text:
NUEVO LAREDO--It's nearly 10:30 on a Thursday night and 23-year-old Les is on the street, prowling for women.
He's come to the right--if not necessarily the proper--place.
"It's much more organized than I expected," Les says, walking past the police station in La Zona Rosa and taking in the neon lights of the clubs, the strips of single-occupancy rooms with women spilling out of them like fishing lures from a tackle box. "I'm so glad I came. This place is crazy."
It's the Louisiana native's first trip outside the United States and will be, before the night is out, his first experience with a prostitute. His two friends are more experienced; they tantalized Les with tales of young women and cheap prices. The trio drove their truck from San Antonio across the international bridge, found an inexpensive Mexican hotel near the zocalo (town square) and took a $10 taxi ride to Nuevo Laredo's red light district.
Les and company don't waste time. They walk straight into Casino El Papagayo, the district's vaunted centerpiece establishment, a bar with connected rooms. But don't bother wishing them good luck. "I don't need any luck," says Les, spreading his arms wide and cracking what can only be described as a shit-eating grin. "I'm in Boys Town!"
Welcome to La Zona de Tolerencia, Boys Town, La Zona Rosa, the red light district. The 4-by-4 block section of Nuevo Laredo has many names, but there's only one reason to go there: legal prostitution.
Mexican law holds that prostitution is in a strict sense legal, but being a pimp or procurer is not. Cities can pass laws that form "zones of tolerance" to focus prostitutes into one area and--in Nuevo Laredo's unique case--wall it off from the rest of town. A two-car-wide entrance is the only gap in the 8-foot-high walls, which are decorated with political posters and other ads. Inside is a dark and never-ending dynamic of hookers and johns, of wasted nights and frantic coupling, a cycle broken only by the appearance of a blistering sun.
You don't drive south on Interstate 35 as much as you fall, like a seed from a lime dropping down the neck of a Corona. On one Thursday night, hardly a peak time for philandering, Texans from Houston, Wichita Falls and San Antonio were cheerfully degrading themselves in La Zona. On Friday nights the Texas license plates are as common a sight as taxis.
Most border towns in Mexico sport red light districts. None matches the allure of Nuevo Laredo's walled Boys Town. NAFTA has changed the border, but some things remain the same. La Zona Rosa is one of them.
This is the place where a generation of Texas forefathers came to cheat on their wives. This is the place where you can find online reviews of the best bars for attractive partners and the worst of men can turn the tables and dismiss scores of women as being too ugly. This is the place that's so safe that old men pop generic Viagra in a bid to relive their youths and timid first-timers drive for hours to go whoring.
There's something enticingly familiar about the concept of the Mexican whorehouse. The allure of a soft and willing señorita has been burned into the American psyche, courtesy of scores of Westerns, and sanctioned as acceptable modern road-trip behavior by Jack Kerouac. The prostitute is the prize cowpokes earn after a long, hard trail.
Riding into this fantasy of outlaw pleasure does not mean accepting too much risk. It's an odd fact that men will travel far out of their way to go whoring in Mexico when there are certainly prostitutes closer to home. For all the forces keeping La Zona operating over the decades, none of them is more fascinating than the psychological forces of exotic adventure and sexual desperation that keep men coming here year after salty year.
"Men have a tremendous appetite for sexual variety," says Dr. David Buss, a University of Texas at Austin psychology professor and author of The Dangerous Passion, an examination of the evolution of sex, jealousy and infidelity. "There's a saying that men don't pay prostitutes for sex; they pay to have women go away afterwards."
There's no place quite like the border between the United States and Mexico. The ties between nations are tight here, and the collision of economies looks like a directed explosion of road-grimed trucks, ceramic novelties and sub rosa smuggling.
Laredo and Nuevo Laredo exist like binary stars, bound together at the razor edge of nations and economies. Everything that happens here ripples across the international bridges in the form of immigrants, currency, drugs, trucks, pollution, dollars and wrought iron. Approximately 13,000 trucks coast north and south through Laredo every day.
The border operates under two sets of laws, and people are always eager to take advantage. And it's not just legalized prostitution; the availability of prescription drugs in Nuevo Laredo is staggering. Dozens of pitchmen for pharmacies and doctors slouch 10 feet off the footbridge offering "'scrips" to tourists. What started as a routine for older Americans taking advantage of cheaper prices has quickly become a drug trade that the Border Patrol is helpless to stop. Recreational pill-poppers waltz across the border with bags full of Valium, smiling happily and waving a Mexican prescription claiming clinical nervous exhaustion.
In Texas, the proximity to legal brothels is considered as much a natural resource as oil. Clayton Williams summed up this blasé attitude during his gubernatorial campaign with a casual and costly admission of frequenting Mexican prostitutes in his youth. "It's part of growing up in West Texas," he told wide-eyed reporters. "It was a lot different then. The houses were the only place you got serviced. It was kind of what the boys did at A&M."
Truckers of two nationalities, a large population of factory workers, close proximity to the U.S. border, a risk-free illicit pharmaceutical business--these factors combine to keep Nuevo Laredo's red light district well-stocked with customers.
At night, that is. Boys Town during the day is not much to look at. In the white-hot sunshine it's easy to put things in perspective. The place is little more than an unpaved parking lot segmented by rows of bars/whorehouses. The heat bounces off the sun-bleached gravel as if it were aluminum foil. Nothing is paved. Empty beer cans rattle across the rocks, pushed by dusty wind. Listless old men and women, employees and club owners, sweep their establishments and tidy up the rooms. No one moves very fast.
The layout of La Zona is simple. Within the confines of the walls are a dozen bars and a handful of bordellos/clubs. The transvestites work one corner of the unpaved four-block box; authentic women get the rest. A restaurant, police station and taxi stand provide a minimum of non-sex-related services. Linking the bars are rows of single-occupancy rooms, dirty work stations for the women to service men who aren't too uptight about creaky bedsprings, dingy mattresses and general cleanliness.
During the day the prostitutes stay low. They're around if you want them, but the profession has always been nocturnal. The clients who stick around during the day are the worst of the worst, those with shame levels so low they don't feel compelled to scurry back across the land bridge after being serviced. One bearded man with an unidentifiable accent and booze breath walks around trying to sell a newborn puppy. He stumbles in and out of each cantina, passing Greg, who is braving the blinding light on a mission to the police station.
Greg is a drinker, and he knows it. He was in day three of his Boys Town binge, just past noon, plastic cup of beer waving precariously in front of his Ralph Lauren shirt. A former motocross biker with roots in Houston, Greg knows Spanish and sees no problem with driving his car across the international bridge and staying in the flophouses of La Zona until he's sated.
But Greg does have a problem. A waitress shortchanged him at the wrong time--his $2 beer ended up costing him his last $20. His gas money, he says emphatically. So off he went to the police station to get his wrong righted.
Most of the time, approaching the Mexican police is little more than a good way to pay a bribe, get robbed or become annoyed by slack-jawed indifference. But moments later he emerged with an officer on his arm. In a brief transaction the $18 was returned.
The police station within the walls is vital to the sex industry of La Zona. It exists to keep some semblance of order on the scene and keeps the army from launching raids into Boys Town. There is a military garrison in or close to nearly every border town, and the state governors use them like the their U.S. counterparts use the National Guard--except a lot more frequently since local cops are too close to the action (and corrupt) to be trusted to act decisively.
What brings the army? "Some things are in the rules, some things are out of the rules," says a savvy local newspaper editor. Too many blatant drug deals, violent crimes or weapons seizures could bring army intervention. Shake-ups like that mean the profits of Boys Town plummet and renting proprietors conceivably could be tossed out of their leases. The women of Boys Town are answerable to a bar and nightlife association, which sets vague regulations and serves as a liaison to the local and state government. In Boys Town the bar proprietors scorn free-lancers and despise trouble that could arouse federal ire. They supposedly require women to obtain a license called a boleta de registro to work the rooms and bars of La Zona--not that you'll ever see one of these licenses or meet a spokesperson for the nightlife association. They are as rare as dignity in La Zona.
The ability to self-regulate is vital in Mexico, where most authority figures have proven themselves hopelessly susceptible to corruption and most citizens expect it to stay that way, especially since the laws give them little to work with. Mexican prostitution laws, like those in many developing countries, seem designed to sanction the trade with little enforcement and no regulatory oversight.
"Prostitution is legal in Mexico, but the surrounding activities-- pimping, procuring and pandering--are not," says Dr. Laura Lederer, director of The Protection Project, an independent prostitution and human smuggling research organization located in Washington, D.C. Without the ability to arrest women and coerce them into informing on pimps, prosecutors don't even try unless smuggling children is involved.
"Basically the situation is the laws are there on the books but are not enforced," Lederer says. "If the political will at the top is unwilling, or doesn't have the resources, or if a country is unstable politically or economically, or if they have organized crime cartels that are stronger than the government--these combinations of complex things keep the government from doing anything."
Most of those conditions Lederer speaks of apply to northern Mexico. New presidents routinely promise reform, but such power shifts have been "meet the new boss, same as the old boss" experiences. The PRI may be out of office in Mexico City, but the new government has bigger fish to fry than an unpopular prostitution crackdown. And unpopular it would be. The bread and butter of prostitution zones are not international visitors. Bartenders in La Zona say that low-wage Mexican workers are the real mainstays of red light districts, especially during the week.
"Many gringos on Friday and Saturday," says one bartender, cleaning a glass with a soiled rag and speaking in broken English. He tries again, this time in Spanish. "The workers love it here. The women treat them nice, but they like gringos better. Do you want a woman?"
Local workers' unions took out newspaper ads to protest a 1982 crackdown on prostitutes working the red light district of Matamoros. The crackdown was prompted by a dramatic drug-related shootout in the red light district involving local police, five of whom were arrested for protecting criminal elements within the Zona. The governor backed the mayor with support from military personnel, parking army jeeps behind the cops to spur them into action. Thirty years earlier, in 1951, Matamoros Mayor Ernesto Elizondo tried to close the town's red light district, but he was shot to death three weeks later over the effort.
The federal and state authorities stay away and leave oversight, such as it is, to local cops and business owners with vested interests in keeping peace. Women charge for sex and ask for more "for the room." Bar owners get their cut from these room rental fees and from their take at the bar. It's impossible to know what transactions exist beneath the table.
It's a rough system with plenty of flaws, but it's better than a total free-for-all. And it's worked long enough to make Nuevo Laredo's district an international institution.
"The last thing they want over there is to have someone wreak havoc with the clientele," says the Laredo newsman. "It's a self-controlled, self-contained part of town...It's a true free-trade zone."
Enter the mind of a thrill-seeking john. Like Lewis Carroll's Wonderland, things may not make much sense in here.
"There are reasons guys go down there every weekend," says Scott, a single sales manager from Seguin recently returned from a night in Boys Town. Scott isn't a total loser who needs to pay for sex; he just wants to. He estimates an average of three legitimate trysts a year, but a cycle of heated relationships and bitter breakups have left a mile-wide cynical streak through his psyche. A self-confessed fear of deep commitment drives him to date compulsively, but aside from "some pretty depressing dry spells" he has little problem finding mates.
Yet his "weakness for the ladies" has driven him to seek thrills from prostitutes. He's sampled human wares in Las Vegas and Virginia, but his first Mexican experience struck him differently. "It's fundamentally different than getting a blowjob from some crackhead you see from your car. These girls are a lot more sincere."
His $160 romp included a room outside Boys Town, avoiding the pool of "fetid water" on the floor and ill-used bed that was featured in her allotted room. Women will leave Boys Town and check into a Nuevo Laredo room of their choosing, if the client's willing to pay for it. After Scott was finished for the night he was met with a tide of guilt and concern for the woman. "I felt bad. I wanted her to get out of there," he says now from his home in Seguin. "Those poor women."
Ironically, many clients have soft spots for the women they employ. Tales from the online World Sex Guide, a consumer review-driven Web site on the sex industry, are rife with more tales of sex goddesses with gentle demeanors than of hookers with wild animal lust. It's an odd dynamic, but many Nuevo Laredo clients are filling voids that go beyond simple sex. Those reviews unerringly steer clients to the brothels that feature women who are not only better looking and seemingly cleaner but women whose accommodating temperaments appeal to the johns.
Take this excerpt from a testimonial posted on the World Sex Guide Web site in November 2000:
"While I was still at Papagyos [sic] I found a nice, petite little Mexican lady. She was about 5'2, 110 lbs. A perfect 9. I don't like fucking in those trashy rooms that they have, so I spent a little more cash and took her back to my hotel room. We stayed in a hotel on the Mexican side to save some money. I spent $70 and got her for the whole night. This woman was nice. She had a great attitude, but the language barrier hurt our communication."
Here's another that captures the complex dichotomy of lust and pity that fills clients: "As she laid back and I mounted her, I had a good time but had a very difficult time looking at her because you could tell she was only doing this to survive, and I couldn't help but think that this was about as close to doing a dead corpse that I could think of."
Sex researchers pay lots of attention to what drives men into the bedrooms of prostitutes but tend to ignore their needs as consumers. Buss, whose book delved into the cycle of infidelity and jealousy, says the main drive of johns is as simple as you'd think, despite their emotions during the strange, abbreviated courtships.
"Prostitution is an outlet for variety. It's also an outlet for men who find it difficult attracting partners through normal channels," he says. "It occurs across the globe. It isn't a product of culture, I'll tell you that."
In other words, hard-up men are everywhere, and they all want to have sex without consequences. Whether their behavior blindly follows their desire is what separates those at home with their wives from those with their pants down in a seedy Nuevo Laredo hotel room. "Not all desires are expressed in behavior," Buss notes. "We'd all be in big trouble if they were."
The foreign location of Nuevo Laredo also grants distance for their actions. Boys Town is a fantasy world, an X-rated Epcot Center that gives people a trip to a realm of sexual conquest without consequence, of steamy nights where moral and social constraints can be dropped and recovered as easy as a shot glass.
Getting laid there is as easy and hassle-free as buying a Twix, yet many men will want to hang out with the women before they whisk off to a room. In La Zona you see it everywhere--in the way the men drink with their women, flirting and touching, like Heath Ledger on a hot date with fawning groupies. Old men hug and caress the younger women, while younger men down beers while their women cavort on their laps. It's the polar opposite of the typical hip American bar scene. Everyone's set up to score. The men are at ease, friendly and confident.
"They [johns] do kind of fall in love; that's the big secret," says Scott, recalling his own rebuff of woman after woman, seeking one that carried herself well and looked good. "They were all so ugly, I was on my way out of La Zona when I saw her. And that was it. It was over for me."
It's a meat market, but it goes both ways. Seducing men is an art that Mexican prostitutes must master if they are to work in Boys Town. Luckily for them, men are easily manipulated. If they weren't, the place wouldn't exist at all.
"I went in with this awesome-looking girl," says Jason from Houston, joking with friends outside a Boys Town club. "These guys were like, 'How'd you get that?' And I said, 'Easy, man. Patience and a little discipline.'"
Jason has an emotional history in Nuevo Laredo. He lost his virginity here at the tender age of 14. "My brothers brought me down here. They said I had to go. God, what a trip," he says, smiling wide under his cowboy hat. Now it's 10 years later and he's in college, but he still comes to Nuevo Laredo every couple of years. "Of course I keep coming back. Why not? What's not to like?"
The john's logic: The true abuse is desperate economic conditions that drive women to sell their bodies, and the remedy is to have sex with them and pay them off. "I do feel bad for them, but I never feel that bad," reflects Scott. "I mean, what else would they be doing?"
Aggressive recruitment of women into the sex industry is a chronic problem in Mexico, according to the research conducted by The Protection Project and international children's protection groups. The recruitment often begins with promises of steady entertainment jobs in a city, an offer that is transformed into hooking to pay off debts the women allegedly incurred. This resignation can lead to sexual servitude that can take many forms, with the worst possibly being exportation to another country.
According to research from the United Nations and The Protection Project, Mexican crime syndicates traffic women to the United States to staff brothels that service migrant workers and to Japan to work in brutal Yakuza-run whorehouses. The Protection Project documented the bust of one international ring last year that alone exported more than 1,000 Mexican women, ages 18 to 30, to Japan to become prostitutes.
"In the face of such horrors, the Mexican government is focusing enforcement efforts on the kidnap and export of women and children and letting the 'lesser evil' of red light districts run themselves, as usual. A lot of countries are struggling with this," says Lederer. "Mexico is slowly, slowly taking a look...But if they really want to enforce the law they should start with the export of children."
Smugglers are a destabilizing force on the border, and since NAFTA, the scourge is an international issue. Lederer says most smugglers of women also traffic weapons and drugs, making smugglers a high priority on police "to do" lists.
Big operations to shut down smuggling rings have captured headlines while potential abuses of homegrown prostitutes remain ignored. Until the Mexican government gets a plan to regulate its legal red light zones, life will remain as it has since Clayton Williams and his Aggies drove down for cheap sex.
A slim hand slides down into your crotch and gives a firm squeeze. Turn your head slowly; her face may be closer to yours than you expect--or want.
"I want to suckee you," the woman says. It's impossible to ignore the lusterless gold tooth and the network of deep lines in her face. You'd say she was 50, but a hard life of prostitution throws all guesses in doubt.
Her hand becomes more desperate in its grim work before you pull away. Polite rebuffs are not enough. Competition is tough, and it's a john's market, making the women desperate. You find yourself rationalizing, pleading and finally paying just to get her away from you. She lingers, eyeing your resolve from a nearby table. The woman seems to know that nothing's changing. Next week will be the same for her as this one, except she may not have any money if she can't get the seduction train rolling. Mulling the failure of her crotch-grabbing approach, she waits in a corner and sips a beer.
There's one last gamble left, taken as the john heads for the door and the dusty Boys Town night. "Come back later," she whispers, hand tracing light circles on a shoulder. "We go to my room for free."
Her line inflates the ego bubble with insensible testosterone and pride. Men and money are soon parted when their penises and insecurities meet at center stage. The rejected solicitation has a physical effect: puffed chest, bright eyes, straight backbone, a James T. Kirk swagger.
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It doesn't matter that her generous offer is a lie. The whole place is an outright fabrication that hookers, johns and the Mexican government have all chosen to believe out of convenience.
For all its legality and forthrightness the business of Boys Town is founded on the most desperate and false motives of both sexes, with both sides eager to get into character to fill powerful but different needs. Those inside the stark walls of Boys Town are cut-rate actors filling roles: the tall-stepping undersexed gringo, the willing dark-skinned woman. They dance in shadows, renting and buying bright moments of intimacy as the dark nights drag on into years.
So the whore lied. You're damn right the whore lied. If you didn't know it going into La Zona, you realize it coming out. The whore always lies.
Now ask yourself if you care; the answer determines if you'll return to Boys Town or remain outside the walls, bathed in harsh light and wanting.


text: Hey guys, I have a question about cimg. I am trying to use a set of coordinates in an ascii file to draw a 3d landscape and I can't figure out how to use the file. The problem is it isn't an image file, just coordinates, so I think I need to use the fstream to store those coordinates in a 2d array but then I have no idea how to impliment that 2d array to generate the 3d landscape. Any suggestions?

subset: commoncrawl


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Difference between revisions of "Pump Action Shotgun"
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[[Image:shotgun_3.png|thumb|The Shotgun in [[Grand Theft Auto III]]]]
[[Image:shotgun_3.png|thumb|The Shotgun in [[Grand Theft Auto III]]]]
[[Image:shotgun_vc.png|thumb|The Shotgun in [[Grand Theft Auto Vice City]] and [[Grand Theft Auto San Andreas]]]]Image:shotgun_4.png|thumb|The Shotgun in [[Grand Theft Auto IV]]]]
[[Image:shotgun_vc.png|thumb|The Shotgun in [[Grand Theft Auto Vice City]] and [[Grand Theft Auto San Andreas]]]]Image:shotgun_4.png|thumb|The Shotgun in [[Grand Theft Auto IV]]]]
[[File:Pump Shotgun - 2.jpg|thumb|[[Niko]] using the pump-action shotgun]]
[[File:Pump Shotgun - 2.jpg|thumb|[[Niko]] using the pump-action shotgun]]
Revision as of 17:20, 20 June 2009
The Pump Action Shotgun is one of the many shotguns available throughout the Grand Theft Auto series of games. In Grand Theft Auto III, the shotgun's model is a Remington 870P. For Vice City and San Andreas, it resembles an Ithaca 37. For Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories, it is an Over and Under shotgun, althought it functions like a pump shotgun. A unique quality attributed to the shotgun is that is fires several projectiles at once, and at close range, it can disable even the most armored targets, and another advantage is that it can be purchased at most Ammu-Nation stores for a cheap price. A large disadvantage with this shotgun is that the player cannot run with it (minus in GTA Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories), and due to the pump mechanism has a very slow rate of fire, thus cannot be used effectively against multiple enemies, plus it's nearly impossible to fire at long ranges.
In Grand Theft Auto IV, it is referenced in-game as the Pump Shotgun and it is modeled after the Ithaca 37 "Stakeout" shotguns, with a short barrel and magazine tube, and a pistol grip. The shotgun holds eight shells, however the length of the barrel and magazine tube should only allow it to hold four.
- Saint Mark's, Portland Island - On top of one of the car garages on the block north of Cipriani's Restaurante. You have to go through the rooftop park across the street west of Salvatore's Mansion to gain access.
- Hepburn Heights, Portland Island - On the northwest side of the eastern tall apartment building.
- Rockford, Staunton Island - Available to buy from Phil Cassidy's Army Surplus after completion of Arms Shortage ($1,500).
- Belleville Park, Staunton Island - Behind the obelisk on the east side of the main park.
- Bedford Point, Staunton Island - North of the pier west of Liberty Tree Offices.
- Cochrane Dam, Shoreside Vale - At the base of the Cochrane Dam power house, near the road loop, on a metal ledge on the east side.
GTA Vice City
- Washington Beach - By one of the benches on the sidewalk by the beach south of Standing Vice Point Hotel.
- Ocean Beach - On the top parking level (southeast side) of the Washington Mall.
- Ocean Beach - Available to buy from Ammu-Nation after completion of Mall Shootout. ($500)
- Starfish Island - In the small room at the bottom of the Mansion's stairwell, east of the main entrance after completion of Rub Out.
GTA San Andreas
- Doherty, San Fierro - Around the premises of Solarin Industries
- Valle Ocultado, Bone County - On the jetty
- Fort Carson, Bone County - In front of a house southwest of the town
- Roca Escalante, Las Venturas - Inside the Las Venturas Police Headquarters (Instant 2-Star wanted level)
- Pilson Intersection, Las Venturas - Under the easternmost arc of the intersection (the one that starts at Julius Thruway West which leads to Bone County)
- If you photograph all 50 snapshots in San Fierro, the shotgun will be rewarded to you. It can be found beside the garage.
GTA Liberty City Stories
- Harwood, Portland - Spawns on a pier near the ferry station.
- Bedford Point, Staunton Island - In an alleyway behind the LCFR headquarters.
- Bedford Point, Staunton Island - Can be bought from Phil Cassidy's Fully Cocked Gun Shop once the player passes the mission "Friggin' the Riggin'". ($1,500)
- Spawns at each of the player's safehouses after collecting 20 Hidden Packages.
GTA Vice City Stories
- Little Haiti - Spawns on a roof across Le Singe d'Arbre.
- Downtown - Available to buy from Ammu-Nation for $1,000 but the price is decreased to $750 after the player beats Phil's Shooting Range.
Grand Theft Auto IV
The Pump Shotgun can be purchased from the back-alley gun shops for $1200, and each additional magazine is worth $100. The Pump Shotgun is not available from Little Jacob.
- Meadows Park - Can be found on the second decrepit pier to the right of Sing Sing Ave/Dukes Bay Bridge, over the water.
- Francis International Airport - Can be found next to a support column for the Broker-Dukes Expressway on-ramp. The support column is the first one the player sees on the right, from the airport entrance.
- Northern Gardens - Can be found over the cliff on the north side of Grand Boulevard. The shotgun is lying next to a large bush.
- Middle Park - Can be found on the C/B platform of the C/K Algonquin Inner Line at North Park Station.
- Varsity Heights - Can be found by two truck trailers in a construction equipment storage depot, to the right of Union Drive West. The shotgun is laying on the dividing wall.
- Alderney City - Can be found in the vacant lot behind AutoErotiCar.


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Tapio Anttila-Tip Led Interior Design Light
At Design Interviews
(Excerpt) Interview with Tapio Anttila : Frank Scott: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?. Tapio Anttila : The main idea of Tip is lightness and its flat appearance. The tip in the middle of the sheet recalls a drop hitting a surface just before it spreads out. I was also inspired by all those possibilities offered by the LED technology. .Frank Scott: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?. Tapio Anttila : My main focus was to design a light fitting that would look new and that would not block the view when hanging. Furthermore, I wanted to create an object where light would disperse perfectly to all directions. .Frank Scott: What are your future plans for this award winning design?. Tapio Anttila : I am planning to design a complete series around this concept including a variety of sizes and a floor lamp. .Frank Scott: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?. Tapio Anttila : All in all, the process took me about half a year. .Frank Scott: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?. Tapio Anttila : This design was commissioned by Keraplast Interior but I got more or less free hands in designing a new light fitting for their collection. .Frank Scott: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?. Tapio Anttila : My design is produced and sold by Keraplast Interior. .Frank Scott: What made you design this particular type of work?. Tapio Anttila : I realized that this kind of product was missing on the market. .Frank Scott: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?. Tapio Anttila : Mr. Markku Rantanen of Keraplast Interior offered his technical expertise during the process. .Frank Scott: Who is the target customer for his design?. Tapio Anttila : This design is suitable for use at home but also in public spaces. .Frank Scott: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?. Tapio Anttila : Lightness and the way that light is reflected and dispersed. .Frank Scott: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?. Tapio Anttila : The name refers to the inspiration behind this design, i.e. the tip in the middle of the sheet recalls a drop hitting a surface just before it spreads out. .Frank Scott: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?. Tapio Anttila : I used the 3D programme. .Frank Scott: What is the most unique aspect of your design?. Tapio Anttila : I would say that it is the application of the LED technique. .Frank Scott: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?. Tapio Anttila : I closely collaborated with the Product Manager of Keraplast Interior, Mr. Markku Rantanen, who had an important role in technical issues. .Frank Scott: What is the role of technology in this particular design?. Tapio Anttila : As a matter of fact, it served as a starting point in the whole project. .Frank Scott: Is .[ End of Excerpt: Read complete interview with Tapio Anttila on Tip Led Interior Design Light at design-interviews.com ]
Tapio Anttila-Tip Led Interior Design Light Images:
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Based on the conversation exploding on EverythingCU.com over the past two days on Credit Unions and the ROI of Social Media, I created and edited this opinion piece down to 10 minutes to fit it onto YouTube. I talk about branding, marketing, social media, credit unions, ROI, the future of credit unions, their Boards of Directors, and their members, and my mom. I think what we currently think of as Social Media (aka Online Community Engagement) has the potential to transform it all. What do you think?
Hi, I'm Morriss Partee, Chief Experience Officer of EverythingCU, and I'd like to make this quick little video blog on a topic that is near and dear to my heart, and that is credit unions and social media. It's been an amazing thrill to see the topic of credit union's use of Social Media and its ROI really blossom on EverythingCU in the past couple of days. I've watched with great interest as many opinions have been stated very forcefully from both sides. There are a lot of good arguments, both for and against, credit unions using social media.
Online communication is changing everything
Social media, and if we use the term to mean online community interaction, is, without question, transforming the way that people across the United States, and even across the world, are interacting with each other, and interacting with the world [around them]. So this social media phenomenon and revolution has affected or will affect virtually every department of credit union operations. It's clear there are marketing implications and operational implications. But I'd like to talk about one are which I think in the long run, has the largest potential to truly improve credit union business and the way members interact with and view their credit union.
A Little Background
One of the big sea-changes in the way that credit unions operate with their members is when credit unions were deregulated from standard fields of membership in 1998. And since that time, credit union after credit union after credit union has gone to community charter, or a charter much broader than their original one.
Hi mom!
As example, my mother is a member of UMassFive College Federal Credit Union. Whenever I've had the pleasure of working on marketing campaigns for that credit union, I often think of my mother as the ideal target market. And every now and then, I'll ask her a question about the credit union. "How do you feel about this? Why do you do business with the credit union? What do you like about it? What don't you like about it?" And the thing that really strikes me is that because my mother is a retired professor from UMass, she feels like UMass Federal Credit Union is HER credit union. She knows the people who run it, she knows that the people who are members are colleagues of hers, that are affiliated with UMass in one way or another. Of course, she's very proud of UMass. So anyway, that's the world in which credit unions have traditionally operated. But for any credit union that is now far more broader than an original employee group, or their employer has changed, merged, been outsourced overseas, their original SEG has shut down, gone out of business, merged, diversified, whatever the story is, those credit unions need a new reason for being. Something that is fundamental, that makes you feel like "this is MY credit union." Well, what do credit unions talk about in terms of the difference [between themselves and banks]? The difference is in their governance, their form of governance. Credit unions are not-for-profit cooperatives. This is supposed to be MY credit union.
MY credit union? Really?
Well, what does that mean, "MY credit union"? Does that mean I can withdraw a million dollars? Well, no, of course not, it doesn't mean that. Well, then what does "MY credit union" really mean? How can we replicate, how can we make people, feel, understand what "MY credit union" means? We are the members, right? We are the member-owners. That's the fundamental thing we've got going here.
So what does it really mean to be a member-owner? Well, right now, because of previous technological or operational limitations, membership really has only meant that I vote for a Board of Directors once a year. And I'm only voting for 3 out of 9 or so [board] members each year. And unless I'm really well-tied into the community or connected to the community, I have no idea who these people are. I might get one paragraph and a little, tiny one-inch photograph of what the person looks like, and they all kind of say the same thing about how they're going to make sure the credit union is operated in the best interest of its members. Great. Well, it doesn't help me choose, it doesn't help me understand [who these people are]. I feel relatively powerless, and it doesn't make me feel much like it's mine–that I get to vote on… I don't know who.
Ginny Brady, Revolutionary
That's why I was so intrigued when Ginny Brady, in Plattsburgh, New York, started blogging with her members. She truly wanted to interact with her members to say "here's what we are weighing as the board, here are the issues we're wrestling with, we have to make tough choices, we have to balance different facets of financial soundness, with doing the right thing for our members, with maintaining the institution's integrity." For several years, she was regularly blogging, saying "here's what the board's doing, here's what we're up to, here's our annual meeting, come out to it, we'd love to talk to you, we'd love to get your input."
She actually stopped blogging after a couple of years. I think it's simply because she was way too far ahead of her time, and perhaps people in the Plattsburgh region weren't really ready for a local credit union to blog, and to understand what that meant, and to know how to find it, and know how to interact, or to want to interact. But I still feel like, as people now come online in different ways, Facebook, Twitter, email , blogging, what have you, I feel that there are new opportunties for credit unions to really make a difference with their governance.
Online input on CU governance!
What if there were online polling? What if you polled the membership regularly and said "how many of you prefer X over Y?" or "how many people feel it's important that we offer this checking account?" or "we're planning to build a new branch." I still feel like there's plenty of opportunity to really engage members, via online channels, via Facebook, via SurveyMonkey, or any other means, to say "WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE? What is it that would make the credit union better for you? What do you like about us and what we're doing now? What do you hate about the credit union now?" And we can do these things in real time. You could even have a board meeting where you pose a question to the membership at the beginning of the meeting, and you have a decent number of responses by the end of the meeting. So if members have this voice now, and they are actually engaged with the board of directors, and not even directly, but just in an anonymous way, that's going to make people feel like, "yeah, that's MY credit union. I have input to the credit union. The credit union listens to me for feedback. The credit union is interested in what I have to say. That's MY credit union. I'm not going to leave MY credit union. I'm not going to go down the street because a rate is a quarter-point higher or lower, because it's not MY credit union."
So anyway, that's just my thoughts, rambling from here in Western Massachusetts on a dark and stormy, rainy December night. I would love to hear your feedback on whether this aspect of inviting membership into governance has significant potential to truly revolutionize how credit unions market with and do business with their members.
What's your take?


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United Flight in Trouble Lands Safely at Missoula International Airport [AUDIO]
Emergency vehicles were called out to the Missoula International Airport on Wednesday morning, March 13, to respond to an aircraft that was having technical difficulties.
Deputy director of the airport, Brian Ellisted, said the United Airlines flight 5535 from Denver called in to the Missoula tower and said they were experiencing some maintenance issues. Ellisted said the agencies involved in the response included the Missoula County Sheriff's Department, Missoula City Fire, Missoula Rural Fire, Frenchtown Fire, and Missoula Emergency Services.
Ellisted said the plane landed safely and without incident.
Missoula County Sheriff's Department spokesman Jason Johnson said this type of response occurs nine to 10 times per year. The crews train regularly to respond to any kind of emergency at the airport.
Ellisted expressed his thanks to all the responders.
Brian Ellisted, Deputy Director of the Missoula International Airport


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Master of Science in Public Policy
Professors: Sheila Amin de Gutiérrez de Piñeres, Kurt Beron, Brian J.L. Berry, Marie I. Chevrier, Lloyd J. Dumas, Euel W. Elliott, Donald A. Hicks, Paul A. Jargowsky, Murray J. Leaf, Richard K. Scotch
Associate Professors: Bobby C. Alexander, Simon M. Fass, Jennifer S. Holmes, Susan McElroy, Sheryl L. Skaggs
The Mission of the Master of Science in Public Policy is to offer students an interdisciplinary graduate education designed to develop skills for careers in which a solid understanding of the public policy process and the analysis and evaluation of public policies are essential. Students will be prepared for analytical and administrative positions and responsibilities in a wide array of professional settings in the public, non-profit, and private sectors as well as advanced study for careers in research. Specific skills include knowledge of the policy process and related ethical concerns, rigorous research skills that provide students with an essential grounding in statistical and data analysis and research design, and effective communication skills.
• Students will understand and analyze the principal policy making institutions and the ways in which they formulate debate and implement public policies at the national, sub-national and local levels. Students will examine legislative, executive, and non-governmental roles in policy formation at different levels of government. They will analyze the ways in which the various institutions interact and set policy priorities. They will study policy implementation and the interrelated functions of levels of governments, non-profit and corporate entities in policy implementation.
• Students will learn and apply quantitative skills and economic theories to measure and evaluate public policies. They will learn when to apply appropriate techniques to complex policies. They will demonstrate an understanding of techniques to examine the preferred outcomes of policy alternatives to advise senior officials. Students will acquire skills in applying statistical measures of projected policy outcomes. Students will learn economic theories and acquire skills in applying those theories appropriately to establish policy objectives and outcomes.
• Students will understand the role of and learn appropriate, rigorous ways to design research to increase knowledge of public policy and citizen welfare. Students will learn ways to quantitatively and qualitatively design research projects that address important public policy questions and concerns.
• Students will learn and understand the unique role of ethical theories and behavior as it applies to the public and non-profit sectors. Students will understand the ethical obligation of elected and appointed governmental officials to the body politic. Students will understand the functions of internal and public oversight of the formation and implementation of public policies.
• Students will develop expertise in a substantive area of public policy and learn how to effectively communicate new findings and innovative policies to senior decision makers and the general public. Students will study one of three major public policy disciplines--social policy, health policy or the business-government relationship. Students will understand the theories and scientific principles that support these substantive policy areas and the ways in which those theories are tested. Students will understand how these policy areas contribute to the well-being of citizens to enhance the quality of life.
• Qualified students are encouraged to consider the Ph.D. in Public Policy and Political Economy (PPPE). Such students should meet with Program Director of PPPE as soon as possible to discussion options.
Students have access to the computing facilities in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and the University's Computing Center. The School has two computing laboratories that have over 50 computers that are network linked and equipped with major social science software packages, including E-Views, R. Rats, SPSS, and Stata. A computerized geographic information system, the Lexis Nexis database and Westlaw are also available for student use. The University's Computing Center provides personal computers and UNIX Workstations. .Many important data and reference materials are also available online via the library and the school's memberships in numerous organizations.
Admissions Requirement
The master's program in Public Policy seeks applications from students with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college. Although applications will be reviewed holistically, in general, entering students have earned a 3.0 undergraduate grade point average (on a 4.0 scale), and a combined verbal and quantitative score of 1100 or greater on the Graduate Records Examination (GRE). Standardized test scores are only one of the factors taken into account in determining admission. Students should also submit all transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a one-page essay outlining the applicant's background, education, and professional objectives.
While there are no specific course prerequisites, entering students will benefit from exposure to undergraduate courses in the economics, political sciences, sociology, college algebra, statistics, public policy, and research design.
Grading Policy
In order to qualify for graduation, students must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average in their degree program's core courses plus an aggregate grade point average of 3.0 for all graduate courses taken in the student's degree program at U.T. Dallas.
Degree Requirements
Students seeking a Masters in Public Policy must complete at least 36 semester credit hours of graduate coursework in the program. The program has three components:
1. Twenty-one semester hours of required coursework
2. Nine semester hours of prescribed electives
3. Six hours of free electives
Students must maintain at least a 3.0 (B) grade point average to graduate.
I. Required Core Courses
1. Policymaking and Institutions (Six hours)
POEC 6313 (PA 6313 and PSCI 6313) Public Policymaking and Institutions POEC 7318 (PA 7318) Ethics, Culture and Public Responsibility
2. Methodology [Statistics, Research Design, and related – nine hours]
Methods Core (Algebra-based or Calculus based)
Algebra-based series
EPPS 6313 Introduction to Quantitative Methods
EPPS 6316 Applied Regression
Calculus based series
EPPS 7313 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
EPPS 7316 Regression and Multivariate Analysis
Students with a concentration in Legal Studies (See prescribed electives) would substitute POEC/PSCI 6343 Law and The Policy Process for EPPS 6316/7316.
Select one of the following:
EPPS 6310 Research Design I
EPPS 6352 Evaluation Research Methods in the Economic, Political and Policy Sciences
PSCI 5307 Legal Reasoning and Writing [Students with a concentration in Legal Studies only]
3. Economics (Three hours)
POEC 7317 Economics for Public Policy
4. Policy Workshop or Prescribed Elective approved by the MPP Program Director. (Three hours)
Select one of the following:
POEC 6V47 (PA 6V47) Policy Research Workshop in Health Care Policy
POEC 6V62 Policy Research Workshop in Social Policy
POEC 6V76 Policy Research Workshop in Development Studies
Other Workshop course, internship or approved elective.
II. Prescribed Electives
Students complete nine hours in ONE area of concentration. All courses must be approved by the Program Director.
A. Criminology
B. Domestic Social Policy
C. Health Policy
D. International Conflict and Security
E. Legal Studies
F. Other concentration proposed by the student and approved by the Director
Students should consult the graduate catalog, and the Program Director, for additional information regarding those courses that would best satisfy the "Prescribed Electives" requirement.
III. Free Electives
Students may select six hours of 6000 level or higher courses. Students may choose courses that are not selected under "Core Courses" to fulfill this requirement and may choose courses outside the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences.


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Department of Energy's target for EV's in 2020: "Specific Energy Density 250 Wh/kg"; and "Volumetric Energy Density 500 Wh/L"!!!
Department of Energy's target for EV's in 2020: "Specific Energy Density 250 Wh/kg"; and "Volumetric Energy Density 500 Wh/L"!!!
Panasonic 3.4Ah battery a' 46g 3.4Ah*3.6V/46g = 266Wh/kg.
Odd thing that they want to lower energy density...
what he was talking about is the complete battery assembly, not an individual cell... that is not made very clear in the video, but you can guess because he was using a battery assembly for the demo. MS battery assembly is 160W/kg ( highest in EV industry ).
About 5 yrs at that rate. But progress is not smooth. It could happen all at once.
@Benz - this is a good example for many of your questions...
Everyone wants better battery technology - and is waiting for someone to come up with it.. and waiting... and waiting.
But that is not the only option. A second option is to redesign the battery assembly so instead of 160 Wh/kg it gets e.g. 180 Wh/kg using the exact same 266 Wh/kg cells = 12% improvement. And you spend ZERO extra dollars in production, probably you will actually save some money. That is the beauty of production engineering ( I am doing this kind of stuff for 25 years ).
Elon has a deep understanding of the above - watch his Oxford talk.
So while everyone is waiting for better technology - TM is taking what is available today and engineer a smart package. And next package will be a little bit smarter.
Lower energy density because the new technology requires less energy to function. On the surface it sounds contradictory but other factors like energy produced per percentage of GDP in America has steadily decreased over the years because of newer and more efficient devices and technologies. America and other western countries make more money with less electricity. Also a government target is no magic spell. They can set all the standards they want, it does not mean it will happen.
@Kleist; I bet big part of that battery assembly weight comes from the bottom armor. It is structural part of the car, so car floor is actually part of the battery assembly. If you remove the weight what would have to be there anyway then battery mass drops significantly.
That's smart thing in the Tesla cars, they make battery part of the car reducing need for other structures. Unfortunately floor assembly also means that it needs to be protected from hits.
For same reason 60kWh and 40kWh version do not drop battery assembly weight in same ratio as kWh drop would suggest (because that bottom armor has to be there in any case).
This is BTW the reason why I have hard time calculating battery mass in the car total weight: it is part of the car, not separate component, so what is "battery" and what is "rest of the car" is a fuzzy concept here. All I can say that most people overestimate battery weight quite a bit. Car is heavy even without it.
@Timo - the universal answer of any engineer in any large company is "can't be done because...". My universal response is: "I don't pay you to tell me it can't be done - I can do that myself, I pay you to figure how to do it". Once you break through that mental barrier you will be amazed how creative engineers can be.
It is not that assembly or that armor... find a smarter solution.
@jamesamyx - my current laptop (many years ago - its old) came with a 40 GB harddrive and the battery lasted 3-4 hrs. I replaced it a newer 500 GB harddrive and now the batty lasts at least 6 hrs. That is exactly the point TM needs to pound on - do more with less.
@Kleist, my point was that they already do what you said, car is heavy, not because of battery but because of everything else in it.
It is not any heavier than any of the competition of same size cars which pretty much proves my point. For example Audi S7 weights 4508 lbs which is only slightly less than Model S.
Considering the physical fact that batteries (without pack) and motor does weight a bit more than traditional ICE the fact that Model S does not weight any more than it does is a proof that Tesla engineers are already building it quite smart. It can't get much better than that unless you start to use exotic and expensive materials and unless batteries themselves get lighter.
@Timo - MS design is perfect for its size. Future Gen3 has to come down in weight, size, price, etc... how to do it that is the engineering challenge.
My point was that progress most of the times doesn't come from inventions, new technologies, exotic materials, better battery technology, etc... most comes just from smart engineering. Little things like 5% here, 3% there, 12% there... add up and boom your total product is 30% more efficient/better.
There is a error in your thinking there: you get average of these three things (assuming there are no other things), not addition.
It's really hard to increase efficiency when it is already very high. GenIII car will be smaller, but also to reduce cost it will be made from steel, so it does not lose weight quite as much as size difference dictates.
Smaller size does help with air drag and with weight which will increase range, so it might do same range as Model S with less batteries which further save weight and cost.
I wonder how big battery it would require for EV1 to have 300 mile range with Tesla-like design. It is really aerodynamic and it is also very small. If Tesla GenIII "affordable car" would have anywhere near that kind of size and aerodynamics it could have very large range with quite small battery pack.
That's the essence of it. No exotic advances required.


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For the week ending 23 January 2010 / 7 Shevat 5770
Perfect Timing
What perfect timing!
This was the reaction of the doctor in the hospital who had just received a unique gift from one of his longtime patients.
The gift was a beautiful wooden plaque upon which was inscribed in Hebrew and English the "Physician's Prayer" attributed to Maimonides. This seemed to be the ideal gift to a beloved doctor, something he could proudly display in his office.
But the doctor had other ideas.
"I appreciate your gift," he said, "but I already have one like it. With your permission I would like to present it to a young fellow who is finishing his internship this very day."
The patient also appreciated the perfect timing and gladly consented to the gesture.


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If you're looking for an ideal Alberta getaway, it's time to circle the wagons, cars, SUVs and trucks.
There's a perfect ring of high-ways - a circle tour - in the southern part of the province that attracts visitors from far and wide.
The area is packed full of attractions, natural beauty, historic sites and activities, while also offering dozens of farmers' markets, festivals, arts and craft stops, rodeos and powwows.
"It's an absolutely beautiful circle tour," says Duncan Daniels, head of Alberta's regional marketing for historic sites and museums. "I've run into so many people who were amazed to find this type of trip so close to Calgary.
"There is so much to see within a short distance," he says, "and that means you can spend time doing things and seeing things," rather than spending endless hours on the road.
This circle tour provides an opportunity to dip into the culture and history of the area, experience the friendly spirit of the west, and get great value for a vacation budget.
You can plan a flexible itinerary around this circle tour, keeping it as short as a weekend getaway or stretching it into a weeklong adventure. It's also a particularly interesting year to travel in the area, as several attractions are celebrating noteworthy anniversaries.
To start the circle tour, head south from Calgary on Highway 2.
If you're ready for a quick stop, make a right on Highway 7, to see the Okotoks Erratic - a huge rock originally from the Jasper area. A glacier deposited the rock (the world's largest glacial erratic) in this spot, thousands of years ago.
After you've stretched your legs, head back to Highway 2 and continue south for about 80 minutes. Take a right on Highway 785 and you're at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, celebrating the 25th anniversary of its interpretive centre and the 40th anniversary of becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site
From Head-Smashed-In, head east for 17 kilometres to Fort Macleod. Built in 1874 as the headquarters of the North West Mounted Police, you can check out a museum that brings the story of the organization to life, along with daily performances of a NWMP musical ride, marking its 40th anniversary.
In Fort Macleod, you'll also find the Empress Theatre celebrating its 100th anniversary. Check out a show, take in a guided tour and learn about the resident ghost, Ed.
After visiting Fort Macleod, take Highway 3 to Lethbridge, where a visit to Fort Whoop Up traces the lively story of fur traders, whiskey traders and corruption. The NWMP was formed to help com-bat problems at the fort.
Heading out of Lethbridge, take Highway 5 south to Cardston, where one of the must-see attractions is the Remington Carriage Museum. As the world's largest carriage museum, it features 250 horse-drawn buggies.
Cardston - celebrating the 100th anniversary of a modern "show house," now known as the Carriage House Theatre - is also part of the Mormon Trail, a route that follows the historic path of Mormons who left Utah for Canada.
From Cardston, continue on Highway 5 to Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. The park, straddling the Canadian-American border, is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring mountains, canyons, hoodoos, grasslands, wild flowers, forest belts, lakes and rivers.
The park is also at the heart of the "Crown of the Continent," a moniker bestowed in the 1890s to reflect the geographical significance of the area, from which fresh water flows into the Pacific Ocean, Hudson Bay and Gulf of Mexico.
"The geography is so diverse," Daniels says, adding that some of these UNESCO sites attract more than 50 per cent of their visitors from outside Alberta.
"Many of these spots are very popular with a national and international crowd because people have heard what we have in this area," Daniels says.
After visiting the park, travel north on Highway 6 towards Pincher Creek, which hosts events ranging from a cowboy poetry gathering and road hockey celebration to a chuckwagon cookout and huckleberry festival.
Next, go west on Highway 3 for a scenic drive through the Crowsnest Pass, with worthwhile stops including: 1) The Leitch Collieries Historic Site, which includes the preserved stone ruins of an early coal mining company; 2) The mining town of Coleman (a national historic site); and, 3) The Frank Slide Interpretive Centre; 82 million tonnes of rock slid down a mountain on this sleeping town in 1903, killing up to 90 and becoming Canada's deadliest rock slide.
After visiting this area, head back east on Highway 3 until reaching Highway 22. As you drive north towards Calgary, you're now on the Cowboy Trail.
There's a wide variety of ranches, farms, picnic spots and horse riding opportunities along the trail, along with the Bar U Ranch - a national historic site that provides an authentic look at ranching history.
"It's authentic western culture," Daniels says. "There is so much here for local visitors and visitors that come from around the world . . . This is really an amazing circle tour."
If You Go
For more information, check out: Travel Alberta (travelalberta.com); Chinook Country Tourist Association (chinookcountry.com); Tourism Calgary (visitcalgary.com); Crown of the Continent (crownofthecontinent.net); Cowboy Trail Tourism Association (thecowboytrail.com); Alberta's National Historic Sites (pcgc.ca/ docs/r/ab/sites/index.aspx); and, provincial historic museums and sites (experienceAlbertaHistory. com.)


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Audrey Fyfe's family accompanied by CTC supporters to appeal hearing
Audrey Fyfe's family accompanied by CTC supporters to appeal hearing
They attended the appeal hearing of the unduly lenient sentence handed down to Audrey's killer, Gary McCourt.
McCourt was convicted of causing Audrey's death by careless driving and was given a 5 year driving ban and ordered to complete 300 hours of community service in May of this year.
CTC campaigned for an appeal of this sentence on the grounds that it was unduly lenient, as it did not take into consideration McCourt's previous conviction for killing another cyclist, George Dalgity, 25 years before. Over 6000 supporters wrote to the Lord Advocate in support of an appeal.
Several of those who wrote to the Lord Advocate also attended the hearing on Tuesday to support the Fyfe family. Audrey's daughter Linda Hamilton, speaking on behalf of her father Ian and sister Aileen, told CTC that the family would be delighted to have the support of fellow cyclists.
The Fyfe family are not seeking a long prison sentence but do believe McCourt should be banned from driving for life. Only this measure can guarantee he doesn't kill or injure any more cyclists or other road users.
We hope the Fyfe family get justice for what happened to Audrey and that a clear message is sent to all drivers that driving which puts cyclists' lives in danger will not be tolerated.
Rhia Weston
CTC's Road Justice Campaign Coordinator
So far this year, 9 cyclists have been killed in Scotland, which is equal to the total number killed in 2012. More must be done to protect these vulnerable road users and prevent further unnecessary deaths. The justice system needs to send out a strong signal that irresponsible driving will be dealt with seriously and actively discouraged and dealt with seriously when it occurs.
CTC's Road Justice campaign is calling for thorough police investigations of road traffic collisions, better charging and prosecution decisions, and sentences that reflect the severity of the offence committed and discourage bad driving.
If you've not already signed the petition calling for better police investigation into road crashes, please do so.
The petition is only relevant to England and Wales, but those living elsewhere are still welcome to sign. CTC will be publishing a Road Justice report into the Scottish legal system in 2014.


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Rochester, N.Y. – The Canisius College hockey team won its first Atlantic Hockey Championship on Saturday night, taking the title with a 7-2 win over Mercyhurst at the Blue Cross Arena. The Griffs earned the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and are set to make their first-ever appearance in the national bracket. Canisius improves to 19-18-5 with the win, extending the nation's longest active winning streak to eight games.
Junior Kyle Gibbons led the Canisius offense – which scored a season-high seven goals – to the win. The junior recorded a career-best four points on the night, scoring two goals and adding two assists to earn Tournament MVP honors.
Joining Gibbons on the All-Tournament Team is sophomore forward Tyler Wiseman, junior defender Ben Danford and junior goaltender Tony Capobianco along with Paul Chiasson and Nick Jones of Mercyhurst.
Freshman Ralph Cuddemi matched Gibbons with a career-best two goals in the winning effort with seniors Torrey Lindsay and Ben Parker and sophomore Cody Freeman each adding a tally.
Capobianco anchored the Griffs' defensive effort with 34 saves in the winning effort. The junior netminder finished with a tournament-record 235 saves in six games, posting a 1.99 goals against average and .951 save percentage.
The Griffs waited until the final minute of the opening period to take the lead, one it would never give back. On a rush, sophomore Patrick Sullivan skated past a Mercyhurst defender and fed Gibbons in front. The junior then knocked the puck in for his first goal of the day with just 41.2 seconds remaining in the first.
It was Gibbons who then added to the Canisius advantage, scoring his team-leading 20th goal of the season with 15:24 remaining in the second by scoring on a 4-on-3 power play. The junior took the puck at the blue line skated in and ripped a slapshot into the back of the net for the 2-0 lead. Both Danford and Freeman registered an assist on the power-play tally.
Cuddemi then extended the Griffs lead to three, scoring his first of two goals on the night with 7:29 remaining in the second. Senior captain Preston Shupe dug the puck out from a scrum behind the net and found Cuddemi open in front. The rookie then buried his opportunity for the three-goal lead. Sophomore Matthew Grazen also registered an assist on Cuddemi's third goal of the season.
The Lakers (19-17-5) answered back less than a minute later when Matthew Zay scored off an offensive-zone faceoff victory, pulling Mercyhurst within two, 3-1, with 6:38 left in the second frame.
Like they did all weekend, however, Canisius answered back and scored its fourth goal in Rochester in the final minute of a period. Cuddemi netted his second goal of the game, scoring on the power play 57 seconds left in the second period. The freshman tapped in a pass from Wiseman for the 4-1 lead after 40 minutes of action. Shupe added an assist on Cuddemi's fourth goal of his rookie campaign.
The Lakers did not go away quietly and cut the Canisius lead to two early in the third period when Jones scored on the power play. Mercyhurst's tally just 58 seconds into the final frame pulled the team within two, 4-2.
Canisius, however, sealed the contest with the game's final three goals for the 7-2 win. Freeman started the run with his 12th tally of the season, scoring with 12:57 remaining in the final period. The sophomore finished off a 2-on-1 rush as the Griffs reclaimed their three-goal advantage, 5-2. Gibbons and Parker both registered an assist on the score.
Just over a minute later, Lindsay added to the Canisius lead, scoring his third goal of the season. The senior captain sent a shot past the Mercyhurst netminder from the right boards with the assist going to sophomore Carl Larsson at the 8:17 mark of the third period.
Parker then finished the scoring for the night, netting his third goal of the season with 5:18 left in regulation. While on the power play, the senior defender fired a shot into the net from the right face-off circle for the 7-2 final score. Gibbons and Danford both recorded assists as Canisius secured its first Atlantic Hockey Championship.
The Lakers finished the game with a 36-26 advantage in shots but Canisius won the special teams battle. The Griffs converted 3-of-6 power-play chances with Mercyhurst going 1-for-5 with the extra-man advantage.
Jordan Tibbett and Max Strang combined for 19 saves for the Lakers with Tibbett taking the loss in net.
Canisius now awaits its opponent in the NCAA Tournament. The selection show will air on Sunday night at 9 p.m., televised by ESPNU.
Game Notes: The five-goal margin of victory matches the championship record, while the seven tallies scored are the most in an Atlantic Hockey final … Gibbons now leads all players in the country with 17 points (5g, 12a) during the month of March (eight games played), while Freeman is tied for the national lead with eight tallies during the month … Gibbons now has 42 points on 20 goals and 22 assists this season. His 42 points are tied for the third most in a single season in the program's Division I history, while his 20 tallies are tied for fourth … The Griffs have scored at least four goals in seven of the eight games during the winning streak. Canisius netted four goals in just six of their first 34 contests … Overall, the Griffs are averaging 4.50 goals per game during the eight-game streak after averaging just 2.18 tallies per in the first 34 contests … The eight-game winning streak extends the program's Division I record and matches the school's overall record set during the 1992-93 campaign.


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The Aylmer-Kelly Partnership can help businesses in the Corsham to produce a 'persons with significant control' (PSC) register. Here, we outline the new requirements for businesses...
Recent changes to company law have imposed new obligations on UK companies, as well as those holding interests in UK companies.
From 6 April 2016, all UK companies that are not already subject to similar requirements must produce a register of 'persons with significant control' - or PSC register - containing details of the ultimate beneficial owners of the company.
This information must be filed with Companies House, where it will be held in a public register, with the stated aim of improving the level of transparency of UK companies. The information must be provided to Companies House from 30 June 2016.
The definition of a person with significant control is any person to whom one or more of the following points applies:
Companies with simple ownership structures should find the new requirements relatively straightforward, although for those with more complex arrangements, or where the issue of ownership is unclear, the situation may be more challenging.
Under the new rules, companies are required to take reasonable steps to identify whether a person or legal entity has significant control and to include relevant details relating to them in the PSC register. This means that companies will need to look beyond the individuals who immediately own their shares, to identify those individuals or entities which ultimately have significant control of the company.
Additionally, if an individual knows, or ought reasonably to know that they should be registered as a significant controller, a proactive disclosure obligation will apply to that individual, requiring them to notify the company of their interest.
Following changes which came into force on 26 June 2017, companies must now report all changes to their PSC information as they take place. Previously, companies could wait until their annual confirmation statement to report such changes.
Companies have up to 14 days to update their PSC register and a further 14 days to send the information to Companies House.
Failure to comply with the new rules could potentially result in financial penalties and a criminal conviction.
This article is for general information only and you are always advised to consult an expert for further advice.
We can help companies in the Corsham area to generate their own PSC register – please contact us today.
We offer a tailored personal tax planning service to minimise your personal tax liabilities.
We deal with the routine matters of business tax, PAYE, National Insurance and VAT.
We can assist you in producing either monthly or quarterly management accounts on a regular basis.
The government should consider delaying changes to capital gains tax (CGT) rules in relation to residential property sales to take account of the impact of COVID-19 on the property market, according to the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT).
05 Jun 2020
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Federal agents arrested 13 suspects in connection with an alleged sex trafficking ring in Houston that prostituted underage, undocumented girls from Mexico for up to $500 an hour, according to an indictment unsealed Friday morning.
Federal prosecutors allege the ring operated out of several Houston bars and brothels and the suspects charged "premium prices" for sex with underage girls. The girls were locked up and beaten and charged for condoms, the indictment alleges.
The FBI, state and local law enforcement agencies raided clubs in the southeast Houston area Thursday night, including one in the 5600 block of Telephone Road.
Neighbors said they saw 20 or more young girls being led out of the Nuevo Amanecer nightclub after the raid.
The girls were taken away in a bus.
The indictment names 14 suspects including one man who remains a fugitive: Alfonso Diaz-Juarez, aka "Poncho."
Prosecutors described a woman named Hortencia Medeles-Arguello, aka La Tencha, as the "matriarch" of the ring, alleging she employed her daughters and other relatives in the brothels. The suspects relied on pimps known as "padrotes" to recruit, smuggle and supply the young women prostituted in the bars.
The girls were kept locked in a second-story room above a bar now called Nuevo Amanecer, and the ring charged a $20 fee for a condom and $15 to use a prostitution room, according to the indictment. The room and condom fees topped $1.26 million from February 2012 to August.
The charge for the sex acts ranged from $65 for 15 minutes to up to $500 per hour.
The indictment alleges the ring has operated since at least 1999, when "Tencha" ran a bar in east Houston called Las Flores. The family business expanded to include several other cantinas, including one called Las Palmas, where a witness told investigators that she saw eight girls under age 18 working as prostitutes, the indictment shows.
The indictment alleges that when clients came to the room above Las Palmas, Techa and her daughter told them the girls were ages 14 to 17. They also allegedly told customers which girls "had been used more and which ones were 'fresh meat.'"
The prices charged for the sex acts were based on the girl's age and how pretty she was, the indictment alleges. The indictment lists 12 victims, the youngest of whom is now 17 years old.
The clients were allowed to choose from a wide range of sex acts and spank or hit the victims "as long as they didn't hit them in the face," the indictment alleges. The girls were punched or beaten when customers left dissatisfied, prosecutors charge.
The victims told prosecutors they were not allowed to keep the money from the sex acts.


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BBC WORLD NEWS AMERICA delivers coverage and analysis of international events and issues with a fresh perspective, connecting the dots between the United States and the world. Katty Kay serves as series anchor.
There are no upcoming air times for this episode.
Funding for BBC World News America is provided in part by:


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WEB SOFT software Development & Training Centre, a Corporate Institute, is, managed by a team of dedicated and committed and highly qualified software & hardware professionals . The computer institute is fortunate enough to have been associated with expert and experienced faculty in the fields of Software, Hardware and Web Technologies with well-built infrastructure and 24/7 Lab assistance.
One of the areas of our specializations is – Project study, analysis, development and its implementation. The computer faculty in our computer institute has hands-on experience in software development and has a proven track record in training and guiding the students. They take intensive care from the very first step of selecting the Project title, encouraging the student to venture a distinct project, involve themselves in the Project by putting their own effort, time and subject to write programs to execute the same. In case of any problems, the faculty in-charge willingly guides the student and helps them in successfully executing the Project.
The institute's objectives is to empower the future computer Professionals by providing them decent work atmosphere, individual attention, creating confidence in them by encouraging them take-up the Project on their own, right from selection of topic until its implementation, facilitating its submission, under the supervision and guidance of experienced and expert faculty.


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TUESDAY, April 5, 2011 (HealthDay News) -- Over the last two decades teen births have dropped 37 percent in the United States and are now at a record low, government health officials report.
While this is good news, the U.S. teen birth rate is still up to nine times that of other affluent nations, and more than 410,000 teen births were recorded in the United States in 2009 alone, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
"While we are making significant progress in bringing down the teen birth rate, we have much more work to do in order to bring those rates in line with other developed countries," Ursula Bauer, director of CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, said during a noon press conference Tuesday.
Another expert agreed.
"The report makes clear that the United States is a real outlier in teen pregnancy," said Bill Albert, Chief Program Office at the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. "Even with these extraordinary declines it is still that case that 3 in 10 girls get pregnant in their teenage years and our rates remain far higher than other comparable countries," he said.
Speaking at the press conference, Dr. Wanda Barfield, director of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion's division of reproductive health, said that teens may still not be getting the sex education they need to protect themselves.
"Teens are not receiving abstinence education, as well as sexual education," she said. "Only 50 percent of high school students are getting comprehensive sexual education including abstinence and contraception," Barfield added.
The new CDC report is based on 2009 data on those aged 15 to 19. It finds that about 46 percent of teens say they've had sexual intercourse and about 14 percent of girls and 10 percent of boys say they do not use any type of birth control.
The report emphasizes the need for sex education as well as talking with parents about pregnancy. In addition, teens who are sexually active need access to contraception that is both affordable and effective, the report's authors say.
In terms of contraception, condoms are recommended for boys, and birth control pills, hormone shots, or an IUD, are the most effective methods for girls, the team said.
According to the report, teen births also vary among racial and ethnic groups.
Hispanics have the lowest use of contraceptives and also the highest teen birth rates. In addition, black and Hispanic teens are about 2.3 times more likely to have a baby than white teens. Among black teen girls, 58 percent said they have had sex, compared to 45 percent of Hispanic girls and 45 percent of white girls, the researchers found.
Among boys, 72 percent of black boys say they have had sex, compared with 53 percent of Hispanic boys and 40 percent of white boys.
Teen pregnancy also has emotional, physical and economic costs, the CDC noted. For example:
- Half of teen mothers don't graduate high school before 22.
- Girls of teen mothers are one-third more likely to become teen mothers.
- Children of teen parents are more apt to drop out of school and become teen parents themselves.
- Teen moms are more likely to deliver a premature or low birthweight baby.
- Babies born to teen moms are more likely to die in infancy.
According to the CDC, teen pregnancy and births cost taxpayers about $3 billion each year, some $6 billion in lost taxes, and almost $3 billion in other public costs.
Still, the number of very young parents continues to decline. Not only have teen birth rates been going down, but there have also been declines in the rates of abortions for all age groups including teens, Barfield said.
"We are also seeing declined in the rate of high school students who are sexually active," she said, "and we are seeing increases in contraception among high school students who are sexually active."
Commenting on the report, Albert said that it "underscores something that is counterintuitive to many adults: that the progress the nation had made in preventing teen pregnancy has been nothing short of extraordinary."
"When it comes to teens and sex, adults usually think the news is bad and probably getting worse," he added. "The bad news is our rates are still too high," Albert said.
To get teen pregnancy rates further down, parents need to get more involved, Albert said. "In surveys, teens say it is parents, not peers, not popular culture, that most influence their decisions about sex," he said. "Parents have a role in talking early and often with their kids about relationships, sex and contraception," he added.
"What's driven the teen pregnancy rate down is a combination of less sex and more contraception," Albert added. "So we need to encourage more of both."
Albert advises teens delaying sex is the first and "best option. But that has to be coupled with a message for kids who are having sex, that it is critical that they use contraception each time they have sex."
More information
For more information on teen pregnancy, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


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About science and space
There are no astonishing inventions or scientific breakthroughs that space research has produced, but countless small advances and background work have benefited us on Earth. And this is only the beginning.
Christer Fuglesang has flown twice in space and has roots deeply embedded in science. He came to ESA from the CERN nuclear physics research establishment, and he has not shaken off science even during his busy preparations for spaceflight. Now he is heading ESA's division that is defining Europe's scientific exploitation of the International Space Station (ISS).
"Speaking about the scientific work on the ISS is sometimes difficult, because I can't show a list of widely known achievements that have been made in space," says Christer with a sigh.
"But also here on Earth the majority of laboratories and research facilities have to go on with their daily work without Nobel prizes. It doesn't make their work less important.
"We have three special laboratory modules attached to the Station and doing research is a part of the daily routine up there. Our European Columbus laboratory is fully used, but the door is always open for new research."
Background work
Microgravity is one of the most interesting features that space has to offer. Studying physical phenomena, chemical reactions and biological processes is important in the absence of gravitational effects because everything we do on Earth is affected by gravity.
Space experiments have shown how some of the most stunning phenomena can be reproduced, in Earth's gravity. "Like growing big crystals or mixing difficult metal alloys," says Christer.
"Thanks to research in space, we have acquired the knowledge so that many of these difficult processes can now be done in normal laboratories on Earth."
In some cases, the advanced simulations that are run on computers need the fundamental parameters that can be measured only in space.
Astronomical observations are building our understanding of the Universe. Verifying the basic laws of nature is reinforcing the foundations of science. The Space Station will make important contributions to this exciting fundamental field of physics.
Medical research
Life sciences studies best illustrate the direct benefits of research in space: studying the adaptation of humans to weightlessness has not only made long space missions easier for astronauts, but also brought hope to people suffering from osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, age-related problems and many others.
Light, transportable and easy-use equipment designed for use in space has found its way into daily medical work.
New ideas are needed
"Science on the Station is not disconnected from science on Earth. We are studying the same issues in similar ways, but in a different environment," explains Christer.
"We don't know yet all the possible uses of the space environment. We're still in the very early phase of the learning curve.
"We know that there are many connecting points and we're calling all scientists in Europe to think about the possible use of the ISS in their research. It can be something that has not been done much in the past, like doing Earth observation from the Station."
Contacts from the countries not participating in ESA's human spaceflight and microgravity research programme are also welcome. For instance, the Neurospat experiment now being performed on Paolo Nespoli's MagISStra mission is from Hungary.
"If you know what to do, we know how that can be done in space," concludes Christer, with a direct challenge to the scientists.


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The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board warned investors Wednesday to be aware of the terms of certain types of direct-pay municipal bonds to better understand if they are affected by the federal budget sequestration.
The alert also reminds broker-dealers and municipal securities dealers of their customer protection obligations under MSRB rules in connection with customer transactions relating to direct-pay bonds.
The MSRB notes that because the terms of direct-pay bonds "may vary considerably from issue to issue, investors, dealers and other market professionals should know the facts about their particular direct-pay bonds and should not make investment or pricing decisions based solely on other direct-pay bonds which may have dissimilar features or on generalized characterizations reported in the press or in other published reports."
As a result of the sequestration that took effect March 1, the Internal Revenue Service reduced refundable credits payable to issuers with respect to their Build America Bonds (BABs), Qualified School Construction Bonds (QSCBs), Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZABs), New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (New CREBs) and Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds (QECBs) for which the issuer elected to receive a direct credit subsidy from the federal government, collectively known as "direct-pay bonds."
"While reductions in subsidy payments resulting from sequestration directly affect the issuers of direct-pay bonds, these reductions also have the potential to affect investors buying, selling and holding direct-pay bonds for which such subsidy payments have been reduced," MSRB says.
For example, the MSRB explains that in some cases, the bonds' terms may permit the issuer to exercise an extraordinary redemption at a price of par if the federal subsidy payment is cut, whereas the terms of other outstanding direct-pay bonds may permit extraordinary redemption only under a more limited set of circumstances (such as a change in law on such subsidy payments) or at a higher "make-whole" redemption price.
"The existence and specific terms of extraordinary redemption provisions, and the determination of whether the circumstances that can trigger the exercise of such extraordinary redemptions have occurred, has the potential of affecting the market value of the applicable direct-pay bond," MSRB says.
The ruemaking board directs investors and BDs to its Electronic Municipal Market Access (EMMA) website, where they can find free information on the basic terms of direct-pay bonds as described in the official statement produced by the issuer and submitted by the underwriter of the bonds.
Check out PIMCO's Gross: Fed in a Corner, Will 'Taper' by Year's End on AdvisorOne.


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$12 Million for a Center for Research on Aphasia
NIH grant to support work on devastating disorder that robs brain of language
EVANSTON, Ill. --- Northwestern University has received a $12 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish a center devoted to research on aphasia, a devastating language disorder that essentially robs the brain of language. The grant is the largest ever awarded to a School of Communication researcher.
"In the U.S. alone, more than one million people suffer from aphasia, rendering normal communication impossible," said Cynthia Thompson, who will direct the new Center for the Neurobiology of Language Recovery. "For the first time, the best researchers in the field will work together to find biomarkers that can predict language recovery."
A world-renowned researcher on aphasia, brain plasticity and language recovery, Thompson is the primary investigator of the prestigious NIH Center grant and the Jean and Ralph Sundin Professor of Communication Sciences.
The center will bring Thompson and top aphasia researchers from Johns Hopkins, Harvard and Boston universities together to do large-scale investigations that shed light on how language is processed in healthy people and how language recovers when impaired by stroke or other neurological disease processes.
Research conducted through the new center will have the potential to challenge existing clinical practices for aphasia and promote the availability of treatment for individuals with chronic aphasia. Health insurance policies today typically restrict treatment to only a few sessions immediately after the onset of stroke.
The work of the center is expected to significantly impact clinical intervention practices for individuals with aphasia as well as expand knowledge about brain plasticity and the reorganization of language functions. The center, which will study more than 200 patients, also will generate a large database for other researchers to access.
At Northwestern, Thompson will continue her focus on agrammatic aphasia, a form of aphasia that affects the ability to understand and produce sentences. At Harvard and Boston, researchers David Caplan and Swathi Kiran will study anomic aphasia, a form of aphasia that affects processing of spoken words. And at Johns Hopkins, Brenda Rapp will conduct research on the neurobiology of the recovery of spelling (writing) processes.
In groundbreaking research, Thompson has shown that the brain has the capacity to recover many years following stroke as opposed to only in the first few months after stroke's onset. She also has demonstrated that behavioral treatment of aphasia focused on improving impaired language processing affects not only the ability to understand and produce language but also activity in the brain.
"Right now we know little about the factors that affect language recovery, although our recent work examining blood flow in the brain holds promise," Thompson said. In a landmark 2010 study, she and her team discovered that measures of blood flow can aid in predicting language recovery following stroke.
Researchers will study blood flow and other potential biomarkers of recovery, including brain activity during the "resting state." Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), they also will study the integrity of white matter tracts (the fibers that connect brain regions with one another) and whether damage to these tracts influences language recovery.
Across projects, the researchers will gather behavioral and neuroimaging data using a common, comprehensive battery of measures. They will include fMRI, structural and perfusion imaging and diffusion tensor imaging as tools for identifying, monitoring and evaluating areas of the brain associated with language recovery.
In more exploratory research, researchers will use eye tracking to study cognitive strategies used by healthy and brain damaged people while they process language. Researchers will track the eye movement patterns of healthy people, compare those patterns to those of people with aphasia, and study how, or if, eye movements normalize with recovery.