Spring Break in Mexico FAQ

When is spring break?

In spring, of course! Actually, spring break takes place before the official start of spring, mostly during the month of March. The dates of spring break vary from year to year, and different schools take their spring break at different times. Find out exactly when is spring break?

Do I need a passport for spring break in Mexico?

You will most likely need a passport to travel to Mexico for Spring Break. Find out how to get a passport and more information about Mexico entry requirements.

Where should I go for Spring break?

Mexico has plenty of great spring break destinations and its proximity to the US makes it a great spring break choice. Cancun, Acapulco and Los Cabos are the most popular spring break hot spots, but there are many other excellent places to spend your holiday. See the top destinations in Mexico.

Is it safe to travel to Mexico for spring break?

Whether or not you'll be safe depends a lot on your own actions. Although there has been increased violence, particularly along the border with the United States, and the US government recently updated a travel alert for Mexico, the violence that has occurred is mostly due to conflicts between Mexican authorities and drug cartels. Tourists have not been targeted, so as long as you practice common sense, and basic safety precautions, you should not be in danger. Also read: Is Cancun Safe?

What can I do to stay safe and healthy during spring break?

There's a lot you can do to make sure you stay safe and healthy during your spring break. Check out these tips for a safe spring break in Mexico.

What are the best spring break destinations?

That question and more are answered in our Mexico Spring Break Planning Guide.

Source: http://gomexico.about.com/od/planningandinformation/a/springbreak_faq.htm

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Peter Madoff pleads guilty in NYC, blaming brother

NEW YORK (AP) ? The younger brother of disgraced financier Bernard Madoff ? the loyal No. 2 at an investment firm that fronted a multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme ? pleaded guilty Friday, agreeing to serve 10 years in prison and saying he was "in total shock" when he learned of the fraud.

Peter Madoff, 66, entered the plea Friday in a deal that permits him to remain free pending an Oct. 4 sentencing. He had been taken into custody at his lawyer's midtown Manhattan office earlier in the morning.

The plea came in the same Manhattan courthouse where Bernard Madoff was led away in handcuffs in 2009 to serve a 150-year sentence.

Peter Madoff told the judge he was "deeply ashamed and terribly sorry" but that he didn't know about the scam until his brother revealed it in December 2008.

"I was in total shock," he said of his brother's disclosure. "My world was destroyed. I lost everything I worked for."

The government has used the cooperation of six former employees and associates at Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC to learn what went on inside the secretive business. Close to $20 billion vanished in the scam, the largest Ponzi scheme ever prosecuted in the U.S. The scheme left behind only a few hundred million dollars, not the $65 billion claimed in bogus financial statements.

Peter Madoff revealed in court that he agreed to assist his brother in sending out the only money left to favored people, including friends and family.

"I was shocked and devastated but nevertheless I did as my brother had said, as I had consistently done for decades," he said. "I knew that the conduct was wrong and I am deeply ashamed." The checks never went out.

In his guilty plea, Bernard Madoff admitted his investment advisory business was a sham, but insisted that his brother and two sons who also worked for him were in the dark about his misdeeds. The FBI nevertheless had been suspicious from the start about the role of Peter Madoff, who had worked side by side with his scheming brother for more than 40 years.

Peter Madoff sometimes signed many weeks of compliance reports in one sitting, intentionally changing pens and ink colors to make it appear he had signed them at various times, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa A. Baroni told U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain. She said he also arranged for his wife to have a no-show job at the company, allowing her to receive salary.

FBI Assistant Director Janice K. Fedarcyk said Peter Madoff played an "essential enabling role" in the scam by certifying fabricated investment results.

"The Madoff investment empire, built on a foundation of deceit, was a house of cards that grew to skyscraper proportions," she said. "As Peter Madoff has admitted today, he was one of the chief architects."

Peter Madoff was being released on $5 million bail, secured by $1 million in cash or property, pending sentencing. Prosecutors said Peter Madoff agreed to give up all his assets.

"Peter Madoff enabled the largest fraud in human history. He will now be jailed well into old age, and he will forfeit virtually every penny he has," U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said. "We are not yet finished calling to account everyone responsible for the epic fraud of Bernard Madoff and the epic pain of his many victims."

Friends and business associates had described the brothers as very close. Their offices in midtown Manhattan were a few feet apart. Their families vacationed together.

Peter Madoff was credited with creating a computer trading system for the firm in the late 1970s and early 1980s that was considered groundbreaking at the time. He ran the daily trading operation while his brother focused on the more secretive investment advisory arm.

Both brothers made a fortune. Peter Madoff owned a Palm Beach, Fla., vacation house that recently sold for $5.5 million.

When Bernard Madoff was arrested, Peter Madoff broke the news to Madoff Securities employees. And he was a co-signer on a $10 million bond that won his brother's release. Through attorneys, he denied any wrongdoing.

But the denial didn't stop federal authorities from moving to freeze Peter Madoff's assets. He agreed not to dispose of his assets and promised to curtail his personal spending as the investigation moved forward. His living expenses were capped at $10,000 a month.

A trustee appointed to recover stolen assets also came after Peter Madoff, accusing him of financing his high-end lifestyle through the fraud.

A complaint filed in bankruptcy court alleged that the Madoff investment business had transferred more than $77 million to Peter Madoff. It said that between 1993 and 2008, he was paid a total of $36 million in salary and bonuses. And it identified other income for Peter Madoff as memberships to country clubs, including Glen Oaks Club in New York and one of Donald Trump's country clubs.

Given Peter Madoff's "level of financial experience and sophistication," he either knew or should have known that he reaped gains from "fraud and deception," the trustee alleged.

The trustee also took aim at his daughter Shana, who once worked as an in-house lawyer at the firm and has denied involvement in the scheme.

"Had Peter, as the Chief Compliance Officer, or Shana, as Compliance Counsel, done their jobs properly, the fraud might have been revealed years earlier," the complaint said. "Either they failed completely to carry out their required supervisory/compliance roles, or they knew about the fraud but covered it up."

Defense lawyers responded by branding the complaint "a sensationalistic attempt to lump together members of the Madoff family and create liability by association." Their court papers claimed the scandal has "left Peter Madoff mired in litigation, and has devastated his family emotionally and financially."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/peter-madoff-pleads-guilty-nyc-blaming-brother-163003155--finance.html

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President Obama on Supreme Court Health Care Decision

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White House

President Obama reacted to the Supreme Court decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, the health care law. He called the decision a "victory" for the American people and outlined ways in which the law would benefit citizens.

President Obama reacted to the Supreme Court decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, the health care law. He called the decision a "victory" for the American people and outlined ways in which the law would benefit citizens.

7 minutes | 3 Views

View Program Timeline

Source: http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/306816-1

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Foreclosure Data hitting the Santa Clarita Real Estate Blog ? Santa ...

Never fear, we have wanted to bring you the BEST in the Foreclosures within the Santa Clarita Valley. ?Besides the properties that are currently on the market for sale that are TRUE Foreclosures ? as is the one below this Text ? We also want our clients to get an idea of what they can expect from the future foreclosure and REO market.

Showing properties 1 - 1 of 63. See more Santa Clarita Foreclosures.
(all data current as of 6/28/2012)

1. 5 beds, 3 full baths

   Home size: 2,419 sq ft

   Lot size: 5,000 sqft

   Year built: 2005

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 2

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

If this one does not suit you ? this page does reload with the most recent addition to the Santa Clarita foreclosure inventory ? click here.

Below are the most recent additions to the Foreclosure Alerts for the cities in which we serve within Los Angeles County. ?We have included data from the Santa Clarita Cities and else where in Southern California.

Have a look and BE Safe. ?If you are getting fed up with your agent not wanting to show you certain listings that are for sale ? you may want to read this post!!! ?Talk Soon?

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Your New Foreclosures alert, Northridge Pre Foreclosure, Bank Owned, Auction and Sold To Third Alert by REMAX Experts, found a match.

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Stage Radar ID Street City Zip State Type Sq Ft Beds Baths Sale Date Est. Value Est. Bid

Sold to 3rd 23757633 9546 MELVIN AVE NORTHRIDGE 91324 CA SFR 3010 4 4.00 06/27/2012 $639,797.00 $510,000.00

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Your New Foreclosures alert, North Hollywood Real Estate Foreclosures by REMAX and The Paris911 Team, found a match.

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Stage Radar ID Street City Zip State Type Sq Ft Beds Baths Sale Date Est. Value Est. Bid

Sold to 3rd 24322550 12401 HARTSOOK ST NORTH HOLLYWOOD 91607 CA SFR 1580 3 2.00 06/27/2012 $508,786.00 $551,000.00

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Your New Foreclosures alert, Glendale Real Estate Foreclosures by REMAX and The Paris911 Team, found a match.

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Stage Radar ID Street City Zip State Type Sq Ft Beds Baths Sale Date Est. Value Est. Bid

Bank Owned 25412298 545 W GARFIELD AVE GLENDALE 91204 CA IND 4462 0 0.00 06/27/2012 $632,261.00 $503,037.36

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Your New Foreclosures alert, Sylmar CA Pre Foreclosure, Bank Owned, Auction and Sold To Third Alert by REMAX Experts, found a match.

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Stage Radar ID Street City Zip State Type Sq Ft Beds Baths Sale Date Est. Value Est. Bid

Bank Owned 42243177 15037 ROXFORD ST 12 SYLMAR 91342 CA CND 1783 3 3.00 06/27/2012 $247,249.00 $237,600.00

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Your New Foreclosures alert, Burbank Real Estate Foreclosures by REMAX and The Paris911 Team, found a match.

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Stage Radar ID Street City Zip State Type Sq Ft Beds Baths Sale Date Est. Value Est. Bid

Bank Owned 24338389 7762 VIA CAPRI BURBANK 91504 CA CND 1478 3 3.00 06/27/2012 $335,819.00 $337,500.00

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Your New Foreclosures alert, Los Angeles Pre Foreclosure, Bank Owned, Auction and Sold To Third Alert by REMAX Experts, found a match.

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Stage Radar ID Street City Zip State Type Sq Ft Beds Baths Sale Date Est. Value Est. Bid

Preforeclosure 513157527 5210 MONTE VISTA ST LOS ANGELES 90042 CA COM 2544 2 1.00 10/12/2012 $321,128.00 $211,628.00

Preforeclosure 520282555 2920 MONTCALM AVE LOS ANGELES 90046 CA SFR 1300 2 2.00 10/20/2012 $704,231.00 $777,019.00

Preforeclosure 507637835 1234 WILSHIRE BLVD 337 LOS ANGELES 90017 CA CND 790 1 1.00 10/19/2012 $237,642.00 $308,284.00

Auction 24790582 1223 W 90TH ST LOS ANGELES 90044 CA SFR 646 1 1.00 07/18/2012 $122,529.00 $259,669.00

Auction 24233491 869 S WOOSTER ST 309 LOS ANGELES 90035 CA CND 855 2 2.00 07/12/2012 $373,074.00 $13,335.00

Preforeclosure 509649841 4526 DON MILAGRO DR LOS ANGELES 90008 CA SFR 1346 2 2.00 10/19/2012 $288,444.00 $204,922.00

Preforeclosure 503247272 11114 WILLOWBROOK AVE LOS ANGELES 90059 CA MFR 1377 3 2.00 10/20/2012 $136,923.00 $119,488.00

Sold to 3rd 25035228 530 W 52ND PL 2 LOS ANGELES 90037 CA MFR 2616 8 4.00 05/30/2012 $298,786.00 $0.00

Bank Owned 500645747 750 E 52ND ST LOS ANGELES 90011 CA MFR 2168 4 3.00 06/27/2012 $201,229.00 $164,500.00

Sold to 3rd 502503825 8716 IVY ST LOS ANGELES 90002 CA MFR 1998 3 2.00 06/27/2012 $267,801.00 $230,000.01

Bank Owned 500653230 468 S MCBRIDE AVE LOS ANGELES 90022 CA SFR 1164 3 2.00 06/27/2012 $205,969.00 $372,375.44

Bank Owned 441122 8310 TOWNE AVE LOS ANGELES 90003 CA SFR 1172 2 1.00 06/27/2012 $149,779.00 $146,868.99

Bank Owned 24782638 1930 W MANCHESTER AVE LOS ANGELES 90047 CA MFR 1920 6 3.00 06/27/2012 $213,648.00 $429,583.83

Bank Owned 517426747 7320 HAWTHORN AVE 113 LOS ANGELES 90046 CA CND 980 2 2.00 06/27/2012 $349,925.00 $212,500.00

Sold to 3rd 460524 1707 E IMPERIAL HWY LOS ANGELES 90059 CA MFR 1827 6 2.00 06/27/2012 $236,984.00 $185,000.00

Bank Owned 924245b 1200 W FLORENCE AVE LOS ANGELES 90044 CA MFR 2104 4 3.00 06/27/2012 $277,981.00 $250,000.00

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Your New Foreclosures alert, Chatsworth Pre Foreclosure, Bank Owned, Auction and Sold To Third Alert by REMAX Experts, found a match.

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Stage Radar ID Street City Zip State Type Sq Ft Beds Baths Sale Date Est. Value Est. Bid

Preforeclosure 509594121 10326 HILLVIEW AVE CHATSWORTH 91311 CA SFR 1086 2 1.00 10/20/2012 $246,734.00 $240,300.00

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Tagged as: la real estate, santa clarita, santa clarita agents, santa clarita blog, santa clarita foreclosure blog

Source: http://santaclaritarealestate.paris911.com/2012/06/28/foreclosure-data-hitting-the-santa-clarita-real-estate-blog/

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New York City mayor proposes creating an internet wall of shame for bad drivers

Mayor Mike Bloomberg is struggling to find a use for red light cameras that are unable to issue violations

By now, all of us know the pain of buying a technology that almost immediately became obsolete. That's precisely the position?New York City finds itself in: After installing 40?red light cameras to help catch traffic violators, state legislators recently ruled that the city can't use them to issue fines to violators. So, in an attempt to make lemonade from its 40 digital lemons, New York City's Mayor Michael Bloomberg is proposing the city use the cameras to create an internet wall of shame showing the names and photos of speeders.

Despite the fact that New York can't use the cameras to issue fines, there's no law that says the city can't use the cameras other ways. "We'll put up their names and pictures someplace,?maybe we can shame them," the mayor said. "We should look at that."

This red light camera snafu is far from the only controversy Bloomberg has found himself in lately. Earlier this month, the mayor proposed?banning the sale of larger sizes of sugary soft drinks, a move that was widely?mocked by the national media.

[Image credit:?-Tripp-]

Capital New York via?Autoblog

This article was written by Fox Van Allen and originally appeared on Tecca

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Looking for a roleplay partner

Obviously, from the title, I am in search of new roleplaying partners. I have only participated in 1x1 roleplays, although I would be more than willing to do a small group. I have been roleplaying for several years now on and off but am fairly new to this site. I have a big imagination and am looking for a partner that can co-create amazing worlds and characters.

Much of the information I will be stating can also be found here: www.freewebs.com/ohyoumakemesmile
I will be posting the just of it below, though.

- First off, I ask that you be literate to advanced+. I would prefer a minimum of one paragraph responses, although I understand that dialogue posts will be shorter and at the end of the day I would rather see quality over quantity. Give me a decent amount of information to work with and I will do the same for you.
- I ask that you be mature. I like to incorporate gore, lust, violence, language, dark twists, ect. in my roleplays. I do respect others limits but I would rather us be on the same page.
- Most importantly, make sure you share all your ideas! Don't be afraid to suggest something just because you think I might find it silly. Nonsense! I am extremely outgoing, nice and my imagination runs wild. We can make our roleplays pretty bizarre. I want us to be happy with our world and the characters in it. Sugggesstttttt.

Here is what I am craving as of now, although I am more than happy to do anything on my full list on my site. Don't be afraid to combine any or suggest your own if you don't see it!
- Fantasy
- The Hunger Games
- Pokemon
- Avatar: The Last Airbender
- Harry Potter
- Ancient Rome/Greece/Egypt
- Odd Pairings (almost any combination)

*** PLEASE PM ME. DO NOT RESPOND HERE.

Alright, well, I look forward to hearing from you and hopefully getting to make some long-term partnerships!
xoxo-

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AAA New Mexico: Gas prices drop as July 4 holiday looms

As many New Mexicans prepare to travel during the July 4 holiday, motorists are paying less at the pump than last week.

As many New Mexicans prepare to travel during the July 4 holiday, motorists are paying less at the pump than last week. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in the state is $3.41, a drop of nine cents, according to the AAA? ? AAA Latest from The Business Journals NEA convention to boost July 4 tourismMarylanders expected to travel at 10-year high for July 4 holidayAlabama gas prices near per gallon Follow this company New Mexico Weekend Gas Watch.

Among major metro areas, drivers in Santa Fe are paying the most, at $3.41, while drivers in Las Cruces are paying the least at $3.27. Nationally, the average is $3.37.

Analysts say concern about the global economy, particularly the debt crisis in Europe, and a slowdown in growth in large economies such as Brazil, India and China, continues to be a drag on expectations for future oil demand, putting downward pressure on prices.

Consumers are reaping the benefits. AAA New Mexico forecasts that the lower gas prices will act as a motivation for about 3.1 million Mountain Region residents to travel next week.

Of those travelers, 2.4 million will be driving to their destination with an average distance of 826 miles round-trip. The Mountain Region includes New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming.

?Many families are taking advantage of lower gas prices this summer vacation season and are traveling to a variety of destinations both in and out of the state,? AAA Texas/New Mexico Representative Sarah Schimmer said. ?Families in New Mexico are expected to spend an average of $648 over the 4th of July holiday.?

AAA offers an online fuel cost calculator here. By entering your starting point, destination, as well as the make, model and year of your vehicle, you can get an estimated gas budget.

More information is online.

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Credit Card Debt Negotiation - The Process ... - Business Negotiation

6:00 AM By Article Directory

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When you are in conducting a credit card debt negotiation, its important to know that you are negotiating for a position of strength. The Credit card companies don't want you to default. They make their money by receiving consistent payments from you. Payments that can go on for years and years.

You are the one in control. You have something that they want to get from you, your payment. If your polite, professional and firm, you will get what you want.

This is a serious situation. They do have the ability to instigate legal action. This is unlikely on smaller balances, but is always a possibility. I have seen balances as high as 15,000 dollars end up being charged off without legal action. I have also seen balances as low as $ 500 go to court after just a few calls. But even court action is a fairly slow process, and you have time to react and negotiate the debt before the court date.

First, you need to make sure that you communicate by mail. Don't give the collector a "no way out" situation by telling them to never contact you again. You have them backed them into a corner where they have little recourse but legal action. Credit card debt negotiation involves a level of compromise.

Instead, tell them they can contact you only by mail. And that they can never contact you at work. You will need to draft a letter to this effect and send it to them by registered mail, return receipt. In fact, all future communication with the collector will be by registered mail. And you always want to make sure you have a file of the delivery receipts and a copy of the letter available so that they can't dispute that it was mailed, and that they received it.

The problem with phone calls is that when you are involved in credit card debt negotiation, you need to have verification. If it wasn't written, it wasn't done because you have no way to prove it if you end up in court.

Begin your credit card debt negotiation at 20-25% of the original debt amount. The collection agency may have added on fees and charges that you should not include in the settlement amount. These fees just amount to the collection agency trying to make more money, and have nothing to do with the debt to be settled.

Since on the "secondary market" debt is traded at literally a few cents on the dollar, the collection agency is making plenty of money, even if they end up settling at 30 or 40% of the original debt.

Don't sound to eager to settle. Be calm and collected. Don't get angry, don't show hesitation. One thing I really want to add is NEVER let them know that you have some specific reason for settling the debt. Many people make an effort to settle before applying for a home loan for instance. This information is none of the collectors business. If they find out that the reason you want to settle is so that you can buy a house, you will never get a settlement.

So, in review.

1. Never talk to a collector on the phone. Always use registered mail with a return delivery receipt.

2. Start your negotiation at 20 - 25% of the original loan amount.

3. Don't include the collection agencies add on fees as a part of your credit card debt negotiation.

4. Be calm, educate yourself to the process so that you can speak from a position of knowledge.

Just be patient. And make a good deal. Soon, this will all be behind you. Your credit card debt negotiation means you can get on with your life.

Ted Batron is a financial expert who specializes in debt counseling and custom debt elimination plans. He has developed a short credit card debt relief eCourse on that's a great primer for those who are want to learn how to negotiate, eliminate and settle credit card debt at a 30-70% discount and become debt free. You can get the course right now by sending a blank email to: WithoutDebt@getresponse.com

To develop the skills you need to conduct a successful credit card debt negotiation, read our blog at Credit Card Debt Negotiation [http://www.No-Debt.net/debt-info]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ted_Batron

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How Do Top Supreme Court Watchers Prepare for the Big Day? (Atlantic Politics Channel)

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Nora Ephron Dies at 71, Celebs Tweet Their Reactions

Screenwriter and essayist Nora Ephron died Tuesday at the age of 71 following a private battle with leukemia, her son Jacob Bernstein confirmed to the New York Times. Ephron, who only told a select group of confidants she had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, passed away June 26 in her hometown of Manhattan.

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Assailants attack Microsoft HQ in Athens

ATHENS, Greece (AP) ? Assailants attacked the offices of Microsoft in Athens early Wednesday, driving a van through the front doors and setting off an incendiary device that burned the building entrance, police said.

There were no reports of injuries in the pre-dawn attack on the U.S. company's headquarters in the Greek capital, located in the Maroussi suburb north of the city center.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Authorities said no warning call had been made before the attack.

Greece has experienced attacks by several small armed anarchist or domestic terrorist groups for decades, which usually target official buildings, banks or symbols of state power with small bombs or incendiary devices. The attacks usually occur late at night and rarely cause injuries.

Police said initial information indicated three people had been inside the van. They forced the two security guards at the building to leave before they reversed the van into the front entrance, smashing the door.

The two security guards were giving testimony to police.

The assailants then triggered an incendiary device inside the van that police said appeared to have consisted of camping gas canisters and several containers of gasoline.

Police forensic teams examined the burned-out van, which was still outside the blackened entrance later Monday morning.

Although they have died down over the past year, attacks had spiked following the fatal police shooting of a teenager in Athens in December 2008 that led to widespread riots across the country.

One group that had appeared in the aftermath of the rioting had set itself apart by claiming responsibility for shooting dead an anti-terrorism police officer in central Athens in 2009 and a journalist in 2010.

Associated Press

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Kenneth Danford: We Love Camp! Can We Love School?

My daughter starts her countdown for her overnight camp the very day the previous year ends. It's a year-long calendar with daily markings on her bedroom wall. She likes school well enough, but she snorts at the notion of looking forward to the fall in the same way. I've asked her to explain, but she rolls her eyes and looks at me as if I've asked why birthday parties are more fun than dentist appointments. "Camp is FUN. School is, well, school."

Why is camp so much more popular? Why can't school be more like camp? My daughter spends just three weeks at her camp, and nine months in school. I want her to wake up thrilled about school, too.

At the risk of sounding like an idiot in public, what's the difference? At camp, she has to get up early in the morning, and at night camp tells her when she has to go to bed. She's told when to eat and when to rest. She's given some limited choice among activities, and given measured time periods to do them. She is generally supervised all day.

Socially, she is assigned to a group of girls her same age, just as in school. In the few minutes I had to meet them, her camp-mates seemed reasonably comparable to her school-mates: nice kids in both places, with healthy doses of eccentricity all around. The potential for feeling included or excluded seems available in both settings.

My daughter will argue that camp activities are more fun, and while I accept the point, I'm not willing to concede that school can't be fun, too. I know for a fact that sometimes she does have fun at school. And sometimes, perhaps rarely, she does things at camp that wouldn't be fun anywhere else: setting and clearing the table, cleaning and sweeping the tent, even making her bed. And just to generalize a bit, I know of popular camps that are academic in nature, full of school-like content: writing camp, space camp, computer camp. As a teen I attended a debate camp.

So why can't my daughter (and other kids) love school just as they love camp? I have come up with two primary reasons, but I'll be interested in readers' comments and speculations.

First and foremost, camp activities are largely non-judged and unevaluated. My daughter's camp employs a "challenge by choice" approach. It recognizes achievement through a system that allows kids to strive for badges or honors in a chosen skill. Her camp does not establish a "permanent record" of her participation that will be used in future camp or school admissions and employment applications. Camp is strictly for fun and growth.

The idea that evaluation is the heart of the problem is supported by the reality that many students (here I shift my focus to my high-school age son) find extracurricular activities and sports the most compelling part of their school experience. My son and his friends love the range of athletics that their rather ordinary public school provides. They enjoy student council, theater, and every other excuse for hanging out together at school. My son frequently stays at school for his activities and to cheer for his friends' teams until 9:00 at night. The enthusiasm and passion his buddies have for these elective, non-graded school activities matches how my daughter and her friends feel about camp.

The second major difference between camp and school is that camp is something kids "get to do," while school is something kids "have to do." Some kids may be forced to go to camp by their parents, but I'm referring to the legal requirement in our culture. Each of my children accept it as a fact of life that they "have to go" to a school (even though I constantly tell them they can start homeschooling anytime), and feel satisfied when their school days are on the better side of tolerable. On the other hand, my daughter knows that going to camp is a family decision based on a range of factors, and she hopes that our schedules and priorities will mean that she "gets to go" to camp for the maximum amount of time possible.

This idea of "getting to" rather than "having to" applies to more than just what school one attends. It also applies to the schoolwork itself. Even when my daughter has seemingly fun school projects to do, I see her enthusiasm diminish when she tells me what she "has to do" for requirements and deadlines.

These observations leave me pessimistic about helping kids love school as much as they love camp. Schools are expected to evaluate children and report the result to parents, future educators, and even the public. Schools are compulsory, and there are many current proposals for longer school days and longer school years. Schools are supposed to give assignments that kids "have to do," with homework extending these assignments beyond the regular school day.

I've reached a rather depressing conclusion: my daughter sees school as a place she "has to go" to receive assignments she "has to do" that will be evaluated to determine her future prospects. No wonder she rolls her eyes at me when I compare school to camp.

Yet, I remain an optimist. I have helped create a learning environment at North Star where teens "get to go," and where they find activities they "get to do" without formal evaluation. I see North Star teens sad to see the academic year end in June, and I know they are already counting the days until the program re-opens in September.

This past year I have spoken with over two dozen visionary teachers and other adults who want to create their own schools or programs. I often begin by saying, "Imagine year-round camp! The more you can build a model like a camp and less like a school, the more you will be headed in the right direction."

My daughter has informed me that she plans to attend camp for as many years as possible, and then become a counselor for life. I'm fully supportive. I simply hope that whatever choice she makes for high school after graduating from her K-8 school next spring will inspire a similar passion and excitement that she has for camp.

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Facebook taps COO Sandberg to be first woman on board

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Facebook Inc named Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg a director on Monday, elevating the first woman to a board that includes seven men.

For years one of the most vocal critics of the gender imbalance in Silicon Valley's executive ranks, Sandberg, 42, joined Facebook in 2008 and played a central role in guiding the social networking company to its $16 billion IPO in May.

Her promotion comes as Facebook seeks to cultivate a more mature image as opposed to the college dorm-room startup reputation that has dogged the company since Harvard dropout Mark Zuckerberg founded it in 2004.

"Sheryl has been my partner in running Facebook and has been central to our growth and success over the years," Zuckerberg, 28, said in a statement. "Her understanding of our mission and long-term opportunity, and her experience both at Facebook and on public company boards makes her a natural fit for our board."

Still, even after Facebook elevated Sandberg on Monday, the composition of its board remains a continuing point of scrutiny for a young company that has touched countless industries and boasts close to a billion users from every corner of the world.

The California State Teachers' Retirement System, the second-largest largest pension fund in the United States, which owns 36,922 shares of Facebook, applauded Sandberg's promotion, but urged the company to "continue diversifying the board toward greater independence and representation of the Company's user base."

Apart from Sandberg, the company's board is made up of seven Caucasian men, largely Silicon Valley insiders aligned closely with Zuckerberg. They include Zuckerberg himself; venture capitalists James W. Breyer, Marc Andreessen and Peter Thiel; Washington Post Co chairman, Donald E. Graham; Netflix CEO Reed Hastings; and Erskine Bowles, a former White House chief of staff and the University of North Carolina president emeritus.

"We are optimistic Facebook is on its way to further expanding the board while simultaneously creating the diversity and independence we think is important to the future sustainability of this vibrant company," said Jack Ehnes, CEO of the California State Teachers' Retirement System. But, he added, "We're not there yet."

Prior to joining Facebook to lead its business operations, Sandberg worked at Google, where she was credited with building the search advertising division into a massively lucrative cornerstone of the web giant's business.

She has been tasked with stoking similar growth at Facebook, which claimed $3.7 billion in revenue last year, but is under pressure to justify its $70 billion valuation in the public markets.

At the same time, Facebook hopes the promotion of one of corporate America's most high-profile women will go some way to allay over its own gender issues, especially given Sandberg's advocacy on the subject.

In February, before Facebook went public, the teachers' retirement system openly urged the company to diversify its board to include women and said then the makeup of the all-male panel was "disappointing."

In April, the women's rights group UltraViolet held a protest outside Facebook's New York offices over the same issue.

The Menlo Park-based company faced embarrassment as recently as last week when the Wall Street Journal published advance excerpts of a memoir by Katherine Losse, an early employee, who recounted being harassed and propositioned by male co-workers until Sandberg intervened when she came onboard.

In recent years, Sandberg's clout within Facebook has been unquestioned while she has also served as its public face, often in place of the sometimes socially-awkward Zuckerberg, who has focused on improving Facebook's product.

Meanwhile, Sandberg has represented the company at events like the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where she led a panel on women's advancement in January.

A former chief of staff to Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers during the Clinton administration, Sandberg holds seats on the board of Walt Disney Co and several non-profit organizations.

"Facebook is working every day to make the world more open and connected," she said in a statement. "It's a mission that I'm deeply passionate about and I feel fortunate to be part of a company that is having such a profound impact in the world."

Under Sandberg's stewardship, Facebook navigated its rocky IPO in May, but still faces a litany of growing pains, chief among them are its regular brushes with privacy controversies that threaten to erode the eight year-old service's popularity.

On Monday, the social network was again subject to fresh accusations that it had tampered with user privacy by changing the email contact listed for every user to a facebook.com address without notification.

Facebook defended the move, saying it was part of a broader, earlier effort to enhance "consistency" to the service.

"As we announced back in April, we've been updating addresses on Facebook to make them consistent across our site," a Facebook spokeswoman said. "In addition to everyone receiving an address, we're also rolling out a new setting that gives people the choice to decide which addresses they want to show on their timelines."

Facebook shares closed down 3 percent at $32.06 on Monday, still more than 15 percent off of its May offering price despite a rebound in recent weeks.

(Reporting by Gerry Shih, Poornima Gupta and Matthew Keys; Editing by Matt Driskill)

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Heidi Klum is Picture Perfect in N.Y.C.!

Heidi goes glam in Manhattan during a modeling gig! Plus, see more of your favorite celebs on the scene!

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The Online Games Lover Paradise ? Free Online Games | Internet ...

Everyone loves free stuff and this is definitely good news for everyone as there is an abundance of free mind games online. So you can spare yourself from all the expensive card games. Just hit ?free online mind games? on Google and you will be rewarded with an endless list of free mind games. You can keep on trying new games everyday and cultivate different skills each time you try something new.

People from every age group play these online games in order to chill and thrill and refresh their minds and to release their tension, without spending a penny. The important reason behind the popularity of these free online games is that they put the individuals of every age group into an extreme world of fun and excitement

Now before downloading any game it should be confirmed that every the system can download it easily and there must be no virus in this games which will be harm full for the system. To have the knowledge of any game it can be taken from Google to make it simpler that how to play free online games. We do not have to do much effort to find a partner to start playing games now server is connected to the world wide and we can have our random partners from servers without finding them.

Now, online gaming sites are playing a big role in our lives. These free online games that are available in the internet allow us to enjoy our free times to Play Online Games with the comfort of sitting at home. As times are passing by, people are getting more addicted to free online games because; many developers are making lot of online games of different categories to captivate the individuals.

Games are mostly played by children and in this gaming zone they met allot of different people while using the internet. Parents should pay full attention while children are using net to make them secure from those people who used their innocence to have some personal knowledge regarding the people in their home or regarding the system where they are log in to play free games.

People can easily Play online flash games too which can be downloaded and also played online in various sites, and that too free of cost. Computer games can be fun and relaxing or stressful, so choose wisely. Arcade games can relieve a lot of pent-up tension and anger, but if a time limit is put on the game, this can add to your stress level. If you are adversely affected by certain games, choose different ones next time. To makes our leisure time meaning full every one wants to play free online games to have fun and get entertained in short time with spending a single penny for it.

Joey Equality has also a keen interest in all types of Online Games and he will also guide you in every game which you wants to play. You will found here every game with guidelines according to your nature.For More Online games Visit http://www.games0nline.com.

Content About : The Online Games Lover Paradise ? Free Online Games Article

-- Download The Online Games Lover Paradise - Free Online Games as PDF --

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Subway work unearths ancient road in Greece

Workers of Metro's construction company are seen at the ancient ruins in the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki on Monday, June 25, 2012. Archaeologists in Greece?s second largest city have uncovered a 70-meter (230-foot) section of an ancient road built by the Romans that was city?s main travel artery nearly 2,000 years ago. The marble-paved road was unearthed during excavations for the city?s new subway system that is due to be completed in four years, and will be raised to be put on permanent display for passengers when the metro opens. (AP Photo/Nikolas Giakoumidis)

Workers of Metro's construction company are seen at the ancient ruins in the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki on Monday, June 25, 2012. Archaeologists in Greece?s second largest city have uncovered a 70-meter (230-foot) section of an ancient road built by the Romans that was city?s main travel artery nearly 2,000 years ago. The marble-paved road was unearthed during excavations for the city?s new subway system that is due to be completed in four years, and will be raised to be put on permanent display for passengers when the metro opens. (AP Photo/Nikolas Giakoumidis)

Archaeologists and employees of Metro's construction company present to the media and public the ancient ruins in the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki on Monday, June 25, 2012. Archaeologists in Greece?s second largest city have uncovered a 70-meter (230-foot) section of an ancient road built by the Romans that was city?s main travel artery nearly 2,000 years ago. The marble-paved road was unearthed during excavations for the city?s new subway system that is due to be completed in four years, and will be raised to be put on permanent display for passengers when the metro opens. (AP Photo/Nikolas Giakoumidis)

A worker of Metro's construction company holds a fragment of old pottery in the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki on Monday, June 25, 2012. Archaeologists in Greece?s second largest city have uncovered a 70-meter (230-foot) section of an ancient road built by the Romans that was city?s main travel artery nearly 2,000 years ago. The marble-paved road was unearthed during excavations for the city?s new subway system that is due to be completed in four years, and will be raised to be put on permanent display for passengers when the metro opens. (AP Photo/Nikolas Giakoumidis)

Workers of Metro's construction company are seen at the ancient ruins in the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki on Monday, June 25, 2012. Archaeologists in Greece?s second largest city have uncovered a 70-meter (230-foot) section of an ancient road built by the Romans that was city?s main travel artery nearly 2,000 years ago. The marble-paved road was unearthed during excavations for the city?s new subway system that is due to be completed in four years, and will be raised to be put on permanent display for passengers when the metro opens. (AP Photo/Nikolas Giakoumidis)

Archaeologists and employees of Metro's construction company present to the media and public the ancient ruins in the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki on Monday, June 25, 2012. Archaeologists in Greece?s second largest city have uncovered a 70-meter (230-foot) section of an ancient road built by the Romans that was city?s main travel artery nearly 2,000 years ago. The marble-paved road was unearthed during excavations for the city?s new subway system that is due to be completed in four years, and will be raised to be put on permanent display for passengers when the metro opens. (AP Photo/Nikolas Giakoumidis)

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) ? Archaeologists in Greece's second-largest city have uncovered a 70-meter (230-foot) section of an ancient road built by the Romans that was the city's main travel artery nearly 2,000 years ago.

The marble-paved road was unearthed during excavations for Thessaloniki's new subway system, which is due to be completed in four years. The road in the northern port city will be raised to be put on permanent display when the metro opens in 2016.

The excavation site was shown to the public on Monday, when details of the permanent display project were also announced. Several of the large marble paving stones were etched with children's board games, while others were marked by horse-drawn cart wheels.

Also discovered at the site were remains of tools and lamps, as well as the bases of marble columns.

Viki Tzanakouli, an archaeologist working on the project, told The Associated Press the Roman road was about 1,800 years old, while remains of an older road built by the ancient Greeks 500 years earlier were found underneath it.

"We have found roads on top of each other, revealing the city's history over the centuries," Tzanakouli said. "The ancient road, and side roads perpendicular to it appear to closely follow modern roads in the city today."

About 7 meters (23 feet) below ground in the center of the city, the ancient road follows in roughly the same direction as the city's modern Egnatia Avenue.

The subway works, started in 2006, present a rare opportunity for archaeologists to explore under the densely populated city ? but have also caused years of delays for the project.

In 2008, workers on the Thessaloniki metro discovered more than 1,000 graves, some filled with treasure. The graves were of different shapes and sizes, and some contained jewelry, coins or other pieces of art.

A massive excavation project also took place during the 1990s in the capital, Athens, before the city's new metro system opened in 2000.

Thessaloniki's new subway is already four years behind schedule, due to the excavation work as well as Greece's financial crisis. Thirteen stations will operate initially, before a 10-station extension is added later.

Associated Press

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Where's Mars? Look for the moon first.

Less than four months ago, Mars shone much brighter than today. Now spotting the Red Planet requires guideposts, such as the moon.?

By Joe Rao,?SPACE.com / June 25, 2012

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope snapped this shot of Mars, when the Red Planet was 34.7 million miles from Earth. Mars can be spotted above and to the left of the moon tonight.

NASA/ESA

Enlarge

As darkness deepens on Monday evening (June 25), look about one-third of the sky up from the southwest horizon. There you'll see a fat crescent moon, and a moderately bright yellow-orange "star" hovering well above and to its left.

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But that's no star ? it's a planet. It might be difficult to believe that it's the same object that less than four months ago shone some seven times brighter. It's?Mars, which continues to recede from Earth and consequently continues to fade.?

Currently the Red Planet is 129 million miles (208 million kilometers) away from Earth and shines at magnitude +0.8. That's still a fairly respectable brightness; on the list of the 21 brightest stars, Mars would currently rank 13th. Still, that's quite a comedown from early March, when Mars shone with a brilliance just a trifle less than that of Sirius,?the brightest star in the sky.?

In terms of apparent size, the disk of Mars is now downright tiny; only a large amateur telescope is likely to show any dusky markings on it.

The gap separating the moon from Mars tonight will be roughly equivalent to the width of your clenched fist held at arm's length, which measures about 10 degrees. ?By Tuesday evening (June 26), the moon will have arrived at first quarter phase and will have shifted its position relative to Mars, hanging off to its lower left and at a similar distance compared to the previous night.?

Mars is currently positioned against the dim stars of western Virgo and it's on its way toward a mid-August night sky rendezvous with the planet Saturn and the bluish star Spica. Take a good look at where Mars is right now.? About 25 degrees ? two and a half fists ? to its lower right is the bluish first magnitude star Regulus in Leo. At a similar distance to Mars's upper left are Saturn and Spica.?

If you're a beginner in astronomy, consider the?moon?as a convenient benchmark to help you identify Mars early this week. On Wednesday evening, the moon will be within striking distance of Spica and Saturn. Yellow-white Saturn will be above bluish Spica and will appear somewhat brighter.? While Mars is a disappointment in a telescope, ringed Saturn now appears nearly three times bigger than Mars, offering a spectacular sight.?

Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for The New York Times and other publications, and he is also an on-camera meteorologist for News 12 Westchester, New York.

Copyright 2012?SPACE.com, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Campaign money case could propel more deregulation

In this June 25, 2012, photo, the Supreme Court in Washington. Corporations and labor unions have been emboldened this election season to spend unlimited sums of cash. The Supreme Court is telling them to go full-speed ahead. The high court reaffirmed its controversial Citizens United decision from 2010, following a challenge to a Montana law that prohibited corporate spending in elections. But the decision issued Monday will likely mean a push for more campaign-finance deregulation. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

In this June 25, 2012, photo, the Supreme Court in Washington. Corporations and labor unions have been emboldened this election season to spend unlimited sums of cash. The Supreme Court is telling them to go full-speed ahead. The high court reaffirmed its controversial Citizens United decision from 2010, following a challenge to a Montana law that prohibited corporate spending in elections. But the decision issued Monday will likely mean a push for more campaign-finance deregulation. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Corporations and labor unions have been emboldened this election season to spend unlimited sums of cash. The Supreme Court is telling them to go full speed ahead.

The high court on Monday reaffirmed its controversial Citizens United decision from 2010, following a challenge to a Montana law that prohibited corporate spending in elections. But the decision in the Montana case probably will mean a push for more campaign-finance deregulation.

In the middle of a presidential race already brimming with cash from "super" political committees, the decision leaves no ambiguity that the practice can continue ? benefiting the campaigns of President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney the most. Super PACs so far have spent tens of millions of dollars on the presidential election.

The ruling was a victory for those who support few restrictions, saying the First Amendment affords them the right to spend as much as they want to support or defeat a candidate. Reformers vowed to press on, hoping to craft new laws to curb what they call the corrupting influence of money in politics.

"The Supreme Court today has left standing the disastrous Citizens United decision and the enormous damage it is doing to our democracy and political system," Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer said Monday.

The ruling, more importantly, leaves the campaign finance system with fewer restrictions on how money may be spent in politics. It could mean that advocates of deregulation will push for stripping away existing limits on direct contributions to candidates, or turning back disclosure laws some call anathema to anonymous speech.

Citizens United and a handful of other recent federal court decisions have collectively wiped out many campaign finance regulations born out of the Watergate era and the early 2000s.

Election law observers had awaited Monday's decision, which could have seen the court revisit Citizens United.

The Montana case could give the Supreme Court "an opportunity to consider whether, in light of the huge sums currently deployed to buy candidates' allegiance, Citizens United should continue to hold sway," Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a dissenter in Citizens United, said in granting a February stay of the Montana Supreme Court's decision upholding the state's century-old law.

Instead, the opposite happened: The high court did not revisit Citizens United. And campaign finance experts said the court's new decision makes it clear that states must follow it.

"Unless there is a change in the composition of the U.S. Supreme Court, the Citizens United decision is alive and well, and the states are obligated to follow it," said Robert Kelner, an election law expert at the law firm Covington & Burling.

It's a legal paradigm that Michael Toner, a Washington election lawyer at Wiley Rein, said will endure beyond November.

"It's clear that the Citizens United decision remains the law of the land at the federal level and in all 50 states," Toner said, "and that Citizens United will remain the law of the land through the presidential election."

___

Follow Jack Gillum on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jackgillum

Associated Press

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Tito Lopez Challenges Rap Competitors To His Own Hunger Game

'I spit and I spit for real, so I wanted to bring that hunger aspect to it and that feeling like I gotta be #1,' MC says of The Hunger Game.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by James Lacsina

Tito Lopez
Photo:

Main Pick

Headliner: Tito Lopez

Representing: Gulfport, Mississippi

Mixtape: The Hunger Game

Real Spit: Tito Lopez sure is confident; then again, if you could rap tightly packed bars like the Gulfport, Mississippi, MC, you would be too. On his latest mixtape, The Hunger Game,Tito puts all of his skill and confidence on full display.

"I named my mixtape The Hunger Game basically because if anybody knows me, they know I love movies," Tito told Mixtape Daily.

Lopez found a parallel in "The Hunger Games" film and the rap game where he hopes to one day be crowned a king. "If you never seen that movie these kids have to fight to the death, they're kids and it's really kind of messed up. They gotta fight 'till it's one winner and I feel like that's the competition aspect that's missing out of rap," he said.

On "Try Me," Tito invites all would-be detractors to the battlefield. "Feast on beats and pick my teeth, if you want some bitch come find me/ I'll make it hard for you to stand as a man, let alone stand by me, come try me," he spits to end his first verse.

Tito is currently a rap underdog, even though his talent has earned him a deal with Capitol Records. On "Mass Appeal 2.0" he proves his worth lyrically over a re-worked Gang Starr instrumental and then rhymes over another DJ Premier beat with his "Devil's Pie" freestyle. Both are winners.

With "Jessica," Tito shows that it isn't all slick metaphors and battle raps, as he weaves an intricate story rhyme about a high-school crush. His current single "Mama Proud" shows even more range; it's a heartfelt tune dedicated to his come-up in the game.

After listening to tracks like "Black Ice Freestyle," "They Told Me" and "Ventilation," it becomes increasingly difficult to deny Tito his place in the game. "I spit and I spit for real, so I wanted to bring that hunger aspect to it and that feeling like I gotta be #1," he said. "If I gotta knock cats out to be that, I will be that."

Joints to Check For

>> "They Told Me"— "It's like a triumphant type joint. I've made that just to basically let people know I've come along way."

>> "Jessica" — "This is one of my favorite joints period. I tell a story about a girl who she has low self-esteem, she made some bad choices, had a hard life and she don't have no self-respect or nothin' like that. Basically during the story, I'm trying to tell her to respect herself more, to make better choices."

Related Artists

• Tito Lopez

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Air Force Job Descriptions - AFSC 8B100 - MILITARY TRAINING LEADER

Special Duty Summary: (Note: This is a special duty assignment job. It is not available to new enlistees). Counsels all airmen attending technical school on training or personal problems, military bearing, standards, and behavior; and schedules and conducts military training functions for students. Related DoD Occupational Subgroup: 012.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Advises and counsels students. Establishes and conducts incoming, outgoing, and student entry briefings. Conducts individual and group interviews. Motivates personnel to develop military attitudes, effective human relations, and social skills for improving interpersonal and military relations. Assists students in their personal adjustment to military life. Establishes and maintains liaison with the School of Applied Aerospace Sciences in order to keep up to date on student activities and identify student status such as problem or exceptional (honor) students. Applies counseling techniques and military experience to counsel airmen with training, military bearing, and behavior problems. Refers students to the appropriate staff agency. Identifies airmen unfit or unsuitable for retention in the Air Force.

Plans, organizes, and directs military education instruction. Monitors and conducts military training within the unit. Determines appropriate instruction methods considering the group size and subject matter. Conducts instruction using demonstration-performance and lecture methods. Maintains thorough knowledge of and instructs personnel in drill, parades, retreats, and reviews. Provides supplemental military training.

Ensures students maintain military standards. Guides and assists in selecting, training, and evaluating student leaders. Monitors safety in formations, dormitories, and sports. Ensures students maintain personal appearance and order in military formations. Monitors and controls grounds maintenance assigned to unit. Maintains duty rosters and forms, and assures fatigue and squadron details are distributed fairly. Ensures students maintain discipline and Air Force standards in dormitories. Ensures students comply with directives.

Prepares and maintains files and records on military education and counseling matters. Prepares statistical reports and records about student accountability. Accounts for assigned students and maintains general military training forms.

Special Duty Qualifications:

Knowledge. Knowledge of military training learning processes, counseling methods, and techniques is mandatory.

Education. Not used.

Training.

Completion of the Military Training Leader course is mandatory.

Completion of a basic Counseling Course is mandatory.

Experience. Not used.

Other:

Physical qualification for worldwide duty is mandatory.

Ability to speak clearly is mandatory.

Possession of high standards of military appearance and conduct.

Recommendation by unit commander or supervisor for student training advisor duty is mandatory.

Strength Req: G

Physical Profile 121221

Citizenship No

Required Appitude Score: G-48

Technical Training:

Course #:L3ALR8B100 000

Length (Days): 10

Location: L

Possible Assignment Information

Return to Air Force Jobs Menu

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Turkey jet crisis unlikely to pull NATO into Syria

BRUSSELS (AP) ? Syria's downing of a Turkish fighter-bomber has the feel of a turning point that could drag Western powers into a conflict that is spiraling out of control.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has vowed to hold Syria to account, while Britain's foreign minister said Damascus won't be allowed to act with impunity.

But for all the hard talk, the prospect of Western military intervention in Syria remains remote, at best.

For one thing, military action is unlikely to get the support of either the U.N. Security Council or the Arab League, and outside intervention without the blessing of both of those bodies is all but unthinkable. And there is little appetite among the 28 NATO countries ? of which the U.S. is the largest ? for another war in the Middle East.

Libya was hard enough, and for a many nervous months it looked as if that conflict might end in an embarrassing stalemate for the West. And Syria would be tougher than Libya. Syrian President Bashar Assad's army is better equipped, better trained, better paid and far more loyal than was that of late Libyan leader Moammar Gaddhafi.

So for the moment, despite the increasing violence and the staggering number of deaths, action by the international community seems to be limited to sanctions and strong words.

And so it was on Monday, when foreign ministers from the 27 European Union countries condemned Syria's downing Friday of a Turkish jet, but said the bloc would not support military action in the troubled country.

"What happened is to be considered very seriously," said Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal. Having gotten his denunciation out of the way, he let the other shoe drop: "We do not go for any interventions."

Turkish officials have said the jet mistakenly strayed into Syrian airspace, but was warned to leave by Turkish authorities and was a mile (1.6 kilometers) inside international airspace when Syria shot it down. The Turkish pilots are still missing.

Turkey immediately called a meeting of the North Atlantic Council, NATO's governing body, on Tuesday to discuss the incident. Any NATO member can request such consultations if their territorial integrity has been threatened.

An alliance diplomat said ambassadors will discuss Turkey's concerns ? and would likely condemn the downing.

"But there won't be anything more specific than that," said the diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of standing rules.

Turkey, too, appeared to be attempting to moderate the situation, trying to balance a response that would assuage domestic outrage over the shooting, while avoiding a conflict. Turkey has been one of the fiercest critics of Assad's crackdown. But at this point, it has no wish to inflame already-heightened tensions.

A Turkish government official said the government was trying to ratchet up diplomatic pressure on Syria, where activists say more than 14,000 people have been killed in the 15-month uprising. He said the country was still working out what steps to take ? though they would not include military intervention.

"We are not talking about war, but we will keep the pressure on Syria and give it no chance to catch its breath," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government rules.

Mustafa Kibaroglu, a professor of international relations at Istanbul's Okan University, said that by calling Tuesday's emergency meeting ?, Turkey was trying to show Syria that it has the full support of NATO and the European Union.

But he dismissed the possibility the alliance would activate a rule in its founding treaty ? Article 5 ? that declares that an attack against any NATO country shall be considered as an attack against them all.

"Unless there is another ... act of provocation (from Syria), there will be no activation of Article 5," Kibaroglu said.

Syria has said it was unaware that the F-4 Phantom fighter-bomber belonged to Turkey, and that it was protecting its air space against an unknown intruder. In the past, Israeli warplanes have penetrated Syrian airspace by flying over the Mediterranean coastline.

Syrian foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said the downing was an accident, caused by the "automatic response" of an officer commanding an anti-aircraft gun. The man saw a jet coming at him at high speed and low altitide and opened fire, Makdissi said.

Analysts said that, although the latest incident will likely be contained, the conflict in Syria is now threatening to draw in other nations.

"Syria's apology will probably quell the immediate outrage," said Barak Seener, a Middle East expert at the Royal United Services Institute, a British military think tank.

"But it's increasingly clear that as the conflict escalates there will be a spillover effect with regional consequences," he said. "While NATO will not get involved yet, this illustrates that international actors will increasingly be sucked into the conflict."

Still, there is a sense of war-weariness in NATO, an aversion to any more involvement in the Middle East after last year's conflict over Libya.

The alliance's primary focus remains the costly war in Afghanistan, where the alliance still has about 130,000 troops, a decade after the ouster of the Taliban regime. Although NATO forces enjoy overwhelming superiority in numbers, firepower and mobility, the guerrillas are showing no sign of giving up.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has repeatedly said that the alliance would need a clear international mandate, and regional support, before it embarked on a mission in Syria.

Last year, the alliance launched air attacks on Libyan government targets only after receiving a mandate from the U.N. Security Council, along with backing from the Arab League.

But in Syria's case, the Arab League hasn't been able to agree on the need for military intervention. Even Syria's different opposition groups are riven by divisions over whether outside military intervention would help or hurt. Some in the Syrian opposition argue that it would reduce their country to rubble, leaving them nothing on which to build a new future once Assad was gone.

And Russia and China ? both veto-wielding members of the Security Council ? have consistently shielded Assad's regime from international sanctions over its violent crackdown on protests. Russia also has continued to provide Syria with arms, despite Western calls for a halt in supplies.

Last week, President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the Syrian crisis on the sidelines of a Group of 20 economic conference in Mexico.

The meeting ended without apparent agreement on how to end the violence.

___

Fraser reported from Ankara, Turkey. Elizabeth Kennedy in Beirut, Lebanon, also contributed to this report.

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