#street rod roundup

[just-a-man-and-his-cars]

Take me back

[libertariantaoist]

News Roundup 4/30/19

US News

Ron Rosenstein resigns as Deputy Attorney General. Trump nominates Jeffrey Rosen to fill the post. [Link]

A young man got swept up in a mass RICO gang bust and sentenced to 22 months in prison. They accused him of selling pot based on some texts between him and a friend. He was charged with being in a gang because he had some friends who were in gangs. [Link]

A federal judge says Texas’ anti-BDS law violates the First Amendment. [Link]

The 2nd Circuit Court rules ICE targeting people with immigration laws for being critical of ICE is a violation of the First Amendment. [Link]

Pentagon

The Pentagon IG reports an investigation has cleared acting Secretary of Defense Shanahan of corruption. Shanahan was a longtime Boeing exec. In his term as acting Def Sec, the Pentagon has made several large weapons buys from Boeing. [Link]

Two female Navy soldiers die during boot camp in two months. [Link]

The US will increase the number of Marines in Australia to 2,500. [Link]

Raytheon reports $6.7 billion in sales for quarter one 2019. [Link]

Global military spending increased to $1.82 trillion in 2018. More than half of all military spending in 2018 was by NATO members. [Link]

Europe

Moon of Alabama explains the new information on the break-in at the North Korean embassy in Madrid. [Link]

Yellow Vest protests took place for the 24th weekend. 10,000s of protesters took to the streets. [Link]

Afghanistan

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the US plans to accelerate cutting the Kabul embassy staff in half. [Link]

Iran

US sanctions on Iran are leading to war. [Link]

Hawks in the Trump administration are demanding more sanctions to push Iran out of the Nuke Deal. [Link]

US oil sanctions against Iran are increasingly isolating the US. [Link]

Africa

A Saudi airstrike killed a Yemeni family of seven. [Link]

Two refugees were killed when militants fired on a detention center in Libya. The militants are believed to be aligned with Haftar. [Link]

Haftar’s forces hit Tripoli with airstrikes. [Link]

Protesters in Algeria continue to demand the country’s leadership step down. The country’s longtime president stepped down weeks ago. [Link]

Read More

[facesfactoids]

Women’s Bodies & Space to Live

1. Brittany Spears and America's Need to Demonize & Fetishize Women.  I lived through Cher, Madonna, disco and the explosion of pornography (Playboy magazine was an acceptable Christmas gift during my childhood).  The biggest porn star of my teens was named for character played by Katherine Hepburn and Grace Kelly (The Philadelphia Story and High Society).  Anyway, Brittany had some great tracks and her whole marketing scheme (not necessarily thought up by her, remember record label exec, stylists, etc.) was almost-legal sexy kitten.  And the music and videos were fun.  But because we are uncomfortable w/ young women's sexuality (say ages 13 - 30), Brittany became a lightening rod in the Culture Wars (I'm rolling my eyes at Tipper Gore et al who resurrected parental outrage towards music in the 1980s).  On The Media did a nice roundup re: Brittany and Monica and all the other white women who were vilified during the 1990s during the height of the backlash against Second-Wave Feminism.  The currently circulating clip of Letterman and Lindsay Lohan illustrate a similar point.  Our culture still has a lot of retrograde energy towards young women and their sexuality/freedom.   2. The fetishization of women of color.  Someone photoshopped a Superman "S" onto Stacey Plaskett and her blue dress.  The rhetoric around Stacey Abrams.  Our cultural constructions of Asian women and Southeast Asian women.  Latinas.  Native American women continue to harmed by the stereotypes that originated w/ the colonizers.  Fetishization is dehumanizing and renders these bodies up to the service of the privileged and the powerful to further their needs, wants, and desires.     I started listening to The Reckoning yesterday.  I also started reading Dress Codes.  Black women’s bodies have been contested sites in this country since 1619.  It’s Black History Month, so old-heads will show you photos of Black women dressed in respectable ways if as if to say that it’s the lack of girdles, knee-length dresses, hats and gloves that keep racism in place.  We’ve internalized the Panopticon.   3. Real Estate.  It's a seller's market.  Meaning that buyers are going to pay more for housing than usual.  Meaning that an increasingly more diverse set of buyers will pay more for housing than the not-so-diverse people who are selling.  Meaning that some people who have struggled to gain a foot in the middle-class for generations will be priced out of the market, or be put further into debt to secure the American Dream.   A drive around Cleveland reveals sometime dystopian-like stretches of real estate periodically interrupted by revitalized housing for the lucky few.  A large public housing development is being demolished to "give the community a better sense of the potential this space (along the Lake Erie at W.25th Street) offers."  I cannot find any information on where the inhabitants of the "Big 8" were scattered to.  A lakefront Metropark sounds lovely.  I find it interesting that in some cities (NYC and Cleveland) public housing was put near waterfront property.  I’m assuming those spaces, the water, used to be much more closely tied to industrial usages as opposed to leisure.  Waterfront and lake living are huge now.  So all those public housing projects, lower SES neighborhoods and their inhabitants must go.   The corners of Kinsman, Woodland and East 55th Street offers some of the bleakest views.  I'm amazed at how little the landscape at that corner has changed in 24 years.  Meanwhile, a block or two away, the Opportunity Corridor project marches forward.  The irony of the Juvenile Justice Center being located along the Opportunity Corridor is spectacular.  Contrast the rehabbed buildings along Detroit Avenue w/ sparkling gyms in the old-storefront spaces w/ the Woodhill Homes that are in desperate need of rehab and revitalization but have been passed over in two rounds of HUD money.  The Opportunity Corridor takes you almost to Woodhill Homes.  We ration out Opportunity in this society.   Freeing Brittany: <iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="130" width="100%" src="https://www.wnyc.org/widgets/ondemand_player/wnycstudios/#file=/audio/json/1088476/&share=1"></iframe>

https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2020/07/16/metroparks-to-demolish-two-buildings-on-w-25th-street-for-irishtown-bend-project https://www.ideastream.org/tags/woodhill-homes-cleveland-public-housing

https://www.ideastream.org/news/mixed-feelings-as-opportunity-corridor-nears-completion https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/renewal/#view=0/0/1&viz=cartogram

[stephenmccull]

Must-Reads Of The Week

The Friday Breeze

Want to read the best and most provocative stories from the week? Welcome to the Friday Breeze, where we compile them all — so you’re set with your weekend reading.

Well, there is nothing like a militarily enforced curfew, complete with hovering choppers and redundant fencing, to guarantee some quality reading time.

Two big stories of the moment — racial justice and the pandemic — sadly converged in the autopsy of George Floyd, which found he had survived the coronavirus before being killed in the custody of the Minneapolis police.

The continuing protests over police brutality heightened concerns that the demonstrations could hasten the viral spread just as many areas of the country are reopening. It’s not merely being jammed together, singing and chanting: tear gas can also spread the virus, and mass arrests provide fertile ground for new cases. Atlanta’s mayor and the CDC director are among those encouraging protesters to get a COVID test. Unfortunately, many testing sites were closed because of the demonstrations.

At the New Yorker, Dhruv Khullar notes that, paradoxically, a spike in infected demonstrators may further exacerbate the existing racial disparity in COVID illness. “If the protests do cause a surge in infections, it will likely be centered in the very communities that are now demanding that their lives be valued equally by the state,” he writes.

In Politico, Dan Diamond dissects the turnaround by public health experts who insisted on extreme precautions against COVID infections as the economy collapsed but now are sanctioning mass protests that risk contagion. “I think what’s lost on people is that there have been real sacrifices made during lockdown,” a former GOP Hill staffer told Diamond. “People who couldn’t bury loved ones. Small businesses destroyed. How can a health expert look those people in the eye and say it was worth it now?”

The Friday Breeze

Want a roundup of the must-read stories this week? Sign up for The Friday Breeze today.

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Masked Bandits

ProPublica had an absolutely bonkers story about coronavirus mask traders and other underground middlemen in the market for personal protective equipment. Highlights include a comedy writer and a former juicer salesman turned would-be entrepreneurs, a briefcase with $8,000 in cash and “proof of life” videos to demonstrate brokers actually have PPE to sell. “There are scandalous brokers out there,” one broker told J. David McSwane. “There are people that just make me want to take a Silkwood shower at the end of the day.”

Even the best mask shouldn’t be worn if you’ve been tear-gassed, writes Julia Scott at KQED. “In general we think that when masks become wet, that they are not as good at preventing the spread of virus,” a UC-Berkeley epidemiology professor says. (Another health risk of modern-day protests: rubber bullets.)

Meanwhile, marring what is an otherwise consistently pleasant experience, some dentists are charging $10 or $20 “infection control fees” to cover the costs of masks, gowns and other PPE, reports KHN’s Phil Galewitz. Will this be the oral version of the facility fee?

One underappreciated downside of mandated mask-wearing, according to Brian Brooks, the new acting head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency: Masks “create the very real risk of increases in bank robberies.” Hopefully, aspiring felons will not be monopolizing N95 and respirator masks when there are so many other options.

Running On Empty

On Thursday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a long-awaited dataset containing the number of coronavirus cases and deaths at more than 12,000 skilled nursing facilities. The deaths reached nearly 32,000, and more than 2,000 nursing homes reported a shortage of nurses or aides and thousands of others are on the brink of running out of gowns, masks and other protective gear. The data was more than a bit messy, with some facilities listed as having more COVID deaths than COVID cases. Some homes disputed the death totals for their facilities, although the government said the information was reported directly by the homes. The Wall Street Journal calculated a 10% drop in nursing home occupancy since the end of last year.

Testing, 1, 2, 3 …

Over at NPR, Sasha Pfeiffer and Tim Mak checked the status of the president’s promise that big retailers would be providing ubiquitous COVID testing and found a dearth that brings back memories of the worst of the Days of No Toilet Paper. Walgreens, Kroger, Rite Aid, Walmart and CVS combined have just 1,300 testing sites at 32,000 stores, about 4%. Most testing sites were at CVS, which is good news as you can simultaneously grab one of their notoriously long receipts to substitute for certain hard-to-find paper products.

In the What Else Are Law Enforcement Officers Up to These Days? Department, The Wall Street Journal follows a sergeant in the Broward County Sheriff’s Office who hunts iguanas in his free time. (Yes, of course this is Florida, and no, The Breeze doesn’t usually cover reptilian health, but today we make an exception.) Joe Harris started hunting iguanas with a slingshot, then upgraded to pellet guns and now uses a 4-foot blowgun with a 6-inch dart attached to a rod and reel, presumably sold separately. “It requires more skill and gives the animal more of a chance,” Harris tells John Clarke. One such lucky iguana was turned into hors d’oeuvres for Harris’ colleagues.

‘Watched With Glee’

Finally, after all this downbeat news, we end on an up note: the self-explanatory #docswhorock performances on Twitter that began way back when we were all staying at home. This week’s covers are from the ’60s, while previous weeks’ themes included soundtracks and the cheesy ’80s. Highlights include Dr. Parag Majmudar singing “Stand By Me,” a duet of “Homeward Bound” between Dr. Atul Grover and Dr. Maylyn Martinez, and Dr. Pete DeBalli operating on “Sympathy for the Devil.” Next week is the ’00s. Now, if physicians could just provide some tolerable waiting room music without adding an “ambiance control fee,” we’d happily deploy our “well-learned politesse” when they are running behind.

Have a good weekend — and with many restaurants offering outdoor service, we encourage you to try the iguana.

Must-Reads Of The Week published first on https://smartdrinkingweb.weebly.com/

[gordonwilliamsweb]

Must-Reads Of The Week

The Friday Breeze

Want to read the best and most provocative stories from the week? Welcome to the Friday Breeze, where we compile them all — so you’re set with your weekend reading.

Well, there is nothing like a militarily enforced curfew, complete with hovering choppers and redundant fencing, to guarantee some quality reading time.

Two big stories of the moment — racial justice and the pandemic — sadly converged in the autopsy of George Floyd, which found he had survived the coronavirus before being killed in the custody of the Minneapolis police.

The continuing protests over police brutality heightened concerns that the demonstrations could hasten the viral spread just as many areas of the country are reopening. It’s not merely being jammed together, singing and chanting: tear gas can also spread the virus, and mass arrests provide fertile ground for new cases. Atlanta’s mayor and the CDC director are among those encouraging protesters to get a COVID test. Unfortunately, many testing sites were closed because of the demonstrations.

At the New Yorker, Dhruv Khullar notes that, paradoxically, a spike in infected demonstrators may further exacerbate the existing racial disparity in COVID illness. “If the protests do cause a surge in infections, it will likely be centered in the very communities that are now demanding that their lives be valued equally by the state,” he writes.

In Politico, Dan Diamond dissects the turnaround by public health experts who insisted on extreme precautions against COVID infections as the economy collapsed but now are sanctioning mass protests that risk contagion. “I think what’s lost on people is that there have been real sacrifices made during lockdown,” a former GOP Hill staffer told Diamond. “People who couldn’t bury loved ones. Small businesses destroyed. How can a health expert look those people in the eye and say it was worth it now?”

The Friday Breeze

Want a roundup of the must-read stories this week? Sign up for The Friday Breeze today.

Sign Up

Please confirm your email address below:

Sign Up

Masked Bandits

ProPublica had an absolutely bonkers story about coronavirus mask traders and other underground middlemen in the market for personal protective equipment. Highlights include a comedy writer and a former juicer salesman turned would-be entrepreneurs, a briefcase with $8,000 in cash and “proof of life” videos to demonstrate brokers actually have PPE to sell. “There are scandalous brokers out there,” one broker told J. David McSwane. “There are people that just make me want to take a Silkwood shower at the end of the day.”

Even the best mask shouldn’t be worn if you’ve been tear-gassed, writes Julia Scott at KQED. “In general we think that when masks become wet, that they are not as good at preventing the spread of virus,” a UC-Berkeley epidemiology professor says. (Another health risk of modern-day protests: rubber bullets.)

Meanwhile, marring what is an otherwise consistently pleasant experience, some dentists are charging $10 or $20 “infection control fees” to cover the costs of masks, gowns and other PPE, reports KHN’s Phil Galewitz. Will this be the oral version of the facility fee?

One underappreciated downside of mandated mask-wearing, according to Brian Brooks, the new acting head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency: Masks “create the very real risk of increases in bank robberies.” Hopefully, aspiring felons will not be monopolizing N95 and respirator masks when there are so many other options.

Running On Empty

On Thursday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a long-awaited dataset containing the number of coronavirus cases and deaths at more than 12,000 skilled nursing facilities. The deaths reached nearly 32,000, and more than 2,000 nursing homes reported a shortage of nurses or aides and thousands of others are on the brink of running out of gowns, masks and other protective gear. The data was more than a bit messy, with some facilities listed as having more COVID deaths than COVID cases. Some homes disputed the death totals for their facilities, although the government said the information was reported directly by the homes. The Wall Street Journal calculated a 10% drop in nursing home occupancy since the end of last year.

Testing, 1, 2, 3 …

Over at NPR, Sasha Pfeiffer and Tim Mak checked the status of the president’s promise that big retailers would be providing ubiquitous COVID testing and found a dearth that brings back memories of the worst of the Days of No Toilet Paper. Walgreens, Kroger, Rite Aid, Walmart and CVS combined have just 1,300 testing sites at 32,000 stores, about 4%. Most testing sites were at CVS, which is good news as you can simultaneously grab one of their notoriously long receipts to substitute for certain hard-to-find paper products.

In the What Else Are Law Enforcement Officers Up to These Days? Department, The Wall Street Journal follows a sergeant in the Broward County Sheriff’s Office who hunts iguanas in his free time. (Yes, of course this is Florida, and no, The Breeze doesn’t usually cover reptilian health, but today we make an exception.) Joe Harris started hunting iguanas with a slingshot, then upgraded to pellet guns and now uses a 4-foot blowgun with a 6-inch dart attached to a rod and reel, presumably sold separately. “It requires more skill and gives the animal more of a chance,” Harris tells John Clarke. One such lucky iguana was turned into hors d’oeuvres for Harris’ colleagues.

‘Watched With Glee’

Finally, after all this downbeat news, we end on an up note: the self-explanatory #docswhorock performances on Twitter that began way back when we were all staying at home. This week’s covers are from the ’60s, while previous weeks’ themes included soundtracks and the cheesy ’80s. Highlights include Dr. Parag Majmudar singing “Stand By Me,” a duet of “Homeward Bound” between Dr. Atul Grover and Dr. Maylyn Martinez, and Dr. Pete DeBalli operating on “Sympathy for the Devil.” Next week is the ’00s. Now, if physicians could just provide some tolerable waiting room music without adding an “ambiance control fee,” we’d happily deploy our “well-learned politesse” when they are running behind.

Have a good weekend — and with many restaurants offering outdoor service, we encourage you to try the iguana.

Must-Reads Of The Week published first on https://nootropicspowdersupplier.tumblr.com/

[dinafbrownil]

Must-Reads Of The Week

The Friday Breeze

Want to read the best and most provocative stories from the week? Welcome to the Friday Breeze, where we compile them all — so you’re set with your weekend reading.

Well, there is nothing like a militarily enforced curfew, complete with hovering choppers and redundant fencing, to guarantee some quality reading time.

Two big stories of the moment — racial justice and the pandemic — sadly converged in the autopsy of George Floyd, which found he had survived the coronavirus before being killed in the custody of the Minneapolis police.

The continuing protests over police brutality heightened concerns that the demonstrations could hasten the viral spread just as many areas of the country are reopening. It’s not merely being jammed together, singing and chanting: tear gas can also spread the virus, and mass arrests provide fertile ground for new cases. Atlanta’s mayor and the CDC director are among those encouraging protesters to get a COVID test. Unfortunately, many testing sites were closed because of the demonstrations.

At the New Yorker, Dhruv Khullar notes that, paradoxically, a spike in infected demonstrators may further exacerbate the existing racial disparity in COVID illness. “If the protests do cause a surge in infections, it will likely be centered in the very communities that are now demanding that their lives be valued equally by the state,” he writes.

In Politico, Dan Diamond dissects the turnaround by public health experts who insisted on extreme precautions against COVID infections as the economy collapsed but now are sanctioning mass protests that risk contagion. “I think what’s lost on people is that there have been real sacrifices made during lockdown,” a former GOP Hill staffer told Diamond. “People who couldn’t bury loved ones. Small businesses destroyed. How can a health expert look those people in the eye and say it was worth it now?”

The Friday Breeze

Want a roundup of the must-read stories this week? Sign up for The Friday Breeze today.

Sign Up

Please confirm your email address below:

Sign Up

Masked Bandits

ProPublica had an absolutely bonkers story about coronavirus mask traders and other underground middlemen in the market for personal protective equipment. Highlights include a comedy writer and a former juicer salesman turned would-be entrepreneurs, a briefcase with $8,000 in cash and “proof of life” videos to demonstrate brokers actually have PPE to sell. “There are scandalous brokers out there,” one broker told J. David McSwane. “There are people that just make me want to take a Silkwood shower at the end of the day.”

Even the best mask shouldn’t be worn if you’ve been tear-gassed, writes Julia Scott at KQED. “In general we think that when masks become wet, that they are not as good at preventing the spread of virus,” a UC-Berkeley epidemiology professor says. (Another health risk of modern-day protests: rubber bullets.)

Meanwhile, marring what is an otherwise consistently pleasant experience, some dentists are charging $10 or $20 “infection control fees” to cover the costs of masks, gowns and other PPE, reports KHN’s Phil Galewitz. Will this be the oral version of the facility fee?

One underappreciated downside of mandated mask-wearing, according to Brian Brooks, the new acting head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency: Masks “create the very real risk of increases in bank robberies.” Hopefully, aspiring felons will not be monopolizing N95 and respirator masks when there are so many other options.

Running On Empty

On Thursday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a long-awaited dataset containing the number of coronavirus cases and deaths at more than 12,000 skilled nursing facilities. The deaths reached nearly 32,000, and more than 2,000 nursing homes reported a shortage of nurses or aides and thousands of others are on the brink of running out of gowns, masks and other protective gear. The data was more than a bit messy, with some facilities listed as having more COVID deaths than COVID cases. Some homes disputed the death totals for their facilities, although the government said the information was reported directly by the homes. The Wall Street Journal calculated a 10% drop in nursing home occupancy since the end of last year.

Testing, 1, 2, 3 …

Over at NPR, Sasha Pfeiffer and Tim Mak checked the status of the president’s promise that big retailers would be providing ubiquitous COVID testing and found a dearth that brings back memories of the worst of the Days of No Toilet Paper. Walgreens, Kroger, Rite Aid, Walmart and CVS combined have just 1,300 testing sites at 32,000 stores, about 4%. Most testing sites were at CVS, which is good news as you can simultaneously grab one of their notoriously long receipts to substitute for certain hard-to-find paper products.

In the What Else Are Law Enforcement Officers Up to These Days? Department, The Wall Street Journal follows a sergeant in the Broward County Sheriff’s Office who hunts iguanas in his free time. (Yes, of course this is Florida, and no, The Breeze doesn’t usually cover reptilian health, but today we make an exception.) Joe Harris started hunting iguanas with a slingshot, then upgraded to pellet guns and now uses a 4-foot blowgun with a 6-inch dart attached to a rod and reel, presumably sold separately. “It requires more skill and gives the animal more of a chance,” Harris tells John Clarke. One such lucky iguana was turned into hors d’oeuvres for Harris’ colleagues.

‘Watched With Glee’

Finally, after all this downbeat news, we end on an up note: the self-explanatory #docswhorock performances on Twitter that began way back when we were all staying at home. This week’s covers are from the ’60s, while previous weeks’ themes included soundtracks and the cheesy ’80s. Highlights include Dr. Parag Majmudar singing “Stand By Me,” a duet of “Homeward Bound” between Dr. Atul Grover and Dr. Maylyn Martinez, and Dr. Pete DeBalli operating on “Sympathy for the Devil.” Next week is the ’00s. Now, if physicians could just provide some tolerable waiting room music without adding an “ambiance control fee,” we’d happily deploy our “well-learned politesse” when they are running behind.

Have a good weekend — and with many restaurants offering outdoor service, we encourage you to try the iguana.

from Updates By Dina https://khn.org/news/friday-breeze-health-care-policy-must-reads-of-the-week-jordan-rau-june-5-2020-friday-breeze-health-care-policy-must-reads-of-the-week-june-5-2020/

[marymosley]

News Roundup

Criminal justice issues continued to capture the national news spotlight this week.  On Tuesday, President Donald Trump granted clemency to eleven people, including former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and former San Francisco 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr.  On Thursday, amidst ongoing drama involving President Trump and the U.S. Department of Justice, Roger Stone was sentenced to 40 months in prison for convictions related to obstructing a congressional investigation.  Keep reading for more on these stories and other news.

Stone.  Following a conflict over sentencing recommendations that caused four prosecutors to withdraw from the case and tension between President Trump and Attorney General William Barr, a federal judge on Thursday sentenced Roger Stone to 40 months in prison, a term substantially shorter than the seven to nine years initially requested by prosecutors.

Clemency.  President Trump commuted Rod Blagojevich’s 14-year sentence for attempting to profit off of his authority as Governor to appoint someone to fill Barack Obama’s Illinois Senate seat after he was elected president in 2008.  Blagojevich served eight years in prison.

Along with DeBartolo, President Trump pardoned former New York police commissioner Bernard B. Kerik and former Wall Street financier Michael R. Milken.  DeBartolo was the principal owner of the San Francisco 49ers from 1977 until 1997, when he was indicted for paying a $400,000 bribe to former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards in exchange for a riverboat gambling license.  Kerik served as New York City police commissioner during Rudy Giuliani’s second term as mayor.  He later was convicted of tax fraud and making false statements while being vetted for senior positions in the federal government.  Milken, once known as the “junk bond king,” was a prominent Wall Street financier in the 1980’s and was indicted on charges of racketeering and securities fraud in 1989.  Milken served two years in prison and has been engaged in philanthropic endeavors since his release.

In addition, President Trump commuted the sentences of two women, Tynice Nichole Hall and Crystal Munoz, who each have spent more than a decade in prison for drug offenses and a third woman, Judith Negron, who has served eight years of a 35-year sentence for healthcare fraud.

Lindberg Trial.  As the News & Observer reports, trial began this week in Charlotte in the case of a political mega-donor who allegedly attempted to bribe State Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey in order to receive favorable treatment for his insurance business.  Greg Lindberg is accused of working with Robin Hayes, the former chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party, to bribe Causey, who reported the scheme and worked with federal authorities.  Last fall, Hayes pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during the investigation.

Boy Scout Bankruptcy.  On Tuesday, the Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy protection, a move that has been expected as the organization has paid more than $150 million in settlements and legal costs in the past two years related to child abuse allegations.  In a court filing, the Scouts said that it currently is facing 275 abuse lawsuits and that it knows of 1,400 other potential claims.  The Winston-Salem Journal reported this week that at least six people with ties to the city are linked to abuse while working with the Boy Scouts, with the majority of those incidents occurring in the late 1970’s through the mid 1980’s.

Diocese Bankruptcy.  As the Associated Press reports, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, also filed for bankruptcy this week, following a disclosure six months ago that it had paid millions of dollars to people who were victims of sexual abuse by clerics.  Last summer, the diocese revealed that it had paid roughly $12 million to over 100 people who claimed they had been abused as children by clerics.  The AP report says that the Harrisburg diocese joins at least 20 others across the country that have declared bankruptcy, all of which have continued to operate while going through the bankruptcy process.

The post News Roundup appeared first on North Carolina Criminal Law.

News Roundup published first on https://immigrationlawyerto.tumblr.com/

[just-a-man-and-his-cars]

1948 Studebaker Champion, 1950 Dodge B2B panel, and 1969 Plymouth Valiant

[itsworn]

The ARP/STREET RODDER Road Tour Celebrates 20 Years of the Syracuse Nats

The Syracuse Nationals Week Road Tour

The Syracuse Nationals celebrates its 20th anniversary this July. In two decades the show has grown to become the largest special-interest auto event in the northeast and one of the largest in the United States. More than 8,000 1985-and-earlier vehicles and almost 100,000 spectators cover the huge New York State Fairgrounds. The Syracuse Nationals Week Road Tour will be there all week to join in the celebration.

The story of the beginning of the Syracuse Nationals is both interesting and unique. Way back in 1995 the National Street Rod Association held their annual Nationals event in Syracuse, New York, for the first and only time. The NSRA soon moved their Nationals to its permanent home in Louisville. Many of the folks who attended that event in 1995 were northeastern hot rodders who liked the idea of having a major car event in their backyard. Two of those hot rodders were Syracuse residents Bob O’Connor and Fred Fiebiger. Over the next few years when they traveled to car shows, folks would ask them if the Nationals were coming back to Syracuse. When it became apparent that the NSRA Nationals was not coming back, Bob and Fred decided to look into promoting an event on their own. In 2000, with the help of the Central New York Car Club Association, the first Syracuse Nationals was held at the New York State Fairgrounds. Amazingly 4,300 vehicles attended that inaugural event. That is an incredible number of cars for a first-time event. In a few years, Bob went on to form the Right Coast Association. Son Rob O’Connor has taken over the formidable task of presiding over the entire Syracuse Nationals event along with the help of the Central New York Car Club Association and the Right Coast team.

The show has grown and now features activities that have become “shows within the show.” The Ol’ Skool Rockabilly Roundup is a special building that features traditional-style hot rods, music, fashions, and collectibles. Artie’s Party is a three-day “panel jam” with pinstripers from around the country creating works of art that are auctioned off for charity. The swap meet and car corral portion of the Syracuse Nationals is always huge. The prestigious Winfield Award presented by Meguiar’s is highly contested each year and chosen by custom car legend Gene Winfield himself. The PFAFF Designers Dozen, Tucci Hot Rods Pros Pick, and the STREET RODDER/Painless Performance Products Top 100 awards ensure that there will be plenty of the nation’s best street rods, customs, and muscle cars in attendance. To commemorate the 20th anniversary, the Syracuse Nationals folks have commissioned the pros at Tucci Hot Rods to build a very cool 1932 Ford coupe to be given away to a participant at the show.

We have a great week planned for the days leading up to the Syracuse Nationals. We are going to make a return visit to the fantastic Northeast Car Museum in Norwich, New York. We will be stopping by Tucci Hot Rods to get a first look at that 1932 giveaway coupe. Folks on last year’s tour had so much fun lapping the Watkins Glen Race Course that we are making a return trip there. Of course we will be attending the participant’s kick-off party on Thursday. There are plenty of other activities scheduled and our Road Tour fun starts on Monday, July 15 and includes the celebration of the 20th Syracuse Nationals, which take place July 19-21.

Go to streetrodder.com to get signed up for the Syracuse Nationals Week and all the other ARP/STREET RODDER Road Tours we have scheduled for this summer. Call the Road Tour Hotline at (800) 664-1362 with any questions.

Dom Tucci of Dom Tucci Design did the rendering of the 20th anniversary 1932 Ford coupe giveaway car for the Syracuse Nationals. Dave Tucci and the pros at Tucci Hot Rods will be building the car that will be given away at this year’s event.

The post The ARP/STREET RODDER Road Tour Celebrates 20 Years of the Syracuse Nats appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

from Hot Rod Network https://www.hotrod.com/articles/arp-street-rodder-road-tour-celebrates-20-years-syracuse-nats/ via IFTTT

[rolandfontana]

Until Mueller Report Drops, Journalists Feverishly Speculate

News coverage speculating on the expected completion of Robert Mueller’s special counsel report has turned particularly feverish, Columbia Journalism Review reports in a link-filled roundup of the non-news. Is actual news afoot or are we witnessing “the bored angst of journalists”?

In the report’s absence, reporters on the Mueller beat have been busy intoning “any time now” and interpreting signs. Andrew Weissmann, a top prosecutor for Mueller, is stepping down. Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general who was stepping down, is now staying a bit longer. Staff are carrying boxes out of the special counsel’s office. What does any of it mean? Once actual news does break, major news outlets are ready to move. According to Vanity Fair’s Joe Pompeo, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal already have stories, B-roll, interactives, and graphics “in the oven,” and news trucks have been camped outside the Justice Department, the home of William Barr, the attorney general, and other places. Yesterday, photographers dutifully snapped pictures of Mueller driving to his office before dawn. All the triangulating of clues, real or imagined, stems from the Mueller investigation’s unusual degree of success at preventing leaks. For all the guessing, however, “the clearest truth we have is that the report will not be the end of the Mueller story,” CJR safely concludes.

Until Mueller Report Drops, Journalists Feverishly Speculate syndicated from https://immigrationattorneyto.wordpress.com/

[olivereliott]

Revealed: The Top 10 Custom Motorcycles of 2018

What a year it’s been for the custom scene. With so many great bikes crossing our radar, it’s almost impossible to pick out any personal favorites.

So it’s just as well that our annual Bike Of The Year roundup is purely data driven. It’s based on page views, incoming links, and the number of social media shares. As always, it’s also weighted according to how long ago the bike was featured.

A couple of interesting points to note: If we weren’t dealing with customs here, two factory bikes would have made it into this list: the Indian FTR 1200 and the Husqvarna Vitpilen. Interest in these machines, which look as good as many ‘full customs,’ is intense amongst our readers.

The café racer style, so dominant five years ago, has drifted back into the genre soup. Only one CB café racer made it into our list this year. Flippant categorization in general has dwindled away: we’re seeing more and more bikes that can’t be pigeonholed, and the rise of the tasteful restomod.

And that’s fine by us—especially if it means we can say goodbye to ridiculous terms like ‘brat tracker.’ (Or indeed ‘Ducati Scrambler Café Racer.’)

So here are the ten bikes that revved up our servers and social media channels in 2018. Enjoy.

10. Honda CB750 by Caffeine Custom Just as we were thinking the days of the classic CB café racer were over, along comes this low-slung CB750 from Brazil. Caffeine Custom is run by a couple of friends from a shed in the mountains, but the clue is in their backgrounds: one is an automotive designer, and the other is a graphic designer. Between them, they’ve nailed the stance and style and lifted this bike well outside the usually tired genre.

There is nothing radical going on here, but the changes that Bruno Costa and Tiago Zilli have made to the 1979 CB750 are impeccably judged. The bike is lowered, there’s a beefy 18” Comstar wheel at the front, the rear end is nicely chiselled, and the controls have been pared down to the minimum. Anyone thinking of putting a grinder to a CB should examine this machine very closely before flicking the switch.

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9. Harley Sportster 48 by Rough Crafts Winston Yeh is the king of consistency. Since the early days of Bike EXIF, he’s been churning out hit after hit—so it’s no surprise to see his return to our Top 10. This time it’s with a Sportster that looks like no other: squared off, blacked out, and with the stance of a sportbike.

With Öhlins suspension, a titanium exhaust, and wheels and bodywork crafted from carbon fiber, this Forty Eight tips the scales at 40 kilos lighter than stock. The geometry is closer to a Buell than a Harley, and the vibe is streetfighter rather than cruiser, but it’s still instantly recognizable as a Rough Crafts build.

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8. Harley-Davidson Super 10 by Jackson Burrows We’re not quite sure what’s most amazing about this vintage Harley: the jaw-dropping craftsmanship, or the fact that it’s Mr. Burrows’ first attempt at building a bike. It started life as a tiny 165 cc racing two stroke, and ended up as the proverbial work of art. The motor is slotted into a 1964 Harley-Davidson Scat frame, and there’s a 1948 pressed steel girder fork up front.

It’s probably the most obsessive build that we’ve featured all year, with every milimeter crafted to perfection. Jackson lists Ian Barry, Shinya Kimura and Chicara Nagata as his influences—and if he can keep this up, it won’t be long before his own name belongs in that super league.

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7. Yamaha SR500 scrambler by Daniel Peter Chicago-based photographer Daniel Peter loves SR500s: he’s built four so far, in his spare time. At first glance, it’s a relatively straightforward hot rod—with a heavily tuned engine boosted to 540cc. But Daniel’s also added Kawasaki ZX6R forks, Gazi shocks, 17-inch supermoto rims and an aluminum swingarm.

It’s the finish that sets this punchy little machine apart though. The aluminum Yamaha XT500 fuel tank looks spot-on with a delicious white-and-yellow paint scheme, and the ancillary parts are entirely practical—from the fenders front and rear to the heavy-duty serrated footpegs. This is a custom meant to be ridden hard.

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6. 1957 Harley Sportster replica by UFO Garage We fell in love with the concept and execution of this Sportster as soon as we saw it, and we’re glad our readers loved it too. The idea was simple, and supported by Harley-Davidson España: take a late-model Sportster and make it look like a late 50s ironhead.

In practice, it’s a complicated trick to pull off, but Spanish builder Efraón Triana managed it—using replica wheels, fenders and handlebars, and an exhaust system that mimics the lines of the original. A 1957-era tank and seat unit have been subtly modified to fit. An optical illusion of the highest order.

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5. Honda Grom by Cole Mishler Engine swaps are a rarity in the motorcycle world. Sure, we often see later-model or higher-capacity motors being installed into a same-marque chassis. But we rarely see high-performance motors squeezed into completely different vehicles, car-style.

That’s the kicker with this incredible Grom electric motorcycle, which is now juiced up by a Zero FX lithium ion powerpack. (It helps that the builder works for Zero and this was a semi-official project.) ‘Grom Reaper’ has almost as much torque as a Sportster 1200 now, plus Öhlins suspension and a 55-tooth rear sprocket to keep things under control. Electrifying stuff.

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4. Watkins M001 This Polish-built engineering masterpiece was probably the most radical bike we featured in 2018. It’s the work of an industrial designer from Gdańsk, who prefers to be known as ‘Jack Watkins.’

The powertrain is from a BMW R1150 RT, but almost everything else is built from scratch. The one-off front suspension has around a hundred components, including more than a dozen bearings, but the bodywork is just two sheets of steel, lazer-cut and cleverly bent to fit in place. ‘Genius’ is an over-used word, but applicable in this case.

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3. Triumph Thruxton by Rogue Motorcycle The power of social media and the street cred of Hans Bruechle, better known as HandBrake the Artist, blasted this Australian Thruxton into the top ten. This article got a solid ten thousand engagements on Facebook alone.

The builder was Rogue Motorcycle’s Billy Kuyken, who met Bruechle by chance at a moto show. The graphics are eye-catching, and the handling gets an upgrade via Suzuki GSX-R1000 forks, but the real clever stuff is at the back. Billy binned the back half of the frame, installed a skateboard deck on top of a hidden seat pan, and fabricated a monoshock conversion to make it all fit. We love the rear lighting—a converted Stellar skateboard deck with with LED lights instead of wheels.

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2. Ural coffee cart by See See It’s ironic that Thor Drake, the lofty proprietor of See See and a leading light of the custom scene in the Pacific Northwest, has only ever built one café racer. But this Ural cT with a hefty 50 kg La Marzocco espresso machine in the sidecar went viral—and global.

See See also installed airbag suspension, a hand sink, a cooler, a coffee grinder, a mains-level electrical system and more. We’re used to seeing these Russian-made contraptions modified out of sight, but this one really takes the biscotti.

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1. Honda Cub by K-Speed In 2018, Honda gave the Super Cub a huge raft of updates. It was a significant move, because the Cub is the world’s bestselling (and probably best-loved) two-wheeler.

Thailand is home to a factory that builds the new Cub, so the local Honda distributor decided to give the latest model to K-Speed to rework. It was an inspired move, and K-Speed came up with an equally inspired custom.

K-Speed’s enigmatic owner Eakk set the design direction, and went for a ‘modern retro’ feel. The vertical fairing remains, but the rest of the bike has been stripped back and heavily modified, with new bars and minimal lighting and controls. The blacked-out rims are wrapped with chunky ‘sawtooth’ tires.

Remarkably, K-Speed finished this build in just 30 days. And it got over three times as many page views as any other bike we showed in 2018. Proof that after six decades and more than 100 million production units, the appeal of the humble Cub still endures.

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POSTSCRIPT It’s been fascinating to sift through the data while compiling this year’s awards. Many of our personal favorites just missed the cut: we saw bikes from Hookie, Krugger, Auto Fabrica, BAAK, and Smoked Garage get pipped to the post by the tiniest of margins, along with ICON 1000’s Suzuki Bandit.

Most surprising of all: there’s only one BMW in the list, and it looks nothing like a BMW. Has the airhead bubble finally burst?

Finally, there are several people we should thank. Like the builders and photographers who dazzle us daily with their skills. And our generous advertisers, who keep the servers humming smoothly, and the site free for you to read.

We must also say a huge thank you to our readers: you’ve made Bike EXIF the most widely read custom motorcycle site in the world. Let’s catch up again in a few days, when Wes will reveal his Editor’s Choice for 2018 (and data be damned).

[alfredrserrano]

South Florida lease roundup: Spirit Airlines expands at Miramar Park & more

Clockwise from the top left: Miramar Park of Commerce, Gallery at Beach Place, and Prologis Beacon Centre Business Park

Spirit Airlines expands lease at Miramar Park of Commerce

Spirit Airlines is reaching new heights at the Miramar Park of Commerce.

The airline is expanding its corporate headquarters by 26,287 square feet. It first signed a lease at the 5-million-square-foot business park in 1999. At the time, the company inked a 56,200-square-foot lease at 2800 Executive Way.

The expansion now brings its foothold in the park to 97,100 square feet. Spirit Airlines is the eighth largest commercial airline in North America, with its main hub at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport.

Sunbeam Properties was represented by Maridee Bell and Lauren Pace of Sunbeam Properties & Development. Spirit Airlines was represented by Rod Loschiavo and David Matthews of JLL.

Wedding Venue inks lease at Marriott’s BeachPlace Towers

Wedding venue and event hall company Crystal Ballroom is committing itself to a 13,000-square-foot long-term lease at the Gallery at Beach Place, located at 17 South Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard.

The open-air retail property sits at the entrance of the 19-story Marriott’s BeachPlace Towers hotel.

The property recently underwent renovations, including painting its exterior and interior walls, remodeling its bathrooms and common areas and installing new floors, furniture and awnings.

Tenants include Lulu’s Bait Shack, Maui Nix Surf Shop, CVS, Escapology, Crocs, Häagen Dazs, and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

Continental Real Estate Companies’ Rafael Romero and Ariel Bernstein represented the landlord, Thor Equities.

Warehouse reaches 100% occupancy at Prologis Beacon Centre

Cooper General Global Services, Inc. just inked a massive 153,292-square-foot lease at Prologis Beacon Centre Business Park in Doral.

The lease brings the 224,000-square-foot warehouse at 8501 Northwest 17th Street to 100 percent occupancy. The business provides communications systems and logistical services.

State Street Realty’s George Pino and Brian Cabielles represented the landlord, Prologis.

from The Real Deal Miami https://therealdeal.com/miami/2018/07/11/south-florida-lease-roundup-spirit-airlines-expands-at-miramar-park-more/ via IFTTT

[juditmiltz]

South Florida lease roundup: Spirit Airlines expands at Miramar Park & more

Clockwise from the top left: Miramar Park of Commerce, Gallery at Beach Place, and Prologis Beacon Centre Business Park

Spirit Airlines expands lease at Miramar Park of Commerce

Spirit Airlines is reaching new heights at the Miramar Park of Commerce.

The airline is expanding its corporate headquarters by 26,287 square feet. It first signed a lease at the 5-million-square-foot business park in 1999. At the time, the company inked a 56,200-square-foot lease at 2800 Executive Way.

The expansion now brings its foothold in the park to 97,100 square feet. Spirit Airlines is the eighth largest commercial airline in North America, with its main hub at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport.

Sunbeam Properties was represented by Maridee Bell and Lauren Pace of Sunbeam Properties & Development. Spirit Airlines was represented by Rod Loschiavo and David Matthews of JLL.

Wedding Venue inks lease at Marriott’s BeachPlace Towers

Wedding venue and event hall company Crystal Ballroom is committing itself to a 13,000-square-foot long-term lease at the Gallery at Beach Place, located at 17 South Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard.

The open-air retail property sits at the entrance of the 19-story Marriott’s BeachPlace Towers hotel.

The property recently underwent renovations, including painting its exterior and interior walls, remodeling its bathrooms and common areas and installing new floors, furniture and awnings.

Tenants include Lulu’s Bait Shack, Maui Nix Surf Shop, CVS, Escapology, Crocs, Häagen Dazs, and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

Continental Real Estate Companies’ Rafael Romero and Ariel Bernstein represented the landlord, Thor Equities.

Warehouse reaches 100% occupancy at Prologis Beacon Centre

Cooper General Global Services, Inc. just inked a massive 153,292-square-foot lease at Prologis Beacon Centre Business Park in Doral.

The lease brings the 224,000-square-foot warehouse at 8501 Northwest 17th Street to 100 percent occupancy. The business provides communications systems and logistical services.

State Street Realty’s George Pino and Brian Cabielles represented the landlord, Prologis.

from The Real Deal Miami https://therealdeal.com/miami/2018/07/11/south-florida-lease-roundup-spirit-airlines-expands-at-miramar-park-more/ via IFTTT

[maxwellyjordan]

Monday round-up

Today the Supreme Court kicks off its last week of oral arguments this term with arguments in three cases. The first is Lucia v. Securities and Exchange Commission, which asks whether SEC administrative law judges are “officers of the United States” within the meaning of the appointments clause. Ronald Mann previewed the case for this blog. Leonardo Mangat and D.E. Wagner preview the case for Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute. Subscript has a graphic explainer for the case. For The Wall Street Journal, Dave Michaels and Brent Kendall report that “[i]f the justices rule for Mr. Lucia, it could invalidate the penalties against him and give a leg up to a handful of other defendants who similarly disputed the hiring process for SEC judges [, which] also could encourage challenges from defendants who grappled with administrative law judges at other federal agencies.” At Bloomberg, Margaret Newkirk and Greg Stohr report that “[s]iding with [Lucia]—and against the SEC’s long-standing position—will be the Trump administration,” and that the case “amounts to a broadside aimed at the 1,900 administrative law judges (ALJs) who help federal agencies enforce laws and are a key part of the administrative ‘deep state’ that Trump has vowed to dismantle.” At Law360 (subscription required), Daniel Walfish analyzes Lucia’s “practical significance for pending and future cases, and the Trump administration’s unusual bid to weaken the independence of ALJs.” In an op-ed for the Washington Examiner, Philip Hamburger argues that “[t]here is … no reason for the justices to strain the Constitution to approve the SEC’s indirect appointment method.”

The second argument this morning is in Pereira v. Sessions, in which the justices will consider how to interpret a provision of the criminal-removal statute. Jennifer Chacon had this blog’s preview. Larry Blocho and Ryan Powers preview the case for Cornell, and Subscript offers a graphic explainer. [Disclosure: Goldstein & Russell, P.C., whose attorneys contribute to this blog in various capacities, is among the counsel on an amicus brief in support of the petitioner in this case. The author of this post is not affiliated with the firm.]

After a lunch break, the justices will hear argument in Chavez-Meza v. United States, which asks how fully a judge must explain a sentencing modification. This blog’s preview came from Susan Klein. Cornell’s preview is by Axel Schamis and Katherine Van Bramer. Subscript’s graphic explainer is here. For The Wall Street Journal, Jess Bravin reports that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will take the lectern for the government for his first Supreme Court argument, and that “despite his managerial responsibilities over thousands of Justice Department employees, Special Counsel Robert Mueller among them, [Rosenstein] considers himself a practicing lawyer first.”

At The Weekly Standard, Adam White explains that “the principles underlying [Justice Neil] Gorsuch’s opinion” in Sessions v. Dimaya, in which he concurred in a judgment holding that a portion of the criminal-removal provision in the Immigration and Nationality Act is unconstitutionally vague, ���are largely what propelled him to a Supreme Court nomination in the first place.” At Jost on Justice, Kenneth Jost argues that “[o]riginalists promise in part that originalism can yield definite answers to hard legal issues and thus force judges to decide cases solely on the basis of law instead of their personal views,” “[b]ut the promise is an illusion, as seen in the dueling opinions of the two originalist justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch” in Dimaya.

In a podcast for Law360 (subscription required), Maria Koklanaris discusses South Dakota v. Wayfair, in which the justices will reconsider a ruling that limits the ability of state governments to require out-of-state online retailers to charge tax on sales to state residents. In an op-ed for The Washington Post, Daniel Hemel weighs in on the case, hoping that “by the end of Tuesday’s oral argument, it was clear to the justices that they can’t rely on Congress or on Amazon to solve the problem,” and that “[p]assing the buck here will cause states and localities to lose billions of dollars more in sales tax revenue.” [Disclosure: Goldstein & Russell, P.C., whose attorneys contribute to this blog in various capacities, is among the counsel to the petitioner in this case.]

Court-watchers are homing in on Wednesday’s oral argument in Trump v. Hawaii, a challenge to the latest version of the Trump administration’s entry ban. At Bloomberg, Greg Stohr reports that “[t]he court will consider whether the travel ban’s roots lie in anti-Muslim comments Trump made during his campaign, whether he overstepped his authority under immigration laws and whether judges can second-guess the president’s national-security assessments.” For The Washington Post, Robert Barnes observes that “similar to a debate that has consumed Washington for the past 15 months, a major issue for the court is separating ‘the president’ from ‘this president.’” Additional coverage comes from Lawrence Hurley at Reuters and Lydia Wheeler at The Hill. At Balkinization, Marty Lederman offers “a few thoughts about the almost forgotten, but potentially significant, third Question Presented in the case: ‘Whether the [district court’s] global injunction is impermissibly overbroad.’”At Casetext, David Boyle surveys the “’Christian’ amicus briefs” “either for Petitioners, Trump et al., or for neither party.”

Briefly:

At the Associated Press, Jessica Gresko reports that “Susette Kelo’s Supreme Court case now has a Hollywood ending, just not the one she hoped for”: Kelo’s fight to keep the city of New London, Conn., from seizing her property to make way for development has been turned into a movie, “Little Pink House,” which the current mayor of New London calls “a cautionary tale about two sides becoming so polarized they couldn’t find a middle ground.”

For the Austin American-Statesman, Chuck Lindell takes note of the possible effects of the court’s partisan-gerrymandering cases on Abbott v. Perez, two consolidated challenges to Texas redistricting that will be argued tomorrow.

Constitution Daily offers highlights from the career of retired Justice John Paul Stevens in honor of Stevens’ 98th birthday last Friday.

At The Atlantic, Garrett Epps observes that “Justice Neil Gorsuch may have had a slightly awkward first year, but he just racked up a hell of a week,” “hiring the Court’s first-ever Native American law clerk” and issuing “two skillful high-profile opinions—a concurrence in an important immigration case and a dissent in a death-penalty decision.”

At The New Republic, Matt Ford reports that “unless there’s a deluge of opinions in the next few weeks, this term may end up being one of the court’s slowest, ever.”

We rely on our readers to send us links for our round-up.  If you have or know of a recent (published in the last two or three days) article, post, podcast, or op-ed relating to the Supreme Court that you’d like us to consider for inclusion in the round-up, please send it to roundup [at] scotusblog.com. Thank you!

The post Monday round-up appeared first on SCOTUSblog.

from Law http://www.scotusblog.com/2018/04/monday-round-up-390/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

[danalberard]

Go Back in Time Visiting These 3 Retailers

General stores are a part of the fabric of American culture. Buffalo is lucky enough to have a handful of these retailers remaining that are a throwback to another era. One visit and you’ve transported yourself to a much simpler time when five and dime actually meant everything was for a nickel or 10 cents. As we head into the holiday season, here’s a roundup of the best old-fashioned “general stores” to add to your bucket list!

Marilla Country Store, 1673 Two Rod Road, Marilla The Marilla Country Store, built in 1851, has been in continuous operation for more than 165 years. The original gaslights and wooden floors are still in use today and add a beautiful old charm to this legendary emporium. This general store is a veritable playground for adults and kids, with shelf after shelf brimming with bulk foods, candy, gifts, jewelry, and home décor. Make sure to head over to their museum where you can view the store’s history, including antique store fixtures and old-timey inventory. Check out the infamous story about the 1917 attempted robbery. This tale remains a mystery, adding to Marilla’s intriguing history!

The candy counter at Vidler’s

Vidler’s 5 and 10, 676 Main Street, East Aurora Celebrating 87 years in business, Vidler’s is a 5 & 10 store located in East Aurora. Spanning four buildings on Main Street, they have twelve different departments of fun, featuring anything and everything you can think of. Walking in you’ll see baskets of penny candy, smell their popcorn machine and then stumble upon nostalgic toys that will put a smile on your face. A tantalizing, magical mix of retro and new, you will re-discover your “inner child.” This 5 & 10 store is where happiness lives, because it’s Christmas 24/7.

Photo courtesy of Kelly’s Country Store

Kelly’s Country Store, 3121 Grand Island Blvd, Grand Island Half-way between Niagara Falls and Buffalo you will find Kelly’s Country Store, a 3rd generation family-owned business established in 1969. Best known for their enormous selection of candy and all things Christmas, Kelly’s features more than 500 different shapes of glorious homemade chocolate. Visitors come from miles around to shop their incredible selection of decorations and homemade goods. And before long, it’ll be time to get your jingle on and let the holiday merriment begin! 

The post Go Back in Time Visiting These 3 Retailers appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara.

from Blog – Visit Buffalo Niagara http://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/go-back-in-time-visiting-these-3-retailers/

[itsworn]

Triple Crown of Rodding’s Best Street Cruiser – 1963½ Ford Galaxie

The term “street cruiser” takes on a whole new meaning when the subject vehicle is Bruce Ricks’ 1963-1/2 Ford Galaxie 500 Sports Hardtop; and cruising was exactly what Bruce had in mind when he commissioned Steve Cook Creations of Oklahoma City. Bruce was after a car that could acquit itself in a custom car show or out on the highway pulling down the long miles in high-speed comfort.

For the earliest part of the 1963-1/2 Ford’s new life it was a show car garnering a place in STREET RODDER’s 2018 Top 100. And then ultimately chosen from the Magnificent 7 taking Street Cruiser class in the third annual Painless Performance Products Triple Crown of Rodding Presented by STREET RODDER held within the 36th Annual Shades of the Past Hot Rod Roundup at Dollywood’s Splash Country.

The Sports Hardtop was Ford’s official name for the midyear-introduced roofline, but on the streets they were known as a fastback. The streamlined-for-NASCAR 1960 Ford Starliner was a first for a fastback roofline on a fullsized Ford, followed by 1961, but then the sleek design disappeared in 1962 and it didn’t come back when the 1963 Galaxie 500 debuted. Then midyear model designation coined by Ford appeared, which caused a commotion within itself, the 1963-1/2 Ford Galaxie 500 Sports Hardtop. Remarkably Ford did it again with the introduction of the 1964-1/2 Mustang.

The flagship and Holy Grail 1963-1/2 Ford Galaxie 500 fastback is the XL model with an R in the VIN code designating it as the highest-horsepower 427-inch FE engine offered at the time. There was no reason for Bruce to start with a pedigreed example since the plan was gut the car to its bare shell and implant more horsepower with an upgraded XL-style interior. Bruce found his 1963-1/2 Galaxie fastback in George Poteet’s stable. It was the perfect rust-free example to begin with. And since it was a garden variety 1963-1/2 fastback with a 352-inch FE engine and standard bench seat interior, it wouldn’t be like molesting a pedigreed survivor.

The chassis Steve Cook Creations went with was to retain the stock 1963-issued Ford called a “wide-contoured frame with sturdy passenger protecting, double-channel side rails” and then upgrade the suspension and brakes to go with a monster FE engine. Ford pitched the parallel leaf spring arrangement in 1963 “luxury car rear suspension” and Steve Cook Creations kept in place but uprated with a 4.10-geared Kugel Komponents 9-inch with 31-spline axles and Eaton Truetrac locker. A dual master cylinder brake system with hydraulic boost handles rear Ford Police Interceptor drums and Wilwood disc brakes in front. The front drop spindles and tubular control arms are from Fatman Fabrications and feature a revised ball joint location and improved bushings to help achieve modern alignment settings. Effortless steering for the fullsize Ford is thanks to a Borgeson power steering box conversion bolted directly to the original holes in the frame. Body roll is minimized with front and rear Quickor Garage antisway bars and quite effective RideTech adjustable shocks. Rolling stock consists of Diamondback Red Line radials mounted on 15-inch U.S. Steel OE-series wheels capped with 1962 Ford hubcaps.

Bruce and Cook agreed the car should maintain as much of its original identity as possible. Thanks to originally being equipped with a Thunderbird 220hp 352-inch FE, a much larger displacement FE engine could be dropped in its place; appearance-wise no one was the wiser. Craft Performance Engines was the source for the 496-inch FE with 622 dyno-proven horsepower.

There’s a lot of weight that can be shaved off an FE engine, and Craft Performance Engines took every advantage, starting with a 135-pound Pond all-aluminum block and Pond Stage II aluminum heads. The aluminum water pump and vintage ML F68 six-deuce aluminum intake manifold are both Edelbrock products. The induction is a six-pack of Autotrend EFI pots filtered with custom-designed and CNC-machined air cleaner cans packed with modified K&N filters. The cast-iron exhaust manifolds are genuine R-code issue intended for a 425hp, 427-inch Ford dumping through 3-inch stainless steel pipe into a pair of stainless steel Borla mufflers.

The rotating mass a Scat crankshaft and Scat I-beam rods are topped with forged 10:1 Diamond Racing pistons. For valve timing, a Comp Cams custom-ground hydraulic roller cam and T&D roller rockers are in place. The ignition is MSD and the cooling system is a C&R double-pass radiator with built-in engine oil cooler fronted with a thermo-switched SPAL brushless electric fan. The idea from the very beginning was to build a great highway car, and the plan never faltered. A huge 35-gallon gas tank from Rick’s Hot Rods and a TREMEC T56 Magnum manual trans with overdrive greatly extends highway miles.

As part of the deal, George Poteet threw in a complete XL bucket seat interior to replace the black vinyl and cloth bench seat interior the Rangoon Red 1963-1/2 came with. The sumptuous leather interior by Sculpt Garage goes way beyond XL replacing OEM Mylar chrome with stunning strips of hand-formed aluminum, chromed by John Wright’s Custom Chrome Plating as well as all the chrome plating and polishing. In keeping with a factory-original feel replicating Ford Polaraire “knee freezer” air conditioning, a Vintage Air Heritage-series A/C unit resides under the dash. On the dashboard a 1963 Mercury cluster is fitted with Dakota Digital Custom Shop gauges; the sound system is Kicker.

Equally stunning as the interior, all exterior bodywork and paint was done in-house by Steve Cook Creations. Cook custom-mixed the striking emerald green hue in Axalta products. Proof positive Bruce Ricks’ Triple Crown–winning 1963-1/2 Galaxie fastback stuns on sight, it garnered yet another prestigious trophy: Ford “Best of Show” for Outstanding Achievement Design Award presented by the Ford Motor Company at the 2018 SEMA Show.

The post Triple Crown of Rodding’s Best Street Cruiser – 1963½ Ford Galaxie appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

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