Bob Bergdahl, Father Of Prisoner Of War Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, Speaks At Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Rally

WASHINGTON -- The father of a U.S. soldier who was taken prisoner in Afghanistan thanked the motorcycle riders of Rolling Thunder on Sunday for raising awareness of missing-in-action troops and prisoners of war.

At the annual Rolling Thunder rally on the National Mall, Bob Bergdahl promised his son: "You will come home. We will not leave you behind."

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, 26, of Hailey, Idaho, was taken prisoner in Afghanistan nearly three years ago. He is the subject of a proposed prisoner swap in which the Obama administration would allow the transfer of five Taliban prisoners long held at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Bergdahl said he couldn't be happier with the government's efforts to return his son.

"This is a complicated issue and it's going to demand all aspects of American government. And we need joint cooperation, we need every level, every agency and every dimension of American government to cooperate and pay attention," he said. "We're on a mission to get our son home and we're not going to stop until we accomplish that."

Motorcyclists attending the ceremony wore yellow wristbands with Bergdahl's name and the date he went missing on them. Many also wore the traditional biker gear of leather vests and riding boots, even though temperatures reached the 90s.

Hundreds of thousands of bikers, including military veterans and non-veterans, gathered in the nation's capital this weekend for the Rolling Thunder rally.

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Former NYSJA president, jeweler Al Mintz dies

May 24, 2012

West Palm Beach, Fla.--Israel ?Al? Mintz, owner of a number of New York jewelry stores and the former president of the New York State Jewelers Association, died May 10 in Florida at the age of 93.

Born in New York City in 1918, Mintz attended St. John?s University and watch-making school prior to World War II. During the war, he served in the U.S. Army, fighting in Germany.

Following the war, he opted to follow in his father?s footsteps and become a jeweler. Mintz owned and operated Boulevard Jewelers in Corona, Queens, Corwood Jewelers in Woodside, Queens, Towne Jewelers in Syosset, N.Y., as well as a store with his brother called Jewelers Three in Flushing, Queens.

Mintz also served as president of the Consolidated Jewelers Association (CJA). After he retired, he moved from the New York area to Lakeworth, Fla.

He is survived by his wife, Claire; one son, Al Mintz, a retired jeweler and former CJA president; one daughter, Barbara Goldstein, a former administrator for CJA; five grandchildren and seven great-grandsons. He was preceded in death by one grandson.

Mintz was buried with military honors for his service in World War II.

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Track and field: Canada?s Dylan Armstrong back on top in world shot put with win in Czech Republic

Dylan Armstrong won the shot put at the IAAF World Challenge Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava, Czech Republic on Friday.

His win moves the Kamloops native into the world?s No. 1 spot again as he defeated the Olympic Champion Tomasz Majewski of Poland and the 2011 world champion, David Storl of Germany with his seasonal best throw of 21.29m.

Armstrong, the top-ranked shot putter in the world, will next throw at the Vancouver Big Shot, the feature event of the Harry Jerome Track Classic on June 10 at Swangard Stadium.

The Jerome Classic will be the kickoff for the six-event National Track League with stops in Victoria, Edmonton, Moncton, Halifax and Toronto.

? Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

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Egypt to pick Islamist or military man as president

CAIRO (Reuters) - The Muslim Brotherhood said on Friday its candidate in Egypt's first free presidential vote would fight a run-off next month with ex-air force chief Ahmed Shafiq, the last prime minister of deposed leader Hosni Mubarak.

This week's first-round vote has polarized Egyptians between those determined to avoid handing the presidency back to a man from Mubarak's era and those fearing an Islamist monopoly of ruling institutions. The run-off will be held on June 16 and 17.

The election marks a crucial step in a messy and often bloody transition to democracy, overseen by a military council that has pledged to hand power to a new president by July 1.

The second round threatens further turbulence. Opponents of Shafiq have vowed to take to the streets if he is elected.

But to supporters, Shafiq's military background offers reassurance that he can restore security, a major demand of the population 15 months after Mubarak's ouster.

A victory for the Brotherhood's Mohamed Mursi could worsen tensions between resurgent Islamists and the powerful army, which sees itself as the guardian of the state.

Christians and secular liberals anxious about their own freedoms and the fate of Egypt's vital tourist industry will fret about a promised Brotherhood push for Islamic law.

"Now Egyptians will have to choose between the revolution and the counter-revolution. The next vote will be equivalent to holding a referendum on the revolution," Mohamed Beltagy, a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood's party, told Reuters.

If Mursi becomes president, Islamists will control most ruling institutions - but not the military - in Egypt, the most populous Arab nation, consolidating electoral gains made by fellow-Islamists in other Arab countries in the past year.

Israel has nervously watched the Islamist rise, especially in Egypt, its old enemy until a 1979 peace treaty. Mursi vaguely advocates a "review" of the pact, but the Brotherhood says it will not tear it up. Shafiq has vowed to uphold it.

The bluntly-spoken military man came from behind in a race in which former Arab League chief Amr Moussa and ex-Brotherhood member Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh were early favorites.

His late surge reflected the anxiety of many Egyptians about a breakdown of law and order and the often violent political disputes that have punctuated an army-led transition since a popular revolt ousted Mubarak on February 11, 2011.

The Brotherhood announced early on Friday that the run-off would be between Shafiq and Mursi after almost all votes were counted. A member of Shafiq's campaign also said Mursi and Shafiq were in the lead, but that counting was not complete.

Official results are not expected until Tuesday.

Aides to other candidates consistently put Mursi ahead but gave shifting tallies for second place through the night.

Egypt will elect a president before rewriting a post-Mubarak constitution to define the powers of the head of state, parliament and other institutions. The army, bent on preserving its privileges and influence even after the promised handover, might want to curb the mandate of an Islamist president.

The Brotherhood's Guidance Office, its top body, was meeting to mull a campaign "to galvanize Islamists and Egyptian voters to face the bloc of the 'feloul'," a Brotherhood official said, using a scornful Arabic term for "remnants" of Mubarak's order.

TOUGH CHOICE

The Brotherhood, Egypt's most organized political group, has already secured the biggest bloc for its party in parliament after an earlier vote. Long repressed and banned under Mubarak, the 84-year-old Islamist group has a broad grassroots base.

Young Egyptian revolutionaries who helped topple Mubarak now face what they see as a dispiriting choice between a conservative Islamist and a hardline member of the old guard.

"To choose between Shafiq or Mursi is like being asked do you want to commit suicide by being set on fire or jump in a shark tank," Adel Abdel Ghafar wrote on Twitter, a networking tool used to devastating effect against Mubarak in the uprising.

Tareq Farouq, 34, a Cairo driver, said: "I'm in shock. How could this happen? The people don't want Mursi or Shafiq. We're sick of both. They are driving people back to Tahrir Square."

Many Christians, who form about a tenth of Egypt's 82 million people, complained of discrimination in Mubarak's day, but are likely to vote for Shafiq in preference to an Islamist.

The Brotherhood may be riding high, but to win the run-off it will need to woo the votes of other candidates such as its old adherent Abol Fotouh, who took 20 percent of the vote on an inclusive platform, according to the Brotherhood's count.

Two days of first-round voting went off calmly with polls closing on Thursday. Monitors reported no major infringements, although some candidates grumbled about their rivals' conduct.

The Brotherhood official, who asked not to be named, said that with votes counted from about 12,800 of the roughly 13,100 polling stations, Mursi had 25 percent, Shafiq 23 percent, Abol Fotouh 20 percent and leftist Hamdeen Sabahy 19 percent.

Election committee officials said late on Thursday that about half of Egypt's 50 million eligible voters had cast ballots. The Brotherhood official put the turnout at 40 percent.

(Additional reporting by Tom Perry, Yasmine Saleh, Omar Fahmy, Tamim Elyan and Samia Nakhoul; Writing by Edmund Blair; Editing by Alistair Lyon)

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Jon Favreau Returns To 'Iron Man 3' In Today's Twitter-Wood

He's baaaaaaaaaack. No, we're not talking about Mr. Schwarzenegger. We're talking about Jon Favreau, of course. He's making his return to Marvel for "Iron Man 3"! While he won't be directing the three-quel, he's reprising his role as Happy Hogan, Tony Stark's bodyguard and side-kick. BTW twitter.com/Jon_Favreau/st? — Jon Favreau (@Jon_Favreau) May 24, 2012 The [...]

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Of technology, archaeologists and engineers | DesignSpark

Dr Sue Black holding a Raspberry Pi in front of Colossus

When we look at technology which is only 15 or 20 years old it can often seem like its from another age ? some dark and very distant past that we'd never want to return to, or that seems quaint and we view with a sense of fond nostalgia. On the whole, the fast pace of technological innovation is a good thing, but it can cause us problems further down the line and the need for technology conservation is becoming increasingly clear.

The luckiest computers are probably games consoles that are used at home and with which we develop the closest bonds. If they play their cards right and serve us well, they may just live long enough to become retro and be given a stay of execution as they reach their twilight years. But for the untiring workhorses of industry it's a different story altogether, and the moment a machine is no longer cost effective to maintain or operate, it will almost certainly be bound for the scrap heap.?

As we dispose of technology now it can seem incomprehensible that there would be any reason to preserve it. Although technology is not alone here and it's not until many years later that you wish you'd saved that now collectable product catalogue or other piece of marketing ephemera. But where technology is different to such things is that it can take up an awful lot of storage space, and unlike a chair or a tin that once contained tea, it may have neither utility nor decorative value.

IBM Stretch Computer Console

The Console of the IBM Stretch Computer (large, but arguably decorative!)

There are many reasons why we may one day require access to things such as long outmoded computers, and it's not just about preserving history, as important as that is. For example, there may be data that we need to retrieve and which is stored on an obsolete media format. Or we may want to understand how we arrived at a particular design and the answer may rest with a distant ancestor.

Sophie Wilson

Sophie Wilson telling the story the behind the BBC Micro and how it lead to the ARM processor

Such problems did not escape the team which had to work extremely hard to retrieve and make sense of data from the BBC Domesday Project in the lead up to its 25th anniversary. And this fundamental problem is one which writer, Bruce Sterling, foresaw with great insight in 1995 when he proposed the Dead Media Project. But who would have thought that researching the history of computing ? a history which spans considerably less than a century ? would be a job for an archaeologist?

Computers present perhaps one of the most significant challenges when it comes to conservation, due to not only their size and the speed of innovation, but the fact that it is so easily for software to become lost forever. Although the problems faced are by no means unique to computing, and can be seen with technology which is still in use today, such as the BBC Radio 4 Long Wave transmitter.

Providing support

There are lots of different ways to help with conservation efforts. For example, many large organisations maintain their own archives, but it may be just as important for smaller businesses to archive artefacts and record histories. And where a home is needed for materials companies may wish to consider whether it would be appropriate to place these with a museum.

ICL Archives

The ICL Archives at the National Museum of Computing

Some engineers may even wish to volunteer their time at museums such as the National Museum of Computing, where they can help with everything from the repair of machines to explaining fundamental principles to groups of visiting schoolchildren.

Detail of Colossus

Just a few of the thyratrons in the rebuild of the Colossus computer

Hardware and software-based emulators have a vital part to play in enabling many more to experience and understand past technologies, and this is another area where engineers can help. By contributing to the development of open source software emulators such as SimH, and in creating complementary hardware consoles that enhance the experience of using them.

IBM System/360 in an FPGA

An IBM System/360 mainframe implemented inside an FPGA

Stop to think

So, next time you're about to throw out that long-serving piece of equipment which has just been upgraded, or to dispose of those floppy disks which have been sat in the cupboard for what seems like forever, pause to consider whether one day they might be of vital importance...

Top image: Dr Sue Black holding a Raspberry Pi and standing in front of the Colossus rebuild. From the Follow Me project and copyright 2012 Travis Hodges.

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Truth About Debt Consolidation Companies in Ohio | Law Offices of ...

If you are struggling to make minimum payments on your bills, you have probably thought about consolidating your debt so that you can make one payment each month that you can afford.? The only true debt consolidation is getting a personal loan from the bank to pay off all of your bills or by filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy.? Filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy will enable you to make a payment you can afford each month that is disbursed to your creditors to pay off your debt. Filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy will give you protection under the Federal government unlike debt consolidation companies you hear about on television or the radio.? By filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you may pay pennies on the dollar on your debts.? A Chapter 13 bankruptcy will stop a wage garnishment, foreclosure, sheriff sale, vehicle repossession, and utility disconnection.? You can even get your driver?s license back from suspension.

What you probably didn?t know is that the debt consolidation companies you see on television are not regulated.? Creditors don?t have to accept an offer made by a debt consolidation company and the creditor can file a lawsuit against you at any time to garnish your wages, seize funds from your bank accounts, and attach liens to property.? Some debt consolidation companies require you to make monthly payments to them while gathering your cash into a pool and calling the creditor to negotiate a lump sum settlement offer after stuffing their pockets with your monthly payments.? ?While this is going on, interest and late fees are accruing on your bills.? You could be getting ripped off each month and will never know it until you are served a lawsuit or wonder where your money has gone years later.? There are no guarantees unless you file a bankruptcy which would give you protection under Federal law.

An experienced Columbus Ohio Bankruptcy Attorney can determine your eligibility for filing bankruptcy and can help you explore other avenues if bankruptcy is not the best option for you. Legal counsel will ensure that your rights are protected and that someone is looking out for your best interest. The friendly Law Office of M. Sean Cydrus can help you craft a plan to rebuild your financial future. We understand the stress of financial worry. We use a personal approach to solving your financial challenges and are here to help you through this difficult time. We pride ourselves on the ability to provide our legal expertise with compassion and understanding. We can meet with you at our conveniently located offices in Columbus and Chillicothe. Call today for a free consultation. Help is one phone call away!

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Crumpler Arnold Heist Tablet Bag

Stylish, sturdy, and extremely comfortable, the Arnold Heist bag by Crumpler ($105, direct) is the perfect day bag. It's built to hold a tablet, like an iPad, but offers enough space to store everything else you'll need to get by. However, it's not so roomy as to be unwieldy?quite the opposite. It's supremely compact and weighs next to nothing, two major reasons Crumpler's Arnold Heist is easily our Editors' Choice among bags made for tablets.

The main feature on this bag is a padded interior pocket designed to protect your tablet, ereader, or netbook (11 inches and smaller), and it does the job without adding any unnecessary bulk.

In addition to the tablet pocket, Crumpler put compartments aplenty into the Arnold Heist: one zipped pouch, one Velcro quick-access pouch, two interior side-by-side pockets, and the central bag area. An orange lining helps you see inside the main compartments, while a contrasting and fashionably dark gray is used for the smaller pouches.

The Arnold Heist, only available in black, measures 9.8 by 15.3 by 3.5 inches (HWD). All the fabric, straps, zippers, and pull tabs are made of highly durable but lightweight materials, which allows the bag to weigh just 0.88 pounds. Because the Arnold Heist doesn't have any heft whatsoever, it's one of the most comfortable electronics bags you'll ever wear.

An adjustable strap lets you position the bag however you like. You can wear it slung low, messenger-style, or high and tight on one shoulder. For walking around town, it's a dream. I even managed to bicycle with it comfortably.

The Arnold Heist bag by Crumpler is an ideal bag for everyday use, especially if you own a tablet, making it our Editors' Choice. It's appropriately priced given the very high quality, and is constructed to last for years.

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