hot or cold. The presence or absence of a nerve will not affect the day-to-day functioning of your tooth.
However, when a tooth is cracked or has a deep cavity, bacteria is able to enter the pulp tissue and germs can cause an infection inside the tooth. If this is left untreated, an abscess can form. If the diseased tissue is not removed, pain and swelling will occur. This will in turn affect your jawbone, and can be detrimental to your overall health. Without the proper care, your tooth will most likely have to be pulled.
What are the signs that a root canal is needed?
Signs that you might need a root canal can include severe toothache, pain when chewing or when pressure is applied, prolonged sensitivity to temperatures, a dark discoloration of the tooth, and swelling and tenderness in the surrounding gums. Be aware because not all teeth that require root canal therapy are painful. If you experience any of these symptoms please contact your dentist.
What happens during a root canal?
If you require a root canal treatment, you will be asked to schedule one to three visits. During those visits, your endodontist or regular dentist will remove the affected tissue. After that, the interior of the tooth will be cleaned up and sealed. Lastly, the tooth will be filled with dental composite. If your tooth had extensive decay, your doctor might recommend putting a crown on the tooth to strengthen and protect your tooth from breakage. Your restored tooth will last a lifetime as long as you continue to care for your teeth.

subset: commoncrawl


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HANOI — Starbucks Corp. will open its first cafe in Vietnam next month in Ho Chi Minh City as part of its strategy to expand across Asia, the Seattle-based chain said Thursday. It will be entering a country of coffee lovers. At least two popular homegrown chains have dozens of locations nationwide, and family-run sidewalk cafes dot the streets of larger cities.
Starbucks operates more than 3,300 stores across 11 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, but its Vietnam cafes will celebrate the country's ''coffee culture and heritage.''
Vietnam, the world's second-largest coffee producer after Brazil, already provides beans to Starbucks. French colonizers introduced coffee to Vietnam in the 1800s; coffee here typically is stronger than European espresso.
Starbucks has nearly 18,000 stores in 60 countries.


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Luxury Travel Greece - VIP Travel Greece
If luxury vacation and vip travel is defined as authentic experiences with comfort and high standards of accommodation and dining, immersion into local culture, exclusivity, indulging in the very best of personal and attentive service and an experience created by personal preferences where every need is pre-empted and expectations exceeded, then Greece is the place to be. The debt crisis in Greece has not affected the country's status as a favorite destination for luxury travelers and has not scared A-list celebrities away from adding Greece to their holiday destination. Princes, movie stars, fashion "royals", sports personalities, super models and TV celebrities make their vacation memories in Greece.
Synonymous with lavish landscape and cosmopolitan nightlife, the Greek Islands are a magnet for VIPs from every corner of the earth and generally conjure up jet-setter playgrounds such as Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, Cyclades, Corfu, Kefalonia and Paros. For ultra-chic shopping, dining and nightlife, Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece's largest cities, attract visitors with high expectations, offering the perfect blend of luxury, location and amenities. Both cities are vibrant and exciting, with lavish hotels, trendy bars and restaurants, sublime spas, upmarket shopping, fascinating culture, friendly locals and great cuisine.
Exclusive lodging throughout the country, personalized service, gourmet dining, hotels and private villas with helipads, fabulous yacht tours, aesthetics, history, archeology, culture and romance compose the perfect setting for luxury vacations at any of the popular destination in Greece, such as Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, Athens, Thessaloniki, Corfu, Kefalonia, Cyclades, Peloponnese, Halkidiki and Greek Islands.
Offering a heavenly mix of professional care and luxurious surroundings, spas in Greece are the place to relax and let certified specialists primp, pamper and help you look and feel your best. Rejuvenating treatments and soothing massages from world-class experts are sure to turn the de-stress dial to max. What better way to explore Greece than from the water? Chartering a luxury super yacht in Greece means personalized and vip service and routes, and is comparable to dining at some of the world's best restaurants, as you sail the blue seas, see towering volcanic cliffs, secluded coves, swim and snorkel.
When looking for the ultimate indulgence, luxury vacation in Greece is just for you. In Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, Athens, Thessaloniki, Corfu, Kefalonia, Cyclades, Peloponnese, Halkidiki and the Greek Islands you can find anything from all-inclusive luxury resorts that include relaxing massages and gourmet meals, to luxury cruises with opulent settings and the finest accommodation. Whether it's your honeymoon or just your yearly trip, luxury travel and vip vacations in Greece are always the ideal choice.


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Advanced Acoustics F.A.T. PRO 10"
Acoustic Studio Foam Tile Kit
The egg-box or egg-crate profile is a fairly simple profile that is synonymous with studios. Its random pattern enables you to generate a large surface area without having to cover the whole wall. They are also a cost effective way of acoustically treating your studio whilst still giving you good basic absorption. Because of the nature of the random profile of the acoustic tiles it is very difficult to perfectly match the tiles up so it is often best to leave a gap between each tile when you are installing them in clusters.
The acoustic foam we use in manufacturing these and all our other acoustic tiles and products has been carefully selected to offer you optimum performance. The structure of the cells, the foam's density and the composition of the foam is perfect for offering even, controlled and balanced absorption. A studio or recording room will always benefit from some form of acoustic treatment. The use of the room and the acoustics of the space determines on which product(s) to opt for. The F.A.T. Acoustic tiles are a good place to start in ensuring you get the best out of your studio, especially if you are on a budget. With acoustic foam tiles such as the F.A.T. Acoustic Tile the liveliness of the room is brought under control and the room's response is improved.
The acoustic foam we use conforms to the more stringent fire tests of Crib 5 and Schedule 1, Part 1 of the Furnishings and Furniture Regulations so you will have peace of mind that the product you are using is safe also. And you also have our guarantee that the foam will stand the test of time. The colour we use has been carefully selected to ensure that it doesn't quickly discolour or fade over time. You won't have the problem of the foam crumbling and turning to dust either. We know that treating your studio is a big investment and we want to make sure that your investment stands the test of time. The only way to ensure that is by sticking with Advanced Acoustics. We have many years of experience in acoustic treatment and soundproofing. Acoustic Treatment and Soundproofing are the only products we deal with. You won't see us selling any other forms of foam or bedding. Acoustic foam is all we do and we are very good at it as our outstanding feedback and previous customers will testify. Our products have been used by a full host of companies including the BBC, Williams F1 Team, McLaren, Cisco, Cadburys and ITN just to mention a few.
This item is kept permanently in stock. The foam we use is an open cell polyurethane acoustic foam and is available in charcoal only. A thicker version of this tile is also available.
- Individual Acoustic Tile Size:10" x 10" (254mm x 254mm)
- Quantity Of Acoustic Tiles Per Kit:162 (Kit also includes 1 free can of contact adhesive)
- Total Area Covered Per Kit:112.5ft² (10.41m²)
- Acoustic Tile Thickness:¾" (20mm) at the base, 1 ½" (40mm) at the peak
- Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC):0.55
- Acoustic Foam Colour:Charcoal
- Acoustic Foam Density:30 kg/m3
- Acoustic Foam Composition:Open Cell Polyurethane Acoustic Foam
- Fire Classification:Crib 5 and Schedule 1, Part 1 of the Furnishings and Furniture (fire)(safety) Regulations 1988 (amended 1989)
- Profile Description:Random egg-box style profile cut on a convoluting machine
BW Price Guarantee
(Subject to conditions)
Tech Support
2-Year Warranty


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Rookie cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick isn't being asked to start right away for the Cincinnati Bengals. That might be a good thing.
The team's first-round pick excelled at Alabama, but entered the pros missing one important on-field skill.
Kirkpatrick played a lot of press man coverage in a Cover 2 scheme under Nick Saban. He said he wasn't asked to sit back and read receivers on their routes. All of this has made his first offseason in Cincinnati an adventure.
"It didn't look pretty," Kirkpatrick said of his first three days of practice with the team. Coach Marvin Lewis and his defensive staff are impressed with Kirkpatrick's development, but he won't be rushed into action. The Bengals are knee-deep in defensive backs. Leon Hall and Nate Clements should be ready for training camp after dealing with injuries this spring. Terence Newman and rookie Brandon Ghee are in the fold. And don't forget about Pacman Jones.
It's not unusual for rookies to hit the pros with holes in their games. The team would rather coach Kirkpatrick in its scheme than shake out bad habits. It's been a long time since we've been able to say this -- because the Bengals are finally deep -- but the rookies on this team aren't being asked to save the day.


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Spade Anchors
About Spade High Performance Anchors - The unique design makes it so effective!
Click here to Purchase Your Spade Anchor
Plow shaped anchors are designed to plow the sea floor, as they move through it - hence their name. SPADE anchors by name, and by action, dig deeply into the sea floor. Once they are within the sea floor, the concave shape of SPADE anchors is designed to compact the sea floor, and not move!
The Manufacturer of the SPADE anchor never refers to an anchor's weight, but rather to its effective surface area. The remarkable efficiency of a SPADE anchor is due to the size and shape of its effective surface: SPADE anchors of the same surface area will have the same holding power, no matter the material of which they are made.
Spade Anchor details
The SPADE anchor is manufactured in three materials (Steel, Aluminum, and Stainless Steel), and in ten sizes. Hi-tensile steel versions are hot-dip galvanized. All SPADE anchors of the same size, regardless of the material they are made of, will work with the same efficiency.
All models meet the seven safety criteria:
1.The anchor must dig in rapidly, regardless of the type of sea bottom.
2.The anchor must bury itself deeply within the bottom.
3.Once set, the anchor must give the maximum holding power without dragging.
4.If the traction force exceeds the bottom holding characteristics, the anchor must offer constant, and maximum, resistance to dragging - even if it moves under extreme load.
5.The anchor must keep on holding, regardless of the shift in direction of either the wind or the current.
6.The anchor design must not allow the anchor rope to become snagged by the anchor.
7.The anchor must be built strongly enough to withstand very high loads.
Ease-of-use benefits of the SPADE Anchor include:
No requirement to use any special mooring line, or anchoring technique.
It can be used with a low rode-length to depth ratio.
It is painted bright yellow so you can visually check how well it's dug in.
It is self-launching, and self-retrieving.
It fits snugly on most bow rollers, presenting a rounded forward surface.
It can be easily dismantled into shank and body, for storage or transport.
Additional Information
Technical Details of the SPADE Anchor
Click Here to Order your Spade Anchor Now!
(Pricing and Online Ordering Here)


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WNC Alliance: Three decades and still going strong
Just in time for its 30th anniversary, the Western North Carolina Alliance one of the region's most august environmental organizations is promising to reassert itself as a highly visible and prominent force in communities outside of Asheville.
To help fulfill that promise of renewed commitment the WNC Alliance will re-staff its offices in Franklin and Boone. In recent years the group has relied almost solely on volunteers to serve as its visible presence west and north of its Asheville headquarters. This is not to say WNC Alliance hasn't been present at all in these communities; just less so than in the group's glory days in the 1980s and 1990s.
WNC Alliance's beginnings, in fact, are rooted in Macon County. The environmental group was the brainchild of Esther Cunningham, a Franklin resident who became incensed at the proposition that companies might be allowed to mine the national forests for oil and gas.
"She wrote letters, she organized, she spoke at hearings, she learned Forest Service appeal procedure," said Bill Crawford of Macon County, who was one of the group's earliest members.
An issue-driven organization
Out of Cunningham's efforts the WNC Alliance began in 1982. Crawford said the idea of mining the national forests for oil and gas waned after companies realized that even if there were deposits here it would be too expensive and labor intensive to extract them.
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"That issue didn't really last much more than a year or so," Crawford said.
The group, however, was born from those efforts. WNC Alliance went on from those beginnings to help defeat a proposed nuclear waste site in Buncombe County in 1984.
It then started a campaign to stop clear cutting in the national forests. That issue caught the hearts and imagination of a large segment of people in the mountains and helped raised the profile of the environmental group.
"People were really passionate about the clear cutting," said longtime member Cynthia Strain of Highlands, who has been involved with WNC Alliance for 25 years.
Strain, who served for five years on the group's steering committee, remembers standing in front of the Highlands post office asking people to sign petitions against clear cutting.
"People just couldn't sign fast enough," she said, remembering the group collected 16,000 signatures or so regionwide. The group assembled the names onto a scroll of sorts, Strain said, and made a big show of unrolling them out for display.
While WNC Alliance has a long-history as a watchdog over the US. Forest Service — from the early days fighting clear cutting and mining to its current role monitoring logging that still goes on, albeit on a more limited scale, to make sure sensitive areas are protected — the U.S. Forest Service described the WNC Alliance as "among the Forest Service's many valued partners" in Western North Carolina.
"The U.S. Forest Service has worked closely with the organization for many years and appreciates its work," Forest Service spokesman Stevin Westcott said. "We congratulate the WNC Alliance on their anniversary, and we look forward to many more years of collaboration."
Strain said the seemingly lowered visibility of WNC Alliance these days is, in large part, because there simply hasn't been an issue such as clear cutting that has captured the public's imagination.
Mapping old growth forests, for instance, while important and interesting "is not the kind of thing that galvanizes a region," Strain said.
The discovery of previously undocumented stands of old growth forest thanks to the mapping project in turn gave environmental groups ammunition to lobby the forest service to make those places off limits to logging — a protection that otherwise would not have been afforded these last stands of old growth simply because they weren't on the radar.
Along with the lack of a headline-grabbing issue, WNC Alliance seemed to lose prominence at the same time Western North Carolina gave rise to a growing number of environmental groups. While WNC Alliance remains one of the big player, it is not the only player by any means. These days, there are environmental advocacy groups of every flavor — from air quality to water quality to land conservation to forest protection.
Meanwhile, when the group moved its headquarters to Buncombe County, some of its force in the region seemed to dissipate accordingly.
"There's been a tension between the large urban area and the outlying communities," Crawford said. He added, however, that he also believes "Asheville has a large group of well-meaning activists who do a lot of good work."
Crawford said he's optimistic that much of the organization's strength will return with the re-staffing of outlying offices.
Becoming a force again
That's what Julie Mayfield, the executive director of WNC Alliance, also believes.
"We have an organization vision for where we want to go," Mayfield said. "That's to become a powerful force throughout the region in a way that we are not right now."
Crawford attributed part of the pullback from the region to economics. And, in fact, when Mayfield took over a few years back the group had only a few months of money left to survive on.
"We went into the year thinking we were not going to make it," she said.
Under Mayfield and the board's leadership, however, the group not only survived it thrived: since then, WNC Alliance has doubled to 10 the number of full- and part-time staffers. The group's operating budget has doubled as well. Mayfield attributed the success to solid planning and to rebuilding credible relationships by "doing what you say you will do."
The group also has continued its work in the rural areas. WNC Alliance formed chapters in both Haywood and Jackson with the principle missions of encouraging residents pushing for steep slope regulations and development ordinance
Also WNC Alliance still conducts public-land advocacy in the national forests and serve as watchdogs of logging.
Mayfield is a big believer in maintaining a razor-like focus, and WNC Alliance works within three main platforms: forest advocacy, water and land use.
"We got very serious about our objectives," the lawyer-by-training said.
One point that Mayfield took pains to make: work by the WNC Alliance in the outlying areas has not stopped. It's just less visible than it once was. The alliance still works with the forest service on timber sales across the region.
"People don't necessarily see that work," Mayfield said.
These days, staff members handle most of the timber-sale negotiating and work. And over the years, much of the environmental group's work has in fact transitioned from volunteers to paid employees.
"We've moved from volunteer driven to staff driven," Mayfield said. "But we do have to have local people on the ground."
In addition to adding staff to the two field offices, Mayfield said WNC Alliance has added a part-time position in communications and plans to move toward permanent staff for its land-use program.
High-water marks
• 1982: Formed to fight companies wanting to drill for oil and gas on national forest service lands.
• 1984: Helped defeat proposed nuclear waste dump in Buncombe County.
• 1984 or so: Launched campaign to stop clear cutting in the national forests.
• 1989: Helped develop successful rural recycling programs in Macon, Madison, Jackson and Yancey counties.
• 1990: Led a four-year campaign to stop the city of Asheville from clear cutting in the Asheville Watershed. The city later placed a conservation easement over 17,356 acres of the watershed.
• 1990: Fought the construction of Interstate 26 through the mountains and helped to create a new state-wide transportation reform group, the North Carolina Alliance for Transportation Reform, that still exists.
• 1994: Claimed victory in its decade-long campaign to stop clear cutting in the national forests when the forest service eliminated clear cutting as a management tool and reduced overall logging levels.
• 1995: Defeated efforts to prospect for copper in the national forests.
• 1996: Worked to expose the devastating impacts of chip mills on forests, leading North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt to initiate a three-year study of the issue.
• 1997: Helped defeat a U.S. Forest Service proposal to build eight miles of roads and sell 480 acres of timber on Bluff Mountain in Madison County.
• 1998: Campaigned to establish the Jocassee Gorges Park in Transylvania County.
• 2001: Launched the first annual Southern Environmental and Energy Expo.
• 2001: Helped form Citizens for the Preservation of Needmore to protect the Needmore Tract in the Little Tennessee River watershed.
• 2001: Organized local citizens to fight construction of the North Shore Road in Swain County into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
• 2002: Led a successful campaign in the North Carolina legislature to pass the Clean Smokestacks Act.
• 2002: Conducted a landmark, systematic survey to discover previously-undocumented old growth on national forest lands to protect the stands from logging.
• 2002: Helped develop Land for Tomorrow, a statewide land conservation funding initiative.
• 2003: Helped establish the Buncombe County land conservation program.
• 2004: Again successfully led citizen opposition to city council's proposals to log in the Asheville Watershed.
• 2004: Initiated a program to protect native plants from non-native invasive species, with particular attention to the hemlock wooly adelgid.
• 2009: Secured a federal stimulus money contract to put 12 people, including 10 members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, to work on a five-year project to control invasive plants along nine miles of the Cheoah River.
• 2009: Launched Blue Ridge Blueprints, a community visioning and land planning program.
'Renewing Our Roots' WNC Alliance gathering
The Western North Carolina Alliance will hold a spring gathering April 14 to honor and celebrate the group's founding in Macon County.
A wildflower hike, birding outing and canoe trip on the Little Tennessee River will be held during the day. A celebration from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. will include a barbecue dinner and live music at the Memorial United Methodist Church where the group's founder, Esther Cunningham, was a member. There will be a presentation by Mars Hill history professor Kathy Newfont, author of Blue Ridge Commons: Environmental Activism and Forest History in Western North Carolina. The book features photos and a few chapters on the alliance's founding and advocacy in its early days in Macon County.


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In his heart, Mike Massenzio knows Saturday's UFC 136 bout could be his final opportunity in the octagon.
But in his heart, he also knows that he belongs in the world's top MMA organization, and against former WEC champion Steve Cantwell, he's determined to prove it.
With three consecutive losses in the UFC, Massenzio's UFC career is hanging by a thread. But the same goes for Cantwell.
"It's been up and down for me a bit," Massenzio recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). "But I really, truly feel in my heart that this is where I belong, and I'm just going to go after it and give it everything I have."
Massenzio (12-5 MMA, 1-3 UFC) returns to the middleweight division for the bout, and he and Cantwell (7-4 MMA, 1-3 UFC) lead off Saturday's 11-fight lineup at Houston's Toyota Center. It's the first of four prelims streaming on Facebook prior to fights on Spike TV and pay-per-view.
Massenzio, a former high-school and JUCO wrestling champion, earned his way into the UFC in 2008. His pre-octagon resume included wins over the likes of Dan Miller and Dante Rivera. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt then submitted Drew McFedries in his octagon debut before setbacks to C.B. Dollaway and Brian Stann.
The defeats sent Massenzio packing, and he sat out of competition for the next nine months. But after an outside victory over Nate Kittredge, he got a shot to the return the UFC. The situation, though, was far from ideal.
The details? Three' days notice. In a heavier weight class. Against a very tough Krzysztof Soszynski.
Massenzio took the fight anyway, and he suffered a lopsided decision loss.
"I signed the contract, I said I was going to fight, and I went in there with the mindset I was going to win," said Massenzio, who now returns to middleweight. "I was very disappointed when I didn't, but I have no excuses.
But Massenzio, who runs Team Ironhorse MMA and also trains at AMA Fight Club, now fights an opponent in a similar situation. Cantwell, a former WEC titleholder, also is stuck in a three-fight UFC losing skid.
Like Massenzio, Cantwell's UFC future will be determined on Saturday. Both are fighting for their UFC livelihoods.
"It's hard for me to know what he's thinking or feeling, but (even) with three losses in a row, he's a dangerous guy," Massenzio said. "He's a former WEC champ. He knows what he needs to do. He knows what it takes to to be the best.
"I'm expecting the best Steven Cantwell to come out and fight."
For more on UFC 136, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.
MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino's Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by Gorgeous George, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Goze. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.


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- Search
Publications: Lasic, Tomaz
Conference Paper
Thompson, G. and Lasic, Tomaz (2011) Doing something about it: Representations of NAPLAN in the public domain. In: AARE 2011, 27 November - 1 December 2011, Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart
Thompson, G. and Lasic, Tomaz (2010) That's not for our kids: The strange death of philosophy and ethics in a low socioeconomic secondary school. In: 40th Conference of the Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia Inc. (PESA), 2 - 5 December, Perth, Western Australia; Margaret River, Western Australia
Lasic, Tomaz (2007) Experiences of schooling of students with former Yugoslav ethnic background in a Western Australian secondary school. Masters by Research thesis, Murdoch University.


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Czech carrier Telefonica Czech Republic will not sell Apple's new iPhone 4S smartphone, one of the fastest-selling consumer electronics devices to launch in recent history. According to a recent report from local Czech newspaper Hospodarske Noviny, the carrier will also stop selling all prior iPhone models. Details are limited, but a spokesperson for the carrier cited Apple's business terms as the reason for the decision. Telefonica Czech Republic's Hany Farghali did not elaborate, though Apple's iPhone reportedly commands a much higher carrier subsidy than competing smartphone models — as much as 40% higher, reports claim — and that could be a factor. Telefonica Czech Republic's local competition, operated by Vodafone and T-Mobile, began selling the iPhone 4S late last month.
[Via Bloomberg]


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New ABC Show: 'Bachelor in Paradise'
Premieres Monday, Aug. 4 at 8 p.m.
This summer, 25 of "The Bachelor's" biggest stars and most controversial contestants are back looking for a second chance at love on "Bachelor in Paradise." They all left "The Bachelor" or "The Bachelorette" with broken hearts, but now they are back to find their soul mates. "Bachelor in Paradise" begins with 14 former cast members, eight women and six men, who travel to beautiful Tulum, Mexico hoping to turn a potential summer fling into the real thing. However, in true "Bachelor" fashion, there is always a surprise.
At the first rose ceremony, the six men are given a rose to hand out to a woman they'd like to spend more time getting to know in paradise. With an uneven number of men and women in the group, the two women left without roses are immediately sent home heartbroken. Just as potential couples start to pair up, everything changes drastically in the next episode when two new men arrive to paradise with love on their mind. For seven weeks, each episode will alternate between two new men or women joining the cast. New relationships may form and current ones may end. Every week, the two people who don't receive a rose will be forced to leave paradise. It's a constant love shuffle where surprise arrivals can rekindle old romances, spark new ones or splinter existing love affairs.
Below are the "Bachelor in Paradise" first-episode arrivals:
* AshLee Frazier, 33, Houston, TX - The Bachelor, Season 17 (Sean)
AshLee was falling hard for Sean so much so that she brought him home to meet her family. She thought they were taking their relationship to the next level, only to be sent home, shocked, after the overnight dates.
* Ben Scott, 30, Dallas, TX - The Bachelorette, Season 9 (Desiree)
Ben came off as the bad guy who used his son to gain attention from Desiree and in turn, alienated the other guys in the process. He was later dumped by Des after an awkward two-on-one date. This time around, Ben is looking to rehabilitate his image and is ready to meet the love of his life.
* Clare Crawley, 33, Sacramento, CA - The Bachelor, Season 18 (Juan Pablo)
After Juan Pablo humiliated Clare in a helicopter in St. Lucia, he rejected her at the proposal. Clare won America's heart by standing up for herself and putting Juan Pablo in his place after his offensive behavior.
* Daniella McBride, 26, Los Angeles, CA - The Bachelor, Season 17 (Sean)
This beachy blonde dated Sean for 7 weeks without receiving a one-on-one date. She was then sent home in tears.
* Dylan Petit, 26, Boston, MA - The Bachelorette, Season 10 (Andi)
Dylan tried to transform from a shy guy to the life of the party on Andi's season. Unfortunately, he was sent home the week before the hometown dates, just as he was starting to break out of his shell.
* Elise Mosca, 27, Los Angeles, CA - The Bachelor, Season 18 (Juan Pablo)
Elise opened up to Juan Pablo about her dying mother's dream that she would find love on The Bachelor. Unfortunately, their relationship failed to blossom and Juan Pablo sent her home.
* Graham Bunn, 35, Los Angeles, CA - The Bachelorette, Season 4 (Deanna) & Bachelor Pad, Season 2
Although Graham didn't find love with Deanna, he tried his hand at love again on Bachelor Pad 2. After a short relationship with Michelle Money, Graham moved back to Los Angeles and after yet another recent breakup is ready to put his past behind him and see if the third time will be the charm for him.
* Lacy Faddoul, 26, La Jolla, CA - The Bachelor, Season 18 (Juan Pablo)
Lacy left the very first night without ever really getting a shot with Juan Pablo. This caregiver to the elderly needs a good man who will take care of her.
* Marcus Grodd, 26, Dallas, TX - The Bachelorette, Season 10 (Andi)
A front runner from the start, Marcus fell head over heels for Andi. After his hometown date, however, Andi said goodbye and left Marcus absolutely devastated. He's coming to Paradise in an attempt to mend his broken heart and see if he is ready to love again.
* Marquel Martin, 27, Las Vegas, NV - The Bachelorette, Season 10 (Andi)
Marquel never went on a one on one date nor did he kiss Andi during his time on The Bachelorette. Although he didn't find a connection, that didn't stop his charisma and incredibly good looks from making him a true fan favorite.
* Michelle Kujawa, 30, Anaheim, CA - The Bachelor, Season 14 (Jake) & Bachelor Pad, Season 1
Michelle was very emotional on Jake's season of The Bachelor so she joined Bachelor Pad, Season 1 to fall in love but sadly didn't find it. She's coming to Paradise to prove to everyone that she's not the self-proclaimed "crazy girl" she once was.
* Michelle Money, 33, Salt Lake City, UT - The Bachelor, Season 16 (Brad) & Bachelor Pad, Season 2
Known for her outspoken and aggressive humor on The Bachelor, this single mom showed a softer side with her loving relationship with Graham on Bachelor Pad, Season 2. Though the two have since broken up, they remain great friends.
* Robert Graham, 31, Los Angeles, CA - The Bachelorette, Season 9 (Desiree)
Robert, the sign spinning entrepreneur went home before ever really having a chance to show Desiree who he is. Unfortunately for him, he dated one of Desiree's friends before the season began, which didn't work in his favor.
* Sarah Herron, 27, Los Angeles, CA - The Bachelor, Season 17 (Sean)
America fell in love with Sarah as they watched the girl with one arm date Sean and live life to the fullest. Now Sarah returns to Paradise with a newfound confidence.
SLIDESHOW: Meet the Contestants
SLIDESHOW: Episode 1 Preview
For seven weeks, this evolving group of men and women will live together in Tulum, Mexico on a private beach in Paradise. Over the course of the season, we'll follow these former bachelors and bachelorettes as they explore new relationships, fall madly in love and suffer unexpected heartbreak. The romantic dating series will feature new twists, shocking surprises, unexpected guests and some of the most unlikely relationships in "Bachelor" history, plus all the usual romance, drama and tears we've come to expect from the "Bachelor" franchise. It all comes together in the romantic television event of the summer, beginning Monday, August 4 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on ABC.
Hosted by Chris Harrison, "Bachelor in Paradise" is produced by Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television. Mike Fleiss, Martin Hilton and Alycia Rossiter are executive producers.


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We got back in our Jeep - a two door with the top off, parked next to all of these rich kids Audis and other high cost rides - we looked at each other and laughed. This is so not our seen, lets get the heck out of here!
So off to our neighbourhood we went - and it was a good thing as we were able to stop at the new place on 97th - The 97 Hot Pot!!
They are not used to "the white folk" in there, which made it highly entertaining as we had to keep reassuring them that we did not need a fork, we can use chop sticks. The concept is you get a metal bowl of broth which fits in the table, you then after choosing your delicious broth, order ALL YOU CAN EAT items off of the menu. They have slices of meat, they have their own mixtures of meatballs, there is seafood, there are lots of vegetables - and a whole heck of a lot of fun.
I really would recommend this place to any of you whom want something different, and aren't too chicken shit to come to china town - thats right, I am calling you out! Yes there is a sketchy walk through crowd there - lock your vehicle when you get here and just come. It is an adventure, none of these people are out to get you, and the more we all come out, the less they do! Plus you are all missing out on some really great experience in your own city.
97 Hot Pot is a must come out and eat at place in Downtown Edmonton, Alberta.
Complete with desert - this is "cake" - looks like jello, tastes good.


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McDonald's getting rid of items from menu
Associated Press
NEW YORK - McDonald's is getting rid of its Chicken Selects and Fruit & Walnut Salad, as well as considering the removal of Angus burgers.
The world's biggest hamburger chain also says in an emailed statement that it is "evaluating options as it relates to the Angus Third Pounders, and their role on the national McDonald's menu."
The changeup comes as the Oak Brook, Ill.-based company continues tweaking its menu, with plans to step up the number of limited-time offers in the year ahead. Most recently, the chain introduced its "Fish McBites."
McDonald's Corp. says the Selects chicken fingers were introduced in 2004. The Fruit & Walnut Salad was introduced in 2005 and the Angus Third Pounders in 2009.


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May 10, 2013 - FLEMING RACING ENGINES DOMINATES TAG CADET DIVISION AT PKC CALIFORNIA
A fixture on the national karting scene across the United States, Fleming Racing Engines powered competitors can usually be seen at the front of the pack. Dominating the Sportsman ranks across the nation in both World Karting Association (WKA) and International Kart Federation (IKF) events, Fleming Racing Engines was the power to have at this past weekend's SuperKarts! USA (SKUSA) ProKart Challenge California event at Adams Motorsports Park. Taking the top four positions and twelve of the top fifteen spots, results were plentiful for the California based engine builder.
"I have been working on the Vortex Mini Roks for three years now and have spent tons of time on the track and dyno figuring out how to make the most horsepower possible all while staying within the rules," expressed Fleming Racing Engines Owner Doug Fleming. "I had a hunch that this class would be similar to the Cadet and Yamaha Sportsman ranks that we have dominated for years and it fits right into my niche market."
This past weekend would see Fleming Racing Engines powered driver Trenton Sparks top the blocks followed closely by Ryan Shartau, Jaggar Jones and Jonathon Schone, all powered by the same engine builder. With 23 competitors in the field, Fleming would flex his muscles in this division taking twelve of the top fifteen positions as well as fast lap honors in the main event courtesy of Schone.
Fleming added, "The interesting fact about this past weekend's event is that a Fleming Racing Engines powered competitor has won the first three rounds of the ProKart Challenge California region with three different drivers."
Crisscrossing his way across the United States, Doug Fleming and his Fleming Racing Engines support is at almost every national race. Always willing to lend a hand and making himself available by phone for trackside assistance, Fleming Racing Engines has quickly become the leader in this market.
Fleming Racing Engines will continue to offer trackside support and engine lease options for the USPKS, WKA Manufacturers Cup series, SKUSA ProKart Challenge, SKUSA Pro Tour and several other events throughout the United States. Interested parties are asked to contact Doug Fleming at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Return to News


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Baseball card company strips Pete Rose of all-time hits record
Pete Rose is Major League Baseball's all-time hits leader with 4,256.
But don't expect to find his name attached to the historic accomplishment on any Topps baseball card.
That's because Topps does not acknowledge Rose's record on the back of any card where his feat is referenced in the feature labeled "Career Chase."
Why the omission?
"Since (Rose) is banned from Major League Baseball, we don't include him on any officially licensed products," said Matt Bourne, MLB's vice president of business public relations. "This is not a new policy."
Rose, now 71, is ineligible for the Hall of Fame and was banned from baseball in 1989 for gambling on games while playing and managing the Cincinnati Reds in the 1980s.
That ban includes Topps, which is an official licensed product.
Clay Luraschi, a spokesman for Topps, told ChicagoSideSports.com it was "a simple decision."
Why the hubbub now over Rose's exclusion? Rose's likeness hasn't appeared on a Topps card nor has he been referenced on the back of one since 1989. But it's how Career Chase is presented that makes it noticeable.
Career Chase is wedged between the player's personal information and his complete batting record. It indicates how close a player is to a particular record and who owns it.
For example, A.J. Pierzynski's card reads: "With 1,645 hits, Pierzynski is 2,611 from the all-time record of 4,256."
No mention of Rose.
Bobby Parnell's card reads: "With 249 games pitched, Parnell is 1,003 away from Jesse Orosco's all-time record of 1,252."
A clear acknowledgment to the career leader.
While Rose might not be cited as the all-time hits king, it should be noted that Barry Bonds is referenced on the cards as the all-time home run king.
Here are some examples:
Hat tip to Chicagosidesports.com


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A most dramatic appearanceThe old town of Bautzen offers a spectacular sight: the upper town sits on a massive granite rock while the buildings of the lower town nestle up to the bend of the Spree River which is on its way to Berlin. The silhouette of the upper town is dominated by a large number of towers. The Reichenturm tower is more crooked than the famous Tower of Pisa. The Alte Wasserkunst tower was used to pump water from the river to the heights of the upper town. The ancient mechanism is still functional and can be seen in action. Another tower belongs to Bautzen Cathedral which amazingly has been shared by Catholics and Protestants since Reformation.
A different cultureBefore Saxony was colonized by the Germans starting in the 10th century, Slavic tribes lived in the area. While they were assimilated elsewhere, around Bautzen the so-called Sorbs were able to preserve their own language and culture. So in Bautzen, their unofficial capital, everything is bi-lingual. Apart from visiting the Sorbian museum at Bautzen's Ortenburg Castle, it is interesting to participate in the Sorbian traditions, especially around Easter, or to sample Sorbian-style food.
A spicy delightWhat would German sausages be without mustard? Since the middle of the 19th century, the spicy paste has been made in Bautzen. "Bautz'ner" is the market leader in Germany, a real East German success story. The popular products can be sampled at the Bautzen Mustard Museum near Bautzen Cathedral. A large number of dishes made with mustard are offered by the nearby "First Bautzen Mustard Restaurant".


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New York: Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd is struggling to raise financing for its $4.7 billion bid for BlackBerry Ltd, with several large banks declining to participate on concerns that the smartphone maker will not be able to reverse its fortunes, according to people familiar with the matter.
Fairfax, which is run by Canadian financier Prem Watsa, is working with Bank of America Merrill Lynch and BMO Capital Markets to put together a lending syndicate for a deal, but they have been turned down by several large lenders, the sources said.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch and BMO both have deep pockets themselves, and it is still possible they will muster the necessary financing for Fairfax to submit a definitive bid.
Fairfax, the largest shareholder in BlackBerry with a 10 per cent stake, reached a tentative $9-per-share deal with BlackBerry in late September, and has until November 4 to negotiate a definitive agreement.
Several other potential bidders are also mulling participation in BlackBerry's future. The deadline for them to submit bids for the company is also Monday.
Fairfax and BlackBerry declined to comment.
The difficulties Fairfax has had in raising financing underscore the fading relevance of BlackBerry, which once pioneered on-the-go email but has bled market share to Apple Inc's iPhone and devices using Google Inc's Android software in recent years.
Should Fairfax fail to put together a bid for BlackBerry, a deal could still be possible with other technology companies in the sector. BlackBerry founders Mike Lazaridis and Douglas Fregin have also declared their interest in buying BlackBerry.
Lazaridis and Fregin are working to submit a joint bid with private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday. Chipmaker Qualcomm Inc also may join the bidding group, that person added.
It was not clear whether Lazaridis and Fregin would overcome the financing hurdles that Fairfax faces. Cerberus and a spokesman for the two founders declined to comment, while Qualcomm did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Strategics may be teamed up
BlackBerry also remains in discussions with several technology companies about a deal, the people familiar with the matter said this week, asking not to be named because the matter is confidential.
The company's advisers are looking to pair up the technology companies that are pursuing different parts of BlackBerry, which include hardware, operating systems, patent portfolios and network assets, the people said.
BlackBerry has held talks with a number of companies including Cisco Systems Inc, Google Inc, SAP AG, Lenovo Group Ltd, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics Inc and Intel Corp about selling part or all of itself, Reuters previously reported.
Some of these companies, including SAP, have since walked away from the deal, although the situation is fluid and there is possibility that interest may be renewed, two people said. A SAP spokesman said BlackBerry did not fit with the company's strategy.
Watsa's bid
In a September 25 interview with Reuters, Fairfax Chief Executive Watsa - often described as Canada's answer to Warren Buffett - said he was confident his consortium could find the money needed to fund their bid.
However, the proposal has met with rising skepticism as BlackBerry's prospects continued to darken. The company in September reported a quarterly loss of nearly $1 billion after taking a writedown on unsold Z10 phones.
Adding to the company's woes, it's likely to burn through almost $2 billion of its cash pile in the next year and a half, Bernstein analyst Pierre Ferragu wrote last month.
Canada's top pension funds - widely considered to be among the most likely backers of Watsa's proposal - declined to comment. However, some of their influential heads have already publicly indicated that they are unlikely to play any role in a bid for BlackBerry.
"No one has really committed themselves to any group because none of the people that have been circling around BlackBerry have come up with a very convincing business plan," Alberta Investment Management Corp's head Leo de Bever said on BNN Television, earlier this week.
The head of Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec - Canada's second-largest pension fund told Bloomberg last month that the Caisse was also unlikely to invest in BlackBerry, as it prefers investing in more predictable businesses such as Coca-Cola Co and Colgate-Palmolive Co.(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)


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More coverage on the shootings from affiliates KOLD, KVOA, KMSB, KPHO and KGUN.
[Updated at 10:30 p.m. ET] A man who helped subdue the gunman in Saturday's Arizona shooting spree said the man was trying to reload when he was tackled to the ground.
"He was ready for war. He was not playing around," Joe Zamudio told CNN. "He was going to keep shooting. It was not over. He had just ran out of bullets."
The gun, which another bystander had wrestled from the gunman, was empty and cocked open, and the shooter had another magazine at the ready, Zamudio said.
Zamudio pinned him to the ground until police showed up. The suspect, 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner, is in custody of the Pima County Sheriff's Office, and authorities are obtaining search warrants for a residence and his vehicle. Authorities also are seeking a person of interest but his suspected connection to the incident is unclear.
Loughner is accused of shooting 18 people, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a third-term Democrat who had organized the "Congress on Your Corner" meet and greet. Authorities believe the gunman had specifically targeted Giffords. She is in critical condition after undergoing surgery for a single gunshot wound to the head, but doctors said they are optimistic over her prospects for recovery.
Eleven others were wounded in the shooting and six are dead, among them U.S. District Court Judge John Rolls, a friend of Giffords' who had stopped by the event to say hello after attending Mass, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said.
Also killed was Giffords staffer Gabe Zimmerman, director of community outreach who had coordinated the event to introduce Giffords to her constituents.
A 9-year-old girl also was killed.
The shooting sent shock waves through Washington, where Giffords was regarded as gracious and kind, a moderate Democrat known for her dedication to her constituents and willingness to work across party lines.
In light of the shootings, all legislation on the House schedule for the coming week has been postponed, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor announced in a statement.
Americans also struggled to come to terms with the event. Many of them showed up to a vigil at the Arizona State Capitol to pray together and share their thoughts.
In the Twitterverse, theories abounded as to the gunman's motivation. Meanwhile, while speaking to the press , the sheriff lamented "the vitriolic rhetoric" in American political discourse, suggesting it played a role in the shooting.
"This has not become the nice United States of America that most of us grew up in and I think its time we do the soul-searching," he said.
"The anger, the hatred the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous and unfortunately, Arizona has become the capital. We have become the mecca of prejudice and bigotry."
[Updated at 10:00 p.m. ET] A House vote scheduled for Monday on whether to repeal health care legislation has been postponed after Saturday's shooting.
All legislation on the House schedule for the coming week has been postponed in a decision by leaders of both political parties in the House so "we can take whatever actions may be necessary in light of today's tragedy," House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said in a statement.
[Updated at 9:13 p.m. ET] Some who knew Giffords and others who just wanted an outlet for emotions in the wake of the shooting rampage gathered on Capitol Hill Saturday night to honor the victims.
More than 50 marchers braved subfreezing temperatures and gusty winds to march to the Capitol and up the west steps to hold the vigil.
[Updated at 8:55 p.m. ET] A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation says the Glock model 19 used in the shootings was purchased legally. The official did not have details at this time as to when and where the gun was purchased.
The gun was loaded with a 30-round magazine. The official said it is likely the extended magazine used in the shooting was purchased separately and at a different time. The official said such a magazine does not automatically come with a weapons purchase and that it would be extremely rare for them to be sold together in one purchase.
The official said the suspect had purchased another gun a few years ago but this person did not know the details about what happened to that weapon and if the alleged shooter still owned it.
[Updated at 8:23 p.m. ET] Officials are not convinced that the suspected gunman acted alone, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik told reporters.
Law enforcement is actively searching for a "person of interest" who is a white male in his 50s believed to have assisted the suspect in a shooting, Dupnik said.
A suspect who Dupnik would not name is in the custody of the Pima County Sheriff's Office, he said. The suspect has had previous contact with law enforcement "regarding threats" to kill, Dupnik said, and described him as having a "troubled past."
CNN has confirmed that the suspect's name is Jared Lee Loughner, 22, whose apparent online footprint professes an distrust of government and a fondness for books such as "Mein Kampf," "The Communist Manifesto," "Peter Pan" and "The Republic."
"There's reason to believe this individual has a mental issue and I think that people who are unbalanced are especially susceptible to vitriol," he said.
"Vitriol" in public debate was a recurring theme in Dupnik's remarks as he blasted the media for "the vitriolic rhetoric" heard on television and radio.
[Updated at 7:57 p.m. ET] Gabe Zimmerman, director of community outreach for U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, was among those killed in Saturday's shooting at a constituents meeting outside a Tucson Safeway, Gifford press secretary CJ Karamargin said.
Zimmerman was the staff member who set up today's event in Giffords' district, Karamargin said. The Tucson native was engaged to be married.
[Updated at 7:43 p.m. ET] The Army said in a statement that the suspect in the shooting was never in the Army.
"He attempted to enlist in the Army but was rejected for service. In accordance with the Privacy Act, we will not discuss why he was rejected," the Army said in a statement.
[Updated at 7:21 p.m. ET] Jared Lee Loughner, the suspect, had a limited presence on social-media sites, including YouTube and MySpace. Here's a sampling of some of the messages that CNN found on Loughner's pages:
December 26, 2010: I'm not going to change the mistakes, you don't know – funny! (I think the CIA watches my-space)
December 30, 2010: I now understand a certain word - Cult!
December 15, 2010: If I define terrorist then a terrorist is a person who employs terror or terrorism, especially as a political weapon.
I define terrorist.
Thus a terrorist is a person who employs terror or terrorism, especially
as a political weapon.
If you call me a terrorist then the argument to call me a terrorist is Ad hominem.
You call me a terrorist.
Thus the argument to call me a terrorist is Ad hominem.
December 15, 2010: The majority of citizens in the United States of America have never read the United States of America's Constitution.
You don't have to accept the federalist laws.
Nonetheless, read the United States of America's Constitution to apprehend all of the current treasonous laws.
You're literate, listener?
Read more about Loughner's digital footprint on CNN.com
[Updated at 7:12 p.m. ET] The University of Arizona's men's basketball game against Stanford University has been postponed following the shootings.
"The University feels the game should be delayed with deep respect to the victims and families impacted by this tragedy," Arizona athletics director Greg Byrne said.
The game will be played at 12:30 p.m. MST Sunday.
[Updated at 6:48 p.m. ET] Saturday's deadly shootings at an Arizona constituency meeting outside a Tucson Safeway appear to have "no nexus to terrorism," a law enforcement official said.
This official did not know if there had been any recent threat against Rep Giffords but said there are frequent threats to various members of Congress, mostly via phone calls or e-mails, or mailed threats.
[Updated at 6:30 p.m. ET] U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts released this statement on the death of U.S. District Court Chief Judge John Roll, who was killed in the shootings:
"Chief Judge John Roll was a wise jurist who selflessly served Arizona and the nation with great distinction, as attorney and judge, for more than 35 years. I express my deepest condolences to his wife Maureen and his children, as well as the other victims and their families. Chief Judge Roll's death is a somber reminder of the importance of the rule of law and the sacrifices of those who work to secure it."
[Updated at 6:16 p.m. ET] The Tea Party released this statement regarding the shootings:
"We at the Tea Party Express are shocked and saddened to hear about the terrible tragedy that took place in Tucson today. It is appalling that anyone would commit such unthinkable violence against Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford, her staff, a sitting federal judge and the many other victims and families impacted.
"These heinous crimes have no place in America, and they are especially grievous when committed against our elected officials. Spirited debate is desirable in our country, but it only should be the clash of ideas. An attack on anyone for political purposes, if that was a factor in this shooting, is an attack on the democratic process. We join with everyone in vociferously condemning it."
Read the full story on CNN.com
[Updated at 5:41 p.m. ET] Who is Gabrielle Giffords? She's a Democrat who was first elected in 2006. She has served as chairwoman of the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee and also holds seats on the House Science and Technology and Armed Services committees.
She won her third term in a closely contested race against a Tea Party-sponsored candidate and was one of three Democratic legislators who reported vandalism at their offices following the March vote on health care reform.
She is married to Navy Capt. Mark Kelly, a NASA astronaut who is scheduled to lead a space shuttle mission to the International Space Station. The two married in 2007, after meeting four years prior in China, as young leaders selected by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, Giffords told the New York Times in her wedding announcement.
The article described their courtship as a drawn-out affair between two deeply committed civic servants who slowly found their way to each other. When they met, Giffords was seeing someone and Kelly was married.
After Giffords split from her boyfriend, she invited Kelly to join her on a tour of the Arizona State Prison in Florence.
"I'd been working on legislation dealing with capital punishment. Mark is the son of police officers — well, he just really wanted to sit in 'the chair,' " she told the newspaper.
The two married three years later, they married at an organic produce farm in Amado, Arizona, called Agua Linda. An avid recycler, Giffords wore a Vera Wang gown borrowed from a friend.
"To a bride who moves at a velocity that exceeds that of anyone else in Washington, and a groom who moves at a velocity that exceeds 17,000 miles per hour," a wedding guest said in a toast to the couple.
[Updated at 5:20 p.m. ET] Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer expressed condolences for the shooting victims - 6 are dead and 12 injured.
"I am just heartbroken. Gabby (Giffords) is more than just a colleague she is a friend. She has always been a noble public servant," an emotional Brewer said, pausing for composure.
"I ask the people of Arizona and the people of America to keep the victims and their families in their prayers, and pray for their recovery and pray that in Arizona we never have to experience a tragedy like this ever again."
Giffords publicized the "Congress on Your Corner" meet-up at the Safeway in her southern Arizona district on her Twitter account.
Judge John Roll, the chief judge on the U.S. District Court for Arizona, was among 6 people killed, along with a 9-year-old girl, officials said.
Witnesses said the gunman shot Giffords at point blank range through the head and then continued firing. The suspect, identified by law enforcement sources as Jared Lee Loughner, has been taken into custody.
[Updated at 4:52 p.m. ET] Chief Judge John Roll was among 6 people killed at an Arizona constituent meeting outside a Tucson grocery store Saturday.
[Updated at 4:30 p.m. ET] The suspect in a shooting at an Arizona constituent meeting outside a Tucson grocery story is a white male born in 1988, CNN's Jeanne Meserve has confirmed from a federal law enforcement source.
Six people have died, including a 9-year-old girl, and 12 were injured, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, authorities said.
[Updated at 4:07 p.m. ET] Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is in critical condition and a young child has died after a shooting at a political meeting at an Arizona grocery store, a hospital spokesman said Saturday.
Giffords, who was hosting the event, is under anesthesia after undergoing surgery for a single gunshot wound to the head "through and through," said Dr. Peter Rhee, Trauma Director at the University Medical Center in Tucson.
"The Congresswoman is not deceased. She is in critical condition," Rhee said in a press conference. "I am very optimistic about recovery."
Giffords publicized the "Congress on Your Corner" meet-up at the Safeway in her southern Arizona district on her Twitter account.
[Updated at 3:40 p.m. ET] Six people have died and 12 - including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords - were injured in a shooting at a political meeting at a Tucson, Arizona, grocery store Saturday, according to Rick Kastigar of the Pima County Sheriff's Department.
[Updated at 3:20 p.m. ET] A suspect is in custody in the shootings of at least 12 people, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, at a constituent meeting at an Arizona grocery store, the U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement.
"The suspect is in custody. No further details on the motive or other victims are available at this time," the statement said. "The U.S. Capitol Police are directly involved in this investigation. As more information is developed, it will be provided. In the interim, all Members and staff are advised to take reasonable and prudent precautions regarding their personal security."
A statement from President Obama confirmed that some people had died.
"This morning, in an unspeakable tragedy, a number of Americans were shot in Tucson, Arizona, at a constituent meeting with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. And while we are continuing to receive information, we know that some have passed away, and that Representative Giffords is gravely wounded," he said.
"We do not yet have all the answers. What we do know is that such a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society. I ask all Americans to join me and Michelle in keeping Representative Giffords, the victims of this tragedy, and their families in our prayers."
[Updated at 3:00 p.m. ET] Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is currently undergoing surgery for a gunshot wound to the head, a spokeswoman for the University Medical Center in Tucson said.
Nine patients were brought to the hospital, including a child. All of them are in either serious or critical condition and are undergoing surgery, spokeswoman Darci Slaten said.
A federal judge was also among those shot, a law enforcement official said. It is not clear whether he was among those taken to the hospital.
[Updated at 2:43 p.m. ET] There were conflicting reports Saturday about the condition of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords following a shooting Saturday at a Tucson, Arizona, grocery store. Giffords' press secretary said the congresswoman remains in surgery for her injuries, disputing an earlier report from a law enforcement source saying she had died.
[Updated at 2:23 p.m. ET] U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords died Saturday after a gunman opened fire at a Tucson, Arizona grocery store, a law enforcement source said. Giffords, who had been holding a meeting with constituents, was among at least 12 people shot.
[Updated at 1:51 p.m. ET] U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was among at least 12 people shot at a Tucson, Arizona, grocery store, a Democratic source told CNN's Dana Bash. The source called her injuries "pretty serious."
[Updated at 1:41 p.m. ET] U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was meeting with constituents at a Safeway grocery store in Tucson, Arizona, where at least 12 people were injured in a shooting shortly after 10 a.m. MST Saturday, a spokesman for the Pima County sheriff's Department said. It is unclear whether Giffords was among those hurt.
"Several" people were shot Saturday at a grocery store in Tucson,
Arizona, a spokesman for the Pima County Sheriff's Department said. No other details were immediately available.
If the gunman has been apprehended and makes it to trial, I could think no better punishment than making him an unperson and lock him away in solitary in maximum security prison and allow no visitors and no contact with the outside world. He chose his own end once he pulled the trigger.
I bet that none of the family members whose loved ones were killed or are injured care one bit what the political affiliation or race of the alleged gunman is or anything else about him other than he is hateful and a murderer.
Hate begats hate. There will be plenty of opportunity for each side, left, right and center, to spew rhetoric and point the finger of blame.
Condolences to all of the families.
Linda, you just don't get it. We, liberals, feel attacked by you GOP"ers. We feel under seige. Now you have come out and physcially have attacked us 18 of us out in the open and want to disguise it by praying for the families. Well, Linda, take your right wing cover up and admit that you are a violent, greedy, power hungry will do anything for power and dominance, including killing and maiming liberals and pretend then that there is a threat back to you and that you care about our families. So, your loosely veiled condolences don't go very far and your GOPer's are not under attack and nevr have been. You are out to kill and maime Liberals and Democrats and your Fox NEWs media, Sara Palin, Rush Limbaugh have been inciting people for years. Don't pretend that you care now.
Perhaps death by rhetoric? Maybe Glen Beck and Fox News will be charged as accomplices?
Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, Michele Bachman, Fox News, anyone who says Liberal is a bad word, and other such who are intolerant and who throw flammable language around, you are to blame for this and should be prosecuted. There is freedom of speech, and there is saying fire in a crowded theater. You are guilty and here is your guilt.
And things like this on Palin's Facebook page certainly demonstrate responsibility and class.
Wow, See what happens when you make promises that you do not keep.
Karma Radio, you feel real good about your pathetic self? Why, because you have made a pact with the DEVIL?
A through and through head wound that didn't hit anything vital??
NEVER READ MORE IGNORANT COMMENTS IN MY LIFE. Pray for the families of these victims
you hit the nail on the head!!!
The Party Of "NO" is to blame for making people so angry, to. Especially those people who should have had the courage to buck their party, like the women in Maine and Congressman Grassley and other Republican moderates. Grassley, when did you sell your soul to the Washington DC Devil?
Full disclosure, I'm far-left-leaning. Yes, it may well be true that this horrible event was politically motivated, but to blame conservative ideologies for this is, at best, off the mark, in my opinion. I think it's best to keep our eye on the ball and express our sorrow, concern and feelings of goodwill for the families of those who have been killed or wounded in this senseless tragedy. To argue politics now is in very poor form, as it is precisely this blind rage that may well be responsible for the violence in the first place.
Phil, this is not blind rage as this was bound to happen. If you set on the sidelines as a positivist after this you are just as responsible. I understand democrats don't get very emotional but at some point you have to protest just as loud as the tea party.
Another reason the GOP should go the way of the dodo, along with 2 wars, housing bubble and massive forclosures, criminal CEO compensation, Campaign finance, deregulation, debt, deficit. It is completely the responsibility of the GOP and the super-GOP the Teabaggers. They are wrong and in more frequently occurring cases like this incident just plain evil.
Can any of you at CNN get this right? And can any of you rapid lefties even try to put your opinions aside before you get more information. According to CNN and NPR earlier, Rep. Giffords died! They called a major event like this, long before they had information, and were terribly wrong. They have done it again – 6 are NOT dead, most are in surgery NOW. STOP GOING FOR THE GLORY and wait for the doctors to give us this information.
Second, half of you are screaming "Tea party" as though you personally know that information. The only thing I know now is that your hatred, dripping fear and insecurities are clouding your judgment. Everywhere the" insaniacs" around you are screaming "old, white, christian". Yet the only FACT we have is that the shooter is a 22 year old male. This does not sound like an old political sociopath to me, but some of you will still run with that ball.
Palin's fault? Are you nuts? Cross hairs on political literature is common from the left and the right – and it is everyday political posturing. I know many of you like to blame "guns" or "Christians" or whoever – how bout a just a touch of responsibility and accountability and blame the person that committed the crime. I know it is not the way of the far, far left, but try it just once.
Lastly, I know Gabby, my family cares about her as a person. She is a good woman with a big and open heart. All of us in Tucson ask that she and the other victims be treated with respect and dignity and that we all withhold judgment on the motives and gunman until we have some real information. Our hearts go out to the Giffords, Gabby's husband, and everyone else suffering at this terrible time.
Since this happened in Arizona, I wonder how many people were shocked the suspect is a white male. I'm pretty sure 99.9% came to the quick conclusion it was probably an "illegal mexican". It just goes to show crazy nut jobs come in all colors
Coming from a person that cannot spell "idiot", I choose to consider the source and move on...but not before telling you that you are an asinine idiot yourself.
Turn on your spell checker, dude. It does wonders at masking low IQ.
What the people saying that "we shouldnt blame SP,FOX NEWS,M.Bachman,s.angle,Jan.Brewer,etc"~YES WE SHOULD~VERY MUCH SO! AS ONE BLOGGER SAID,NO MATTER WHO THIS GUY IS,THOSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING AND SAYING AWFUL THINGS AGAINST OUR PRESIDENT AND DEM.OFFICALS FOR 2 YEARS~TP waving crazy signs,showing disrespect~WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS THAT THIS *IS*WHAT IT WILL LEAD TO NO MATTER WHO THIS FELLOW IS! AGAIN~I HOPE OUR GOVT.ISSUES NOTICE THAT ANYONE USING THREATENING TALK OR SIGNS ABOUT ANY GOVT.OFFICAL WILL BE JAILED~end of story~THIS HAS GONE WAYYY PAST "FAR ENOUGH"!


text:
Taxi in Times square, NYC
Millennium Park Chicago
Reflections of Chicago in Millennium park
A side street in Chicago
Bardstown Road,Louisville, KY
A door on Whiskey Row, Louisville, KY
Boston, MA
Fenway park and the Citgo sign, this is Boston!
Looking down on 111 Huntington Avenue from the Prudential Tower in Boston, MA
From the Interstate in the Bronx, NY
Lakeshore Drive draw bridge over the Chicago River
Row houses in Boston, MA
Copley Square Boston, MA
Alleyway in downtown Boston
Making way for a new stadium. Louisville, KY
Midnight Insterstate traffic in Louisville, KY
Neoclassical architecture In the Federal Triangle, Washington DC
The Chicago river and the Wrigley Building


text:
A new version of the Zeus trojan—a longtime favorite of criminals conducting online financial fraud—has been used in attacks on over 30,000 electronic banking customers in Europe, infecting both their personal computers and smartphones. The sophisticated attack is designed to circumvent banks' use of two-factor authentication for transactions by intercepting messages sent by the bank to victims' mobile phones.
The malware and botnet system, dubbed "Eurograbber" by security researchers from Check Point Software and Versafe, was first detected in Italy earlier this year. It has since spread throughout Europe. Eurograbber is responsible for more than $47 million in fraudulent transfers from victims' bank accounts, stealing amounts from individual victims that range from 500 Euros (about $650) to 25,000 Euros (about $32,000), according to a report published Wednesday (PDF).
With the phone number and platform information, the attacker sends a text message to the victim's phone with a link to a site that downloads what it says is "encryption software" for the device. But it is, in fact, "Zeus in the mobile" (ZITMO) malware—a Trojan crafted for the Android and BlackBerry mobile operating systems that injects itself between the user and the mobile browser and SMS messaging software. With both devices now compromised, the malware waits for the victim to access a bank account, and then immediately transfers a percentage of the victim's balance to an account set up by the criminals running the botnet.
The malware then intercepts the confirmation text message sent by the bank, forwarding it to the trojan's command and control server via a relay phone number. The server uses the message to confirm the transaction and withdraw the money. The same process happens every time the victim logs into their bank account, gradually withdrawing money without alerting the user.
Both Checkpoint and Versafe have added signature and behavior detection to their malware protection products that can block Eurograbber. Updating software that is a frequent target for Web "driveby download" exploits—such as Adobe Flash, Java, and Web browsers—can help prevent infection by the malware, as can a healthy amount of paranoia about clicking links in e-mails.


text:
Difference between revisions of "Auto IWG WP5"
(→WP5: Eclipse Qualification Kit (ISO26262))
(→Qualification Roadmap)
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*Checklist for DO-330 compliance (cannot be published due to RTCA restrictions)
*Checklist for DO-330 compliance (cannot be published due to RTCA restrictions)
*Example requirements document (will be checked for DO-330 compliance), see http://wiki.eclipse.org/images/f/fc/TCAToolRequirements.zip
*Example requirements document (will be checked for DO-330 compliance), see http://wiki.eclipse.org/images/f/fc/TCAToolRequirements.zip
*EMF-Model .ecore to capture , see http://wiki.eclipse.org/images/8/85/Do330.zip
Revision as of 11:49, 18 April 2012
WP5: Eclipse Qualification Process Support
This is work package 5 of the Automotive Industry Working Group.
- WP Lead: Virtual Vehicle (M. Driussi)
- Roadmap: Validas AG (O. Slotosch)
Based on the requirements of ISO26262 for the development of safety-critical applications in vehicles, a qualification / classification of tools, which are used in the development process, will be required. WP5 has set itself the goal to work on this topic for Eclipse Plugins, which are used in this context. Taking into consideration several standards (ISO, EN, DO, IEC) we want to elaborate a guideline for Eclipse Plugin developers / validators, which is conform to ISO26262 and DO-330. Furthermore we want to provide an Eclipse Tool Qualification Kit.
Meetings and Activities
Kick off Meeting 07.03.2012. The meeting protocol can be found here [1]
Webex session every two weeks on Wednesday 13 to 15 pm. Next Webex Meeting 18.04.2012 13p.m. (Outlook appointment)
Next Steps
- Complete the roadmap to cover all aspects of DO-330. The Roadmap can be found here [2]
- Select a Plugin for classification and Qualification according to the roadmap to demonstrate the proposal
- Define an Eclipse Project to extend the plugin mechanism to contain qualification data
All interested parties are invited to participate. Commitment on WP5 telco or webex meeting.
Qualification Roadmap
See http://wiki.eclipse.org/images/1/1e/EclipseQualificationProcess.pdf for an overview (as presented on 4th april by Validas)
- WP5.1 Definition of Goals & Requirements
- WP5.2 Elaborate Proposal
- WP5.3 Demonstrate Proposal
- WP5.4 Implement Proposal (extend Eclipse Pluging Framework within an Eclipse Project)
- WP5.5 Qualify any plugin that requires qualification
In WP5 we decided to use the DO-330 as basis for qualification of Eclipse-based tools, since it fits to the ISO 26262 but also to other standards like the DO-178C,.. We propose to extend the Eclipse plugin mechanism to additional data that contains all required information for qualification of the plugin. By building a formal (EMF) model for this data we can automate many steps during the development and qualification process like: Determination of the tool confidence level, determination of the qualification state, verification of syntactical consistency and completeness and generation of requried documents from the requirements specification until the test report with MC/DC coverage of the code. Furthermore we create generic documents that ensure the DO-330 compliance of the process Like "How-To Qualify Eclipse-Based Tools", "Tool Development Plan", "Tool Verification Plan",...
We (Validas, virtual vehicle) are currently working on the topic. Other will be requested to provide reviews and feedback.
The following results have been achieved to elaborate the proposal
- Checklist for DO-330 compliance (cannot be published due to RTCA restrictions)
- Example requirements document (will be checked for DO-330 compliance), see http://wiki.eclipse.org/images/f/fc/TCAToolRequirements.zip
- EMF-Model do330.ecore to capture qualification data, see http://wiki.eclipse.org/images/8/85/Do330.zip
The current state of the roadmap is in a presentation that is extended stepwise until it covers all aspects of the DO-330. We report the new supported steps within our telcos. The following steps have been achieved:
- First Steps (21th of march 2012) see http://wiki.eclipse.org/images/8/8d/EclipseRoadmapFirst.pdf
- Second steps (4th april 2012) http://wiki.eclipse.org/images/6/63/EclipseRoadmapSecond.pdf
- Third Steps (18th april 2012) http://wiki.eclipse.org/images/0/02/EclipseRoadmapThird.pdf
Since the presentations are extended, it suffices to read the latest.