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Adam Jones Flying V spotted
Fender Terry Kath Telecaster
Ten Questions with While She Sleeps Guitarist Sean Long
By Guitar World Staff published 23 April 15
U.K. rockers While She Sleeps have just released their second album, Brainwashed, via Razor & Tie. We figured that gave us a fine excuse to pick the brain of WSS guitarist Sean Long. Here are our 10 questions.
01. While She Sleeps just released their new album, Brainwashed, in the U.S. How are fans reacting to it?
We couldn't be happier with how people are receiving the record. No one seems to have a bad word to say about it, which is quite amazing for us.
After having the album with us for so long, working, changing and developing it, it can very easily become quite scary. For example, "Is it just us who thinks it's great and we've lost our minds?" [laughs] So when people finally hear it and actually love it, it is an amazing sigh of relief.
02. How did the writing process differ on the new album versus your debut, This Is the Six?
We've always written our music off the back of our latest material, using it as inspiration, among other things, to keep our sound alive. So you could say, in a strange sense, we've been writing for each album since we started creating music. For example, I'm already writing for the next record, so there's never really a stand point to start writing. However, there is a point at which we decide to start to compile all our work together and begin to create block socks.
The way in which it has differed this time is how staggered the whole song arrangement and writing has been. Due to Loz's [Lawrence "Loz" Taylor] throat problems, it made it difficult to stay on top of the music side of things for me, as I usually feed off of new vocal ideas from him, which makes me flow with the music.
Also, because of the time we lost, it meant we had to leave a lot of the vocal and melody writing to Mat [Welsh] and Loz to track a lot of it on the day, and it left little room for group writing sessions. As always, it was a blessing in disguise as Mat and Loz really thrive on pressure because it forces you to produce what you really want because time is thin, and it will force out the truth.
03. What kind of gear did you use on Brainwashed?
For amps, we used a Marshall JVM205 and a Peavey 6505. Guitars ranged from an Ibanez FR, an Ibanez Roadcore, a Telecaster, a Gibson ES-335, the Epiphone Matt Heavy Signature model and a Les Paul Special. Plus a wide range of acoustics.
04. How does your gear differ from the studio to the stage?
I've tried my hardest to sound as much like the records a possible. In no way does that mean it's all polished live, as we love the fact that a live show is completely different every time. But tone-wise, I take pride in trying to make it like the record just so kids can thrive off of our it sound from already listening to the record.
05. What's the first song you learned on guitar?
"Damn It" by Blink 182. Aaran [Mckenzie] our bassist used to play guitar when he was younger, and it was the first song he taught me. Blink rule!
06. Is there a particular style of music or any guitarists that inspired the way you play on the record?
Not really. Like I said, we like to take inspiration from our own lives and try and make our own vibe from that. But I have to say, introducing the whammy was definitely a blast of Rage Against the Machine, as they were one of the first bands I loved, and I hadn't listed to them in years.
07. There are plenty of heavy riffs and solos on the new record. What's your favorite song to play and why?
Either "Brainwashed" of "Life in Tension." "Brainwashed" because of the shred fest at the end [laughs]. I fucking love that riff and have been waiting for a long time to play and watch how it works live! "Life in Tension," on the other hand, is really fast but easy to play live, but then I get to rock a new whammy sort of vibe in the chorus, which is awesome.
08. The band is known for its DIY work ethic. How has this influenced your guitar setup and the way you play?
I've sort of stopped caring so much about if I have all the best gear, as when in was younger that's all I wanted and thought that was the way to go. It turns out if you really enjoy playing live, it will shine through your playing. You can have all shiny gear, but really it's the passion behind the writing that will dictate the power of the presentation.
09. If you could have any guitarist, dead or alive, join you on stage for a shred session, who would it be and why?
Tom Morello. Just because I wouldn't be doing this interview and wouldn't of got hooked if it wasn't for him. He's an absolute legend!
10. While She Sleeps will return to the U.S. in June for the Vans Warped Tour. What are you looking forward to the most? Is there anything you know now that you didn't when you played the fest in 2013?
Yeah; it's fucking hot as shit [laughs] We've all learned a lot about prepping for the tour beforehand and being ready on the first day. It's a brutal tour for sure, but we're still stoked to get a fire going in the States. We can't fucking wait!
Guitar World Staff
Since 1980, Guitar World has been the ultimate resource for guitarists. Whether you want to learn the techniques employed by your guitar heroes, read about their latest projects or simply need to know which guitar is the right one to buy, Guitar World is the place to look.
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Made from high grade aluminum and extremely compact and portable. Built in snap pulse Piezo Ignition system, adjustable fuel flow valve and 4 folding support arms makes this unit perfect must have for any emergency, camping or survival bag. Comes with small hard plastic carrying case. There is also an optional LARGE TANK propane adapter available and sold separately.


text:
Aspect.build('difficult-orgasms', {
  name: 'Difficult Orgasms',
  description: 'is more difficult to bring to orgasm.',
  refutes: [
    { aspect:'effortless-orgasms' },
  ],
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Hi friends! It is December now, a month that worth celebrating our achievement and at the same time be thankful on the good lessons that we have walked through this year! We will also work harder next year for things that we have under-achieved.
There are two important events next months that I wish to highlight to our supporters. Straits Chinese Antique Auction is coming back in January 27, 2019, after our successful event last June in the national iconic heritage, Carcosa Seri Negara. This time the theme is called, Inheritance of Peranakan Culture. Promoting Straits Chinese wares alone are just not good enough to promote the Peranakan Culture, we must share more about its history, how it came along, its beautiful kebaya, its wedding tradition, etc. Other than auction, there will be exhibition sale as well. We would like to promote this event to a wider audience than usual, do give us more idea if you have.
Another significant event is the consignment day for the End March Kickstart 2019 Spring Antique Auction. The consignment day falls on 19 and 20 January 2019, and Sin Chew Media is the official media of this remarkable event. It is so remarkable that we are inviting the renown China Jingdezheng ceramic porcelain specialists to guard on our antique consignment process. You may not realize but true that this upcoming auction is probably the Malaysia's first ever international Chinese antique auction, and it is brought to you none other than MNP, a leading asset auctioneer in Malaysia. This consignment event is consider part of MNP's corporate social responsibility effort as our specialists will be sharing their authentication expertise to the interested public, follow by receiving public enquiry to consign their authenticated and qualified item to MNP's March antique auction.
Another good news! With the support of MNP technical consultant, Wang Hou Antique & Heritage Association, we will be exhibiting valuable and rare Chinese antique that you can only see in the word-class auction, some of the antique ware are coming from the world's top auction houses like Christie's and sotheby's.
Bidding in auction to secure valuable collectible is fast becoming the next great thing to preserve asset value, besides the traditional real estate and gold investment. MNP's mission is to promote asset investment through enhancing asset value. We will continue to create value to our supporters.
Last but not least, we would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Goodbye 2018, Welcome 2019!


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7 Maddening Examples of Eminent Domain
If there's one guaranteed method to raise the collective blood pressure of a community, it's invoking the controversial land grab practice known as eminent domain. The right of local government to seize private property if they argue it will benefit the greater good (with increased tax revenue or a better economy) has been debated for decades.
Though property owners are compensated, not everyone is willing to stick a price tag on their memories. Nor are the goals of development always as admirable or necessary as they're claimed to be. Here are a few infamous cases of people who found themselves displaced for less-than-sensible reasons.
1. The Golf Course Manager Needs Your House
There is no shortage of golf courses in West Palm Beach, Florida, which is why John and Wendy Zamecnik were particularly frustrated that the county had targeted their neighborhood for a facelift. In the mid-1980s, over 300 homes were purchased to make way for a new course. Most families sold and moved willingly; the Zamecniks were one of a handful who did not. They watched as the community of empty houses became dilapidated and ransacked while their own land values plummeted. At one point, their home was earmarked to be the residence of the golf course's manager. According to the Sun-Sentinel, protracted legal battles culminated in the couple being forced out of their home in 2002. The postscript? The golf course was never built.
2. The Church That Never Had a Prayer
Governments can often use some disingenuous tactics to invoke eminent domain, especially when they're trying to displace non-taxable religious organizations—including the one organized by Reverend Fred Jenkins, who had ambitious plans for his North Hempstead, N.Y. church, St. Luke's. In 1997, Jenkins spent a considerable sum buying a "fixer-upper" property and sorting out the zoning paperwork so he could move his congregation out of a modest basement location. According to the Christian Science Monitor, no one had told Jenkins the property had been tagged as a redevelopment site three years prior. He had been allowed to spend money for renovations and other plans that would be useless. Worse, the Town offered him $50,000 less than he'd paid for it, leaving him with a mortgage even after the church was destroyed.
3. The Judge with Conflicting Interests
Nevada is often ground zero for cases involving casino expansion. When John Pappas died and left rental property to his widow, Carol Pappas, she and her sons expected to continue operating their small strip mall on the land. But in 1994, Las Vegas demanded Pappas turn it over so they could build a parking garage as part of a redevelopment. She refused; Vegas sued. Presiding Judge Stephen Huffaker ruled that the city could begin bulldozing. But according to the Los Angeles Times, Huffaker failed to mention he had financial ties to the redevelopment plan by owning shares in a local casino. The Pappas family took the case to the U.S. Supreme Court and eventually settled with the city for $4.5 million.
4. Condemned—and Billed for a New Sidewalk
In the late 1990s, Bill Brody purchased and renovated four buildings in Port Chester, N.Y. that housed 10 small business shingles. When the city made a deal with a developer to reinvigorate the downtown area, they failed to formally inform Brody he had only 30 days to lodge a complaint; the law stipulated that a newspaper notice (that he never saw) was enough. Unaware of the time limit, Brody was helpless as the village first seized and then demolished his buildings—but not before billing him $40,000 to improve the sidewalk. Worse, they took over a year to compensate him while, according to the New York Times, collecting rent from his tenants.
The good news? Brody eventually won his litigation against the city. The bad? It took over a decade.
5. Death and Taxes
The quagmire of bureaucracy can sometimes blind officials to the very personal consequences of ushering a family out of their home. In Hurst, Texas, the prospect of a large shopping mall meant over 100 houses would need to be vacated and demolished in 1997. Leonard Prohs was among 10 homeowners trying to hold out, though he requested an extension for a very valid reason: His wife was in an area hospital dying of brain cancer. The court refused his request. According to the Free-Lance Star, Prohs had to leave his wife's bedside in order to move his belongings out. The land was eventually occupied by, among other stores, a Pet Smart and a Starbucks.
6. Something Smells
In the early 1990s, residents near a sewage treatment plant in Bremerton, Wash. successfully petitioned the city to do something about the smell. The city began condemnation proceedings on dozens of properties nearby, claiming that the land would be used, according to the Kitsap Sun, to "create an odor easement." But as soon as their eminent domain invocation was completed, the paper reported that Bremerton did an about-face and instead sold the land to a car dealership for nearly $2 million—without doing a single thing about the odor.
7. Only a One-Car Garage?
When Lakewood, Ohio discovered their waterfront properties were appealing to condominium developers, they began to plot the exodus of hundreds of residents out of the area. But with occupants resisting, the city had to come up with a way to classify their area as "blighted," or run down. Because the homes and apartments were well-maintained, Lakewood opted for higher standards: homes were earmarked for seizure because "blighted" was defined to mean anything less than a two-car garage, three bedrooms, and central air conditioning. The entire plan was distasteful enough that, according to a 2003 CBS News report, citizens eventually voted the acting mayor out of office.
home law Lists

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Renault FT-17 sau Automitrailleuse à chenilles Renault FT modèle 1917 a fost un tanc ușor francez care se numără printre cele mai importante proiecte revoluționare din istorie. FT-17 a fost primul tanc cu armamentul poziționat într-o turelă complet rotativă, iar configurația sa cu turela deasupra, motorul în spate și șoferul în față a devenit una convențională, preluată de alte tancuri până în prezent. La acea perioadă a reprezentat o inovație revoluționară, făcându-l pe istoricul specializat în vehicule blindate Steven Zaloga să descrie acest tanc drept primul tanc modern al lumii.

Utilizarea în România
Prima formațiune blindată română, Batalionul Carelor de Luptă, a fost înființată în anul 1919. Aceasta a fost echipată cu 76 de tancuri Renault FT-17, obținute ca urmare a cooperării dintre România și Franța. Dintre acestea, 48 erau dotate cu un tun Puteaux (calibru 37 mm), iar restul de 28 cu o mitralieră Hotchkiss (calibru 8 mm). Echipajul tancului Renault FT-17 era alcătuit din două persoane: mecanicul și comandantul, acesta operând armamentul din turela rotativă. Între cele două războaie mondiale, o parte din tancurile FT-17 au fost recondiționate la Atelierele Leonida și Arsenalul Armatei din București. Odată cu declanșarea războiului împotriva URSS, deja învechitele tancuri FT-17, redenumite între timp FT, au format Batalionul Carelor de Luptă FT, o unitate independentă însărcinată cu misiuni de pază și instrucție. În timpul conflagrației au fost utilizate pentru protecția orașelor și centrelor industriale importante din România (București, Ploiești, Sibiu, Reșița). Prin urmare, au avut o contribuție decisivă la eliminarea rezistenței germane din aceste locații după lovitura de stat de la 23 august 1944. În luna februarie 1945 armata sovietică a confiscat toate exemplarele din dotarea armatei române.

Variante
 Fiat 3000: versiunea italiană
 M1917: versiunea americană
 Renault FT-Ko: versiunea japoneză
 Russkiy Reno : versiune sovietică
 T-18: versiune sovietică

Utilizatori
  Afganistan
  Belgia
  Brazilia
   Republica Chineză
  Cehoslovacia

  Elveția
  Estonia
  Filipine
  Franța
  Finlanda
  Germania nazistă
  Iran
  Regatul Italiei
  Regatul Iugoslaviei
  Imperiul Japonez
  Lituania
  Manciukuo
  Olanda
  Polonia
  Regatul Unit al Marii Britanii și al Irlandei de Nord
  Regatul României
  Mișcarea Albă
  Spania
  Statele Unite ale Americii
  Suedia
  Turcia
  Uniunea Sovietică

Imagini

Bibliografie

 David Miller, The illustrated directory of tanks of the world, Zenith Imprint, 2000, ISBN 978-0-7603-0892-9,
 Mark Axworthy, Cornel Scafeș, Cristian Crăciunoiu,Third Axis. Fourth Ally. Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941-1945, Arms and Armour, London, 1995. ISBN 1854092677
 Marshall Cavendish, History of World War I., 2001, ISBN 978-0-7614-7234-6
 Spencer Tucker, Tanks, ABC-CLIO, 2004, ISBN 978-1-57607-995-9
 Tanks of World War II, Zenith Imprint, 2000, ISBN 978-0-7603-0936-0
 The US Army of World War I, Osprey Publishing, 2003, ISBN 978-1-84176-486-3

Tancuri

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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ENCOURAGING THE STATE TO APPLY FOR A STATE RELIEF AND EMPOWERMENT WAIVER UNDER SECTION 1332 OF THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT TO CREATE A STATE REINSURANCE PROGRAM.
This Concurrent Resolution recognizes that all Delawareans deserve affordable health care, only 1 commercial insurer currently sells health insurance plans on Delaware's Marketplace, and that premiums for health insurance plans sold on the Marketplace could be reduced if the State creates a reinsurance program under a State Relief and Empowerment Waiver under Section 1332 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("Section 1332 Waiver"). This Concurrent Resolution also strongly urges the Governor and Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services to apply for a Section 1332 Waiver and that a program fund be created if the Section 1332 Waiver is granted, to provide capital to operate and administer a reinsurance program.


On Friday May 19th, 2017 we will be back at the Mill Courtland Community Centre for our monthly Open Stage. There will be no feature set this month so that means lots of time for Open Stage performers.
The details are outlined on our About Page. The parking is free at the back of the Mill-Courtland Community Centre and admission is still $3 at the door. the facility is wheelchair accessible, alcohol, smoke and peanut free and every show is different. If you don't come, you'll miss it. The next open stage will be June 16th.


Raj KS, Williams N, DeBattista C. Raj K.S., Williams N, DeBattista C Raj, Kristin S., et al.Psychiatric Disorders. In: Papadakis MA, McPhee SJ, Rabow MW. Papadakis M.A., McPhee S.J., Rabow M.W. Eds. Maxine A. Papadakis, et al.eds. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2019 New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; . http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=2449&sectionid=194576991. Accessed April 18, 2019.
Raj KS, Williams N, DeBattista C. Raj K.S., Williams N, DeBattista C Raj, Kristin S., et al.. "Psychiatric Disorders." Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2019 Papadakis MA, McPhee SJ, Rabow MW. Papadakis M.A., McPhee S.J., Rabow M.W. Eds. Maxine A. Papadakis, et al. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, , http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=2449&sectionid=194576991.
Psychiatric diagnosis rests upon the established principles of a thorough history and examination. The forces contributing to the individual's life situation must be identified, and this can be done only if the examination includes the history, mental status, medical conditions (including medications), and pertinent social, cultural, and environmental factors impinging on the individual. The fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) is the common language that clinicians use for psychiatric conditions. It utilizes specific criteria with which to objectively assess symptoms for use in clinical diagnosis and communication.
The examination of a psychiatric patient also should include a complete medical history and physical examination (with emphasis on the neurologic examination) as well as all necessary laboratory and other special studies. Physical illness may frequently present as psychiatric disease, and vice versa. In many instances, the physical examination is completed by the primary care clinician who is working with a psychiatrist.
Every psychiatric history should cover the following topics: (1) complaint, from the patient's viewpoint; (2) the present illness, or the evolution of the symptoms; (3) neurovegetative signs such as libido, appetite, and sleep; (4) previous disorders and the nature and extent of their treatment; (5) the family history—important for genetic aspects and family influences; (6) the personal history—childhood development, adolescent adjustment, level of education, and adult coping patterns; (7) current life functioning, with attention to vocational, social, educational, and avocational areas; and (8) present or past use of alcohol and other drugs.
It is often essential to obtain additional information from the family. Observing interactions of the patient with significant others in the context of a family interview may provide important diagnostic information and may even underscore the nature of the problem and suggest a therapeutic approach.
The formal mental status examination should be particularly detailed when there is any evidence or high risk of cognitive dysfunction. The mental status examination includes the items and clinical features shown in eTable 25–1.
eTable 25–1. Mental status examination.
Thought process Loose associations, flight of ideas, thought blocking, tangentiality, circumstantiality, perseveration, racing thought. For example, does the individual report being spied upon by outside agents? Does the individual have difficulty expressing a thought coherently?


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Home News Story 20-yo man rushes back into burning home to rescue trapped niece, suffers...
20-yo man rushes back into burning home to rescue trapped niece, suffers burn injuries
Aina Najihah
Credit: YouTube
20-year-old Derrick Byrd did not think twice when he immediately rushed into a burning home to save his 8-year-old niece who was trapped inside.
Even though he managed to rescue his niece just in time before the fire engulfed the whole building, Byrd was left with second- and third-degree burns on his face, back, and arms.
"Even though I got burnt, I really didn't care, though. I'd rather get burnt than her. She's young. She's still got a lot of stuff going for her. She's a good kid," Byrd said in an interview with KOMO-TV.
The fire started at their home in Aberdeen, Washington when Byrd and his six other family members including his sister, Kayla and her three children.
Credit: ABC News
Byrd quickly sprung into action as he caught his nephews, Junior and Royce to escape the fire through the window on the second floor.
Unfortunately, his niece, Mercedes was too afraid to jump after the girl saw her mom fell from the roof.
At the time, Byrd rushed back into the burning home to rescue Mercedes and it did not take long before he could feel the flames on his skin.
"I could feel it burning me," he said.
Luckily, Byrd managed to find Mercedes and rescued her. "I got her and took my shirt off and put it around her face so she wouldn't breathe in any smoke and I just carried her out as fast as I could."
The two then escape the house fire just in time but Byrd suffered serious burn injuries following his heroic action.
However, he said that he would do it again if he had to save his niece's and nephews' lives.
"I'd run back in there and do it again even if I got burnt worse or died," Byrd said.
In response to people dubbing him as a hero, Byrd said that he simply did what he had to do.
"I can't say a hero. I'd just say for my niece and nephews, I wasn't going to let them die."
Thank you, Byrd for your selfless act!
Watch his full interview below.
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Sky Bet Championship News
Forest make move for McGoldrick
Manager Billy Davies has been tracking the 21-year-old's progress for some time and has now made his move to bring the Nottingham-born player to the City Ground. "We have made a bid that is in excess of £1million and we are waiting a response," chief executive Mark Arthur told the Nottingham Evening Post. The former Notts County player scored 14 goals for Southampton as they were relegated from the Championship amid a number of off-the-field problems. Forest, who have also lodged bids for QPR striker Dexter Blackstock and Preston captain Paul McKenna, must now wait to see whether the proposed takeover of Southampton by the Pinnacle Consortium will affect their offer.
Source: Team_Talk


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Muhammad Ali hits Chuck Wepner against the ropes in the 9th round of their title bout. (Bettmann via Getty Images)
A Better Way to Disagree
An author wrote me a critical email telling me he thought I'd misrepresented his work. So I invited him on 'Honestly.'
By Bari Weiss
A few months ago, I had writer Freddie deBoer on my podcast for an episode we called, "Does Glorifying Sickness Deter Healing?" We talked about his experience living with severe bipolar disorder and the dangerous ways in which mental illness has gotten wrapped up in our growing cultural obsession with identity politics. It's almost like sickness, he argued, has become chic.
We spent some of the conversation talking critically about a New York Times article by writer Daniel Bergner about a movement away from medication and more towards acceptance. A movement that replaces words like "psychosis" with "nonconsensus realities." This article, in Freddie's view, was exemplary of the very phenomenon he was calling out.
A lot of people responded extremely positively to my conversation with Freddie. Others, not so much. One of those people was Daniel Bergner. So I invited him on the show.
Our conversation is not just a debate about how society should handle the epidemic of mental illness. It's a model for how to disagree with someone productively, respectively, and honestly. It's a reminder not only that it's okay to come out of a conversation strongly disagreeing with someone, but that it's of vital importance.
And to support my show, become a subscriber today:


$Signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Athletics in December of 2018.
Herrmann's knee swelling has gone down, and he's been able to ride a stationary bike and do other exercises, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Herrmann underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in early March. He believes he'll be ready to go 8-to-10 weeks from the date of the procedure, though he won't be eligible to return until his 60-day stay on the injured list is up. Nick Hundley and Josh Phegley have been splitting time in his absence.
Derek VanRiper suggests checking out Mets hurler Noah Syndergaard in his first start off the DL on Friday against Washington.
Herrmann spent the 2017 season in a sort of three-headed catching platoon with Chris Iannetta and Jeff Mathis while also serving as a reserve outfielder (24 games). He had a woeful year at the plate, slashing .181/.273/.345 with a brutal .207 BABIP. The 30-year-old did smack the most home runs of his six-year major-league career with 10, though that number is wholly uninspiring given the league-wide power surge. He walked at a good clip (11.9 percent), but also struck out in 26.2 percent of his plate appearances and actually wound up with fewer hits this past year than he did in 2016 despite logging 90 additional plate appearances. The Diamondbacks tendered Herrmann a contract for 2018, so he will be back to fill a similar role, but it's a stretch to think he'll return positive value in mixed leagues. Those scouring for a second catcher in 15-teamers should be able to do better than Herrmann.
Before 2016, Herrmann never posted an OPS above .611 in any of his four MLB seasons as a reserve in Minnesota. He shattered that mark last season, posting a career-best .845 OPS to go along with a career-best .284 average. Herrmann also posted career highs with six home runs, 21 runs and 28 RBI as the primary backup to Welington Castillo behind the plate. Now that Castillo has moved on to Baltimore, Herrmann will enter camp as the favorite to be Arizona's catcher on Opening Day. While his value is trending up due to an anticipated increase in playing time, his .364 BABIP and 15 percent HR/FB scream regression. He should operate the strong side of a pretty strict platoon, with Jeff Mathis or Chris Iannetta starting against lefties, so 100-plus games is a possibility. His role means he should be drafted in most two-catcher formats, but do not expect him to pick up where he left off last year from a per plate appearance production standpoint.
Despite some decent seasons with the bat in the minors (.727 career OPS at Triple-A), Herrmann was awful in the majors again with a .486 OPS in 45 games. After spending most of his time in the big leagues working as a reserve outfielder with the Twins prior to last season, Herrmann was used mostly as a catcher in 2015 and he had a decent season with the glove. Sporadic playing time likely contributed to his increased strikeout rate (32.7-percent), but his lack of power and low contact rate would appear to limit his upside if he carves out any kind of regular role. Herrmann will compete for the backup catcher role after being traded to Arizona in November.
Herrmann had a bounceback season at Triple-A by hitting .304 with a .878 OPS, but struggled again to hit in the majors (.520 career OPS). He draws walks at a decent rate and makes good contact. His defense is seen as adequate at catcher and he has enough versatility to be an option in the outfield. However, neither his bat nor his glove are strong enough to consider him a future starting catcher, and he'll likely add depth at Triple-A.
Despite hitting just .227/.297/.312 at Triple-A, Herrmann got extensive playing time the final two months of last season with the Twins after Joe Mauer was lost due to a concussion, but failed to make a strong impression by hitting .204/.286/.325. Herrmann draws walks at an outstanding rate and makes good contact. His defense is seen as adequate at catcher and he has enough versatility to be an option in the outfield. He could make Minnesota's roster as the third catcher or move into a backup role if injuries strike, but neither his bat nor his glove are strong enough to consider him a future starting catcher.
Herrmann got a cup of coffee with the Twins in September after a productive season at Double-A where he displayed some power and strong plate discipline. Herrmann draws walks at an outstanding rate and makes good contact. His defense is seen as adequate at catcher and he has enough versatility to be fungible in the outfield. He could make Minnesota's roster as third catcher or move into a backup role if injuries strike, but neither his bat nor his glove are strong enough to consider him a future starting catcher.
Herrmann was placed on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.
Herrmann will be reevaluated in two weeks after undergoing successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Friday, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.
Herrmann is undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery Friday, Julian McWilliams of The Athletic reports.
Herrmann is planning to undergo arthroscopic surgery to address his right knee injury, but will receive a second opinion on the matter before scheduling a date for the procedure, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.
Updating earlier reports, Herrmann (knee) has been ruled out for Opening Day by Athletics head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.


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Video: Kehlani – RPG ft. 6Lack
Kehlani just released the video for her 6lack assisted song, RPG. The video was inspired by her favorite show, Netflix's mystery drama "The OA." In the sci-fi-themed clip, the new mom is trapped in a glass box with a series of phones laid out in front of her. 6LACK appears in another box alongside Kehlani writing "2/19/17" on a glass board. They later meet up in another box filled with greenery.
Kehlani is now working on her next album, which was inspired by her parents. "My next official album is a story. I'm telling stories I've never told," she told Beats 1. "It's my parents' story articulated into mine, articulated into a gift for my daughter, so she knows where she comes from."
Peep the visuals for RPG below.
#6LACK#Kehlani#music video#RPG#video


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Tag: safety
Everett Teen Sentenced 22 Years for School Shooting Plot
The 19-year-old was storing a rifle in his bedroom along with plans for a mass shooting at his high school in his personal notebook.
A 19-year old teenager from Everett, Wash., was convicted of planning a high school shooting and sentenced to 22.5 years in prison.
Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Bruce Weiss sentenced Joshua O'Connor on Thursday, after a three-hour court hearing on Feb. 12, reports HeraldNet.
It was O'Connor's grandmother, Catherine Katsel O'Connor, who called 911 out of concern for her grandson and the safety of others.
"To me, ma'am, you are a hero," the judge told her.
In Feb. 2018, she found a spiral notebook in his room full of plans for a massacre. He was also hiding a rifle in his guitar case.
"I've been thinking a lot. I need to make this shooting/bombing at Kamiak infamous," the judge read from the notebook. "I need to get the biggest fatality number I possibly can. I NEED to make this count."
His initial target was going to be at Kamiak High School, where he previously attended and was suspended twice. Then he decided to flip a coin to see if he would shoot Kamiak or his then-current school, ACES, an alternative high school.
"The results: I'm coming for you Ace's," he wrote. "(Expletive) Kamiak you (expletives) got lucky. I hope someone follows in my footsteps and gets you dumb (expletives). I can't wait to (expletive) up Ace's! April is gonna be a blast."
Police also seized grenades and other evidence that proved O'Connor carried out an armed robbery at a local minimart last year.
O'Connor's plan for the massacre was to plant pressure-cooker bombs under the bleachers, zip-tie door handles and "mow kids down in the hallway and gym," according to his journal.
He chose a day in late April of last year to align with the Columbine High School shooting.
As his final act, O'Connor planned to kill himself or die in a shootout with the police. He even hand-wrote his will.
O'Connor was also accused of attempting to plan a second school shooting from behind bars this past year.
An inmate told police that O'Connor tried to recruit him to bomb Kamiak and shoot up another high school in May 2018. The inmate claimed to have been beaten in jail because word was leaked that he told an attorney about the scheme.
O'Connor allegedly recruited another inmate, Travis Hammons, to carry out the beating. Hammons was charged with first-degree assault and is awaiting trial.
The teen's defense team argued that his past has left him stunted and immature. His mother was untreated for an undiagnosed mental illness and he suffered physical abuse.
They asked for a sentence of 12 years in prison, but the judge believed O'Connor was aware of the consequences of his action and that he spent months plotting out the details.
"This was not the work or the brain of a youth with low impulse control," Weiss said. "It was a plan, premeditated and contemplated. It was not an impulsive act."
O'Connor wrote in a statement to the court that he feels remorse and embarrassment for his disturbing thoughts. He says at the time he was suicidal and abusing drugs and alcohol.
Over the last year, he says he has matured, turned to religion and is preparing to take college courses.
Posted on March 27, 2019 March 10, 2019 Tags cop, crisis management, education, emergency management, EMS, law enforcement, parents, police, preparedness, proactive blueprint, safety, school resource officer, school safety, security, students, SWAT, teachers, training, travel safety
Johns Hopkins Faculty Members Oppose Private School Police Force
More than 60 Johns Hopkins University faculty members are attempting to stop the school from creating its own private police force.
Related: Baltimore School Board Reconsiders Arming SROs After Shooting
They have signed an open letter in opposition to the proposed state legislation that would authorize this change, report The Baltimore Sun.
In the letter, members wrote that armed police officers could pose an increased safety risk and "inevitably amplify the climate of fear and justify their roles by citing stops, arrests and detainments."
Concerns for the nonwhite population in Baltimore were also voiced in the letter.
"Black and brown students and Baltimoreans are already disproportionately targeted," they wrote. "Private police on campus are likely to exacerbate racial profiling, with even more dangers and potentially fatal consequences."
Johns Hopkins released to The Brew these updated statistics of aggravated assaults and street robbery that took place in and around the Homewood and East Baltimore campuses between 2014 and the end of 2018.
A poll by the Student Government Association showed 75 percent of JHU undergraduates are against the legislation.
Students, faculty and residents of West Baltimore congregated this week to protest, chanting, "No justice, no peace, no private police."
If the bill is passed, JHU would join several Baltimore schools that have their own police forces, including Morgan State University, Coppin State University, the University of Baltimore and the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
Currently, there is a group of armed off-duty Baltimore police officers and sheriff's deputies that the university pays to patrol near its campuses. The plan would be to convert those officers into its own police force of around 100 officers.
Karen Lancaster, a spokeswoman for JHU, responded to the letter by stating, "We believe strongly that university police departments can and do make a meaningful contribution to public safety in Baltimore, and we at Johns Hopkins want to do our part."
According to the school, it needs its own police force as Baltimore has seen an increase in violent crime (see charts from the Baltimore Brew).
Last year, the group Students Against Private Police rallied in opposition to the plan. The push for a new police force failed the first time around, however, Lancaster says the response to Senate Bill 793 has been "positive."
While several members support creating a private police force, most of Baltimore's legislators in the General Assembly say they remain undecided.
Katie Malafronte is Campus Safety's Web Editor. She graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2017 with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Studies and a minor in Writing & Rhetoric. Katie has been CS's Web Editor since 2018.
Posted on March 20, 2019 February 27, 2019 Tags cop, crisis management, education, emergency management, EMS, parents, police, preparedness, proactive blueprint, safety, school, school resource officer, security, sheriff, students, SWAT, training, travel, travel safety
Broward County Schools May Install Experimental AI Surveillance System
Broward County school district has announced it will be unveiling an experimental artificial-intelligence (AI) system to keep students under surveillance.
The camera-software system from Avigilon will allow security officials to track students based on their appearance, reports the Washington Post.
One year ago tomorrow, a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School left 17 students and staff dead. Broward County has been under scrutiny for its security since the shooting, especially after a report released last month called out many flaws.
School administrators say the 145-camera system will be installed around the perimeters of the schools that they have flagged "at highest risk." This is on top of 10,000 cameras that are currently installed across the county's schools.
It will automatically alert a monitoring officer when it senses events "that seem out of the ordinary" or people "in places they are not supposed to be."
Guards will be able to pull up video everywhere a particular student has been recorded on campus with the click of a button.
According to a survey from the National Center for Education Statistics, surveillance cameras have expanded from nearly 20 percent of all public schools in 1999 – the year of the Columbine shooting – to over 80 percent as of 2015. However, in 2016, Campus Safety magazine found that more than nine in ten K-12 campuses have adopted video surveillance.
The new system does not come without questions and concerns from students, parents and teachers.
Kimberly Krawczky, a teacher who was present during the shooting last year, voiced her concerns about the system's accuracy, invasiveness and effectiveness. She is not convinced AI could understand a campus as well as a human.
"How is this computer going to make a decision on what's the right and wrong thing in a school with over 3,000 kids?" she said. "We have cameras now every two feet, but you can't get a machine to do everything a human can do. You can't automate the school. What are we turning these schools into?"
Some technology and civil liberties experts argue that the camera software has no proven track record for preventing school violence, an increasing issue in schools across the country.
Avigilon, which was bought by Motorola Solutions for $1 billion last year, says its algorithm allows risky behavior to be spotted with superhuman speed and precision.
Elizabeth Laird, current senior fellow at the Center for Democracy & Technology, however, says the system has not had much public testing for validity or long-term impact.
Because the system is so new and still considered "experimental," there are factors that remain unclear, like how its data and performance will be regulated, measured and tested for flaws.
She fears the system will diminish an environment where students feel they can express themselves freely and think independently.
"We're seeing that the uses of AI and technology like this are coming with unintended consequences, things the education sector has not experienced before, that may endanger the students it intends to protect," she said.
Avigilon's technology does not use facial-recognition software, and Laird fears that students could be wrongfully identified as dangerous based solely on what they wear or where they walk.
This component, however, could be what sets the system apart from other surveillance technology. An individual can be tracked as long as their body is on camera, not necessarily their face.
If the AI system is approved, Broward County will spend more than $600,000 in federal and local funds to install it in the high school campuses.
Kenneth Preston, a Broward high school senior who has criticized the district's spending in the past, fears the surveillance will be used to target individuals.
"Maybe Johnny isn't performing exceedingly well, so let's track him to see why. And you don't even have to sit by those cameras to watch him. It's a system that can be abused and will be abused."
Broward County schools have not yet been given the green light to install the system. Whether the Avigilon contract wins final approval from county leaders in the coming weeks or not, there is no denying that the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy has spurred schools across the country to take a closer look at their security and make student safety a priority.
Posted on March 13, 2019 February 22, 2019 Tags cop, crisis management, education, emergency management, law enforcement, parents, police, preparedness, proactive blueprint, safety, school, school resource officer, school safety, security, sheriff, students, SWAT, teachers, training, travel safety
Conservative Activist Attacked on UC Berkeley Campus
While recruiting students for a grass-roots conservative organization at the University of California Berkeley last week, an activist was confronted by two men. One of them began pushing him repeatedly and then punched him in the face.
The UCPD said that officers responded Tuesday afternoon to a "report of disturbance," on upper Sproul Plaza, a center of student activity, according to CNN.
Hayden Williams, who is not a student at UC Berkeley, works for the Leadership Institue, which helps conservative students and clubs on campuses.
He was asked by the group Turning Point USA to assist them in recruitment. The group is meant to be a network for Americans on college campuses and in high schools.
Williams, 26, has injuries to his face, police say, and the incident was captured on multiple witness' phones. On Tuesday, it was announced by UC Berkeley officials that the police were preparing to apprehend a suspect on a felony charge.
"They're willing to use violence if they think you're being too controversial," Williams said.
During the week following the incident, campaigns have been led by activists at UC Berekely and nationally, questioning how the school and police would respond.
"Wonder if it would be the same if a conservative beat up a leftist on the Berkeley Campus?" President Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., tweeted Tuesday afternoon.
Within days of the attack, authorities said they had identified a possible suspect. Campus activists, however, felt the response time was too slow.
Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA asked, "A conservative is the victim of a vicious attack, and no one is held responsible?"
Despite speculation, university spokesman Dan Mogulof confirmed neither the university or police department acted with any liberal bias, reports the Washington Post.
Bradley Devlin, a UC Berkeley student and former president of the College Republicans on campus, also condemned the chancellor for not sending a mass statement about the incident.
Soon after, Chancellor Carol Christ and Vice Chancellor for student affairs Stephen C. Sutton addressed the community in a letter.
"Let there be no mistake, we strongly condemn violence and harassment of any sort, for any reason," they wrote. "That sort of behavior is intolerable and has no place here. Our commitment to freedom of expression and belief is unwavering."
Posted on March 10, 2019 Tags cop, crisis management, education, emergency management, law enforcement, parents, police, preparedness, proactive blueprint, safety, school, school safety, security, sheriff, students, teachers, training, travel safety
Trump nominates a top FEMA official to lead the agency
President Donald Trump has nominated a senior Federal Emergency Management Agency official to lead the agency, following director Brock Long's resignation earlier this week.
Jeffrey Byard is currently FEMA's associate administrator for the Office of Response and Recovery, the "senior-most executive over disaster response, recovery, logistics, and field operations," according to a statement from the White House Press Office. A Marine veteran, he joined the agency in September 2017, per ProPublica, in the midst of the agency's response to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
Byard previously held a similar role in his home state of Alabama at the state's Emergency Management Agency, according to the White House statement. He led state operations efforts during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and Hurricane Gustav in 2010 and the 2011 "super outbreak" of tornadoes in the state.
In an interview with NPR in September, Byard called for greater cohesion between the private sector and federal emergency relief efforts.
"The effort is going to be stabilization of safety and security; food, water and sheltering; health and medical; energy, such as power and fuel; communications; transportation; and hazardous waste," he said. "To do that, that is an industry-led effort. We are now incorporating that industry-led effort into publicly led emergency management."
When asked if he thought the private sector should step up more, he replied, "No, I think they step in all the time. What we want to do is enable them to get back to what they do on a sunny day."
Posted on February 27, 2019 February 17, 2019 Tags air force, army, Coast Guard, crisis management, DHS, education, law enforcement, military, military officer, police, preparedness, proactive blueprint, safety, school, school resource officer, SWAT, teachers, training
Stillwater emergency response team seeks to expand
STILLWATER — Resident Marcia Bradley recognizes that Stillwater, even when compared to the rest of Sussex County, is known for its rural environment and relative isolation from other municipalities.
While many enjoy the peace and quiet Stillwater offers, Bradley noted the lack of a police department as one aspect that is a drawback to the community.
"The State Police take care of our town and they do a great job," she said, "but it's just different than having your own department."
With that in mind, Bradley is seeking other residents to join the newly formed Stillwater Township CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) initiative. Members of the program take classes to prepare them for a variety of disaster-related situations, including lessons in fire safety, CPR and other medical procedures, search-and-rescue techniques, and even terrorism.
The Stillwater CERT, under the direction of the Office of Emergency Management, was officially established by the Township Committee at its Nov. 20 meeting. The move came after Bradley told the committee in October that three residents — Kathleen Marshall, Charles Keppler and Paul LaMarca — were enrolled in the program and would complete the necessary classes on Nov. 3.
Bradley lauded the recent efforts of Linda Grinthal in spearheading the formation of a CERT program in Andover Township and is hopeful that the same initiative will now find success in Stillwater. While she said the program would be a valuable piece of any municipality, the presence of one in her township takes on added significance because it does not have its own police department.
"That's one of the main differences between Stillwater and Andover," Bradley said. "I think it's really important, in areas like this, to have a group of (trained) people."
Interested residents can apply to be admitted into the program and, following a background screening, take part in a rigorous course that covers numerous emergency situations. Training often takes place over a period of several weeks followed by a practical and written exam, though Bradley said the Stillwater CERT does not have a schedule finalized at this point.
Bradley, who has been involved with the Sussex County and Sparta CERT programs over the past two years, said the main goal for Stillwater CERT moving forward is to increase its outreach beyond the current four members.
"We're looking to expand, for sure," Bradley said. "As we get more people, we'll definitely have more programs in Stillwater."
In fact, she added, the Township Committee has already offered the meeting room of the municipal building as a location for CERT classes.
Bradley has spent several months advertising classes for the Sussex County CERT through word of mouth and by leaving fliers at local businesses. With Stillwater now having its own organization, she said she is "excited" to grow the initiative closer to home.
For more information on the Stillwater Township CERT, contact Marcia Bradley at 973-383-9783 or marciabrad@ptd.net.
By Kyle MorelNew Jersey Herald
Posted on February 20, 2019 February 17, 2019 Tags crisis management, education, emergency management, EMS, parents, police, preparedness, safety, security, sheriff, students, SWAT, teachers
Everyone's Talking About Us!
Posted on February 15, 2019 February 15, 2019 Tags crisis management, emergency management, law enforcement, proactive blueprint, safety, school, school resource officer, school safety, security, sheriff, teachers
PROACTIVE BLUEPRINT Headquarters Moves to Las Vegas
PROACTIVE BLUEPRINT is pleased to announce that we have moved our company headquarters to Las Vegas, Nevada. We are excited to move to a new location and are looking forward to providing our emergency management solution to the businesses of Las Vegas and continue our services throughout the United States.
PROACTIVE BLUEPRINT was expertly designed by former military special operations veterans for the use during crisis management situations to rapidly plan and coordinate efforts needed to minimize loss of life and property.
PROACTIVE BLUEPRINT provides an added level of comfort to students, faculty, business owners, venues, and parents alike, in the event of a crisis that requires assistance from emergency services. Our Aerial Reference Guide (ARG) can be used to quickly assign assembly areas for students and faculty to meet up when it is safe to exit the crisis area. Students, faculty, employees, and business owners can also use detailed floor plans to relay important information to responding emergency personnel. Emergency response personnel can use PROACTIVE BLUEPRINT, to quickly and effectively coordinate response efforts where they are needed most. Tactical teams can access PROACTIVE BLUEPRINT both inside and outside of a building, which can greatly aide in their efforts in planning a quick and safe high risk entry.
We would really like the opportunity to talk with you more about our company and options for implementing PROACTIVE BLUEPRINT into your facility to assist first responders in the event of an emergency.
Please feel free to visit our website, www.proactiveblueprint.net for more information or email us at contact@sabersecuritytraining.com.
Posted on February 12, 2019 Tags cop, crisis management, education, emergency management, police, safety, school, school resource officer, security, sheriff, teachers
Don't Be a Target: Travel Smart
When traveling to unfamiliar areas, whether it be a new city within the United States or traveling abroad, it's important to travel smart in order to not present yourself as an easy target. The main topic to keep in mind when traveling: Blend in. We've all been there, walking around in a familiar city and you can easily pick out a tourist. Map and camera in hand, asking for direction, closely studying the local public transportation maps at each stop or enjoying the sights and sounds of their newly found attraction, while the locals are hustling by. The next few topics are those that should be researched and studied before traveling to keep yourself from being an easy target.
Airport Arrival:
Upon arrival, follow the baggage claim signs and walk confidently to claim your luggage. You didn't travel all this way to stop and take photos in the airport.
Research the location of the rental car business. Know if it's on or off the airport property. Do you need to take a shuttle to get your car?
Research taxi fare costs from the airport to your hotel. If you're taking a taxi from the airport to a popular tourist spot, the taxi driver will already know an estimated amount of fare. Ask before you get in the taxi. Make sure the driver starts the meter. Don't arrive at your hotel to find out that a 10 minute ride just cost you $50.
Always carry a paper map along with a smart phone map to better understand an unfamiliar area. Being aware of general directions will greatly help with an overall confident appearance in public. Simply stating to a taxi driver that you would rather take 10th Street instead of Washington Avenue, sets the tone that you know your way around and you won't be hustled.
Always walk straight to the first taxi in line. If you are encouraged or pushed by the taxi attendant to another taxi waiting nearby, insist on taking the first taxi that any local person would use.
Take a screenshot/photo of a paper map in case you lose cell phone/GPS coverage while traveling.
Public Transportation:
Understand the local public transportation systems: Walking confidently from stop to stop or transfer to transfer, gives the appearance that you're a local. Locals tend to carry less valuables than a traveler does.
Research payment methods: Knowing what the local bus or train fare is before getting onboard will help you blend in. Just think, do local routine bus riders have to stop and ask the driver how much it cost to ride? Nope, but travelers do.
Pick a hotel in a well populated and lit area. Even though you may be in a tourists area, you're chances of being a victim as a tourist are less likely in an area with many tourist rather than an area where you're the only tourist.
Know all emergency exits at your hotel. Don't be afraid to play the dumb tourist and walk into an "employee only" door to find out if there are any additional exits to the hotel.
Use any secondary locks on your room doors when you're inside. There are a few secondary door stops that you can travel with which are inexpensive to purchase.
Take all valuables with you when leaving the room, no matter how long you will be gone.
Buy a local prepaid phone from a foreign country. Put the local police, nearest hospital, your hotel, and United States Embassy phone numbers in your newly purchase prepaid phone. In the event of an emergency, you don't want to find out that your personal phone doesn't work in the area you're at.
Attempt to get a second floor room. A second floor room is low enough to jump from during an emergency but less accessible from outside.
Monitor what nationalities are in adjacent rooms. Is the hotel rooming all Americans adjacent to each other? Are these rooms being monitored?
Valuables:
Use traveler's checks or carry multiple debit/credit cards when traveling. Ask friends/family to carry some of your cards and carry theirs in case someone loses a wallet.
Photo copy everything in your wallet. That way if your wallet is stolen, you'll have copies of all your cards and identification to report stolen/lost.
Save a copy of all your photocopies in an email. In the event that you lose everything, you can always access your email account and print identification documents.
Don't show large amounts of cash. Carry minimal spending cash in your front pocket to use for general purchases. Don't pull out your wallet with all your money to purchase a $5 item.
Carry your wallet with minimal items in it in your front pocket. You are less likely to have your wallet stolen if it's in your front pocket.
Avoid flashy jewelry and watches. "Bling" catches a thief's eye.
Carry a paper map and mark all the danger zones, police stations, hospitals, and United States Embassy on it.
Report to the Embassy for any lost/stolen passport issues. Present a photo copy of your passport to further expedite getting a new one.
Report to the Embassy for any non-medical emergency related issues. In the event of a medical issues, seek medical attention at a local hospital but also contact the local Embassy for further medical guidance.
Visit the Department of State website and research the country you are traveling to in regards to the area risk assessment. http://www.state.gov/
Posted on September 17, 2017 September 17, 2017 Tags crisis management, emergency management, preparedness, proactive blueprint, safety, school safety, sheriff, SWAT, training, travel, travel safety


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Judicial Watch board member makes stop in Palm Beach
Eleanor Roy
Heroin, terrorism and federal investigations into corruption cases were the topics of a talk given Friday by Christopher J. Farrell, Judicial Watch's main representative to the United Nations in New York.
Farrell delivered his lecture to the Palm Beach Business Group at its monthly breakfast meeting at The Chesterfield. About 30 people attended.
More Palm Beach Business News
Most attendees seemed receptive to Farrell's discussion and participated in a question-and-answer session in which Farrell made predictions about the future of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, how President Donald Trump would handle moves to impeach him and whether former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would be indicted (he said yes but Trump would pardon her.)
Judicial Watch is a nonpartisan nonprofit with conservative leanings that uses litigation and Freedom of Information Act requests to shed light on wrongdoing by government officials.
The watchdog group announced earlier this month that it estimated the Department of the Air Force spent nearly $1.3 million to fly the president to Palm Beach County on Air Force One during Trump's first two trips after taking office.
DONALD TRUMP IN PALM BEACH: Latest news, photos, videos


With more than 40 years of history behind us, the Copper Monkey is back to serve up delicious food and cold drinks.
Meeting up with friends and family for good food and fun is always on the menu at the Copper Monkey. We have a location for you to enjoy in Jonesville. No matter where you find us, you're sure to find a good time. Stop by today to see why so many people talk about loving the Copper Monkey.
You'll find our legendary burgers and other delicious entrees at both of our locations. We also foster a relaxing and casual dining atmosphere for you to enjoy no matter where you find us.
We offer daily specials that include some of our best food and drink for you to take advantage of. Stop by or give us a call to learn more.
The Copper Monkey loves making the most of being part of such a wonderful community. For information about events, call us.


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Up Images That Reveal On a regular basis Objects In An Totally New Mild
14/09/2017 extreme close upbasis, images, objects, regular, reveal, totallydoni
How one can frame an extreme shut up shot and the best way to use it. The close-up shot can also be used, quite the opposite, to instill concern or revulsion into the viewers if they're compelled to be in close proximity with an already established hated antagonist inside the movie. Some filmmakers aren't happy by the widespread use of movie shut-ups, which might final less than a second on display screen. The sequence begins with an excessive shut-up of his wrist-watch, pan's right down to his hand to reveal the burnt out cigarette and closes in on his face where we start to see flashbacks of riots and war.
You install these tubes between the digital camera and lens, and so they present the extra distance you could focus your digital camera nearer on your subject. This belief in cinema, at the expense of performing arts, is vastly developed in Griffith thanks to the shut-up shot. Naturally, the film variations of Wayne's World each have Excessive Shut-up moments.
Go through examples and demonstrations of an excessive close up shot in comics, as well as find out how and why they're used. In most motion pictures, an establishing shot will final a couple of seconds earlier than the editor cuts to medium shots and close-ups. 5. Excessive Shut Up (ECU) which is often a head shot of a person. Very few people look good in an excessive shut up. Transfer the digicam again a bit to a wider shot.
For instance, an individual seated talking to a different character standing requires sightlines in closer pictures to approximate those in the grasp. A tear rolling down a cheek, a pair of shaking fingers and the pink LED numbers on a ticking time bomb are scenes ceaselessly captured by extreme close ups. There aren't any featured reviews for Excessive Close-Up at this time.
SpongeBob SquarePants is infamous for its use of Gross-Up Close-Up , but in addition contains different extreme shut ups lots. The objects which are shot in an excessive shut-up in films, although serving and nourishing motion and intrigue in the first place, also have an unparalleled graphic worth in cinema. As a result of pictures are duplicated in a variety of takes, these shots present the editor with many choices, ways to inform the story.
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White: UFC finalizing Adesanya-Vettori title fight
The UFC is finalizing a middleweight title fight between Israel Adesanya and Marvin Vettori for UFC 263, per UFC president Dana White.
Contracts have not been signed, but the 185-pound title fight is expected to headline the UFC's pay-per-view event on June 12. The UFC has not yet announced a venue for that event.
Adesanya (20-1) is coming off a failed bid to become the UFC's latest dual-weight champion. The 31-year-old challenged light heavyweight champ Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 on March 6 in Las Vegas. The bout was competitive, however Adesanya lost a unanimous decision. That result had no impact on his status as the UFC's middleweight king.
Fighting out of New Zealand, Adesanya already holds a victory over Vettori from April 2018. He defeated Vettori via split decision in just his second UFC appearance.
Vettori (17-4-1) is currently riding a five-fight win streak, including a decision win against Kevin Holland in his most recent performance two weeks ago. The Italy native arguably had one of the best performances of any UFC middleweight against Adesanya, as one judge scored their three-round contest in his favor.
Former champion Robert Whittaker will face the winner of the June contest, White told ESPN.
Many expected Adesanya's next title defense to come against Whittaker, the former champion who just beat Kelvin Gastelum in a main event last weekend. According to White, June was too quick of a time frame for Whittaker to turn around. Whittaker told ESPN after his last fight that he wanted some time to assess any potential injuries, including a beat-up shin.


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Up to 600 vote-counting machines replaced: Comelec
Posted at May 13 2019 03:36 PM | Updated as of May 13 2019 04:55 PM
MANILA -- Some 400 to 600 vote-counting machines were replaced after bogging down during the midterm polls, a Commission on Elections (Comelec) official said Monday.
Former Vice President Jejomar Binay's ballot was rejected in his first attempt to vote in Makati, while the same glitch prompted reelectionist Sen. Nancy Binay and Pasig mayoral candidate Vico Sotto to defer casting their ballots.
During the 2016 presidential race, only 125 vote-counting machines bogged down, said Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez.
There is no geographic pattern emerging with this year's faulty machines, and environmental factors may have contributed to the glitch, he said.
"We are seeing a lot of issues crop up but whether or not that will raise the level of destroying the credibility of the elections, I'm not there yet," he said.
"We are talking about 85,000 machines in play so you have to get a sense of scale here," he added.
The polls will be open until 6 p.m.
ANC, 13 May 2019
ANC, ANC Top, Comelec, vote counting machines, halalan 2019, 2019 elections, eleksyon, Philippine elections, politics
Read More: ANC ANC Top Comelec vote counting machines halalan 2019 2019 elections eleksyon Philippine elections politics
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NCAA 95: San Beda outlasts JRU in women's volleyball debut


Atlanta Habitat for Humanity's new "Repairs with Kindness" helps helps qualified homeowners make critical home repairs that reduce health or safety hazards or improve weatherization.* Repairs may include accessibility improvements, carpentry, roof repairs or replacement and storm windows and doors. Go to http://www.atlantahabitat.org/ to learn more.


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Q4 Fiscal 2014 Adjusted EPS of $0.83, Compared to $0.95 in Q4 Fiscal 2013; Q4 Fiscal 2014 GAAP EPS of $0.82, Compared to $0.85 in Q4 Fiscal 2013
Fiscal Year 2014 Adjusted EPS of $1.91, Compared to $2.15 in Fiscal Year 2013; GAAP EPS of $1.80 in Fiscal Year 2014, Compared to $2.05 in Fiscal Year 2013
Increases Quarterly Dividend 12.5% to $0.225 per Share
LOS ANGELES, March 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Guess?, Inc. (NYSE: GES) today reported unaudited financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended February 1, 2014.
North American Retail revenues decreased 6%; retail comp sales decreased 4%
European revenues decreased 4% in U.S. dollars and 8% in local currency
Invested $22.1 million to repurchase 0.9 million shares
This press release contains certain non-GAAP, or adjusted, financial measures, which exclude the impact of restructuring charges (and related taxes where applicable) recorded during the three and twelve months ended February 1, 2014 and a tax settlement charge recorded during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. A reconciliation of reported GAAP results to comparable non-GAAP results is provided in the accompanying tables and discussed under the heading "Presentation of Non-GAAP Information" below.
For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company recorded adjusted net earnings of $71.1 million, a 12.6% decrease compared to adjusted net earnings of $81.4 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. Adjusted diluted earnings per share decreased 12.6%, to $0.83, compared to adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.95 for the prior-year quarter. The adjusted net earnings for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 exclude restructuring charges of $2.1 million ($1.4 million net of taxes). The adjusted net earnings for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 exclude a charge of $12.8 million related to the resolution of a tax audit dispute in Italy, partially offset by unrelated tax benefits of $4.0 million. On a GAAP basis, fourth quarter fiscal 2014 net earnings were $69.6 million and diluted earnings per share totaled $0.82, including an unfavorable $0.01 after-tax impact from the restructuring charges.
Paul Marciano, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We delivered fourth quarter results consistent with our expectations from an operations perspective. In North America, the traffic into our stores as well as the overall promotional environment remains challenging, but we are excited by the momentum that we have gained in our e-commerce business. In Europe, we are encouraged by the trends we are seeing in our own property stores where same store sales were positive for the fourth quarter, although our European wholesale business is still under pressure in Southern Europe. Overall, we stayed focused on what we can control, like inventory where trends continued to improve quarter over quarter, and expenses which declined again in the fourth quarter versus last year."
Mr. Marciano continued, "For fiscal year 2015, we still expect sales in our more developed businesses to be under pressure, especially in our own stores in North America and our European wholesale channel. We will continue to invest in new markets like Japan and Brazil as well as fully execute our omni-channel strategy. We will also keep on investing in marketing. While I recognize that there are many challenges ahead of us, I am very confident in the strength of the Guess brand and with the senior leadership team we have in place to move us forward."
Total net revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 decreased 5.7% to $768.4 million, from $815.1 million in the prior-year quarter. In constant currency, total net revenue decreased 6.5%. In addition, the Company's fourth quarter fiscal year 2014 results included 13 weeks, while the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 results included 14 weeks.
The Company's retail stores in North America generated revenue of $329.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, a 6.0% decrease from $350.0 million in the same period a year ago. Comparable store sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 decreased 4.4% in U.S. dollars and 3.0% in constant currency compared to the same period a year ago. The Company directly operated 494 retail stores in the United States and Canada at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 versus 512 retail stores a year earlier.
Net revenue from the Company's Europe segment decreased 4.4% to $287.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, from $300.3 million in the prior-year period. In local currency, net revenue decreased 7.8%.
Net revenue from the Company's North American Wholesale segment decreased 19.9% to $40.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, from $50.9 million in the prior-year period. In constant currency, net revenue decreased 18.5%.
Adjusted operating earnings for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 decreased 12.8% to $104.6 million (including a $1.5 million favorable currency translation impact) from operating earnings of $120.0 million in the prior-year period. Adjusted operating margin in the fourth quarter decreased 110 basis points to 13.6%, compared to operating margin of 14.7% in the prior-year quarter. The lower operating margin primarily reflects the impact of more markdowns and the impact of negative same store sales on the Company's fixed cost structure in North America and lower wholesale shipments in Europe. These decreases were partially offset by lower store selling expenses in North America and lower selling and merchandising expenses in Europe primarily resulting from productivity improvements. On a GAAP basis, operating earnings decreased 14.5% and operating margin decreased 140 basis points.
Other net income, which primarily includes net unrealized gains on non-operating assets and net unrealized mark-to-market gains on foreign currency contracts, was $1.3 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, compared to other net expense of $0.1 million in the prior-year quarter.
The Company's fourth quarter fiscal 2014 adjusted tax rate increased to 31.4%, compared to an adjusted tax rate of 31.1% for the fourth quarter of the prior year. On a GAAP basis, the fourth quarter fiscal 2014 tax rate was also 31.4%.
Adjusted net earnings for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014 were $162.5 million, a decrease of 13.4% compared to adjusted net earnings of $187.5 million for the fiscal year ended February 2, 2013. Adjusted diluted earnings per share decreased 11.2% to $1.91 per share in fiscal year 2014, compared to adjusted diluted earnings per share of $2.15 in the prior year. The adjusted net earnings for fiscal 2014 exclude restructuring charges of $12.4 million ($9.0 million net of taxes). The adjusted net earnings for fiscal 2013 exclude a charge of $12.8 million related to the resolution of a tax audit dispute in Italy, partially offset by unrelated tax benefits of $4.0 million. On a GAAP basis, net earnings for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014 were $153.4 million and diluted earnings per share totaled $1.80, including an unfavorable $0.11 after-tax impact from the restructuring charges.
Total net revenue for fiscal year 2014 decreased 3.3% to $2.57 billion for fiscal year 2014, compared to $2.66 billion in the prior year. In constant currency, total net revenue decreased 4.4%. In addition, the Company's fiscal year 2014 results included 52 weeks, while fiscal 2013 results included 53 weeks.
The Company's retail stores in North America generated revenue of $1.08 billion in fiscal 2014, a decrease of 3.7% from $1.12 billion in the prior year. Comparable store sales for fiscal year 2014 decreased 5.3% in U.S. dollars and 4.4% in constant currency compared to the prior year.
Net revenue from the Company's Europe segment decreased 3.8% to $903.8 million in fiscal year 2014, compared to $939.6 million in the prior year. In local currency, net revenue decreased 7.2%.
Net revenue from the Company's Asia segment increased 0.7% to $292.7 million in fiscal year 2014, compared to $290.7 million in the prior year. In constant currency, net revenue decreased 1.2%.
Licensing segment net revenue increased 0.9% to $118.2 million in fiscal year 2014, from $117.1 million in the prior year.
Adjusted operating earnings for fiscal year 2014 decreased 14.4% to $235.0 million (including a $4.9 million favorable currency translation impact) from operating earnings of $274.5 million in the prior year. Adjusted operating margin for fiscal 2014 decreased 120 basis points to 9.1% compared to operating margin of 10.3% in the prior year. The decrease in operating margin primarily reflects the impact of negative same store sales on the Company's fixed cost structure, lower wholesale shipments in Europe and more markdowns in North America. These decreases were partially offset by lower selling and merchandising expenses in Europe resulting from productivity improvements and lower advertising spend. On a GAAP basis, operating earnings decreased 18.9% and GAAP operating margin decreased 160 basis points.
Other net income, which primarily includes net unrealized and realized gains on non-operating assets and net realized and unrealized mark-to-market gains on foreign currency contracts and balances, was $10.3 million for fiscal year 2014 compared to $5.7 million for the prior year.
The Company's fiscal 2014 adjusted tax rate decreased to 32.1%, compared to an adjusted tax rate of 32.2% for the prior year. On a GAAP basis, our fiscal 2014 tax rate was 32.3%.
Operating margin is expected to be between minus 1.5% and minus 0.5%.
The Company also announced today that its Board of Directors has approved an increase of its quarterly cash dividend to $0.225 per share on the Company's common stock, a 12.5% increase over its most recent quarterly dividend. The dividend will be payable on April 18, 2014 to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 2, 2014.
The financial information presented in this release includes non-GAAP financial measures such as "adjusted" results (to exclude the impact of certain charges), constant currency financial information and free cash flow measures. The non-GAAP measures are provided in addition to, and not as alternatives for, the Company's reported GAAP results.
The Company has excluded restructuring charges, and related tax impact, incurred during fiscal 2014 and a tax settlement charge incurred during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 from its adjusted financial measures primarily because it does not believe such charges reflect the Company's ongoing operating results or future outlook. The Company believes that these adjusted financial measures are useful as an additional means for investors to evaluate the comparability of the Company's operating results when reviewed in conjunction with the Company's GAAP financial statements. A reconciliation of reported GAAP results to comparable non-GAAP results is provided in the accompanying tables.
This release also includes certain constant currency financial information. Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations affect the amount reported from translating the Company's foreign revenues and expenses into U.S. dollars. These rate fluctuations can have a significant effect on reported operating results under GAAP. The Company provides constant currency information to enhance the visibility of underlying business trends, excluding the effects of changes in foreign currency translation rates. To calculate revenues and earnings from operations on a constant currency basis, operating results for the current-year period are translated into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rates in effect during the comparable period of the prior year. The constant currency calculations do not adjust for the impact of revaluing specific transactions denominated in a currency that is different to the functional currency of that entity when exchange rates fluctuate. The constant currency information presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
Except for historical information contained herein, certain matters discussed in this press release or the related conference call and webcast, including statements concerning the Company's expectations and its plans to invest in new markets, omni-channel initiatives, and marketing, as well as guidance for the first quarter and full year of fiscal 2015, are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements, which are frequently indicated by terms such as "expect," "will," "goal," "strategy," "believe," "continue," "outlook," "plan" and similar terms, are only expectations, and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results in future periods to differ materially from what is currently anticipated. Factors which may cause actual results in future periods to differ materially from current expectations include, among others: our ability to maintain our brand image and reputation; domestic and international economic conditions, including economic and other events that could negatively impact consumer confidence and discretionary consumer spending; changes in the competitive marketplace and in our commercial relationships; our ability to anticipate and respond to consumer preferences and trends; our ability to manage our inventory commensurate with customer demand; our ability to effectively operate our various retail concepts, including securing, renewing, modifying or terminating leases for store locations; our ability to successfully implement our growth strategies and to continue to expand or grow our business; our ability to successfully implement restructuring plans and achieve planned cost savings; unexpected obligations arising from new or existing litigation, tax and other regulatory proceedings; adjustments to our unaudited financial statements identified during the completion of our annual independent audit of financial statements and financial controls or from subsequent events arising after issuance of this release; risks associated with our foreign operations, such as violations of laws prohibiting improper payments and the burdens of complying with a variety of foreign laws and regulations; risks associated with the acts or omissions of our third party vendors, including a failure to comply with our vendor code of conduct or other policies; risks associated with cyber attacks and other cyber security risks; and changes in economic, political, social and other conditions affecting our foreign operations and sourcing, including currency fluctuations, global tax rates and economic and market conditions in Southern Europe and China. In addition to these factors, the economic, technological, managerial, and other risks identified in the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the risk factors discussed therein, could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. Additional information with respect to known and unknown risks will also be set forth in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 1, 2014, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
The three and twelve months ended February 1, 2014 contain 13 and 52 weeks, respectively. The three and twelve months ended February 2, 2013 contain 14 and 53 weeks, respectively.
The adjusted results for fiscal 2014 reflect the exclusion of restructuring charges (and related taxes where applicable) recorded during the three and twelve months ended February 1, 2014. The adjusted results for fiscal 2013 reflect the exclusion of a tax settlement charge recorded during the three and twelve months ended February 2, 2013. A complete reconciliation of actual results to adjusted results is presented in the table entitled "Reconciliation of GAAP Results to Adjusted Results."
The following table provides reconciliations of reported GAAP earnings from operations to adjusted earnings from operations, reported GAAP net earnings attributable to Guess?, Inc. to adjusted net earnings attributable to Guess?, Inc. and reported GAAP income taxes to adjusted income taxes for the three and twelve months ended February 1, 2014 and February 2, 2013.
Income tax adjustments
and charges 3
During the first quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company implemented plans to streamline its operational structure and reduce expenses in both Europe and North America. During the second quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company expanded these plans to include the consolidation and streamlining of its operations in Europe and Asia. These plans resulted in restructuring charges incurred during the three and twelve months ended February 1, 2014.
The three and twelve months ended February 1, 2014 reflect an adjustment for the income tax effect of the restructuring charges discussed above, and was based on the Company's assessment of deductibility using the statutory tax rate of the tax jurisdiction in which the charges were incurred. In January 2013, the Company settled a tax audit dispute in Italy, resulting in a tax settlement charge of $12.8 million in the three and twelve months ended February 2, 2013, net of amounts previously reserved. This charge was partially offset by unrelated tax benefits of $4.0 million.
August 3,
October 2,
Change in comparable store sales:
Excluding e-commerce sales (as reported)
Change in comparable store sales (in constant currency):