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SAN JOSE — Santana Row, already a shopping, dining and entertainment destination, could also become the home for some big tech companies under an ambitious plan by the developers of the San Jose complex to construct three big office buildings that could accommodate 3,000 or more workers.
Federal Realty, the principal owner of Santana Row, wants to develop the buildings on underutilized sites at the retail, restaurant, residential and cinema complex.
Throughout Silicon Valley, developers are busy constructing new buildings and renovating existing properties to meet the needs of tech companies expanding their South Bay operations. Santana Row clearly hopes to cash in on that trend.
"The dream of any developer is to get Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOG), LinkedIn, Palo Alto Networks, Samsung — a big single tenant for their entire building," said Chad Leiker, a vice president with Kidder Mathews, a commercial realty firm.
Together, the planned Santana Row office buildings would total about 700,000 square feet — enough square footage to accommodate 2,800 to 3,500 workers.
Signaling the shift in focus for Santana Row, officials with the project are now referring to it as a workplace, along with its other features.
"Santana Row is a desirable campus in Silicon Valley that fosters employee retention and productivity," said Collette Navarrette, a spokeswoman for Federal Realty.
One new building would be about 250,000 square feet, and a second would be roughly 100,000 square feet, said Chris Burton, a business development official with San Jose's Economic Development Department. That means the third building would be about 350,000 square feet in size.
The new offices would be built along the south edge of Santana Row, in the vicinity of the existing CinéArts movie theaters. They would be constructed on surface parking lots and the current site of an apartment complex known as the Dudley Apartments. Federal Realty at some point would bulldoze the apartments to make way for one of the office buildings. The developer also intends to build underground parking garages with more stalls than the surface lots.
"The hope is that tech companies will decide they need a new campus," said Donna Kato, a representative for Santana Row. "These office spaces can be built to their specifications." The schedule for construction of the offices has not been announced, however.
One new building would become a combination of offices above retail and restaurants on the ground floor. Santana Row officials envision this building as a focal point for office workers, shoppers and diners.
"The master plan is to make a 'Santana Square' gathering place with retailers and restaurants that will be more of a plaza area for visitors," Kato said.
Some industry observers say Santana Row could be successful in its ambitions to become a tech campus.
"It's a great idea," said Jim Beeger, a senior vice president with Colliers International, a commercial real estate firm. "This may seem somewhat unprecedented. But the demand will be there."
Beeger pointed out that the development is in the Interstate 280 corridor, which at present is dominated by activity triggered by Cupertino-based Apple. And Burton noted a "trend of tech companies leasing space along Stevens Creek Boulevard heading away from Cupertino. San Jose hopes to capture some of that."
Apple's expansion helped to create a vacancy rate of literally zero in Cupertino for buildings of 10,000 square feet or more. Apple also has been pushing into Sunnyvale for the first time with big office leases.
In recent months, though, that expansion has pushed eastward from Cupertino along Stevens Creek, which is the northern boundary of Santana Row.
By far the biggest Apple deal in the vicinity is a 296,000-square-foot lease with veteran South Bay developer Peery Arrillaga on Stevens Creek between Tantau Avenue and I-280 in Santa Clara, just east of the Cupertino city limits. Then just a bit farther east, in San Jose, Apple has leased 50,000 square feet near Lawrence Expressway in what's known as the Triangle Building.
The Santana Row offices, though, will face the potential hazard of an overbuilt market, brokers warned."It seems like across the board, there is a lot of development," Leiker said.
The offices may help Santana Row become something of a village that could provide an array of services and amenities.
"Office workers can pretty much live, work, shop, eat and spend their entire lives at Santana Row," Kato said.
Contact George Avalos at 408-373-3556 or 925-977-8477. Follow him at twitter.com/george_avalos.

subset: commoncrawl


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Oceans: Our Blue Planet
Embark on a global odyssey through the largest and least explored habitat on Earth in Oceans: Our Blue Planet. Revolutionary ocean science and technology has allowed scientists to go further into the unknown than was ever thought possible. From the coastal shallows to deep and mysterious worlds, discover untold stories of the oceans' most astonishing creatures. The journey into the blue begins at its surface as dolphins leap and slice effortlessly through the water's surface. First stop: the coral reefs. Meet fascinating characters like the ingenious tusk fish that uses a tool to open its food. In the great forests of the sea, find a cunning octopus who shields herself in an armoury of shells to hide from predators.
Journey through the oceans, share in these extraordinary discoveries and uncover a spectacular world of life beneath the waves.
- Photography by Steve Benjamin copyright BBC NHU 2016
- Photograph by Alex Vail copyright BBC NHU 2017.
$9 for all ages.
(No further discounts apply on Adult tickets)


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Cottonwood Heights, UTHome Menu
Licensing your pet has benefits...An animal wearing a license is the best way to quickly identify and reunite you with your animal should he/she become lost.
If your animal is found by an Animal Control officer with a serious injury, and you could not be contacted, the license will guarantee your animal is taken to a veterinarian for emergency care.
A license can mean the difference between life and death for a badly injured and lost animal.


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OK guys for my first thread I thought I'd see if there was any support for the Inspector. No this is not a joke. I really want him.
To me he's Horde Prime's "Imp". If you do something wrong, he's going to tell on you. And no matter how mad he makes someone, they can't touch him because of fear of his master.
I see them making him a military strategist with a passion for interrogation to expand the character.
What do you guys say? I'm only expecting about 4 people to show up, but we'll see.


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Tobacco, Sugar Beets
Contained within the 4th Edition (1974) of the Atlas of Canada is a set of four maps. These maps show the size and extent as of 1961 of seeded acres, by census division, for tobacco, sugar beets and soybeans. Each map is accompanied by a supplementary text giving the total area for Canada, the...
Natural Resources Canada
Resource Formats:


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Depending upon your lifestyle, you'll have different items stored in your trunk. Young families will almost certainly have a stroller, while empty nesters may keep their favorite hobby or sports supplies back there for easy access. And, if you're a teenager, chances are that everything is found in your car trunk! Almost anyone you ask will say a jack and a spare tire. And they'd be right! But what else should actually be there? This list contains simple and affordable items. Storing them in your trunk is a great way to stay prepared for anything that may come your way when on the road.
First and foremost, always store a jump starter in your car -- even two.
If you live in a cold climate, or if you're notorious for leaving your dome light on in parking lots, it's even more important to have a jump starter ready and waiting when you need one. Take it a step further and learn how to use them—it will save you the embarrassment of having to find someone who can, and a jump starter really is simple to use.
A mini air compressor is handy and an important item to keep in your trunk.
Low tire pressure can cause a dangerous car accident, and can also cause your gas mileage to take a dip downward. Opt for a cordless mini air compressor and keep batteries stored nearby.
Other important items for your car trunk are probably in your closet right now.
Old towels are a handy item for your car trunk, and can actually help your car retain some of its resale value. Instead of tossing dirty or wet items in the back or ineffectively dealing with a leaking package, use the towels to prevent spills and also clean up with them when necessary. This is especially important if you have kids or pets -- you'll be amazed at how quickly your car's upholstery can become damaged in a short amount of time when you are left without a quick clean up method. A large blanket falls under the same category as the towels, but can double as a fun convenience item for picnics, sporting events and so forth. You may be surprised at how often you have a need for a warm blanket while on vacation or simply going out for an evening. Reusable grocery bags are also recommended for your trunk. Do your part in reducing pollution by bringing your own bags into a store. These tend to last for quite a while and often cost less than a dollar or two at your favorite retailers. So say no to paper AND plastic with these convenient sacks in your trunk.
These are just a few of the essentials you should keep in your car trunk so you're never stranded without what you need when you need it.
While it may sound like a lot, these items will only take up a small portion of trunk space and can save you plenty of time and money in an unexpected situation. Editor's note: Advance Auto Parts carries a wide selection of essentials to store in your trunk, plus thousands of other quality auto parts. Get your order fast—buy online, pick up in store.


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Bootstrapping Trust in the Community
Trust Evidence and Evidence Collection
Bootstrapping trust starts from collected trust evidence. In this scenario, any information useful for computing trust value on an entity is referred to as trust evidence. In general, there are three types of evidence:
- First-hand observation or measurement. The observer can collect such evidence by direct interaction with the target entity. For instance, MAC address, hardware identifier, and past network activities associated with these hardware identifiers are observable directly.
- Second-hand observation. Members can share their first-hand observations with each other to help trust calculation.
- Recommendations. Members can also share their opinions on other entities with each other. Recommendations result from the distillation of evidence by the trust calculations of other members. For instance, one member may recognize another as an issuer. By doing so, the first member has decided that certificates issued by the issuer are an acceptable form of identity within the community. Responding to a query from another member for the issuer's certificate is its way of "recommending" the issuer.
The mechanisms to share trust evidence are critical to enable decentralized trust calculation. A general requirement for trust evidence sharing is that trust evidence be distributed to wherever it is needed as quickly as possible. Several P2P communication systems have the potential to satisfy this requirement, such as ant-based routing, content-based information routing, publish and subscribe systems, delay tolerant transport protocols, P2P file sharing, P2P gossip protocols, and so on. Part of our future work is to choose appropriate protocol and communication primitives to support distributed trust evidence sharing.
Bootstrapping Trust from Evidence
Device credentialing requires the creation of a relationship with a new community. This problem may be broken down into two separate problems. Firstly, the device must somehow be able to unambiguously recognize the community, and the community must somehow be able to recognize the device. Secondly, both the owner of the device and the community have to agree to form the relationship signified by the credential being established. Solutions to the first problem, such as Wi-Fi Protected Setup [10], utilize an out-of-band channel to exchange some sort of setup key, which cannot be forged, between the device and the administrative domain. The solution to the second problem requires human choice: both the device owner and the new community must somehow indicate their desire for this new relationship. (Solutions such as factory-installed identities remove human choice, thereby defeating the essential purpose of authentication credentials.)
All electronic identity establishment mechanisms require an out-of-band channel to be secure. The purpose of the out-of-band channel is demonstrative identification; that is, the out-of-band channel establishes beyond a doubt that the identity is being assigned to the intended party. We believe pre-existing relationships can serve as the out-of-band channel in many circumstances. However, this is not always possible. A newly purchased device, for instance, has no prior relationship with any organization deploying it; therefore, it lacks any useful credential to bootstrap a new relationship. Consequently, mechanisms, such as Wi-Fi Protected Setup, will always be needed. However, this lack of credentials is no longer true after a device has been enrolled in even a single administrative domain. A device with a credential has a relationship with one administrative domain, and this relationship can be used as a basis for forming relationships with other members of other administrative domains who possess relationships with the first.
To illustrate this point, suppose A and B both belong to community C1, while A also belongs to community C2. If both B and C2 desire that B become a member of C2, then A can use its relationship with B in C1, as evidence in C2. That is, A can use this relationship to assert that it has demonstrably identified B as evidence supporting B's request to join C2. Similarly, B can use A's recommendation of an issuer I in C2 as evidence that it is indeed joining C2, by accepting an identity certificate from I. In order to protect the confidentiality of the relationship in C1 between A and B, the new credential should not indicate which external relationship was used to identify B to the C2 relationship. On the other hand, A is revealing something about its own relationships within C2 by recommending an issuer to B, but our assumption is that relationships within a community are open to all members for inspection. This is in keeping with current practice, as the authentication credentials provisioned by existing manual solutions to the problem do not inherently reveal the human relationships used to provision the credentials.
Community Formation
A practical trust-management system should address the problem of bootstrapping the trusted domain, a central concern in any decentralized trust models. Here we introduce flexible approaches to establish a new trusted community. The key consideration is to reduce the cost of forming a trusted community. More precisely, we are looking into approaches that require only a limited amount of information and human intervention.
In some cases, a trusted community can be constructed with only one party, but one-party communities are usually not very interesting. Instead we illustrate the more general case where two or more parties create a new community through the following steps:
- Establish an initial trust relationship, as described earlier, based on some form of demonstrative identification, including the use of credentials from some other community.
- Run a commitment protocol to agree on the following parameters:
- Community name, as an arbitrary name string
- Community policy, stating membership and naming rules
- Founders' identity information
- Lifetime of the community
The string that identifies the community is the concatenation of community name, founders' public keys, and the community policy description. The public keys are included to uniquely identify the community.
- Create credentials to represent the community. The founders create and sign a special community certificate that contains the information of the newly established community. The founders also recognize each other as issuers and members of this new community.
- Exchange credentials and update the community database. Each founder inserts the newly-generated community certificate, issuer certificates, and member certificates into its own community database.
At this point, the founders successfully establish a community by themselves and are collectively responsible for the management of the community. Issuers propagate this community information and certificates to new members as part of any successful enrollment ceremony.
By using this procedure, parties can self-organize trusted communities. This procedure is flexible and allows for parties to establish long-lived or transient communities to suit different kinds of secure applications.


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MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—The Barry Buccaneers split a non-conference softball doubleheader with the 20th-ranked Molloy Lions on Tuesday night at Buccaneer Field, dropping the first game 3-0, but rebounding to take the nightcap 2-0.
In the nightcap, Britney Pugh (3-2) tossed a six-hit shutout, walking one and striking out three. The Bucs (16-10) scored single runs in the second and third innings off Lions starter Kelly Jansen. In the second, Kelly Martinez singled and stole second. She scored on a double by Alexis Kent. In the third, Ashley Fernandez knocked in Julie Brito with a single up the middle.
Jansen (5-3) took the loss. She allowed two runs on six hits and five walks and struck out three.
In the opening game, the Lions (12-4) got on the board in the first inning. Jeana Frey walked and scored on a ground out. That would be all the offense Megan Butterworth (6-1) would need as she shutout the Bucs on four hits. She walked three and struck out four.
After giving up the first-inning run, Barry starter Alexis Yohe (7-5) set down 16 of the next 17 batters, including the side in order in the second to fifth innings. But she got in trouble in the sixth. After a leadoff bunt single by Milan Botte, Yohe retired the next two hitters. But Dayna White lined a 1-1 pitch over the leftfield wall to make it 3-0. Yohe went the distance, walked two and struck out seven.
The Bucs open a Sunshine State Conference series on Friday, Mar. 15 at 6:00 pm against Nova Southeastern. The series concludes with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon.
(03/12/13 at Miami Shores, FL)
#20 Molloy 3, Barry 0 (Game 1)
Molloy.............. 100 000 2 - 3 4 0 (12-3)
Barry............ ... 000 000 0 - 0 4 0 (15-10)
Pitchers: Molloy - Megan Butterworth and Milan Botte. Barry - Alexis Yohe and Kayla Monroy.
Win-Megan Butterworth(6-1) Loss-Alexis Yohe(7-5) T-1:23
HR MC - Dayna White (1).
Weather: ominous
Barry 2, #20 Molloy 0 (Game 2)
Molloy.............. 000 000 0 - 0 6 1 (12-4)
Barry................ 011 000 X - 2 6 0 (16-10)
Pitchers: Molloy - Kelley Jansen and Milan Botte. Barry - Britney Pugh and Kayla Monroy.
Win-Britney Pugh(3-2) Loss-Kelley Jansen(5-3) T-1:43 A-68


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Pa. lawmaker's sister acquitted on 16 of 17 counts
Angeline Costa-Gifford expected to get probation for 1 misdemeanor conviction
The sister of Pittsburgh-area Democratic state Rep. Dom Costa has been acquitted of felony theft and forgery charges in the transfer of several properties that were part of their father's estate to her husband and son.
Jurors in Allegheny County found 57-year-old Angela Costa-Gifford not guilty of 16 of 17 counts Wednesday but convicted her of a misdemeanor count of providing unsworn falsification of a forged document.
She is expected to receive probation when she is sentenced next week.
Officials said Costa, a former city police commander and chief, alerted authorities to the alleged thefts in July.
Defense attorney Robert Crisanti acknowledged that his client forged signatures but said she intended no crime because she was doing what her father wanted her to do. He died in 2011.


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I first met Herman Cain this past February when he addressed a Republican luncheon in Las Vegas, and spoke about his ideas as a potential candidate for president in 2012. Overall, I liked his frankness and some of his ideas to tackle some of the most serious issues our country is facing. If I had to describe Herman Cain in one way, it would be that he pulls no punches, tells it like it is, and has no patience for nonsense.
When I saw Cain for the second and third time, in early March and again in May, his speech was pretty much the same. He recited his sturdy one-liners like "not on our watch," and his "immigration is four problems." He didn't offer too many specifics on foreign policy, but all three times he gave the audience some applause-worthy red meat. Herman Cain is an outsider, a different kind of presidential candidate. He's not a politician, and he'll tell you so.
However, is that what American wants? Or needs?
If you're anything like me, you don't like the typical career politician. You know the type: Always running for office, avoiding controversy once elected, putting on the fake smile, and never actually doing anything. Washington has too much of that. Too many people want to be something, rather than do something. There is a difference.
Now, suppose I need to have surgery to remove my appendix. Do I want the career doctor? Or would I prefer to have the receptionist operate on me? If my football team – the New England Patriots, if anyone cares – makes it to the Superbowl, do I want a career quarterback in the game? Or would I settle for the guy who runs the concession stand?
In the world of government and politics, it is important to understand how the system works. Regardless of how much a presidential candidate may want to change the system, he or she is just one cog in the machine. One could say that in order to change the system, you have to know the ins and outs first.
Herman Cain says he doesn't want to know how Washington works. In fact, he said at the Right Online conference in Minneapolis this weekend that he doesn't need to know how it works, because it doesn't.
Wouldn't fixing the problems of our country be more difficult, if our next president had no idea how the system works? Is Herman Cain ready to be president, simply because of his business credentials?
Some examples from the campaign trail may shed some light on the situation.
While being interviewed on Fox News Sunday last month, Mr. Cain was asked about the Palestinian concept of "right of return." This refers back to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, when more than 700,000 Palestinian Arabs either fled or were expelled from their homes in what became Israel. Palestinians believe that these refugees, and their descendants, have the sacred right to return to their homes and property in Israel, or be compensated by Israel. This has become a major sticking point in the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Herman Cain was caught flat-footed, only able to demonstrate that he was not familiar with the concept. His answer was convoluted at best, first stating that it should be negotiated, and then claiming that Israel doesn't have a big problem with people returning. This was after slamming President Obama for "throwing Israel under the bus."
The previous day, when announcing his candidacy for president in Atlanta, Herman Cain said that Americans do not need to re-write the Constitution, they need to re-read the Constitution. This line grew great applause from the audience in attendance. However, Mr. Cain went on to quote the Constitution as including a line about "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," which actually appears in the Declaration of Independence. Cain went on to talk about Americans' right to "alter or to abolish" government – also found in the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution. This prompted several pundits to suggest that it was Herman Cain who needed to re-read the Constitution, and with good reason.
On Afghanistan, Herman Cain refuses to put forward a plan, saying that he would defer to the experts – unnamed experts. While I certainly hope he would surround himself with knowledgeable experts as president, it is still concerning that he has no tentative plan with which to deduce how he would handle the issue as a whole if elected. Cain has used the "defer to experts" line so often, it became part of the Daily Caller's New Hampshire GOP Debate drinking game, this past week.
Then there's the 2nd Amendment. Herman Cain, in an interview with Wolf Blitzer earlier this month, stated that he supports the 2nd Amendment. That's great! But when asked about gun control, and whether states or local governments should be allowed to control guns, he answered, "Yes." Now perhaps this was yet another example of how Mr. Cain was unprepared for the question, but he's not running for president of Wendy's, he's running for president of the United States. And if he truly wants to be the next president, he needs to know that these questions are coming, and have answers.
Finally, there is a problem of messaging. It's a problem most Republicans have, so it's hard to be too critical of Cain.
In one interview, Mr. Cain was asked about his position on homosexuality. He replied, "I believe homosexuality is a sin because I'm a Bible-believing Christian. I believe it's a sin. But I know that some people make that choice. That's their choice." When asked to clarify his position that homosexuality was a choice, Cain replied, "I believe it is a choice."
Now, having been raised Catholic, I understand that Herman Cain's view of homosexuality being a sin is perfectly valid. It is what his faith teaches him, and he has a right to believe that. However, as president of the entire United States, Cain would have to represent all Americans – even homosexuals. Last week, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie answered the same question with the following:
"My religion says it's a sin, but I've always believed that people are born with the predisposition to be homosexual. So I think if someone is born that way, it's very difficult to say that's a sin. My church says that, but I don't look upon someone who is homosexual as a sinner."
In speaking with young people daily about politics, both gay and straight, I can say that the "religious right" is one of the reasons many people leave or avoid the Republican Party. That is not to say that having a foundation of faith is a bad thing. I simply believe that most Americans do not want to get their moral advice from a political party.
As a gay man, I know I was born with a predisposition to be gay, as Governor Christie speculates. Much like heterosexual people develop an attraction for the opposite sex, gay people develop it for the same sex. It's just that simple. And while the church would advise gays to not act on those attractions, the reality of life necessitates otherwise.
For Herman Cain to believe that homosexuality is a choice, not actually being homosexual himself, would be like me, as a Caucasian, believing Black people face no discrimination in America today. It is simply presumptuous. What it does do, is ensure that many homosexuals never hear his conservative vision for America – because he has already turned them off.
As a gay conservative, I know first-hand how hard it is to convince gays of the merits of conservatism – due in large part to the religious standards within the GOP.
Again, it all goes back to messaging.
This past week on the Alan Stock News Show in Las Vegas, Herman Cain stated that "all Muslims are not terrorists, but all terrorists have been Muslim – except a couple."
This is up there with John McCain's "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" song.
While conservatives will stand up and say "But he's right! All terrorists ARE Muslim," they are wrong. There are terrorists all over the world. Some are Black, some are white. Some are male, some are female. Some are right here in the United States, and aren't Muslim at all.
It's one thing to say that the radical Islamists who have attacked us look similar, come from similar places, etc. It's another to make an insensitive statement that all terrorists are Muslim.
Herman Cain is a good guy, and he wants to get involved and help save his country. I get it. And I applaud his willingness to get out there, in front of the public, in front of the media, and be a candidate.
However, we elected a candidate with no experience in 2008, and look where it got us.
Up on stage with six other candidates for the 2012 nomination, Herman Cain, for the first time, looked to be outclassed. His answers were vague, he repeated his standby lines, and offered very little new information as to who he is, and what he would do as our next president.
Herman Cain might make a great CEO and even a great elected official some day. But he is not ready to be president of the United States.
We conservatives may like his no-nonsense attitude, but that and three F-bombs landed Donald Trump back on Celebrity Apprentice, if you know what I mean.


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I reserve this blog for posts on genealogy education, was too busy during my week in "genealogy heaven" to write much. I have now integrated back in to my regular life routine and have time to write about my week at the Institute for Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) at Samford University.
I call it "genealogy heaven" because that is how it felt. I was surrounded by other serious genealogists for a whole week learning from some of the best in the field. The joy began on Sunday evening June 12th when the members of the ProGen Study Group gathered to network. There were 48 of us together that evening! It was fun to meet many of my online study friends in person, and also to honor the mentors and recent graduates of the program. I tried during the week to talk to each of these friends one-on-one, even if it was only for a few minutes, but always wish I had more time for "talking shop" with them.
The theme song from the TV show "Cheers" refers to a place where everybody knows your name. I loved being in a place where I could greet so many friends by name! Every morning I would walk through the campus and say good morning to many friends as I passed them on the way to class.
My week progressed with an intensive focus on writing as I was attended Dr. Thomas W. Jones' "Genealogical Writing and Publishing" course. In addition to Dr. Jones we had classes taught by Dr. John Colletta, Craig Scott, and Elissa Powell. I have great respect for these instructors and really learned a lot about clear and concise writing. Now I just need apply all the things that I learned.
In addition to fabulous instructors, it was great to be in a course with many of my genealogy friends. I really had a great time listening to the questions and ideas of my fellow genealogists. It was also very fun to meet new friends and form connections.
While I enjoy attending conferences, online study groups, and many other genealogical education opportunities, there is nothing that compares with the intensive genealogy institutes and the camaraderie felt there.


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Central Subway work starts amid problems
TRANSPORTATION Federal funding no slam dunk; critics and merchants might sue
Noisy, dusty, traffic-tangling construction is under way on the Central Subway, yet uncertainties and challenges continue to dog the $1.6 billion project.
Construction crews are building the staging area on Fourth Street beneath the Interstate 80 skyway, where two tunnel-boring machines will start the excavation of the 1.7-mile subway to Chinatown and debris will be hauled out.
But the Municipal Transportation Agency is still awaiting word on whether - and when - it will get a $942 million federal funding guarantee it's been awaiting for months, and the House of Representatives' transportation bill includes an amendment by Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove (Sacramento County), that could take away future funding for the project.
The subway also faces unanticipated challenges in Union Square, where opponents may sue to stop a station in the park, and in North Beach, where merchants are fighting plans to close lanes on busy Columbus Avenue, where the tunneling machines will be removed.
Despite the plethora of problems, transportation agency officials say they're optimistic the Central Subway will move forward.
"The Central Subway will not only improve transportation within San Francisco, but it will also enhance connections to the regional and statewide transit network," said Ed Reiskin, director of transportation for the agency. "The project has been vetted by every level of government and given high marks every step of the way."
The subway, in the works since 2000, is an extension of the T-Third Muni Metro line that will connect the Caltrain station at Fourth and King streets to Chinatown and is projected to carry 35,000 riders a day by 2030.
Last stop: Chinatown
Municipal Transportation Agency officials say the rail line, scheduled to open in 2019, will deliver reliable transit service to the underserved northeastern section of the city, especially Chinatown, which has the city's most transit-dependent population.
Critics such as Save Muni say the project provides too little benefit for too much money and fear that operating it will deplete other Muni service.
Kristen Holland, a transportation agency spokeswoman, said the city expects to get the federal funding guarantee in September. She anticipates the McClintock amendment will be tossed when conflicting House and Senate bills are reconciled in conference committee, probably in the fall.
Critics in North Beach
A more immediate problem is North Beach opposition to plans to dig a big hole to remove the tunnel-boring machines. Although the subway will end in Chinatown at Stockton and Clay streets, the agency approved plans years ago to keep digging to North Beach, making it easier to remove the machines and giving the subway a head start on future extensions to North Beach and Fisherman's Wharf. The agency lacks funds to build a North Beach station or go to the wharf now.
North Beach merchants say they weren't given enough warning of plans to close a single lane of Columbus, between Union and Filbert streets, to relocate utilities, and to shut down two lanes soon after for 18 months of digging. Business owners fear noise, dust and gridlock will drive tourists away.
'Dust flying in the air'
"North Beach is such a great place to live and visit," said Jon Golinger, president of the Telegraph Hill Dwellers. "But you wouldn't want to sit in front of Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe eating a sandwich with dust flying in the air."
Municipal Transportation Agency officials have met with merchants and Board of Supervisors President David Chiu, who represents the area, to try to work out a deal that will allow construction while satisfying merchants.
Chiu has backed the subway but objects to how the construction will affect his district.
"I'm deeply frustrated by the nonexistent outreach to North Beach, but I am committed to continuing to work with merchants, neighbors and the SFMTA to find a real alternative to the current extraction plan," Chiu said.
Threatening to sue
But if digging starts before merchants are satisfied, some of them are threatening to sue.
City officials already anticipate litigation from subway foes Save Muni challenging plans to build a station in Union Square, based on an arcane section of city law requiring voter approval of any nonrecreational construction in a city park.
The city attorney's office, citing a 1981 court opinion on a sewer project in a park, considers the law inapplicable. Others say the Municipal Transportation Agency could persuade a judge that the subway is recreational because it would take people to and from the park.
Meanwhile, on Fourth Street, pile drivers pound and dust flies as crews prepare to start tunneling early next year. Save Muni wants the transportation agency to stop work at least until federal funding is guaranteed.
"The MTA's motivation is for public relations: to create a sense of inevitability to get funding," said Howard Wong, a member of the group. "They're moving ahead with this to fund their staff rather than protecting taxpayers."
Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: email@example.com Twitter: @ctuan


text: On Mon, Aug 29, 2005 at 11:59:03AM -0600, Philip Prindeville wrote: > I was hoping to get my SG-2100 rotor up and running, but looking > through the sources I don't see a lot of support for positioning... > > Perhaps I'm looking in the wrong places. I guess most people use > either a fixed dish and a single satellite, or a fixed elliptical dish with > multiple LNB's and a switch, each pointed at a separate satellite. > > Does anyone else use a rotor? How do they get by? > I do. I use a SG-2100 as well. I wrote my own little program by stealing code from dvb-apps about 2 years ago. I'm using the program for a FF 1.5 and a Skystar 2.6B: the drivers support DiSEqC very well. It's easy: you read the specs at eutelsat, and write your own small program for "GOTO", and the other things you might need. I did not supply the program to dvb-apps as I'm sharing code with a modified (old) version of szap and some other code snippets from dvb-apps: it's a big mess;-( With vdr, you should be able to define the needed DiSEqC commands very comfortably as well; I have not done this: I usually tell vdr that I have a fixed dish, but do the stearing with my helper program, if I have to (my dish usually needs manual fixing anyway, as it is mounted not very solidly on a balcony: I'm not allowed to install a solid dish here, and I have to readjust it after a move). Either 'my' program or anything else is disturbing my SG-2100 every now and then, though: it sometimes doesn't react on any command any more: I have to remove the motor from power for about 10 seconds before it reacts again. Wolfgang


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There are about 600 versions of Adele's Oscar-winning song "Skyfall" on the Spotify subscription music service. Not one of them features Adele.Adele's label, XL Recordings, keeps her music off of all-you-can-listen subscription plans until download sales peter out. In the meantime, copycat artists fill the void, racking up royalty revenue, often before customers realize they've been listening to someone else.
Alice Bonde Nissen found that out the hard way. She once paid 99 Krone ($17) a month for Spotify's premium service in Denmark. Bonde found a version of "Skyfall" and mistakenly clicked on a "follow" button to become a fan of GMPresents and Jocelyn Scofield, the name for a cover-song specialist with some 4,600 Spotify followers. Scofield, who didn't respond to a message seeking comment for this story, has the most listened-to cover of "Skyfall" on the service.
"When I found out … that I couldn't find the original 'Skyfall' (and some other hits) I decided to quit Spotify," Nissen says.
Thousands of cover songs crowd digital music services such as Spotify and Rhapsody and listeners are getting annoyed. The phenomenon threatens the growth of these services —which have millions of paying subscribers— and could hold back the tepid recovery of a music industry still reeling from the decline of the CD.
Streaming services put a world of music at listeners' fingertips with millions of tracks, everything from the latest pop hits to age-old violin concertos. For a flat fee — usually about $10 a month in the U.S. — users can listen to as many songs as they wish. The music resides on the provider's servers and gets transmitted, or streamed, to subscribers as they listen on smartphones, tablet computers and PCs.
The services allow users to store songs on their devices as long as they keep paying. But because such a vast selection can be stored online in the so-called cloud, when listeners search for popular songs, they often find oddball renditions.
Cover songs are perfectly legal in the U.S. and have a long tradition in the music industry. Some covers are even more famous than the originals. Which do you think of first, Aretha Franklin's soaring 1967 version of "Respect," or Otis Redding's original from two years earlier? How about Jimi Hendrix's funky 1968 rendition of "All Along the Watchtower"? Does anyone even remember that Bob Dylan wrote and sang it in a release six months before?
The difference today is that anyone with a computer, a microphone and an Internet connection can create and distribute a cover. New technology, from affordable digital recording equipment and sound-mixing programs to convenient online services are making homemade covers an easy and profitable endeavor. And sing-it-yourself shows such as "American Idol," "The Voice" and "The X Factor" are fueling the notion that anyone with a decent voice can be a star.
Spotify's head of development and analysis, Sachin Doshi, acknowledges that finding covers instead of originals can be frustrating. "We recognize it's a problem we haven't fully solved yet," Doshi says.
Jon Maples, Rhapsody's vice president of product management, says customers have asked that cover songs be removed and the company has targeted 10,000 for deletion. "It just clutters the experience," he says.
Some independent artists insist cover songs are a fast way to achieve fame. Kina Grannis says covers are helping her build a fan base. The 27-year-old Los Angeles-based singer won the 2008 Doritos' Crash the Super Bowl contest. As part of the competition, fans were asked to vote for an aspiring musician's music video. The winner got to air their creation before 100 million viewers on game day. Grannis says she wouldn't have earned enough votes to win if she hadn't seeded her YouTube channel every day with covers of artists like Jason Mraz and Death Cab for Cutie. Many of her current followers on YouTube stumbled upon her while searching for originals.
"It doesn't feel bad that they were looking for someone else, because they didn't even know I existed," says Grannis, whose original song video "In Your Arms," has racked up 9.2 million views. "They're not going to search for Kina Grannis if they've never heard of you."
Winning the Doritos contest earned Grannis a recording deal with Interscope Records, but she opted out because she believed she had enough of an online following to make and sell music on her own.
U.S. copyright law says cover artists don't require the original artist's permission, as long as they get a license, pay royalties and let the original songwriters release their version first. Streaming services like Spotify are obligated by law to handle songwriting royalties on behalf of cover artists.
Obtaining a license to record a cover is easy and inexpensive. Services like Google Inc.'s Limelight, which launched in late 2009, offer commercial song licenses to anyone who fills out a form. For each song they cover, artists pay a $15 fee. By law, Limelight also charges $9.10 in advance for every 100 downloads the artists may sell. TuneCore, which launched in 2006, distributes songs on outlets like iTunes for $10 per track. Selling a couple hundred tracks — because of consumer confusion or otherwise — can earn cover artists enough money to pay the bills.
The hurdle is so low for the average amateur that once a hit song comes out, it's covered quickly. Take "Suit & Tie," a Justin Timberlake song released by RCA Records in January. There are already around 180 covers on Spotify in addition to Timberlake's version.
Since Adele's "Skyfall" was released in October, it has sold more than 1.9 million copies in the U.S. Cover artists sold more than 54,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The top-selling cover was produced by Movie Sounds Unlimited, a subsidiary of German music publisher BMG, and sold over 9,800 units.
The singer on the Movie Sounds Unlimited version of "Skyfall" imitates Adele's official version down to the brassy intro and the unique way the British diva rolls over the sound "L" like an "O" when she sings "Let the sky fall when it crum-bows."
On iTunes, 35 people have reviewed the album containing Movie Sounds Unlimited's version of "Skyfall." Half of them felt the purchase was a dud, giving the album a one-star rating, the lowest in the electronic store.
"Adele's voice is perfect for this song, not whoever sung it for this album," writes one reviewer.
"Don't waste your money. None are as good as the originals," writes another.
While some people make covers to get discovered, others seem to be in it to trick buyers and make a fast buck. A recent search for popular artists on Spotify reveals plenty of me-too bands who pick deceptive artist names like the "Bruno Mars Tributors" or song names like "Firework (As Made Famous By Katy Perry)." The artwork and graphics used for their songs are sometimes a mirror image of the originals.
The producer behind that Katy Perry cover says he's not out to deceive.
"It's not about trying to live in somebody's shadow or faking people out," says Michael Vail Blum, the Sherman Oaks, Calif.-based owner of Titan Music Inc. Blum says the cover song business is about taking great material — sometimes written by someone else — and making a great recording. Technology has just evened the playing field for artists who aren't signed to major labels, he says.
But sounding similar is often the whole point, explains a person familiar with how the subsidiary of music publishing giant BMG works. The executive spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly about it. The sound-alike can take the place of the original for businesses like malls and restaurants that want to use the song but can't afford the original. For example, TV show "Two and a Half Men" licensed Movie Sounds' sound-alike of "Gonna Fly Now," the theme song from the movie "Rocky," for an episode from 2010.
It's a big business, with millions of dollars invested, and Movie Sounds' parent Countdown Media has a catalog of more than 50,000 covers.
Digital music stores have made knock-offs profitable in a way that wouldn't be possible with physical stores.
When iTunes launched in 2001, bands like The Beatles, AC/DC, Metallica and Kid Rock refused to sell their music online, so cover artists swooped in to profit from the digital demand. Titan Music cover band Led Zepagain was one of them. Standing in the place of originals in search results, sound-alike songs made hundreds of thousands dollars when consumers bought their songs.
That's not illegal, says Chris Mooney, senior director of artist promotions at indie song distributor TuneCore.
"A cover song does not have to be an entirely original take on a version," he says.
Brian Felsen, the president of CDBaby, another independent song distributor, says that while a gray area exists today, the deluge of covers can't really be stopped.
"Everybody polices it as much as you can," he says, adding that his staff attempts to prevent "blatant" knock-offs that copy cover art and use other deceptive practices from being distributed. But he acknowledges that having so many covers isn't good for consumers. "It may not be illegal or immoral, but it may not be the best thing for society at large either."
In the face of this growing tide, the mainstream music industry is jumping on for the ride.
Warner Bros. Records artist Michael Buble, whose career was made covering singers like Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong, worked with a band that got its start doing covers, Boyce Avenue, to cover his original single, "It's a Beautiful Day." Buble introduced their version in a video released in April that links back to his original.
The exposure is worth any sales lost to Boyce Avenue's cover, according to Kayla Isenberg, Warner Bros.' senior director of interactive media, who reached out to Boyce Avenue on the partnership.
"The trade-off is being able to use their avenue to open up Michael and his music to this YouTube generation," she says, pointing to their 3 million subscribers and their YouTube channel's 917 million views. "We're getting massive publicity."


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May 22, 2014
Richard T. Jones
Veteran actor Richard T. Jones has built an impressive and versatile resume and is one of the most gifted character actors in town. Jones whose credits extend from "What's Love Got to Do With It," "Kiss the Girls," "The Wood," "Ally McBeal," to Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married," the actor joins Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston, Juliette Binoche and Ken Watanbe, as US Navy Captain Russell Hampton in the latest reboot of the iconic blockbuster "Godzilla," in theaters now. On receiving the role, "It was still kind of hush-hush. When I got the script and read it, I knew it was going to be something special," Jones says proudly. "The way Gareth (Edwards) the director hid Godzilla and then revealed him," Jones says with anticipation. "The fans will be happy with this rendition," reports www.eurweb.com.
Want to win free tickets to see Godzilla?! The Los Angeles Sentinel is looking to give away Hollywood Movie Money on behalf of Warner Bros. Godzilla. Hollywood Movie Money is redeemable at all theaters (with the exception of AMC) and does not dictate which day or time you can go see the movie.
Visit www.lasentinel.net for more information to win.
Columbia Pictures Executive DeVon Franklin and Actor Lou Gossett Jr. Celebrates Recovery
Senior Vice President of Production for Columbia Pictures, DeVon Franklin and Grammy Award Winning Actor, Lou Gossett Jr. will make a rare public appearance at West Angeles Church of God In Christ in the Crystal Room, where Bishop Charles E. Blake is the Pastor. These two giants in the industry will be speaking for a fundraiser hosted by Free N One. The event entitled "Celebrate Recovery" will be held Saturday, May 31, 2014 at 8am. Music will be performed by gospel artist Nikki Potts.
Roland Bynum, KJLH's on air personality will be Master of Ceremony. Breakfast will be served. Dr. Ron Simmons founder of Free N One announces that this is their 25th year hosting this annual event. In the past, great artists such as, Smokey Robinson, Clifton Davis, Denise "Vanity" Matthews, Jazz Artist Doc Powell, Paul Jackson Jr., Miguel Nunez, Judge Mabalen Efriam, Marilyn McCoo, Howard Hewitt, Wes Morgan, Judge Ellen DeShazer, Beau Williams, and Helen Baylor has donated time, resources and talents to this annual event.
For ticket information please contact (323) 855-4695 or visit webpage www.free-n-one.org.
"The Haves and The Have Nots" Returns with All- New Episodes on May 27
The melodrama show returns Tuesday, May 27 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on OWN with all-new episodes. The new season will dive deeper into the drama to explore Candace's (Tika Sumpter) fate, if Wyatt (Aaron O'Connell) will be convicted of his crimes and whether or not Benny (Tyler Lepley) will ever wake up from his coma. Additionally, the series will continue to follow Amanda's (Jaclyn Betham) mental downward spiral and Jim's (John Schneider) campaign for governor despite his family's turmoil.
Primetime Special "Flex & Shanice" to premiere on OWN
Joining the OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network roster is 90's pop sensation Shanice and actor Flex Alexander. Known for her Grammy-nominated hit song, "I Love Your Smile" and his hit TV show, "One on One" the couple will debut everything from family, financial woes to career comebacks in front America. The primetime special "Flex & Shanice" will air on Saturday, May 31 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The one-hour special will give viewers an exclusive look into the lives of married couple, actor Flex Alexander and 90s pop singer Shanice, and their outrageous family members living under one roof. For a sneak peek of "Flex & Shanice," please visit: www.oprah.com/FlexAndShaniceFirstLook
OWN to Feature Multi-Part Documentary on Michael Sam
OWN to run a new multi-part documentary series following the life of Michael Sam, who made history when he became the first openly gay football player drafted into the NFL by the St. Louis Rams. Cameras will follow Sam as he works to earn his spot on the St. Louis Rams all while under the intense scrutiny of being the first openly gay player in the NFL. "We are honored that Michael is trusting us with his private journey in this moment that has not only made history but will shape it forever," said Oprah Winfrey. "Like every player out there working to make a team right now, my focus is on playing football to the very best of my ability," said Sam. "I am determined. And if seeing my story helps somebody else accept who they are and to go for their dreams too, that's great. I am thankful to Oprah for her support and excited to work together." There is no set air date or title, however, the Emmy-winning producer Craig Piligian's Pilgrim Studios and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Amy Rice ("Lindsay," "By The People: The Election of Barack Obama") will produce "The Untitled Michael Sam Project."
RZA to Debut in New Fox Series 'Gang Related'
Fox's new drama series "Gang Related" begins Thursday, May 22 at 9 p.m. with the Wu Tang Clan's RZA on the blue side in a war between law enforcement and gangs on the streets of Los Angeles. The rapper plays Cassius Green, a longtime member of LAPD's elite Gang Task Force, run by Sam Chapel (Terry O'Quinn). "I feel as being Cassius Green, I'm a guy who knows the streets, but he's smart with narcotics. He's intelligent enough to hold a job in the day. But when it's time to go do something, yo, he's ready for it and he has the strength, willpower and knowledge to do it," says RZA. (eurweb.com)


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20 July 2011
Famine in Somalia --You Can Help
Thousands of people from Somalia are streaming into the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya, and WFP's David Orr is on the ground bringing you the latest. As families arrive, exhausted and hungry, WFP is there providing lifesaving food. For many, these meals are the first they've had in days. Millions of people are living on the edge of survival in the Horn of Africa, and even a small donation goes a long way.


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- Description
DetailsI discovered this fabulous yarn at Vav last year and am delighted that we are now able to stock it. Organically grown cotton is dyed to organic standards by Master Dyer Claes Hedstrom. If you subscribe to Vav Magazine there is an article about Claes and his master dyeing skills in issue 2/2017. He is certainly very highly regarded by Swedish Weavers. There is a fabulous colour palette of 60 colours plus natural. Suitable for warp or weft for any project where you would like the lovely sheen mercerised cotton gives, it can be used in projects calling for any 8/2 cotton or 22/2 cotttoline. It can also be substituted for 10/2 cotton with adjustment to the sett if necessary depending on the finish and cloth required.
- Additional Information
Additional Information
Fibre 100% Organic Cotton Colour Code 870 Metric Count 14/2 metric count Imperial Count 8/2 cotton count Metric Length 6779/kg Imperial Length 3360yd/lb Metric Sett 8, 9, 11 epcm Imperial Sett 20, 24, 28 epi Net Weight / Length 1700m/250g
- Reviews


text: Hi, set-up is Perfect Server, ISPC3, OpenSuSE 11.1 All was working fine for a long time then I got a SMTP server log in failed message. On investigation I discovered that saslauthd was not running and would not start on boot or with etc/init.d/saslauthd start (error 7) I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling saslauthd using yast to no avail. All services, except saslauthd, start at boot up. Apache, pop & webmail seem ok


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Rosetta Code is a programming chrestomathy site. The idea is to present solutions to the same task in as many different languages as possible, to demonstrate how languages are similar and different, and to aid a person with a grounding in one approach to a problem in learning another.
Since the R coverage of the different tasks is still largely incomplete, I encourage everyone to populate the missing tasks with appropriate R code.


text: "Helping with a Haircut," Friend, Nov. 2012, 18–19Helping with a HaircutHello! My name is Erin. I'm 9 years old, and I'm from Canada.Did you know that there are islands around Canada? It's true. I live on an island called Prince Edward Island. It's off of Canada's eastern coast.Prince Edward Island is famous because an author named Lucy Maud Montgomery lived here. She wrote lots of books about fictional children on the island. Her most popular book is Anne of Green Gables. Here I am with my sister, Allison, at the Green Gables historic farmhouse. We walked along some of the same trails that Lucy wrote about in her books.Besides living on the same island as Lucy Maud Montgomery, I have something else in common with her: I like to write too! Some of the stories I have written are "The Scavenger Hunt" and "Adventures in Ice-Cream Land." I also like playing soccer and taking care of my grandmother's ponies.One thing that happens in Anne of Green Gables is that the main character has to cut off her hair after trying to dye it. I recently cut my hair short too, but for a different reason. My mom and I read in the newspaper that you can donate hair for wigs for people who are sick or don't have hair. A couple of women in our branch had cancer and lost their hair, and I have an uncle and a cousin with a medical condition that makes their hair fall out. Thinking of them made me want to help. So I grew my hair out for more than a year and cut off nine inches to donate. Now some of my friends are donating their hair too!Photographs by Marissa Widdison and courtesy of Erin's family.To meet more friends from Canada, turn to page 24!


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Are you in Nairobi, Kenya? Share your pictures, videos and more at iReport.
(CNN) -- In hiding, they listened carefully. To gunshots and explosions. To friends and strangers hiding with them.
With their lives at stake, they spoke quietly and tried to decide: When do we run for it?
Sara Head of Washington hid in a stairwell. Uche Kaigwa-Okoye's place of refuge was a stall in a ladies' restroom. Zulobia Kassam was in the back of a supermarket.
Each was lucky enough never to see any of the gunmen who killed dozens in the upscale Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, on Saturday. But not seeing their attackers was itself part of the terror.
Stuck between floors
Head, along with a business colleague and a driver, fled from the parking lot after the shooting started. Her group ran into a stairwell, thinking they would go up one level and find a safe exit.
But they could hear more gunfire and backed down, winding up with a group of strangers cowering on the stairs between floors.
Keep up with the latest developments in Kenya
"We heard lots of shots at first, then none for a while -- maybe 15 minutes more -- then more," Head said.
"We didn't go want to go up or down," she said.
Head saw two people in the stairwell bleeding from minor wounds.
People talked on their cell phones -- she contacted her husband and the American embassy -- but then a stranger said the talking might attract the attackers. Those with smartphones whispered reports of hostages taken and grenades going off.
"No one really knew what was going on," she said.
Safety: Can the attack happen again?
Crowding in the ladies' room
Kaigwa-Okoye thought he heard a table fall over, "and then it happened repetitively, and it got really loud." Soon people started screaming and Kaigwa-Okoye joined many who ran outside.
But they heard gunfire outside, too, so Kaigwa-Okoye went back inside. Still unable to see any attackers, they thought they were backing away from danger. But when they reached a corner, shots were fired -- shots that seemed to be in their direction.
They fled to a ladies' restroom, where 20 people soon were hiding.
"We were really scared," he said. "Every sound sounded scary. We couldn't make out sounds, and they had grenades. It was really, really loud ... They must have passed our corridor several times. We heard gunshots down our corridor."
Some people ventured out but quickly returned, saying it was unsafe.
Near supermarket gunfire
Kassam had just finished coffee when she entered a supermarket in the mall.
"We entered and the lights went off," she said. She waited for the generator to kick in, but instead she heard gunshots and saw people running.
"We rushed to the back and hid ourselves," Kassam said.
"We heard random shots from everywhere -- upstairs, downstairs ... we even heard shots 30 feet from us," she said.
"People were petrified, crying, praying," she said.
Surviving the mall massacre: 'Just lucky'
'The lights came on'
Head had been in the stairwell 90 minutes when a door from the supermarket opened.
"The lights came on in the stairwell, and people went out. I was very, very hesitant because ... there was no information to tell me it was safe to exit," she said. "It was just that the people in front of me were exiting."
"People were saying be quiet," she said. She saw drops of blood on the floor as they walked through the hardware section and a cereal aisle and then through the storeroom to get outside. Still they walked quietly until it seemed safe to make noise.
Then they ran, she said, not stopping even when they reached crowds of onlookers and photographers.
Tear gas, then rescue
Kaigwa-Okoye heard firing but then realized police had arrived on the floor where he was hiding in the restroom. They were firing tear gas.
Officers told them to walk out single file and made them throw away their bags.
Kassam had been hiding in the back of the supermarket for more than two hours when a security person arrived and said it was safe to flee. She and others walked through a storage area.
"We saw lots of blood, sandals and shoes," she said.
She made it outside to the main road.
And even at what seemed a safe distance, she again heard shooting in the distance.
Al-Shabaab grew amid Somalia's lawlessness
World leaders condemn terror attack at Kenya mall


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When visiting family or friends in Belfast, exploring the mid-coast area or just passing through on your way to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor, the Seascape has just the right accommodation for you!
Motel Rooms
For the overnight traveler, our seven motel rooms offer…
- Convenient at -door parking
- Comfortable queen size beds
- Modern bathrooms with hairdryers
- Flat screen TV
- Alarm clock radio and phone
- Refrigerator and coffee maker
- Iron and ironing board
- Air conditioned and smoke-free
- Free Wi-Fi
Our charming, studio, one and two bedroom cottages are perfect for longer stays. They provide a private oasis for couples, or a relaxing "home away from home" for small families.
Each cottage has…
- Comfortable double, queen or king size beds
- Fully equipped kitchen—
with stove/oven, microwave,
refrigerator, coffee maker & utensils
- All amenities as a motel room
- Air conditioned and smoke-free
- Private decks, charcoal grills & picnic tables
- Some have a separate living room with a sleep sofa
Common Ground
Outside are private decks, picnic tables, barbecue grills, lush landscaping, and views of Penobscot Bay.
Whether you decide to stay one night or several, all of our guest rooms and cottages overlook our outdoor heated pool and spa. And an invigorating morning dip, afternoon cool down, or evening respite is right outside your door!
We offer free Wi-Fi and complimentary fresh muffins and coffee in the morning!


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Anyone looking for an excuse to rid their home of old and unsafe baby items could stand to benefit from Toys "R" Us's annual Great Trade-In event.
Since 2009 the children's toy company has provided shoppers with the opportunity to discard old and unsafe baby gear — such as cribs, car seats, strollers and more — in exchange for a 25 percent discount on a purchase of select new items. The year shoppers can drop off gear from Feb.1 through Feb. 29 and those with "R" Us credit cards also receive an additional five percent off. The event applies at both Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us.
"As we strive to help parents make the best possible choices as they care for their babies, we look forward to once again hosting this program at our stores nationwide. We strongly encourage parents to use this time to check their baby gear and trade in old items for new ones that meet or exceed current safety standards," said Reg McLay, Senior Vice President of Babies "R" Us, in a statement.
U.S. & World
The benefits aren't reserved for just those who bring in old items as even shoppers without an item to trade in can take advantage of a 15 percent discount in-store and online with a coupon at Babiesrus.com/GreatTradeIn.
Over 1.1 millions items have been turned in since the inception of the Great Trade-In. Several brands including Graco, Sorelle, Baby Trend and more have signed on to support the cause and help decrease unsafe childcare items from circulation. Items can include bassinets, infant swings, bouncers, travel systems, walkers, entertainers, play yard, and toddler beds.
Organizations and child care centers can exchange items in bulk but should contact their local Toys "R" Us store. There is no trade-in limit for the the number of items a customer can bring.


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The CW has officially pulled the plug on Cult and has yanked the struggling drama from its Friday lineup after 7 episodes. There are no immediate plans to air the show's 6 remaining episodes. Filling its slot will be re-runs of The Carrie Diaries and Oh Sit. This news has been confirmed via series creator Rockne S. O'Bannon on Twitter:
#Cult Sadly true. CW Execs once called the last 5 episodes "outstanding". I guess too outstanding. You are great, SMART fans. Thx to u all!
— Rockne S. O'Bannon (@Rockne_S) April 10, 2013


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Last Thursday I attended the media launch party for the beauty parlour, Butter, by the creators of Hedkandi Salon. The space was inviting and absolutely gorgeous, and the staff were friendly and warm. We were able to try out any of the services that Butter offered including waxing, pedicures and manicures. I chose to get a blowout.
The space was set up to feel more like you are at a good friends house getting ready for a night out, rather than a hair salon or spa. I really loved this concept, and my cousin and I thought it would be the perfect place for a girls night out, a staggette or for a bridal party to get ready together before a wedding.
Of course, one of the best parts of the opening was the appetizers provided by Wurst, which is the neighbouring restaurant.
Butter Beauty Parlour is located at:
2429 4th Street SW
Calgary, Alberta
|follow me on instagram an twitter @lionslacelates
|photos of me by Lesley
|photo via @butterbeautyYYC


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What We Do
We, the students of Shawnee State University, in recognizing our role and accepting our responsibility of self-government within the organizational framework of Shawnee State community, seek to promote the intellectual, social, and cultural opportunities available to this community by representing the interests and addressing the concerns of the student body and by promoting the diversity of and giving voice to the student body, do hereby establish the Student Government Association of Shawnee State University.
Come Check Us Out!
We meet in either the Morris University Center Room 214 or the East Sodexo Ballroom every Tuesday at 4:00pm.
Student Life Committee
Academic Affairs Committee
Budget & Finance Committee
Inter Club Committee


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RBC.com | Français | | Contact Us
Skip Breadcrumb Links
About RBC > Media Newsroom > Speeches > Overview of 2005 & First Quarter 2006 Financial Results
Barbara G. Stymiest
Chief Operating Officer
RBC Financial Group
137th Annual Meeting of Royal Bank of Canada
March 3, 2006
Toronto, Ontario
Thank you Gord, and good morning ladies and gentlemen. I am pleased to present your company's financial results for 2005 and for the first quarter of 2006. I will also add to what Gord said about our commitment to corporate responsibility.
We had record earnings in 2005, with net income rising 21 per cent over 2004 to $3.4 billion and earnings per share also rising 21 per cent to $5.13. Since 2001, both net income and earnings per share have risen by over 45 per cent. The return on common shareholders' equity also climbed to 18 per cent in 2005, the highest level in 5 years.
We successfully executed on a number of revenue and cost initiatives across RBC in a favourable economic environment, both of which drove last year's strong performance. We delivered solid revenue growth across our lending, deposit, insurance and wealth management businesses, together with lower specific provision for credit losses in a continued benign credit environment. Our Insurance related expenses were impacted by higher business volumes in the disability insurance business (which included the Canadian operations of UnumProvident since May 1, 2004) and reserves for estimated net claims related to hurricanes of $203 million. Our cost control was very good considering that we took a reserve of $591 million for Enron related litigation matters. We also had lower business realignment charges and a lower effective income tax rate. Our 2004 results had been impacted by a few items such as a goodwill impairment charge for RBC Mortgage Company and a reversal of the general allowance.
We are pleased with the strong performance in all of our business segments last year. In our Canadian Personal & Business segment, net income grew 13 per cent to a record $2.3 billion in 2005. This largely reflected strong revenue growth in all business lines, leading to record revenues of $12.5 billion, up 11 per cent over 2004.
Net income from our U.S. & International Personal & Business segment's continuing operations grew 94 per cent in U.S. dollars. However, as a result of a stronger Canadian dollar, earnings rose 78 per cent in Canadian dollars to a record $401 million. Both our Banking and Wealth Management operations in this segment saw strong earnings growth. Revenues grew 11 per cent in U.S. dollars but were up only 3 per cent in Canadian dollars due to the stronger Canadian dollar. The growth was driven by higher investment management fees in Wealth Management and strong loan and deposit growth in Banking. The segment also demonstrated excellent cost discipline.
Capital Markets' net income of $746 million in 2005 was impacted by the Enron litigation reserve of $326 million after-tax. Excluding this reserve, the segment's net income would have reached over $1 billion largely due to revenue growth of 3 per cent, a lower effective tax rate and lower compensation costs.
With respect to RBC's overall performance, we met most of our objectives in 2005. While shareholders benefited from a 31 per cent increase in our common share price during fiscal 2005, we finished in the 2nd quartile for share price to earnings and share price to book value compared to the S&P/TSX Banks Index. Our expense control, as previously mentioned, was impacted by the Enron litigation reserve, without which we would have met our objective.
We delivered a 16 per cent increase in our common share dividends to our shareholders in 2005. Our dividend payout ratio was 45 per cent, right in the middle of our 40-50 per cent target range. Since 2001, we have raised our dividends at a compound annual rate of 14 per cent.
We believe our 2006 financial objectives are aggressive. They are also somewhat modified from last year's. We have raised the ROE objective to greater than 20 per cent and replaced the expense control objective with an operating leverage objective of greater than 3 per cent as we believe it is more meaningful to look at an expense growth rate in relation to a revenue growth rate. We have also changed the portfolio quality objective as we believe this year will present fewer recovery opportunities. In addition, we have set a floor for the Tier 1 capital ratio of 8 per cent.
We have also narrowed our medium-term objectives down to one: To consistently generate top quartile total shareholder returns in relation to our Canadian and U.S. peer group, which consists of 20 top North American financial institutions. As Gord said, over the past five and ten years, our returns have significantly outperformed the top U.S. and international banks.
First quarter 2006
Our first quarter results, which I will turn to shortly, reflected strong North American economic conditions and our success in executing on our strategies. The economic conditions were characterized by relatively low but rising interest rates, solid household and business balance sheets, and strong consumer confidence. In addition, businesses continued to invest in inventories and more productive infrastructure. These factors resulted in strong consumer spending and demand for consumer loans, as well as higher levels of business lending and continued strong credit quality. Equity markets performed well in the quarter, resulting in strong sales and capital appreciation in mutual funds and higher volumes in the full-service brokerage business. Looking forward, the Canadian economy is expected to remain strong in 2006 with real GDP growth forecast at 3.4 per cent, up from 2.9 per cent in 2005. U.S. economic growth is also expected to remain solid for 2006 with real GDP growth forecast at 3.2 per cent, which is down moderately from 3.5 per cent in 2005.
As Gord said, in the first quarter, we delivered record net income of $1.17 billion, which was 20 per cent higher than the first quarter of 2005. Earnings per share increased 19 per cent to $1.78, and ROE climbed to 23.9 per cent. We recorded good growth in revenues, a decline in the provision for credit losses and lower income taxes.
Each of our business segments grew its net income from the prior year and contributed to our record earnings.
Net income from our Canadian Personal & Business segment was $669 million, up 12 per cent from a year ago. This reflected higher revenues, which rose 10 per cent to a record $3.3 billion as we successfully grew our personal and business loans and deposits as well as our wealth management and insurance operations. Non-interest expenses grew only 6 per cent to support our growing businesses, a far lower rate than revenues.
First quarter net income from the U.S. & International Personal & Business segment increased 9 per cent in U.S. dollars. However, the continued strengthening of the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar reduced the growth rate in Canadian dollars to 3 per cent. Revenues were up 10 per cent in U.S. dollars but 5 per cent in Canadian dollars.
RBC Capital Markets had record earnings of $330 million in the first quarter, up 25 per cent from a year ago, attesting to the success of our strategy to structure and build a diverse full-service wholesale bank while limiting volatility of earnings. The increase in net income was due to a variety of factors including higher merger and acquisition activity, higher earnings from subsidiaries operating in jurisdictions with lower income tax rates and improved credit quality, where we benefited from a $50 million reversal of the general allowance. Revenues declined 8 per cent as trading revenues, although at the highest level in four quarters, were down from a very strong level a year ago.
Altogether, RBC's first quarter revenues grew 4 per cent, reaching a record level of nearly $5 billion with growth across most lines of business. Non-interest expenses also grew 4 per cent. The stronger Canadian dollar reduced revenues by $60 million and expenses by $35 million in the first quarter.
Turning now to portfolio quality, which remained strong in the first quarter, the total provision for credit losses was $47 million, down $61 million from a year ago, with $50 million attributable to a reversal of a portion of the general allowance. Gross impaired loans were $800 million, down 24 per cent from a year ago due to continued favourable business conditions, which I already mentioned, and strong collection efforts on corporate and commercial accounts.
Our capital position has strengthened over the past year and at 9.5 per cent, our tier 1 capital ratio remains well above our objective of 8 per cent plus.
We are pleased with the 45 per cent total return to common shareholders over the past twelve months, including a 41 per cent increase in our share price. Our common share dividends were up 16 per cent between the first quarters of 2005 and 2006. And as Gord mentioned, this morning we announced an 8 cent increase in our quarterly common share dividend to 72 cents per share in the second quarter, or 36 cents on a post stock dividend basis, for shareholders of record on April 25, 2006.
Before I hand the meeting back to David O'Brien, I would like to spend a few minutes discussing RBC's focus on corporate responsibility. One of the guiding principles in RBC's code of conduct states that "It is our duty as a corporate citizen to add value to society while earning a profit for our shareholders."
From our perspective, corporate responsibility is not just a program managed by a single department, nor is it about a single policy. It is about operating our businesses with integrity, supporting the environment and our communities, and sustaining our long-term viability while contributing to the present and future well-being of all our stakeholders. The importance of behaving with integrity every day, in every transaction, in every part of our business is why corporate responsibility was such a fundamental part of our Client First transformation over a year ago.
We understand that how we conduct ourselves as citizens is a critical component of our corporate performance and one that is measured and scrutinized almost as vigorously as our financial numbers. And acting responsibly is good business that has benefits for all of us.
What does commitment to good business mean? It means that all of us, including directors, management and employees are committed to:
We are proud to be recognized for our commitment to communities and causes, both locally and globally, and Gord mentioned a few achievements and recognitions earlier. In addition, at the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, RBC was named to the "Global 100" list for the second year in a row. This list celebrates the 100 companies in the world that are best managing environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities. RBC was the only Canadian bank on this list. We also continue to be part of a select group of Canadian companies included on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, the Jantzi Social Index, and the FTSE4Good Index, all recognizing the world's financial, social and environmental leaders.
But rest assured, we know that corporate responsibility is a journey, not a destination. So we continue to look at ways to improve our performance as a good corporate citizen while producing strong financial results.
Thank you for your attention.


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Tony Judt is the prominent NYU professor who combines the worst of Europe and self-hating liberal Jewishness in calling for the disestablishment of Israel because Israel is, well, bad for the Jews. According to Judt, the epidemic of anti-Semitism in Europe and elsewhere is a result of the (alleged) historic injustice associated with Israel's founding. This week's Forward reports on an interesting interview with him in which his train of thought is on full display: "Embattled academic Tony Judt defends call for binational state." In the hard copy of the Forward, the article runs with a photo of Judt that establishes him as a possible separated at birth twin of Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Maher. Above is a slightly more flattering photo of Judt than the one in the Forward. Judt not only looks strikingly like Maher, he has the uncanny gift of channeling Maher's thoughts.
The Forward also runs a terrific interview with Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman (pictured above): "Senator: Saddam nab, Dean's rise make GOP an easy sell." Norm is a guy who appears to be making waves as President Bush's ambassador to the American Jewish community. (The Forward's report of the interview also carries some choice quotes from a Dean spokesman responding to Norm.) Not only does Norm make more sense than Judt, he's somewhat easier on the eyes.
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Wales and Scarlets fly-half Rhys Priestland has suffered a devastating injury blow that will rule him out for the rest of this season.
Priestland, 25, will miss the entire RBS 6 Nations Championship after snapping his Achilles tendon during the Scarlets' Heineken Cup clash against Exeter at the weekend.
Priestland, who has 22 caps, also looks set to miss out on the British and Lions' tour of Australia next summer.
Scarlets head coach Simon Easterby said: "It's a big blow for Rhys and for our region to lose a player of his quality and influence in our team.
"He was coming through well in the last couple of (Wales) games of the autumn, put in a strong performance against Australia and was making a real impact on our game against Exeter, so it is very difficult for him to take.
"But he will get plenty of support from here throughout the injury period."
Scarlets medical chief Andy Walker added: "The surgery was undertaken this morning (Tuesday) at the Vale Hospital and has gone very well.
"It's a difficult injury but we have been fortunate to have had the injury assessed and repaired surgically so promptly, and by a very experienced ankle and foot specialist.
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"The anticipated time off the field is around six months, but it all depends on the individual and how his rehab goes in the interim."


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Phatscotty wrote:I would say driving a car without permission by the government could be a bad thing, since the government requires you to pass a basic training test and a written test on knowledge as well. And if you are caught driving 200mph, they will take away your privilege.
on a private track, using a car built for you by a private company?


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Palm Beach, Fla. (USA) – February 6, 2013 — Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE: CLDT), a hotel real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing in upscale extended-stay hotels and premium-branded select-service hotels, today announced that it will rebrand its 105-room Washington, D.C. hotel to a Residence Inn by Marriott following an upgrade/renovation. Chatham acquired the hotel in July 2011, as part of a five-hotel portfolio acquisition.
Additionally, the company announced it repaid the approximate $19 million loan balance outstanding on the Washington, D.C. hotel and refinanced three other mortgage loans, extending the company's debt maturity and enhancing earnings through reduced interest costs. The company will provide guidance for 2013 to reflect these transactions and the pending acquisition of a 197-room Courtyard by Marriott, currently under contract, during its fourth quarter earnings call on February 20, 2013.
Rebranding of Washington, D.C. Hotel
The company terminated the DoubleTree by Hilton franchise license on its 105-room Washington, D.C. hotel in Foggy Bottom, located at 801 New Hampshire Ave. N.W., and will convert it to the Residence Inn brand, upon concluding renovations scheduled for completion in May. In the interim, the hotel will operate as the Washington Guest Suites.
"The hotel is in a fantastic location, and offers over-sized, one-bedroom suites, as well as a rooftop pool. The hotel performed well as a DoubleTree by Hilton, but we believe the Residence Inn brand and demand for extended-stay hotels in downtown Washington will significantly enhance the operating returns and value of the real estate," said Jeffrey H. Fisher, Chatham's chief executive officer. "Residence Inn hotels command a premium RevPAR market share index of 125, compared to an index of 108 for the DoubleTree by Hilton brand. We see excellent opportunities for the rebranded hotel to gain incremental market share, RevPAR and cash flow."
Debt Refinancing
The company refinanced with Barclays Bank, plc approximately $80 million in mortgage loans on the Residence Inn by Marriott hotels in San Diego, Calif., and Tysons Corner, Va., as well as the Homewood Suites by Hilton on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas. The three new 10-year loans, individually collateralized by the hotels, carry a fixed-interest rate of approximately 4.6 percent, with principal and interest based on a 30-year amortization. The previous loans on the three properties carried an average interest rate of approximately 6 percent. Additionally, the company repaid the approximate $19 million loan balance outstanding on its Washington, D.C. hotel using borrowings under the company's revolving secured credit facility.
"When we assumed the loans in connection with the acquisition of a five-hotel portfolio from Innkeepers some 18 months ago, we negotiated a key provision that allows us to repay the loans anytime without prepayment penalty or defeasance," said Dennis Craven, Chatham's chief financial officer. "That flexibility allowed us to take advantage of favorable lending opportunities in today's market. With these financings at historically low rates, we reduced the weighted average rate on our total fixed-rate debt by 80 basis points to 5.18 percent and extended the weighted average maturity on our fixed-rate debt to late 2020 from 2017. We do not have any significant loan maturities coming due until 2016."
About Chatham Lodging Trust
Chatham Lodging Trust is a self-advised REIT that was organized to invest in upscale extended-stay hotels and premium-branded, select-service hotels. The company currently owns 19 hotels with an aggregate of 2,536 rooms/suites in 11 states and the District of Columbia and holds a minority investment in a joint venture that owns 55 hotels with an aggregate of 7,282 rooms/suites. Additional information about Chatham may be found at www.chathamlodgingtrust.com.
Media Contact:
Dennis Craven
Chief Financial Officer
(561) 227-1386


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- Freelance Switch offers advice, a job board, and a great forum for freelancers to trade ideas and combat stories, among other things. Be sure to check out their resource page (their rate calculator and tips on setting your rates are especially helpful).
- Freelance Writing Jobs is part blog, part job board, part how-to adviser. Their articles on how to find the high-paying freelance jobs and where to look for freelance writing or blogging gigs are great resources.
- Mediabistro offers a plethora of writing courses, and if you become a member, you'll also be able to get the inside scoop on how to pitch your stories to specific high-profile magazines and how to tailor your pitches to fit particular niches, like food or travel writing.
- If you want to focus on professional blogging, Problogger has information on how to get paid to blog for others, job postings, and tips on how to turn your own blog into a money-making machine.
- The Golden Pencil and its 31 days of freelance writing tips should be must-reads for anyone who wants to earn money by writing from home.
- Work It, Mom's Mir Kamin, over at The Corner Office, offers some great tips for setting fees.
- Writer John Scalzi's post on Advice for New Writers About Money should be required reading for anyone looking to break into the freelance writing business, as should this great piece about taxes from Salon.com.
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Hewson's view: Border security driven mostly by politics
So much of politics and government today is being dominated by the inter-related issues of border security, immigration, and refugees. These are very emotive and divisive issues. They have contributed to a significant upheaval in the structures of many governments, certainly across Europe, and in the US, as well as playing out, but to a lesser extent, here in Australia.
The flood of refugees from Syria, Iraq and North Africa into Europe in recent years has precipitated a significant shift in power structures in most European elections, but most visibly in the UK, around the BREXIT vote and subsequent election, and in Germany with the demise of Merkel and her government. Hard-line "right" extremists, dominated by an anti-immigration/refugee sentiment, have gained considerable influence in most European countries.
There is a very real danger that Europe could "fragment" on these issues, as a manifestation of a more general anti-Europe/anti-globalisation sentiment, with some very strong movements also emerging in Hungary and other central European nations, and even in Italy.
More broadly, there are some 65 million displaced persons in the world seeking a new home and a better life for themselves and their families, at the same time as so many countries are seeking to "close" or "secure" their borders by restricting immigration and their refugee intake. It is a massive global challenge in a world where governments have no collective answer, and most responses are political.
This week we saw the shutdown of the US government continue for now a record period, as Trump continued to go toe-to-toe over border security, against the newly emboldened Democrats, now that they have established control of the lower house of Congress.
Trump has condensed most of his racist campaign rhetoric to his "promise" to build a wall along the US/Mexican border, and although his commitment was also to get the Mexicans to pay for it, his fight is now over Congress's refusal to pick up the tab, given that the Mexicans have refused.
Trump says he is prepared to keep the US government "closed", even if it takes years for Congress to agree. This week, with his back against "his wall", Trump attempted to appeal to the "American people", beyond the Congress, by making his first Oval Office address to the nation.
It was a farce. For a man with no demonstrated heart or soul, Trump claimed the wall issue was a "humanitarian crisis – a crisis of the heart and a crisis for the soul". It is a "choice between right and wrong, justice and injustice". No! It was simply Trump hoping to create "fear" and anxiety about border security.
Not surprisingly, the facts don't support his argument. By any measure there is no "crisis" at the border. Apprehensions at the border peaked in 2000 at 1.6 million; they were 303,916 in 2017, the lowest in 45 years, although they did increase by some 90,000 in 2018, but still historically low.
Moreover, the data doesn't support his arguments that the US is being flooded with drugs, drug runners, thugs and terrorists in these border crossings. Drugs mostly enter the US through legal ports of entry; the State Department says there is "no credible evidence" to support the claimed flood of terrorists; repeated studies say migrants are substantially less likely to commit those "grisly crimes" he described than native-born Americans; and so on.
Since the Howard government saved its electoral skin by exploiting the Tampa, border security has been a significant electoral issue here in Australia – "stopping the boats", offshore processing, refugees still stuck in offshore detention, "optimal immigration", sometimes with a particularly unsavoury "race element".
However, while to some countries such as the UK and US we are seen as having developed a "workable response", there is a lot of politics, and significant weaknesses and anomalies, in our system.
Clearly, if you are an "au pair" for a mate of the Minister you may get "special treatment". It will also disturb many that we still have more than 1000, mostly determined as genuine refugees, stuck on Manus and Nauru after many years, while Saudi woman Rahaf Mohammed Algunun, even recognising the genuineness of her case, can be so quickly admitted. Or, those who arrive by plane and simply overstay their visas, totalling multiples of those who arrived by boat. Unfortunately, these issues are dominated by politics rather than real solutions.
Since the Howard government saved its electoral skin by exploiting the Tampa, border security has been a significant electoral issue here in Australia.
John Hewson is a professor at the Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU, and a former Liberal opposition leader.