Friday, July 12, 2013

DisplayLink Graphics Adapter (019B) USB Driver 6.1.36484.0 for XP/Vista/Windows 7

The package provides the installation files for DisplayLink Display Adapter (019B) USB Driver version 6.1.36484.0.

In order to manually update your driver, follow the steps below (the next steps):

1. Go to Device Manager (right click on My Computer, choose Manage and then find Device Manager in the left panel)
2. Right click on the hardware device you wish to update and choose Update Driver Software
3. Choose to select the location of the new driver manually and browse to the folder where you downloaded the driver

It is highly recommended to always use the most recent driver version available.

Do not forget to check with our site as often as possible in order to stay updated on the latest drivers, software and games.

Try to set a system restore point before installing a device driver. This will help if you installed a wrong driver. Problems can arise when your hardware device is too old or not supported any longer.

Source: http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/GRAPHICS-BOARD/DisplayLink/DisplayLink-Graphics-Adapter-019B-USB-Driver-61364840-for-XP-Vista-Windows-7.shtml

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Thursday, July 11, 2013

Republicans accuse Obama of exceeding authority

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. gestures as he speaks with reporters on Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, July 9, 2013, about student loan rates following a Republican strategy session. Interest rates doubled to 6.8 percent last week because Congress didn't avert a rate hike built into the law. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. gestures as he speaks with reporters on Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, July 9, 2013, about student loan rates following a Republican strategy session. Interest rates doubled to 6.8 percent last week because Congress didn't avert a rate hike built into the law. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? In the courts of law and public opinion, congressional Republicans increasingly accuse President Barack Obama of exceeding his constitutional authority for the benefit of special interests, most recently by delaying a requirement for businesses to provide health care for their workers.

In one instance, Senate Republicans formally backed a lawsuit challenging the president's appointment of three members of the National Labor Relations Board without confirmation. The Supreme Court has agreed to review a ruling in the case, which found that Obama overstepped his bounds.

Most recently, the White House's decision to postpone a key part of the president's health care law drew rhetorical denunciations Tuesday from Republicans who, ironically, want to see the law repealed in its entirety.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said the action was part of a pattern of "indifference to the rule of law on the part of this administration. ... He did it with immigration. He did it with welfare work requirements. And he did it with the NLRB when he took it upon himself to tell another branch of government when it was in recess.

"And now he's doing it again with his own signature health care law," said McConnell, who is seeking re-election next year in a state where Obama is unpopular.

White House press secretary Jay Carney had no comment on McConnell's complaint that the administration is indifferent to the rule of law. The White House disputes each allegation in turn, citing specific legal authority for the president's actions, or saying the assertion was factually incorrect.

Oddly enough, on one particularly incendiary issue, Obama so far has rejected suggestions that he has authority to continue government borrowing without a vote by Congress to raise the debt ceiling. To switch course would inevitably invite a lawsuit.

Whatever the merits of the Republican claims, they sometimes include a dose of politics of the sort they accuse Obama of playing.

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, threatened to sue when Obama announced several weeks before the 2012 election that he would stop deportation proceedings against many younger immigrants who are in the country illegally, so long as they went to college or served in the military. The move was widely viewed as a gesture to Hispanic voters, many of whom live in key battleground states.

A suit subsequently was filed by federal immigration enforcement agents, and King was not a party to it, although his office says it was the product of a meeting he called. King also used the issue to raise money for his own re-election to Congress last fall, emailing potential donors that Obama "refuses to enforce immigration laws."

In addition to challenging Obama's adherence to the rule of law, McConnell's speech included a pre-emptive attack in case Democrats try to change Senate rules this summer and make it easier to confirm presidential appointees.

"I know Washington Democrats are getting a lot of pressure from big labor union bosses and other far-left elements of their base to do this," the Kentucky Republican said. "These folks have told Democrats it's time to pay up, and they don't have much time for things like the democratic process or the rule of law."

He spoke at about the same time House Democrats and union leaders held a news conference to pressure Republicans not to block confirmation for several appointments, including at the NLRB, which rules on collective bargaining disputes between employees and companies.

"Whatever it takes to get these nominees through, an up or down vote is what we want," said Bill Samuel, the AFL-CIO's legislative director. "That might very well include a change in the rules to make it impossible for the Republicans to filibuster the nominations."

The lawsuit backed by Senate Republicans challenged Obama's so-called recess appointments of three members of the NLRB.

The Constitution gives the president authority to make appointments without confirmation when the Senate is in recess. In the case at issue, Obama acted at a time Congress was away on an extended holiday break, but the Senate met every three days as part of an explicit strategy by Republicans to prevent such appointments.

Rejecting the administration's arguments, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., ruled that recess appointments can be made only during the once-a-year break between sessions of Congress, typically at the end of the year.

Two judges on the panel also ruled that to qualify for a recess appointment, a position must become vacant while the Senate is in recess.

Despite Republican allegations, administration officials cite specific legal authority for some of Obama's actions.

The Treasury Department said the one-year waiver of the requirement for companies to provide health insurance announced last week was "an exercise of the administrative authority" granted by law when it comes to implementing new legislation like the health care act.

One official cited other recent examples of waivers under the same authority. A case in 2011 said aviation excise taxes that had lapsed and then been reinstated would not be applied for a three-week period ending the day Congress re-enacted them.

The other, from 2007, related to standards for penalties on income tax preparers, according to the official, who citing department regulations in speaking on condition of anonymity.

A year ago, when Obama announced the shift in immigration policy, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano cited "prosecutorial discretion."

McConnell's reference to welfare relates to a charge by Republicans that the administration proposed new rules to lessen the work requirements implemented as part of a 1996 overhaul of the program. The White House denies the proposal had that effect.

___

Associated Press writers Jim Kuhnhenn and Sam Hananel contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-07-09-GOP-Obama/id-905348af4edf4f03a180918a048936b1

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Google Maps receives major update for Android and iOS, gains discovery feature (video)

Google Maps receives major update for Android and iOS, gains discovery feature

Ever since Google Maps returned to iOS with a completely new UI last December, we knew it was only a matter of time until the Android app followed suit. The search giant even said this much when it launched a revamped web edition of Google Maps at I/O. Earlier today, version 7 of Google Maps popped up in the Play store boasting a new discovery feature, enhanced navigation and more. It's now official -- a major update is currently rolling out for the Android version of Google Maps, with an iOS build to follow. Beyond normalizing the UI across platforms, this update brings significant new functionality to the table. We took the revised Android app for a brief spin, so hit the break for our first impressions.

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Source: Google Official Blog

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/TzwWNUmmwtI/

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House GOP uncertain over immigration reform

Immigration reform moves to a crucial new arena on Wednesday when Republicans who make up the majority in the U.S. House meet to discuss their version of legislation that already passed the Democratic-led Senate.

While House GOP leaders insist the Senate version is dead on arrival, some signal possible areas of compromise on the measure considered vital to both parties and the legacy of President Barack Obama.

For Obama and Democrats, passage means following through on a promise to the nation's largest minority demographic -- Hispanic Americans -- to reduce uncertainty for millions of them living in the United States illegally.

For Republicans, it is the best and perhaps lone chance to make inroads with the key Hispanic demographic that overwhelmingly supported Obama in last year's presidential election.

However, Republicans in Congress and across the country remain split over how to deal with the 11 million immigrants living illegally in America -- those who sneaked in or overstayed visas.

That issue will be significant in next year's congressional elections with House Republicans under pressure from conservatives to oppose what the political right-wing calls amnesty in the form of a path to legal status and even citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

Moderate Republicans, including most of the party's leaders in Congress, want a compromise that would represent a potential breakthrough for the GOP with Hispanic Americans.

Former President George W. Bush added his voice on Wednesday to calls for a solution, telling a ceremony for new citizens that the present system was broken.

"I do hope there is a positive resolution to the debate," Bush said in a rare public comment about politics since he left office. While he refrained from taking sides, he sounded moderate in saying he hoped that "we keep a benevolent spirit in mind."

"We understand the contributions immigrants make to our country," said Bush, a Republican. "We must remember that the vast majority of immigrants are decent people who work hard and support their families and practice their faith and lead responsible lives."

Source: http://www.wdsu.com/news/politics/House-GOP-uncertain-over-immigration-reform/-/9853324/20919178/-/jdjam6z/-/index.html?absolute=true

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Jaguar Project 7 - 550 PS single-seater F-Type one-off - Paul Tan

Jaguar_Project_7_06

Jaguar earlier promised to debut an F-Type-based design study at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend, and this is it ? the one-off Jaguar Project 7. The name is a direct nod to the company?s seven Le Mans triumphs between 1951 and 1990 ? a British record (Bentley has six).

A lot of the Project 7?s bespoke elements ? from the new rear fairing section that incorporates a rollover hoop behind the driver?s head to the bright blue paintwork ? are reminiscent of one of Jaguar?s all-time greatest race car, the Le Mans-winning D-Type from the Fifties.

Other key design changes include a carbonfibre front splitter, side skirts, large rear diffuser and a fixed rear spoiler, giving the Project 7 a low, unified, muscular stance. The side louvres and bonnet vents are also carbonfibre, while the carbonfibre/aluminium wing mirrors draw inspiration from those on the C-X16 concept.

Jaguar_Project_7_01

The windshield has been lowered, while a new nose design incorporates revised air intakes and headlights with gloss black surrounds instead of chrome. The roof system has been completely removed, and the car sits on 20-inch Blade forged-alloy wheels with carbonfibre inserts.

Inside, the Project 7 features a single composite bucket seat with racing harness that?s mounted 30 mm lower than a standard F-Type, meaning the driver sits a full 40 mm closer to the ground as the car?s ride height has been cut by another 10 mm. The passenger seat is replaced by a helmet holder, which carries matching blue paint and graphics.

More than just a one-off design study, the Project 7 is a fully-functional machine that will be driven at the Goodwood show. Power coming from Jaguar?s 5.0 litre supercharged V8 engine in 550 PS 680 Nm form ? an increase of 55 PS and 55 Nm over the range-topping F-Type V8 S.

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Source: http://paultan.org/2013/07/10/jaguar-project-7-550-ps-single-seater-f-type-one-off/

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Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Candy Apple Tarts

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Privacy Policy / Your California Privacy Rights
Revised and posted as of March 4, 2013

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Prime Publishing, LLC and Ginsburg Enterprises Incorporated ("Company," "we" or "us") reserves the right to revise this Privacy Policy at any time simply by posting such revision, so we encourage you to review it periodically. In order to track any changes to this Privacy Policy, we will include a historical reference at the top of this document.

This Privacy Policy will tell you, among other things:

Your California privacy rights.
How we collect information and what information we collect.
How we may use information.
How we may share information.
Your choices regarding the sharing of information.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT/YOUR AGREEMENT
Company websites are not intended for use by individuals under the age of 18 or those who are not legal residents of the United States. By using our website or submitting information to us, you consent to the Company's use and sharing of the information collected or submitted as described in this Privacy Policy. If you are not 18 years of age or older and a valid resident of the United States or you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, do not provide us with any information or use any of the products or services offered or provided on Company websites or through Company technology.

YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS
Beginning January 1, 2005 under California's "Shine the Light" law, California residents who provide personal information in obtaining products or services for personal, family or household use are entitled to either: (1) a list detailing the categories of information shared and the entities to which such information was provided; or (2) to be notified of a mechanism by which a consumer may opt-out of having their information shared with third parties. We have elected the second option. To opt-out of having your information shared with third parties please write to us.

HOW DO WE COLLECT INFORMATION AND WHAT INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT?
We collect and combine personally identifiable information ("PII") and non-personally identifiable information ("Non-PII") through various sources, including those discussed below. For your reference, PII is data collected with an intention to specifically identify, contact or locate a person, including but not limited to name, address, telephone number, or e-mail address. Conversely, Non-PII is data that is not used to specifically identify, contact or locate an individual, including but not limited to zip code, gender, age, or IP address.

Distribution Partners
Website operators that license our ad serving technology pass information to us so that we may serve advertisements to you. The information passed may include, but is not limited to, your IP address, e-mail address, name, mailing address, telephone number, date of birth, and gender.

Offer Forms
We also collect information about you when you complete a survey or offer form on one of our websites or web pages. This information may include, but is not limited to: your e-mail address, name, mailing address, telephone number, date of birth, gender, and payment information; information about your background, interests, health, education, career goals, and shopping preferences; and any other personal information or unique preference information you provide to us or our advertisers.

Website Registration Forms
We collect information about you when you register on one of our websites. This registration information may include, but is not limited to your:
e-mail address
full name
mailing address
telephone number
date of birth
gender

Publisher Partners
When you complete a registration or offer form that is hosted by one of our website publisher partners on our behalf, the website publisher partner may submit all or a portion of the information that you submitted on the form to the Company. This information may include, but is not limited to: your IP address, e-mail address, name, mailing address, telephone number, date of birth, gender, and payment information; information about your background, interests, health, education, career goals, and shopping preferences; and any other information you provide to our website publisher partner.

Marketing Partners
We may receive information about you, including but not limited to your IP address, e-mail address, first name, last name, mailing address, and telephone number, from third party marketing partners that provide us with consumer data to manage on their behalf.

Automatic Information/Digital Identifiers
We may automatically receive and store certain types of information about you through the data sources listed above.

You may be familiar with the term "cookies," which are unique alphanumeric identifiers that store information on your computer. A cookie is placed on your computer when your web browser accesses our website. We use cookies for tracking transactions and the user characteristics explained in detail throughout this Privacy Policy. If you choose, there are utilities available for purchase from independent software providers to install on your computer as well as tools/preferences you can choose through most web browsers to make website visits anonymous. Of course, cookies let you have a more satisfying website experience, so we recommend that you leave them turned on.

We also collect information through our web server applications. This information includes your Internet Protocol or "IP" address, date/time stamp, browser type, and referring URL.

Additionally, we may use pixel tracking technology to track the completion of transactions with us or our advertisers, the source information for those transactions, and your IP address, date/time stamp, browser type, and referring URL.

Government Forms
The Company may be required to create, collect, maintain, and submit certain information required by the government, such as IRS Forms W-9 and 1099. This information, which may include your taxpayer identification number, will not be used, shared, transferred, or sold for marketing purposes.

HOW DO WE USE THIS INFORMATION?
We may use the collected PII and Non-PII for any legally permissible purpose in our sole discretion, including but not limited to those explained below.

Ad Serving
We may serve advertisements to you based, in part, on your IP address, the demographic and geographic information you submitted to the Company during the website registration process, and other socio-economic information, psychographic information, Internet behavior (i.e., browsing, search, shopping, purchase, and ad response behavior), and lifestyle information about you that we obtain from affiliated entities and from third parties.

We allow third-party companies to serve ads and/or collect certain anonymous information when you visit our Web site. These companies may use non-personally identifiable information (e.g., click stream information, browser type, time and date, subject of advertisements clicked or scrolled over) during your visits to this and other Web sites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services likely to be of greater interest to you. These companies typically use a cookie or third party web beacon to collect this information. To learn more about this behavioral advertising practice or to opt-out of this type of advertising, you can visit www.networkadvertising.org.

Pre-select/Pre-fill Offers
Our website technology may pre-select certain offers for you to view based on the demographic and geographic information you submitted to the Company during the website registration process. Additionally, this technology may pre-fill some or all of the offers' data fields with the information you submitted during the website registration process in order to prevent you from having to re-enter this information. We may not show all of the pre-filled data fields to you.

Upsell
We utilize customized post transactional or "upsell" technology to help advertisers generate sales, while providing you with a series of great offers we think may be of interest to you. The way it works is simple: once you purchase a product or service from one of our reward advertisers, you will be offered additional products or services that we think may be of interest to you. If you elect to purchase products or services from an advertiser in the post transactional channel, we will pass the information that you provided during the initial transaction to the subsequent advertiser, including but not limited to your credit card information. This information pass is done to enhance and simplify your purchasing experience. Your information will only be passed to an advertiser in the post transactional channel after you have elected to purchase their product or service. By electing to purchase their product or service you consent to the passing of your data to the third party advertiser in question.

Customer Service and Fulfillment
We may use your information to operate the website promotion, service your account and to fulfill rewards earned through Company websites. We may also use your information to verify your identity or claimed account status and, where we consider appropriate, investigate your compliance with the terms and conditions of the website promotion or any advertiser offer. We do retain customer service correspondence.

Credit Card Preauthorization
By submitting your credit card information to us or to one of our advertisers, you are authorizing the Company or its agent to periodically verify that your credit card account is valid and has credit available by charging, and thereafter crediting, a small sum to the card.

Marketing
We may use your information in our online (e.g., e-mail marketing) and offline (e.g., telemarketing, cell phone text messaging, skip tracing, and direct mail) marketing programs. If you would like to be removed from these programs please write to us.

HOW DO WE SHARE INFORMATION?
We may share the collected PII and Non-PII for any legally permissible purpose in our sole discretion, including but not limited to those explained below.

Within the Company
We may share information we collect with affiliated companies, including our parent company and other subsidiaries of our parent company, for use in their ad serving and marketing programs. This Privacy Policy does not apply to affiliated companies and their collection, use and sharing of information.

Vendors
We may share your information with various third party vendors that are not part of the Company, including but not limited to vendors that provide us with technology to deploy commercial e-mail, vendors that sell the products or services for which you have qualified through one of our websites, and shipping companies that we utilize to ship products to you.

Advertisers
When you participate in an offer by completing a form, we will transfer the information you submitted on the form to the applicable advertiser.

When you answer "yes" or "no" to a marketing or survey question, some or all of the information that you submitted during the website registration process will be transferred to advertisers that we believe may be of interest to you without providing you with another opportunity to review the information.

When you select "yes" next to an offer, we will transfer some or all of the information that you submitted during the website registration process to the applicable advertiser without providing you with another opportunity to review the information.

Ad Serving Companies
We may use third party ad networks or ad serving companies to serve advertisements on our websites. We pass information about you to these companies so that they can deliver targeted advertisements that they believe will be of interest to you. The information passed to these companies may include, but is not limited to, your IP address, e-mail address, name, mailing address, telephone number, date of birth, gender, and any other information you provide to us. Web pages that are served by these companies will state that they are "powered by" or "ads by" the applicable company and will contain a link to that company's privacy policy.

  • Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on our site.
  • Google's use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to our users based on their visit to our sites and other sites on the Internet.
  • Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy.

Marketing Partners
We may share, license or sell your information to third parties for various marketing purposes, including their online (e.g., e-mail marketing) and offline (e.g., telemarketing, cell phone text messaging, skip tracing, and direct mail) marketing programs. If you would like to be removed from these programs write to us.

Data Enhancement/Appending/Validation
We may use third party service providers to enhance our database with additional elements, including but not limited to age ranges present in your household, whether you own or rent a home, the length of time you have lived at your residence, whether you are a mail order buyer or responder, household income, and gender. Further, we may use third party service providers to append telephone numbers to other data points we have in our database. We also may use third party service providers to validate the data we have in our database.

Additionally, we may share, license or sell your information to third parties for use in their data validation, enhancement, information verification services, and, to the extent permitted by law, individual reference or look-up services.

Third Party Cookies
Notwithstanding anything else in this policy, we or a data provider we have engaged may place or recognize a unique cookie on your browser to enable you to receive customized ads or content.?? These cookies contain no personally identifiable information.? The cookies may reflect de-identified demographic or other data linked to data you voluntarily have submitted to us, e.g., your email address, that we may share with a data provider solely in hashed, non-human readable form. To opt-out of these cookies, please go to http://www.aboutads.info/choices.

Governmental Agencies or Other Companies
We may share your information with law enforcement officials or governmental agencies: (1) in response to their request; (2) when permitted or required by law; or (3) to establish our compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, or guidelines.

We may store and share your information with third parties for suppression or opt-out purposes.

We also may share your information with third parties when: (1) trying to protect against or prevent actual or potential fraud or unauthorized transactions; (2) investigating fraud that has already taken place; (3) enforcing or applying existing terms and conditions and/or other agreements; (4) protecting the rights, property or safety of our websites, our users or others; or (5) responding to subpoenas, court orders or legal process, or to establish or exercise our legal rights or defend against legal claims.

In all cases, this information is not provided to these entities or persons for marketing purposes.

Right to Transfer
Should the Company choose to sell or transfer business assets, it is possible that the information we possess may be transferred as part of that transaction. The Company may decide to retain a copy of the information post sale or transfer.

COMPANY CUSTOMER CHOICES

Marketing Communications and Unsubscribe Information
By completing and submitting a Company registration form, you are consenting to receive marketing communications from the Company and its third party marketing partners. If, after you have shared your information with the Company, you decide that you do not want to receive marketing communications or newsletters from the Company and its third party marketing partners, you can discontinue the communications by clicking here and filling out our form. If you have registered or submitted information under more than one e-mail account, you must submit separate unsubscribe requests for each account.

Request for More Information
As it relates to marketing communications or any other questions you might have about our Privacy Policy, please write to us at Prime Publishing, LLC, 3400 Dundee Road, Suite 220, Northbrook, IL? 60062.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I HIT A LINK TO ANOTHER SITE FROM A COMPANY WEBSITE?
Our websites may offer links to other websites. Other websites have their own terms of use and privacy and security policies. If you choose to visit one of these sites, you should review the policies that govern that particular site.

APPLICATION OF THIS PRIVACY POLICY
This Privacy Policy applies to all information collected by or submitted to the Company. Other affiliated entities of the Company may obtain information independently from transactions and experiences with you or from other sources. This Privacy Policy does not pertain to that information.

WHAT IS THE POLICY WITH RESPECT TO COMMUNICATING WITH CHILDREN?
We recognize the unique privacy concerns regarding children. We are committed to carefully protecting privacy where children are involved no matter the point of contact. In particular, our intention is to fully comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act ("COPPA"). Per COPPA guidelines, we do not knowingly collect PII from children under the age of 13. If a parent or guardian is made aware that a child under the age of 13 has provided us with PII through any point of contact, click here to contact us and we will delete the information about the child referenced from our files.

SECURITY
There is no such thing as complete security on the Internet or otherwise. The Company uses various security techniques on our websites to help protect against the loss, misuse or modification of information we've collected from you. When you access your personal information or transmit information to us, that information is stored on servers that we have taken steps to protect from unauthorized access or intrusion. While we strive to protect your information, the Company cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us. You acknowledge and assume this risk when communicating with the Company, its partners and affiliates.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT ANY DISPUTE OVER PRIVACY IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS PRIVACY POLICY, AS WELL AS THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS WEBSITE (INCLUDING LIMITATIONS ON DAMAGES). YOU AGREE THAT THE COMPANY'S LIABILITY FOR ANY BREACH OF THIS PRIVACY POLICY SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE VALUE OF THE TRANSACTIONS OR SERVICES PROVIDED TO YOU BY THE COMPANY TO THE EXTENT SUCH CLAIM IS NOT OTHERWISE BARRED BY OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

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Source: http://www.mrfood.com/Pastry/Candy-Apple-Tarts

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Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Africa will not change overnight, but now is the time to invest, says ...


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Kenya?s restaurant industry has been booming over the last few years. Local brands are opening outlets in major cities to meet growing demand from the middle class, while international players have also entered the market. Investors too, seem to be taking note. Last year, private equity firm Emerging Capital Partners (ECP), bought a majority stake in a homegrown coffee chain. This interest among investors and entrepreneurs is expected to continue.

The inside of a Big Square outlet.

The inside of a Big Square outlet.

?The middle class is growing and we need to invest in companies that service that middle class. I think the excitement in our industry will only grow,? said Morne Deetlefs, the owner of casual dining restaurant Big Square.

We are seated at a construction site where the South African entrepreneur is overseeing the building of his second restaurant in Gigiri, in the heart of Nairobi?s diplomatic zone.

The first Big Square outlet located in Karen, an upmarket area in Nairobi, has already carved a niche for itself barely a year since it opened. By the end of 2013, Deetlefs plans on opening a third Big Square outlet in another prime area, called Lavington.?Next year, he hopes to expand to the middle income suburbs in Nairobi.

?I definitely don?t want to be a brand that is exclusive. When creating a brand, you need to choose your best locations first. Once you are known, you can now start venturing into other areas,? he said.

Deetlefs, who was previously managing director at a firm that runs fast food, bakery and convenience retail outlets in Kenya, said he started Big Square to fill a gap in the market.

?I saw an opportunity? The timing is right. I think in the next five to eight years, the whole of East Africa will be a different place? look at the development going on and the growing middle class,? said Deetlefs.

Deetlefs reckoned that there ?is scope for national growth?, citing the emergence of business hubs in major urban centres across Kenya.

?Next year we want to be in ten locations,? said Deetlefs. ?It is achievable. I am optimistic about the market. Look at what is happening at other players in the industry. They are all growing.?

According to Deetlefs, investors have realised that the restaurant business could be profitable and are willing to finance innovative businesses that meet market demand.

?If you create the right opportunity, people will invest. I am not focusing on the money. I am focusing on the brand. I am focusing on the business. Once I can prove that this is fruitful and I can get other people excited about it, the money will come,? he said.

Despite the increasing number of restaurants and coffee houses in major urban centres in Kenya, Deetlefs believes the market is big enough and there is space for brands that differentiate themselves from the rest.

?|?View article on single page

Related articles:
  • ?I have not had a day off in six weeks,? says restaurant entrepreneur
  • ?Quitting is never an option,? says Kenyan restaurant entrepreneur
  • Entrepreneur watch: Bringing the ?Zen? back to Kenya?s restaurant industry
  • Traditional Kenyan restaurant attracts expats and tourists
  • Kenyan restaurant brand targeting growing middle class
  • ?People don?t mind spending an extra buck for quality,? says craft beer entrepreneur
  • Source: http://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/africa-will-not-change-overnight-but-now-is-the-time-to-invest-says-restaurant-entrepreneur/28034/

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    Students To Protest Major California College's Accreditation Loss

    City College of San Francisco students, faculty members and California lawmakers on Tuesday planned to protest the community college's loss of accreditation.

    The school, the largest college in California, was notified last week by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges that it will lose accreditation on July 31, 2014, leaving students without federal financial aid and potentially voiding their ability to transfer credits to other schools. The college, which currently serves more than 85,000 students, has until July 31 to appeal.

    The accrediting commission, a nonprofit regional agency recognized by the federal government, recommended 14 changes in 2012, but said the school has only responded to two.

    Students, faculty and supporters planned to march Tuesday afternoon in front of U.S. Education Department offices in San Francisco to protest the accreditation decision.

    "The actions of the ACCJC ?- an organization accountable to no one -- have unnecessarily put at risk the livelihoods of the nearly 2,500 hard-working men and women at the college," Tim Paulson of the San Francisco Central Labor Council said in a statement. "What's more, their move to deny CCSF accreditation has imperiled the future of San Francisco's working people, who rely heavily on a CCSF education for workforce training, language learning, and a pathway to better futures for themselves and their communities."

    The California Federation of Teachers has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education accusing the ACCJC of shredding documents to thwart a federal review of the commission's actions regarding the community college. The ACCJC insisted there were no irregularities in its CCSF accreditation decision.

    Brice W. Harris, chancellor of the California Community Colleges, responded to the accreditation decision by calling for the appointment of "a special trustee with extraordinary powers" to rescue CCSF. The California Community Colleges' Board of Governors followed through on Monday, appointing Robert Agrella as special trustee with control over CCSF finances.

    Cheri M. Sixbey, executive assistant to ACCJC President Barbara A. Beno, said the group's decision is not yet final.

    The "main obstacles to the college's turnaround are lack of financial accountability as well as institutional deficiencies in the area of leadership and governance," Sixbey told HuffPost.

    Many of CCSF's problems were identified by a 2006 evaluation team, Sixbey noted, and the ACCJC has provided "extensive professional advice and support" to help the school come into full compliance with commission standards.

    "Recent action by the state Chancellor?s Office may help the college change its approach and be able to meet the same standards as 133 other institutions in the Western Region," Sixbey said, referring to Harris' call for a special trustee. "The protestors need to join the many people at City College working towards this end."

    Faculty union president Alisa Messer, an English instructor at the school, said the accreditation commission was no help making those improvements.

    "We want a stronger, better college, but in many instances direction from the ACCJC has moved us in the wrong direction," Messer said in a statement. "The Accrediting Commission should be accountable for the impact of its actions."

    Also on HuffPost:

    "; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

    Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/09/city-college-of-san-francisco-protest_n_3569046.html?utm_hp_ref=politics&ir=Politics

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    Modern Fantasy with a twist on/of mythology (Interest check)

    Edit: I decided to come up with a back story and a quick plot-line rundown to make it more appealing. (Hopefully.)

    Back Story -

    Azielia was said to be one of God's most beautiful and devoted angels. Any man who saw her was said to fall in love with her at first sight. Even other gods lusted after her, but no one expected she would ever fall from grace.

    Everyone knows of the rivalry between Zeus and Hades. It's literally the stuff of legends. Neither can stand to see the other one happy, especially if it means the other got something that they wanted.

    Zeus fell in love with the angel Azielia and decided to attempt to woo, and possibly seduce, her. Hades heard of his brother's intentions and, being against anything that might make his brother happy, decided that he, too, would attempt to woo and seduce the lovely little angel.

    The two fought over her and used their best tricks to seduce the poor girl, but in the end it was Hades who won. He used his dark charm to woo and seduce Azielia, and it wasn't long after that the angel became pregnant with his off-spring.

    Of course this started a chain of events that would turn the poor angel's life up-side-down in a matter of days. Angels were forbidden to have sex, and for one to cross that line and end up pregnant was even worse. Not to mention that she was pregnant with a Greek god's offspring and that particular god was the ruler of the underworld.

    Azielia fell from grace and was sent to live in the human world, her wings clipped. Hades, having only seduced the poor angel to circumvent his brother's happiness, did nothing to help make her feel better about what had happened. Instead he made things worse by calling her a whore and claiming that there was no way the baby was his. From that day, until she died many years later, Azielia prayed and begged for forgiveness from God.

    The day came when she went into labor. It was long, excruciating, shocking, and almost a death sentence for poor Azielia. She gave birth to five children; three boys and two girls. Then, as if she hadn't gone through enough, she found herself facing most of the Olympian gods. They had come to bind her children's powers and take them from her, they said. A prophecy had been made by their fates that the children would bring about the apocalypse; four of them being destined to become the horsemen, and one being the key to their transformations.

    With their powers sealed, the gods took them to different city-states in Greece and fitted them with families wanting children of their own, but thus far having no luck. Each babe was named for one of five rivers of the Greek underworld.

    Styx was the first born, and a baby girl. She was given to a young Spartan general and his new wife. Acheron was second, and a boy. He was given to a peasant family in Corinth. Cocytus was the third born, and another boy. He was given to a royal Athenian family. Phlegethon was the fourth child and last boy. He was given to a potter's family in Argos. Lethe was the last born child and the only other girl. She was given to a royal family in Megara. Though they were raised apart, and their powers were bound as babes, the siblings always knew that the other's exited. Whether it was because some part of who they were shone around their bound powers, or because they had shared a womb for nine months remains uncertain.

    Plot --

    It's been 2,500 years since the children were taken from their mother, their powers bound, and given to separate families. They all chose to live their lives separately, even when they got older, until recently. Perhaps it was a combination of losing everyone they grew close to to old age and loneliness, or perhaps it was fate. Either way, they've all recently decided it's time to move to somewhere new and start over fresh.

    But they're not the only ones deciding it's time to take action. After 2,500 years, Hades has finally found a way to un-bind the powers of his children. Of course, he's not doing it for them as much as he's doing it to piss off the other gods.

    To make things more interesting, the paranormal world is stirring. Demons are crawling out of their pits, fights are breaking out between sects that had alliances, and general discord is slowly, but steadily, spreading through the paranormal community. Something really dark and nasty has it out for the siblings; well, either that or it's trying to bring about the apocalypse, and what better time to strike than when the siblings are finally going to be in the same place all at once.

    Can Hades unlock their powers in time for them to save their own asses? If he does unlock their powers, will that automatically start their transformations? Is there a way to stop them from becoming the horsemen, or will the prophecy be fulfilled?

    Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/Db6xrl3EcRc/viewtopic.php

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    Egypt?s army chief El-Sissi trained at US Army War College

    Source: ?Cumberlink

    CARLISLE ? With unrest in Egypt, U.S. military officials looking for insight might test the ties they formed with the Egyptian defense minister, Lt. Gen. Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, when he was a student at the Army War College.

    ?In this little historical Pennsylvania town, the most important school in the world operates under the radar,? said retired Col. Stephen Gerras, a professor of behavioral science at the Carlisle Barracks.

    Al-Sisi was Gerras? student. In 2006, he watched the Steelers beat the Seattle Seahawks, 21-10, in the Super Bowl in Gerras? home. Gerras remembers him as a warm man, quiet and devout.

    ?My mother was at our little party, too, and al-Sisi took her around my home and explained to her the meaning behind the Turkish artifacts that my wife and I had picked up when we lived in Turkey,? he said. ?At the time he was here, he was only a one-star general. We never dreamed at the time he would go on to lead the Egyptian army.?

    Political unrest and a troubled economy marked the first year in office for Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, until a military coup ousted him on Wednesday. Al-Sisi, who deployed troops to cities when clashes broke out between supporters and opponents of the government, said the chief justice of the constitutional court replaced Morsi, the first elected president.

    Recruiting al-Sisi and military leaders from other U.S. allies to build professional and personal relationships at the Army War College is an investment in the future, said Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo, commandant at the college. Its international fellows program began in the 1970s.

    ?It is so critical to know that the voice on the other end of the line is someone you trust because you have spent a year together studying, talking about everything from Thucydides (a Greek historian and Athenian general) to ethics to favorite sports teams,? said Cucolo. Social events help their families to form bonds.

    That can pay off when a crisis erupts in a country.

    ?You now have a friend, or at the very least a colleague, you can call to receive situational updates outside of known information from the media,? Cucolo said. ?They also have the ability to call you for advice and guidance.?

    Cultivating leaders

    Situated about 120 miles from Washington, off the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the Army War College is considered the country?s top military training program.

    Armed guards at the entrance gate show visitors this is not a typical campus, though its mature hemlock and oak trees and 19th-century buildings give the feel of Ivy League grounds. A fly-fishing stream, LeTort Spring Run, a tributary of scenic Conodoguinet Creek, runs through the property.

    The average student comes with 22 years of experience, which these days includes Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom. A board of military officials in Washington invites candidates to attend.

    Despite its name, the college welcomes more than Army students for its yearlong course. The class of 2013, graduated on June 8, included 225 Army, 15 Navy, 32 Air Force, 17 Marine Corps and one Coast Guard officer; 24 civilian intelligence officers from agencies such as the CIA and the National Security Agency; and 71 international officers.

    Classes begin on Aug. 1 to teach military men and women leadership skills, the theory of war and strategy, national security policy, campaigning and regional security. Elective subjects include cyber strategy, the industrial base, stewardship, board security and exploring the legitimacy of and alternatives to targeted killing.

    Many attendees come with battlefield experience that involves making black-and-white decisions.

    ?Our intent is take these soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and intelligence officers to go from tactical-level operations and decision-makers to direct leadership roles,? said Bill Waddell, director of the command and control group and the

    cyberspace operations. ?They have gotten promoted for being decisive and getting things done. Now they come here, and they have to get ready for roles where some of them will be general officers, admirals or on the staff of a senior leader.?

    That means learning to think like those leaders and giving them a broader perspective, he said. At that level, there is no black-and-white; issues become complex.

    ?That officer who was being rewarded for being decisive and making things happen right finds decisiveness can be somewhat dangerous in the leadership environment,? Gerras said.

    Thinking strategically

    This is a college where professors do not lecture. Though military strategy is the mission, attendees swap their military regalia for shirts and ties.

    They begin most days by discussing reading material from the prior day ? typically topics such as the civil war in Syria, anti-government riots in Turkey and Egypt?s turmoil.

    They are taught to think their way through problems, Waddell said, and to consider the perspectives of other stakeholders.

    Government agencies and foreign countries ?all have different cultures, and they don?t appreciate a military officer saying, ?Do it because I said so,? ? he said. ?That just doesn?t work in this world.?

    Former CIA Director Michael Hayden, a four-star Air Force general, was one of four keynote speakers this summer at the college?s National Security Seminar on the implications of social, political and economic problems.

    ?The transition from tactical thinking to strategic thinking is not as easy as it sounds,? Hayden said.

    He likes the international fellows program for its ability to introduce participants to American society.

    ?These people are living in Carlisle; they bump into normal Americans every day,? he said. ?If they have children, they attend school here. They shop and dine here. You don?t get much more ?Main Street America? than the Cumberland Valley in Pennsylvania.?

    Steeped in history

    The land that houses the Carlisle Barracks has been some sort of military facility since the founding of the country.

    Dubbed Fort Washingtonburg to honor a young George Washington, a post built here in the 1750s protected settlers during the French and Indian War.

    During the Revolutionary War, captured Hessians from the Battle of Trenton became prisoners here. The guardhouse they built still stands.

    And it was here that President Washington gathered his troops with Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton to put down the Whiskey Rebellion, marking the only time a sitting president has led a battle.

    The property served as an armory and recruiting station and, in 1838, became the Army calvary training center. Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart swept into town and burned the barracks on July 1, 1863, at the start of the Battle of Gettysburg.

    The Carlisle Indian Industrial School was established on the grounds in 1879. During its 39-year existence, coach Glenn ?Pop? Warner fostered distinguished athletic teams. His star athlete, football and track idol Jim Thorpe, is memorialized throughout the campus, including the gym where he honed his skills.

    The Army War College was founded by President Theodore Roosevelt?s War Department secretary, Elihu Root, in 1901 in Washington. It moved to Carlisle in 1951.

    Root wanted to school elite military leaders not to promote war, but to preserve peace through intelligent preparation to repel aggression.

    Looking forward

    The mission for Army War College faculty members won?t change as the U.S. military makes one of its largest transitions in decades after 12 years of war.

    Cucolo, who commanded the 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq, said America?s battle-hardened military is tactically effective.

    ?For the future, I would offer, though, that our concentration on fighting over the last 12 years has caused us to atrophy in our abilities to apply the strategic art,? he said.

    Though the military has effective strategists, he said, ?we just believe they are too few, and I?m not sure people understand just how hard this sort of activity is and the education and skills required to do it.?

    ?It is said that at the strategic level, there are rarely any good options or course of action ? only the best of nothing but bad options.?

    Since 9/11, military leaders have been asked what element of surprise keeps them up at night.

    ?We just don?t predict very well,? Gerras said about enemy unknowns that nag at him. He worries, too, about diminished resources for the Armed Forces. ?Because we don?t predict this stuff very well, are we going to have the resilience and agility and the resources to respond to what might happen??

    The steep drawdown of resources that inevitably follows the end of a conflict worries Waddell, too.

    ?If the budget cuts are catastrophic,? he said, ?we just need to know we have some flexibility and agility with our forces.?

    ?

    Tags: Abdel Fattah, air force, Al Sisi, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Egypt, general, government, intelligence, leadership, military, program, radar, science, security, Stephen Gerras, strategy, student, Turkey, U.S., war

    Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StratRisks/~3/qGSrgY1ItiI/13827

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    Monday, July 8, 2013

    Chinese Pop Star Tickle Tests MMFF/M MM/F Goat/M Feet - Fingers, Feathers, etc.


    Some kind of tickle tests.

    First 2 guys and 2 girls tickle a man's bare feet.
    Then 2 guys tickle a woman's stocking (black) feet.
    Then a goat comes out to tickle a man's feet.

    All kind of tools are used... fingers, feathers, brushes, broom ends.

    youtube.com/watch?v=jl1oqVz8g7M

    Source: http://www.ticklingforum.com/showthread.php?237347-Chinese-Pop-Star-Tickle-Tests-MMFF-M-MM-F-Goat-M-Feet-Fingers-Feathers-etc&goto=newpost

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    Official: 2 dead in S.F. plane crash

    SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? A survivor of a plane that crashed at San Francisco International Airport says there was no forewarning before the plane touched down hard.

    Vedpal Singh, his arm in a sling, said at the airport on Saturday that he heard a loud sound after the plane touched down and knew something was horribly wrong.

    He said the plane then went silent before people tried to get out anyway they could. The entire incident lasted about 10 seconds.

    Singh was visibly shaken. He was traveling with his wife and at least one child from South Korea, where he works, and said he was in the middle of the aircraft.

    He said it was "miraculous" that he survived.

    Source: http://news.yahoo.com/official-2-dead-f-plane-crash-023620427.html

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    Sunday, July 7, 2013

    2 Koreas start talks at border on stalled park

    SEOUL, South Korea (AP) ? Delegates from North and South Korea began talks Saturday on restarting a stalled joint factory park that had been a symbol of cooperation between the bitter rivals.

    The Kaesong industrial zone, just north of the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas, was the centerpiece of inter-Korean projects hatched during a previous era of warming ties. But it was closed in April as tensions rose between the rivals when South Korea held military exercises with the U.S. troops not far from the border, which led to North Korea pulling its 53,000 workers out of the industrial park in protest. South Korea then ordered its managers to leave as well, against their wishes.

    South Korea's Unification Ministry, which is in charge of relations with North Korea, said the two sides began the working-level talks at the truce village of Panmunjom inside the DMZ

    The two agreed to discuss retrieving products that the South Korean managers left behind at the industrial complex in North Korea and inspecting the facilities. They will also discuss restarting work at the park.

    The park, which brought together North Korean labor and South Korean capital, resulted in nearly $2 billion a year in cross-border trade. It was the last remaining joint project between two Koreas as relations soured over the past five years.

    The closure meant a loss of salary for tens of thousands of North Korean workers employed in factories run by 123 South Korean companies, and a loss of goods and orders for business managers who relied on Kaesong to churn out everything from shoes and watches to cables and electrical components.

    The Saturday talks come after a protocol disagreement last month resulted in the Koreas calling off what would have been the first senior-level meeting in years.

    Source: http://news.yahoo.com/2-koreas-start-talks-border-stalled-park-042012321.html

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    In The Clear: Toni Braxton Finally Gets Rid Of That Bankruptcy Debt!

    WENN.com

    WENN.com

    She may not be making millions of dollars anymore through album releases but singer Toni Braxton has pulled her resources together and gotten rid of whatever was left of her bankruptcy debt.

    According to TMZ, Toni paid $150,000 to get everyone off her back.? Just to be clear, this is the second bankruptcy we?re talking about.

    If you?ll recall, Braxton filed for bankruptcy back in 2010 and said it mostly stemmed from her health problems, including Lupus, which racked up major medical bills.

    There were many layers to the bankruptcy but to clear it up, Toni worked with a trustee on two major things: buying back her property and money made from overseas shows.

    In regards to the property, Toni was to pay $5,000 per month for 15 months, with the last payment actually being $50,000.? She was doing good until she couldn?t make that last payment.

    In terms of the shows, Toni said that she shouldn?t have had to pay money back for the shows? ? $754,000 in total ? because she?d filed for bankruptcy before the shows happened and should, therefore, be able to keep the money.? On the other hand, the trustee argued that because Toni was paid before the shows (the money was put in escrow until she held up her end of the deal and performed), she still owed money on them.

    A little confused?? Okay, well just know this: Toni and the trustee agreed that she would pay $50,000 for the property and $100,000 for the shows.

    It looks like Toni needs to keep her Braxton Family Values gig since she now has nothing but space and opportunity to run her bills up again. I kid, I kid?love you, Toni!

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    Source: http://madamenoire.com/285046/in-the-clear-toni-braxton-finally-gets-rid-of-that-bankruptcy-debt/

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    Sports-Max-D-Block-Party-Sweepstakes

    ?

    Details

    PRIZE. Winner will receive: A MAX-DSM DECADE OF MAXIMUM DESTRUCTION? BLOCK PARTY )the ?Party?) which includes a MAXIMUM DESTRUCTION? Monster Truck display and the appearance of Tom Meents or, in the event of Monster Truck and/or driver unavailability, such other Monster Truck or driver as may be selected by Sponsor. The Party will take place at Winner?s home or at a location determined by Team Maximum Destruction? to be more suitable, on a day to be mutually agreed upon by Team Maximum

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    Saturday, July 6, 2013

    IRS Pays 201 Employees to Do Full-time Union Work

    Americans are paying the salaries of over 200 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees not to process tax returns or to assist confused taxpayers but to perform labor-union tasks, and two congressional Republicans are trying to pry the details of this legal-but-shady arrangement out of the agency.

    Last month, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, Americans for Limited Government (ALG) obtained documents from the IRS showing that the agency has on its payroll 201 employees who, while they have job titles indicating that they do IRS work, actually spend all their time on the job taking care of union business. (The IRS has other employees who do union work only part of the time, but ALG did not inquire about them.)

    ?A lot of people are not aware that under federal law, a federal agency is allowed to enter into a collective bargaining agreement with a union that has provisions where employees of the agency, in this case the IRS, are allowed to do union work on the taxpayer?s time and get paid for it,? ALG president Nathan Mehrens told the Daily Caller.

    The practice, known as ?official time,? was added to the U.S. Code as part of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 ? not coincidentally, a year in which Democrats controlled both houses of Congress and the presidency.

    ?Official time is seen by supporters as compensation for the fact that unions are required to handle labor issues related to all employees, not just union members,? Fox News explained in 2011. ?When union officials negotiate with federal managers over work rules, like appropriate attire and other human resource requirements, those functions are carried out under official time.?

    Opponents, however, consider official time to be an affront to taxpayers.

    ?It is a subsidy to a private entity to do the private entity?s job,? Mehrens told the Daily Caller. ?Why should we as taxpayers be paying for this? It is not as if taxpayers are paying to subsidize my organization.?

    Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) agree. In a letter to acting IRS commissioner Daniel Werfel, they wrote: ?While the IRS continues to request more funding to further close the ... tax gap, especially under the current budget crunch and sequestration, it makes little sense to use taxpayer resources to pay for union work. This kind of practice takes place only in the government ? in the private sector, union work and staff are paid for by union dues.?

    ?The IRS has shut down on certain days, and required employees to take unpaid furloughs, due supposedly to the effects of sequestration,? the legislators observed. ?However, the IRS is also planning to pay out $70 million in employee bonuses, and pays more than 200 employees to work for the union, instead of fulfilling the duties described in their positions of record.?

    Coburn and Gingrey pointed out that ?more than 40 of these employees ? are paid over $100,000 a year.? One, according to the documents obtained by ALG, makes over $138,000 annually.

    The two lawmakers asked Werfel to provide them with specifics on the IRS? ?100 percent official time? employees and the agency?s policies with regard to them. They are seeking such things as the number of such employees over the last decade, what these employees actually do, how the IRS gets these employees? government work done, and how it evaluates their performance.

    ?Are any employees on 100 percent official time involved in the processing of refunds?? they ask, following up with an even more pointed question: ?How many taxpayer refunds for the 2012 tax year were late??

    They also request a tally of all official time for which the IRS has paid over the last 10 years ? and its total cost.

    Official time in all federal agencies over the past decade is estimated to have cost taxpayers $1.3 billion, according to Gingrey?s blog. ?The Office of Personnel Management revealed that in 2011 ? the most recent report available ? bargaining employees at all federal agencies spent a total of 3,395,187 hours performing representational work, at a cost of approximately $155 million,? the Daily Caller reported.

    The Veterans Administration (VA), to take just one more egregious offender, has over 250 full-time official-time employees, among them at least 85 nurses and dozens of other medical and security personnel. The VA, meanwhile, is trying to fill open nursing positions and has a backlog of nearly 900,000 disability claims. (Coburn, along with Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), is also trying to get some answers about these 100-percent official-time employees from VA Secretary Eric Shinseki.)

    Gingrey, for his part, isn?t merely interested in discovering the details of federal employees? official-time activities; he wants to put a stop to them altogether. In January he introduced the Federal Employee Accountability Act, which would repeal the portion of the 1978 law that permits official time. That bill remains in committee.

    If he can?t end official time, however, Gingrey at least wants to force the government to inform taxpayers of how much union activity they are being fleeced to fund. To that end, he is cosponsoring a bill introduced in February by Rep. Dennis Ross (R-Fla.) ? who, as it happens, cosponsored Gingrey?s bill ? to require the Office of Personnel Management to submit an annual report to Congress detailing the number of employees engaged in official time, how much time they spent on it, and how much they cost taxpayers. That bill, the Official Time Reporting Act, has made it out of committee and is awaiting a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives.

    ?At a time when our country is more than $16 trillion in debt, we need to ensure that we are cutting all wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars, no matter for which political side the union employees are advocating,? Ross said in a press release at the time he introduced his bill.

    ?Addressing government-wide use of official time would improve oversight of taxpayer dollars and create more efficiency in the federal workforce,? Gingrey said in the same release. The bills he and Ross introduced, he argued, ?will help restore fiscal responsibility, increase transparency, and end the union practice of draining public coffers for political gain.?

    One or both of these bills might pass the House, but getting either one past the Democrat-dominated Senate and a Democratic president is considerably less likely. Still, it?s worth a try if only to expose the scam that is official time.

    Source: http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/congress/item/15922-irs-pays-201-employees-to-do-full-time-union-work

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