The ruling could put pressure on the Obama administration, which only a few days earlier took the unusual step of vetoing an ITC ruling in favor of Samsung that would have barred the sale of some older Apple iPhones and iPads.
The administration will now have 60 days to decide whether to let the Samsung ban take effect. The impression of favoring domestic over foreign companies could raise trade tensions with Samsung's home country of South Korea.
Samsung, while expressing disappointment with the ruling, said the order won't hurt the availability of its products—an apparent reference to design changes made to remove infringing features from its smartphones and tablets.
"We have already taken measures to ensure that all of our products will continue to be available in the United States," a Samsung spokesman said.
Specific Samsung products affected by the ITC order weren't spelled out, though an earlier ruling by an agency judge pointed to older products that include the Galaxy S II smartphone and Galaxy 10.1 tablet. The order potentially could have an impact beyond older Samsung devices that Apple challenged at the time.
Friday's ruling is another setback to Samsung in its global patent battles with Apple. Earlier Friday, Samsung appeared to have a difficult time during an appeals court hearing in another patent fight between the two companies.
Legal experts say the Apple and Samsung cases are based on different kinds of patents that would justify different conclusions by the administration.
The ITC found that Samsung infringed on parts of one Apple patent that covers elements of swiping a finger across the display of a device, a key feature of nearly all smartphones and tablets. It also cited parts of another patent related to headphone jacks.
The ITC decision isn't a complete victory for Apple. The trade body rejected some claims made by Apple and absolved Samsung from infringing on patents associated with the most basic design of the iPhone.
In trying to persuade the ITC not to impose a ban, Samsung and partner Google Inc.—whose Android software is used by Samsung—warned of potential dire consequences for consumers and competition in the mobile market. Samsung, for example, argued that the ruling could cause widespread shortages of mobile phones, particularly among smaller U.S. carriers, "that would take many months to rectify."
But Samsung also has been working on adapting products so they would no longer infringe on Apple patents, a process known as designing or working around an order.
The ITC said Friday that its ban doesn't apply to the "adjudicated design around products" found not to infringe on claims of the two patents.
Apple and Samsung have been tangling in courts around the globe over patents since 2011. Tensions began building after Apple shook up the mobile-device market in 2007 with the iPhone and Samsung followed up with competing products.
The companies have wielded an array of patents against each other. For the most part, wholesale fashion shoes Apple has chosen to sue Samsung over patents covering the aesthetics or particular software features of its mobile devices. As part of its findings, the ITC overturned an administrative judge's earlier finding that Samsung infringed on a potentially important Apple patent on the shape of the iPhone.
"We are disappointed that the ITC has issued an exclusion order based on two of Apple's patents," said Adam Yates, the Samsung spokesman. "However, Apple has been stopped from trying to use its overbroad design patents to achieve a monopoly on rectangles and rounded corners."
Apple expressed satisfaction with the ruling. "With today's decision, the ITC has joined courts around the world in Japan, Korea, Germany, Netherlands and California by standing up for innovation and rejecting Samsung's blatant copying of Apple's products," a company spokeswoman said. "Protecting real innovation is what the patent system should be about."
Last week's veto by the Obama administration was the first of an ITC order in more than 25 years.
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman made the decision based on policy concerns about companies obtaining product bans based on patents that cover technology used in industrywide standards. A spokeswoman for Mr. Froman said the trade representative would "begin a thorough interagency review process."
Friday's case doesn't raise the same issue about so-called standard-essential patents, but it still may raise political and trade sensitivities for the Obama administration. After last week's veto, the South Korean government said it would be closely watching the ITC's ruling Friday.
But Lyle Vander Schaaf, a specialist in ITC matters at the law firm Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, predicted the order against Samsung won't be vetoed because of the different legal issues involved.
Read the full story at wwww.beralleshoes.com!
2013年8月11日星期日
2013年7月2日星期二
Not ruling out a terror funding angle
MUMBAI A courier consignment of cash, gold and diamond jewellery,
estimated to be worth Rs2 billion was seized here late on Monday by the
National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Income- Tax Department, an
official said.
It is being billed as the biggest operation of its kind and the sources and destinations of the consignment are being probed.
Income-Tax Director General Swatantra Kumar told reporters on Tuesday morning that the consignment, intercepted near the busy Mumbai Central terminus around 9:30pm on Monday, was bound from Mumbai to Ahmedabad and other destinations by the Gujarat Mail train.
It was brought in four trucks carrying around 150 bags chock-full with cash and jewellery, stumping the investigators who suspect a terror angle, a top I-T official requesting anonymity said on Tuesday.
At least 47 people, including personal couriers, locally known as ‘angadiyas’, were detained and 20 were let off after initial questioning by the two agencies on Tuesday.
The operation was carried out following a tip-off received by the NIA at least a week ago.
NIA roped in the I-T Department for help as a huge amount of cash was involved.
Not ruling out a terror funding angle, at least a dozen of those detained are being questioned separately by the NIA.
Counting of the cash and valuation of the jewellery is currently on at the I-T headquarters in Mumbai and the true value of the consignment is expected to be known only within another day or so, the official said.
Swatantra Kumar, while declining to peg a value to the seizure, said that a team of officials is busy counting the seized cash and ascertaining the value of the jewellery which is expected to be known by Wednesday.
Replying to a query on whether a terror angle was suspected, Swatantra Kumar said that whatever is the outcome of the I-T probe, it will be shared with NIA.
Philippa Mannagh, a new resident in Onerahi, said she was impressed with the passion of people living in the community and wanted to bring all the vibrant parts together in one place. And what better place than online and on Facebook.
The Onerahi Community Facebook page has been operating for two months now and is gaining momentum with Onerahi police using the page as a place to help fight crime.
"I kept coming across people with a passion for Onerahi and thought a Facebook page would be great. It's developed faster than I thought," Mrs Mannagh said. "Now there is a real awareness of community and safety. People are sending photos and sharing events - it's awesome. We are getting thousands of hits every week."
Local police constable Aaron Furze has also tapped into the online community in a bid to solve a spate of burglaries in the area.
In a post on the Onerahi Facebook page, Mr Furze said jewellery seemed to be the main item targeted in recent burglaries. Over a two-week period he estimated around 10 home burglaries, particularly in the Ross and Church Sts and Raurimu areas. He advised those following the page to photograph jewellery and keep a description. He also asked people to keep an eye out for suspicious behaviour and report it to police.
Mr Furze was working on establishing an Onerahi Police Facebook page.
Earlier this year the most northern police officer in New Zealand Senior Constable Tracey Knowler set up the first Facebook page in the Northland police district and has found it a great tool.
"Certainly the Far North community has thrown themselves into the Facebook option as a way of communicating with me," she said. "When it comes to local knowledge and finger on the pulse, local people are my greatest asset."
Read the full story at www.agesteeljewelry.com!
It is being billed as the biggest operation of its kind and the sources and destinations of the consignment are being probed.
Income-Tax Director General Swatantra Kumar told reporters on Tuesday morning that the consignment, intercepted near the busy Mumbai Central terminus around 9:30pm on Monday, was bound from Mumbai to Ahmedabad and other destinations by the Gujarat Mail train.
It was brought in four trucks carrying around 150 bags chock-full with cash and jewellery, stumping the investigators who suspect a terror angle, a top I-T official requesting anonymity said on Tuesday.
At least 47 people, including personal couriers, locally known as ‘angadiyas’, were detained and 20 were let off after initial questioning by the two agencies on Tuesday.
The operation was carried out following a tip-off received by the NIA at least a week ago.
NIA roped in the I-T Department for help as a huge amount of cash was involved.
Not ruling out a terror funding angle, at least a dozen of those detained are being questioned separately by the NIA.
Counting of the cash and valuation of the jewellery is currently on at the I-T headquarters in Mumbai and the true value of the consignment is expected to be known only within another day or so, the official said.
Swatantra Kumar, while declining to peg a value to the seizure, said that a team of officials is busy counting the seized cash and ascertaining the value of the jewellery which is expected to be known by Wednesday.
Replying to a query on whether a terror angle was suspected, Swatantra Kumar said that whatever is the outcome of the I-T probe, it will be shared with NIA.
Philippa Mannagh, a new resident in Onerahi, said she was impressed with the passion of people living in the community and wanted to bring all the vibrant parts together in one place. And what better place than online and on Facebook.
The Onerahi Community Facebook page has been operating for two months now and is gaining momentum with Onerahi police using the page as a place to help fight crime.
"I kept coming across people with a passion for Onerahi and thought a Facebook page would be great. It's developed faster than I thought," Mrs Mannagh said. "Now there is a real awareness of community and safety. People are sending photos and sharing events - it's awesome. We are getting thousands of hits every week."
Local police constable Aaron Furze has also tapped into the online community in a bid to solve a spate of burglaries in the area.
In a post on the Onerahi Facebook page, Mr Furze said jewellery seemed to be the main item targeted in recent burglaries. Over a two-week period he estimated around 10 home burglaries, particularly in the Ross and Church Sts and Raurimu areas. He advised those following the page to photograph jewellery and keep a description. He also asked people to keep an eye out for suspicious behaviour and report it to police.
Mr Furze was working on establishing an Onerahi Police Facebook page.
Earlier this year the most northern police officer in New Zealand Senior Constable Tracey Knowler set up the first Facebook page in the Northland police district and has found it a great tool.
"Certainly the Far North community has thrown themselves into the Facebook option as a way of communicating with me," she said. "When it comes to local knowledge and finger on the pulse, local people are my greatest asset."
Read the full story at www.agesteeljewelry.com!
2013年5月20日星期一
The House also voted to send Dayton a bill to allow union
A few final debates echoed through the state Capitol Monday, as lawmakers haggled over tax increases and union organizing in a session that's already seen a big spike in spending on schools and a landmark law legalizing gay marriage.
A session that started in January ended in a rush toward the finish line: a midnight deadline to adjourn for the year. It was the finale of four months of Democratic control of the Legislature, and members seized the chance to set a $38.3 billion budget that increases spending on schools, colleges and other programs and helps pay for it with $2.1 billion in tax increases primarily on the wealthy and smokers.
"There is no glee or joy in doing the difficult work of raising revenue," said Rep. Ann Lenczewski, DFL-Bloomington. The House narrowly passed the tax bill at about 2 a.m., and the Senate was expected to follow suit Monday night.
Lenczewski, who wrote the bill, framed it as a responsible approach to erasing a $627 million deficit and fashioning a two-year budget that includes the targeted spending increases. Republicans warned the new taxes would backfire, and chase the wealthy and business owners out of the state.
"Money talks and money walks," said Rep. Peggy Scott, R-Andover.
It's the first state-level tax increase approved by lawmakers since the gas tax went up five years ago. Some 54,400 taxpayers would pay a higher income tax, averaging $7,200 more per year. The new 9.85 percent upper income tax level is 2 points higher than the current top tier. The tax on a pack of cigarettes goes up $1.60. Corporations lose some tax preferences. And some businesses see more transactions subjected to the sales tax.
The bill contains $570 million in new credits and local government exemptions that backers frame as property tax relief. Some money flows into aid programs that give breaks directly to homeowners.
Upon Senate passage, the bill heads to the desk of Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, who is on board.
The House also voted to send Dayton a bill to allow union organizing drives among two groups of workers: in-home daycare providers and personal care attendants to the elderly and disabled. The legislation injected the contentious divide between Republicans and Democratic-allied labor unions into the session's final days. The 10-hour debate was strung out over more than two days, as Republicans blasted what they called a union power grab and Democrats defended it as giving workers an option to unite over common issues.
"We are not forming a union here today," said Rep. Carly Melin, DFL-Hibbing. "We are authorizing people the right to vote about whether they want to enter a collective bargaining unit."
The House passed the bill by one vote, 68-66, with five Democrats defecting. Its passage prompted an eruption of cheers in the House gallery, which provoked angry shouts from several Republican lawmakers.
"This looks like union payback. What a blight on the process," said Rep. Kathy Lohmer, R-Lake Elmo. "This isn't what people want."
Another labor-backed bill to raise the state's minimum wage was alive in the session's final hours, but barely. A House-Senate conference committee convened briefly on the bill, which now stands at $6.15 per hour, but took no action.
The wage hike was a top Democratic priority at the start of session, but stalled after House and Senate members couldn't agree how big it should be. The House approved a bill raising the minimum in three stages until it reaches $9.50 by 2015. The Senate's bill topped out at $7.75. If they agree on a number, legislative negotiators also must decide if the wage will rise by an inflationary amount in future years.
Smaller policy bills flew through under the wire, including an election bill that authorizes no-excuse absentee voting and a campaign finance bill to increase the size of contributions that Minnesota candidates can accept from individuals.
Democrats reluctantly declared a bill aimed at school bullying a casualty of the dwindling clock.
Sen. Scott Dibble, the Minneapolis Democrat pushing for the new bullying policy, complained that Republicans stonewalled his bill by pledging a lengthy debate. "This is a political agenda and kids lose out," he said.
Senate Minority Leader David Hann and his fellow Republicans said they feared it would burden schools with new state requirements and open them up to potential lawsuits. A few dozen supporters of the bill rallied at the Capitol Monday and vowed to push it again next year.
The Senate found harmony on a few issues. A 43-26 vote sent a proposed constitutional amendment to the 2016 ballot that asks voters if an independent council should set legislator pay; that decision now rests with lawmakers, who haven't touched salaries since 1999 for fear of a political backlash.
A unanimous vote came in the Senate on a borrowing measure that would generate $131.6 million for the next phase of a state Capitol fix-up and related parking structure. Hann and Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk said they worried about a costly lapse in the project by doing nothing on the financing this year.
"I know a little something about construction," said Bakk, a carpenter. "It doesn't make any sense to ask the contractor to leave and pay for the cost of remobilizing to come back here and start up again."
But the House rejected that approach Monday, setting up a potential last-minute conference committee on the issue. The borrowing bill takes a super-majority to pass, making some Republican support necessary. The Capitol project was contained in a much larger construction borrowing bill that fell a handful of votes short of a passing margin late last week.
A session that started in January ended in a rush toward the finish line: a midnight deadline to adjourn for the year. It was the finale of four months of Democratic control of the Legislature, and members seized the chance to set a $38.3 billion budget that increases spending on schools, colleges and other programs and helps pay for it with $2.1 billion in tax increases primarily on the wealthy and smokers.
"There is no glee or joy in doing the difficult work of raising revenue," said Rep. Ann Lenczewski, DFL-Bloomington. The House narrowly passed the tax bill at about 2 a.m., and the Senate was expected to follow suit Monday night.
Lenczewski, who wrote the bill, framed it as a responsible approach to erasing a $627 million deficit and fashioning a two-year budget that includes the targeted spending increases. Republicans warned the new taxes would backfire, and chase the wealthy and business owners out of the state.
"Money talks and money walks," said Rep. Peggy Scott, R-Andover.
It's the first state-level tax increase approved by lawmakers since the gas tax went up five years ago. Some 54,400 taxpayers would pay a higher income tax, averaging $7,200 more per year. The new 9.85 percent upper income tax level is 2 points higher than the current top tier. The tax on a pack of cigarettes goes up $1.60. Corporations lose some tax preferences. And some businesses see more transactions subjected to the sales tax.
The bill contains $570 million in new credits and local government exemptions that backers frame as property tax relief. Some money flows into aid programs that give breaks directly to homeowners.
Upon Senate passage, the bill heads to the desk of Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, who is on board.
The House also voted to send Dayton a bill to allow union organizing drives among two groups of workers: in-home daycare providers and personal care attendants to the elderly and disabled. The legislation injected the contentious divide between Republicans and Democratic-allied labor unions into the session's final days. The 10-hour debate was strung out over more than two days, as Republicans blasted what they called a union power grab and Democrats defended it as giving workers an option to unite over common issues.
"We are not forming a union here today," said Rep. Carly Melin, DFL-Hibbing. "We are authorizing people the right to vote about whether they want to enter a collective bargaining unit."
The House passed the bill by one vote, 68-66, with five Democrats defecting. Its passage prompted an eruption of cheers in the House gallery, which provoked angry shouts from several Republican lawmakers.
"This looks like union payback. What a blight on the process," said Rep. Kathy Lohmer, R-Lake Elmo. "This isn't what people want."
Another labor-backed bill to raise the state's minimum wage was alive in the session's final hours, but barely. A House-Senate conference committee convened briefly on the bill, which now stands at $6.15 per hour, but took no action.
The wage hike was a top Democratic priority at the start of session, but stalled after House and Senate members couldn't agree how big it should be. The House approved a bill raising the minimum in three stages until it reaches $9.50 by 2015. The Senate's bill topped out at $7.75. If they agree on a number, legislative negotiators also must decide if the wage will rise by an inflationary amount in future years.
Smaller policy bills flew through under the wire, including an election bill that authorizes no-excuse absentee voting and a campaign finance bill to increase the size of contributions that Minnesota candidates can accept from individuals.
Democrats reluctantly declared a bill aimed at school bullying a casualty of the dwindling clock.
Sen. Scott Dibble, the Minneapolis Democrat pushing for the new bullying policy, complained that Republicans stonewalled his bill by pledging a lengthy debate. "This is a political agenda and kids lose out," he said.
Senate Minority Leader David Hann and his fellow Republicans said they feared it would burden schools with new state requirements and open them up to potential lawsuits. A few dozen supporters of the bill rallied at the Capitol Monday and vowed to push it again next year.
The Senate found harmony on a few issues. A 43-26 vote sent a proposed constitutional amendment to the 2016 ballot that asks voters if an independent council should set legislator pay; that decision now rests with lawmakers, who haven't touched salaries since 1999 for fear of a political backlash.
A unanimous vote came in the Senate on a borrowing measure that would generate $131.6 million for the next phase of a state Capitol fix-up and related parking structure. Hann and Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk said they worried about a costly lapse in the project by doing nothing on the financing this year.
"I know a little something about construction," said Bakk, a carpenter. "It doesn't make any sense to ask the contractor to leave and pay for the cost of remobilizing to come back here and start up again."
But the House rejected that approach Monday, setting up a potential last-minute conference committee on the issue. The borrowing bill takes a super-majority to pass, making some Republican support necessary. The Capitol project was contained in a much larger construction borrowing bill that fell a handful of votes short of a passing margin late last week.
2013年5月13日星期一
They are a symbol of style and grace
When Mumbai-based jewellery designer Nitya Arora started working on this year's Spring Summer collection, her plan was to design contemporary pieces that would blend with modern ensembles. "I thought of the peplum dresses that have now made a comeback. Almost immediately after, it struck me that I could achieve a similar cinched waist effect with a peplum waist belt. I strung together colourful tassels to make these belts," she recalls.
Much like this waist belt, several other body accessories have now garnered popularity. For instance, the label Outhouse has come up with ornate body harnesses this season; fashion designer James Ferreira has ventured into jewellery designing with a line of nail jewellery and three-in-one rings that drop on the side (around the knuckles), while Shruti Bheda's label Blur Designs has a collection for ear cuffs and elaborate hair accessories. Suhani Pittie too has been winning people over with her metal belts, hairbands and ear buttons. Meanwhile, the haathphool designed by Eina Ahluwalia, Amrapali and others — is become sought-after.
Today, jewellery designers are creating accessories that look beyond the usual. This shift, Pittie believes, is part of an attempt to reconnect with our cultural heritage. "There is a certain revisiting of history happening through jewellery ideas, whether it's war-inspired knuckledusters or body harnesses or romance-inspired ear cuffs and hathphool," she says. According to Arora, body jewellery has been part of tradition across countries and cultures. "For the longest time, gypsies have been flaunting their love for body jewellery items that are available in flea markets of Rajasthan and Goa. Similarly, in places such as Turkey, women are known to wear bold jewellery, including necklaces that travel from the collarbone to the navel. Rajeev Arora, founder of the brand Amrapali, concurs that jhoomars, maang tikas, haathphools and hair accessories have been part of Indian bridal wear for long but are now being contemporised. "With these items getting reinvented, they are now being worn not just with Indian dresses but also with Western ensembles," he points out.
Gemstones are not only very powerful sources of energy, stones but also beautiful in itself. They are a symbol of style and grace. Bello Jewels brings forth the stunning collection of exquisite blue sapphire gemstones. The jeweller has an extensive range of blue sapphire gemstones in different shapes and sizes. It is one of the leading online stores of gemstone jewellery in India. Its exotic collection of precious gemstones leaves you enthralled.
Bello Jewels houses exceptional gemstones like blue sapphire, emerald, ruby, garnet, yellow sapphire, quartz, malachite, jade, agate, pearl, jasper, coral, opal, turquoise, topaz, tanzanite, lapis lazuli, Aquamarine and many more. Bello Jewels has beautifully made use of the color, sparkle, and shape of these stones to create jewellery with aesthetic perfection. All jewellery and gemstones here are works of art that are lustrous and captivating. Their designs are striking statements of distinction. Customers can create designs of their choice as Bello Jewels also specialises in custom made jewellery.
Traditional elegance and contemporary creativity are merged to create unique pieces of gemstone jewellery. The creative designer’s skilled artisanship generates some of the finest jewellery collection at Bello Jewels that takes your breath away. Their jewellery collections include outstanding 925 Sterling Silver Jewellery, designer gemstone necklaces, semi-precious stones, gold & diamond gemstone jewellery. All gemstones at Bello Jewels meets strict quality standards and are certified to be authentic. The jeweller also assures a 100 % money refund guarantee.
Bello Jewels offers reliable and durable jewellery pieces as they make use of natural gems in their jewellery. Quality and value are their prime concerns. The quality expert conducts several rounds of evaluation during the production process and ensures that each product manufactured at Bello Jewels is in line with customer expectations. Bello Jewels offers worldwide delivery of its products. The delivery destinations include UK, Canada, USA, China, Australia, Russia, Africa, Japan,Middle East Block, Eastern Europe Countries and Entire Europe. Customers can make payments via Bank Wire, International Money Order, Paypal, Visa, Visa Delta, and all Major Credit Cards.
Much like this waist belt, several other body accessories have now garnered popularity. For instance, the label Outhouse has come up with ornate body harnesses this season; fashion designer James Ferreira has ventured into jewellery designing with a line of nail jewellery and three-in-one rings that drop on the side (around the knuckles), while Shruti Bheda's label Blur Designs has a collection for ear cuffs and elaborate hair accessories. Suhani Pittie too has been winning people over with her metal belts, hairbands and ear buttons. Meanwhile, the haathphool designed by Eina Ahluwalia, Amrapali and others — is become sought-after.
Today, jewellery designers are creating accessories that look beyond the usual. This shift, Pittie believes, is part of an attempt to reconnect with our cultural heritage. "There is a certain revisiting of history happening through jewellery ideas, whether it's war-inspired knuckledusters or body harnesses or romance-inspired ear cuffs and hathphool," she says. According to Arora, body jewellery has been part of tradition across countries and cultures. "For the longest time, gypsies have been flaunting their love for body jewellery items that are available in flea markets of Rajasthan and Goa. Similarly, in places such as Turkey, women are known to wear bold jewellery, including necklaces that travel from the collarbone to the navel. Rajeev Arora, founder of the brand Amrapali, concurs that jhoomars, maang tikas, haathphools and hair accessories have been part of Indian bridal wear for long but are now being contemporised. "With these items getting reinvented, they are now being worn not just with Indian dresses but also with Western ensembles," he points out.
Gemstones are not only very powerful sources of energy, stones but also beautiful in itself. They are a symbol of style and grace. Bello Jewels brings forth the stunning collection of exquisite blue sapphire gemstones. The jeweller has an extensive range of blue sapphire gemstones in different shapes and sizes. It is one of the leading online stores of gemstone jewellery in India. Its exotic collection of precious gemstones leaves you enthralled.
Bello Jewels houses exceptional gemstones like blue sapphire, emerald, ruby, garnet, yellow sapphire, quartz, malachite, jade, agate, pearl, jasper, coral, opal, turquoise, topaz, tanzanite, lapis lazuli, Aquamarine and many more. Bello Jewels has beautifully made use of the color, sparkle, and shape of these stones to create jewellery with aesthetic perfection. All jewellery and gemstones here are works of art that are lustrous and captivating. Their designs are striking statements of distinction. Customers can create designs of their choice as Bello Jewels also specialises in custom made jewellery.
Traditional elegance and contemporary creativity are merged to create unique pieces of gemstone jewellery. The creative designer’s skilled artisanship generates some of the finest jewellery collection at Bello Jewels that takes your breath away. Their jewellery collections include outstanding 925 Sterling Silver Jewellery, designer gemstone necklaces, semi-precious stones, gold & diamond gemstone jewellery. All gemstones at Bello Jewels meets strict quality standards and are certified to be authentic. The jeweller also assures a 100 % money refund guarantee.
Bello Jewels offers reliable and durable jewellery pieces as they make use of natural gems in their jewellery. Quality and value are their prime concerns. The quality expert conducts several rounds of evaluation during the production process and ensures that each product manufactured at Bello Jewels is in line with customer expectations. Bello Jewels offers worldwide delivery of its products. The delivery destinations include UK, Canada, USA, China, Australia, Russia, Africa, Japan,Middle East Block, Eastern Europe Countries and Entire Europe. Customers can make payments via Bank Wire, International Money Order, Paypal, Visa, Visa Delta, and all Major Credit Cards.
2013年5月8日星期三
conviction of crimes in both state and federal court
For the third time in a more than six-year prosecution effort in the torture slayings of a young Knox County Couple, Davidson County will provide the pool from which potential jurors will be selected.
The clerk’s office in Nashville has summoned 480 people to appear Thursday in Davidson County Criminal Court to fill out questionnaires in the upcoming retrial of George Thomas, one of four defendants in the January 2007 deaths of Channon Christian, 21, and Christopher Newsom, 23.
The questionnaires are designed to help both prosecutors and defense attorneys to ferret out potential bias among the jury pool in a case that has been labeled one of Knoxville’s most horrific crimes and spurred extensive local media coverage and at least one national television documentary.
This is the third time Davidson County has been asked to serve up a jury pool in the case. Jurors in the original trials of co-defendant Letalvis Cobbins and his girlfriend, Vanessa Coleman, hailed from Nashville.
Thursday’s jury selection process is one more twist in what has proved a torturous legal road.
Four defendants were originally charged in the kidnapping, carjacking, rape, beating and slaying of Christian and Newsom — Thomas, Cobbins, Coleman and Cobbins’ brother and alleged ringleader Lemaricus Davidson. Prosecutors Leland Price and TaKisha Fitzgerald demanded death as punishment for each.
All but Davidson demanded a jury from outside Knox County, convincing then-Judge Richard Baumgartner publicity surrounding the case had made it all but impossible to seat a fair jury in Knoxville.
A Davidson County jury in the fall of 2009 convicted Cobbins but spared his life. A Hamilton County jury also rejected death in Thomas’ 2009 trial. In 2010, a separate Davidson County jury acquitted Coleman of any role in the crimes against Newsom and deemed her a facilitator only in the crimes against Newsom. She racked up a 53-year prison term.
Davidson, on the other hand, made a tactical decision to opt for a Knox County jury pool in hopes of weeding out enough biased potential jurors to prompt a trial delay. It didn’t work, and a Knox County jury sentenced him to death.
Until January 2011 when Baumgartner abruptly left the bench without having affirmed the verdicts in the Christian/Newsom case as the so-called “13th juror,” a legal provision peculiar to Tennessee law. Baumgartner would later confess a pill addiction that has since led to his conviction of crimes in both state and federal court.
His confession led to the upending of the verdicts in the cases against Coleman and Thomas. In Coleman’s case, Baumgartner confessed he was high. In Thomas’ case, Senior Judge Walter Kurtz ruled the lack of forensic proof against Thomas made it impossible for him to step into Baumgartner’s shoes as 13th juror. Kurtz left intact the convictions against Davidson and Cobbins, both of whom left behind forensic proof of their involvement.
Coleman was retried by a jury from Jackson, Tenn., in November. That jury cut her a break on lesser charges and she is now facing a 35-year sentence.
Potential jurors for Thomas’ retrial will be vetted Thursday and Friday in Davidson County. Once a final jury is chosen, the panel will be bussed back to Knox County on Sunday and housed in a hotel throughout the trial, which begins Monday.
The clerk’s office in Nashville has summoned 480 people to appear Thursday in Davidson County Criminal Court to fill out questionnaires in the upcoming retrial of George Thomas, one of four defendants in the January 2007 deaths of Channon Christian, 21, and Christopher Newsom, 23.
The questionnaires are designed to help both prosecutors and defense attorneys to ferret out potential bias among the jury pool in a case that has been labeled one of Knoxville’s most horrific crimes and spurred extensive local media coverage and at least one national television documentary.
This is the third time Davidson County has been asked to serve up a jury pool in the case. Jurors in the original trials of co-defendant Letalvis Cobbins and his girlfriend, Vanessa Coleman, hailed from Nashville.
Thursday’s jury selection process is one more twist in what has proved a torturous legal road.
Four defendants were originally charged in the kidnapping, carjacking, rape, beating and slaying of Christian and Newsom — Thomas, Cobbins, Coleman and Cobbins’ brother and alleged ringleader Lemaricus Davidson. Prosecutors Leland Price and TaKisha Fitzgerald demanded death as punishment for each.
All but Davidson demanded a jury from outside Knox County, convincing then-Judge Richard Baumgartner publicity surrounding the case had made it all but impossible to seat a fair jury in Knoxville.
A Davidson County jury in the fall of 2009 convicted Cobbins but spared his life. A Hamilton County jury also rejected death in Thomas’ 2009 trial. In 2010, a separate Davidson County jury acquitted Coleman of any role in the crimes against Newsom and deemed her a facilitator only in the crimes against Newsom. She racked up a 53-year prison term.
Davidson, on the other hand, made a tactical decision to opt for a Knox County jury pool in hopes of weeding out enough biased potential jurors to prompt a trial delay. It didn’t work, and a Knox County jury sentenced him to death.
Until January 2011 when Baumgartner abruptly left the bench without having affirmed the verdicts in the Christian/Newsom case as the so-called “13th juror,” a legal provision peculiar to Tennessee law. Baumgartner would later confess a pill addiction that has since led to his conviction of crimes in both state and federal court.
His confession led to the upending of the verdicts in the cases against Coleman and Thomas. In Coleman’s case, Baumgartner confessed he was high. In Thomas’ case, Senior Judge Walter Kurtz ruled the lack of forensic proof against Thomas made it impossible for him to step into Baumgartner’s shoes as 13th juror. Kurtz left intact the convictions against Davidson and Cobbins, both of whom left behind forensic proof of their involvement.
Coleman was retried by a jury from Jackson, Tenn., in November. That jury cut her a break on lesser charges and she is now facing a 35-year sentence.
Potential jurors for Thomas’ retrial will be vetted Thursday and Friday in Davidson County. Once a final jury is chosen, the panel will be bussed back to Knox County on Sunday and housed in a hotel throughout the trial, which begins Monday.
2013年5月1日星期三
Efforts underway at Nanakuli Elementary could help improve
Tulsi Gabbard was a long way from Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, visiting low-income, low-performing Hawaii schools that stand to suffer the most if the state loses a $75 million Race to the Top federal grant.
The congresswoman visited Keaau schools on the Big Island on Tuesday. The next day, she toured three campuses in west Oahu's Nanakuli.
"I felt it was important for me to have a firsthand understanding of what's working and what's not," she said. "There are very few schools that have the country's eyes on them."
The U.S. Department of Education warned the state that it hadn't made acceptable progress on a reform plan that won Hawaii the grant. They warned Hawaii could lose the money if progress isn't made. The pressure is especially felt by schools in Waianae and Nanakuli and in Kau, Keaau and Pahoa, which make up the zones the reforms are targeting. Last year, teachers in the zones approved an agreement for extended learning time, a key element of the grant.
"It's helpful for me to hear directly from the teachers, the principals, the coaches," Gabbard said.
At Nanakuli High and Intermediate, she listened to Principal Darin Pilialoha explain state math and reading scores. During the 2011-12 school year, 18 percent of seventh-graders tested proficient in math. This year, that figure reached 24 percent. Tenth-graders in 2011-12 tested 43 percent proficient in reading and then reached 52 percent after three attempts this school year. But a key challenge is eighth-grade reading scores, which have dropped since 2011-12.
Efforts underway at Nanakuli Elementary could help improve scores for students when they get to the intermediate school level. Principal Wendy Takahashi explained to Gabbard that taking the test three times a year under adaptive online testing is giving children a good motivation to improve. "If it was only one time, they could care less," she said. "The scores come in the summer and no one looks at it."
Beyond the scores, teachers in Nanakuli have to adapt to students' unique needs. "They're so insular," explained Jessica Breslin, a sixth-grade teacher. The kids who grow up in the Nanakuli valley tend to be shyer than students elsewhere along the coast, she told Gabbard as they sat in a room full of donated shoes for the children. Breslin also works as a coach for other teachers, a position made possible by the Race to the Top money.
Complex Area Superintendent Ann Mahi said the struggle for teachers on the coast is to teach students living in an isolated part of the island to be "curious about the world they'll be moving into." She shared with Gabbard how one elementary school started a slipper exchange program for children to trade in broken footwear for new slippers. Something as basic as proper footwear goes a long in helping students focus on learning, she said.
Former Waianae Elementary School principal John Wataoka quietly watched Gabbard tour the Nanakuli schools, set against the mountains and overlooking the ocean. He's now the Race to the Top manager.
"It's very invigorating that fact that she's here," he said. "As principals, we've been tasked with the challenges of implementing the deliverables. It's a lot of responsibility."
The congresswoman visited Keaau schools on the Big Island on Tuesday. The next day, she toured three campuses in west Oahu's Nanakuli.
"I felt it was important for me to have a firsthand understanding of what's working and what's not," she said. "There are very few schools that have the country's eyes on them."
The U.S. Department of Education warned the state that it hadn't made acceptable progress on a reform plan that won Hawaii the grant. They warned Hawaii could lose the money if progress isn't made. The pressure is especially felt by schools in Waianae and Nanakuli and in Kau, Keaau and Pahoa, which make up the zones the reforms are targeting. Last year, teachers in the zones approved an agreement for extended learning time, a key element of the grant.
"It's helpful for me to hear directly from the teachers, the principals, the coaches," Gabbard said.
At Nanakuli High and Intermediate, she listened to Principal Darin Pilialoha explain state math and reading scores. During the 2011-12 school year, 18 percent of seventh-graders tested proficient in math. This year, that figure reached 24 percent. Tenth-graders in 2011-12 tested 43 percent proficient in reading and then reached 52 percent after three attempts this school year. But a key challenge is eighth-grade reading scores, which have dropped since 2011-12.
Efforts underway at Nanakuli Elementary could help improve scores for students when they get to the intermediate school level. Principal Wendy Takahashi explained to Gabbard that taking the test three times a year under adaptive online testing is giving children a good motivation to improve. "If it was only one time, they could care less," she said. "The scores come in the summer and no one looks at it."
Beyond the scores, teachers in Nanakuli have to adapt to students' unique needs. "They're so insular," explained Jessica Breslin, a sixth-grade teacher. The kids who grow up in the Nanakuli valley tend to be shyer than students elsewhere along the coast, she told Gabbard as they sat in a room full of donated shoes for the children. Breslin also works as a coach for other teachers, a position made possible by the Race to the Top money.
Complex Area Superintendent Ann Mahi said the struggle for teachers on the coast is to teach students living in an isolated part of the island to be "curious about the world they'll be moving into." She shared with Gabbard how one elementary school started a slipper exchange program for children to trade in broken footwear for new slippers. Something as basic as proper footwear goes a long in helping students focus on learning, she said.
Former Waianae Elementary School principal John Wataoka quietly watched Gabbard tour the Nanakuli schools, set against the mountains and overlooking the ocean. He's now the Race to the Top manager.
"It's very invigorating that fact that she's here," he said. "As principals, we've been tasked with the challenges of implementing the deliverables. It's a lot of responsibility."
2013年4月1日星期一
Holy Week was good week for thieves in the Philippines
As expected, this year’s Holy Week too proved to be a good time for thieves in the Philippines to burgle houses and businesses, as people go home to their native provinces or travel on vacation while schools and offices were closed during the week.
Matinee idol Aljur Abrenica became one of the victims this past week as he lost cash, pieces of jewellery and high-end electronic products valued at 600,000 pesos (about Dh54,000) to robbers who entered his house.
A mainstay talent with GMA Artist Centre, the 23-year-old Abrenica, who resides at Scout Fernandez Street in Quezon City’s Barangay Sacred Heart, had gone on vacation with his family during the Lenten break.
QCPD Special Officer Jose Soriano said the actor’s house was turned upside down, with the main door locks busted and clothes, books and kitchenware scattered all over, especially on the second floor where the bedrooms are, indicating that the robbers had entered by force and left in haste.
Abrenica and his family left on Holy Wednesday and came back on Black Saturday, according to the tabloid ‘Pilipino Star Ngayon’.
The tabloid ‘Pilipino Star Ngayon’ on Monday quoted the Kamuning Station of Quezon City Police District (QCPD) as saying that robbers also took 800,000 pesos (about Dh72,000) when they entered by force a money remittance centre and a cosmetics shop, both in Metro Manila’s Quezon City.
The thieves seemed to have busied themselves looting other people’s properties in Quezon City from Wednesday to Saturday, as they also burgled the Western Union remittance centre and HBC Inc (Home of Beauty Exclusives), both at Splash Arcade on Tuayan Street and Quezon Avenue, in Barangay Tatalon.
Police Superintendent Norberto Babagay, chief of Galas Police Station, also in Quezon City, said the robberies occurred between 6pm on Friday and 6.30am on Saturday, when most houses and business establishments were closed and had no watchmen.
Police kill four drug syndicate members
Four members of a drug syndicate were killed on Sunday in an encounter with the combined team of policemen and ‘barangay tanod’ or village peace and security officers, in Manila’s Tondo district, the tabloid ‘Pilipino Star Ngahon’ said.
A barangay tanod, identified as Junrey Cabual, is now fighting for his life at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Centre after the encounter. The 35-year-old Cabual, a resident of Tondo’s Barangay 649, Zone 68, suffered a gunshot wound to the stomach.
The Manila Police District-Baseco Police Community Precinct (MPD-PCP) identified the two gang members who died as Ato Mohammad, 36, and Alvin Pilas, 19, both residents of Block 7, Lot 80, Baseco Compound, in Manila’s Port Area.
Chief Inspector Nocolas Pi?on, who led the MPD-PCP group, said police are still working on identifying the two other gang members who died in the encounter at Baseco Compound.
The police team recovered two .45-calibre and two .38-calibre pistols from the dead gang members while the rest of their companions managed to escape, according to the ‘Pilipino Star Ngayon’.
Pinon said his team went to Baseco Compound at noon on Sunday to investigate into alleged gunshots heard by residents on the night of Black Saturday when two boys, identified as Gabz Gabinete, 10, and Arnie Legato, 8, both residents of the compound, were hit by stray bullets.
He added that when he and his team arrived at a warehouse-like structure in the compound being used by the syndicate in their drug operations, the gang members opened fire immediately, prompting the cops to respond.
Police are investigating reports from the residents that there was an altercation between disgruntled members of the gang and some of their superiors that resulted in the exchange of gunfire.
Matinee idol Aljur Abrenica became one of the victims this past week as he lost cash, pieces of jewellery and high-end electronic products valued at 600,000 pesos (about Dh54,000) to robbers who entered his house.
A mainstay talent with GMA Artist Centre, the 23-year-old Abrenica, who resides at Scout Fernandez Street in Quezon City’s Barangay Sacred Heart, had gone on vacation with his family during the Lenten break.
QCPD Special Officer Jose Soriano said the actor’s house was turned upside down, with the main door locks busted and clothes, books and kitchenware scattered all over, especially on the second floor where the bedrooms are, indicating that the robbers had entered by force and left in haste.
Abrenica and his family left on Holy Wednesday and came back on Black Saturday, according to the tabloid ‘Pilipino Star Ngayon’.
The tabloid ‘Pilipino Star Ngayon’ on Monday quoted the Kamuning Station of Quezon City Police District (QCPD) as saying that robbers also took 800,000 pesos (about Dh72,000) when they entered by force a money remittance centre and a cosmetics shop, both in Metro Manila’s Quezon City.
The thieves seemed to have busied themselves looting other people’s properties in Quezon City from Wednesday to Saturday, as they also burgled the Western Union remittance centre and HBC Inc (Home of Beauty Exclusives), both at Splash Arcade on Tuayan Street and Quezon Avenue, in Barangay Tatalon.
Police Superintendent Norberto Babagay, chief of Galas Police Station, also in Quezon City, said the robberies occurred between 6pm on Friday and 6.30am on Saturday, when most houses and business establishments were closed and had no watchmen.
Police kill four drug syndicate members
Four members of a drug syndicate were killed on Sunday in an encounter with the combined team of policemen and ‘barangay tanod’ or village peace and security officers, in Manila’s Tondo district, the tabloid ‘Pilipino Star Ngahon’ said.
A barangay tanod, identified as Junrey Cabual, is now fighting for his life at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Centre after the encounter. The 35-year-old Cabual, a resident of Tondo’s Barangay 649, Zone 68, suffered a gunshot wound to the stomach.
The Manila Police District-Baseco Police Community Precinct (MPD-PCP) identified the two gang members who died as Ato Mohammad, 36, and Alvin Pilas, 19, both residents of Block 7, Lot 80, Baseco Compound, in Manila’s Port Area.
Chief Inspector Nocolas Pi?on, who led the MPD-PCP group, said police are still working on identifying the two other gang members who died in the encounter at Baseco Compound.
The police team recovered two .45-calibre and two .38-calibre pistols from the dead gang members while the rest of their companions managed to escape, according to the ‘Pilipino Star Ngayon’.
Pinon said his team went to Baseco Compound at noon on Sunday to investigate into alleged gunshots heard by residents on the night of Black Saturday when two boys, identified as Gabz Gabinete, 10, and Arnie Legato, 8, both residents of the compound, were hit by stray bullets.
He added that when he and his team arrived at a warehouse-like structure in the compound being used by the syndicate in their drug operations, the gang members opened fire immediately, prompting the cops to respond.
Police are investigating reports from the residents that there was an altercation between disgruntled members of the gang and some of their superiors that resulted in the exchange of gunfire.
The Lost Treasure and Kelli Thompson of Saltwater Jewellery
Advice on how to attract and keep customers was doled out to a lively audience last week as more than 50 people attended the Economic Empowerment Zones Agency (EEZA) seminar targeted to retailers and vendors.
The two-hour seminar provided entrepreneurs with tips and strategies to better manage their businesses from several local business owners who shared their paths to success.
Amir X of Gino Group, who also facilitated the BEDC Retail Development Programme last year, kicked off the seminar with an interactive presentation about the importance of customer service.
Amir encouraged attendees to remember: “people try to make customer service something fancy but really it’s just a day-in, day-out, simple attitude towards people. Good customer service is essential to a good business.”
Jan Quinn, owner of The Lost Treasure and Kelli Thompson of Saltwater Jewellery Design also presented on practical tips to start and manage a vending business.
Ms Quinn reviewed how vendors should determine what to sell, where to sell it and to whom to sell their products.
Ms Thompson added that the presentation of products and consistency as a vendor is also important. “If you tell your customer that you will be vending at a certain time and place, you must be there every time as consistency is key to building your business,” she said.
Tony Thompson and Tori Simons of Gibbons Company were next up to share tips on the importance of visual merchandising.
Mr Thompson’s presentation helped to break down some of the tricks that large retail stores, like Mango, use to help sell their products including, utilising creative and attractive window displays as the first way to capture a customer’s attention to get them into the store.
Mr Thompson advised attendees to focus on the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste when trying to determine how best to merchandise your store or display.
Ms. Simons offered a visual example of how to best dress a mannequin to appeal to customers. If done right, Ms Simons suggested that you can encourage customers to purchase most if not all of the items on display.
Additionally Damon Hollis of the Bermuda Police Service also presented who shared information regarding how to detect counterfeit money and what to do if you suspect that someone is intentionally trying to pass counterfeit bills.
Satellite police have rounded up a youth for the Saturday evening mishap where a car had rammed into a BRTS corridor on Iskcon-Bopal road. The youth was later granted bail for rash driving.
According to Satellite police, a car rammed into the BRTS corridor at 4.30 pm on Saturday near hotel Planet Landmark.
The car driver, trying to steer the car away, later broke into a nearby plot's boundary marked by plants. Three youths got out of the car that had turned turtle and fled. Police started a search for the car driver on the basis of the car registration number.
"The car was traced to Pranjal Patel, 25, a resident of Vastrapur having his jewellery shop near Manekbaug. As per his statement, he was returning from a function held at Bopal along with his friends Dheer Parikh and Sagar Trivedi.
The trio was returning when as per Patel's statement, the car jumped on a pit and its axle was damaged.
The car went out of control and rammed into the BRTS railing. While trying to stop its speed, the car took a sharp turn and rammed into the plot boundary," said a Satellite police official.
Talking about the liquor bottle found from the car, the investigators said that they are yet to ascertain whether the youths were drunk when the incident took place.
The two-hour seminar provided entrepreneurs with tips and strategies to better manage their businesses from several local business owners who shared their paths to success.
Amir X of Gino Group, who also facilitated the BEDC Retail Development Programme last year, kicked off the seminar with an interactive presentation about the importance of customer service.
Amir encouraged attendees to remember: “people try to make customer service something fancy but really it’s just a day-in, day-out, simple attitude towards people. Good customer service is essential to a good business.”
Jan Quinn, owner of The Lost Treasure and Kelli Thompson of Saltwater Jewellery Design also presented on practical tips to start and manage a vending business.
Ms Quinn reviewed how vendors should determine what to sell, where to sell it and to whom to sell their products.
Ms Thompson added that the presentation of products and consistency as a vendor is also important. “If you tell your customer that you will be vending at a certain time and place, you must be there every time as consistency is key to building your business,” she said.
Tony Thompson and Tori Simons of Gibbons Company were next up to share tips on the importance of visual merchandising.
Mr Thompson’s presentation helped to break down some of the tricks that large retail stores, like Mango, use to help sell their products including, utilising creative and attractive window displays as the first way to capture a customer’s attention to get them into the store.
Mr Thompson advised attendees to focus on the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste when trying to determine how best to merchandise your store or display.
Ms. Simons offered a visual example of how to best dress a mannequin to appeal to customers. If done right, Ms Simons suggested that you can encourage customers to purchase most if not all of the items on display.
Additionally Damon Hollis of the Bermuda Police Service also presented who shared information regarding how to detect counterfeit money and what to do if you suspect that someone is intentionally trying to pass counterfeit bills.
Satellite police have rounded up a youth for the Saturday evening mishap where a car had rammed into a BRTS corridor on Iskcon-Bopal road. The youth was later granted bail for rash driving.
According to Satellite police, a car rammed into the BRTS corridor at 4.30 pm on Saturday near hotel Planet Landmark.
The car driver, trying to steer the car away, later broke into a nearby plot's boundary marked by plants. Three youths got out of the car that had turned turtle and fled. Police started a search for the car driver on the basis of the car registration number.
"The car was traced to Pranjal Patel, 25, a resident of Vastrapur having his jewellery shop near Manekbaug. As per his statement, he was returning from a function held at Bopal along with his friends Dheer Parikh and Sagar Trivedi.
The trio was returning when as per Patel's statement, the car jumped on a pit and its axle was damaged.
The car went out of control and rammed into the BRTS railing. While trying to stop its speed, the car took a sharp turn and rammed into the plot boundary," said a Satellite police official.
Talking about the liquor bottle found from the car, the investigators said that they are yet to ascertain whether the youths were drunk when the incident took place.
2013年3月28日星期四
The team have outlined chemical processes
Some are collected and sent to developing countries, often being
burnt and recycled inappropriately. Others end up at municipal landfills
here and become hazardous waste.
But if five former students of the American University of Sharjah have their way, the unwanted devices will be recycled and valuable metals such as copper, gold, silver and palladium extracted.
The team spent one academic year – from September 2011 to May 2012 – developing a plan for how to do this as part of a project required for their chemical engineering degree. The effort was overseen by Professor Taleb Ibrahim at the university.
The team are focusing their efforts on printed circuit boards (PCBs), thin plates composed mainly of copper, glass fibres and epoxy resins, on which chips and other electronic components are soldered.
“In today’s world, they form the backbone of any electronic device,” said Said Nusri, 22, one of the five team members.
Besides copper, the boards consist of a host of other metals, plastics and ceramics. The metals and non-metals are stuck together by epoxy resin and this makes them difficult to recycle.
Most countries in the world, including the UAE, lack the sophisticated infrastructure to do so, said Yousef Chehade, 22, who came up with the idea for the project.
Considering the affluence of the UAE’s population and the short lifespan of electronic gadgets here, the UAE needs to develop capabilities to deal with the issue locally, he said.
“We have many recycling initiatives here but there is a gap when it comes to e-waste recycling,” he said.
The other members of the team are Hisham Alayan, Ameer Siddique and Naveena Sadavisam.
The students’ first step was to determine which metals contained in e-waste would be the most abundant and most economical to extract. They found that copper, gold, silver and palladium – used in electronics, dentistry and jewellery – would be the most suitable for extraction. The team then devised a process to recycle PCBs.
First, the devices need to be broken down into small pieces, said Mr Alayan, 21. After experimenting in the lab with different grinders and crushers, the team found that the optimum size of the crushed articles is less than one centimetre. Then, through the use of electrostatic separation technologies, the metallic parts can be separated from the non-metallic ones.
The team have outlined chemical processes through which the target metals can be extracted. Through the use of certain chemicals such as sulphuric acid, nitric acid, and aqua regia, a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acid, the target metals can be dissolved and then selectively extracted with high purity.
The technique is already in use in the mining industry, though the students have modified it to work for their recycling application.
“We proved it works in different industries and proposed a theoretical design of how it can suit our needs,” said Mr Chehade.
The team have calculated that the method can be used to obtain 24 kilograms of copper, 44 grams of gold, 18 grams of silver and 10 grams of palladium from every 125 kg of PCBs.
The concept is yet to be tested in real-life and the team are willing to continue the work to make it a reality. Mr Chehade, for example, has already set up his own company Sharjah, Ecyclex, which will focus on recycling.
But if five former students of the American University of Sharjah have their way, the unwanted devices will be recycled and valuable metals such as copper, gold, silver and palladium extracted.
The team spent one academic year – from September 2011 to May 2012 – developing a plan for how to do this as part of a project required for their chemical engineering degree. The effort was overseen by Professor Taleb Ibrahim at the university.
The team are focusing their efforts on printed circuit boards (PCBs), thin plates composed mainly of copper, glass fibres and epoxy resins, on which chips and other electronic components are soldered.
“In today’s world, they form the backbone of any electronic device,” said Said Nusri, 22, one of the five team members.
Besides copper, the boards consist of a host of other metals, plastics and ceramics. The metals and non-metals are stuck together by epoxy resin and this makes them difficult to recycle.
Most countries in the world, including the UAE, lack the sophisticated infrastructure to do so, said Yousef Chehade, 22, who came up with the idea for the project.
Considering the affluence of the UAE’s population and the short lifespan of electronic gadgets here, the UAE needs to develop capabilities to deal with the issue locally, he said.
“We have many recycling initiatives here but there is a gap when it comes to e-waste recycling,” he said.
The other members of the team are Hisham Alayan, Ameer Siddique and Naveena Sadavisam.
The students’ first step was to determine which metals contained in e-waste would be the most abundant and most economical to extract. They found that copper, gold, silver and palladium – used in electronics, dentistry and jewellery – would be the most suitable for extraction. The team then devised a process to recycle PCBs.
First, the devices need to be broken down into small pieces, said Mr Alayan, 21. After experimenting in the lab with different grinders and crushers, the team found that the optimum size of the crushed articles is less than one centimetre. Then, through the use of electrostatic separation technologies, the metallic parts can be separated from the non-metallic ones.
The team have outlined chemical processes through which the target metals can be extracted. Through the use of certain chemicals such as sulphuric acid, nitric acid, and aqua regia, a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acid, the target metals can be dissolved and then selectively extracted with high purity.
The technique is already in use in the mining industry, though the students have modified it to work for their recycling application.
“We proved it works in different industries and proposed a theoretical design of how it can suit our needs,” said Mr Chehade.
The team have calculated that the method can be used to obtain 24 kilograms of copper, 44 grams of gold, 18 grams of silver and 10 grams of palladium from every 125 kg of PCBs.
The concept is yet to be tested in real-life and the team are willing to continue the work to make it a reality. Mr Chehade, for example, has already set up his own company Sharjah, Ecyclex, which will focus on recycling.
2013年3月14日星期四
When it comes to tackling doping in sport
There has been much well-informed discussion at this week's two-day
Tackling Doping in Sport global summit, where the great and good of the
world's anti-doping community have gathered to exchange views in rooms
within Twickenham Stadium.
Some of it, I'll be honest, has gone a little over my head - particularly in the detailed, legal discussions around the revised code upon which the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is currently cogitating.
But what has come through, regularly, is the sense that all this talk is based in some very deep and primitive notions - notions of justice, notions of tribal loyalty. The last two are profound influences upon human development, rooted deep in all of us at the instinctive level. And as they apply to sport, they have the kind of leverage you might expect. And they can often compromise each other.
During his address to the conference, Rob Koehler, WADA's Director of Education and Programme Development,Score favorite new and used bobbleheads at great values. cited research conducted by Dr Sharron Stoll of the University of Idaho, named in 2007 as one of the 100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America - as part of her work with the Center for Ethics.
This research involved assessment of moral reasoning among grade six students, and following up with the same students six years later to compare development between those who had pursued a sporting career and those who hadn't.
In broad terms, the non-athletes were found to have a higher moral reasoning power.Shop the latest hair flower accessories on the world. And among the athletes, women operated at a higher level than men, and individual athletes operated at a higher level than those involved in team sports. So basically, men in teams were bottom of the moral reasoning league.
Speaking as someone who has spent many of his happiest times involved in team sport, I can only agree with this analysis.Our free company profile report for wholesale fashion shoes. When I think back to the way I acted and spoke to officials - it's just come back to me, South West Herts Youth League, kicked an opponent, was sent off and, as the referee's report vouchsafed, gave my name as "Mickey Bloody Mouse", for all of which I got a three-week ban - I shudder. I would not have acted like that as an individual. I would have been mortified to have done so. But when you are part of a team,Find all the manufacturers of laser engraving machine and contact them. it's different. And when your team-mates err or transgress, you back them up. It's tribal.
This is one of the most important instincts currently militating against the drive to clear sport of doping cheats. As Koehler reported, athletes use a variety of means to accommodate themselves with the notion of doping. There is a strong tendency towards euphemism - rather than using words such as steroid, for instance, other terms, such as "juice", are employed. Other tactics involve comparing doping transgressions with the transgressions of others - "they drink, they smoke pot, they are doing a lot worse than me."
Then there is the classic cheater's retreat - everyone else is doing it, so why don't I? And, on occasions, that expands into a denial of the evidence that doping use of steroids or EPO can seriously harm one's health. It's all been exaggerated.
But beyond that, particularly within groups of male athletes - a sprint training group, perhaps, or a richly sponsored cycling team - there is the instinct, as Koehler put it,Find the trendiest wholesale women shoes including stylish wholesale sandals. not to rat out your mates. Such, patently, has been the story behind the recent seismic revelations about the culture of doping in which Lance Armstrong and so many of his fellow cyclists in the US Postal Service team operated.
Some of it, I'll be honest, has gone a little over my head - particularly in the detailed, legal discussions around the revised code upon which the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is currently cogitating.
But what has come through, regularly, is the sense that all this talk is based in some very deep and primitive notions - notions of justice, notions of tribal loyalty. The last two are profound influences upon human development, rooted deep in all of us at the instinctive level. And as they apply to sport, they have the kind of leverage you might expect. And they can often compromise each other.
During his address to the conference, Rob Koehler, WADA's Director of Education and Programme Development,Score favorite new and used bobbleheads at great values. cited research conducted by Dr Sharron Stoll of the University of Idaho, named in 2007 as one of the 100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America - as part of her work with the Center for Ethics.
This research involved assessment of moral reasoning among grade six students, and following up with the same students six years later to compare development between those who had pursued a sporting career and those who hadn't.
In broad terms, the non-athletes were found to have a higher moral reasoning power.Shop the latest hair flower accessories on the world. And among the athletes, women operated at a higher level than men, and individual athletes operated at a higher level than those involved in team sports. So basically, men in teams were bottom of the moral reasoning league.
Speaking as someone who has spent many of his happiest times involved in team sport, I can only agree with this analysis.Our free company profile report for wholesale fashion shoes. When I think back to the way I acted and spoke to officials - it's just come back to me, South West Herts Youth League, kicked an opponent, was sent off and, as the referee's report vouchsafed, gave my name as "Mickey Bloody Mouse", for all of which I got a three-week ban - I shudder. I would not have acted like that as an individual. I would have been mortified to have done so. But when you are part of a team,Find all the manufacturers of laser engraving machine and contact them. it's different. And when your team-mates err or transgress, you back them up. It's tribal.
This is one of the most important instincts currently militating against the drive to clear sport of doping cheats. As Koehler reported, athletes use a variety of means to accommodate themselves with the notion of doping. There is a strong tendency towards euphemism - rather than using words such as steroid, for instance, other terms, such as "juice", are employed. Other tactics involve comparing doping transgressions with the transgressions of others - "they drink, they smoke pot, they are doing a lot worse than me."
Then there is the classic cheater's retreat - everyone else is doing it, so why don't I? And, on occasions, that expands into a denial of the evidence that doping use of steroids or EPO can seriously harm one's health. It's all been exaggerated.
But beyond that, particularly within groups of male athletes - a sprint training group, perhaps, or a richly sponsored cycling team - there is the instinct, as Koehler put it,Find the trendiest wholesale women shoes including stylish wholesale sandals. not to rat out your mates. Such, patently, has been the story behind the recent seismic revelations about the culture of doping in which Lance Armstrong and so many of his fellow cyclists in the US Postal Service team operated.
2013年2月24日星期日
The big reliever is now with Texas after being dealt
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has given U.S. special forces two weeks to leave a key battleground province after some U.S. soldiers there were found to have tortured or even killed innocent people, the president's spokesman said on Sunday.
The decision by Karzai could further complicate negotiations between the United States and Afghanistan over the presence of Americans troops in the country once most NATO forces leave by the end of 2014.
Speaking at a news conference in Kabul, Karzai's spokesman Aimal Faizi said villagers in Wardak province had lodged a series of complaints about operations conducted by U.S. special forces and a group of Afghans working with them.
The decision was reached at a Sunday meeting of the Afghan National Security Council, chaired by Karzai, Faizi said.
"The Ministry of Defense was assigned to make sure all U.S. special forces are out of the province within two weeks," he said.
"After a thorough discussion, it became clear that armed individuals named as U.S. special forces stationed in Wardak province were engaging in harassing, annoying, torturing and even murdering innocent people," Faizi added.
A statement from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan said: "US Forces Afghanistan is aware of the reporting of Presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi's comments today. We take all allegations of misconduct seriously and go to great lengths to determine the facts surrounding them.
"But until we have had a chance to speak with senior Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan officials about this issue, we are not in a position to comment further."
Sunday's announcement came days after Karzai issued a decree banning all Afghan security forces from using NATO air strikes in residential areas, in a bid to curb civilian casualties.
That was in response to an operation in Kunar targeting four Taliban members which resulted in the deaths of ten civilians, including five children, during an air strike.
Karzai has long warned his Western backers that the killing of civilians could sap support for the foreign troops in the country and fuel the insurgency. Josh Lindblom has had a unique experience while playing only one full season in the major leagues: He has already been traded twice for All-Star players.
The big reliever is now with Texas after being dealt during baseball's winter meetings from Philadelphia with another pitcher for longest-tenured Rangers player Michael Young. That came less than six months after Lindblom had gone from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Phillies in a four-player deal for Shane Victorino.
"I don't think you ever get used to having to pick up and move cities and teammates," Lindblom said. "It's kind of like the first day of school all over again."
More unique for Lindblom is that both times he changed teams, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound right-hander basically replaced a long-time fan favorite on the roster.
"Coming here and replacing Michael, I don't look at it that way. I kind of got caught up in that when I went to Philly, coming in and trying to be what Shane was to that city and to that team," he said. "Just realizing that I can only be me, so you know when I come in here, I can't be Michael Young, I can't be the person that he was for the community, for the team, for the city. Michael Young is going to go down as one of the greatest Rangers ever to put on a uniform."
Victorino played 7 1/2 seasons in Philadelphia, where he was twice an All-Star before the non-waiver deadline deal last July 31. Young was a seven-time All-Star infielder for the Rangers, spending a dozen years with a team that went from last place to consecutive World Series appearances and becoming their career hits leader.
While Lindblom is wearing the No. 25 jersey that belonged to Mike Napoli, the slugging catcher who left in free agency for Boston last winter, at least it's not Young's No. 10.
"All we want (Lindblom) to do is be Josh Lindblom," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "If he tries to live up to the expectation that Michael Young had around here, then he's barking up the wrong tree because there's nobody going to fill those shoes. ... Just be Josh and he'll be fine."
Lindblom said he has come to the realization that he can only be himself and that the Rangers traded for him "for a reason, because they think I can help this club."
Lindblom is expected to be a primary setup man in a vastly changed Rangers bullpen. He struck out the side in his only inning of his first instrasquad game a week into camp.
In a combined 74 appearances last season for the Dodgers and Phillies, Lindblom had a 3.55 ERA with 70 strikeouts and 35 walks over 71 innings. He had a 4.63 ERA in 26 games after being sent to Philadelphia.
"There's kind of a bitterness toward the team that traded you. Because I figured I would always be with L.A," Lindblom said of the team that picked him in the second round of the 2008 draft. "I love that organization, but trying to justify the trade, trying to go out and be like you know what, you got me for a reason, I'm here to do a job. You feel like you have to be lights out and that's not the case at all."
The decision by Karzai could further complicate negotiations between the United States and Afghanistan over the presence of Americans troops in the country once most NATO forces leave by the end of 2014.
Speaking at a news conference in Kabul, Karzai's spokesman Aimal Faizi said villagers in Wardak province had lodged a series of complaints about operations conducted by U.S. special forces and a group of Afghans working with them.
The decision was reached at a Sunday meeting of the Afghan National Security Council, chaired by Karzai, Faizi said.
"The Ministry of Defense was assigned to make sure all U.S. special forces are out of the province within two weeks," he said.
"After a thorough discussion, it became clear that armed individuals named as U.S. special forces stationed in Wardak province were engaging in harassing, annoying, torturing and even murdering innocent people," Faizi added.
A statement from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan said: "US Forces Afghanistan is aware of the reporting of Presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi's comments today. We take all allegations of misconduct seriously and go to great lengths to determine the facts surrounding them.
"But until we have had a chance to speak with senior Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan officials about this issue, we are not in a position to comment further."
Sunday's announcement came days after Karzai issued a decree banning all Afghan security forces from using NATO air strikes in residential areas, in a bid to curb civilian casualties.
That was in response to an operation in Kunar targeting four Taliban members which resulted in the deaths of ten civilians, including five children, during an air strike.
Karzai has long warned his Western backers that the killing of civilians could sap support for the foreign troops in the country and fuel the insurgency. Josh Lindblom has had a unique experience while playing only one full season in the major leagues: He has already been traded twice for All-Star players.
The big reliever is now with Texas after being dealt during baseball's winter meetings from Philadelphia with another pitcher for longest-tenured Rangers player Michael Young. That came less than six months after Lindblom had gone from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Phillies in a four-player deal for Shane Victorino.
"I don't think you ever get used to having to pick up and move cities and teammates," Lindblom said. "It's kind of like the first day of school all over again."
More unique for Lindblom is that both times he changed teams, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound right-hander basically replaced a long-time fan favorite on the roster.
"Coming here and replacing Michael, I don't look at it that way. I kind of got caught up in that when I went to Philly, coming in and trying to be what Shane was to that city and to that team," he said. "Just realizing that I can only be me, so you know when I come in here, I can't be Michael Young, I can't be the person that he was for the community, for the team, for the city. Michael Young is going to go down as one of the greatest Rangers ever to put on a uniform."
Victorino played 7 1/2 seasons in Philadelphia, where he was twice an All-Star before the non-waiver deadline deal last July 31. Young was a seven-time All-Star infielder for the Rangers, spending a dozen years with a team that went from last place to consecutive World Series appearances and becoming their career hits leader.
While Lindblom is wearing the No. 25 jersey that belonged to Mike Napoli, the slugging catcher who left in free agency for Boston last winter, at least it's not Young's No. 10.
"All we want (Lindblom) to do is be Josh Lindblom," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "If he tries to live up to the expectation that Michael Young had around here, then he's barking up the wrong tree because there's nobody going to fill those shoes. ... Just be Josh and he'll be fine."
Lindblom said he has come to the realization that he can only be himself and that the Rangers traded for him "for a reason, because they think I can help this club."
Lindblom is expected to be a primary setup man in a vastly changed Rangers bullpen. He struck out the side in his only inning of his first instrasquad game a week into camp.
In a combined 74 appearances last season for the Dodgers and Phillies, Lindblom had a 3.55 ERA with 70 strikeouts and 35 walks over 71 innings. He had a 4.63 ERA in 26 games after being sent to Philadelphia.
"There's kind of a bitterness toward the team that traded you. Because I figured I would always be with L.A," Lindblom said of the team that picked him in the second round of the 2008 draft. "I love that organization, but trying to justify the trade, trying to go out and be like you know what, you got me for a reason, I'm here to do a job. You feel like you have to be lights out and that's not the case at all."
2013年2月20日星期三
The hearing was to examine the itemized deduction for charitable
Karen Rathke, president of the Heartland United Way, asked Congress last week to keep charity contributions as tax deductible in the federal tax code and not to limit the charitable deduction for taxpayers.
"If you look at cutting programs for the most basic needs for the people in our communities at the same time that you talk about removing incentives for people to give to charities, who are also trying to balance an increased demand on programs and services with a reduction in funding for those programs, you are kind of caught between both doors," she said, explaining that, if the sequester cuts happen, it will have a double impact on communities.
Rathke, who said she was in Washington, D.C., for National United Way meetings already, was one of about 43 people from different sectors of the country who testified on Feb. 14 in front of the House Ways and Means Committee. Representatives of health care, education, religious and arts organizations also testified.
The hearing was to examine the itemized deduction for charitable contributions as part of the committee's work on comprehensive tax reform.
"At a time when government is contracting, it is critical that the nonprofit sector be as healthy and resourced as possible," she told the members of the committee, adding that United Way's donors are encouraged to make larger gifts because of the charitable deduction. "Any action which has negative impacts on the sector only puts further demand on an already stressed system."
United Way Worldwide Chief Executive Officer Brian Gallagher, as well as a dozen other state and local United Way CEOs, testified on the charitable tax deduction and spoke about the central role that charitable giving plays in strengthening communities.
House Ways and Means ranking member U.S. Rep. Sander Levin of Michigan pointed out that the charitable deduction is widely used by millions of taxpayers. The deduction was established in 1917.
"The charitable deduction is among the 10 largest tax expenditures in the code, benefiting almost 1.1 million charities and more than 37 million Americans who contribute to Section 501(c)(3) organizations every year," he said. "In 2010, it is estimated that individuals donated $210 billion to charitable organizations, of which they claimed $170 billion on their tax returns."
Eleven congressional groups have formed to examine different aspects of tax reform, including one assigned to focus on charitable and other tax-exempt organizations. After the groups' work is completed, the Joint Committee on Taxation will prepare a report for the full Ways and Means Committee that is due by April 15.
Rathke called her testimony "an awesome experience" and said she felt that the congressmen and women really listened to the testimony.
"I think, as they go forward with these tax reforms, that they want to be sure they have looked at it from all angles," she said. A few of them, including U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, asked her questions after her testimony.
"I think what they heard was that giving to charities is doing some really great things," Rathke said. She had the chance to visit with some of the representatives outside the chambers.
She also shared stories on the local impact that charitable giving has on people in Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick counties, including how United Way's partners helped a 7-year-old girl whose face was swollen from tooth decay and infection, a mom rationing out her blood pressure medicine and a 9-year-old boy who was picked on for his clumsiness as he wore oversized shoes.
"The good life, as many people refer to living in Nebraska, is tougher these days for many," Rathke testified. "In Grand Island Public Schools, 67 percent of the students qualify for free and reduced (price) lunches, which means limited resources to handle life emergencies. This fall, 26 kids woke up on the first day of school with the homeless shelter as their address.
"If you look at cutting programs for the most basic needs for the people in our communities at the same time that you talk about removing incentives for people to give to charities, who are also trying to balance an increased demand on programs and services with a reduction in funding for those programs, you are kind of caught between both doors," she said, explaining that, if the sequester cuts happen, it will have a double impact on communities.
Rathke, who said she was in Washington, D.C., for National United Way meetings already, was one of about 43 people from different sectors of the country who testified on Feb. 14 in front of the House Ways and Means Committee. Representatives of health care, education, religious and arts organizations also testified.
The hearing was to examine the itemized deduction for charitable contributions as part of the committee's work on comprehensive tax reform.
"At a time when government is contracting, it is critical that the nonprofit sector be as healthy and resourced as possible," she told the members of the committee, adding that United Way's donors are encouraged to make larger gifts because of the charitable deduction. "Any action which has negative impacts on the sector only puts further demand on an already stressed system."
United Way Worldwide Chief Executive Officer Brian Gallagher, as well as a dozen other state and local United Way CEOs, testified on the charitable tax deduction and spoke about the central role that charitable giving plays in strengthening communities.
House Ways and Means ranking member U.S. Rep. Sander Levin of Michigan pointed out that the charitable deduction is widely used by millions of taxpayers. The deduction was established in 1917.
"The charitable deduction is among the 10 largest tax expenditures in the code, benefiting almost 1.1 million charities and more than 37 million Americans who contribute to Section 501(c)(3) organizations every year," he said. "In 2010, it is estimated that individuals donated $210 billion to charitable organizations, of which they claimed $170 billion on their tax returns."
Eleven congressional groups have formed to examine different aspects of tax reform, including one assigned to focus on charitable and other tax-exempt organizations. After the groups' work is completed, the Joint Committee on Taxation will prepare a report for the full Ways and Means Committee that is due by April 15.
Rathke called her testimony "an awesome experience" and said she felt that the congressmen and women really listened to the testimony.
"I think, as they go forward with these tax reforms, that they want to be sure they have looked at it from all angles," she said. A few of them, including U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, asked her questions after her testimony.
"I think what they heard was that giving to charities is doing some really great things," Rathke said. She had the chance to visit with some of the representatives outside the chambers.
She also shared stories on the local impact that charitable giving has on people in Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick counties, including how United Way's partners helped a 7-year-old girl whose face was swollen from tooth decay and infection, a mom rationing out her blood pressure medicine and a 9-year-old boy who was picked on for his clumsiness as he wore oversized shoes.
"The good life, as many people refer to living in Nebraska, is tougher these days for many," Rathke testified. "In Grand Island Public Schools, 67 percent of the students qualify for free and reduced (price) lunches, which means limited resources to handle life emergencies. This fall, 26 kids woke up on the first day of school with the homeless shelter as their address.
2013年1月22日星期二
The third Sunday in January coincided with the Capricorn Cup
As he waited for Fr Leo Lavelle to emerge from the sacristy of St Gabriel’s Church in Dollymount, Vinny Fitzpatrick was subconsciously tip-tapping his left foot, a clear sign he was agitated.
The burly bus driver had allowed a 30-minute turnaround for the christening of his grandson, Little Vinny, in between two live Premier League games on Sky Sports and was anxious to return to his favoured armchair for Spurs against Manchester United.
(That he had invested 20 at 16 to 1 on Robin Van Persie to score first in a drawn game was something he wouldn’t admit to his daughter Niamh, a sports reporter with the Manchester Evening News and ardent Manchester City fan.)
Niamh, the product of a one-night stand in Rathmines in January 1982 and who Vinny hadn’t known of until two years ago, had flown in that morning with Little Vinny and her partner, Roberto Rossi, an ex-pro with Bury, Accrington and Morecambe, now with the PFA.
On Vinny’s instructions, Roberto had brought a pair of all-weather sports shoes with him. The third Sunday in January coincided with the Capricorn Cup, a seven-a-side football event between the Bar Flies of Foley’s and the Lounge Lizards.
It was played on the all-weather pitches beside Clontarf Road railway station and traditionally marked the end of purgatory for those who’d given up the jar for the New Year as it preceded a right knees-up in Foley’s.
As player-manager of the Bar Flies, who’d lost the previous three years, Vinny hadn’t thought twice about smuggling in a banger.
As the tall ex-pro from Calabria flanked Niamh in the church, Vinny felt were there shades of Andrea Pirlo about him, with his long flowing locks and designer stubble.
At last, Leo Lavelle appeared. He had two altar boys following him, one of whom was Brennie’s son, Benny, who was as daft about Manchester United as his old man.
The service should have been over in a jiffy but Leo droned on about the importance of renewal and the purifying waters of life.
Little Vinny played a blinder. He was as quiet as a church mouse, even when Vinny, as godfather, accidentally whacked his noggin off the marble baptismal font.
Vinny, a huge softie, allowed himself a tear or two as he posed for a family snap afterwards, holding little Vinny, flanked by Angie, her daughter Emma, their smartly-dressed twins, Oisín and Aoife, and his stunning grown-up daughter, Niamh.
As they left St Gabriel’s, Vinny took care to give the altar boys, standing sentry at the doors, a fiver each.
His mood, already sunny, was helped when Benny whispered to him. “United, one-nil. Van Persie.”
Vinny nodded in approval; the day was getting better.
Indeed it was. Some two hours later, Vinny was 320 to the good and the Bar Flies were cruising towards Capricorn Cup glory with Roberto Rossi in a starring role.
In his mid-30s and in fair nick, Roberto was like a thoroughbred among a field of drays. He covered every inch of the park, didn’t put a pass astray and chipped in with two goals and two assists.
So superior were the Bar Flies that Vinny even allowed himself a late cameo as fly-keeper.
Near the end, he played a one-two with Rossi, surged into the territory of the Lounge Lizards and let rip with a right-foot thunderbolt that narrowly missed the target.
The burly bus driver had allowed a 30-minute turnaround for the christening of his grandson, Little Vinny, in between two live Premier League games on Sky Sports and was anxious to return to his favoured armchair for Spurs against Manchester United.
(That he had invested 20 at 16 to 1 on Robin Van Persie to score first in a drawn game was something he wouldn’t admit to his daughter Niamh, a sports reporter with the Manchester Evening News and ardent Manchester City fan.)
Niamh, the product of a one-night stand in Rathmines in January 1982 and who Vinny hadn’t known of until two years ago, had flown in that morning with Little Vinny and her partner, Roberto Rossi, an ex-pro with Bury, Accrington and Morecambe, now with the PFA.
On Vinny’s instructions, Roberto had brought a pair of all-weather sports shoes with him. The third Sunday in January coincided with the Capricorn Cup, a seven-a-side football event between the Bar Flies of Foley’s and the Lounge Lizards.
It was played on the all-weather pitches beside Clontarf Road railway station and traditionally marked the end of purgatory for those who’d given up the jar for the New Year as it preceded a right knees-up in Foley’s.
As player-manager of the Bar Flies, who’d lost the previous three years, Vinny hadn’t thought twice about smuggling in a banger.
As the tall ex-pro from Calabria flanked Niamh in the church, Vinny felt were there shades of Andrea Pirlo about him, with his long flowing locks and designer stubble.
At last, Leo Lavelle appeared. He had two altar boys following him, one of whom was Brennie’s son, Benny, who was as daft about Manchester United as his old man.
The service should have been over in a jiffy but Leo droned on about the importance of renewal and the purifying waters of life.
Little Vinny played a blinder. He was as quiet as a church mouse, even when Vinny, as godfather, accidentally whacked his noggin off the marble baptismal font.
Vinny, a huge softie, allowed himself a tear or two as he posed for a family snap afterwards, holding little Vinny, flanked by Angie, her daughter Emma, their smartly-dressed twins, Oisín and Aoife, and his stunning grown-up daughter, Niamh.
As they left St Gabriel’s, Vinny took care to give the altar boys, standing sentry at the doors, a fiver each.
His mood, already sunny, was helped when Benny whispered to him. “United, one-nil. Van Persie.”
Vinny nodded in approval; the day was getting better.
Indeed it was. Some two hours later, Vinny was 320 to the good and the Bar Flies were cruising towards Capricorn Cup glory with Roberto Rossi in a starring role.
In his mid-30s and in fair nick, Roberto was like a thoroughbred among a field of drays. He covered every inch of the park, didn’t put a pass astray and chipped in with two goals and two assists.
So superior were the Bar Flies that Vinny even allowed himself a late cameo as fly-keeper.
Near the end, he played a one-two with Rossi, surged into the territory of the Lounge Lizards and let rip with a right-foot thunderbolt that narrowly missed the target.
2012年11月11日星期日
I need to be true with myself and know this is a serious situation
All around Nene, his Washington Wizards teammates were making their final preparations on Saturday for a game against the Indiana Pacers. A few were getting stretched out by trainers. Others were watching film of the opponent and some were reciting their favorite lines from comedian Dave Chappelle.
Left leg elevated on a folding chair as he received treatment on his injured left foot, and wearing a pair of oversized headphones, Nene closed his eyes and listened to Brazilian pagode music. He following the rhythms on the back of his iPad mini, tapping along as if were a percussion instrument.
With the Wizards (0-5) one of just two remaining winless teams in the NBA and John Wall also injured, Nene admitted he feels pressure to return and help on the court, not just serve as some cheerleader or sage veteran passing along wisdom. But the desire to fix a problem that has plagued him for nearly 11 months outweighs the temptation to rush back.
“I want that thing to heal 100 percent, because I don’t want to shrink my career,” Nene said. “I need to take care of it right now. I want to finish the pain, because it is still painful. I try sometimes, like, ‘Hurry up,’ when I have physical therapy. That could be a mistake. I need to be true with myself and know this is a serious situation.”
Nene, 30, visited Mark S. Myerson, the medical director at the Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, last week and said he was told that he was “probably three weeks away.” When asked to elaborate on whether that meant he would play or begin practicing in three weeks, Nene hedged off a specific timeline, simply explaining how he continues to deal with soreness as a result of plantar fasciitis near the heel of his left foot.
For the first time, Nene spoke at length about how the problem began and the frustration he feels about the injury and with outsiders who don’t understand its severity.
“They have no clue,” Nene said, adding that he actually tore a ligament in the bottom of his foot and that another is irritated and causing more problems. “They think it’s simple pain.”
Nene said he started feeling discomfort in his left foot last December in Denver, “because I worked real hard during the lockout.” The culprit may have been “bad shoes,” he said, but he also felt obligated to keep playing through it after the Nuggets gave him a five-year, $65 million contract in free agency.
Denver shut him down for a few games in January — including a win in Washington — with a “bruised left heel” and was forced to give him an extended break after he played 22 minutes in Indiana and the problem spread to his left calf. Nene missed 10 consecutive games to rest and said he also received a cortisone shot to numb the pain.
“That make my bone weak and I don’t take enough time to recover,” Nene said of the shot. “Usually, you’re supposed to take three weeks, four weeks, I just took like 10 days.”
Nene returned to play five more games for Denver before the Wizards acquired him in a three-team trade that shipped out JaVale McGee and Nick Young. But the 6-foot-11 big man admitted that during his final months with the Nuggets, he rarely practiced, choosing to tax his body — and his foot — in games instead.
Left leg elevated on a folding chair as he received treatment on his injured left foot, and wearing a pair of oversized headphones, Nene closed his eyes and listened to Brazilian pagode music. He following the rhythms on the back of his iPad mini, tapping along as if were a percussion instrument.
With the Wizards (0-5) one of just two remaining winless teams in the NBA and John Wall also injured, Nene admitted he feels pressure to return and help on the court, not just serve as some cheerleader or sage veteran passing along wisdom. But the desire to fix a problem that has plagued him for nearly 11 months outweighs the temptation to rush back.
“I want that thing to heal 100 percent, because I don’t want to shrink my career,” Nene said. “I need to take care of it right now. I want to finish the pain, because it is still painful. I try sometimes, like, ‘Hurry up,’ when I have physical therapy. That could be a mistake. I need to be true with myself and know this is a serious situation.”
Nene, 30, visited Mark S. Myerson, the medical director at the Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, last week and said he was told that he was “probably three weeks away.” When asked to elaborate on whether that meant he would play or begin practicing in three weeks, Nene hedged off a specific timeline, simply explaining how he continues to deal with soreness as a result of plantar fasciitis near the heel of his left foot.
For the first time, Nene spoke at length about how the problem began and the frustration he feels about the injury and with outsiders who don’t understand its severity.
“They have no clue,” Nene said, adding that he actually tore a ligament in the bottom of his foot and that another is irritated and causing more problems. “They think it’s simple pain.”
Nene said he started feeling discomfort in his left foot last December in Denver, “because I worked real hard during the lockout.” The culprit may have been “bad shoes,” he said, but he also felt obligated to keep playing through it after the Nuggets gave him a five-year, $65 million contract in free agency.
Denver shut him down for a few games in January — including a win in Washington — with a “bruised left heel” and was forced to give him an extended break after he played 22 minutes in Indiana and the problem spread to his left calf. Nene missed 10 consecutive games to rest and said he also received a cortisone shot to numb the pain.
“That make my bone weak and I don’t take enough time to recover,” Nene said of the shot. “Usually, you’re supposed to take three weeks, four weeks, I just took like 10 days.”
Nene returned to play five more games for Denver before the Wizards acquired him in a three-team trade that shipped out JaVale McGee and Nick Young. But the 6-foot-11 big man admitted that during his final months with the Nuggets, he rarely practiced, choosing to tax his body — and his foot — in games instead.
2012年11月7日星期三
When Javier Bardem was a young actor in Spain
Residents of Cochise County elected a new sheriff Tuesday. Mark Dannels will replace the late Larry Dever. Dever, the sheriff for 16 years, was killed earlier this fall in a drunk driving accident.
Dannels was the only candidate on the ballot, he beat write-in candidate and current acting Sheriff Rod Rothrock.
Dannels said he wants to preserve the legacy of Cochise County, "I plan on putting some actions forward to show the folks that I do care about Cochise County and those that choose to ignore our laws we're going to go after them," he said.
Dannels joined the Sheriff's Department in 1986 and said he learned a lot from Dever.
"I am who I am, who is who he was. His legacy I will safeguard for him and I will begin to build a legacy for Mark Dannels," he said.
The border is one of Dannels' top priorities, he wants to create a border team and a ranch patrol, Dannels talked about the murder of Cochise County rancher Rob Krentz.
"It's something that needs to be looked at. This was border violence and it sent a very negative message, it was a horrific crime and I think it needs attention," Dannels said.
Cochise County resident Matt Creegan agrees.
"The border is a very big thing here because people in the rest of the country don't quite understand the problems that we have here," Creegan said.
Creegan is the chair of the Cochise County Republican Party, he described scrambling to get a name on the ballot after Dever's sudden death.
"Trying to figure out what we had to do. Everyone admitted that this was rather difficult because it had never happened before."
Dannels campaigned for 46 days, though hard work he says now the real work begins.
"The biggest thing to do is earning the trust and respect of our citizens as their sheriff. I've got big shoes to fill."
Dannels will take office in January.
When Javier Bardem was a young actor in Spain, he had a powerful dream in which all of the characters he had portrayed were in the same room. Yet they had nothing to say to one another because they had so little in common.
It's a surreal concept that still motivates the 43-year-old Oscar winner, though he concedes that the idea of his growing list of characters never sharing traits is "impossible, of course."
"But chasing that idea is what gives me ...," Bardem says, struggling for the proper English, "what's the word? Inspired. It gives me hunger. It's my goal. I try to bring people to the screen that didn't exist before. When I see actors that do that, I go, 'Wow.' "
An international wave of moviegoers and critics has already been wowed by Bardem's newest addition to the room: the menacing yet quirky villain opposite Daniel Craig's James Bond in Skyfall, opening in U.S. theaters Thursday at midnight.
Dannels was the only candidate on the ballot, he beat write-in candidate and current acting Sheriff Rod Rothrock.
Dannels said he wants to preserve the legacy of Cochise County, "I plan on putting some actions forward to show the folks that I do care about Cochise County and those that choose to ignore our laws we're going to go after them," he said.
Dannels joined the Sheriff's Department in 1986 and said he learned a lot from Dever.
"I am who I am, who is who he was. His legacy I will safeguard for him and I will begin to build a legacy for Mark Dannels," he said.
The border is one of Dannels' top priorities, he wants to create a border team and a ranch patrol, Dannels talked about the murder of Cochise County rancher Rob Krentz.
"It's something that needs to be looked at. This was border violence and it sent a very negative message, it was a horrific crime and I think it needs attention," Dannels said.
Cochise County resident Matt Creegan agrees.
"The border is a very big thing here because people in the rest of the country don't quite understand the problems that we have here," Creegan said.
Creegan is the chair of the Cochise County Republican Party, he described scrambling to get a name on the ballot after Dever's sudden death.
"Trying to figure out what we had to do. Everyone admitted that this was rather difficult because it had never happened before."
Dannels campaigned for 46 days, though hard work he says now the real work begins.
"The biggest thing to do is earning the trust and respect of our citizens as their sheriff. I've got big shoes to fill."
Dannels will take office in January.
When Javier Bardem was a young actor in Spain, he had a powerful dream in which all of the characters he had portrayed were in the same room. Yet they had nothing to say to one another because they had so little in common.
It's a surreal concept that still motivates the 43-year-old Oscar winner, though he concedes that the idea of his growing list of characters never sharing traits is "impossible, of course."
"But chasing that idea is what gives me ...," Bardem says, struggling for the proper English, "what's the word? Inspired. It gives me hunger. It's my goal. I try to bring people to the screen that didn't exist before. When I see actors that do that, I go, 'Wow.' "
An international wave of moviegoers and critics has already been wowed by Bardem's newest addition to the room: the menacing yet quirky villain opposite Daniel Craig's James Bond in Skyfall, opening in U.S. theaters Thursday at midnight.
2012年11月4日星期日
We tried several different locations
Ireland still had a lot of “social capital”
that would stand it in good stead, economist and author of Economics for Dummies
Peter Antonioni told the Kilkenomics festival yesterday.
“One reason for Ireland to be optimistic is that it’s not Britain,” he said. “There’s actually social capital here. It doesn’t exist in a state of permanent rage, which is what’s going on all the time on the other side, permanent existential angst with everybody.”
Examples of social capital, he added, included being able to talk to a neighbour about a problem, engaging in conversation with people and remaining optimistic.
“You can’t really put a price on things like that.”
In Britain, Mr Antonioni said, people were more likely to “barricade themselves away from the rest of society”.
Investment banker Kiron Sarkar said tax receipts were picking up in Ireland, there was “a great demographic” of “highly educated and motivated” people and there was leverage in negotiations with Germany and other EU leaders as they did not want Ireland to default on its debts.
However, the founder member of the Rothschild International Privatisation team said going into negotiations with Germany trying to be a poster boy of Europe was a waste of time.
“Your Irish Government right now is not hard,” Mr Sarkar said. “They’ve taken a very, very soft line. You’re in a position to be able to extricate a good deal.
“Is your Government able to do that?” he asked. “I don’t think they’re there yet.Beautiful range of stylish footwear for women available with shoes for ladies. The goody two-shoes image is a complete load of rubbish.Offer cheap supras shoes the latest new supra shoes for sale,”
Matina Stevis, a journalist with Dow Jones Newswires and former editor-in-chief of Greek newspapers City Press and Free Sunday, said Ireland had “no idea how important it is that you’re not Greece” as it still had leverage when dealing with the debt issue.
Stephen Kinsella, an economics lecturer at the University of Limerick, said more children were born in Ireland last year than in any year since 1891.
“We’re a much younger rich country than Germany. In 15 or 20 years, these kids are going to be way more educated if we change our education system to allow that to happen.”
Mr Kinsella also said there were signs the property market “might be restarting” here.
I was recently contacted by my old high school and I was delighted. For many people, their school years were fraught with a combo of not fitting in, bullying and bad papier-maché puppets. I'm pleased to say only the latter applied to me. I went to a small private Catholic girls' school, which is a sentence that usually ends in "and I couldn't wait to escape" or "and they were the worst years of my life", but I loved school.
I was one of those kids who couldn't wait for school holidays to be over, and I got so worked up the day before we went back I usually had instant-onset insomnia. One time I was so excited that I found myself having a shower at three in the morning so I wouldn't miss my 7.20am tram. So the phone call from the school alerting me to the fact I'd been nominated as an "alumni of note" was met with excitement and internal clapping, not horror and avoidance.
Part of this honour was that I would be featured in a coffee-table book showcasing the 125 years the school had successfully educated girls in the ways of needlepoint and hymn-singing, human rights and Shakespeare. It was,We provide high quality women shoes factory, and still is, a lovely school that turns out smart, independent women year after year. A few that come to mind are the brilliant comedians Jane Turner and Marg Downey, as well as High Court judges and innovative doctors. Apparently you can rub shoulders with these luminaries if you make a living talking about boozies, babies and big bottoms .Combine comfort with style by wearing flat shoes for women... but who am I to object?
I was invited to come to "the parlour", a room at the school that was strictly out of bounds to anyone in brown T-bar shoes and ponytails. I was met by two photographers, who told me they wanted me to take them to a spot in the school that held memories for me.
We tried several different locations, but all to no avail. The secret air vent that we would sneak up to whisper demonic messages to the bewildered class below was shut off. The timber box built to house an airconditioner but which doubled as an excellent place for 14 breathless 17-year-olds to cram in and hide, had been removed. The year 12 common room that we had eventually been banned from for too much smoking and a rat infestation had become a tasteful breakout area for what I imagine are much better-behaved girls than we ever were.
Eventually, I settled for a shot in front of the wall on which we used to play handball when we were nine years old. One of the only memories I had of school, apparently, that didn't involve breaking the rules!
"You were pretty naughty," the photographer said as location after location fell flat. I'd always thought I was a good student. I had a ball at school, but I had no idea I was so damned badly behaved. No wonder I didn't get the marks I needed for law! I was clearly too busy plotting mischief and thinking of new ways to crack up my friends. Shame on me.
See your ad here
But maybe this is the sign of a truly remarkable school – I never felt like the bad kid. I was never defined by my naughtiness. Perhaps those nuns and teachers recognised that sometimes kids like me needed to be allowed to be a bit of a larrikin in order to survive in the world.
“One reason for Ireland to be optimistic is that it’s not Britain,” he said. “There’s actually social capital here. It doesn’t exist in a state of permanent rage, which is what’s going on all the time on the other side, permanent existential angst with everybody.”
Examples of social capital, he added, included being able to talk to a neighbour about a problem, engaging in conversation with people and remaining optimistic.
“You can’t really put a price on things like that.”
In Britain, Mr Antonioni said, people were more likely to “barricade themselves away from the rest of society”.
Investment banker Kiron Sarkar said tax receipts were picking up in Ireland, there was “a great demographic” of “highly educated and motivated” people and there was leverage in negotiations with Germany and other EU leaders as they did not want Ireland to default on its debts.
However, the founder member of the Rothschild International Privatisation team said going into negotiations with Germany trying to be a poster boy of Europe was a waste of time.
“Your Irish Government right now is not hard,” Mr Sarkar said. “They’ve taken a very, very soft line. You’re in a position to be able to extricate a good deal.
“Is your Government able to do that?” he asked. “I don’t think they’re there yet.Beautiful range of stylish footwear for women available with shoes for ladies. The goody two-shoes image is a complete load of rubbish.Offer cheap supras shoes the latest new supra shoes for sale,”
Matina Stevis, a journalist with Dow Jones Newswires and former editor-in-chief of Greek newspapers City Press and Free Sunday, said Ireland had “no idea how important it is that you’re not Greece” as it still had leverage when dealing with the debt issue.
Stephen Kinsella, an economics lecturer at the University of Limerick, said more children were born in Ireland last year than in any year since 1891.
“We’re a much younger rich country than Germany. In 15 or 20 years, these kids are going to be way more educated if we change our education system to allow that to happen.”
Mr Kinsella also said there were signs the property market “might be restarting” here.
I was recently contacted by my old high school and I was delighted. For many people, their school years were fraught with a combo of not fitting in, bullying and bad papier-maché puppets. I'm pleased to say only the latter applied to me. I went to a small private Catholic girls' school, which is a sentence that usually ends in "and I couldn't wait to escape" or "and they were the worst years of my life", but I loved school.
I was one of those kids who couldn't wait for school holidays to be over, and I got so worked up the day before we went back I usually had instant-onset insomnia. One time I was so excited that I found myself having a shower at three in the morning so I wouldn't miss my 7.20am tram. So the phone call from the school alerting me to the fact I'd been nominated as an "alumni of note" was met with excitement and internal clapping, not horror and avoidance.
Part of this honour was that I would be featured in a coffee-table book showcasing the 125 years the school had successfully educated girls in the ways of needlepoint and hymn-singing, human rights and Shakespeare. It was,We provide high quality women shoes factory, and still is, a lovely school that turns out smart, independent women year after year. A few that come to mind are the brilliant comedians Jane Turner and Marg Downey, as well as High Court judges and innovative doctors. Apparently you can rub shoulders with these luminaries if you make a living talking about boozies, babies and big bottoms .Combine comfort with style by wearing flat shoes for women... but who am I to object?
I was invited to come to "the parlour", a room at the school that was strictly out of bounds to anyone in brown T-bar shoes and ponytails. I was met by two photographers, who told me they wanted me to take them to a spot in the school that held memories for me.
We tried several different locations, but all to no avail. The secret air vent that we would sneak up to whisper demonic messages to the bewildered class below was shut off. The timber box built to house an airconditioner but which doubled as an excellent place for 14 breathless 17-year-olds to cram in and hide, had been removed. The year 12 common room that we had eventually been banned from for too much smoking and a rat infestation had become a tasteful breakout area for what I imagine are much better-behaved girls than we ever were.
Eventually, I settled for a shot in front of the wall on which we used to play handball when we were nine years old. One of the only memories I had of school, apparently, that didn't involve breaking the rules!
"You were pretty naughty," the photographer said as location after location fell flat. I'd always thought I was a good student. I had a ball at school, but I had no idea I was so damned badly behaved. No wonder I didn't get the marks I needed for law! I was clearly too busy plotting mischief and thinking of new ways to crack up my friends. Shame on me.
See your ad here
But maybe this is the sign of a truly remarkable school – I never felt like the bad kid. I was never defined by my naughtiness. Perhaps those nuns and teachers recognised that sometimes kids like me needed to be allowed to be a bit of a larrikin in order to survive in the world.
2012年10月23日星期二
Scott Sowle Former Homeless Man Provides Shoes To The Needy
Sowle began a charity to help bring shoes to Seattle's homeless people. Since Sowle was once homeless himself he knew firsthand the difference that a good pair of shoes could make to life on the street.
Sowle's 13 years living on the street were a constant struggle of trying to avoid the pain and bitter cold that his feet often felt. In an interview with KOMO News, Sowle described living under Seattle's Magnolia Street Bridge until he was able to find shelter.
"I struggled so bad that I wanted to jump off the Magnolia bridge just a day before going into the Union Gospel Mission shelter," he told KOMO News.
Even while at Union Gospel Mission, Sowle saw that the shoe shelves at the shelter were almost always bare, and he still wasn't able to find protection for his feet.
One day, however, Sowle had an idea.
He began sitting at a street corner with a sign, a box, and a bunch of fliers -- and asked people to give him their used shoes.
The movement instantly took off. People donated dozens of pairs of shoes. Sowle cleaned them and disinfected them. Then he sorted them, and took them to the streets.
Today, Sowle takes the shoes wherever they are needed: homeless shelters, food banks and the place where it all started -- the Mission. He is met with hugs, smiles and surprise.
"Sometimes they're shocked. Most of them are really happy," Sowle told KOMO News.
Eventually, Redeeming Soles was born.
Founded by Sowle, Redeeming Soles is a Seattle-based charity that organizes a footwear collection and distribution center for the benefit of local organizations and provides medical treatment for feet.
"It's like a gift from God," one recipient said. "He'll come up to you and he'll bless you with a pair of shoes."
"I took for so many years when I was on the street. I just.. always took. I was taking from services that were given to me, and I wasn't able to give back," Sowle said. "Today, I can give back. And that's huge for me."
Sowle's 13 years living on the street were a constant struggle of trying to avoid the pain and bitter cold that his feet often felt. In an interview with KOMO News, Sowle described living under Seattle's Magnolia Street Bridge until he was able to find shelter.
"I struggled so bad that I wanted to jump off the Magnolia bridge just a day before going into the Union Gospel Mission shelter," he told KOMO News.
Even while at Union Gospel Mission, Sowle saw that the shoe shelves at the shelter were almost always bare, and he still wasn't able to find protection for his feet.
One day, however, Sowle had an idea.
He began sitting at a street corner with a sign, a box, and a bunch of fliers -- and asked people to give him their used shoes.
The movement instantly took off. People donated dozens of pairs of shoes. Sowle cleaned them and disinfected them. Then he sorted them, and took them to the streets.
Today, Sowle takes the shoes wherever they are needed: homeless shelters, food banks and the place where it all started -- the Mission. He is met with hugs, smiles and surprise.
"Sometimes they're shocked. Most of them are really happy," Sowle told KOMO News.
Eventually, Redeeming Soles was born.
Founded by Sowle, Redeeming Soles is a Seattle-based charity that organizes a footwear collection and distribution center for the benefit of local organizations and provides medical treatment for feet.
"It's like a gift from God," one recipient said. "He'll come up to you and he'll bless you with a pair of shoes."
"I took for so many years when I was on the street. I just.. always took. I was taking from services that were given to me, and I wasn't able to give back," Sowle said. "Today, I can give back. And that's huge for me."
2012年10月16日星期二
High hopes for merchandising at new Caterpillar Visitors Center
The Caterpillar Visitors Center, set to open in Downtown Peoria this week, will do more than showcase the company's machines and people. Also on display will be the Caterpillar brand.
That brand was ranked 61st in this year's Top 100 Brands as compiled by Interbrand.
"The Cat brand continues to expand," said Sarah Gutchall, manager of the Cat Merchandise Center, which is moving to the visitors center from its previous location at 121 SW Adams St.
Gutchall has been selling Caterpillar merchandise - caps, shirts, shoes and replica models - since 1999. In 2007, she came to Peoria as vice president of retail operations with Louisville-based MPC Promotions to operate the Cat store here, the largest of its kind in the country.
She's excited about the new location at the center. "Caterpillar was going to open a store here, so they gave us first option. We didn't hesitate," said Gutchall.
Moving to a highly visible vantage point in a new $37 million development on the Peoria riverfront is a definite upgrade, she said. "We got a lot of the tour groups when they came to town before. We'll get all of the tour groups now," said Gutchall, adding that she's also looking for more traffic from the general public.
"We weren't part of a tourist attraction before. Now we hope to get the attention of people who never visited the store before," she said.
No move comes without adjustments, however. The new location at the center will require what Gutchall calls some "streamlining." "We had 5,000 square feet on Adams Street, plus storage and office space. We have about 2,700 square feet here," she said.
"We'll have the same selection of merchandise. We'll just have to be more efficient in what we display," she said.
Gutchall knows from experience which items to stock when it comes to the Cat brand. "Hats and boots are hot ticket things, along with the scale models," she said.
The Cat brand continues to grow, said Gutchall, noting that sales have picked up 30 percent since 2007.
Cat's footwear is so famous in Europe that some associate the Caterpillar name with shoes and boots before the company's machines, she said.
Caterpillar continues to spread across the retail spectrum, said Gutchall. "You're seeing the Cat brand on luggage, briefcases and backpacks now. The Cat watch line is also expanding," she said of branded timepieces.
That brand was ranked 61st in this year's Top 100 Brands as compiled by Interbrand.
"The Cat brand continues to expand," said Sarah Gutchall, manager of the Cat Merchandise Center, which is moving to the visitors center from its previous location at 121 SW Adams St.
Gutchall has been selling Caterpillar merchandise - caps, shirts, shoes and replica models - since 1999. In 2007, she came to Peoria as vice president of retail operations with Louisville-based MPC Promotions to operate the Cat store here, the largest of its kind in the country.
She's excited about the new location at the center. "Caterpillar was going to open a store here, so they gave us first option. We didn't hesitate," said Gutchall.
Moving to a highly visible vantage point in a new $37 million development on the Peoria riverfront is a definite upgrade, she said. "We got a lot of the tour groups when they came to town before. We'll get all of the tour groups now," said Gutchall, adding that she's also looking for more traffic from the general public.
"We weren't part of a tourist attraction before. Now we hope to get the attention of people who never visited the store before," she said.
No move comes without adjustments, however. The new location at the center will require what Gutchall calls some "streamlining." "We had 5,000 square feet on Adams Street, plus storage and office space. We have about 2,700 square feet here," she said.
"We'll have the same selection of merchandise. We'll just have to be more efficient in what we display," she said.
Gutchall knows from experience which items to stock when it comes to the Cat brand. "Hats and boots are hot ticket things, along with the scale models," she said.
The Cat brand continues to grow, said Gutchall, noting that sales have picked up 30 percent since 2007.
Cat's footwear is so famous in Europe that some associate the Caterpillar name with shoes and boots before the company's machines, she said.
Caterpillar continues to spread across the retail spectrum, said Gutchall. "You're seeing the Cat brand on luggage, briefcases and backpacks now. The Cat watch line is also expanding," she said of branded timepieces.
2012年10月10日星期三
when he was growing up in World War II-era England
Do a Google search on Steven Adams, Pitt's 7-foot freshman center,
and dozens of stories on New Zealand's greatest basketball export
appear. Many of them describe him in the same manner. One stated he is a
"freak athlete." Another professed he was "a freak of nature."
Adams' father, Sid, heard the same variations of that word when he was growing up in World War II-era England. Only the term "freak" back then had a much different meaning. It was a derogatory term meant to ridicule a person for being different.
"He went through a pretty rough time," Adams said of his father. "That was when they were discriminating against freaks. That's what he called himself. He was really, really tall and they'd tease him. He had it pretty hard."
Sid Adams wasn't long for England. After a career in the navy, he settled in New Zealand, where he had 18 children with five women. Many of Sid's children blended their impressive size and athleticism into sporting success.
Males in the Adams clan average 6 feet 9 and females 6 feet. The tallest of Steven Adams' sisters is Valerie Vili-Adams, a 6-4, 246-pound two-time Olympic gold medalist in the shot put. Valerie, who has the same father as Steven Adams but a different mother, won her second gold medal at the London Olympics this summer.
Two of Adams' brothers -- Warren and Ralph -- played with and against Pitt coach Jamie Dixon when Dixon played professional basketball in New Zealand in the late 1980s. Dixon and others who played with Warren and Ralph said they should have been in the NBA.
Steven Adams, the last of Sid's children, has the potential to become the most famous athlete in the family. He is Dixon's highest-rated recruit and has the potential to be the first player from Pitt in 25 years to go in the top 10 of the NBA draft. One 2013 NBA mock draft has him as the No. 10 prospect. Another has him as the No. 7 prospect.
But Steven Funaki Adams -- his mother is Tongan -- is not your typical fast-tracked super recruit with one foot out the college door to the NBA. He doesn't have any handlers planning his future. He isn't obsessed with the draft websites and what they have to say about him. He is unpretentious and a bit oblivious to the hype that surrounds him.
Simply put, Adams is not your average NCAA basketball player.
It's not an uncommon sight to walk past the rows of coaches offices at the Petersen Events Center and see Adams strumming a country tune on his guitar for Dixon and the assistant coaches. Teammate Talib Zanna described him as a "cool guy who sometimes doesn't even know what's going on."
So just how did this son of a military man, with the height and athletic gifts all aspiring basketball players covet, become a free spirit who, in his words, "doesn't care much"?
Adams' father, Sid, heard the same variations of that word when he was growing up in World War II-era England. Only the term "freak" back then had a much different meaning. It was a derogatory term meant to ridicule a person for being different.
"He went through a pretty rough time," Adams said of his father. "That was when they were discriminating against freaks. That's what he called himself. He was really, really tall and they'd tease him. He had it pretty hard."
Sid Adams wasn't long for England. After a career in the navy, he settled in New Zealand, where he had 18 children with five women. Many of Sid's children blended their impressive size and athleticism into sporting success.
Males in the Adams clan average 6 feet 9 and females 6 feet. The tallest of Steven Adams' sisters is Valerie Vili-Adams, a 6-4, 246-pound two-time Olympic gold medalist in the shot put. Valerie, who has the same father as Steven Adams but a different mother, won her second gold medal at the London Olympics this summer.
Two of Adams' brothers -- Warren and Ralph -- played with and against Pitt coach Jamie Dixon when Dixon played professional basketball in New Zealand in the late 1980s. Dixon and others who played with Warren and Ralph said they should have been in the NBA.
Steven Adams, the last of Sid's children, has the potential to become the most famous athlete in the family. He is Dixon's highest-rated recruit and has the potential to be the first player from Pitt in 25 years to go in the top 10 of the NBA draft. One 2013 NBA mock draft has him as the No. 10 prospect. Another has him as the No. 7 prospect.
But Steven Funaki Adams -- his mother is Tongan -- is not your typical fast-tracked super recruit with one foot out the college door to the NBA. He doesn't have any handlers planning his future. He isn't obsessed with the draft websites and what they have to say about him. He is unpretentious and a bit oblivious to the hype that surrounds him.
Simply put, Adams is not your average NCAA basketball player.
It's not an uncommon sight to walk past the rows of coaches offices at the Petersen Events Center and see Adams strumming a country tune on his guitar for Dixon and the assistant coaches. Teammate Talib Zanna described him as a "cool guy who sometimes doesn't even know what's going on."
So just how did this son of a military man, with the height and athletic gifts all aspiring basketball players covet, become a free spirit who, in his words, "doesn't care much"?
2012年9月26日星期三
Fancy bras sold to benefit breast cancer awareness
Bras hung all over the Bentwood Country Club golf course and were proudly worn on the outside, in a reflection of the bravado it takes to fight breast cancer.
On Monday, men and women came together under the sun to play golf and raise money for Shannon Hospital's annual Tee-Off for Ta-tas, a fundraiser for breast cancer research, treatment and awareness. The event started three years ago as an idea from Dana Calhoun, owner of Grigsby's Boutique.
"Who but Dana would've thought of a bra drop.It's so fitting," said Sarah Post, a breast cancer survivor helping out at the event.
Calhoun became aware of the prevalence of breast cancer through daily interactions with her customers.
"I wanted to have something to include men.to raise awareness," Calhoun said.
The event Monday was sold out, with 144 players. Silent auction items included golf shoes, a YETI cooler, a Christoval winery outing, and a Dewalt circular saw.
"It's just about having fun for a good cause," said Sharon Flippin, an 11-year breast cancer survivor who wore a colorful peacock shirt with a turquoise bra on the outside.
Women were able to get away with wearing bras outside their shirts, and many men wore pink polos and visors.
Sue Sorrells worked at the registration table wearing a brown bra covered with baseballs, baseball gloves and plastic gems that had the words "Playin' Tough" across the top.
Post, who worked at the silent auction table and helped serve beer, wore a white bra covered with stickers of beer bottles, glasses and limes.
"I dressed appropriately," Post joked.
Post, an energetic woman who was constantly distracted by people wanting to give her hugs, was impressed by the response.
"Lots of people just write a check. This way they get to be a part of lots of fun things," Post said.
Post had begun having mammograms when she was 40 and was able to detect breast cancer early through one of her routine screenings.
"It was a shock," Post said. "I had no family history."
She said at the time, she did not know if she would get to see her unborn grandchild.
"You absolutely never know. It absolutely stops your life. ... Usually when you're in sheer terror.people start showing up," Post said.
The highlight of the event — the bra drop, during which bras were dumped from a helicopter over a pink golf cart with a basket on the roof — was held at the end of day. Donors who bought individual bras got a chance at winning half the proceeds, a prize given to the buyer of the bra that landed closest to the basket. The other half goes to the Cancer Empowerment Center and Resource Center.
The Empowerment Center provides support groups — for both men and women — and various classes to anyone who wants more information on oncologic care and prevention.
Flippin said the silver lining of her battle is being a part of events at which she can share her experience with others.
"There's a sisterhood that we develop from being a part of stuff like this," Flippin said.
Post agreed it's important patients don't feel like they are going through the battle alone. One in every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and she feels that people need to learn how to be supportive of those who are fighting it.
Amid the fun, the socializing, the prizes and the warmth of the sun, this event is a reminder of finding enjoyment in life through difficult circumstances.
"You appreciate a lot of things you took for granted. You see life in a different way.Hopefully you can grow from it and not shut down," Post said.
On Monday, men and women came together under the sun to play golf and raise money for Shannon Hospital's annual Tee-Off for Ta-tas, a fundraiser for breast cancer research, treatment and awareness. The event started three years ago as an idea from Dana Calhoun, owner of Grigsby's Boutique.
"Who but Dana would've thought of a bra drop.It's so fitting," said Sarah Post, a breast cancer survivor helping out at the event.
Calhoun became aware of the prevalence of breast cancer through daily interactions with her customers.
"I wanted to have something to include men.to raise awareness," Calhoun said.
The event Monday was sold out, with 144 players. Silent auction items included golf shoes, a YETI cooler, a Christoval winery outing, and a Dewalt circular saw.
"It's just about having fun for a good cause," said Sharon Flippin, an 11-year breast cancer survivor who wore a colorful peacock shirt with a turquoise bra on the outside.
Women were able to get away with wearing bras outside their shirts, and many men wore pink polos and visors.
Sue Sorrells worked at the registration table wearing a brown bra covered with baseballs, baseball gloves and plastic gems that had the words "Playin' Tough" across the top.
Post, who worked at the silent auction table and helped serve beer, wore a white bra covered with stickers of beer bottles, glasses and limes.
"I dressed appropriately," Post joked.
Post, an energetic woman who was constantly distracted by people wanting to give her hugs, was impressed by the response.
"Lots of people just write a check. This way they get to be a part of lots of fun things," Post said.
Post had begun having mammograms when she was 40 and was able to detect breast cancer early through one of her routine screenings.
"It was a shock," Post said. "I had no family history."
She said at the time, she did not know if she would get to see her unborn grandchild.
"You absolutely never know. It absolutely stops your life. ... Usually when you're in sheer terror.people start showing up," Post said.
The highlight of the event — the bra drop, during which bras were dumped from a helicopter over a pink golf cart with a basket on the roof — was held at the end of day. Donors who bought individual bras got a chance at winning half the proceeds, a prize given to the buyer of the bra that landed closest to the basket. The other half goes to the Cancer Empowerment Center and Resource Center.
The Empowerment Center provides support groups — for both men and women — and various classes to anyone who wants more information on oncologic care and prevention.
Flippin said the silver lining of her battle is being a part of events at which she can share her experience with others.
"There's a sisterhood that we develop from being a part of stuff like this," Flippin said.
Post agreed it's important patients don't feel like they are going through the battle alone. One in every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and she feels that people need to learn how to be supportive of those who are fighting it.
Amid the fun, the socializing, the prizes and the warmth of the sun, this event is a reminder of finding enjoyment in life through difficult circumstances.
"You appreciate a lot of things you took for granted. You see life in a different way.Hopefully you can grow from it and not shut down," Post said.
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