Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Whittier oil project heads toward settlement talks

City's attorney: 'There is a lot of money on the table. Perhaps that might meet everybody's needs'

The left-for-dead Whittier oil project could be heading back on track.

In a surprise move, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority has asked Whittier and Los Angeles County to sit down and discuss a settlement.

"It would be nice if everyone could figure out a way to make the litigation go away," said James Goldman, the attorney for the MRCA, the large, Santa Monica-based conservancy that won its case against Whittier in June that resulted in a permanent injunction against oil drilling in the 1,280-acre Whittier Hills Nature Preserve.

The MRCA, the county and its partner, the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District, and Whittier's partners, Matrix Oil Corp. and Clayton Williams Energy, Inc., indeed will be back in court on July 30 for a settlement conference. Heading up the settlement talks will be Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Louis M. Meisinger, a settlement judge.

Goldman would not discuss whether the MRCA would be asking for cash in order to allow the project to go forward. "I don't want to comment on what anyone might ask for," he said Monday. "The process doesn't work unless it is confidential."

While the judge cannot force a settlement, it appears likely that all sides will be talking about how to make the case go away.

The settlement conference

comes after Superior Court Judge James Chalfant on June 13 ordered all drilling operations to clear out in 10 days, saying Whittier and its partners acted in violation of an agreement to keep the land as a nature preserve in perpetuity. Chalfant, in a sweeping 38-page ruling, said the city could not drill for oil on land that was purchased using monies raised through Proposition A. The 1992 ballot measure, approved by 64 percent of the county's voters, required land be purchased for habitat preservation, open space and parks. He ruled Whittier was in violation of an agreement to keep land purchased with $9.3 million of Prop. A funds as a nature preserve and that any other development would violate the public's trust.

Whittier, which had to order Matrix to remove its heavy equipment from the land preserve at the end of Catalina Avenue near Friendly Hills, is delighted that the talks are back on. The city's attorney said the best possible outcome for Whittier and its partners is for a judge to lift the injunction and allow the project to go forward.

"We thought it was a good idea," said James Markman, the city's lead attorney on the case, referring to the upcoming conference in front of the mediator. He said Matrix Oil's attorney also will be at the settlement conference.

"There is a lot of money on the table," Markman said. "Perhaps that might meet everybody's needs."

Markman is so confident that talks will be fruitful that he has carved out two days on his schedule, instead of just one.

Said Goldman: "I suspect it will not go any more than one day."

Normally, settlement conferences occur toward the beginning or middle of a case. This case, filed in February 2012, has been heard in court on several occasions, once for a temporary injunction in January, and later on its merits. Markman has repeatedly suggested that the MRCA would settle for some amount of cash instead of sticking to its principles.

"I'm sure there will be a substantial amount of money involved" during the talks, Markman said.

Whittier has forecasted annual royalties from the project of about $100 million for 10 years, which would bring the city $1 billion. City Councilman Bob Henderson put the estimate even higher, at $1.5 billion. The estimates were in line with the high end of estimated royalties of oil, which is selling at more than $100 a barrel, according to Mike McCaskey, vice president of Matrix Oil Corp. and a 2011 environmental impact report.

One problem for Whittier and Matrix could be the county, which seems less likely to negotiate.

When the attorney for the county was asked about the settlement conference, he said he had nothing to say.

"I will need to check with Los Angeles County," said Sean Riley, of Glaser, Weil, Fink, Jacobs, Howard, & Shapiro, an outside law firm hired by the county to handle the case.

Sources on both sides of the case said the county was reluctant to go along with the settlement conference, but must attend because it was ordered to do so by the court. "Everybody agreed except for the county," Goldman said Monday.

Markman has repeatedly called the county "unwilling" to negotiate. He hinted that part of the reason could be that whatever the county's lawyers agree to must be approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, making the county's participation "more political" than the MRCA's.

What could be bringing the MRCA to the table is the promise of dollars to purchase other plots of land for future preservation. Also, if the oil drilling was allowed to go forward, Matrix would have to spend $15 million on land it would purchase elsewhere, to make up for damaging the seven acres needed for drilling in the Whittier nature preserve.

Markman said the MRCA is a "savvy organization" that is accustomed to making deals. That is true, especially if one includes its parent, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the largest conservancy in Southern California. It owns and manages public lands in the western portion of the county. He said Whittier has spoken to the MRCA about the "environmental value" of making a deal.

He also compared the oil and gas drilling project in the Whittier Hills to the SMMC renting out open space for celebrity weddings.

"This is not a foreign notion, using open space for other purposes," Markman said.

If there is no settlement, then most likely the court's final order will be issued. That would likely trigger an appeal by the city of Whittier and Matrix. "We have appealable issues," Markman said.

If a settlement is reached, it would not be the first time a plaintiff against the project had reached a settlement with the city. Last fall, the city settled with the Open Space Legal Defense Fund, a neighborhood group that fought the oil project for two years in court. The group's attorney said they settled in order to allow MRCA and SMMC to move the case forward unfettered.

"It depends on the positions of the parties. It could be a big waste of time," said Geralyn Skapik, who represented OSLDF in the old case. She said the city and Matrix could see the MRCA and SMMC as hurdles to overcome, just like they did the Open Space Legal Defense Fund case.

However, getting past the county Board of Supervisors may be more difficult, she said. Already, Supervisor Gloria Molina has told this newspaper she would vote against oil drilling in the Whittier hills nature preserve.

"My preference is no drilling in open space," she said in June.

Source: http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_23622036/whittier-oil-project-heads-toward-settlement-talks?source=rss_viewed

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Would You Visit Atomic Bomb National Park?

Would You Visit Atomic Bomb National Park?

Maybe you've seen the buffalo at Yellowstone, hiked Half Dome at Yosemite, and gotten one last look before everything melts at Glacier. So what's next? If lawmakers have their way, it could be splitting the atom at Atomic Bomb Park.

Recently the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would allocate $21 million to create a National Park in honor of the Manhattan Project. The Manhattan Project was the top secret World War II project to create a nuclear weapon, which culminated in the first test in New Mexico on July 16, 1945 and ultimately the destruction of Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945 and Nagasaki on August 9, 1945.

There are three possible states being discussed for the park, including sites in Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Los Alamos, New Mexico; and Hanford, Washington. The park would officially be named the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. But there are legitimate questions being asked around whether a park dedicated to the atomic bomb should be built at all.

As Michael Todd over at Pacific Standard points out, the proposed sites already have recognition in a sense, with history centers and even national historic landmark designation in some cases:

In a sense, a de facto Manhattan Project park already exists in its constituent pieces. There?s a now 64-year-old Museum of Science and Energy at Oak Ridge, and an interpretive center at Hanford, and the Bradbury Science Museum and Los Alamos Historical Society (the latter alongside the Atomic Heritage Foundation) do yeoman?s work in New Mexico. At Hanford, Reactor B?Easy-Bake Oven for the world?s first plutonium?became a National Historic Landmark five years ago.

The proposed park is, of course, controversial. Legislators and academics are debating what establishing such a park would communicate to Americans and the rest of the world about our role in unleashing such a destructive force on humanity. Specifically, some are asking if the proposed park would focus too much on the technology of war and death, rather than the lives affected by it. Last year former Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich raised this very issue about the park:

?The technology which created the bomb cannot be separated from the horror the bomb created?. If there was going to be a new park, it should serve as a solemn monument to Japanese American friendship that rose from the ashes and the worldwide work for nuclear disarmament that continues to this day, rather than a celebration of a technology that has brought such destruction to the world. Failure to recognize this dimension, even in its first iteration, really is a significant injustice.?

Historic sites ? even controversial ones ? can be a great opportunity for us to confront the past and build a better future. But when it's done poorly (like at Fort Snelling in my home state of Minnesota) history becomes little more than spectacle. It's possible that the prevailing question around a Manhattan Project park is "will anyone leave hoping to buy a snow globe from the gift shop?" If so, we probably got it wrong.

Image: Getty Images, "An atomic cloud rises July 25, 1946 during the 'Baker Day' blast at Bikini Island in the Pacific."

Source: http://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/would-you-visit-atomic-bomb-national-park-718255400

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In Texas, likely Perry successor biding his time

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) ? Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott appears to be in no hurry to declare his candidacy for governor, even after amassing a huge campaign war chest and a sense of inevitability among conservatives who are confident he'd cruise to election.

Gov. Rick Perry announced Monday he won't seek a fourth full term in office next year while Abbott, who has been the state's top cop since 2002, has made no secret he has long pined for the governor's mansion. He has already raised $18 million-plus in campaign funds, more than three times Perry's haul and enough to keep any other major Republican candidate from challenging him.

Yet Abbott's advisers said Tuesday he won't formally enter the governor's race until at least next week.

That willingness to keep biding his time was on display Monday evening, when Abbott addressed thousands of abortion opponents who gathered at the Texas Capitol and wildly applauded his promises to keep fighting to restrict the procedure in Texas.

Abbott has unveiled a five-day tour beginning Sunday in San Antonio that will take him to much of the state, including Houston, El Paso and McAllen on the border with Mexico, and Wichita Falls, where Abbott was born. There also is a planned stop in the Dallas suburb of Duncanville where he grew up.

Spokesman Matt Hirsch said Abbott "is looking forward to meeting directly with voters. That's all for now."

Meanwhile, Texas' only officially declared gubernatorial candidate went on the attack ? complaining Tuesday that Abbott "seems to be the anointed one for the governor's chair."

"It's sort of like divine right. You pick whose going to be the next governor, you move people up the ladder," former Texas Republican Party Chairman Tom Pauken said at a news conference.

Pauken, a gubernatorial longshot, hopes to raise $2 million-plus ahead of the GOP primary in March. But he noted that much of Abbott's sizable war chest has come from political action groups representing major law firms around the state, which he claimed wanted favors from Abbott as attorney general and will want more should he become governor.

"I wouldn't be in it if I thought that Greg were an authentic conservative," Pauken said. Hirsch declined to respond.

Political observers say it's no surprise Abbott's happy to wait a little longer ? not wanting to make it appear he's pushing aside the powerful and still-popular Perry, who has been governor since George W. Bush left to prepare for the presidency in 2000.

Despite the delay, though, some conservatives say they aren't happy with what appears a clear passing of the political baton.

"I think a lot of people are tired of a political royal class," said Debra Medina, who unsuccessfully challenged Perry in the 2010 Republican primary and now chairs We Texans, a group promoting limited government.

Perry's bowing out means at least six out of Texas' nine elected executive offices will change hands. Voters will replace the governor, attorney general, comptroller and commissioners for land, agriculture and railroads. They'll also get a chance to choose another lieutenant governor, with three top Republicans running to replace David Dewhurst ? even though he plans to seek re-election.

Still, Abbott is widely considered a shoo-in because a Democrat hasn't won any statewide office in Texas since 1994.

The likely Democratic front-runner also hasn't announced her candidacy ? or even said for sure if she'll run. State Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth became a national sensation by standing for more than 12 hours as Democrats used a filibuster last month to temporarily block a series of new limits on abortion statewide.

Perry has since called lawmakers back to work to finish passing the restrictions, prompting thousands of activists on both sides of the issue to descend on the state Capitol and hold dueling rallies ? including the one Abbott appeared at Monday night.

Davis has been urged to run by Democratic operatives but has refused to comment on her future except to say she's focused on running again for her Senate seat in 2014.

Despite his fundraising advantage, the 55-year-old Abbott remains far from a household name in Texas. He was 26 and out for a jog when an oak tree fell on him, crushing his legs and forcing him to use a wheelchair ever since. Abbott eventually sued the owner of the tree and a tree trimming company that had worked in the area.

He is a champion of efforts to restrict civil litigation in Texas and has delighted tea party activists by ferociously championing gun rights and opposing abortion.

But his biggest claim to fame has been suing the federal government 27 times since President Barack Obama took office, arguing against what he calls federal overreach on environmental regulations, the White House's signature health care reform law, and on the U.S. Justice Department's attempts to block as discriminatory to minorities voting district maps approved by the Republican-controlled state Legislature.

Abbott even gleefully describes his job as attorney general thusly: "I go into the office, I sue the federal government and I go home."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/texas-likely-perry-successor-biding-time-212904959.html

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BBVA backs London mobile payment start-up SumUp

Source: http://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/bbva-backs-london-mobile-payment-startup-sumup-8697098.html

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Tuesday, July 9, 2013

app : Hello Kitty game voor de iPad

Visit the Carnival!

Hello Kitty? just opened her very own supercute carnival! Help Hello Kitty and Sanrio friends welcome guests as they visit the newest attraction in town!

Lots of Fun!
Hello Kitty Carnival showcases different types of exciting rides: the speedy Roller Coaster, the rotating Ferris Wheel, the spinning Merry Go Round, bumpy Cable Cars, a friendly Pirate Ship, a giant Slide, and more! There are also great carnival attractions such as Whack a Mole, Trampoline and Fortune Telling that offer fun prizes. If your guests are hungry, help lead them to the nearest Snack Bar or Popcorn Machine. Don?t forget to upgrade each facility to ensure the best quality of service and experience for your guests!

Friends Help Friends
Adding to the guests? enjoyment are the cute and friendly Sanrio characters, who work as carnival staff. Guests of Hello Kitty Carnival will meet 11 adorable Sanrio characters: Hello Kitty, Pekkle, Keroppi, My Melody, Pochacco, PomPomPurin, Little Twin Stars (Kiki and Lala), Badtz-Maru, Cinnamoroll and Tuxedosam, all hard at work on the carnival. Each character is upgradable, and you choose who to upgrade and how.

Enjoy 9 levels of amusement park fun. Add friends using your friend's ID or Facebook account and visit their fun-filled carnival to collect bonus coins! You can also "Like" your friend's carnival to show them that you enjoyed your stay.

Play More to Get More
Keep on playing Hello Kitty Carnival to level up. Each time you level up, you will unlock new cute and fun attractions that will entice more guests. There are 5 different themes you can unlock and buy as you play. Each theme is based on popular Sanrio characters: Hello Kitty, My Melody, Badtz-Maru, PomPomPurin, and Keroppi. You can customize your carnival with available backgrounds in the shop and get a panorama view of your carnival on Portrait Mode.

** Please note that while the app is free, please be aware that it contains paid content for real money that can be purchased upon users' wish to enhance their gaming experience. **

Source: http://www.bookmarksurfer.com/showcoll.php?id=51d902cab7c6a

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Minor League Baseball Player Hits Foul Ball Which Lands in Cup Holder [Video]

aroundtheweb

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8 Responses to ?Minor League Baseball Player Hits Foul Ball Which Lands in Cup Holder [Video]?

  • I hope video will suffice.

    Is that McIntyre calling the game?

  • No one was there? Contract Erie or Altoona. Whichever one was the home team.

  • Ha! Even before I clicked on the link and saw the pic, I knew that was Altoona Curve, PNG Stadium, my hometown.

    /Hometown Represent!

  • Ha! Even before I clicked on the link and saw the pic, I knew that was Altoona Curve, PNG Stadium, my hometown.

    /Hometown Represent!

    The roller coaster in the outfield gives it away.

    /look out for cops if you ever drive through Altoona on I-99

  • /look out for cops if you ever drive through Pennsylvania

    Fixed

Leave a Reply

Source: http://www.thebiglead.com/index.php/2013/07/08/minor-league-baseball-player-hits-foul-ball-which-lands-in-cup-holder-video/

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Monday, July 8, 2013

A Giant Statue Of Mr. Darcy Emerged From A Lake In London

darcy statue

Look, I have never fully understood why women love Mr. Darcy so much. Or rather, I guess I do. I imagine it has to do with wanting to believe that every man who is sullen and uncommunicative and vaguely insulting is?secretly in love with you.?Women of Earth ? he is not. He is just sullen and uncommunicative, and it?s important not to confuse one for the other.

But, no matter, there is still a giant statue of Colin Firth?s version of Mr. Darcy rising out a lake in England, so pay no attention to any of my logic.

The Daily Mail says:?

The installation was commissioned to celebrate the launch of UKTV?s new TV channel Drama and Mr Darcy was chosen because Colin? Firth?s lake exit from the?BBC?s 1995 adaptation?of Pride and Prejudice was named the most memorable British TV drama moment of all time in a recent survey.

For a moment I was heartbroken that it seemingly beat out all of Monty Python until I realized it was just the most memorable moment in a drama.

The creators claim:

?We took Colin Firth?s famous lake scene as a starting point for creating Mr Darcy but we also read the book and looked at performances of the brooding hero by Matthew Macfadyen, David Rintoul and even Laurence Olivier.?The challenge for us was capturing the spirit of Darcy as handsome and noble but also aloof and proud. The Mr Darcy sculpture is a real mix of the many portrayals of Jane Austen?s most famous hero.?

Ugh he is not noble but aloof, he is just a jerk, probably. In real life, I mean. Not in Jane Austen. Jane Austen remains not real life.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/b5media/thegloss/~3/2KnhLkyGaKM/

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