westward migration

How the West Was Won is a 1962 epic Western film which follows four generations of a family (starting as the Prescotts) as they move ever westward, from western New York state to the Pacific Ocean. Filmed in, and using pre-existing Cinerama curving widescreen process stock footage, the movie is set between 1839 and 1889.
The fundamental idea behind the film was to provide an episodic retelling of the progress of westward migration and development of America, was inspired by a much longer and more complex series of historical narratives that appeared as a photo essay series (by the same name), three years earlier in Life Magazine, which is acknowledged in the film’s credits.
The all-star cast includes Carroll Baker, Walter Brennan, Lee J. Cobb, Andy Devine, Henry Fonda, Carolyn Jones, Karl Malden, Harry Morgan, Gregory Peck, George Peppard, Robert Preston, Debbie Reynolds, James Stewart, Eli Wallach, John Wayne, and Richard Widmark. The introductory, intermediate, and closing narration is voiced by Spencer Tracy.
The movie consists of five segments, three directed by Henry Hathaway ("The Rivers", "The Plains" and "The Outlaws"), and one each by John Ford ("The Civil War") and George Marshall ("The Railroad"), with transitional sequences by the uncredited Richard Thorpe. The screenplay was written by John Gay (uncredited) and James R. Webb. Popular western author Louis L'Amour wrote a novelization of the screenplay.[2]
The picture was one of the last "old-fashioned" epic films made by MGM to enjoy great success. In 1997, How the West Was Won was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
The film also marked then sixty-six year old Raymond Massey's last appearance as Abraham Lincoln, a role that he had previously played on stage (Abe Lincoln in Illinois and the stage adaptation of John Brown's Body), on screen (Abe Lincoln in Illinois) and on television (The Day Lincoln Was Shot, and two more productions of Abe Lincoln in Illinois).
The score was listed at #25 on AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores.
Contents [hide]
1 Plot summary
1.1 The rivers (1830s)
1.2 The plains (1850s)
1.3 The Civil War (1861-1865)
1.4 The railroad (1860s)
1.5 The outlaws (1880s)
2 Cast
3 Academy Awards and nominations
4 Production
5 Reception
6 Restoration
7 Gallery
8 See also
9 References
10 External links
[edit]Plot summary

[edit]The rivers (1830s)


The settlers' raft is caught in rapids.
As the story opens an otherwise happy family led by Zebulon Prescott (Karl Malden) is introduced as having abandoned a comfortable life in the rural, small town, setting of upstate New York; for the alleged greater opportunity awaiting all, in the as yet unsettled west; via the Erie Canal. The “west” of this time is the Illinois country. In the unnaturally peaceful and safe opening of the Prescott's long journey they come to meet a Mountain man Linus Rawlings (James Stewart) who is traveling east to Pittsburgh to trade his furs. His daughter Eve (Carroll Baker) and Linus are attracted to each other, but he isn't ready to settle down.
Linus stops at an isolated trading post run by a murderous clan of "river pirates" headed by "Colonel" Hawkins (Walter Brennan). Linus is betrayed when he accompanies pretty Dora Hawkins (Brigid Bazlen) into a cave to see a "varmint". She stabs him in the back and pushes him into a deep hole. Fortunately, Linus is not seriously wounded, and is able to rescue the Prescott party from a similar fate. The bushwhacking thieves (Lee Van Cleef plays one), including Dora, are dispatched with rough frontier justice.
The settlers continue down the river, but their raft is caught in rapids and Zebulon and his wife Rebecca (Agnes Moorehead) drown. Linus, finding that he cannot live without Eve, reappears and marries her, even though she insists on homesteading at the spot where her parents died.
[edit]The plains (1850s)


The wagon train is attacked by Cheyenne Indians.
Eve's sister Lily (Debbie Reynolds) chooses to go to St. Louis, where she finds work performing in a dance hall. She attracts the attention of professional gambler Cleve Van Valen (Gregory Peck). After overhearing that she has just inherited a California gold mine, and to avoid paying his debts to another gambler (John Larch), Cleve joins the wagon train taking her there. He and wagonmaster Roger Morgan (Robert Preston) court her along the way, but she turns them both down, much to the dismay of her new friend and fellow traveler Agatha Clegg (Thelma Ritter), who is searching for a husband.
Surviving an attack by Cheyenne Indians, Lily and Cleve arrive at the mine, only to find that it is now worthless. Cleve leaves. Lily returns to work in a dance hall in a literal "Camp Town," living out of a covered wagon. Morgan finds her and again proposes marriage in a rather unromantic way. She tells him, "No, not ever."
Later, Lily is singing in the music salon of a riverboat. By chance, Cleve is a passenger. When he hears Lily's voice, he leaves the poker table (and a winning hand) to propose to her, telling her of the opportunities waiting in the rapidly growing city of San Francisco. She accepts.
[edit]The Civil War (1861-1865)


American Civil War.
Linus joins the Union army as a captain in the American Civil War. Despite Eve's wishes, their son Zeb (George Peppard) eagerly enlists as well, looking for glory and an escape from farming. Corporal Peterson (Andy Devine) assures them the conflict won't last very long. The bloody Battle of Shiloh shows Zeb that war is nothing like he imagined and, unknown to him, his father Linus dies there. He encounters a similarly disillusioned Confederate (Russ Tamblyn) who suggests deserting, to which Zeb agrees.
However, by chance, they overhear a private conversation between Generals Ulysses S. Grant (Harry Morgan) and William Tecumseh Sherman (John Wayne). The rebel realizes he has the opportunity to rid the South of two of its greatest enemies and tries to shoot them, leaving Zeb no choice but to kill him. Afterwards, Zeb rejoins the army.
When the war finally ends, he returns home, only to find his mother has died. She had lost the will to live after learning that Linus had been killed. Zeb gives his share of the family farm to his brother, who is more tied to the land, and leaves in search of a more interesting life.
[edit]The railroad (1860s)


The construction of railroad.
Following the daring riders from the Pony Express and the construction of the transcontinental telegraph line in the early 1860s, two ferociously competing railroad lines, the Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad, one building west and the other east, open up new territory to eager settlers.
Zeb becomes a lieutenant in the U.S. cavalry, trying to maintain peace with the Indians with the help of grizzled buffalo hunter Jethro Stuart (Henry Fonda), an old friend of Linus. When ruthless railroad man Mike King (Richard Widmark) violates a treaty by building on Indian territory, the Arapaho Indians retaliate by stampeding buffalo through his camp, killing many, including women and children. Disgusted, Zeb resigns and heads to Arizona.
[edit]The outlaws (1880s)


The desperadoes who want to rob the train.
In San Francisco, widowed Lily auctions off her possessions (she and Cleve had made and spent several fortunes) to pay her debts. She travels to Arizona, inviting Zeb and his family to oversee her remaining asset, a ranch.
Zeb (now a marshal), his wife Julie (Carolyn Jones) and their children meet Lily at Gold City's train station. However, Zeb also runs into an old enemy there, outlaw Charlie Gant (Eli Wallach). When Gant makes veiled threats against his family, Zeb turns to his friend and Gold City's marshal, Lou Ramsey (Lee J. Cobb), but Gant is not wanted for anything in that territory, so there is little Ramsey can do.
Zeb decides he has to act rather than wait for Gant to make good his threat to show up someday. Suspecting Gant of planning to rob an unusually large gold shipment being transported by train, he prepares an ambush with Ramsey's reluctant help. Gant and his gang (one member played by Harry Dean Stanton) are killed in a shootout. In the end, Lily and the Rawlings travel to their new home.
A short epilogue shows Los Angeles and San Francisco in the early 1960s, including the famous four-level downtown freeway interchange and Golden Gate Bridge, indicating the growth of the West in 80 years.
[edit]Cast

national championship

Maurice Edward Clarett (born October 29, 1983 in Youngstown, Ohio[1]) is a former American college football player and currently enrolled as a student at Ohio State. During his freshman year at Ohio State University, he helped to lead the Buckeyes to a national championship. He is well known for unsuccessfully challenging the NFL's rule that a player must have been out of high school for three years to be eligible for the entry draft, and for his tumultuous life in and out of the courtroom afterwards. Clarett attended the same preschool as Ken Dorsey (quarterback for the Miami Hurricanes), whom he would later run into in the 2002 national championship game. After serving three and a half years in prison the former tailback is back at Ohio State enrolled in classes.
Contents [hide]
1 Personal
2 Football career
2.1 College
2.1.1 Career rushing statistics at Ohio State
2.1.2 Dismissal from Ohio State
2.2 National Football League
2.2.1 Draft day surprise
2.2.2 Post-NFL troubles
2.3 Exploring alternatives to the NFL
3 Arrests and convictions
3.1 Robbery conviction
3.2 August 2006 arrest
3.2.1 Blog
4 External links
5 References
[edit]Personal

Maurice Clarett is the son of Myke Clarett Sr. and Michelle Renee Clarett (now divorced). His father is a businessman, who once worked as a Regional Representative for the Secretary of State in Ohio. His mother worked as a senior administrator for the Youngstown City Clerk of Court. He has an older brother named Marcus A. Clarett who was a Defensive Tackle for the University of Buffalo and another older brother, Michael Graham Clarett Jr.
Maurice has a daughter, born July 16, 2006, with girlfriend Ashley Evans. Clarett also has a cousin Vince Charles Marrow who played as a tight end in the NFL, XFL and NFL Europe; Marrow also was an Offense Assistant/Tight Ends coach for NFL Europe's Berlin Thunder. His other cousin Brandon Smercansky from Poland Seminary was a star pitcher and earned all state honors 3 of his 4 years of high school.
[edit]Football career

[edit]College
After displaying his abilities as a punishing freshman tailback on the Austintown-Fitch High School Varsity team, Clarett transferred to Warren G. Harding High School to continue his scholastic career and garnered national attention. When he graduated from Harding, many national publications ranked him among the top 100 players nationally.[2] Clarett received an offer from Ohio State University and verbally committed to Ohio State over offers from Notre Dame, Fresno State and Miami (FL) before signing with the Buckeyes in February 2002. [3] Later, Clarett received the USA Today Offensive High School Player of the Year and Parade All-American distinctions.
Clarett starred at Ohio State for one season, rushing for 1,237 yards (a school record for a freshman) and scoring 18 touchdowns, which helped the Buckeyes to a 14-0 record and the 2002 BCS National Championship. He scored the winning touchdown against the University of Miami with a five-yard run in the second overtime in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl (played January 3, 2003). He also made a key defensive play in that game, stealing the ball from Hurricanes safety Sean Taylor, who had just intercepted a Craig Krenzel pass in the end zone. After that play, Ohio State kicked a field goal, giving them a 10-point lead at the time. Clarett was the first freshman to be the leading rusher on a national championship team since Ahman Green of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1995.
[edit]Career rushing statistics at Ohio State
Year Games Rushes Yards Average TD
2002 11 222 1,237 5.6 18
Total 11 222 1,237 5.6 18
[edit]Dismissal from Ohio State
Clarett's time at Ohio State University was marked by several troubling incidents. He was seen yelling at his position coach during the Northwestern - Ohio State game in the 2002 season. In December 2002, he publicly maligned OSU officials for not paying for him to fly home for the funeral of a friend and accused administrators of lying when they said he had not filed the necessary paperwork. In July 2003, Clarett became the center of an academic scandal when a teaching assistant told the New York Times that Clarett had received preferential treatment from a professor; the investigation did not find sufficient evidence of academic misconduct.
Ohio State later suspended Clarett for the 2003 athletic year after he was charged with filing a false police report. Clarett had filed a false claim that more than $10,000 in clothing, CDs, cash and stereo equipment were stolen from a car he borrowed from a local dealership in September 2003. Athletic Director Andy Geiger stated that Clarett also took thousands of dollars in special benefits and repeatedly misled investigators. Clarett later pleaded guilty to a lesser criminal charge (failure to aid a law enforcement official) in that incident.
Clarett moved to Los Angeles after his dismissal from Ohio State, and, while living there, sued to be included in the 2004 NFL Draft. He won his case at trial. However, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision. Subsequently, Clarett worked with trainers in preparation for the 2005 NFL Combine, hoping to impress for the upcoming draft.[4]
[edit]National Football League
In his attempt to enter the 2004 NFL Draft, Clarett challenged the NFL's rule that a player must wait three years after graduating from High School to declare for the draft. Federal Judge Shira Scheindlin initially ruled that the NFL could not bar Clarett from participating in the 2004 NFL Draft.[5] This decision was later overturned by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in an opinion by Judge Sonia Sotomayor, and Clarett's petition for certiorari was refused by the Supreme Court.[6] Clarett and USC wide receiver Mike Williams, who were both hoping to enter the draft early, were then barred from the draft by the NFL. Later, because they both signed agents before being denied the opportunity to join the NFL Draft, the NCAA refused to reinstate the college eligibility of Clarett or Williams.
Clarett has been represented by California attorney David Kenner. Clarett also lived with Kenner and claims that Kenner helped him straighten out his life. Kenner is the longtime attorney of Death Row Records CEO and controversial hip-hop kingpin Marion "Suge" Knight.
In February 2005, he participated in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. During a press conference, he uttered the phrase: "It's a humbling thing being humble." After running a disappointing 4.72 and 4.82 seconds in the 40 yard dash, he refused to participate further, and was referred to as "Slow-Mo" by the sports media, who were largely critical of his obvious lack of preparation.
Ohio State declined to allow him to take part in a private workout for pro scouts in Columbus because it wanted to avoid a "circus" situation.
[edit]Draft day surprise
In a widely unexpected move, Clarett was drafted on the first day of the 2005 NFL Draft with the final pick of the 3rd round (#101 overall) by the Denver Broncos. Many experts felt that he would fall to the 6th or 7th round, if he was drafted at all.[7] Clarett, however, was unimpressive in the Denver Broncos' preseason training camp. In part due to having not played a game in two years or practiced in over a year, he entered training camp weighing 248 pounds (at least 20 pounds overweight). He was slow to recover from an injury.
Despite his unimpressive training camp, Clarett was offered and signed a four-year contract on July 28, 2005, with the Broncos in which he gave up $413,000 of guaranteed money in order to secure an incentive-laden deal. Clarett signed this deal against the advice of his former agents, Steve Feldman and Josh Luchs. Clarett's motivation was to replace the proposed deal with a package that would pay him first-round money if he rushed for 1,000 yards in multiple seasons.
However, after further disappointments and incidents with his coaches and never playing a preseason game, Clarett was released on waivers on August 28, 2005, only a month after signing his contract and before playing even a single down in the NFL. As is standard procedure in the NFL, for a 24-hour period after his release, other teams could have claimed him and taken on his contract. After that 24-hour period, he was free from his contract and able to negotiate with any team, but no team expressed interest.[8]
[edit]Post-NFL troubles
As his college and NFL careers tanked, The Miami Herald reported in September that Clarett was already $1 million in debt from legal fees for his fight with the NFL and other costs. They also reported that Clarett turned down the traditional signing bonus in the originally proposed contract from Denver because Kenner wanted incentives that would pay Clarett if he became a star.
[edit]Exploring alternatives to the NFL
According to the Wheeling News-Register, Clarett was in talks to play for the Steubenville Stampede, a squad in the North Division of the American Indoor Football League. According to Jim Terry, Manager of the Stampede, "I have been in contact with [Clarett's] agent and he's expressed interest with us... Clarett is hungry and has something to prove. He has a chip on his shoulder and wants to show he can still play."[citation needed] However, Clarett never signed with the Stampede. In an interview with the Columbus Dispatch published on August 10, 2006, Terry claimed that Clarett attempted to call him just minutes before the events on the morning of August 9 that led to Clarett's arrest.
Clarett also expressed interest in playing for NFL Europe. Josh Luchs, Clarett's agent, reported that Clarett was going to sign with the NFL on January 2, 2006, and was expected to be allocated to NFL Europe. There were also discussions about Clarett playing for the semi-pro Eastern Indoor Football League team the Mahoning Valley Hitmen, coached by the same Jim Terry.[9]
[edit]Arrests and convictions


This section is in a list format that may be better presented using prose. You can help by converting this section to prose, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (June 2009)
[edit]Robbery conviction
On January 1, 2006, police announced that they were searching for Clarett in relation to two incidents of armed robbery that took place at 1:46am outside the Opium Lounge danceclub in Columbus. Allegedly, with a .45 caliber handgun, Clarett robbed two people and then escaped in a white SUV with two unidentified persons. Clarett reportedly made off with only a cell phone valued at $150 belonging to one of the victims.[10]
Said Jim Tressel, his former coach at Ohio State, "I hope it's not true, but beyond that, I don't know much, but my reaction is, I was sad."
Clarett turned himself in to police shortly after 9 p.m., EST, on January 2, just as the Buckeyes were defeating Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Arizona, the very bowl game in which Clarett last played college football. He faced two counts of aggravated robbery. He was later released on $50,000 bond [11].
On February 10, 2006, Clarett was indicted by a Franklin County grand jury on two counts of aggravated robbery with gun specifications and five other counts. If convicted, he would be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison. His attorneys said that he denied every allegation, saying Clarett "intends to fight this indictment with the same vigor and resolve he displayed in taking OSU to a national championship."[12]
On February 22, 2006, Maurice Clarett pleaded not guilty to aggravated-robbery charges. He was released on $20,000 bail until his trial began. [13]
On July 26, 2006, Clarett fired his lawyers, William Settina and Robert Krapenc, two weeks before his trial date. The privately retained attorneys had filed a motion two days earlier saying they wanted to withdraw their counsel, claiming that Clarett was not paying their fees or cooperating in his defense. [14][15]
At a status hearing held on August 9, 2006 pertaining to the January charges, Franklin County Common Pleas Judge David Fais increased Clarett's bond to $1.1 million.[16] This was due to Clarett's arrest earlier that morning (see below). On August 10, 2006, Fais ordered an additional status hearing which was held on August 11, 2006. This hearing had not been requested by either the prosecution or Clarett's defense team but was requested by Fais himself.[17] At the hearing, Fais delayed the trial until September 18, 2006, revoked the $1.1 million bond in the case and ordered Clarett to undergo a mental health evaluation.[18]
[edit]August 2006 arrest
In the early morning hours of August 9, 2006, Clarett was arrested in Columbus after he made an illegal U-turn and led the police on a chase in a sports utility vehicle reportedly belonging to his uncle. After Clarett drove over a police spike strip, the chase ended in a nearby restaurant parking lot.[19][20]
Police said they were forced to secure a cloth around Clarett's mouth after he allegedly spit at the officers and called them "niggers" during the arrest. According to Columbus Police Sgt. Mike Woods, the officers discovered a katana, a loaded AK-47 variant and two other loaded handguns in his vehicle along with an open bottle of Grey Goose vodka.[21] The police requested that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives perform a trace on the firearms to determine if Clarett violated Federal gun laws.
The officers used mace to subdue Clarett after attempts to subdue him with a Taser proved ineffective because he was wearing Kevlar body armor.
Clarett was arraigned on the latest charges on August 10, 2006 in Franklin County Municipal Court in Columbus. During the arraignment, Judge Andrea C. Peeples set his bond on the charges of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and failure to maintain current lane at $5 million. In setting the bond, Peeples agreed with prosecutors that Clarett is now a flight risk or could attempt to intimidate witnesses in his upcoming robbery trial.[22] Clarett remained lodged in the Franklin County Corrections Center, however, as the $1.1 million bond for the robbery charge was revoked by trial judge David Fais. According to a Columbus Dispatch report, Clarett, who was due to be tried for his January arrest, was in the neighborhood of one of the principal witnesses against him at the time the events of August 9 occurred.[citation needed]
On September 18, Clarett filed a guilty plea to the charges in a plea bargain that involved these events as well as the earlier robbery charges. He was sentenced by Judge David Fais to seven and a half years in prison, but may apply for early release after three and a half years. As part of the plea agreement, the prosecution agreed not to object to early release if and when Clarett applies for it. [23]
On December 14, it was announced that Clarett will be changing prisons to a close-security prison in a single person cell at Toledo Correctional Institution. He will be able to eat with and exercise with other inmates.[citation needed]
Clarett enrolled in a distance-learning program at Ohio State University while serving his sentence at the Toledo Correctional Institution. Clarett would work towards earning a bachelor's degree in Geriatrics and Gerontology.[24]
On April 7, 2010, Judge Fais granted early release to Clarett. Clarett was ordered to enter Maryhaven, a halfway house in Columbus, for up to 6 months. [25]

[edit]Blog
As of October 2008, Clarett has been blogging about his life in prison on The Mind of Maurice Clarett; although he does not have Internet access in the prison, he sends his entries to family members, who post them for him.
In a recent post, Clarett sums up his attitude towards prison by saying "Understand my struggle so you can respect my hustle. I am never coming back here, believe that. Never, I am cool on this. It is first-class living from the day I get out. I WILL NEVER SETTLE FOR LESS, EVER AGAIN. That goes for communication, personal relationships, housing, education, friendships, and travel arrangements. Everything. I have the fire in my eyes"[26]

professional football

Dez Bryant is a professional football player for the Dallas Cowboys. The team selected him with the 24th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.11 He played wide receiver in college for Oklahoma State Cowboys Football. He was born on November 4, 1988 in Lufkin, Texas. Bryant was ranked as the 29th best player coming out of high school by ESPN. In 2008, he was named consensus All-American wide receiver following his sophomore season.12
Career Highlights
Dez Bryant received accolades as a freshman by being named second team All-American. He was second in the nation with 19 touchdown receptions, third in receiving yards and third in yards per punt return in 2008. Bryant was named first team All-American by The Sporting News and the Associated Press.13 He finished the 2008 season with 87 receptions for 1,480 yards. Bryant played in the 2007 Insight Bowl and the 2008 Holiday Bowl.
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Awards and Championships
2007: Second Team All-American
2008: First team All-American
2008: First Team All-Big 12 Conference
2008: College Football Performance Awards Wide Receiver Trophy Recipient
2010
On January 10, Bryant reportedly hired Eugene Parker, a longtime associate of Deion Sanders, to be his agent. Bryant is projected by ESPN analyst Mel Kiper to be the ninth player selected in the 2010 NFL Draft.14 On February 7 sporting apparel company Under Armor began sponsoring Bryant. He is scheduled to film a commercial with Brandon Jennings of the Milwaukee Bucks.15 Reports by independent investigators at the NFL combine showed that Bryant is late for meetings, practices and games. He also left the combine early. Gambling experts revealed that Bryant did poorly in interviews and alienated teams.16
2009 Season
Through the first five games of the season, Dez Bryant played in three games, scoring four touchdowns on 323 yards receiving and 111 yards in punt returns.17 In early October, Dez Bryant was suspended for the rest of the season by NCAA Football on allegations that former NFL player Deion Sanders tried to set up a business relationship between agent Eugene Parker and Bryant.18 On October 13, the Oklahoma State coaching staff announced that they have started the reinstatement process of Bryant and back him 100 percent.19

After his bid for reinstatement on November 5 was denied by the Division I Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement, Bryant revealed he will enter the 2010 NFL Draft.20 He sat out most of the 2009 season after being declared ineligible for lying about an offseason meeting with Deion Sanders.21

In a recent mock draft conducted with assistance of DraftTek.com, Bryant was selected 15th overall by the Houston Texans, making it apparent his suspension hasn't affected his status as a legitimate first round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.22 On December 6, Bryant appeared with his teammates and coaches at an end of season banquet, supporting the team and reflecting on the season.23
Quotes
"I would tell the college player to be honest at all times, but at the same time I just feel like — I don't know — the NCAA, they're going to do whatever they want to do. I'm just going to leave it at that. I just feel like it was really unfair." - Dez Bryant, on his suspension by the NCAA24

"What I was impressed with was the way he close a cushion on a defensive back. Now, you take a guy that was 224 pounds; he lines up and the defensive back plays 8-9 yards off of him and you can see this young man close the cushion on the defensive back but also have the ability to go by. He’s a guy that does something, everyday, that you say, “Wow. This guy is going to be a tremendous talent.”" - Ray Sherman, Cowboys wide receivers coach on Dez Bryant25

provides processing

NetSpend Corporation, headquartered in Austin, TX, provides processing and marketing services for private and proprietary MasterCard and Visa prepaid debit cards. The company is the largest prepaid debit card processor and marketer in the United States and sells cards at about 10,000 grocery and convenience stores, gas stations and check-cashing centers nationwide. According to an article by the Austin Business Journal the privately held company has 225 employees, annual revenues in the $75 million to $125 million range and processes over $5 billion annually in card transactions. Its website states that the company has over 1 million customers nationwide.
Oak Investment Partners, is a major shareholder of NetSpend Corporation.

NetSpend’s stated goal is to provide consumers who lack established credit or banking relationships with the security, flexibility and convenience typically associated with debit and credit cards. The sub-prime credit consumer is usually charged higher fees on these product's transactions and features when compared to mainstream consumers that receive them for free or at little cost. The additional costs are representative of the additional risk that accompany the typical consumer profile who is shunned by traditional financial institutions.
NetSpend was founded by Roy and Bertrand Sosa, two brothers who were teenagers when their family moved from Mexico to the US in 1986. Twelve years later in 1998, they launched NetSpend from their one-bedroom apartment with an initial investment of $750.
The Sosa brothers believed there was a large market that was left un-served by traditional banking and financial institutions, and according to the Federal Reserve at the time of this post, 9.7 percent of households—approximately 26 million Americans—are “un-banked,” or do not maintain transaction accounts at mainstream depository institutions. An additional 40 million individuals do not have a savings account or access to credit and are considered “under-banked.” Together, the total number of un- and under-banked in the United States is estimated to be nearly 70 million people, and their aggregate annual income is calculated in excess of $300 billion.
According to the 2006 report from The Mercator Advisory Group, the Open Prepaid Card Market will grow at a CAGR of more than 32% achieving a total spend in 2009 of more than $43.8 Billion -- less than 1/4 the size of the Closed Prepaid Market in the same timeframe.
[edit]Products

The commonly used industry terms for products such as "Stored-Value Card", "Prepaid Debit Card" or "Prepaid Credit Card" are somewhat misnomers because the products do not actually store value within themselves, they do not provide the prepayment of a service such as long distance, nor do they have a credit component. Even though the cards have a Visa or MasterCard emblem they do not report to credit bureaus like true credit cards and therefore do not contribute to building or improving a cardholder's credit history. Rather prepaid debit cards allow for the depositing of funds that can be drawn upon at anytime. Prepaid debit cards are analogous in function to check cards or debit cards issued at banks and credit unions and some brokerages. In fact, the monies for prepaid debit cards are actually housed at FDIC banks. The primary differentiation is that the processing company, "Netspend" in this case, is allocating funds to individual cardholder accounts in their system vs. the actual bank's system. The bank is used as an omnibus account of sorts for all funds.
The NetSpend product line includes:
Reloadable Debit Cards: Cards can be reloaded with funds continuously.
Gift Cards: Cards are purchased in predenominated values. Cannot be reloaded. From a NetSpend long-time employee (perhaps even the longest term employee since the company's inception): "We really like when [customers] purchase the gift cards as they always leave a balance that cannot be redeemed, which adds to the bottom line."
Travel Cards: This product is a hybrid of the two previous cards. You may reload a limited number of times. There are additional travel protection benefits tied to the cardholder's purchases.
NetSpend, in conjunction with Financial Service Centers of America (FiSCA) is the first prepaid card processor to offer a savings account feature with their cards. According to the Austin Business Journal the interest rate on the savings account was increased from .75% to 3% in October 2006. According to BankRate.com the new rate is actually above the national average for regular passbook savings accounts offered by banks.
NetSpend is the first prepaid debit card provider to offer a "pink card" that contributes a portion of profits to breast cancer research and education. News Story[dead link]
NetSpend also provides card processing services for private branded products such as Capital One's Prepaid Debit Cards
[edit]Recognition

holding company

Pepco Holdings, Inc. (PHI) is a holding company incorporated in February of 2001 for the purpose of effecting the acquisition of Conectiv Power Delivery by Potomac Electric Power Company (better known as "Pepco"). The acquisition was completed on August 1, 2002 at which time Pepco and Conectiv became wholly owned subsidiaries of PHI. Conectiv itself had been formed in 1998 to be the holding company of Delmarva Power & Light Company (DPL, better known as "Delmarva Power") and Atlantic City Electric Company (ACE) in connection with the combination of DPL and ACE. In 2005, PHI resumed the use of the DPL and ACE entity names for purposes of operations, with the result that Conectiv Energy was the only remaining Conectiv brand and was restricted for PHI's energy production facilities.
Operations of the various companies controlled by Pepco Holdings take place in the Mid-Atlantic states of the United States. Delmarva Power specifically serves the Delmarva Peninsula.
Pepco Holdings was placed at 283rd on the 2006 Fortune 500, a list of American companies ranked by gross revenue.

apology from the Wei Pei

Dozens of employees who were fired by Pei Wei, Chandler claims a restaurant that was because of the new Immigration Act controversial.
Staff were telling us to leave after he attended a rally against SB 1070, but the restaurant says there is more to this story. They apparently skipped out on shifts that were scheduled to take part in the protest.
12 of these staff and their previous want to return, and also ask for payment and apology from the Wei Pei. They say the work of other staff who did not appear punished – not fired – and must not they were treated differently.
Now they take their protest to the front door Pei Wei.
“I thought they were on their way to support us in one way but they did not,” says Elizabeth Serafin, who was dismissed from his post. She says she did not call for May 29 due to a request from the other workers for the holiday, but he denied and.
Did 12 of the 30 store employees do not show up for work in March at the Sharjah Biennial in 1070 anti-protest.
“We were hungry, thirsty … it’s worse than going to work, and we did not do it for fun!” Serafin says.
Serafin and when he claims that other employees have missed work in the past, without a subpoena, but did not punish them fired.
Yvonne Herrera lost her job as well. Pei Wei has worked for 10 years and a cook, without ever taking a day patient, she says.
Issued Pei Wei, the following statement: “We were disappointed that 12 employees from his position as our Chandler chose to violate the attendance policy known what led to the end of their service, and when he chose the staff does not show a shift from the decision, and chose not to give notice that he is causing trouble enormous coworkers colleague and hinders our ability to serve our guests. ”
Serafin said she does not regret the course of action missing in the issue feel strongly about it.
“We know [Immigration Law] will affect our families or even our job … there are a lot of people from other countries. There are a lot of white people in it, how can we not do this to ourselves?”
Union local and help the people of the 12 who were released. The protesters say they continue sit-in outside Pei Wei from time to time.

Dallas Cowboys practice

Dallas Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett and rookie linebacker Sean Lee are out of practice again because of injuries.

Bennett hasn't practiced yet the first five days of training camp, missing all eight sessions so far because of a sprained ankle sustained before arriving at camp. Coach Wade Phillips says Bennett is getting close to being back.

Lee, the second-round draft pick, was on the field during a "teaching session" walkthrough without pads for rookies and backups Wednesday morning. But he didn't participate in the full-squad afternoon session in pads after also missing two practices Tuesday because of a strained quadriceps.

fresh produce

On a recent sweltering morning, a bevy of volunteers unloaded fresh produce off a truck and divided the fruits and veggies into laundry baskets lined along the sidewalk at a local school.

For their sweat and toil, some of the volunteers got to add a squash or other extra leftover piece of produce to their baskets, for which they had pre-paid $15 online.

Perhaps getting about $50 worth of fresh produce for $15, meeting new friends and doing something good for the community is payment enough for them.

Bountiful Baskets is a non-profit co-op based in Mesa that offers conventional and organic produce, said Sally Stevens, who co-founded the volunteer organization with fellow mother, Tanya Jolly.

Stevens explained that the produce is fresh and inexpensive because it is ordered locally from the wholesale market and handled by volunteers, instead of a paid staff.

“We work on getting local produce, so most of the winter produce is very local to Arizona.” In the summertime, however, most of the produce comes from as close to Arizona as possible, since not much grows here during the hotter months, she said.

Produce that is not grown locally also comes from as nearby as possible. “We get bananas from family farms in Central Mexico instead of the Caribbean, because Mexico is closer,” she said. “Plus, we like to support family farms.”

Bountiful Baskets has been available in Yuma for a little over a year, she said. “It's kind of like one of those best-kept secrets. We never do any marketing. It's all word of mouth. It's not a business, and we don't make any money off of it, so certainly we can't pay for advertising. It's just something that my best friend and I started.”

Her friend, Tanya Jolly, started the first site in Mesa about seven years ago, Stevens started one in Gilbert about a year later, and then they merged the two on the Internet in May of 2006. Both having grown up in California, where fresh, inexpensive produce is abundant, they wanted their own families and everyone else to have the opportunity to eat healthy foods every day for life, Stevens said.

“We began blessing our families, then we started blessing others as well.”

Bountiful Baskets is neither a business nor a non-profit organization, she said. “It's just a group of people that get together and split up produce.”

That seems like a pretty modest comment from someone who, along with her co-founder, puts in about 80 hours a week making wholesale produce available to people in seven states. So just what do they get out of it?

“We love seeing families being able to eat healthy for life,” she said. “If you go down on a Saturday morning, you'll understand what we get out of it. It's like Christmas. We get to watch all these people basically have Christmas morning every other week. It's very rewarding in its own way.”

That's not to say, however, that the hard work doesn't get to them. “We both quit on a daily basis,” she said, chuckling. But it's the letters that keep them going.

One woman posted a story on Bountiful Basket's Facebook page, telling how her husband had been told to change his lifestyle and diet habits or he would die, she said. “So it scared him and they started doing Bountiful Baskets, and a year later, he ran his first half-marathon.”

Another letter came from a girl who wrote that her since her mother could afford Bountiful Baskets, she no longer had to eat cat food, Stevens said. “So people out there suffer, and knowing that we're able to help those people is what keeps us going.”

The Bountiful Baskets' premise is simple, she said. People chip in $15 each over the Bountiful Baskets website, and then show up on Saturday mornings at the location and time posted on the website. Although not every person needs to volunteer, those who want to are asked to show up one hour early to help unload and divide up the produce, she said.

“And then they take their produce and go home.”

People who don't volunteer but who have contributed their $15 may simply swing by to pick up their two baskets each, one filled with fruits and the other with vegetables. Any baskets not picked up by a specified time are donated to a local fire station,

Lori Howe, volunteer coordinator in Yuma, got involved with Bountiful Baskets in January, after hearing about the co-op from a friend. “There are wonderful fruits and vegetables, the selections are really good, and I thought I could help my community out,” she said.

She receives two baskets of produce every two weeks for the time she spends online and on site, coordinating efforts to get the proper amount of produce to each person who chips in their $15.

Verna Williams began participating in Bountiful Baskets about two weeks ago, just as her daughter has been doing for some time. Taking a quick break from divvying up produce, Williams said she's not only there for fresh produce at a great deal. “It's something to do to get the day started. It's a lot of fun. You meet new people, make more friends.”

Stevens said only conventional produce is available in Yuma, but with enough interest from participants, organic could be available as well.

To participate, log on to bountifulbaskets.org at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays, or 10 p.m. on Wednesday, chip in your contribution using a debit or credit card, and then “the magic all happens behind the scenes” and your produce will be ready on the posted date and time at the posted location, she said.

She recommends reading all the information on the website before starting the program, to avoid any frustration or misunderstandings.

Food Network

When the Food Network came knocking a few weeks ago, the attention was the delicious topping to a whirlwind of growth for La Verne-based Sinfully Sweet Apple Co., a two-year-old dessert maker.

The network is set to feature the caramel apple company on a show that debuted this week, "Kid in a Candy Store," which sends host Adam Gertler on a quest for the tastiest and most creative treats in the U.S.

The episode, "Eye Candy," was expected to air this week.

Neatly displayed in the store behind glass, in tantalizing rows, are no ordinary caramel-dipped apples on a stick.

Chocolates dyed in bright shades of pink, yellow and blue are used to coat the apples, along with toppings such as peanuts and cookie crumbs and sugar shapes, lend personalities to each creation.

The chocolates are flavored, a fact reflected in the apples' names - Lemon Pie, Grapple (a grape and apple combination), New York Cheesecake and Blue Hawaiian. An Elvis Presley apple pays homage to the king of rock and roll's fancy for peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

"We're taking caramel apples to the next level," owner and founder Martha Henderson said. "We're making them works of art."

Henderson, a La Verne resident and a grandmother, gains inspiration for her creations by walking down the supermarket baby aisle, where many juices and foods are apple-based. She first began making caramel apples as gifts for her co-workers at Caltech in

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Pasadena, where she works as a biology lab manager.
"Everyone said, `You need to do something with this,"' Henderson said.

She took the caramel apples to the Orange County Market Place in February 2008. After a Costco representative tasted Sinfully Sweet's desserts at its booth, the sweets were sold in the warehouse chain in April of last year.

Coast Magazine and Modern Bride featured the apple company. After working out of a rented kitchen, the La Verne store opened in October.

Cheryl Kling, a co-worker from Caltech who was laid off in March, also became an owner. Kling oversees the daily operations of the store.

Kling said the freshness of the Granny Smith apples, which are bought three or four times a week, sets the company apart from other caramel apple companies.

About half of the company's business comes from corporate clients and weddings. Last year, Sinfully Sweet created apples for AT&T's national employee appreciation day that matched the corporation's signature blue.

And the bulk of the company's patrons are not children, as one might expect, but those from the baby boomer generation, a group that remembers making caramel apples with the family while growing up, Henderson said.

"Everybody remembers caramel apples as a kid," Henderson said. "I think it's a comfort food. That's what we sell."

Infant death spurs

The death of a four month old girl in Royal Oaks, MI has spurred the immediate recall of over 30,000 Nap Nanny recliners. The infant's parents had been using the Nap Nanny in her crib, and she was found hanging, caught between the side of the portable foam recliner and the bumper of the crib, where she suffocated.
Designed to imitate the curves of car seats, and raise babies up in order to reduce gastric reflux, Nap Nanny recliners are meant to be used on the floor when babies are playing, sleeping or just resting, and have harnesses to keep the infants secure.
According to the Consumer Product SafetyCommission, which ordered the recall, they have had "22 reports of infants (mostly under five months old) falling over the side of the Nap Nanny," despite the fact that most had been strapped in. However, "only two resulted in injury," according to a spokeman from Baby Matters.
The CPSC also stressed the fact that the units should never be placed near other products, and that "it was never meant to be used in a crib."
The Nap Nanny recliners, which cost $130, have been sold at children's retailers and toy stores since January 2009.

Takes On The World

The Ford Explorer has become something of an American icon, almost single-handedly transforming the fledgling SUV segment from a niche filled mostly with Jeep enthusiasts into a market powerhouse. Two decades later, a new model is here and it's time to see how it stacks up against the competition.



As noted above, the original Explorer didn't have a whole lot of competition when it first debuted in 1990 as a 1991 model. Sure, there was the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer/GMC Jimmy and the Jeep Cherokee to contend with, but none had the popularity or the staying power the Explorer brought to the table. Over the ensuing 20 years it became one of the best-selling vehicles in America.

It would also become one of the most notorious. A tire blowout scandal in the early 2000s severely damaged the Explorer's reputation and sales have dwindled to less than an eighth of their annual highs in the 1990s. The current model, on the road since 2005, has met lukewarm reviews and some worried the magic was gone.

Now, as the Explorer enters its third decade with an all-new model, it faces a much different market than when it debuted. More than a dozen competing mid-size SUVs are vying for the Explorer's sales, one of them a fellow Ford product. Without further adieu, here's a look at how the new Explorer stacks up against the competition. To make things fair, we've compared the models closely aligned with the Explorer in terms of price, capacity, and other factors. Fuel economy is listed for base FWD models, or AWD in the case of the Subaru.



Read more: http://wot.motortrend.com/6669232/miscellaneous/lets-get-competitive-2011-ford-explorer-takes-on-the-world/index.html#ixzz0v3iUTt7a

breast cancer

Leah Siegel, an ESPN producer and Dallas mother of three whose two-year struggle with breast cancer inspired area residents, died early Monday, her family said. She was 43.


MONA REEDER/DMN File
Leah Siegel (right) fixes daugher Teagan's hair during a 2008 photo shoot for a Dallas Morning News story about Leah Siegel's breast cancer diganosis shortly after giving birth to her third child. Leah Siegel died Monday at age 43.
Siegel's battle with the disease was chronicled in a 2008 Dallas Morning News story and in a blog she regularly updated.

"It was her way of not only dealing with something but helping others along the way," said Myra MacPherson, Siegel's mother. "It was just miraculous, for the people who read it and for Leah."

Siegel had been resting in hospice care in recent days, her husband, Eric Loehr, told readers of her blog. She died about 4:30 a.m.

"Thank you to everyone," Loehr wrote Monday. "The support over the last couple of years has been amazing."

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Sparkman-Hillcrest Funeral Home in Dallas. A second event celebrating Siegel's life is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 11, with more details to come.

Siegel moved to Dallas in 1996 and was one of the first women to be a full-time field producer for ESPN. She won three Emmy awards.

Also Online
Link: Leah Siegel's CaringBridge page
10/17/08: Mother's breast cancer fight inspires Komen Dallas Race for the Cure team
Shortly after arriving in Dallas, she married Loehr and had three children – Teagan, 5, Wyatt, 3, and Oliver, 23 months.

It was during an emergency delivery of Oliver that doctors first noticed trouble.

Her blood platelet levels were low, and she began getting platelet transfusions the next day.

Nine days after giving birth, she began chemotherapy. The diagnosis was advanced breast cancer – metastatic lobular carcinoma.

Lakewood-area families supported Siegel during her battle. They formed a team that raised money and walked during the annual Komen Dallas Race for the Cure.

Siegel grew up in Washington, D.C., attended Maret High School and graduated from the University of Maryland.

Siegel is survived by her husband and three children, her mother, and brother, Michael Siegel.

rare genetic disorder

Prader–Willi syndrome (abbreviated PWS) is a rare genetic disorder in which seven genes (or some subset thereof) on chromosome 15 (q 11-13) are deleted or unexpressed (chromosome 15q partial deletion) on the paternal chromosome. It was first described in 1956 by Andrea Prader, Heinrich Willi, Alexis Labhart, Andrew Ziegler, and Guido Fanconi of Switzerland.[1] The incidence of PWS is between 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 25,000 live births. The paternal gene origin is lost due to deletion and the maternal genes are silenced due to imprinting. PWS has the sister syndrome Angelman syndrome that includes maternally deleted and paternally imprinted genes in the same genetic region.
Contents [hide]
1 Signs and symptoms
1.1 Neuro-cognitive
1.2 Behavioral
1.3 Endocrine
2 Genetics
3 Diagnosis
3.1 Differential diagnosis
4 Treatment
5 Society and culture
6 See also
7 References
8 External links
[edit]Signs and symptoms



patient with the syndrome, showing characteristic facial appearance, with elongated face, prominent nose, and smooth philtrum
Clinical features and signs
Holm et al. (1993) describe the following features and signs as pretest indicators of PWS, although not all will be present.
In utero:
Reduced fetal movement
Frequent abnormal fetal position
Occasional polyhydramnios (excessive amniotic fluid)
At birth:
Often breech or caesarean births
Lethargy
Hypotonia
Feeding difficulties (due to poor muscle tone affecting sucking reflex)
Difficulties establishing respiration
Hypogonadism
Infancy:
Failure to thrive (continued feeding difficulties)
Delayed milestones/intellectual delay
Excessive sleeping
Strabismus
Scoliosis (often not detected at birth)
Childhood:
Speech delay
Poor physical coordination
Hyperphagia (over-eating) from age 2 – 8 years. Note change from feeding difficulties in infancy
Excessive weight gain
Sleep disorders
Scoliosis
Adolescence:
Delayed puberty
Short stature
Obesity
Extremely flexible
Adulthood:
Infertility (males and females)
Hypogonadism
Sparse pubic hair
Obesity
Hypotonia
Learning disabilities/borderline intellectual functioning (but some cases of average intelligence)
Prone to diabetes mellitus
Extreme flexibility.
General physical appearance (adults)
Prominent nasal bridge
Small hands and feet with tapering of fingers
Soft skin, which is easily bruised
Excess fat, especially in the central portion of the body
High, narrow forehead
Almond shaped eyes with thin, down-turned lips
Light skin and hair relative to other family members
Lack of complete sexual development
Frequent skin picking
Striae
Delayed motor development
[edit]Neuro-cognitive
Individuals with PWS are at risk of learning and attention difficulties. Curfs and Frym (1992) conducted research into the varying degrees of learning disability found in Prader Willi Syndrome (PWS).[2] Their results were as follows:
5%: IQ above 85 (average to low average intelligence)
27%: IQ 70 – 85 (borderline intellectual functioning)
39%: IQ 50 – 70 (mild intellectual disability)
27%: IQ 35 – 50 (moderate intellectual disability)
1%: IQ 20 – 35 (severe intellectual disability)
<1%: IQ <20 (profound intellectual disability)
Cassidy found that 40% of individuals with PWS have borderline/low average intelligence,[3] a figure higher than that found in Curfs and Frym's study (32%).[2] However, both studies suggest that most individuals (50% – 65%) fall within the mild/borderline/low average intelligence range.
Children with PWS show an unusual cognitive profile. They are often strong in visual organization and perception, including reading and vocabulary, but their spoken language (sometimes affected by hypernasality) is generally poorer than their comprehension. A marked skill in completing jigsaw puzzles has been noted.[4][5]
Auditory information processing and sequential processing are relatively poor, as are arithmetic and writing skills, visual and auditory short term memory and auditory attention span. These sometimes improve with age, but deficits in these areas remain throughout adulthood.[4]
[edit]Behavioral
Prader–Willi syndrome is also frequently associated with an extreme and insatiable appetite, often resulting in morbid obesity. There is currently no consensus as to the cause for this particular symptom, although genetic abnormalities in chromosome 15 disrupt the normal functioning of the hypothalamus.[3] Given that the hypothalamus regulates many basic processes, including appetite, there may well be a link. However, no organic defect of the hypothalamus has been discovered on post mortem investigation.[3]
Prader–Willi syndrome patients have high ghrelin levels, which are thought to directly contribute to the increased appetite, hyperphagia, and obesity seen in this syndrome. Cassidy states the need for a clear delineation of behavioural expectations, the reinforcement of behavioural limits and the establishment of regular routines.[21]
The main mental health difficulties experienced by people with PWS include compulsive behaviour (usually manifested in skin-picking) and anxiety (Udwin, 1998; Clark et al., 1995). Psychiatric symptoms, for example, hallucinations, paranoia and depression have been described in some cases (Udwin, 1998) and affect approximately 5 - 10% of young adults (Cassidy, 1997). Psychiatric and behavioural problems are the most common cause of hospitalization (Cassidy et al., 1994).
[edit]Endocrine
There are several aspects of PWS that support the concept of growth hormone deficiency in individuals with PWS. Specifically, individuals with PWS have short stature, are obese with abnormal body composition, have reduced fat free mass (FFM), have reduced LBM and total energy expenditure, and have decreased bone density.
PWS is characterized by hypogonadism. This is manifested as undescended testes in males and benign premature adrenarche in females. Testes may descend with time or can be managed with surgery or testosterone replacement. Adrenarche may be treated with hormone replacement therapy.
[edit]Genetics


PWS is caused by the deletion of the paternal copies of the imprinted SNRPN and necdin genes along with clusters of snoRNAs: SNORD64, SNORD107, SNORD108 and two copies of SNORD109, 29 copies of SNORD116 (HBII-85) and 48 copies of SNORD115 (HBII-52). These are on chromosome 15 located in the region 15q11-13.[6][7][8] This so-called PWS/AS region may be lost by one of several genetic mechanisms which, in the majority of instances occurs through chance mutation. Other less common mechanisms include; uniparental disomy, sporadic mutations, chromosome translocations, and gene deletions. Due to imprinting, the maternally inherited copies of these genes are virtually silent, only the paternal copies of the genes are expressed. PWS results from the loss of paternal copies of this region. Deletion of the same region on the maternal chromosome causes Angelman syndrome (AS). PWS and AS represent the first reported instances of imprinting disorders in humans.
The risk to the sibling of an affected child of having PWS depends upon the genetic mechanism which caused the disorder. The risk to siblings is <1% if the affected child has a gene deletion or uniparental disomy, up to 50% if the affected child has a mutation of the imprinting control region, and up to 25% if a parental chromosomal translocation is present. Prenatal testing is possible for any of the known genetic mechanisms.
A microdeletion in one family of the snoRNA HBII-52 has excluded it from playing a major role in the disease.[9]
Studies of human and mouse model systems have shown that deletion of the 29 copies of the C/D box snoRNA SNORD116 (HBII-85) has been shown to be the primary cause of Prader–Willi syndrome.[10][11][12][13] [14]
[edit]Diagnosis



Prader-Willi syndrome phenotype at 15 years of age. Note absence of typical PWS facial features and presence of mild truncal obesity.
PWS affects approximately 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 25,000 newborns.[15] There are more than 400,000 people who live with PWS around the world.[16] It is traditionally characterized by hypotonia, short stature, hyperphagia, obesity, behavioral issues (specifically OCD-like behaviors), small hands and feet, hypogonadism, and mild mental retardation.[15] However, with early diagnosis and early treatment (such as with growth hormone therapy), the prognosis for persons with PWS is beginning to change. Like autism, PWS is a spectrum disorder and so symptoms can range from mild to severe, and may change throughout the person's lifetime. Various organ systems are affected.
Traditionally, Prader-Willi Syndrome was diagnosed by clinical presentation. Currently, the syndrome is diagnosed through genetic testing; testing is recommended for newborns with pronounced hypotonia. Early diagnosis of PWS allows for early intervention as well as the early prescription of growth hormone. Daily recombinant growth hormone (GH) injections are indicated for children with PWS. GH supports linear growth and increased muscle mass, and may lessen food preoccupation and weight gain.
The mainstay of diagnosis is genetic testing, specifically DNA-based methylation testing to detect the absence of the paternally contributed Prader–Willi syndrome/Angelman syndrome (PWS/AS) region on chromosome 15q11-q13. Such testing detects over 97% of patients. Methylation-specific testing is important to confirm the diagnosis of PWS in all individuals, but especially those who are too young to manifest sufficient features to make the diagnosis on clinical grounds or in those individuals who have atypical findings. Because PWS infants have a higher rate of difficulties at birth (including breech delivery and respiratory delay) birth-related injuries and oxygen deprivation may complicate the genetic handicaps, resulting in atypical PWS.[citation needed]
[edit]Differential diagnosis
Prader–Willi syndrome is often misdiagnosed as a variety of other syndromes due to many in the medical community's unfamiliarity with PWS. Sometimes it is misdiagnosed as Down syndrome, simply because of the relative frequency of Down syndrome compared to PWS. Also, marked obesity can occur in Down syndrome due to behavioral problems. Adding to the confusion, parents of children who already carry a diagnosis of Prader–Willi syndrome may tell friends, family, and even physicians and nurses that their child has Down syndrome because more people have heard of that condition.[citation needed] It is thought that 75% of those with PWS are undiagnosed.
[edit]Treatment

Prader–Willi syndrome has no cure, however, several treatments are in place to lessen the condition's symptoms. During infancy, subjects should undergo therapies to improve muscle tone. Speech and occupational therapy are also indicated. During the school years, children benefit from a highly structured learning environment as well as extra help. The largest problem associated with the syndrome is severe obesity.
Prescription of daily recombinant growth hormone injections are indicated for children with PWS. GH supports linear growth and increased muscle mass, and may lessen food preoccupation and weight gain.[17][18][19]
Because of severe obesity, obstructive sleep apnea is a common sequela, and a positive airway pressure machine is often needed.
[edit]Society and culture

Prader–Willi syndrome appeared in the UK media in July 2007 when Channel 4 aired a program Can't Stop Eating, surrounding the everyday lives of two Prader-Willi patients, Joe and Tamara.[20]
A sufferer from Prader-Willi Syndrome featured in the episode entitled 'Dog Eat Dog' of the television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (aired on November 24, 2005).[21]
Another sufferer Ethan Starkweather was on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition originally aired on Mothers Day 2010.

right-handed starting pitche

Matthew Scott Garza (born November 26, 1983 in Selma, California) is a Mexican-American right-handed starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays. He attended Washington Union High School and Fresno State. He was the 25th pick in the first round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft, drafted by the Minnesota Twins. Garza pitched for the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays team that clinched its first World Series berth in franchise history after years of failure. Garza was named the 2008 ALCS MVP for his efforts in the series. On July 26, 2010 Garza threw a no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers.
Contents [hide]
1 Career
1.1 2006
1.2 2007
1.3 2008
1.4 2009
1.5 2010
2 Scouting
3 Personal life
4 References
5 External links
Career

2006


Garza pitching for Minnesota Twins in 2006.
Entering 2006, Garza was ranked as the Minnesota Twins seventh-best prospect by Baseball America.[1] He gained attention for rising through the ranks of the Twins' minor league system, starting the season at Single-A Fort Myers and ending at the major league level, pitching with the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats and the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings in between. Garza was a combined 14–4 at the three minor league levels in 2006, with a 1.99 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 135 ⅔ innings. He earned All-Star berths in the Single-A Florida State League and Double-A Eastern League. Backed by those numbers, Garza earned the USA Today Minor League Player of the Year Award for 2006, the second consecutive year in which a Twin won the award (in 2005, Garza's teammate Francisco Liriano was the winner).[2] On August 8, Minnesota purchased Garza's contract, promoting him to the majors to replace the injured Liriano.[3] Garza is one of a small number of players to advance through the minors and reach the major league level in a single season. On August 11, his major league debut, Garza allowed seven earned runs in 2 ⅔ innings to the Toronto Blue Jays.[4] Garza earned his first win on August 23 against the Baltimore Orioles, allowing just one unearned run in six innings.[5]
2007
Entering 2007, Garza was rated as the top prospect in the Twins organization[6] and the 21st-best prospect in Major League Baseball[7] by Baseball America. Garza did not make the Twins rotation out of spring training, being assigned to Rochester instead. He was recalled to the Minnesota Twins on June 28 after being passed by other Twins pitching prospects such as Kevin Slowey and Scott Baker due to disagreements with the club over his pitch selection.[8] He was selected to the 2007 All-Star Futures Game in San Francisco, but did not get to participate due to his call up to the major league club.[9] On July 6, in a game against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, Garza became the first Twins pitcher to bat in an American League game since Allan Anderson in 1989. Garza was put in the eight-spot when catcher Mike Redmond left the game after his head was cut by Jim Thome's bat on a backswing. Joe Mauer, the designated hitter for the game, replaced Redmond as the catcher, forcing Garza into the lineup. On July 29, Garza recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts in six innings against the Cleveland Indians.


Matt Garza pitching during Spring Training 2008
2008
On November 28, 2007, the Twins traded Garza along with Jason Bartlett and Eduardo Morlan to the Tampa Bay Rays for Delmon Young, Jason Pridie, and Brendan Harris. Garza had a successful season with the Rays, going 11–9 while posting a 3.70 ERA. He also earned MVP honors for the ALCS in which he helped the Rays beat the Boston Red Sox by posting a 1.38 ERA in two starts, and earning the decisive victory in game 7 of the ALCS.
2009
As of the end of July 2009, opposing batters were hitting .222 against him, which was the second-lowest batting average in the league; he was just behind Edwin Jackson (.216), and was followed by Jarrod Washburn (.224) and Scott Feldman (.228; .217 as a starter).[10]
In 2009 he had the lowest range factor of all starting major league pitchers (0.93).[11]
2010
Garza threw a no-hitter on July 26, 2010 against the Detroit Tigers, becoming the fifth pitcher that season to throw a no-hitter. It was also the first no-hitter thrown by a Tampa Bay Rays pitcher in the team's history.[12] He faced the minimum 27 batters as the lone base runner, Brennan Boesch, who drew a 1-out second inning walk, was erased on a double play hit by Ryan Raburn in the next at-bat. Garza threw 80 strikes out of the 120 pitches he threw. The game time was 2 hours and 36 minutes and it was played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The announced attendance was 17,009.[13]
Scouting

Garza throws a 2-seam fastball that varies from 90–94 mph, as well as a 4-seam fastball that varies from 93–96 mph that can, on occasion, reach 98. His arsenal also includes a big, breaking curveball that he throws for 72–77 mph, a tight slider in the mid-high 80s, and a changeup he uses to fool hitters.[14]
Rays' pitching coach Jim Hickey has commented that Garza has "the best stuff on the staff"

winning tradition by receiving

Published July 25, 2010
Gadsden Middle School Orientation will be held Aug. 3. Students will be given their schedules and will be able to purchase lockers for $15. Sixth-grade students can come from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Seventh graders can come from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Around Here for July 24
Published July 23, 2010
• The Gadsden State Community College Public Relations Department continued its winning tradition by receiving a total of 12 awards for the second consecutive year at the Alabama Community College System Public Relations Association's...
GSCC plans freshman orientation
Published July 19, 2010
All freshmen entering Gadsden State Community College this fall are encouraged to attend Freshman F.O.C.U.S. either Wednesday at Wallace Hall on the Wallace Drive Campus in Gadsden or Thursday at the McClellan Center in Anniston.
GSCC sets priority online registration
Published July 19, 2010
Gadsden State Community College's priority online registration for the fall semester begins at noon Friday.
Advance Notices
Published July 18, 2010
The annual meeting of the Old Harmony Cemetery Association will be held July 29 at the old meeting house on Rainbow Drive. Lunch will be at 11 a.m. and the business meeting will begin at noon.
Advance Notices
Published July 11, 2010
Etowah County (Gadsden) Alabama NAACP Branch will have its annual Back-to-School Stay-in-School Rally from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 24 at Carver Village, 1109 Jacksonville Court. Speakers will be Melica Guyton,
That's the Ticket
Published July 9, 2010
A weekly entertainment calendar
Advance Notices
Published July 4, 2010
Glencoe High School class of 1990 will have a reunion starting with the Glencoe-Hokes Bluff football game at 7 p.m. Oct. 15; a family picnic will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 16 at Glencoe Park; and a casual-dress party from 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 16...
Advance Notice
Published June 27, 2010
The Town of Geraldine will hold a Picnic In The Park Homecoming celebrating the Year of Smalltowns and Down Towns on July 10. Pat Upton and the Back Woods Revival band will be the featured artists. Other local singers and writers will be showcased,...
GSCC enhances website
Published June 24, 2010
Gadsden State Community College's website revealed by school officials this week has a new appearance and enhanced features.

Camp at GSCC offers hands-on auto tech experience
Published June 21, 2010
It's one thing to be told about a career. It's another to get some hands-on experience to help in making a career decision.
Advance Notice
Published June 20, 2010
Veterans Appreciation Day will be observed at 10:30 a.m. June 27 at Liberty United Methodist Church, 1188 Alford Bend Road, Hokes Bluff. American flags will be flown along the church driveway Wednesday through July 6. Lunch will be served following...
GSCC President's and Dean's Lists
Published June 20, 2010
The Spring Semester 2010 President's List at Gadsden State Community College was released by President W. Darryl Harrison. Full-time students who earn all A's in college-level courses are named to the President's List. Full-time...
Advance Notice
Published June 13, 2010
The Etowah County Farmers Federation Woman's Leadership Committee invites Alabama Farmers Federation members to participate in the following contests to be held at the ALFA Building June 14: Alabama Heritage Cooking Contest (this year's...
Student: ‘I'd give anything to keep this place open'
Published June 13, 2010
If education is the doorway to a better future, some students at Gadsden State Community College are finding they soon may face a locked door.

Child care program faces funding crisis
Published June 13, 2010
A program that provides child care assistance to some students attending Gadsden State Community College could lose its funding and end later this year, according to school officials.
BUNCO tournament to benefit Boys & Girls Club
Published June 13, 2010
A BUNCO tournament for women to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Alabama will be held June 29 at Gadsden State Community College's East Broad Auditorium.
Advance Notices
Published June 6, 2010
Gadsden High School Class of 1990 is planning a reunion at 7 p.m. July 31 at the Best Western Gadsden Hotel and Suites. The cost will be $50 per couple or $30 for individuals. The deadline for receiving the money is July 5. Any class member who...
Locals discuss `Mockingbird'
Published June 1, 2010
English instructors from Gadsden State Community College will be among those on a guest panel leading a book discussion as part of the Gadsden Reads community literacy project. The discussion is at 11 a.m. today in GSCC's Meadows Learning Resource...
Advance Notice
Published May 30, 2010
RSVP is sponsoring the AARP Driver Safety Program for ages 50 and older to be held at the Etowah County Courthouse, Room 205, 800 Forrest Ave., from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 8. The course explains the changes that occur in vision, hearing, and...
Bond issue includes GSCC training funds
Published May 28, 2010
MONTGOMERY — The $110 million capital improvement bond issue that contains a $22 million appropriation for the University of Alabama's Bryce Hospital purchase also has money for Northeast Alabama projects.
Advance Notices for May 23
Published May 23, 2010
MOMS Club is a group for stay-at-home mothers in Etowah County. All moms are welcome. Please call 256-438-7722 or e-mail gadsdenmomsclub@yahoo.com for more information. The walking group will meet at 9:30 a.m. May 27.
GSCC students compete, win awards in Alabama SkillsUSA
Published May 15, 2010
Gadsden State Community College recently hosted the welding portion of the Alabama SkillsUSA Competition, which included students from community colleges across the state.
Emma Sansom Middle School to host Careers on Wheels Day
Published May 14, 2010
Emma Sansom Middle School students are expected to stampede their way through Careers on Wheels Day, which will be from 7:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Tuesday.
Advance Notices for May 9
Published May 9, 2010
Glencoe's eighth annual Celebration in the Park is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 22. Organizers are taking applications for craft and merchandise vendors. The deadline is at 4 p.m. May 14. Booths with electric outlets are available for $75, and booths...

decorative arts assembled

Lynnewood Hall is a 110-room Neoclassical Revival mansion in Elkins Park, Montgomery County. Considered the largest surviving Gilded Age mansion in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area[1], it was designed by Horace Trumbauer for industrialist Peter A. B. Widener between 1897 and 1900 and housed one of the most important Gilded Age private art collections of European master pieces and decorative arts assembled by Widener and his son Joseph.
Peter A. B. Widener died at Lynnewood Hall at the age of 80 November 6, 1915 after prolonged poor health.[2]
He was preceded in death by his son, George Dunton Widener, his grandson Harry and their valet who all died when the RMS Titanic sank in 1912.
Built from Indiana limestone, Lynnewood Hall measures 325 feet long by 215 feet deep.[3] In addition to the large art gallery, the 110-room estate also included a ballroom, swimming pool, wine cellars, a farm and an electrical power plant. The spectacular collection at Lynnewood Hall (dubbed "The last of the American Versailles" by Widener's grandson) was on public view daily from 1915 to 1940 between June and October. In 1940, Joseph E. Widener donated more than 2,000 sculptures, paintings, decorative art, and porcelains to the National Gallery of Art.
TIME magazine published an account of a lavish party held at Lynnewood Hall in 1932.[4]
[edit]Lynnewood Hall after Widener ownership

The grounds were used for training military dogs during World War II and parcels of the land were sold to others after 1943.[5]
Lynnewood Hall suffered a general decline under the ownership of the Faith Theological Seminary, a religious group headed by Carl McIntire, which purchased it in 1952 for $192,000.
During that ownership much interior detailing, such as mantels and walnut paneling, and landscape ornamentation was sold off in order to raise funds. This is evidenced by the 2006 auction of a French bronze figural fountain—one of only two major surviving Henri-Leon Greber commissions in America—originally installed at Lynnewood Hall.[5]
Lynnewood Hall was added to the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia's 2003 list for most endangered historic properties and is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. It is cited in Cheltenham Township's Comprehensive Plan as one of the township's cultural and historical resources,[6] and in the township's Open Space Plan as a priority for preservation, warranting a conservation easement.[7]
The seminary and property was eventually foreclosed upon by the second-mortgagee, reportedly a one-time follower of McIntire[citation needed].
At 33.85 acres (according to Montgomery County Board of Assessment data), Lynnewood Hall currently is owned by the First Korean Church of New York. However, Lynnewood is not in use by that church and remains vacant. As of 2007 no significant stabilization or repair efforts have been evident. On June 25, 2007, the Cheltenham Township Planning Commission reviewed and denied a submitted request (Appeal No. 3225) by the First Korean Church of New York, Inc., owner of premises known as 920 Spring Avenue, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania from the Decision of the Zoning Officer for a variance from the rules and regulations of the Class R-2 Residence District as outlined in CCS 295-14. for the use of the premises as a Church and a Domicile for a Caretaker/Assistant Pastor instead of one of the permitted enumerated uses.[8]
This was the second such request, the first submitted in 1998, for a variance. That resulted in a lawsuit [see First Korean Church of New York v. Twp. of Cheltenham Zoning Bd; submitted to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court May 2001], which upheld Cheltenham's denial of the request.

top trending topic today

Justin Bieber is not so lucky when it comes to internet rumors. During the past month, he was always in the news for different rumors emerging on the internet. Now, there are rumors that Justin Bieber Molest Fans. And as expected it is the top trending topic today. Anything about Justin Bieber is a hit, a TV show, a song, and of course rumors! Justin Bieber molest fan statement is not clear as to how and when it happened. Or did he really molest a fan? The international singing sensation is known to be always respectful in how he responds to his fans on twitter so we can consider this rumor as fake.

I searched the internet and did not found any incident about him molesting a fan. It is just one of the latest rumors that have become viral. Fans are widely searching to find out the truth. It must be another kind of ruining his career by his detractors. As long as he’s on top there will always be rumors like this to put him down. What they don’t realize is that the more they are making news of him the more they are making him famous.

Married Woman

Daniel Staub, Real Housewives of New Jersey certainly has lived many lives, including this one marriage with Thomas N. Staub.
Thomas N. Staub, there were not a lot of pictures or information about him since his ex-wife and blew up one of the stars of the show Bravo hit, but it will make an appearance on an episode of the night for his eldest daughter Christine ‘gala birthday party.
Staub, Chief Financial Officer of the success of family businesses (domestic crusher manufacturers pacemaker Aerobics, Inc.), and met Daniel when she was still stripping. In her book The Naked Truth, she portrayed him as a businessman with hair and blue eyes, sandy, who spent a lot of money and time in an attempt to get attention. Initially wanted to keep things “just work”, but broke out in the end, he is married to him, quit the strip (with envy), and settled for a life of luxury and child-rearing. In fact, after the children were something Tom and reportedly keen to do, and she quoted him as saying twice, “I can not wait to get you pregnant.”
In her book, Daniel accuses him of cheating vague in the birth of her daughters Christine and Gillian, but says it ultimately ended the 12-year-old married because of the “emotional distance.”
“From the outside it seems as if we had everything. But at home, and our hollow. No longer a marriage of love, and I was not going to be living a lie or stay in the marriage because the man was care for me, and making things easy. I would like to stay in marriage, because all of my bills were paid?… No, because this is not a prostitute. ”
Attention to discrimination. However, as noted above, Daniel lived many, many lives.
The offer and complained often that her ex-husband Daniel did not pay the bills, many huge and luxurious home on time, or give them money to eat. Daniel is now making money through Real Housewives franchise, book, song, and possibly other income streams and now lives in the apartment with her two daughters. Is associated with emotionally said Lori Michaels lesbian singer.
Tom has been married 54 years received) to a woman named Rebecca and expected child. His company, exercise, Inc., filed for bankruptcy in May.

hardcore punk group

After the hardcore punk group Minor Threat dissolved, Ian MacKaye (vocals and guitar) was active with a few short-lived groups, most notably Embrace. MacKaye decided he wanted a project that was "like the Stooges with reggae," but was wary about forming another band after Embrace's break up. MacKaye recalled, "My interests were not necessarily to be in a band [per se], but to be with people who wanted to play music with me."[1] MacKaye recruited ex-Dag Nasty drummer Colin Sears and bass guitarist Joe Lally, and the trio began practicing together in September 1986. After a few months of rehearsals, Sears returned to Dag Nasty and was replaced by Brendan Canty (earlier of Rites of Spring). One day Canty's Rites of Spring bandmate Guy Picciotto dropped by during a practice session to see how his friend was getting along; he later admitted he secretly harbored the idea of joining the group. But Picciotto was disappointed that there seemed to be no place for him; he said, "It seemed really completed already [. . .] It had a completely different feel from what I'd been doing with Brendan. It seemed just solid and done."[2]
After some uncertainty from Canty about what he wanted to do with his future, the trio regrouped and booked their first show at the Wilson Center in early September 1987. The group still needed a name, so MacKaye chose the word "fugazi" from Mark Baker's Nam, a compilation of stories of Vietnam War veterans, where it was used as slang for "fucked up", or, to be precise, "Fucked Up, Got Ambushed, Zipped In ('... into a body bag')".[3].
The band began inviting Picciotto to practices. Inspired by use of a foil in hip hop, Picciotto sang backup vocals. After his band Happy Go Licky broke up, he became more involved with Fugazi. MacKaye eventually asked Picciotto to become a full member, which he accepted.[4]
[edit]Albums and tours

"Repeater"

Sample of "Repeater", from Repeater (1990)
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"Combination Lock"

Sample of "Combination Lock", from Red Medicine (1995)
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"Full Disclosure"

Sample of "Full Disclosure", from The Argument (2001)
Problems listening to this file? See media help.
Fugazi embarked on its first tour in January 1988. In June 1988 the band recorded its debut EP Fugazi (or 7 Songs) with producer Ted Nicely, and shortly afterwards embarked on an arduous tour of Europe.[5] At the tour's conclusion in December, the band recorded songs for its intended debut album. However, the band was spent from touring and decided that the resulting sessions were unsatisfactory. The tracklist was cut down to an EP and released as Margin Walker the following year.[6] Upon the band's return from Europe, Picciotto, unsatisfied with merely singing, began playing guitar.[7]
The band's first album, Repeater, was released in January 1990. The band spent most of the year touring behind Repeater and routinely sold out 1,000-capacity shows.[8] By summer 1991 the album had sold more than 100,000 copies, a large number for a label that relied on word-of-mouth promotion. While major labels began to court Fugazi, the band decided that Dischord was distributing their records well enough and refused the offers.[9]
For the band's second album Steady Diet of Nothing (1991), the band once again asked Ted Nicely to produce. Nicely had become a chef and had to reluctantly turn down the job, so the band members decided to produce the record themselves.[10] Fugazi recorded its third album In on the Kill Taker (1993) with Steve Albini in Chicago; however, the results were deemed unsatisfactory and the band re-recorded the album with Ted Nicely.[9] With the breakthrough of alternative rock in the early 1990s, In on the Kill Taker became the group's first record to enter the Billboard album charts.
By Red Medicine (1995), Fugazi were on the road less frequently, due in large part to other professional and personal commitments. Their music had evolved far from their hardcore roots, with strong art rock leanings. The Argument (2001), featured the first extensive contributions from outside musicians, most notably longtime roadie and sound engineer Jerry Busher, who added percussion or a second drum set to most of the album's songs.
[edit]Hiatus
Fugazi is currently on what the band describes as a "hiatus", partly brought on by Canty wanting to spend more time with his family.
In the meantime, the members are undertaking side projects, with MacKaye forming the duo The Evens with drummer and singer Amy Farina (formerly of the Warmers). In 2004, MacKaye produced the DC EP for former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante, which also featured Jerry Busher.
Canty has been doing a variety of soundtrack scores and playing bass in the trio Garland Of Hours alongside frequent Fugazi guest contributors Jerry Busher and Amy Domingues, and has played bass live with Mary Timony. Canty also appears on Bob Mould's 2005 album Body of Song and on Mould's 2008 album District Line, and has toured with Mould, appearing in the live DVD Circle of Friends. He is currently working in the Burn to Shine DVD series which is being released by Trixie DVD.
Lally has released two solo albums, There to Here and Nothing Is Underrated. He has also appeared on fellow DC post-punkers Decahedron's debut album Disconnection_Imminent, as well as on a one shot project with John Frusciante (formerly) of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and current Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist, Josh Klinghoffer known as Ataxia.
Picciotto currently works as a record producer most notably with Blonde Redhead and The Blood Brothers, and he has performed alongside members of The Ex at the Jazz festival in Wels, Austria. Picciotto also co-produced and contributed guitar on Vic Chesnutt's most recent album, At The Cut, for Constellation Records and performed live with Chesnutt on the Fall/Winter 2009 North American Tour. He has a daughter, Sophie, with musician Kathi Wilcox from the band Bikini Kill and The Frumpies.
[edit]Musical style

Fugazi's music was an intentional departure from that of the hardcore punk bands the members had played in previously. Though clearly rooted in punk and hardcore, there is arguably more than punk to be found in Fugazi's music; for example, a reviewer compared the band to Radiohead. Fugazi incorporated funk and reggae beats, irregular stop-start song structures, and heavy riffs inspired by popular rock bands such as Led Zeppelin and Queen, bands that the punk community of the time largely disdained.[11] Picciotto became the group's second guitarist when he realized MacKaye's typically chunky, low-end riffs and Lally's dub-influenced basslines allowed him to focus on high-pitched parts. In both vocal and guitar roles, Picciotto assumed the role of a foil to MacKaye; employing a Rickenbacker guitar for its scratchy single-coil sound in order to "cut through MacKaye's chunky chording like a laser beam."[7] Picciotto's assumption of guitar duties allowed all four members of the band to jam together and write songs that way, where previously they had played songs largely as MacKaye had arranged them.[12] When writing songs, the band often rearranges them with different structures and different singers.[9]
Generally, MacKaye's lyrics and singing are more direct and anthemic (MacKaye admits that he loves audience sing-alongs and writes songs with shoutable slogans), while Picciotto usually favors a more abstract, oblique approach.[9] Lally has contributed vocals to a few songs as well, in which he sings in a more relaxed, quiet style as opposed to MacKaye and Picciotto, whose lyrics and vocals often feature strong emotional intensity.
Later, Fugazi more fully integrated elements of punk rock, hardcore, soul and noise with an inventively syncopated rhythm section. Notable is MacKaye and Picciotto's inventive, interlocking guitar playing, which often defies the traditional notion of "lead" and "rhythm" guitars. They often feature unusual and dissonant chords and progressions filtered through a hardcore punk lens. Their guitar work has earned comparisons to New York art-punk icons Television and the early work of the UK's Gang of Four. Most of Fugazi albums have featured an instrumental song or two. With Red Medicine, critics Ian McCaleb and Ira Robbins declared that Fugazi combined an "unprecedented dynamic range ... and previously unimagined elements" such as "clattering musique concrète ... piano and sound effects ... murky dub and lancing clarinet" and "loose-limbed jammy funk ... into an ambitious, experimental format that raises more stylistic questions than it answers."[1]
[edit]Business practice and ethics

On their first tours, Fugazi worked out their DIY aesthetic by trial and error. Their decisions were partly motivated by pragmatic considerations that were essentially a punk rock version of simple living: for example, selling merchandise on tour would require a full-time merchandise salesperson who would require lodging, food, and other costs, so Fugazi decided to simplify their touring by not selling merchandise. They were also motivated by moral or ethical considerations: for example, Fugazi's members regarded pricey admission for rock concerts as tantamount to price gouging a performer's most loyal fans. Their inexpensive target goal of $5 admission was spawned during a conversation on an early tour when the band's members were debating the lowest profitable admission price. At some venues, particularly on the east and west coasts of the U.S., Fugazi was unable to get ticket prices below about $10. However, they never saw the $5 rule as inviolable, instead aiming to charge a price that was both affordable and profitable. Unlike some similar, small-scale independent rock contemporaries, Fugazi's performances and tours were nearly always profitable, due to their low business overhead costs, and MacKaye's keen sense of audience response in given regions.
Fugazi's early tours earned them a strong word-of-mouth reputation, both for their powerful performances, and for their eagerness to play in unusual venues. They sought out alternatives to traditional rock clubs partly to relieve the boredom of touring, but also hoping to show fans that there are other options to traditional ways of doing things. As Picciotto said, "You find the Elks Lodge, you find the guy who's got a space in the back of his pizzeria, you find the guy who has a gallery. Kids will do that stuff because they want to make stuff happen."[13]
The group (MacKaye in particular) also made a point of discouraging violent, unwanted slam dancing and fistfights, which they saw as relics of the late 1970s/early 1980s hardcore punk era. Azerrad quotes Mackaye, "See, [slam dancers] have one form of communication: violence ... So to disorient them, you don't give them violence. I'd say, 'Excuse me, sir...'- I mean, it freaks them out -'Excuse me, sir, would you please cut that crap out?'"[14] (emphasis in original) Azerrad writes, "[Mackaye's] admonitions seemed preachy to some. And by and large, people would obey - it wasn't cool to disrespect Ian MacKaye."[14] Occasionally, Fugazi would escort an unrepentant slam-dancer from the concert, and give them an envelope containing a $5 refund (they kept a stock of such envelopes in their tour van for these occasions).
During the summer of 1990 MacKaye formed the corporation Lunar Atrocities Ltd[15] in order to shield his own and his band mates' personal assets from the threat of lawsuits. As Mr. Seth Martin, MacKaye’s financial advisor explained to the Washington Post in a 1993 interview: "protection from liability is the main reason to form a corporation, and for these guys it makes sense. If someone got hurt stage-diving and decided to sue, it would be a little harder to go after their personal assets.”[16]