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The 2014 Houston Cinco de Mayo Guide

You won't need to dredge up your high school Spanish to enjoy this Latin-flavored holiday — anyone can celebrate the Mexican defeat of a French army at Puebla with tequila, margaritas and the occasional roast pig with help from their favorite restaurants, bars and clubs.

Friday, May 2

Bodegas Taco Shop

1200 Binz, #160, 713-528-6102

Bodegas is once again launching its block party complete with authentic street tacos, drink specials and live music courtesy of a Mariachi band. There's a bounce house for the kids, while adults may want to take a crack at riding the mechanical bull. The event is free to attend and will take place from 3 p.m. to midnight.

Cook & Collins

2416 Brazos, Suite C, 832-701-1973

Cook & Collins will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo by debuting The Terrace Bar from 5 to 7 p.m. with a "Titanium Tequila Happy Hour." Enjoy happy hour prices on Signature Craft Titanium Tequila Cocktails, bar bites and surprise giveaways, and a specially priced Titanium Collins cocktail all Cinco de Mayo weekend.

MAY 2 - 5

1600 Westheimer, 713-524-7744

Hugo's will be celebrating all weekend long with a specially prepared tequila-paired tasting menu featuring Tres Generaciones cocktails. The menu consists of four courses — among them mole, salad and suckling pig — and costs $65 per person. On Cinco de Mayo itself, the restaurant will have food specials, happy hour and live music by its house band, Viento, from 5 to 10 p.m.

Children's Museum of Houston

1500 Binz, 713-522-1138

Las Américas Ballet Folklórico is back at the Children's Museum to perform regional Mexican dances while decked out in full traditional garb. The performance takes place at 3 p.m. Entrance to the museum is $9 for general admission.

El Big Bad

419 Travis, 713-229-8181

From 11 to 2 a.m., El Big Bad is spicing up Cinco de Mayo with liquid nitrogen margaritas, Yucatan roast pigs, and a keg of Karbach Brewing Co.'s FUN Series 007, a super limited-production 4 Roses Bourbon Barrel Aged Hellfighter. Crawfish will be served on the balcony starting at noon, and DJ Ebonix from 104.1 KRBE will provide live entertainment from 8 p.m. on.

Fiesta Universal in The Woodlands

2099 Lake Robbins, 832-326-0221

Head to Town Green Park in The Woodlands to celebrate Latin culture at the Fiesta Universal. The event is free to attend and will include food trucks run by local vendors, live music and plenty of family-friendly attractions, among them face-painting, balloon art and a bounce house. Live entertainment will be provided from 3 to 8 p.m. by a variety of performers, including Latin rock band Jalea, a DJ, Ballet Folklórico, Aztec dancers and a mariachi band. Visitors will also get the chance to see an ambulance and a fire truck and to talk to first responders about their experiences. Proceeds from the festival will go toward providing local high school students with the opportunity to attend college.

House of Blues

1204 Caroline, 888-402-5837

Kick off Cinco de Mayo in the Peacock Room with live entertainment by La Sien and Bang Bangz. The event begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $58 per person, and only those 21 or older may attend.

LULAC Cinco de Mayo Parade

Minute Maid Park, 501 Crawford

Get a glimpse of Mexican culture at the eighth annual LULAC Cinco de Mayo Parade. Some 100 entries, including local marching bands, dance troupes, mariachi bands, classic car clubs and more, line up starting at 10 a.m. at Minute Maid Park and wind their way through downtown, ending at Preston and Crawford around noon. Free.

MAY 3 - 4

Cadillac Bar

#7 Kemah Boardwalk, 281-334-9049

At its Kemah location, the Cadillac Bar invites customers to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with specials on margaritas, buckets of beer and fireball whiskey shots, as well as with a taco stand and special giveaways. On Saturday, the bar will also host live entertainment from 6 to 10 p.m.

Rails and Tails Mudbug Festival at the Depot

201 S. Elm, 281-351-5484

Tomball is celebrating with its usual two days of food, live music and fun. Festivities will include competitive boudin ball and hushpuppy eating, as well as performances by Ezra Charles and His Texas Blues Band, Bayou Roux and Texas TNT on Saturday, and The Fab 5, Mango Punch and the Posse Band on Sunday.

Cinco Block Party

OTC Patio Bar

3212 Kirby, 713-489-0860

Hendrick's Pub

3320 Kirby, 713-522-1500

Celebrate Cinco De Mayo at OTC Patio Bar and Hendrick's Pub for their third annual Cinco Block Party, which will feature live entertainment from the Spazmatics.

Maria Selma Restaurant

1617 Richmond, 713-528-4920

Maria Selma Restaurant will host a tequila tasting featuring nine different tequilas, one of which is IZKALI. The event takes place from 2 to 6 p.m. and costs $35 at the door or $30 in advance.

Miller Outdoor Theatre

6000 Hermann Park Dr., 281-373-3386

Mexican pop-rock singer and songwriter Natalia Lafourcade will take the stage to celebrate and continue the tradition of Cinco de Mayo at Miller. Look for the celebration to start at 8 p.m. This event is free to attend.

Traders Village

7979 N. Eldridge, 281-890-5500

Traders Village and Telemundo present the market's 9th Annual Cinco de Mayo celebration. Expect lots of live music from Las Fenix, folkloric dancers, games and other activities as well as a large selection of cervezas and margaritas. Fajitas and turkey legs will be on the grill. Free admission ($3 parking fee).

Cadillac Bar

1802 Shepherd, 713-862-2020

At its Houston location, the Cadillac Bar will celebrate on the day proper with specials on margaritas, buckets of beer and fireball whiskey shots as well as with a taco stand and special giveaways. In addition, a DJ will provide live entertainment from 5 to 10 p.m.

2706 Westheimer, 713-524-1700

At the Chuy's River Oaks location, visitors will enjoy a party on the patio complete with giveaways and a special beer garden. At the remaining Houston-area locations, visitors will enjoy an all-day happy hour featuring $3.95 house margaritas, $2.75 domestic beers and $7.50 house Texas martinis and $3 Corona and Corona Light.

El Real Tex-Mex Cafe

1201 Westheimer, 713-524-1201

Celebrate the date with tequila sampling and margarita specials at El Real Tex-Mex Cafe.

La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant

12503 Telge Rd., Cypress, 281-373-0300

La Hacienda gets into the spirit with $3 shots, $1 off of jumbo margaritas, special margarita flavors and prize giveaways.

Los Gallitos Mexican Cafe

3385 Highway 6, 281-313-1401

Los Gallitos will serve up margarita specials and tequila samples.

Ouisie's Table

3939 San Felipe, 713-528-2264

Ouisie's Table will be offering its Sunset chicken enchiladas with red and green sauce along with three hand-picked artisanal tequilas for sipping all day on Cinco de Mayo. The menu also includes black beans, rice and guacamole on the side and costs $20 plus tax and gratuity.

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Better Than Ezra

New Orleans trio Better Than Ezra is one of the few '90s alt-rock bands to have stuck around through music-industry ups and downs, coming out the other end as a group of independent artists in charge of its own career path. It has paid off in spades, because the band is met at every tour stop with a cadre of devoted BTE fans and soon-to-be converts. Nearly 25 years into their history, Better Than Ezra shows no signs of slowing down.

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Fire on the Strings Bluegrass Festival, featuring The Claire Lynch Band

About 13 years ago, on a deep dark summer night, I was perhaps unwisely attempting to coax a 1979 Malibu Classic station wagon up and over Monteagle Mountain, halfway between Chattanooga and Nashville in southeastern Tennessee. I was tuned in to AM-650, WSM, the "air castle of the South," and the Grand Ole Opry was in full swing.

The master of ceremonies introduced an Alabama lady named Claire Lynch, and her band launched into "Wabash Cannonball." The night was transformed; even in my treacherous ascent of the Cumberland Plateau, I no longer cared about the jingle, jangle and roar coming from my Malibu's tired old motor. I was simply consumed with Lynch's incredible voice soaring over the sizzling of her band's strings, cutting right through the static all the way from distant Nashville.

Mountain music always sounds better in the mountains, and since those are in short supply around here, Lynch is playing this gig deep in the pines instead. The two-time bluegrass Grammy nominee performs two Saturday sets at the Fire on the Strings Bluegrass Festival at the KOA campground in Montgomery that was formerly known as Haven's Landing. The festival also features Audie Blaylock & Redline and Robert Hale & Wildfire, guitar and banjo contests, RV hookups, cabins for overnight stays, andlots more.

As for Lynch — talk about taking her show on the road. Later this summer, her touring schedule takes her from Alabama all the way to the flippin' Yukon. I hope she's not trying to cover all those miles in a Malibu wagon.

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Internet Download Manager Not Working With Firefox

Most of the Mozilla Firefox user already updated Firefox. Many of the times after updating Firefox Internet Download Manager stops working on Firefox. It’s because of incompatibility of Internet Download Manager Add-ons. Let me clear IDM automatically install a Mozilla Add-ons into Firefox. When you will use Internet Download Manager version 5.18, 5.19 with Mozilla Firefox latest version like 10, 11 it won’t work on IDM. Because the Internet Download Manager version 5.18, 5.19 contains with old version of IDM CC, i mean extension which is not supported by Firefox latest version. You have to update your IDM CC version. I have Provided link below download and install it. Another reason could be Mozilla Firefox option is unchecked in capture download mood.
IDM Not Working With Firefox

Fix IDM Not Working With Firefox

  • 1st go to Firefox Menu-> Tools-> Add-ons-> Extensions tab and make sure Internet Download Manager extension named IDM CC is installed and it’s enable.

  • Now go to Internet Download Manager Menu-> Downloads-> Options and make sure Mozilla Firefox box is checked.

idm fix

  • If not, then check the box. By clicking drop down arrow go to Mozilla Firefox folder select Firefox and press open button to add it.

Latest Version of Internet Download Manager Extension

  • To install this Add-ons manually, go to Firefox Menu-> Files-> Open Files then select the add-on, from left below press open button. Add-ons installation window will come, Install and restart your Firefox.

Now test it whether it’s working or not. If not let me know, drop few lines below.

Hope this will solve your problem. :)


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The How-To Geek Forums Have Migrated to Discourse

How-To Geek Forums / Geek Stuff

Home Network multirouter setup

(2 posts)
  • Started 2 years ago by Jimrx7
  • Latest reply from warlock
  • Topic Viewed 268 times

Posts: 1

Hello all, I have a Time Warner cable modem/wireless router in my bedroom that I have hardwired with CAT5E into a 5 port D-Link switch that is located in my living room, Distance is about 25ft. Connected to my D-Link switch with CAT5E is my PS3 and my XBOX-360. In this current configuration it runs flawlessly, wireless connection in the bedroom is perfect since I am only 8-12ft from the router, in the living room the connection is terrible since it is separated by 2 walls. I have the power output of the router at MAX and my one question is. How do I connect a second wireless router in the living room so it's only purpose is to retransmit the wireless signal. Routing and DHCP will be controlled by the router in the bedroom. So I just want to be connected at full power in the bedroom and walk in the living room and still be at full power on the living room router.

Posted 2 years ago
Posts: 4100

Possibly like this.

Edit: @Jimrx7, moving your thread to Geek Stuff. Better chance to be seen by all.

Posted 2 years ago

Topic Closed

This topic has been closed to new replies.


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The Reason Your Company is In Business

. . .to make money.  There, I said it.

I saw a recent comment from someone who said that the reason businesses exist is to do good things for their employees.  Um, nope.  Sorry.  That’s an important thing for them to do, but not the reason for their existence. Big difference.  Huge.  Again…the reason businesses exist is to make money.  Make no mistake.

Now, that being said, there are two things to remember about your business:

1)       How you make that money defines you

2)      How you spend that money defines you

It reminds me of a favorite quote from Reverend Run – “You can’t help the poor if you’re one of them.”  A business can have all of the best intentions in the world.  It can want nothing but the very best for its employees.  It can be a good community citizen and supporter.  But if it doesn’t make money, it won’t be in business very long.  And it won’t be able to do all of the wonderful things it wants to do for its employees and the community.

Harvard Business Review published a series on rethinking capitalism recently.  You can check it out here, here and here.  While I don’t think it changes the fact that businesses need to make money in order to survive, the series does delve into what people are looking for in the companies they do business with.

They want to do business with honorable, credible, ethical organizations. (i.e. how you make money)

They want to support companies that give back to the communities that support them. (i.e. how you spend money)

Businesses need to realize that customer loyalty and capitalism are not mutually exclusive terms.  Companies that build a reputation (or dare I use the word brand?!) that demonstrates they have positive core values will perpetuate the whole reason their business exists.

Another way to say it is…when companies run a respectful business, treat their employees and customers right and support the community that supports them…they build loyalty.  And loyalty translates into more money, allowing the company to continue to run a respectful business, etc. etc.

Making money is nothing to be ashamed of.  In fact, it’s the thing that allows you to give back.

Image courtesy of @boetter

  1. says

    I’ve learned over the years that there are only two types of for-profit organizations. There are those that are in business to make money and those that make money to stay in business. Most organizations that fall into the later grouping tend to be social-driven organizations where profits go not to executives or shareholders but rather to some cause.

    The difference between both types of organizations is substantial.
    Bryon Abramowitz recently posted..Repeating History

  2. says

    @Byron – Thanks for the comment. I really like the way you stated this. Many years ago, I wrote a white paper on corporate social responsibility and I believe businesses are starting to really focus on how to be a good corporate citizen (not just a good business.)

    @Tracy – Thanks for sharing the article and the comment. I love the “goal is to kick ass.” I’ve always told people my goal as a business owner was to fund my volunteer career. But the key word is “fund”. I have a great clients and work on terrific, interesting projects. And, they are supportive of my volunteerism. But I have a paid service to deliver and that comes first.

  3. says

    Short and sweet Sharlyn, great points. In business school we were taught all about the bottom line and how to achieve it, however there was stress on working well with employees and being an ethical entity in our communities. But at the end of the day, as you said you need money to survive, and you can’t forget that. Just don’t be shady in your attempts to achieve it.
    Robert Dempsey recently posted..How I Got Google Ranking With Zero Content

  4. says

    @Robert – Thanks for the comment. Very well said. I’ve worked for some terrific companies in my career. We had lots of fun and everyone was great. But when we needed to get a project done or hit a revenue target…we all got very focused, and quick.

    @Young – Any business needs a certain amount of money just to survive. If the goals of the business include corporate social responsibility, that has to be figured into the equation. Thanks for the comment.

  5. says

    Sharlyn, I almost jumped out and shouted after reading your post. Preach it!

    I am very fortunate to work with clients who are kind and generous. In my observations, it is usually the kind and generous entrepreneurs who are most uncomfortable having “making money” as their purpose. If entrepreneurs would get past that roadblock, achieve financial success and give back, they would find so much fulfillment – and the world we be even better.

    Thanks for the great post Sharlyn!
    Alicia Arenas (@AliciaSanera) recently posted..The You Don’t So I Won’t Sales Technique

  6. says

    Good points well made in this article Sharlyn – however, I think you have highlighted potentially one of the problems with the HR profession (I being a representative of that profession), is that we lose sight of the fact that a business exists to make money, rather than to provide a meaningful existence for the employees.

  7. says

    Thanks for the comment Heather. We both realize that’s what makes for a great HR Pro – being able to balance the profitability of the business with the needs of the employees. Not easy…but that’s what we do.


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HRC Blog

Be in the Know: HIV & Prevention

Did you know Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis or (PrEP) are two potential ways to prevent yourself from becoming HIV-positive?

According to and the Department of Health & Human Services:

PEP involves taking anti-HIV medications as soon as possible after you may have been exposed to HIV to try to reduce the chance of becoming HIV positive. To be effective, PEP must begin within 72 hours of exposure, before the virus has time to make too many copies of itself in your body.

And according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):

PrEP is a new HIV prevention method in which people who do not have HIV take a daily pill to reduce their risk of becoming infected. When used consistently, PrEP has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection among adult men and women at very high risk for HIV infection.

Of course, even with these medical advances, all experts recommend regular HIV testing,  consistent condom use and risk reduction counseling.

Talk to an HIV-knowledgeable health care provider to find out if PEP or PrEP may be right for you.

This Friday, September 27, is National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. All week, HRC is highlighting important facts about HIV/AIDS with daily social graphics to help promote awareness as part of its #BeintheKnow campaign. Stay tuned to the HRC blog for more graphics and guest blog posts from organizations that have long been leaders in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the stigma that can accompany it.

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Harry Ransom CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

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View from rear of a British soldier standing one one side of a coil of barbed wire, an Orthodox Jewish man stands on the other side, buildings are visible in the background.

A British soldier and a fur-hatted Orthodox Jew stand separated by a coil of barbed wire in the Old City of Jerusalem, 1946.


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Home > Research Articles > President's Budget to Include Education Aid for Foster Children

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Sunday, February 24, 2002

President Bush's budget for 2003 will include $60 million to help older foster children and young adults pay for college and vocational education so that they gain the skills they need to live independently, HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced today.

One day after the President signed legislation authorizing the new help for older foster care children, Secretary Thompson said that the President's fiscal year budget will fully fund the initiative to provide education vouchers of up to $5,000 each year for foster children and young adults, ages 16 to 21, who "age out" of the foster care system. At least 12,000 foster children would receive these vouchers to pay for college tuition or vocational education, increasing their prospects of becoming self-sufficient and living independently.

"Foster children deserve every chance to get an education and start a career they will need to succeed later in life," Secretary Thompson said. "These vouchers would help more than 12,000 young adults across the country to receive the education that best meets their life goals.''

HHS' fiscal year 2003 budget will request $60 million to fund this initiative for the first time. Last year, President Bush proposed the initiative and signed legislation yesterday to authorize the program.

"Many states, including Wisconsin, have shown that educational assistance can help young people make the transition to independent life," Secretary Thompson said. "President Bush and I worked hard with Congress last year to get the program authorized at the federal level, and we will work even harder this year to make sure the money is available."

The initiative would expand the Independent Living Program within HHS' Administration for Children and Families. The program allows states to provide benefits and services to young adults who grew up in foster care and are making the transition to independent living.


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Android 4.0 Updates and Frequently Asked Questions

Android 4.0 Updates and Frequently Asked Questions

Update information for HTC Desire S, HTC Rhyme, and HTC Incredible S
We're really excited that we've already released Ice Cream Sandwich for a number of devices! While we know many customers are comfortable with their existing software, we also know others want the newest software available. For those of you who want that option, we're pleased to say that we'll be making ICS available for download on three devices: HTC Desire S, HTC Rhyme (global SKU) and HTC Incredible S. Even though we think the majority of customers will be happiest maintaining their current experience, we felt it was important to give you the choice. Once the downloads are available, they will be posted to our HTCdev website and links to the downloads will also be provided here.

Follow the link to the HTCdev download page. Select "other" and then "find files." http://www.htcdev.com/devcenter/downloads

What is the overall timeline of Android 4.0 updates?

The majority of devices will receive upgrades in June and July 2012 and we expect to finish upgrades in August 2012 for all announced devices.

My phone hasn't gotten the Android 4.0 update, while other with the same device have. Why?
Due to localization, testing, and partner approvals, updates do not roll out to all devices at the same time. For devices on a wide variety of carriers and in many countries, rollouts can take up to 45 days from the initial update to reach everyone.

If your phone has not received the update after the 45-day period, navigate to Settings>About>Software Updates to have your device manually check for updates. If your device still does not show an update, please contact customer support

What devices will not get Android 4.0?
We work hard to ensure each of our products has the optimal user experience and therefore some products will remain at their current version of Android. In general, devices with 512MB ROM or less will not be upgraded to Android 4.0. These devices include the HTC ChaCha, HTC Salsa, HTC Wildfire S, HTC Explorer, HTC Desire HD and others.

HTC tablets, including the HTC Flyer, HTC EVO View 4G, and HTC Jetstream, will remain on their current Android version (Honeycomb).

Upgrades are not the same thing as ongoing support. Devices not being upgraded to Android 4.0 will still get software improvements, security fixes, and technical support as needed.

Why does it take so long to release an update?
Our goal is to make sure that an upgrade provides an equal or improved customer experience and that means a high standard of quality for hardware compatibility, adapting device or carrier specific customizations, testing by HTC and partners, addressing device hardware constraints, and many other factors.

What version of HTC Sense will come with the Android 4.0 update?
The upgrade to Android 4.0 will include Sense 3.6.

Why does the Android 4.0 update not include Sense 4?
Some aspects of Sense 4 require dedicated hardware, which is not available on all devices.


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Our MP (Multi Purpose) line of speakers offer great quality and produce a very nice sound, similar to speakers you might find at Best Buy only at a fraction of the cost.  We designed this line with polypropylene cones, a silk dome (not just a fabric "soft" dome) tweeter, and a nice crossover.  These are very similar to something like the Polk RC series with a few additional features that Polk does not offer on their RC line, such as the +/-3dB switch for the tweeter which allows the speaker to be slightly customized for your room or when matching the sound to other speakers in the room.  This product line was primarily designed for general listening applications, such as whole house audio or background/ambient music.  All of our in-wall and ceiling speakers have high power handling which means they will not distort at volume levels higher than most people will ever listen to.

The HD (High Definition) line is more similar to a custom-install brand, such as Niles or Speakercraft, and was designed more specifically for critical listening applications.  This includes home theater/surround sound rooms and dedicated listening rooms.  The HD line was designed with aluminum woofers, ceramic-coated aluminum tweeters, and a 2nd order crossover.   The lighter weight and stiffness of the aluminum drivers allows for a quicker, more accurate response from the woofer.  Our ceramic-coated tweeter provides all of the crispness of other high quality metal dome tweeters with the added benefit of no ringing or harshness due to the ceramic coating.  The end result is that the HD line produces a cleaner, more detailed and more accurate reproduction of sound than the MP line.

The HD line is also more flexible in its applications.  In addition to a +/-3dB switch on the tweeter, the HD line also offers a +/-3dB switch on the woofer giving the listener even more flexibility for adjusting the tone to accomodate room anamolies or the listener's personal taste.  With its aluminum components and powder coated aluminum grille, the HD line is also well suited for high moisture environments, such as bathrooms and even covered areas outdoors.  As a result, we took the extra steps of gel-coating the electrical components on the crossovers and using stainless steel mounting hardware to make them truly weather-proof.

Both the HD and MP lines come ready for easy installation and can be painted to match any decor.  All of our speakers include a 30-day guarantee and 5-year warranty.

See Also:I only have room for one ceiling speaker, what should I do?
 Where can I go to listen to HTD speakers?
 How do I decide which speakers are best for my home theater?
 Is a rough-in kit necessary for new construction houses?
 Should I use a rectangular or round in-wall/ceiling speaker?
 Where should I place ceiling speakers in my room?
 What are the steps for installing in-wall/ceiling speakers?


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Home  >  Home Theater Furniture  >  Palliser Furniture  >  Palliser Furniture Sectionals  >  Palliser Acadia Sectional Sofa  >  Palliser Acadia Sectional Configuration B

Palliser Acadia Sectional Configuration B

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Palliser Acadia Sectional Configuration B

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Home  >  Lighting, Signs, Decor & Carpeting  >  Classic Paintings in Film History  >  Marilyn Monroe Portrait Star Poster
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Marilyn Monroe Portrait Star Poster

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These high-quality graphic reproductions energize any home theater with hollywood star power! Available with optional black or silver frame.

Dimensions: 24" x 36"

HTmarket Expert Tip HIgh quality poster framed or unframed. The framed option comes in either black or silver and you get a high quality frame (Frame Width is 1 1/4" and Frame Depth is 7/8") suitable for hanging right out of the box.

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Hearts United for Animals
HUA - Omaha, NE

be my buddy
Maltese mix
Born: 05/01/2010
6 lbs

Homeward bound-adopted!

Zoey lost her nice home when her family grew in size. It was too much to handle. Zoey is supposed to be a Maltese, but her hair is quite a bit curly. Whatever she is, she’s a sweet, loving little girl who adores cuddling with people. She dearly loves to go out to the big play yards with volunteers. She plays well with other little dogs and loves everybody she meets. Zoey would very much love to be in a home again.
Buddy Messages (1)
Her Buddy, Leslie Price, from Union, NE, sent her this message: "I met Zoey last week when I visited HUA. She is a precious little girl who was so confused when she first arrived at HUA because she just couldn't believe her family would just leave her there not to return. Zoey is in a safe place waiting on her forever home and will make a wonderful addition to a family." Zoey sends Leslie many very happy hugs and little grateful kisses, and is very anxious for her to visit again!

adoption info

Thanks for Visiting Our Animals!

Hearts United for Animals is a national no-kill shelter, sanctuary and animal welfare organization. Hearts United for Animals does long distance adoptions if there are safe flights and we have volunteers in the area to do a home visit. We require an application, references and a home visit to adopt one of our dogs. Our dogs are all spayed or neutered and are current on health care. We can cat test a dog if requested. If you are interested in adopting a dog, we can give you more information on each dog if you click the Adoption Info & Application link above. Buddies are people who support the dog and send them love while they are waiting for their new home. The dog does not live with the buddy.


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H&M Fashion Against AIDS 2012: Tribal Inspired Clothing And Accessories Sneak Peek (PHOTOS)

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H&M's "Fashion Against AIDS" 2012 collection. | H&M

Who doesn't love a good sneak peek -- especially when it comes to home decor, fashion or beauty products? In this regular feature, we'll take you behind the scenes of some of style's biggest and most popular companies, and will show what products they're about to ship to stores.

Fashion is all about making a statement, but when it comes to creating clothing pieces and leaving a mark, sometimes trends are more than just the fabric.

H&M has partnered up with international artists and illustrators to create a custom clothing collection to raise money and bring awareness to the worldwide HIV/AIDS epidemic. Since 2008, the retailer has released custom "Fashion Against AIDS" clothes donating a portion of the proceeds to global HIV and AIDS initiatives. Past collaborating designers include Rihanna, Timbaland and Katharine Hamnett.

Just like all of H&M's collaborated collections, the store went for trends and bold prints in both the clothing pieces and accessories. Some of our favourite pieces include the African tribal inspired fabrics on denim, jackets and tops and the bright spring colours on wedges and shorts.

The collection will hit stores April 26 in Canada.

Check out some of the pieces from H&M's 2012 Fashion Against AIDS.

H&M Fashion Against AIDS Collection
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TV REVIEW - Melissa George Is A Female Trained, Toned, Sulky, Betrayed Agent In 'Hunted'

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The BBC has not yet found its Spooks replacement. And it's no doubt been watching Homeland intently. Which is how we've ended up with Hunted.

From Frank Spotnitz, the brain behind the X Files, came this espionage thriller with a toned and trained Sam Parker (Melissa George) at its centre.

Melissa George was a solitary agent - never mind her team duties - in Hunted

Proceedings opened in the dusky environs of Tangier, with Parker in a passionate clinch with a man who later betrayed her. Except she quickly betrayed him back, and then got shot by someone, and presumably betrayed by one of her own.

And so we moved onto an isolated Rocky-esque montage of grit and recovery, measuring holding her breath under water with an egg-timer on the side of the bath, all that sort of business. There was no actual log-chopping but there could have been.

Then, with barely a blink of exposition, she was back at work, with some familiar-looking charts, maps and mugshots, and everyone's unblinking eyes meeting significantly across the table. It was classic Spooks territory, but with no patriotism here to make it at least a bit more noble - and no Harry, sadly. These were corporate spies, available to any client with deep pockets, and Sam Parker was the very best - inevitably.

Which meant, within five more minutes, their very best was masquerading as an au pair to infiltrate a family with a powerful old crim at its centre, balancing on bookcases to plant cameras and flirting over the top of wine-glasses with the crim's vulnerable son.

Melissa George was apparently down to the final few for Homeland's Carrie Mathison until they got hold of Claire Danes, and the same glimmers of barely-controlled intensity are on display here.

But the script so far has left her down badly. We had to wait 25 minutes for the first meaningful dialogue, a silence broken by Sam's boss thus, "I consider the infinite variables of chaos that can occur during the working day." We waited nearly half an hour for that!

As for Adam Rayner as Sam's love interest but also potentially the man who betrayed her, he was far too busy auditioning for his inevitable Gillette ad to remember to act, and delivered lines like "What do you expect? I'm a spy" like he was doing voice-over work.

Between these two, it was a competition of the pouts. Now I like an old mouille with the best of them, but this was almost spoof-like. Bewilderingly, somebody must have been looking down the lens, directing the committed George, "Bit more pout, nearly there, love..." which was a little bit distracting from something that, on paper, has all the right ingredients for a cracking bit of weeknight drama.

Spotnitz has given Parker a complex back-story - including witnessing as a child her mother being murdered - presumably to explain her defiant solitude as a young woman, but more than anything, it reminded me of all those pretty but sulky girls in the year above at school who fancy themselves a bit rotten, and can win any competition as long as it requires sulking the longest. Not great for dinner parties.

Bugger. I was really looking forward to this, and I really, really want to like it. Please, please get better for next week, and stop spoofing Spooks.

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Hindu Julia Roberts: I'm Done Talking About Religion

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(AP) TOKYO -- Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts isn't planning any more spiritual journeys now that she is done making a film based on the hit book "Eat Pray Love."

The movie, inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert's best-selling memoir, follows the story of a frustrated divorcee who decides to take a long trip overseas in search of some peace in Italy, India and Bali.

Roberts, a happily married mother of three, said she read and enjoyed the book long before it came across her desk as a proposed movie script and jumped at the chance to play the leading role. But she added she isn't looking to make any big alterations in her own life.

"No, no changes," Roberts said Wednesday in Tokyo, where she is promoting the movie's release. "I'm good."

Roberts, who was raised a Catholic but is a practicing Hindu, said the film offered her a chance to draw from her own experiences, but said she had been interested in Hinduism before she came across the book and that she did not convert because of the shooting.

Beyond that, she said she would keep her beliefs to herself.

"I've realized something my mother told me 22 years ago," she said. "You're an actor, act. Don't talk about politics or religion."

One departure for Roberts, 42, does lie ahead.

Since her box-office breakthrough in 1990's "Pretty Woman," Roberts has done little TV work, but she is now working as a producer of a documentary series called "Extraordinary Moms" set to debut in January on Oprah Winfrey's new cable network.

Roberts' next big-screen project is "Larry Crowne," which has been shooting in Southern California in recent months and is set for release next year. The movie reunites her with leading man Tom Hanks.

On her work – and her longevity as one of Hollywood's most sought-after stars – she said her inspiration has never waned.

"Loving what you do is the secret to everything," she said. "I really do love the creative part of making movies."

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ACLU Sues School Over 'I Love Boobies' Bracelet Ban

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PHILADELPHIA — Two middle schoolers filed a free-speech lawsuit Monday against a Pennsylvania school district that suspended them for wearing the popular "I (heart) boobies!" bracelets.

The American Civil Liberties Union believes the lawsuit is the first in the country over a school's ban on the $4 bracelets, which are designed to raise breast-cancer awareness among young people. The rubber jewelry has become wildly popular among students, prompting bans across the country.

School officials in Easton argue that the slogan is distracting and demeaning, and that some staff feel it trivializes a serious illness.

The district banned the bracelets in October, a month into the school year and after students had been wearing them without serious incident, the ACLU said.

Kayla Martinez, 12, and Brianna Hawk, 13, had their parents' permission to wear the bracelets but soon found themselves in the principal's office at Easton Area Middle School, the lawsuit states. They were also banned from school dances for a month.

Amy Martinez said her daughter's suspension seems unduly harsh, given that the seventh-grader had agreed to wear the bracelet inside out, with only a breast cancer-awareness website address showing. That, too, was deemed inappropriate under the school dress code, she said.

"I don't believe that vulgarity, obscenity, profanity or nudity (in the school code) apply to the word 'boobies' or 'breast,'" said Martinez, 32, an accountant whose late aunt suffered from breast cancer.

"There were teachers that had 'breast cancer awareness' T-shirts on" in October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, she said.

The ACLU calls the bracelets perhaps silly and irreverent, but not lewd or indecent.

The civil-rights group has intervened in similar school disputes across the country, including a second case in Pennsylvania and one in Wyoming in which a student was allowed to keep wearing a bracelet except in the presence of two teachers who found it objectionable.

The Easton families, however, are the first to file suit, ACLU lawyer Mary Catherine Roper said.

"The First Amendment does not allow schools to censor students' speech merely because some students and teachers are offended by the non-vulgar educational message, and silencing the speakers because other students may react inappropriately would amount to a constitutionally impermissible heckler's veto," Roper, who represents the families, wrote in the lawsuit.

"Seeing a bracelet with 'I Love Boobies!' on it is a conversation starter that leads to discussion and awareness of issues affecting young people," the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit was filed Monday in federal court in Philadelphia.

"I am writing from in-school suspension for wearing an 'I love Boobies' bracelet," Brianna Hawk wrote in a recent letter to The Express-Times of Easton. "Even though I am only 13 years old, I am well aware of breast cancer and the effects it has on woman."

Kayla Martinez continues to wear the bracelet to school under her sleeve, her mother said.

The suit asks the district to end the ban, allow the girls to attend all school functions and expunge their disciplinary records.

Easton officials did not immediately return phone and e-mail messages seeking comment.

In discussions between the two sides before the lawsuit was filed, district officials complained the bracelets made some people uncomfortable and had prompted some boys to make inappropriate comments, the suit said.

"I don't know ... why the educators are not equipped to deal with distractions. Why do they have to ban, ban, ban?" Martinez said.

Schools from Florida to California have banned the bracelets. One Oregon high school said the message was getting lost on the ninth-grade boys who were wearing them.

The rubber jewelry is sold by the Carlsbad, Calif.-based nonprofit Keep A Breast Foundation to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer organizations.

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Silverton Mountain: A Huffington Post Travel Ski Resort Guide

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Flickr: Zach Dischner
Flickr: Zach Dischner

Silverton Mountain in Colorado is a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders. As part of a series on ski resorts, Huffington Post Travel offers our guide to Silverton Mountain, featuring all the key information snow lovers need to know before they hit the slopes.

The Basics

Silverton Mountain is located one hour north of Durango, Colorado. The Durango-La Plata County Airport sits some 52 miles away; approximately a six-hour drive from the Denver metro area. The ski resort opens in November and closes in late April or early May. Silverton Mountain is one of several ski resorts in the area, including Telluride, Purgatory and Wolf Creek. Silverton Mountain is attractive to skiers and snowboarders who do not like crowds.

The Mountain

Silverton Mountain is the highest ski area in North America, with a peak at 13,487 feet. The mountain is also the steepest in North America and includes a vertical drop of 1,900 feet. The ski area gets more than 400 inches of snow each year, providing fresh powder and new terrain almost daily. Skiers have access to 1,819 acres of skiable area that includes both long and short runs. Guests can also take part in the Silverton Powder Cats, which is a full day of skiing or snowboarding in the backcountry of the San Juan Mountains.

Trails And Lifts

The one chairlift at Silverton Mountain takes guests to the top of the summit, where they can choose the trail they would like to take down. A helicopter is another way of transporting guests to the top. The mountain is left in its natural state, giving skiers access to a variety of bowls, chutes, cliffs and natural terrain. Silverton Mountain is for advanced and expert skiers only and does not offer trails or runs for beginning or intermediate skiers.

In The News

Silverton Mountain boasts a one-woman ski team, ESPN reports. Suzanne Graham gained exposure for her part in a commercial filmed at Silverton Mountain. She explained that it was for a "Russian oil company sponsoring the 2014 Olympics, and also for the Red Bull Cold Rush." The ski area also hosts the Red Bull Cold Rush race. Suzanne Graham took fourth place in this race in 2010.

Silverton Mountain offers single-day lift tickets in addition to four season pass options. The 10-day pass costs $299 and gives guests unguided skiing access for 10 days at Silverton Mountain plus six free days at other ski resorts in Colorado. For guests who prefer buying one-day tickets, the G-Pass is a good option and costs $99. This pass enables guests to purchase one-day unguided ski tickets for $39 each. The Solid Gold Pass is priced at $1,499 and includes unlimited, unguided skiing and 10 days of guided skiing. Solid Gold Pass holders also receive 15 free days at other ski areas in Colorado. Another option is the Unguided Season Pass, priced at $399. It gives guests unlimited access to unguided skiing and 15 free days of skiing at certain Colorado ski resorts. Silverton Mountain offers rentals, which run between $35 and $45. Skiers and snowboarders can also rent gear, such as backpacks, helmets and poles.

The Brown Bear Cafe is a popular dining spot at Silverton Mountain and is located on the main street. The cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mother Kluckers is another option serving up wings and broadcasting sports games. Four other local restaurants give guests choices of burgers, steaks, sandwiches, pizza or coffee and dessert. Guests can get a cold drink at the Miners Tavern. The ski area also has shopping areas, massage options and Southwest Adventure Guides.

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Watch guests snowboarding the steep terrain at Silverton Mountain.


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Presidential Debate Drinking Game: Live Drink Obama & Romney's Last Showdown With Us

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HuffPost Comedy

While you're watching the debate at 9 p.m. EST tonight (which you can do here, live), play* our drinking game while following along with live commentary from our quick-witted friends at Witstream.

*Note: Don't actually do this; you will die. Avoid the butt-chugging in particular.

If this...Do This
Obama says 47%Pop a can of the cheapest beer you can find, chug patriotically
Romney cites unemployment statsDrink 8.3% of your beer
Camera cuts to sleeping audience member Take a 5 hour energy shot
Obama mentions Romney's tax returns Hide your drink somewhere in the room and pretend it's not there
Romney suggests starting a war with Iran Sprint out of the bar and find a nuclear fallout shelter
Anyone mentions MormonismDrink a shot of water
Camera pans to Joe Biden Take a sip of your drink then point at your TV and wink
"The Ryan Budget" is invokedSteal the drink of someone over the age of 65
Anyone says "redistribution"Pour half your drink in someone's empty glass
Romney defends traditional marriageDrink a bottle of sherry alone in your bedroom while your husband is out galavanting with his secretary again, leaving you home with the kids. Call your mother and ask her if she and dad were really happy for all those years.
Any Romney "Zinger" Take a drink and do a 'Yo Mama' joke about the person next to you
Jeremiah Wright is mentioned Finish your drink and smack your forehead really hard
Obama says "Let me be clear"Vodka/Gin shot
Obama appears "professorial" Mix vodka martini, extra dry
Someone brings up Romney's Massachusetts record Drink a Cape Codder
Someone brings up raising college tuitionButt chug
Romney slams entitlements Snatch up everyone's drinks until they explain why they deserve them
Someone brings up leaving debt for our children Stop drinking so you don't have post-debate unprotected sex
Obama mentions Bin LadenCut open a football, pour a Sam Adams lager into it, drink, spike football
Candidates spar over whether healthcare reform should be called Obamacare or RomneycarePerform minor surgery on whatever your most pressing ailment is, use grain alcohol for antiseptic/anesthesia
Obama refers to "The same policies that got us into this mess"Drink whichever wine cooler made you throw up for the first time as a teenager
Romney asks if we're better off than we were four years agoOpen a bottle of champagne and remember how you felt four years ago
Post-debate, Fox pundit immediately declares Romney the clear winner Drink celebratory Jäger bombs knowing your beliefs about the opposition have been confirmed
Post-debate, MSNBC pundit immediately declares Obama the clear winnerDrink celebratory Jäger bombs knowing your beliefs about the opposition have been confirmed

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Paul Ryan Does Workout Photo Shoot With Time (PHOTOS)

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As part of Time's new issue featuring a profile of GOP vice-presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the magazine did a photo shoot of his workout. Ryan is a practitioner of the intense P90X workout plan, and frequents gyms in the House and on the campaign trail.

However, Ryan, has also misstated his marathon time, and there has been some confusion over his mountain-climbing claims.

Ryan may be part of a fitness trend among GOP candidates -- previous vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin appeared in Runner's World in August 2009 after she and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) lost, and is writing a book about fitness.

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Why We Should Dial Down Our Enthusiasm for the Giving Pledge

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Last week, 17 more billionaires signed on to the Giving Pledge and declared their intention to give away to charitable organizations at least 50 percent of their wealth. The initiative is being spearheaded by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates.

I've been following this effort since it was launched earlier this year with a cover story in Fortune magazine. Let me say clearly that I think it's fantastic for billionaires to give money to charity instead of buying expensive toys they don't need or giving it all to their heirs. And I applaud the Gates family and Mr. Buffett for being willing to challenge their peers and to lead by example. Their effort will surely lead to an increase in giving among billionaires and others. I do, however, have some concerns.

I don't want to be a Grinch about it in the middle of the holiday season, but there are three important reasons to keep our enthusiasm for the Giving Pledge in check. First, the pledge is likely to have an extremely small impact on total giving, especially in the first few years. Second, little of the money is likely to benefit the most under-served populations. And third, giving by billionaires has typically been limited in its effectiveness and has dangerous implications for democratic decision-making.

I'll explore the first two concerns in greater detail now; I'll share my thoughts on the third point in a second posting later in the week.

The amounts being given are actually quite small.

Early news reports about the Giving Pledge hyped estimates that if the Forbes 400 of 2009 signed on, it would mean $600 billion for nonprofits. The problem is, the money is going to trickle out over a very long period of time, and it will represent only a very small upward tick in total charitable giving.

Billionaires who take the pledge commit to giving half their wealth to charity at some point during their lifetimes, or at their deaths. Some people on the list are quite elderly, but others are likely to spread their giving out over the next 50 years.

The biggest issue to consider, however, is endowments. My guess is that most of the money will wind up in university or foundation endowments, with only about 5 percent of the asset base getting spent on charitable purposes each year in perpetuity. The corpus will be invested in the stock market or other vehicles intended to earn a financial return, and only a tiny fraction of the assets will be working to advance a charitable goal.

How slow will the trickle be? Let's do some math. Assume every billionaire signs the pledge and the $600 billion windfall that was predicted actually materializes. Now assume the money is given out in even installments over the next 40 years as billionaires clarify their charitable goals and have life events that trigger giving. Those assumptions get us to $15 billion per year. Since total United States giving is about $300 billion annually, you might think we are looking at a respectable 5 percent increase in charitable giving. But you would be wrong.

Assuming I'm correct that most of the money will be put into endowments with 5 percent payouts, we're looking at $0.75 billion in new money for social purposes the first year, $1.5 billion the second year, $2.25 billion the third year, etc. It won't be until the 20th year that we'll hit even $15 billion annually in new money actually reaching nonprofits doing the important work that needs to be done. Clearly, the Giving Pledge will not be a major factor in sparking a much hoped-for rebound from the drop in giving that has decimated many nonprofits these last two years.

Warren Buffett is a noble exception here. In his pledge letter, he is clear that none of his giving is to go into endowments. He notes, "I want the money spent on current needs."

I hope others who take the pledge follow his lead and spend now to address urgent problems. If they do, we'll all be better off and the Giving Pledge will have more impact sooner.

Another option available is for billionaires to begin using the assets in their endowments, in addition to the grants payout, to achieve a social purpose -- a practice known as "mission investing." While mission investing is growing in popularity, it remains disappointingly uncommon, so I don't hold much hope that signers of the pledge will begin using this approach in great numbers. Any pledge signer who does want to learn more about mission investing should get involved with More for Mission, a group of foundation leaders dedicated to building the mission-investing field. Or check out this white paper by the Nathan Cummings Foundation on shareholder activism.

Little of the money will likely reach under-served populations.

Wealthy donors don't tend to prioritize lower-income communities, communities of color or other marginalized groups as beneficiaries of their giving. Instead, they tend to give to nonprofits that they patronize, such as cultural institutions and their alma maters.

Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich pointed out in an op-ed in the LA Times that wealthy donors give to places "where they spend their leisure time" and that only 10 percent of charitable contributions actually benefit the poor. And a 2009 study by the organization I lead found that only 33 percent of giving by foundations is intended to benefit under-served populations, even when very broadly defined.

So if billionaire donors recruited for the Giving Pledge act like most of the wealthy donors who have come before them, groups working with and on behalf of those with the least wealth, opportunity and power shouldn't expect a very large slice of the pie.

Bill and Melinda Gates are an exception, not the rule, in this regard. They -- admirably -- have made it explicit that they want the vast majority of their philanthropy to benefit the world's poor. If more of the billionaires taking the pledge shared that commitment, I'd be more excited. The question of who benefits from philanthropy matters.

Watch out for the continuation of this posting in the coming days, where I'll discuss the real limits and risks of billionaire philanthropy.


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Ensure That Hosting the 2014 Super Bowl Has Lasting Value

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The hosting of the 2014 Super Bowl offers enormous economic development potential for both New York and New Jersey, and the challenge will be to maximize its lasting benefits. The model should be New York City's hosting of the 1992 Democratic National Convention, for which three events were created that continue to promote New York annually 18 years later.

The three events created by New York '92, the public-private hosting effort, are: Restaurant Week (which began with an initial $19.92 prix fixe lunch); Broadway on Broadway, the free outdoor concert by the Broadway theaters; and Fashion Week, which started in 1992 as "New York is Fashion" and was the first time that New York's major fashion houses joined together to show their designs in one place (a massive tent in Central Park). The following year the event moved to Bryant Park and was renamed "Seventh on Sixth," before later changing its name to Fashion Week.

The economic impact of that convention - a legacy that has not been matched by any other American political convention - is the result of three key concepts, and those concepts hold similar potential for the hosting of the 2014 Super Bowl:

First, engage the public, not just those who are in town to attend the event. Two of the three events created in 1992 (Restaurant Week and Broadway on Broadway) were open to the public; the third could not be, because of space constraints, but the other two set the tone that the celebration was for everyone.

Second, promote uncontestable attributes of the host city (or states, in this case) rather than the city itself. If you promote a particular location, the result will be a one-time promotion. If you promote attributes of the region, which have industries attached to them, then you have the makings of an ongoing opportunity, because those industries have perpetual promotional needs.

Third, create events that address pivotal needs of targeted industries. Restaurant Week, which initially sold out in hours, responded to the restaurants' desire for more lunchtime business during the summer. Broadway on Broadway was designed to attract new audiences by providing a sampling of the new theater season's offerings. "New York is Fashion" resulted from the fashion industry's desire to produce a fashion event that would compete with Paris and Milan. Addressing those needs effectively was the key to the industries' continuation of them in subsequent years.

Much has been written in the days following the decision to hold the 2014 Super Bowl at the Meadowlands about whether Greater New York or New Jersey will be hosting the event. But that debate misses the point and jeopardizes the event's potential for everyone. In fact, it raises the likelihood that the media will focus on the rivalry between the two states rather than the promotional needs and assets of the region. It could become one more example of sacrificing the public good on the altar of partisanship.

Instead, the two states should begin working together to incorporate the three ingredients described above into their planning. Which industries should be featured will emerge from the planning process. The first step is to identify specific attributes that both states share, then bring together some of the most creative people in the region to consider ideas for promoting them, and then explore interest from industries associated with those attributes and ideas.

Music, for instance, might be an attribute - with performing arts venues, concert halls, and clubs coming together to create a "Sounds Super" Festival, highlighting local talent at all levels. The Hudson River, which separates as well as binds the two states, might be another attribute - with Hudson River Valley winter promotions developed. Even a seemingly unlikely attribute like biomedical research could be a possibility, if creatively conceived to engage a broad public.

The key is to create a framework that enables the best ideas, tied to specific industry interests, to emerge. When the industry interests and the public interest come together, the lasting benefits will become clear.

The author, Chief Operating Officer of Goodman Media International ( was CEO of New York '92.


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Screen Time, Young Kids and Literacy: New Data Begs Questions

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Today's young children, from birth through age 8, are spending an average of two hours and 16 minutes with screen media on a typical day. More than a quarter of their screen time comes from playing on computers, videogame consoles, cell phones and iPad-like tablets. The average age for first-time use of a computer is around 3-and-a-half years old.

These are among the results released today from a survey of more than 1300 parents from around the country. The findings are part of Zero to Eight: Children's Media Use in America, a report by Common Sense Media, a non-profit organization that runs a website that reviews movies, games and other media aimed at children. The report follows up on surveys conducted several years ago by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Anyone who has watched YouTube videos of babies playing with iPads will probably be a little unsatisfied by the new statistics. What about e-books for kids? Skype sessions with Grandma? If "edu" apps on iPads qualify as screen time, does it help that Moms and Dads are usually interacting with their children at the same time that their tots are pressing their pudgy fingers against the screens? Today's new data do not go deep enough to answer these questions.

But the snapshot offered by today's data -- as well as similar statistics from the Always Connected report by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop -- is useful for putting some parameters around what we know and what we don't about how media fits into kids' lives. And it may prompt some interesting questions about intersections between socio-economic status, families' screen routines, and how children are exposed to the building blocks of literacy.

Consider the data on reading. Parents were asked to think about "yesterday" and mark on the survey how much time their children spent doing various activities, one of which was "reading or being read to." The results show that 70 percent of young children watch TV on a TV set, while 69 percent read or are read to each day. You might think: So far, so good. Those numbers are pretty much identical. But then consider what the flip of this means: On a typical day more than 30 percent of children in this age group are not getting the experience of reading or being read to. That's nearly one in three children who are not exposed to books on a typical day. (I'm assuming that this could include books on screen, since the survey simply asked about "reading.") Given what research has taught us about the importance of daily exposure to reading for a child's reading comprehension and fluency in later years, and given the worrisome reading achievement gaps in the United States, this number should give us pause.

The number of minutes spent reading is also worth dwelling on. In 2003, the Kaiser Family Foundation asked parents the same question, though it included children from six months of age to 6 years of age, instead of from 0 to 8. So the Common Sense Media survey results were broken down to enable comparisons over time within that age range. The results showed that in 2003, young children were "reading or read to" for 39 minutes a typical day. In 2011, that number fell to 29 minutes a day. What is happening in the lives of families that is leading to that drop off?

Looking at race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status, the statistics tell a more complicated, and perhaps surprising, story. Of children up to age 8, African American children spend more time with media of any kind than white children do. They watch about 30 minutes a day more watching TV, but they also spend 13 minutes more reading or being read to each day than white children. Their total reading time is about 41 minutes a day, according to the study. Hispanic children spend far less time reading or being read to: 25 minutes, according to the study. (Other differences by race have been found in a study published last spring by Northwestern University that looked at data on older children and adolescents.)

In the Common Sense Media data, differences in income and parent education do not appear to have as significant an effect on reading time as one might think. While parents making less than $30,000 a year reported 40 more minutes of TV time compared to those making more than $75,000 a year, the number of minutes their children spent reading or being read to was only a few minutes lower for the lower-income parents. The same goes for comparisons between parents with a high-school diploma or less compared to parents with a college degree or more.

As with any survey in which parents are reporting on themselves, all numbers should be taken with a grain of salt. Some parents may have felt it was more socially acceptable to report high numbers for reading or low numbers for TV, for example.

As analysts and experts parse the data in the months and years to come, new twists may emerge. But the larger picture painted by today's statistics is hard to miss: Media is embedded in children's lives and dominating hours of their days, while reading is trailing behind. The next trick is to tease out what I call the Three C's: the content, context and the individual child. What kinds of media -- what TV shows, which online games? Who's with them as they read and play, and how is that experience integrated into what they are learning or interested in? And what ages and dispositions of children are drawn to what kinds of media for what reasons? Until we can answer these questions, we will continue to be in the dark about the impact of media and its complicated connection to literacy among the next generation.


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Dick Gregory: "What I'm Running From" Bryn Mawr College Feb. 28

Lonna Saunders | Posted 04.29.2013 | Black Voices
Lonna Saunders

Mr. Dick Gregory -- presidential candidate, comedian, author, actor, army, postal worker, civil rights activist, entrepreneur in nutrition and the health food industry -- has done it all. What does he like doing best?

Django Unchained: Comic Savagery, Outrageous Satire, Real History. Quentin Tarantino Rules the Old South!

Liz Smith | Posted 03.11.2013 | Entertainment
Liz Smith

No matter the serious horrifying reality of slavery, still going on all over the world, Django Unchained is a western shoot 'em up classic of willful hilarity in the way it is presented.

Movie Review: Django Unchained

Marshall Fine | Posted 02.23.2013 | Entertainment
Marshall Fine

I was dazzled by Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, -- a film that manages to pay homage to films of the past even as it sends them up and then pushes past them into a territory all its own.

Christoph Waltz Finally Plays The Good Guy

The Huffington Post | Mike Ryan | Posted 12.18.2012 | Entertainment

Until five years ago, it's safe to say that almost no one in the United States had heard of Christoph Waltz. The actor had worked for many years, most...

Is Joseph Gordon-Levitt Teaming Up With Leonardo DiCaprio?

Posted 12.21.2011 | Entertainment

As he finishes up his second film with one great director, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is in talks to join up with another famed auteur. Gordon-Levitt, w...

Leonardo DiCaprio: Bad Guy?

Posted 08.08.2011 | Entertainment

Already the muse of directing legend Martin Scorsese, it looks like Leonardo DiCaprio is on pace to become maverick director Quentin Tarantino's next ...

Quentin Tarantino's New Film Revealed

Posted 06.30.2011 | Entertainment

Quentin Tarantino is coming back home to America -- and entering one of the darkest times in its history -- for his next major film. After taking o...


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Disaster Movies

Two Earthquake Films to Strike San Francisco on May 29

Thomas Gladysz | Posted 05.13.2015 | San Francisco
Thomas Gladysz

Later this month, locals will have to make a choice. Whether to see the latest earthquake disaster movie, San Andreas, or to see an early and possibly first ever feature film about the 1906 earthquake and fire, When the Earth Trembled, from 1913.

Kate Winslet: The Antidote for Contagion -- and Now She's Won an Emmy!

John Farr | Posted 05.31.2013 | Entertainment
John Farr

Almost fifteen years after Titanic, with six Oscar nods and one win to her credit, Kate Winslet is an actress at the peak of her powers -- no longer a precocious ingénue, but a professional who's conscientiously developed her craft.

9 Ways Hollywood Has Destroyed The World (PHOTOS)

Huffington Post | Dan Abramson | Posted 05.25.2011 | Comedy

Hollywood loves to destroy the earth. Whether it comes in the form of an alien attack, a giant lizard, or just a good old fashioned asteroid, director...


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Genetically Engineered Trees and Glowing Synthetic Plants? No Thanks

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This week in Asheville, N.C., the IUFRO "Tree Biotechnology" conference will meet. And the attendees will be met: by protests. Public opinion is unequivocally opposed to genetically engineered trees. When the South Carolina-based tree engineering company, ArborGen recently applied for deregulation of their freeze tolerant eucalyptus, APHIS responded by filing a "notice of intent" to conduct an environmental impact statement, and opened up for public comments on ArborGen's petition. The comments the received were overwhelmingly negative by a vast majority.

Similarly, when ArborGen filed for permission to field test their frankeneucalyptus back in 2010, more than 17,500 comments opposing the tests were submitted, while only 39 were favorable. In spite of the abysmal approval ratings, USDA granted permission to field test the trees and then again granted permission to allow some plots to go to flower. A lawsuit was filed against USDA by a coalition of groups (Global Justice Ecology Project, Dogwood Alliance, Center for Food Safety, Sierra Club and Center for Biological Diversity). In an article published in Biomass Magazine, spokesperson for the Biotechnology Industry Organization credited the suit as "... a hindrance to biomass development, as they discourage investment... It is creating a huge barrier."

The International "Campaign to STOP Genetically Engineered Trees", which has called for an international ban on commercial release of GE trees cheered their effectiveness as a "barrier."

Opposition to GE Trees makes sense for many reasons. First and foremost, there is little basis for confidence that these trees will "behave" as their makers proclaim. Like Frankenstein, they are likely to cause trouble. GE food crops have already taught us some lessons, from unanticipated problems. Those include the failure of engineered traits to be expressed consistently, and cross-contamination with wild relatives and evolution of resistant weeds and pests (in the case of herbicide resistance traits). The bottom line is that nature is messy and unpredictable. Things do not happen "out there" as they do in test tubes in sterile-controlled laboratory settings. Genetic manipulation of trees raises particular problems because trees live for a long time, undergo many physiological changes over their life span, and respond to changes in the environment (especially with global warming). They spread their seeds and pollen over vast distances and can potentially grow far from where they were initially planted. Some trees become sick, some may become invasive, some may be left forgotten in abandoned fields and woodlands to carry on, evolving into the future from whatever bizarre and unprecedented "starting state" the engineers constructed. Once they run amok, there will be little or no chance of going back. ArborGen's tree engineers tell us they have inserted genes into the trees that will render them incapable of reproduction. But this simply cannot be guaranteed to remain reliable and eucalyptus can stump sprout, and reproduce vegetatively. They has already become invasive in some places.

So why has USDA gone ahead, in spite of clear opposition, to permit field testing, flowering of ArborGen's frankeneucalyptus? Perhaps in part it is a response to the fact that ArborGen has succeeded in placing key personnel within positions in agencies such as the USDA and DOE where these decisions are made. Also, it is clear that the entire awesome weight of the biomass juggernaut comes into play. Subsidies are flowing into the construction of hundreds of bioenergy "renewable energy" projects, including plans to convert massive coal plants to burn biomass, efforts to convert wood into ethanol and other transport fuels, as well as a suite of other biomass based chemicals and products. The demand, and the potentially massive profits to be made, are altogether clear.

The Obama Administration recently released its "Blueprint for a New Bioeconomy" which would provide various additional forms of support for commercial and industrial bioenergy, and also seeks to "streamline" permitting processes for new biotechnologies, to help speed the bioeconomy along on its merry way. Unfortunately, that "merry way" is leading us headlong over the edge of a cliff. The ever-escalating demand for mind-boggling massive amounts of wood and crops, (and the land and water resources needed to grow them) to supply this "bioeconomy" is already clearly chipping away at both food markets and biodiversity. The U.S. mandate for ethanol, for example, has nearly 40 percent of the corn crop going to refineries rather than groceries. Industrial corn monocultures are expanding, obliterating biodiverse conservation reserve program (CRP) lands, and wreaking havoc with global grain markets, causing price spikes that are driving poor people into hunger and rich people into commodity and farm land speculation. These and other problems, (by now well-documented) and including land grabs, food price spikes, deforestation, depletion of aquifers, increased use of fertilizers and agrichemicals -- are the result of biofuels' 3 percent contribution to global transport fuels. Worse still, greenhouse gas emissions have not been reduced as a result of biofuels; in fact they appear to have only made matters worse.

ArborGen's motto is "more wood on less land." They claim that their fast growing frankeneucalyptus will result in less land conversion. But they need a reality check. Increasing productivity does not result in less land being converted. Reducing demand does. Palm oil is a case in point. Increased productivity of palm oil trees has not resulted in less land conversion. Demand just keeps growing, and is driven by other (mostly market and policy) factors, including price (which tends to go down as productivity increases). In the case of bioenergy, mandates and subsidies bolster demand for wood chips and pellets, which is on track to expand massively. That is precisely what ArborGen and the other tree biotechnology companies are banking on.

In the southeastern U.S., where ArborGen hopes to grow frankeneucalyptus is already being targeted by European energy companies, like Drax and RWE, who are seeking millions of tonnes of wood pellets to burn in their coal-conversion facilities. Subsidized as "renewable energy" they stand to profit from partly substituting wood for coal in their facilities. In fact they are being forced to do so or close down operations altogether, in light of new regulations on sulfur dioxide. Adding wood to the mix does in fact lower sulfur dioxide emissions, even as it increases other emissions and prolongs the operations of these old polluting facilities. These European energy companies are establishing their own pellet production plants in Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and elsewhere to export back across the Atantic. The U.S., meanwhile, has its own expanding demand as well, with hundreds of new biomass burning "renewable energy" facilities sprouting up around the country in response to government supports that continue to indiscriminately support burning trees as "clean, green and renewable."

That we are even engaged in this debate over growing genetically engineered trees to supply this misguided, manufactured demand, is absurd. We know full well that protecting and nurturing natural forests and ecosystems is our best bet for stemming the tide of environmental destruction. Yet, instead we are considering paving over the landscape with genetically engineered, water-sucking, flammable, invasive eucalyptus? Perhaps this is an outgrowth of our obsession with technology, which we somehow seem to trust more than nature. Biotechnologists don't think twice about messing with the DNA of trees and animals -- as if the processes of evolution over millions of years are somehow irrelevant to the fabric and integrity of life. Our fascination is fed by great films like Avatar, which thrill us with the sense of technology's "possibilities." Symptomatic of this fascination: A recent media blitz was stirred to life over a project that aims to use synthetic biology to create glowing plants. Presented as a potential replacement for light bulbs, the proposal is to use install gene sequences that will confer bioluminescence on such common plants as Arabidopsis, a very common mustard family plant widely distributed throughout north America. Having hired a PR firm to handle the project, the media presents this as an oh-so-cool idea. Not all of us agree.

There is ongoing serious debate about regulation of synthetic organisms, and this 'DIY" project appears set to sidestep. A letter to USDA and Kickstarter (where the campaign is seeking to raise funding) states that the project should be halted as it "will likely result in widespread, random and uncontrolled release of bioengineered seeds and plants produced through the controversial and risky techniques of synthetic biology." For the techno-obsessed, ideas are spawned, scientists get grants, become "experts" and build careers, patents are filed, business ventures launched, and PR firms hired, all before the fundamental questions are raised: Is this environmentally safe, responsible and fair?

As public response to GE trees reveals, however, the average person retains some common sense. We realize that while Avatar was fun, it is in many cases better to keep science fiction, fictional. Sure, there is no question that some technological advances have brought great benefits. But there are boundaries. Some things are beyond our understanding and our ability to control. We know that all of life really is ultimately interconnected -- so that messing with any part of the system will have ramifications throughout. This means that some things -- tree genomes among them -- should remain sacred and inviolable.

Volumes have already been written elaborating a long list of concerns about GE trees. More importantly, what most of us know instinctively is that GE trees (and glowing mustard plants) are quite simply, an unacceptable violation.

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March 19, 2013

The Humane Society of the United States Offers Reward in Wagoner County, Okla., Dog Shooting

The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for shooting two penned dogs in Wagoner County, Okla.

The Case: The Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office gives the following account: On Feb. 10, a Wagoner County resident reported that his home had been burglarized and his two dogs--who were outside in pens–were shot. Gas generators, fishing poles and paintings were among items reported stolen.

Animal Cruelty: Getting the serious attention of law enforcement, prosecutors and residents in cases involving allegations of cruelty to animals is an essential step in protecting the community. The connection between animal cruelty and human violence is well documented. Studies show a correlation between animal cruelty and all manner of other crimes, from narcotics and firearms violations to battery and sexual assault.

“We hope our reward helps find whoever is responsible for shooting these innocent dogs who were penned at the time of the reported burglary, and posed no threat to any intruder,” said Cynthia Armstrong, Oklahoma state director for The Humane Society of the United States.

The Investigators: The Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office is investigating. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Wagoner County Tip line at 918-485-7799.

Resources: The HSUS Animal Cruelty Campaign raises public awareness and educates communities about the connection between animal cruelty and human violence while providing a variety of resources to law enforcement agencies, social work professionals, educators, legislators and families. The HSUS offers rewards in animal cruelty cases across the country and works to strengthen laws against animal cruelty. The HSUS recently doubled its standard cruelty reward from $2,500 to $5,000 thanks to a generous donation from HSUS board member Cathy Kangas and her husband Ed Kangas of New Canaan, Conn. To see information on statistics, trends, laws and animal cruelty categories, click here.

Media Contact: Pepper Van Tassell: 301-258-1417; pvantassell@humanesociety.org

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20:21, Friday, 03.07.2015
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“I Am Innocent and Expected Fair Verdict from the Judge,” Giorgi Demetradze Told Kviris Palitra

Thea Khurtsilava, Kviris Palitra

Football-player Giorgi Demetradze was found guilty in the adherence of criminals and was sent to prison for 6 years. Davit Gagnidze were tried together with him. Demetradze claims that he is innocent.

At the trial, when the judge gave him floor for final statement, Demetradze said – I request fair judgment and nothing else. Nevertheless, the judge found him guilty… Lawyer Marika Pkhaladze has already filed appeal to the Tbilisi Appeal Court. Before the judgment is put in legal force, Giorgi Demetradze will stay in Gldani prison.

Much was written and said about famous football player. They say Giorgi attempted suicide in the jail; they say he had quarrel with bailiffs. We tried to receive replies on these and other questions from the footballer himself.

-Giorgi, did you expect similar verdict?

-I did not expect. I was sure the judge would find me not guilty and release me from the court room. I have not committed any crime. The people attending my trial got convinced in my innocence. You all saw the prosecutor could not prove my guiltiness; they could not bring at least one witness to the court.

-You allege you are innocent. Then, why were you arrested?

-Maybe, because I did not agree with the prosecutor’s office and declined their absurd proposal; they requested me to plead guilty in the crime which I had not committed.

-Vato Kipiani was arrested for a new charge. Tell us about your relation with him; did he try to use you for some purpose?

-Vato Kipiani’s father and my father are friends. Our families have been very close for many years. Before my detention, he lived in my house in Kiev for 2-3 months. When he was released from prison, he left Georgia legally. Was it crime that he lived in my flat? On the day of detention, my friend Davit Gagnidze called me and asked to meet him.

He did not tell me why he wanted to meet me. I went to Vake district, Tbilisi with Kakha Misireli. I could not meet Dato because police detained me on my way to meeting. The police officers twisted my arms for no reason and pushed me down to the ground. I could not understand what was going on. I had no money with me. They lied saying they withdrew 30, 000 USD from me at the moment of detention. I have been playing football all my life and please, tell me how could I be a member of a criminal gang? They should at least prove that I had participated in the criminal settlement of conflict.

They found out at the trial that I had not even talked with Vato on the phone not to speak about any deals with him.

-As far as I know the prosecutor’s office offered plea-agreement to you and you declined their offer on 2-year-imprisonment, why? Will you change your position at the Tbilisi Appeal Court and accept the plea-agreement of the prosecutor’s office?  Your friend Davit Peikrishvili did it and will soon leave prison.

-Tell me why should I plead guilty in the crime which I have not committed? Believe me if I had indeed committed any crime, I would have chosen alternative way. They promised to impose only two-year-imprisonment on me if I pleaded guilty but I declined their offer.

-According to our knowledge, you had problems with bailiffs. Could you tell us about the incident?

- We had to go through inspection before coming to the court. We had to show them our tongue and allow them to check our mouth. We obeyed their request. Once, when I showed them my tongue, the guard told me rudely and aggressively to do it properly. I argued and asked them to treat me properly. Then he tried to beat me. Others stopped him. Since then they started punishing me. The bailiffs were bringing me to the court in the morning and putting me in the small kitchen. For the whole day I was alone and had no one to talk to. It is really cold there. The wind blows from every direction. I tried to write a complaint, but realized that it would result in nothing. I was in these conditions till the end of the trial.

- What is it like in prison?

- I get up at 6 am. At 7 am they give us bread. In half an hour they bring the breakfast. You probably know that the detainees have right to go on a walk every day. In the morning, during 9-10pm we breathe fresh air. They bring us to the roof where there is a place for taking walk. When we come down, I exercise in the cell. Then it is the dinner time. We have a radio in the cell. I mostly listen to the radio Palitra. We read and talk… Then we have a supper and at 10 pm we have to go to bed.

- Is it essential to sleep at that time?

- At 10 pm they turn off the light and the radio and we have nothing to do but go to bed.

- There was information that you attempted to commit suicide, is it true?

- I have not attempted to commit suicide and I am not going to. I have a lot to do in life.

- According to our knowledge, you had scars on the wrist that you received in the punishment-cell.

- I was placed in the punishment-cell for 5 days. I was put in there due to laughing loud. I had to live in very hard conditions. Every morning, at 10 pm the prison official would come in, roll up my bed and put a lock on it till 10 pm. I had to stand up for the whole day long. I used to start my day by exercising. I did not know what to do when I got tired. There was a hand wash basin that had a pointed edge. I really tried to harm myself. I intentionally cut my wrist on the edge as I wanted them to move me to the prison hospital. Maybe, they thought it was an attempt of suicide. I am not going to commit suicide!

You had many supporters at trials. Some people could not enter the court room as it was full. What do you want to tell your supporters?

- I would like to thank all those people who believe in my innocence and support me. I am innocent and I honestly expected the just verdict.

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Fragile Peace in Balkans
After a long and complicated preparation period, on July 30, we landed in Sarajevo. Despite scary landing caused by bad weather conditions, I
Hungry Commission Members and Commission Chairpersons Angry with Observers in Batumi
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What happened to Dream of Justice Revival?
“Miscarriages of justice“– we use this term to characterize the problems existing in the system of Georgian judiciary during ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili’s governance.
Triggers of Prisoners’ Mass Protests
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Home / 2013 / 06 / 20 / On World Refugee Day, Watch Inspiring Stories of Refugees
June 20, 2013

On World Refugee Day, Watch Inspiring Stories of Refugees

The United States has a longstanding tradition of providing safe haven to the persecuted. Yet not all refugees receive a warm welcome here. Some are placed in detention and forced to navigate the complex asylum system. The government doesn't provide them an attorney, and most can't afford one.

This is why we've been matching asylum seekers with pro bono attorneys since 1978.

Today, on World Refugee Day, we want to introduce you to refugees who fled persecution and, with the help of our pro bono attorneys, received asylum in the United States. Their stories of persecution, survival, and building a new lifeare truly inspiring, and have informed our advocacy for better refugee protection.

Awoke owned and ran an internet café in Ethiopia. His clients often used his café to access opposition websites, but the government found out. He was detained and tortured, and was forced to leave the country out of fear of further persecution. Check out his story.

As a result of Patricia's vocal advocacy for LGBT and women's rights, she was targeted, repeatedly threatened, and eventually became a victim of sexual violence. Afraid for her life, she fled the country and came to the United States. Check out her story.

As a Kurd from Turkey, Kani faced difficulties advocating for his community. He came to the United States to work for Kurdish rights. But as his advocacy became prominent, he was forced to seek asylum. Check out his story.

Check out these inspiring stories and share them to your networks on Facebook and Twitter.