Pakistan struggles in race to develop armed drones

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) ? Pakistan is secretly racing to develop its own armed drones, frustrated with U.S. refusals to provide the aircraft, but is struggling in its initial tests with a lack of precision munitions and advanced targeting technology.

One of Islamabad's closest allies and Washington's biggest rivals, China, has offered to help by selling Pakistan armed drones it developed. But industry experts say there is still uncertainty about the capabilities of the Chinese aircraft.

The development of unmanned combat aircraft is especially sensitive in Pakistan because of the widespread unpopularity of the hundreds of U.S. drone strikes against Taliban and al-Qaida militants in the country's rugged tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

The Pakistani government denounces the CIA strikes as a violation of the country's sovereignty, though senior civilian and military leaders are known to have supported at least some of the attacks in the past. Pakistani officials also call the strikes unproductive, saying they kill many civilians and fuel anger that helps militants recruit additional fighters ? allegations denied by the U.S.

Pakistan has demanded the U.S. provide it with armed drones, claiming it could more effectively carry out attacks against militants. Washington has refused because of the sensitive nature of the technology and doubts that Pakistan would reliably target U.S. enemies. The U.S. has held talks with Pakistan about providing unarmed surveillance drones, but Islamabad already has several types of these aircraft in operation, and the discussions have gone nowhere.

Inaugurating a defense exhibition in the southern city of Karachi last week, Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf indicated Islamabad would look for help from Beijing in response to U.S. intransigence.

"Pakistan can also benefit from China in defense collaboration, offsetting the undeclared technological apartheid," said Ashraf.

Pakistan has also been working to develop armed drones on its own, said Pakistani military officials and civilians involved in the domestic drone industry, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity because of the classified nature of the work.

Pakistan first began weapons tests seven or eight months ago with the Falco, an Italian drone used by the Pakistani air force for surveillance that has been modified to carry rockets, said a civilian with knowledge of the secret program. The military is also conducting similar tests with the country's newest drone, the Shahpur, he said. An unarmed version of the Shahpur was unveiled for the first time at the Karachi exhibition.

The weapons tests have been limited to a handful of aircraft, and no strikes have been carried out in combat, said the civilian.

Pakistan lacks laser-guided missiles like the Hellfire used on U.S. Predator and Reaper drones and the advanced targeting system that goes with it, so the military has been using unguided rockets that are much less accurate.

While Hellfire missiles are said to have pinpoint accuracy, the rockets used by Pakistan have a margin of error of about 30 meters (100 feet) at best, and an unexpected gust of wind could take them 300 meters (1,000 feet) from their intended target, said the civilian. Even if Pakistan possessed Hellfires and the guidance system to use them, the missile's weight and drag would be a challenge for the small drones produced by the country.

Pakistan's largest drone, the Shahpur, has a wingspan of about seven meters (22 feet) and can carry 50 kilograms (110 pounds). The U.S. Predator, which can be equipped with two Hellfire missiles, has a wingspan more than twice that and a payload capacity over four times as great.

Pakistani drones also have much more limited range than those produced in the U.S. because they are operated based on "line of sight" using radio waves, rather than military satellites. The Shahpur has a maximum range of 250 kilometers (150 miles), while the Predator can fly over five times that distance.

The British newspaper The Guardian reported Tuesday that Pakistan was working on an armed drone but did not provide details.

The market for drones has exploded in Pakistan and other countries around the world in recent years, as shown by the array of aircraft on display at the defense exhibition in Karachi. Hoping to tap into a worldwide market worth billions of dollars a year, public and private companies wheeled out over a dozen drones that ranged in size from hand-held models meant to be carried in a backpack to larger aircraft like the Shahpur.

All the Pakistani drones on display were advertised as unarmed and meant for surveillance only. One private company, Integrated Dynamics, even promotes its aircraft under the slogan "Drones for Peace." But several models developed by the Chinese government were marketed as capable of carrying precision missiles and bombs.

The Chinese government has offered to sell Pakistan an armed drone it has produced, the CH-3, which can carry two laser-guided missiles or bombs, industry insiders said.

Also being offered to Pakistan is a more advanced drone, the CH-4, which closely resembles a U.S. Reaper and can carry four laser-guided missiles or bombs, according to Li Xiaoli, a representative of the Chinese state-owned company that produces both the CH-3 and CH-4, Aerospace Long-march International Trade Co., Ltd.

Pakistan has yet to purchase any armed Chinese drones because their capabilities have yet to be proven, but is likely to do so in the future, said the civilian with knowledge of the Pakistani military's drone program.

Only a few countries, including the U.S., Britain and Israel, are known to have actually used armed drones in military operations.

"China is a bit of a tough nut to crack as you'd expect," said Huw Williams, a drone expert at Jane's International Defense Review. "They frequently wheel out exciting looking aircraft but are yet to really demonstrate anything earthshattering."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pakistan-struggles-race-develop-armed-drones-191812934.html

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Prosecutor: Bomb chemicals found in doc's home

By NBC News staff

Updated at 7:33 p.m. ET: Prosecutors say large amounts of chemicals commonly used for making bombs and explosive devices were found Friday afternoon?at the home of a New Jersey doctor, NBC New York reported.

Roberto Rivera, 60, of Ridgewood faces several charges, including possession of a destructive device and recklessly creating a risk of widespread injury. His bail was set at $1 million cash, and it was not known Saturday if he had retained a lawyer, according to NBC New York.

Read the original report at NBCNewYork.com

Watch US News crime videos on NBCNews.com

Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli says investigators also found several assault rifles and other weapons when they searched Rivera's home Friday night. Ridgewood police had initially responded to the home after receiving a report that potentially hazardous materials might be at the residence.

The FBI and Bergen County Bomb Squad investigated, according to the Bergen County Record.

Prosecutors said Rivera is unemployed but has a license to practice medicine in New York.

According to a source familiar the case, Rivera told a girlfriend that he was going to build a bomb. She then alerted police. Rivera had not chosen a target.

The source said that some anarchist literature was found in Rivera's home.

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/17/15246065-large-amounts-of-bomb-making-chemicals-found-in-doctors-home-authorities-say?lite

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Regional Meeting of the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) clusters from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in Beirut

BEIRUT | November 15, 2012, 09h38

On November 15-16, the Regional Meeting of the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) clusters from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will be hosted by the French Institute in Beirut.

The Lebanese and international press are invited to the opening meeting with representatives from EUNIC, Lebanon and other countries of the region that will take place on Thursday November 15th from 9:00 to 10:00 am at the Institut francais.

The EUNIC members from the MENA region include countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia. The regional meeting will also be attended by EUNIC Global President Mrs. Delphine Borione, director general in the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Charles-Etienne Lagasse, EUNIC Vice-president and General Inspector for Wallonie-Bruxelles International (Belgium) as well as Andrei Marga, president of the Romanian Cultural Institute in Bucharest. The purpose of this annual meeting is to share experiences and expertise of successful actions, to define joint projects and programming examples and to further good practice among the European cultural institutes working in the Arab World. Lebanese civil society actors will also participate to the regional meeting aiming to get involved in EUNIC projects that are already running and to develop new common projects together with the European cultural network.

The regional EUNIC meeting in Beirut follows the Euro-Mediterranean Forum on Creative Industries and Society, organized by EUNIC at the Dead Sea, in Jordan, between the 13 and 15 of May 2012. The event was the launch pad of a long-term EUNIC Middle East and North Africa project (EUNIC MENA project) which will address Democratic Empowerment, Cultural Policy and Creative Economy. The aim is to support the creative sector in the MENA region to redefine cultural policies and to respond to the changing socio-political context in the region, to demonstrate the potential of the creative industries, to increase and reshape the scope of cultural exchanges in the Euro-Mediterranean area and to strengthen competitiveness of the sector.

EUNIC aims at establishing partnerships and networks amongst the European cultural institutes in different countries around the world. The main objective of EUNIC in Lebanon is to improve the coordination between European Cultural centers, start new initiatives, organize joint activities and events, and respond collectively to European open calls for proposals in order to generate additional funding. The members of the Lebanese cluster of EUNIC are - The British Council, the Goethe-Institut, the Romanian Cultural Institute, the Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Instituto Cervantes, the Danish Cultural Institute, the Institut fran?ais du Liban and the Serbian Embassy as associate member. The Romanian Cultural Institute, through dr. Dan Stoenescu, cultural attach? of the Romanian Embassy, holds the presidency of EUNIC in Lebanon for 2012-2013, for a second time in a row.

Source: http://iloubnan.info/en/detail/18/76339

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Unlicensed Contractors Plague New Jersey. Government There to ...

New Jersey officials have levied $2,500 fines on 10 unscrupulous unlicensed home improvement contractors who attempted to work without a permission slip from the state.

Mercer County investigators conducted an ?undercover house? sting in July, but, post-Sandy, the issue has taken on a new importance for Governor Christie, who has a message for New Jersey residents. Via Toms River News:

?In the wake of Sandy, we?re working hard to help and protect New Jersey residents on all levels,? said Governor Christie. ?We want to make sure that those who sustained damage from the storm don?t suffer further at the hands of unscrupulous contractors.?

Attorney General Chiesa said, ?New Jerseyans whose homes were damaged by Sandy should be on alert. Now is the time when fly-by-night, unregistered contractors will descend on storm-damaged areas, seeking to make a quick profit at the expense of homeowners.?

...The investigators booked appointments with unregistered contractors, some of whom who had commercial listings on Craigslist and other websites, in ?home improvement guide? publications that were placed at convenience and grocery stores, and in local yellow pages.

During the operation?s second phase, the unregistered contractors came out to the Titusville home. The unregistered contractors spoke with the undercover investigators, who posed as the home?s owners. The investigators noted that, though the home had been empty for a few years and sustained minor damage, it could become beautiful again with the right work. The contractors examined the home and made estimates ranging from $2,500 to $50,000 for repairs such as painting, flooring, roofing, sheetrock work, and masonry work.

?One of the contractors showed up without a tape measure, ruler, meter, or any measuring device, and without even a notebook?and then made an estimate of $50,000, apparently based on what the investigators said they could afford,? Eric T. Kanefsky, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, said.??Consumers should never hire a contractor without learning everything they can about the company?s reputation and abilities, and making sure they are duly registered with the state.?

No word on whether a guns-drawn raid was necessary to take down the scofflaws.

Source: http://reason.com/blog/2012/11/15/unlicensed-contractors-plague-new-jersey

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11-15-12 CO Governor Hickenlooper announces Boards and ...

DENVER ? Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012 ? Gov. John Hickenlooper announced several Boards and Commissions appointments today. The appointments were to the Behavioral Health Transformation Council; the Cold Case Oversight Task Force; the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice; the Colorado Food Systems Advisory Council; the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority; the Economic Development Commission; the Fire and Police Pension Association Board of Directors; the Governor?s Commission on Community Service; the Governor?s Council for Physical Fitness; the Interagency Coordinating Council; the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Advisory Council; the Public Employees? Retirement Benefit Plans Board of Trustees; the State Board of Human Services; the Special Funds Board for Workers? Compensation Self Insurers; and the Waste Tire Advisory Committee. ?

The Behavioral Health Transformation Council works to reduce the economic and social costs of untreated behavioral health disorders through the systemic transformation of the behavioral health system from one that is fragmented and siloed into one that is streamlined, efficient and effective for Colorado residents.
The member appointed for a term expiring Aug. 30, 2013:

  • Scott Alan Glaser of Denver, to serve as a representative of the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Colorado, and occasioned by the resignation of Alacey A.G. Berumen of Denver.

The members appointed for a term expiring Aug. 30, 2015:

  • Douglas C. Muir of Lakewood, to serve as a representative of Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Behavioral Health, and occasioned by the resignation of Charles H. Smith of Greenwood Village.
  • Kelly E. Perez of Denver, to serve as a representative of the Office of the Governor, and occasioned by the resignation of Lorez Meinhold of Denver.

The members appointed for terms expiring Aug. 30, 2016:

  • Elizabeth Marion Pace of Denver, to serve as a representative of prevention/intervention peer assistance, reappointed.
  • Victoria K. Rodgers of Westminster, to serve as a provider of mental health services to older adults, reappointed.
  • Thomas H. Dillingham of Lakewood, to serve as a representative of a federation of families for children?s mental health, reappointed.
  • Julie S. Krow of Larkspur, to serve as a representative from the Colorado Department of Human Services, reappointed.
  • Mita M. Johnson of Evergreen, to serve as a provider of treatment of substance abuse addiction.
  • David Gerald Murphy of Lone Tree to serve as a representative of the Colorado Providers Association.


The Cold Case Oversight Task Force is creating a database that will house information related to each homicide investigation that is open in a Colorado jurisdiction dating back to 1970 and that are at least three years old. The member appointed for a term expiring Oct. 1, 2015:

  • Michael Joseph Dobersen of Littleton, to serve as a forensic pathologist.


The Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice is comprised of experts in criminal justice, corrections, mental health, drug abuse, victims? rights, higher education, juvenile justice, local government and other disciplines. The commission was formed to engage in an evidence-based analysis of the criminal justice system in Colorado and provides an annual report to the governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court. The member appointed for a term expiring June 30, 2013:

  • Sallie Iris Clark of Colorado Springs, to serve as a county commissioner, and occasioned by the resignation of David Gene Donaldson of Merino.


The Colorado Food Systems Advisory Council makes recommendations to the General Assembly and to the appropriate regulatory agencies in order to foster a healthy food supply available to all Colorado residents while enhancing the state?s agricultural and natural resources, encouraging economic growth, expanding the viability of agriculture, and improving the health of our communities and residents.The members appointed for terms expiring Oct. 7, 2015:

  • Patricia Ann Kendall of Fort Collins, to serve as an Unaffiliated representing nutrition and health, reappointed.
  • Mary Lou Chapman of Arvada, to serve as a Republican representing food wholesalers or food retailers, reappointed.
  • Linda M. Yoder of Karval, to serve as a Republican representing agricultural production, reappointed.
  • Steven Dean Ela of Hotchkiss, to serve as a Democrat representing agricultural production.


The Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority finances, develops, constructs and maintains water projects in Colorado and administers the Drinking Water and Water Pollution Control Revolving Funds. The appointments must be confirmed by the Colorado Senate. The members appointed for terms expiring Oct. 1, 2016:

  • Gregory C. Fisher of Denver, a resident from within the city and county of Denver who has experience in planning and development of water projects, reappointed.
  • Don C. Carlson of Loveland, to serve as a representative of the South Platte Drainage Basin, and as a representative of water project financing, reappointed.


The Economic Development Commission adopts an annual budget and develops guidelines for the expenditures of the fund for financial assistance such as loans, grants, and local match requirements to be provided for various types of projects. The commission reviews the economic needs of the various geographical regions of Colorado and identifies the types of businesses that need the most support in terms of economic development. The commission makes information and assistance available for those interested in relocating or expanding operations in Colorado. In addition, the commission has the authority to work with the Department of Local Affairs on the consideration of recertification of Enterprise Zones.
The members appointed for terms expiring Dec.13, 2013:

  • Dwayne Romero of Aspen, to serve as designee of the governor, reappointed.
  • William T. Sisson of Grand Junction, to serve as a representative from west of the continental divide, reappointed.

The member appointed for a term expiring Dec.13, 2014:

  • Millete M. Birhanemaskel of Denver.

The member appointed for a term expiring Dec.13, 2015:

  • Teresa A. Taylor of Golden.

The member appointed for a term expiring Dec.13, 2016:

  • Richard L. Monfort of Greeley, to serve as a resident of the eastern plains, predominantly from the rural area, reappointed.


The Fire and Police Pension Association Board of Directors administers a pension plan for full-time paid police officers and firefighters. The appointments must be confirmed by the Colorado Senate.
The members appointed for terms expiring Sept.1, 2016:

  • Clifford W. Stanton of Denver, to serve as a member of the state?s financial or business community with experience in investments, reappointed.
  • Tyson Lynn Worrell of Lakewood, to serve as a representative of full-time paid police officers.

The member appointed for a term expiring Sept. 1, 2015:

  • Terri L. Velasquez of Colorado Springs, to serve as a representative of Colorado municipal employers and occasioned by the resignation of Timothy J. Nash of Greeley.


The Governor?s Commission on Community Service recommends to the governor a comprehensive national and community service plan for the state that is developed through an open and public process and updated annually. The Commission also administers funds received from the Corporation on National and Community Service. The member appointed for a term expiring Aug. 24, 2015:

  • Patricia Montgomery of Lakewood, to serve as the Commissioner?s designee for the Colorado Department of Education.


The Governor?s Council for Physical Fitness provides people with information and programs necessary for the acquisition and maintenance of physical fitness. The council works to encourage a fit lifestyle for the people Colorado and to assist in the diversification of the economy of the state by enhancing its attraction as a place to live and work.
The members appointed for terms expiring Sept. 1, 2014:

  • Colleen Idell Filak of Castle Rock.
  • Karen Grannan Ryan of Lakewood.
  • Andrea Ferretti of Aurora.
  • Matthew Larson of Denver.

The members appointed for terms expiring Sept.1, 2015:

  • Heather Denise McQueen of Denver, reappointed.
  • Anne Parker of Denver, reappointed.
  • Richard Anthony ?Tony? Smith of Denver, reappointed.
  • Andrew M. Freeman of Denver, reappointed.
  • Julie Ann Hill of Denver, reappointed.
  • Daniel S. Ward of Denver, reappointed.

The members appointed for terms expiring Sept.1, 2016:

  • Lauren Ashley S. McKissick of Denver, reappointed.
  • Terry Joe Todd of Aurora, reappointed.
  • Terrance L. Trieu of Aurora, reappointed.
  • William J. Corbett of Castle Pines, reappointed.
  • Paula J. Neubert of Elizabeth, reappointed.
  • Clayton Edward Ellis of Aurora to serve as Chair, reappointed.


The Interagency Coordinating Council advises the Colorado Department of Education on implementation of the Education of the Handicapped Act amendments of 1986. These amendments relate to the support and services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.
The members appointed for terms expiring June 30, 2014:

  • Joan GC Holtz of Arvada, to serve as a service provider of early intervention services, reappointed.
  • Lisa S. Franklin of Highlands Ranch, to serve as a transition service provider, reappointed.
  • Rosie Moreno of Vail, to serve as a representative of a head start agency, reappointed.
  • Edith R. Chavez of Denver, to serve as a parent of an infant or toddler with disabilities.
  • Nancy Murillo of Denver, to serve as a parent of an infant or toddler with disabilities.
  • Shannon P. Zimmerman of Westminster, to serve as a parent of an infant or toddler with disabilities.
  • Stacey Lynn Barnes of Commerce City, to serve as a service provider of early intervention services.
  • Colleen Head of Colorado Springs, to serve as a service provider of early intervention services.
  • Todd Sundeen of Greeley, to serve as a representative of higher education.
  • Wendy Sue Zerin of Boulder, to serve as a licensed physician.

The members appointed for terms expiring at the pleasure of the governor:

  • Gina Robinson of Arvada, to represent the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing..
  • Barbara D. Ramsey of Denver, to represent the Department of Human Services, Division for Developmental Disabilities.


The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Advisory Council advises the Division of Criminal Justice and the governor on matters pertaining to juvenile justice in Colorado. The council also assists, reviews and approves the annual Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Plan. The member appointed for a term expiring July 31, 2016:

  • Lerissa R. Garcia of Thornton, to serve as a youth member, and occasioned by the resignation of Kristin A. Podgurski of Wheat Ridge.


The Public Employees? Retirement Benefit Plans Board of Trustees manages the retirement funds for public employees. The member appointed for a term expiring July 10, 2016:

  • Ben Valore-Caplan of Denver, to serve as a Republican, representative with experience and competence in investment, management, finance, banking, economics, accounting, pension administration, actuarial analysis and occasioned by the resignation of Charles John Farrell of Golden.


The State Board of Human Services adopts policies, rules and regulations for the administration of the Department of Human Services. The board adjusts the minimum award for old age pensions for changes in the cost of living. The board also adopts rules and regulations concerning foster care and adoption procedures, mental health programs, alcohol and drug abuse programs and developmental disabilities programs. The appointments must be confirmed by the Colorado Senate. The member appointed for a term expiring March 1, 2013:

  • Jerene Carol Petersen of Denver, to serve as a member of the public, and occasioned by the resignation of Regina D. Richards of Aurora.


The Special Funds Board for Workers? Compensation Self Insurers distributes monies from the Workers? Compensation Special Self-Insured Fund to assure prompt and complete payments to members of self-insured companies who are delayed or declare bankruptcy or have insufficient reserves to cover a claim. The appointments must be confirmed by the Colorado Senate.
The members appointed for terms expiring July 1, 2015:

  • John F. Zimmerman of Castle Pines, to serve as a manager or employee of self-insured employers in good standing, with knowledge of risk management and finance, reappointed.
  • Ondrea Marie Charles Matthews of Wheat Ridge, to serve as a manager or employee of self-insured employers in good standing.

The member appointed for a term expiring July 1, 2016:

  • Richard M. Osborn of Denver, to serve as a manager or employee of self-insured employers in good standing.


The Waste Tire Advisory Committee provides technical advice to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment regarding specific waste tire issues, related funding and regulatory changes proposed by the Department and stakeholders. The appointments must be confirmed by the Colorado Senate. The members appointed for terms expiring Sept. 9, 2015:

  • Cyrus Wheeler Hardy Jr. of Black Hawk, to serve as a representative of law enforcement from jurisdictions that have a waste tire facility.
  • Christopher B. Houtchens of Colorado Springs, to serve as a waste tire hauler, reappointed.
  • Larry G. Hudson of Denver, to serve as a representative of tire manufacturers, reappointed.


For more information on Boards and Commissions, click here or e-mail ?gov_officeofboardsandcommissions@state.co.us.

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Source: http://brianallmerradionetwork.wordpress.com/2012/11/15/11-15-12-co-governor-hickenlooper-announces-boards-and-commissions-appointments/

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Which Is Better?--Online Networking or In-Person Networking ...

?

In this brief video, Roger Green and I talk about online networking versus in-person networking and also what I discovered when doing research for the book Business Networking and Sex in regard to how much time is necessary to invest in networking in order to get results.

When it comes to networking, there?s online networking and there?s face to face networking.? The simple fact is?it?s not ?either/or? . . . it?s ?both/and.?? Online networking doesn?t impact face-to-face networking in a negative way. It enhances it.

If you want to be successful in building your personal network, you need diversity in your networks. I highly suggest that people join a few different networks, rather than just sticking with one.

What in-person networks do you currently belong to?? Which online networks do you currently belong to?? In the comments section, please share which networks (both in-person and online) you belong to that you?ve had the most success with?perhaps someone else might read about your experiences and gain success with those networks as well.

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Source: http://businessnetworking.com/which-is-better-online-networking-or-in-person-networking/

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Jefferson Parish settles lawsuit with performing arts center architect ...

(Gallery by Matthew Hinton, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

Jefferson Parish has largely blamed the architectural firm Wisznia Associates for the Jefferson Performing Arts Center boondoggle. Now the parish has settled its lawsuit against the company for $1.3 million, although Wisznia did not admit liability.

That $1.3 million is less than the parish paid Wisznia to design the building, which has almost doubled in cost to $50.7 million and is three years behind schedule. But it's about the best possible deal for the public, considering that Wisznia's professional liability insurance policy was capped at $1 million and gave its defense counsel first dibs on the payout, said Dennis Phayer, who litigated the case for Jefferson Parish.

"The attorney had to get paid first, and the parish got what was left," Phayer said, who called the parish's decision to settle the suit "cold-blooded" and "realistic." Wisznia's attorney did not return calls for comment.

The parish sued the architectural firm for "breach of its contractual warranty, negligence and lack of professional skill." The suit specifically lists 17 design flaws.

The settlement, first signaled by a Nov. 2 motion to dismiss the suit in 24th Judicial District Court in Gretna, closes another chapter in the controversial history of the arts center. Since ground was broken at LaSalle Park in Metairie in 2007, the project has been riddled with design problems, construction delays, fire code violations, contract amendments, cost overruns and political infighting. As one parish official recently groused, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome didn't take this long to build.

Current parish officials, when not panning the decisions of their colleagues and predecessors, fault Wisznia and the builder, J. Caldarera & Co. Caldarera has at times blamed Wisznia and the parish for the project's shortcomings. And although Wisznia Associates settled with the parish, the architectural firm did not admit liability.

What is clear is that the Parish Council selected Wisznia in 2002 to design the building even though the parish's technical evaluation committee ranked the company fourth out of five qualified architects competing for the overall job of planning LaSalle Park, according to a 2011 review of the project by the state legislative auditor's office. The reason: The Parish Council typically goes along with the member in whose district the project lies, which in this case was John Lavarine Jr. He told state auditors that Wisznia was the only firm to contact him regarding the arts center and that he was impressed by the firm's enthusiasm for the project.

Lavarine left office in 2004. The parish replaced Wisznia as architect in 2007 and sued the firm in 2009. It paid the firm almost $1.9 million in fees, according to the legislative auditor's report.

Of the $1.3 million settlement, $671,000 comes from Wisznia, said deputy parish attorney Ross Buckley Jr. The remaining $630,000 comes from two Wisznia subcontractors, he said.

The parish was represented in the suit by the Burglass & Tankersley law firm, which has handled several matters relating to the arts center for Jefferson. Parish officials could not produce the bills specifically for the Wisznia litigation but said Jefferson has paid the law firm $688,634 for all arts center matters.

The next step in completing the arts center comes Thursday, when parish officials ask the state Bond Commission to release the latest $6 million for the job. After that, Parish President John Young has said he will work to fashion a "global" solution to address all the construction, legal and fiscal challenges still facing the project.

In the meantime, said Parish Councilman Chris Roberts, Jefferson should never again suffer because it hired a contractor with "errors and omissions" insurance unequal to the cost of the job. In the wake of the Wisznia litigation, he said the council changed its rules. "Basically it requires that E&O coverage meet the scope of the project," he said.

As for the $1.3 million Wisznia settlement, he said, "It's unfortunate, but we've changed and we're moving forward."

Source: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/11/jefferson_parish_settles_suit.html

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For Free - Health Care 4 Me

22 Cheap and Simple Methods to Eat Healthy

Proper diet is essential every single day, however there?s much more reason to ditch the bag o?chips and choose the vegetables. Today, November 7, is National Maintaining A Healthy Diet Day, a vacation backed through the American Heart Association. Also it so happens we?ve found 22 methods to celebrate. So overlook the tempting smells in the pizza place lower the block or how easy it?s to get a sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich in order to work. These pointers make maintaining a healthy diet not just simpler, but frequently cheaper, too.

At the Grocery Store

1. Create a grocery list (and stay with it). By going to the shop having a obvious listing of what?s necessary, it?s much simpler to prevent last-minute purchases. (Some v-day consumers can always make impulsive buys? however the list can?t hurt.) Feeling techy? Try one of the numerous applications that will help with shopping, like GroceryIQ or Shopper.

2. Don?t shop hungry. Despite you take time to write a meticulous grocery list, in the event that stomach is grumbling so noisally the folks within the next aisle can listen to it, odds are something surprising?s likely to jump in to the shopping cart software. Avoid succumbing to last-minute urges (like, say, for lardwiches) when you eat a proper snack (or meal) before going to the shop.

3. Buy more vegetables. On that weekly visit to the supermarket, grab additional eco-friendly veggies for health advantages just like a more powerful defense mechanisms[1]. They?re super-healthy (kale and green spinach are genuine superfoods!) and simple to suit into any meal!

4. Choose fresh or frozen over canned. For vegetables, sauces, and beans, nixing the can reduces unnecessary sodium. For fruit, it eliminates excess sugar. Plus, the new stuff always is more enjoyable. And, possibly remarkably, canned produce can really finish up costing more (or at best exactly the same amount) because the fresh stuff!

5. Should you can?t fill it up or raise it (theoretically), don?t eat it. Monosodium glutamate doesn?t grow on trees. Neither does high fructose corn syrup or Yellow No. 5. But a minumum of one of those elements can be found in many (otherwise most) from the processed meals on supermarket shelves, from chips to juice. Which elements happen to be associated with from weight problems and diabetes to brain and liver damage[2][3][4]. If whatever?s for the reason that grocery basket couldn?t theoretically originate from your personal backyard, swap it for something nearer to the initial. Choose whole taters on the box of mashed pick plain ol? oats rather than pre-sweetened packets.

6. Choose whole grain products. When grains are processed ? like, say, being whitened flour utilized in crackers, snacks, or whitened bread ? two essential areas of the grain (the bran and germ) are removed. The issue is these parts contain the most health advantages and nutrition, including e vitamin, major Vitamin b, anti-oxidants, fiber, protein, and healthy fats. Search for the ?Whole Grain Stamp? on packaging or simply go for elements like wholegrain, brown grain, and oats.

7. Avoid sweetened drinks. Added sugar is really a large no-no. It doesn?t only pack on calories, but eating meals with added sugar has additionally been associated with coronary disease, diabetes, and putting on weight[5][6]. Replace sweetened drinks (even unnaturally sweetened diet drinks) with water, seltzer, and fruit, or 100 % fruit drinks diluted with water.

8. Eat naturally sweet food (out on another add extra sugar into it!). Some people possess a sweet tooth, but rather than involving in sugar-packed processed meals, choose naturally sweet ones to chop lower on sugar urges later. Begin in the fruit section and select naturally sweet veggies like beets, corn, and sweet taters (simply to title a couple of!).

9. Buy in large quantities and divide into portions. Yes, this tactic is really a method to cut lower on cost. But purchasing in large quantities ? everything from veggies, to meat, to grains ? may also cut lower on shopping time, so there?s additional time left to organize healthy foods.

10. Stay with the perimeters from the supermarket. The outer edges are usually the place to find fresh produce, meat, dairy, and breads. The interior lanes usually feature highly-processed products full of extra sugar and artificial elements. You will find always exceptions, obviously, but try adhering towards the 80:20 rule (80 % from the grocery trolley from outdoors the lanes, 20 % from the lanes) for any more healthy diet.

Food Storage and Prep

11. Make grocery day ?Food Prep Extravaganza.? To chop lower drastically on food prep through the week, do all of it at the same time after coming back home in the store. Unwrap, clean, and chop up meat to freeze or refrigerate in portions. Clean and prep all produce. Chop and freeze something that might be used later on. Pre-portion snack meals (see below), and yogurt or folded oats for simple breakfasts through the week! (Overnight Oats really are a favorite within the Greatist office!)

12. Ready your own food as frequently as you possibly can. We?re not speaking cease eating out entirely ? it?s a real drag missing individuals special restaurant dinners! But by planning as numerous foods as you possibly can by yourself, it?s much simpler to understand (and control) exactly what?s entering the body, with no sneaky elements. Likely to be at the office throughout the lunch hour? Pack something to consume there. Virtually no time to consume before venturing out within the AM? Bring something to consume in route or in the office.

13. Pre-package snacks. When eating at restaurants of the family-sized potato nick bag, it?s very easy to help keep reaching that submit until all that?s left would be the greasy crumbs. Rather than wasting away inside a bottomless pit of chips, try pre-portioning snack meals into single-serving plastic baggies or multiple-use containers.

14. Increase your own herbal treatments. Fresh herbal treatments (or freshly dried ones) are an easy way to season food without excess salt, butter, or cheese. Growing an individual plant garden isn?t only good for your belly ? it is also a good way to pretty up any space! All that?s essential for a DIY plant garden is really a couple of small planters as well as an empty windowsill (the Greatist office has one!).

15. Keep best food right in front from the fridge. Once the fridge door opens, make certain the thing is the best products first. When the leftover chocolate cake is shoved within the back corner, odds are the attention will gravitate for the shiny apple right in advance first. Bonuses for storing healthy options in transparent containers and unhealthy stuff in opaque ones this is why the healthy stuff prior to the stomach really begins grumbling.

Cooking and Mealtime

16. Sneak vegetables into everything. We also have a couple of methods to fit vegetables into dessert. Yep, we visited.

17. Ignore calorie counting. Checking every diet label before chowing lower is annoying (as you would expect). Rather concentrate on foods which include a number of nutrition, colors, and fresh elements. It?s much simpler to help keep a proper, balanced diet by doing this compared to calorie counting.

18. Consume a healthy breakfast! Beginning your day off right is essential to maintaining a healthy diet all day long lengthy. What exactly helps make the best breakfast? One study found consuming protein in the morning might help prevent overeating later within the day[7], but another discovered that eating a large breakfast with dessert may help maintain excess weight[8]. Choose what works well with you.

19. Go for more compact portions. When restaurants pile plates larger than an individual mind, it?s very easy to overindulge. Limit individuals portions to less gargantuan dimensions to simply consume a little more healthy. Unsure how to start? Try these portion-size plates, or learn to estimate serving dimensions for several meals. And here?s an excellent tip for eating at restaurants: Not to eat a lot more than planned, request the server in conclusion half the dish in advance and go back home having a pre-made doggy bag.

20. Replace dessert with fruit. (?Or a minimum of add fruit to dessert.) Although some types could be full of sugar, fruit is a terrific way to satisfy that sweet tooth having to break the sugar bank. Plus, it provides health advantages typical desserts can?t, like fiber and anti-oxidants. And choosing for fruit might help avoid that dreaded sugar crash.

21. Pace your a treat. Whenever we eat rapidly, our physiques don?t also have time for you to realize we?re full ? so it?s very easy to overindulge[9]. Enjoy what?s around the plate, and prevent eating the moment that stomach provides the first hint to be full. It?s usually easy to eat more later.

22. Consider not purchasing unhealthy stuff to begin with. ?Nuff stated.

source: http://greatist.com/health/22-cheap-and-easy-ways-to-eat-healthy-041012/

Posts related to 22 Cheap and Simple Methods to Eat Healthy

Source: http://www.healthcare4me.net/22-cheap-and-simple-methods-to-eat-healthy/

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First algae-derived fuel hits the pumps

12 hrs.

Using algae to produce biofuel is something being pursued by a number of major companies, but no one has made algal fuel or additives available for consumers ? until now.

Alternative gas station chain?Propel is working with algal fuel creator Solazyme on a month-long experiment, selling algal-additive "Soladiesel" alongside Propel's normal diesel. The special stuff is 20 percent algae oil, while the "original flavor" will have the usual additives.

Normally the algal version would cost more, but seeing how customers react and watching for supply chain problems is a critical part of bringing it to market.?To that end, Propel, with stations?mainly in California and Washington, will offer the two types of diesel?side by side for a month.

Algae has been proposed for years as an alternative to corn as a way to produce biofuels. Special algae are grown in bulk; when fed certain sugars, they produce combustible oils that can be used as fuel additives. The resulting fuel, biodiesel in this case, produces significantly less pollutants and, Solazyme?claims, may?in some ways actually perform better.

There are serious?questions regarding the ability to scale algae production to millions-of-barrels capacity, but companies like Shell and Exxon are investing billions in biofuels to find solutions to problems like these. One potential benefit: The oil-producing algae can be grown in salt and brackish water where other crops fail, and are more efficient than corn in their production per acre.

Solazyme itself has more than $100 million in funding and is building a biofuel plant in Brazil.?The company's?plan is to commercialize the fuel next year, but limited-market pilots like this one with Propel will make that possible.

More information can be found at the websites of Solazyme and Propel.

Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for NBC?News Digital. His personal website is?coldewey.cc.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/futureoftech/first-algae-derived-fuel-hits-pumps-1C7048163

one for the money