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Friday, June 8, 2012
US, Philippine leaders hail growing alliance
WASHINGTON (AP) ? The U.S. and Philippines said Friday they are expanding intelligence sharing and cooperation on maritime security, as President Barack Obama reiterated Washington's desire to be viewed as a Pacific power.
Obama met at the Oval Office with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III against the backdrop of a two-month standoff between Philippine and Chinese vessels at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea.
China's assertive behavior in those waters has served to bolster Manila's 60-year alliance with Washington, which thrived during the Cold War but ebbed after nationalist political forces prompted the closure of American military bases in 1992.
Obama thanked Aquino for what he called "excellent cooperation" on economic, defense and other issues. Aquino earlier declared the allies are at a "new juncture in our relations."
The security and military cooperation with the Philippines "is a reminder to everybody that the United States considers itself, and is, a Pacific power," Obama said.
Aquino, the son of democracy heroes, has emerged as a willing partner of the U.S. as it looks to build a stronger presence in Southeast Asia, a region neglected during a decade of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. The two sides are discussing how to enhance the U.S. military presence in the Philippines, beyond the decade-long counterterrorism training mission in the country's south that involves hundreds of American troops.
The U.S. and the Philippines are bound by a mutual defense treaty. The Philippines has been seeking a clear public statement that the U.S. would come to its defense should it face attack.
The U.S. has restricted itself to saying it would honor its obligations under the treaty. No further statement was forthcoming Friday, and neither leader mentioned China.
At a lunch hosted earlier for Aquino at the State Department, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton welcomed an easing of the tensions at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the past week, as China and the Philippines withdrew some vessels from a lagoon at the center of the standoff. She reiterated U.S. interest in peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea.
"The United States has been consistent in that we oppose the use of force or coercion by any claimant to advance its claims, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely," Clinton said.
Obama made a sidelong reference to the South China Sea dispute.
"We have a strong set of international norms and rules governing maritime disputes in the region," Obama said.
Clinton said the U.S. and the Philippines are working closely to increase information and intelligence exchanges and coordination on maritime domain issues. She announced the U.S. will support the construction and training of a National Coast Watch Center to help the Philippines monitor its coastline.
Aquino, who has presided over an improvement in the Philippine economy, has sought Washington's help in rebuilding a decrepit military that is in little shape to defend its territorial claims. Obama reaffirmed U.S. support for helping the Philippines build a "minimum credible defense posture."
Last month, the U.S. handed to the Philippines a second Coast Guard cutter following the transfer last year of a similar 45-year-old vessel that has since become a flagship in the Philippine navy as the island nation increasingly focuses on its maritime security. Close U.S. ally Japan is also reportedly preparing to supply the Philippines with 10 smaller, new patrol vessels.
While the Obama administration has worked to enhance ties with the Philippines, the U.S. is very mindful of its need to get along with China to prevent their strategic rivalry from spiraling into confrontation. Washington is careful to stress that while it supports efforts of Southeast Asian nations to develop a code of conduct with China on managing disputes in the South China Sea, it has no position on the conflicting territorial claims there that involve a half dozen nations.
The U.S. also says it has no intent to try and contain China, although it has left little doubt about its determination to be viewed as a Pacific power.
Last month saw a rare stop by a U.S. submarine at Subic Bay, location of a former American naval base that faces the South China Sea. And in the past week, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta visited emerging strategic ally India and Vietnam ? another South China Sea claimant at odds with China and forging closer relations with the United States. Panetta announced that 60 percent of the Navy's fleet will be deployed to the Pacific by 2020, up from about 50 percent now.
___
Associated Press writers Anne Gearan in Washington and Jim Gomez in Manila contributed to this report.
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Pascagoula lawyer Jimmy Heidelberg named Oil & Gas Board chairman
JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) -- Pascagoula attorney Jimmy Heidelberg has been selected as chairman of the Mississippi State Oil & Gas Board.
Heidelberg will represent the Oil & Gas Board before the Mississippi Legislature and serve as liaison with other state agencies through April 2016.
Heidelberg was appointed to the board by Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves for a second four-year term.
Heidelberg has practiced law in Pascagoula since 1978.
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Thursday, June 7, 2012
Virginia Beach Student Suspended For Wiping Hands On American Flag
A 13-year-old student at Plaza Middle School in Virginia Beach, Va., was given in-school suspension after a teacher reported he used an American flag to wipe his hands after going to the bathroom, WTKR-TV reports.
According to the station, the young boy claimed there were no napkins left in the bathroom when the teacher confronted about the incident.
?[This has been] very traumatic,? Victoria Hinton, the boy's mother, told WTKR-TV. ?It has had an emotional impact on my son?s education.?
Hinton also spoke with WAVY-TV, telling the station she believed the teacher overreacted in handling the situation.
"Why didn't you just take him aside and first ask him, 'Hey, is everything okay?''' Hinton told the station. "And then proceed by saying, 'well, you know, the American flag is something we respect and we hold very high in our country, so you know, just keep that in mind.'"
Despite his mothers' protest, the school maintains the boy was "disciplined in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct."
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Offline Google Maps to work on 'all devices with Android 2.2 or higher,' 3D compatibility less clear
We'd heard earlier that Google had "nothing to announce" in regard to Android compatibility with the newly-announced offline Maps support and 3D modeling, but look -- things change. We reached out to the company and urged 'em to dig a little deeper, only to have the following confirmed: "For offline Google Maps for Android, all devices with Android 2.2 (Froyo) and above will be supported." As for the 3D portion? "We'll have more details about device compatibility for 3D imagery on Google Earth for mobile at launch." After the event, we spotted a Googler using the 3D build on a Galaxy Nexus, so it's obvious that Android 4.0+ will be supported, but we have to assume that some of these older Froyo devices may simply lack the proper oomph needed to fly around the downtowns of [insert major metropolitan area here].
Offline Google Maps to work on 'all devices with Android 2.2 or higher,' 3D compatibility less clear originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 17:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Maurico ?Shogun? Rua vs. Brandon Vera is the new main event for UFC on Fox 4
Rua was supposed to fight Thiago Silva in July, but that bout was scrapped because of an injury to Silva. Vera was training for a fight with James Te Huna earlier in July, but Te Huna now needs a new opponent.
Lombard is opponentless. With the UFC so packed with fights over the summer, there aren't many healthy middleweights available to take on Lombard in his UFC debut. The UFC just had to juggle middleweights around to handle Vitor Belfort's injury and removal from the UFC 147 main event.
Who should Lombard face? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or Twitter.
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Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Hanging Lamp Cleverly Stores Its Extra Power Cord Slack [Lights]
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African Safaris ? What Type Are There? | WordNice free nice article ...
There are numerous varieties of African safaris. I always believed of a safari as some thing you did with John Wayne and chased large rhinos, or hunted elephants and lions. Not so.
Definitely you will find hunting safaris, but there are lots of other types, too. If you?re arranging on going on an African safari, you?ll wish to familiarize oneself together with your choices so that you could possibly have a far more fulfilling encounter.
Drive Safari
East African and Central African drive safaris are often completed inside a mini-van, whilst drive safaris in South Africa are largely accomplished in open 4 x 4 autos, which assist you to to better see the scenery and wildlife. South Africa also offers self-drive safaris which let you use their effectively developed road techniques to go off on your own tour.
Walking Safari
Some African nations, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Kenya and Tanzania, offer walking safaris. On these you?ll typically hike 5 to 8 miles each day, with a lot of breaks to admire the wildlife and landscape. Becoming on foot lets you entry more remote and untouched regions that hold loads of wildlife such as elephant, lion, buffalo and rhino.
Mobile Tent and Camping Safaris
This can be a combination in the drive and walking safaris. Typically, within a mobile tent trip, you are going to stay at a lodge or related accommodation each evening. In a correct camping safari, also named cross-country safari, you are roughing it with tents and regular camping chores and activities. These trips can final for numerous days.
Canoe Safari
Paddle your way down one particular in the wonderful rivers in Africa, like the Zambezi River which divides Zimbabwe and Zambia. This may provide you with a whole distinct perspective in the plant and animal lifestyle.
Elephant, Horseback and Camelback Safari
Elephant back, horseback and camelback safaris bring you into getting one particular with nature. There are tours that provide the use of these effectively skilled animals which may really increase your encounter. Think about spending the day with an elephant, enjoying its firm, feeding and consuming with it and getting to be great close friends!
Rail Safari
In Southern Africa, you can take the tour by train. This kind of safari may well be much more loved by those that take pleasure in a little far more comfort and class within their trip.
Sailing and Houseboat Safaris
Do you actually desire to go in fashion Appreciate your safari from a yacht! That is great method to see a few of the wildlife that to remain closer towards the water like hippos and crocodiles. Decide on the houseboat safari and do small fishing whilst you?re enjoying the view.
Tracking Safari
Tracking safaris really are a fantastic way to see incredible animals that happen to be rare and difficult to discover, and enjoythem in their very own natural habitat. There are African safaris that track gorillas, chimpanzees, and tree climbing lions.
Bird Watching Safari
Massive game not your thing? Bird watchers can even now get their thrills on a bird watching safari. But, shell out consideration, you?ll possibly nevertheless see loads of big game.
So, remember. Safaris: they?re not only for John Wayne anymore!
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To What Are You Committed? - dailyBlogma
Being committed to yourself, your goals, your business and your relationships is what raises you above the mediocre, because people who honor their commitments stand out in the crowd.
By honoring your commitments, you keep your promises and stay true to your word. Honoring your commitments also means that you promise to see them through to the very end, come what may.
Not honoring your commitment destroys your credibility, dependability and trustworthiness.
Success doesn?t just happen. Success occurs when determination, a desire to succeed, strength of purpose and a commitment to achieve your goals are present.
Successful people commit to achieving better than their best. For them, commitment becomes an instinctual habit they practice every day.
Human beings are amazingly complex creatures, so the coming together of two complex creatures in an equally complex relationship can be fraught with mishaps, misunderstandings, doubt, deceipt, despair?the list goes on and on.
In its most simplistic terms, committing to a relationship is no different from committing to a long term goal. To stay committed, you need to keep your focus on the vision and understand that the path to attain that vision may meander, twist, turn, convolute and lead you down a number of dead ends.
What it takes is a shared desire to achieve the same vision and determination to succeed no matter what obstacles are placed in your path.
Anne Bachrach
Anne M. Bachrach is known as The Accountability Coach?. She has 23 years of experience training and coaching. The objective is to work less, make more money, and have a more balanced life. Anne is the author of the book, Excuses Don?t Count; Results Rule!, and Live Life with No Regrets; How the Choices We Make Impact Our Lives. Go to http://www.accountabilitycoach.com/landing/ and get 3 FREE gifts including a special report on 10 Power Tips for Getting Focused, Organized, and Achieving Your Goals Now. Join the FREE Silver Inner Circle Membership today and receive 10% off on all products and services, in addition to having access to assessments and resources to help you achieve your goals so you can experience a more balanced and successful life (http://www.accountabilitycoach.com/coaching-store/inner-circle-store/).
Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts
Article Tags:anne, bachrach, business, coach, commitment, life, success, tips
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Tuesday, June 5, 2012
George Zimmerman to surrender in Florida. Will he stay in jail? (+video)
A judge in Florida revoked George Zimmerman's bond, suggesting he and his wife had not been honest about their finances. Zimmerman's attorney says the couple had no access to defense funds raised on the Internet.
George Zimmerman testifies during a bond hearing on second degree murder charges at the Seminole County Courthouse in Sanford, Florida, April 20. A Florida judge on Friday revoked bail for Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch captain charged with second-degree murder for killing unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin.
Gary W. Green/REUTERS
EnlargeGeorge Zimmerman has returned to Florida and will turn himself in to authorities by Sunday's deadline after a judge revoked his bond in the Trayvon Martin case, an attorney said.
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Attorney Mark O'Mara announced Zimmerman's return on his website Sunday, saying Zimmerman arrived late Saturday evening. Zimmerman, who is charged with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of the 17-year-old Martin, was ordered by a judge Friday to return to jail.
The press release on the website said the deadline for his surrender is 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
The judge revoked Zimmerman's bond, suggesting he and his wife had not been honest about their finances. During a bond hearing in April, the couple had indicated they had limited funds. But prosecutors say Zimmerman had raised thousands through a website he had set up for his legal defense.
Zimmerman's legal team said Sunday that they will ask for a new bond hearing to address those concerns, and that they hope Zimmerman's voluntary surrender will show he is not a flight risk. Furthermore, the money Zimmerman has raised is in an independent trust and cannot be directly accessed by Zimmerman or his attorneys, according to the press release.
Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to the second-degree murder charge. He maintains he shot Martin in self-defense under Florida's so-called "stand your ground" law because the teen, who was unarmed, was beating him up after confronting Zimmerman about following him in a gated community outside Orlando.
Stand Your Ground law: Florida review panel to draw wide scrutiny
Zimmerman's credibility could become an issue at trial, legal experts said, noting the case hinges on jurors believing Zimmerman's account of what happened the night in February that Martin was killed.
Zimmerman wasn't charged in the case until more than a month after the shooting. Protests were held across the nation, and the case spurred debate about whether race was a factor in Zimmerman's actions and in the initial police handling of the case. Martin was black; Zimmerman's father is white and his mother is from Peru.
Police in Sanford did not immediately arrest Zimmerman, citing the Florida law that gives wide latitude to use deadly force rather than retreat in a fight if people believe they are in danger of being killed or seriously injured.
The questioning of Zimmerman's truthfulness by the judge on Friday could undermine the defendant's credibility if it is brought up at trial. It also may complicate how his defense presents him as a witness, said Orlando-area attorney Randy McClean, a former prosecutor.
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Obama, Senate Dems court women with fair pay bill
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Monday, June 4, 2012
Macaw Health and Fitness App from US Preventive Medicine Wins ...
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. and DALLAS, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ ?
U.S. Preventive Medicine?s Macaw(TM), enabled by Qualcomm Life Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, was named the winner in the Mobile Applications: Health, Wellness and Fitness category of CTIA?s Emerging Technology (E-Tech) Awards. In its seventh year, the CTIA E-Tech Awards honor the industry?s most innovative wireless products and services in the areas of mobile apps, consumer electronics, enterprise and vertical markets and infrastructure. Winners were announced at International CTIA WIRELESS? 2012 taking place earlier this month in New Orleans.
Unlike other available health and fitness apps, Macaw is based on the clinical science of preventive medicine and is universally designed for people who exercise regularly as well as those who are novices when it comes to physical activity. By leveraging Qualcomm Life?s expertise in wireless technology, Macaw will transform a smartphone into the ultimate personal health monitor, connecting an individual?s health apps and wireless devices for tracking weight, fitness, overall activity and biometrics ? including pedometers, glucose meters, activity armbands, scales, labs, sleep managers, mobile weight loss apps and blood pressure cuffs ? into a single app for complete tracking.
Macaw currently allows integration with the Fitlinxx Actiped+ all-day activity monitor, WorkSmart Labs? weight loss and fitness app Noom Weight Loss and Withings WiFi Body Scale. Macaw users are able to track their physical activity, nutrition, progress and health knowledge while engaging in games that unlock prizes.
Macaw is available for download on the iPhone App Store and Android Market. You can also stay up-to-date by following Macaw on Facebook (Facebook.com/ThePreventionPlan), Twitter (@MacawApp) and YouTube (YouTube.com/MacawApp). View the video at
www.youtube.com/macawapp .
?CTIA is pleased to congratulate U.S. Preventive Medicine and Qualcomm Life on winning the CTIA E-Tech Award for representing the best in wireless innovation for mobile applications in health, wellness and fitness,? said Robert Mesirow, vice president and show director for CTIA.
Nearly 250 entries across 15 awards categories were judged by a panel of media and industry analysts and scored on innovation, functionality, technological importance, implementation and overall ?wow? factor.
?This award helps to validate our mission of utilizing technology to transform the way people think about and manage their health,? said Christopher Fey, founder, CEO and chairman of U.S. Preventive Medicine. ?Through Macaw, U.S. Preventive Medicine is making it easier for people to engage in actions to improve their health while on the go. Macaw enables people to take control, improve their own health status, and possibly reduce their health care costs along the way.?
For more information on the CTIA E-Tech Awards, visit
www.ctiashows.com/awards .
To learn more about International CTIA WIRELESS 2012, visit
www.ctiawireless.com .
Follow CTIA Shows:Facebook:
www.ctiashows.com/facebook LinkedIn:
www.ctiashows.com/linkedin Twitter:
www.ctiashows.com/twitter (#CTIAW12)
About CTIACTIA ? The Wireless Association? (
www.ctia.org ) is an international organization representing the wireless communications industry. Membership in the association includes wireless carriers and their suppliers, as well as providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products. CTIA advocates on behalf of its members at all levels of government. The association also coordinates the industry?s voluntary best practices and initiatives, and sponsors the industry?s leading wireless tradeshows. CTIA was founded in 1984 and is based in Washington, D.C.
About U.S. Preventive Medicine? U.S. Preventive Medicine (
http://www.USPreventiveMedicine.com ) is leading a global preventive health movement focused on saving lives and money by keeping people healthy and better managing chronic conditions before they progress. Innovative products ? The Prevention Plan(TM) web-based health management platform and Macaw mobile health & fitness app ? are based on the clinical science of preventive medicine: primary (wellness and health promotion to keep healthy people healthy), secondary (screening for earlier detection/diagnosis) and tertiary (early evidence-based treatment to reduce complications and disability). The company is accredited in wellness and health promotion by NCQA (the National Committee for Quality Assurance) and disease management by URAC. More information can be found on Facebook (Facebook.com/ThePreventionPlan), Twitter (@USPM) and YouTube (YouTube.com/thepreventionchannel).
Contact: Tricia L. Ridgway-Kapustka, APR, CPRC U.S. Preventive Medicine, Inc. (904) 562-6254TKapustka@uspm.com
SOURCE U.S. Preventive Medicine, Inc.
Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved
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CPI: $63.5M Wis. recall is state's most expensive
Ed Schultz, host of "The Ed Show" on MSNBC, talks with Rachel Maddow about what's at stake in next Tuesday's recall election in Wisconsin.
By Paul AbowdCenter for Public Integrity
Tuesday's recall election of Republican Gov. Scott Walker - a battle that has become a referendum on the future of public sector unions - is the most expensive in Wisconsin history. More than $63.5 million has been spent by candidates and independent groups, the overwhelming majority underwritten by out-of-state sources.?
The record spending total was made possible thanks to the Citizens United U.S. Supreme Court decision, which had the effect of invalidating Wisconsin's century-old ban on independent expenditures by corporations and unions, and a state law that allows unlimited contributions to the incumbent in recall elections.?
The amount spent since November 2011 trounces the state's previous record of $37.4 million, set during the 2010 gubernatorial campaign.
Wisconsin is ground zero in a national fight for unions, which have supported state-based legal and ballot campaigns to overturn laws restricting collective bargaining and automatic dues check offs.
In the first of two debates, Walker vowed to "stand up and take on the powerful special interests," suggesting that national unions have propped up his Democratic challenger, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.?
While Barrett has received about 26 percent of his $4 million in campaign donations from outside the Badger State, Walker has drawn nearly two-thirds of his $30.5 million contributions from out of state, according to campaign filings released May 29. Walker has outraised Barrett 7 ? to 1 since late 2011, though Barrett didn't enter the race until March 20.?
?"It's big time," said Mike McCabe, director of the campaign finance watchdog Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, which compiled the numbers. "We have a level of outside interference in this election that the state has never seen before."?
Union money pours in
Campaign contributions tell only part of the story. National unions have kept Barrett's campaign alive by funding outside groups dedicated to defeating Walker.?
More than a year since Walker limited collective bargaining rights for most public employees, the nation's three largest public unions -- the National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) -- have channeled at least $2 million from their treasuries and super PACs to two Wisconsin-based independent expenditure groups.
The American Federation of Teachers, United Food and Commercial Workers, Teamsters, and the United Autoworkers have all dipped into their D.C. treasuries for the Wisconsin recall as well.?
The unions, however, have struggled to keep up with Walker's deep-pocketed, anti-union friends -- like billionaire casino owner Sheldon Adelson and the Republican Governors Association, which received a $1 million contribution from conservative billionaire David Koch in February.?
On March 7, the NEA, the nation's largest union, transferred $3 million to its super PAC, the NEA Advocacy Fund. A week later, that super PAC sent $500,000 to the We Are Wisconsin Political Fund, a state-based independent expenditure group headed by the state AFL-CIO's president. The fund has spent the money on direct mail, phone banking, canvassing and support for other pro-recall groups in the state.?
With access to unlimited corporate and union dollars, independent expenditure groups in Wisconsin may advocate for or against an opponent, but must disclose their donors and spending to the state's Government Accountability Board.?
Jeffrey Phelps / AP
A supporter of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, right, talks with a supporter of Democratic opponent Tom Barrett at a recall election rally on Friday in Milwaukee.
In early April, the SEIU sent two contributions totaling $500,000 to the We are Wisconsin PAC, which makes direct donations to candidates and parties.?
The NEA and SEIU declined to comment for this story.?
A third public sector union based in Washington, D.C., AFSCME, has set up a special account for the Wisconsin battles, which also include recall votes for four GOP state senators. Much of that money has gone to staff a vast, union-funded network of dozens of field offices in the state. Two weeks before the primary, the national union wrote a $500,000 check to bolster We are Wisconsin, which has paid for union staff from Alaska to Massachusetts to assist with the ground game.?
"This election is going to boil down to a turnout game," said AFSCME national spokesman Chris Fleming, whose union has funded campaign staff throughout the state.?
Labor unions had heavily favored former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk to challenge Walker.?
"Let's face it, I wasn't their first choice," said Barrett in May's first debate. AFSCME, a major Falk funder, criticized Barrett during the Democratic primary for trying to wring concessions from Milwaukee public employees.?
But when Falk lost to Barrett in the May 8 Democratic primary, national unions quickly shifted their support to Barrett -- who lost to Walker by 5 points in 2010.?
We are Wisconsin and a second group, the Greater Wisconsin Committee, saw an infusion of union cash for Barrett's second attempt in May. We are Wisconsin got another $500,000 from the NEA' Advocacy Fund on May 7 -- making for a cool million from the teachers union super PAC in under two months.?
The American Federation of Teachers also chipped in $350,000 in May.?
We are Wisconsin has spread its wealth too, sending $1.3 million in May to the independent expenditure arm of Greater Wisconsin, a one-stop -political shop comprised of a 527, a (c)4, a PAC, and an independent expenditure fund.?
In late May, Greater Wisconsin took a $500,000 donation from AFSCME and $900,000 more from the Democratic Governors Association to fuel a final online, radio, and TV ad push in the week ahead of the vote.?
Walker's campaign did not return calls for comment, but the governor called Greater Wisconsin "a front group for all the union money coming in," during the first of two May debates.?
Union leaders say the opposition to Walker is home grown.?
"I would tell Walker to look in his backyard," says Fleming of AFSCME. "There were people from Eau Claire and Waukesha and Green Bay, putting together the largest demonstrations at the Capitol since the Vietnam War."?
Super donors for Walker
Walker, meanwhile, has benefitted from the state's election finance rules that allowed his campaign to raise unlimited contributions from individuals after recall petitions were filed in November 2011. His challengers could take no more than $10,000 from individuals.?
Through April, Walker's top three donors combined gave more than challenger Barrett's campaign had raised overall. ?Four of Walker's top seven donors are out-of-state billionaires, including AmWay founder and former Michigan gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos, and casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, who each gave $250,000 to Walker.?
Adelson has given $26.5 million to super PACs in the 2012 election -- most of it to Winning Our Future, a pro-Newt Gingrich super PAC - making him the most prolific super PAC contributor so far, according to a Center for Public Integrity report. Though he is known primarily for his support of Israel, Adelson also has an extensive history of bitter disputes with unions who want to organize at his exclusively non-union casinos.?
When Citizens United came down, it didn't just nullify Wisconsin's 1905 ban on corporate campaign cash, it also plunged much of the state's campaign finance reporting into darkness.?
"Because corporate and labor expenditures were previously illegal, there were no disclosure laws to regulate their spending," said McCabe. "There's been a precipitous drop off in transparency."?
Since Citizens United, Wisconsin's Government Accountability Board requires independent expenditure groups to register as so-called "1.91 groups," named for the state rule that created them. Of the more than $63 million spent in the race, $22 million has come from these groups -- $16.3 million of it from Walker supporters -- according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.?
Similar to federal super PACs, 1.91 groups can raise and spend unlimited corporate or union dollars and urge voters to support or oppose a candidate. Also, like federal super PACs, they must report their donors -- except when they can avoid it.
The Republican Governors Association has spent roughly $4 million on campaign ads through its Right Direction Wisconsin PAC since April 23. But because the RGA's PAC is based out-of-state, it only has to disclose to state regulators its donations coming from inside Wisconsin, a glaring loophole.?
Of its most recent $4 million outlay, the RGA raised only a little over $7,000 from inside the state.?
The RGA does have to report donors to the IRS, and its 2012 first quarter filing reveals a $500,000 donation from the Chamber of Commerce and a $1 million February contribution from Koch.?
McCabe says the 1.91 groups that are based in-state, like We Are Wisconsin and Greater Wisconsin, also have ways around disclosure rules. The nonprofit arms of these organizations don?t have to disclose donors, and can funnel unlimited money from undisclosed sources into independent expenditure funds ? making the source of a lot of campaign cash ?nearly impossible to track.??
?Outrageous ? ?wrong, but ? legal?
For example, Greater Wisconsin transferred $191,000 from its political fund to its independent expenditure fund in early May. The money would be spent on ads supporting Barrett or opposing Walker. Because its political fund does not have to report donors, no one knows who paid for the ads ? an end-around the state?s disclosure rules that parallels campaign financing tricks at the federal level.?
Then there are issue ad groups which raise and spend unlimited funds, and do not register or disclose their spending. However, they are barred from urging voters to support or oppose a candidate.?
The Campaign for Wisconsin Democracy gathers purchasing data from media outlets, and estimates about $8.5 million in issue ads have been bought during the recall.?
The right-wing groups Americans for Prosperity and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, known as ?Wisconsin?s Business Voice,? and the anti-union Center for Union Facts have made roughly 75 percent of those purchases. Greater Wisconsin has spent about $2 million, according to McCabe.?
Despite the record fundraising numbers and the unprecedented degree of outside influence, neither Walker?s haul from out-of-state billionaires, nor the national union cash infusion breaks campaign finance law.?
In total, outside spending made by independent expenditure groups and Issue ad organizations, totals $30.5 million in the recall election ? well over half of which has been contributed by undisclosed sources, according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
?All the spending is outrageous and wrong, but it?s also legal,? says McCabe.??
Capital versus people
McCabe says the unions better bank on a ground game, because they can?t compete long-term with corporations.?
?I always thought it was foolhardy to play a capital-intensive game when the unions have people, and their adversaries have capital,? he says. ?They just can?t keep up.??
The intense spending by outside groups has made a lot of Wisconsinites feel powerless.?
Elena Barham is a West Madison High School senior who helped form the Students for Wisconsin PAC. So far, the group has raised about $30 from T-shirt sales.?
?Our goal is not money-based,? said Barham, whose group has focused on voter registration among young voters. ?It?s about showing that a grassroots effort could have an impact.??
Barham?s PAC produced a Web ad critical of Walker?s cuts to education and is canvassing in pivotal Dane County ? where Barrett needs to win big to have a chance.?
At school, Barham has the difficult task of rallying enthusiasm.?
?High school kids see all this big money and say, ?I don?t have a million dollars,?? she said. ?It?s hard to convince people of their political efficacy ? it?s discouraging.?
The Center for Public Integrity is a nonprofit, independent investigative news outlet.? To read more of CPI?s stories go to iwatchnews.org.
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Sunday, June 3, 2012
AT&T: Data-only plans coming for phones in 2 years
NEW YORK (AP) ? The CEO of AT&T Inc. said Friday that cellphone plans that count only data usage are likely to come in the next two years. In such a scenario, phone calls and texts would be considered as just another form of data.
Randall Stephenson didn't say AT&T has such a plan in mind, but he suggested that someone in the industry will likely offer one.
"I'll be surprised if, in the next 24 months, we don't see people in the market place with data-only plans," Stephenson said at a Sanford Bernstein investor conference in New York. "I just think that's inevitable."
Analysts see such plans as a logical extension of trends in wireless technology. Smartphones with data service can already use it for Internet phone calls and texting through services such as Skype.
Phone calls are also taking a back seat to other things people do with their smartphones. AT&T has been recording a decline in the average number of minutes used per month.
However, phone companies still make most of their money from calling plans and texting, which use very little data. That means phone companies would want to compensate for the revenue fall-off somehow, perhaps by raising data prices.
The switch would be complicated by the fact that phone companies charge each other to connect calls to phone numbers. That's one reason calling plans are charged separately from data usage now. But at least in the U.S., connection fees are low, and phone companies could make up for the cost by raising their own fees. Connection fees for international calls are much higher.
AT&T has said that it wants to introduce wireless data plans that allow a subscriber to share a data allowance over several devices, such as a smartphone and a tablet computer. Another AT&T executive, wireless head Ralph De La Vega, has said these plans are close to being introduced.
Such plans also represent an opportunity for phone companies to add more data revenue, but they are a possible pitfall as well, as consumers will effectively be getting a discount compared with buying separate plans for their devices. Stephenson said AT&T is determined to make more money from the plans, not less.
When you have millions of devices such as tablets that lack cellular data plans, Stephenson said, "it seems to me it's a lift, not a deterioration" to get them connected.
Tablets such as the iPad are often available with cellular data modems, but the majority are used only on Wi-Fi.
AT&T has also floated the idea of letting websites or video services pay for the data used to access them, instead of having the data count toward the visitors' allowance. That idea, similar to "800" toll-free numbers for websites, is more controversial, as it would let deep-pocketed websites make themselves more attractive than startups.
Stephenson said he expects experimentation along those lines to begin in the next year. He didn't say if AT&T would be the one to do it, but he said Web content providers are already contacting the company about setting this up.
"It's not us going out and mandating this. The content guys are coming in asking for it," Stephenson said. "If you don't allow those kinds of models to flourish, you're going to inhibit the potential of these services."
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Zimmerman credibility may be hurt by bond dispute
FILE - In this April 20, 2012 file photo, George Zimmerman, left, answers a question from attorney Mark O'Mara during a bond hearing in Sanford, Fla. A judge on Friday, June 1, 2012 revoked Zimmerman's bond and ordered him returned to jail within 48 hours. Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester said Zimmerman misled the court about how much money he had available when his bond was set for $150,000 in April. Prosecutors claim Zimmerman had $135,000 available that had been raised by a website he set up. (AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel, Gary W. Green, Pool, File)
FILE - In this April 20, 2012 file photo, George Zimmerman, left, answers a question from attorney Mark O'Mara during a bond hearing in Sanford, Fla. A judge on Friday, June 1, 2012 revoked Zimmerman's bond and ordered him returned to jail within 48 hours. Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester said Zimmerman misled the court about how much money he had available when his bond was set for $150,000 in April. Prosecutors claim Zimmerman had $135,000 available that had been raised by a website he set up. (AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel, Gary W. Green, Pool, File)
FILE - In this Thursday, April 12, 2012 file photo, George Zimmerman, charged with killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, right, stands next to a Seminole County Deputy during a court hearing in Sanford, Fla. A judge on Friday, June 1, 2012 revoked Zimmerman's bond and ordered him returned to jail within 48 hours. Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester said Zimmerman misled the court about how much money he had available when his bond was set for $150,000 in April. Prosecutors claim Zimmerman had $135,000 available that had been raised by a website he set up. (AP Photo/Gary W. Green, Orlando Sentinel, Pool)
FILE - This undated file family photo shows Trayvon Martin, a Florida teen who was shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in February. A judge on Friday, June 1, 2012 revoked Zimmerman's bond and ordered him returned to jail within 48 hours. Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester said Zimmerman misled the court about how much money he had available when his bond was set for $150,000 in April. Prosecutors claim he had $135,000 available that had been raised by a website he set up (AP Photo/Martin Family, File)
SANFORD, Fla. (AP) ? The credibility of Trayvon Martin's shooter could become an issue at trial after a Florida judge said that George Zimmerman and his wife lied to the court about their finances to obtain a bond, legal experts say.
That's because the case hinges on jurors believing Zimmerman's account of what happened the night that the 17-year-old Martin was killed. Zimmerman wasn't charged in the case until more than a month after the shooting, as the former neighborhood watch volunteer maintained that he shot Martin in self-defense under Florida's so-called stand your ground law. Protests were held across the nation, and the case spurred debate about whether race was a factor in Zimmerman's actions and in the initial police handling of the case. Martin was black; Zimmerman's father is white and his mother is from Peru.
The questioning of Zimmerman's truthfulness by the judge on Friday could undermine the defendant's credibility if it is brought up at trial. It also may complicate how his defense presents him as a witness, said Orlando-area attorney Randy McClean, a former prosecutor.
"The other key witness, unfortunately, is deceased," McClean said. "Basically, Zimmerman is going to be asking the jury to believe his version of the facts. ... As the case stands now, his credibility is absolutely critical to the case."
Zimmerman had not turned himself in as of early Saturday evening, the day after his bond was revoked. He must do so by Sunday afternoon.
He went into hiding in the weeks after the shooting amid an impassioned debate about the case, and his exact whereabouts since he bonded out of jail remain unclear. It also was not immediately clear exactly where Zimmerman would surrender.
Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder for the February shooting. He maintains he shot Martin in self-defense because the unarmed 17-year-old was beating him up after confronting Zimmerman about following him in a gated community outside Orlando.
Witness accounts of the rainy night that Martin was shot are spotty. There is no video of the fight, though photos released by prosecutors show Zimmerman with wounds to his face and the back of his head.
Zimmerman's credibility would be important if his attorney, Mark O'Mara, tries to get a judge without the jury to dismiss the charges based on the law, said Orlando defense attorney David Hill.
"If he was in on something that was not truthfully revealed to the judge, when there is a 'stand your ground' hearing, of course you're going to second-guess him," Hill said.
Both McClean and Hill said O'Mara would be able to challenge the admissibility of the bond revocation at trial by questioning its relevance.
Zimmerman was arrested 44 days after the killing, and during a bond hearing in April, his wife, Shellie, testified that the couple had limited funds available. Zimmerman took the stand at the hearing and apologized to Martin's parents.
Prosecutors pointed out in their motion that Zimmerman had $135,000 available then. It had been raised from donations through a website he had set up. They suggested more has been collected since and deposited in a bank account.
Shellie Zimmerman was asked about the website at the hearing, but she said she didn't know how much money had been raised. Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester set bail at $150,000. The 28-year-old was freed a few days later after posting $15,000 in cash ? which is typical.
Prosecutor Bernie De la Rionda complained Friday, "This court was led to believe they didn't have a single penny. It was misleading and I don't know what words to use other than it was a blatant lie." The judge agreed and ordered Zimmerman returned to jail by Sunday afternoon.
"Does your client get to sit there like a potted plant and lead the court down the primrose path? That's the issue," Lester said. "He can't sit back and obtain the benefit of a lower bond based upon those material falsehoods."
The defense countered that Zimmerman and his wife never used the money for anything, which indicated "there was no deceit." O'Mara said it wouldn't be a problem to bring Zimmerman back into custody by the deadline.
The judge said he would schedule a hearing after Zimmerman is back in custody so he could explain himself.
Police in Sanford did not immediately arrest Zimmerman, citing Florida's "stand your ground" law that gives wide latitude to use deadly force rather than retreat in a fight if people believe they are in danger of being killed or seriously injured.
Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Trayvon Martin's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, said his clients have always said Zimmerman should remain in jail until trial, which O'Mara said he believed wouldn't be until next year.
Crump was asked if he thought that if Zimmerman would be willing to lie about his finances that he would be willing to lie about what happen the night Martin was killed.
"We fully expect that the special prosecutor will make George Zimmerman's credibility be front and center in this entire case," Crump said. "And whatever dishonesty that comes forth by George Zimmerman that they can prove, you can best believe it will become the issue of this case."
The revocation of Zimmerman's bond also puts pressure on O'Mara not to delay the trial, McClean said.
"When your client is out on bond, the pressure is much lighter to rush to trial ... because your client is sitting at home," he said. "When your client is sitting at the Seminole County Jail, your client is going to want this resolved."
___
Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://twitter.com/khightower and Mike Schneider at http://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP
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Preventing Damage Caused By Mice
There are many pests that can make themselves at home in the places we live. Unfortunately, this is simply a fact of life, but we can still do something about it! Some of these pests are merely annoying, though many of them can cause serious problems if left unchecked. If you have ever had any Mice in Maidstone, you know exactly how difficult they can make your life. Mice can be highly destructive in addition to posing serious health threats to you and your family. Let's take a closer look at why it is so important to get rid of any mice you might have living in your home or yard.
A single mouse might seem to be entirely harmless, but this could not be further from the truth. Even one mouse can gnaw through walls, fabric, wires, carpet, wood, floors, ceilings -- just about any material can be damaged or even destroyed by Mice in Maidstone. Mice can also cause serious damage to the things you own. These little creatures are notorious for causing damage in the kitchens and pantries of even the best kept homes; even if you are an attentive housekeeper, there could be mice hiding in the walls. Food packages can be chewed through in a matter of minutes, depending how many mice are at work in your pantry. Fresh food too, such as fruit, vegetables, and other items present on the counter can quickly be made inedible by these rodents. Replacing all the food that was ruined by mice could end up costing you hundreds! Once your home, food, or possessions have been damaged by mice, there is simply no way to completely repair what was done. Holes can be patched and new carpet can be placed on the floor, but that will never undo the fact that mice caused serious damage to the place you call home.
As you can see, the presence of just a few Mice in Maidstone is a cause for alarm. An infestation of rodents can end up costing you a lot of money, so save yourself a lot of trouble and simply call and exterminator. Professional exterminators are very familiar with the behavior of mice and will be able to identify the very best ways to address the situation. Each home has a different environment, so it takes a professional exterminator to correctly judge how Mice in Maidstone should be handled.
Mice Maidstone - If you are facing pest problems in Maidstone, visit David Bruce Pest Control for full pest control services.
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Saturday, June 2, 2012
Romney scuttled, revived Mass. affirmative action
WASHINGTON (AP) ? With a few strokes of his pen on a sleepy holiday six months after he became governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney quietly scuttled the state government's long-standing affirmative action policies.
There were no news conferences, no press releases trumpeting Romney's executive order on Bunker Hill Day, June 17, 2003, in the deserted Statehouse. But when civil rights leaders, black lawmakers and other minority groups finally learned of Romney's move two months later, it sparked a public furor.
Romney drew criticism for cutting the enforcement teeth out of the law and rolling back more than two decades of affirmative action advances.
Civil rights leaders said his order stripped minorities, women, disabled people and veterans of equal access protections for state government jobs and replaced them with broad guidelines. They complained Romney hadn't consulted them before making such drastic changes, snubbing the very kind of inclusion he professed to support.
"It was done under the radar and there was a big backlash," said Michael Curry, president of the Boston branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "It was clear Romney really did not have an appreciation for the affirmative action policies long in place."
Romney responded by creating an advisory panel to recommend changes. But he eventually retreated completely, leaving the state's old policies in place.
The likely Republican presidential nominee's handling of affirmative action may offer insights into how he would deal with civil rights issues if he defeats Barack Obama, the nation's first black president, in the fall election. Romney hasn't talked much about affirmative action on the campaign trail.
Romney's campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
"This is the canary in the coal mine on how he feels about civil rights issues," said Julie Patino, who was deputy director of the state's affirmative action office from 1995 to 1999. "It was a cloaked and unilateral move that eradicated years and years of civil rights advances and history. It was an astonishing act."
Patino said the state's long, tortured history of race relations, including the violence over school busing that tore apart Boston in the 1970s, made Massachusetts' affirmative action laws especially critical.
Massachusetts government for decades has been a patronage haven for well-connected family members and friends of state lawmakers. The informal system of doling out state job spoils was dubbed "Irish affirmative action" in a nod to the powerful sway Irish-American pols in particular have long enjoyed on Beacon Hill.
Romney has said he supports workplace diversity but opposes quotas in hiring, government contracting, school admissions and the like.
"I believe our nation is at its best when people are evaluated as individuals," he said in a 2008 Washington Post issues survey. "I do support encouraging inclusiveness and diversity, and I encourage the disclosure of the numbers of women and minorities in top positions of companies and government ? not to impose a quota but to shine light on the situation."
Responding to the uproar in 2003, Romney insisted he wasn't trying to undercut the state's affirmative action policies. He stressed his commitment to workforce diversity, saying he had simply wanted to broaden, streamline and update the old policies.
"I'm actually very proud of the progress that we're making in the area of affirmative action," he said in August 2003. "We're making a very aggressive effort to change our culture to be more inclusive."
Romney's executive order eliminated the state's Office of Affirmative Action, which required executive agencies to have civil rights officers in charge of monitoring the hiring of minorities, women and people with disabilities. A new state diversity office was created, along with broad goals and guidelines.
Black leaders and civil rights groups said Romney's order lacked enforcement mechanisms and removed penalties for agencies not complying with the state's diversity efforts.
The Boston Globe scolded him in an editorial, saying "Governor Romney sent exactly the wrong message in signing an executive order to revamp the state's affirmative action program, consigning to the trash heap 33 years of guarantees that minorities and women would have equal access to state jobs."
To quell such criticism, Romney appointed a special advisory panel that included minority and civil rights leaders to recommend changes.
"The changes the panel wanted became too hot for the administration to deal with," said Leonard Alkins, who was head of the NAACP's Boston branch during the controversy and was a member of Romney's advisory panel. Alkins said many of the panel's recommendations were aimed at bolstering the policies Romney had abolished.
Romney essentially walked away from the fight, ignoring his own advisory panel. Instead, he had state officials effectively follow the old affirmative action policies he had formally revoked with his executive order.
It wasn't until Deval Patrick, a Democrat who was the state's first black governor, took office in 2007 that the old policies were formally reinstated.
Alkins said Romney never seemed to grasp that the aim of the state's affirmative action policies was to protect people who were wrongfully denied equal rights in the workplace.
"I felt that the governor was out of touch," said Alkins. "He was very uncomfortable with the issue of race and how you would address issues such as affirmative action."
The policies Romney erased with his executive order had been started three decades earlier by Republican former Gov. Frank Sargent and were substantially expanded by Democratic former Gov. Michael Dukakis in 1983. Three Republican governors who directly preceded Romney had left the policies in place.
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