Don't just sell your inventory. Figure out how to leverage your (loved, valued) brand and create some larger value.
'Barefoot Bandit' gets more than 7 years for spree [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive]
SEATTLE -- Colton Harris-Moore, the "Barefoot Bandit," was sentenced Friday to more than seven years in prison after pleading guilty to dozens of state charges.
The 20-year-old man gained international notoriety while evading police across the country in stolen planes, boats and cars during a two-year crime spree.
Judge Vickie Churchill said "this case is a tragedy in many ways, but it's a triumph of the human spirit in other ways." She described Harris-Moore's upbringing as a "mind numbing absence of hope," and believed he was genuinely remorseful and contrite.
Friday's proceedings consolidated cases against Harris-Moore in three Washington counties. He has already pleaded guilty to federal charges in Seattle and will be sentenced for those crimes early next year. He will serve his state and federal sentences at the same time.
Wearing handcuffs and an orange jail uniform, Colton Harris-Moore spoke softly in court while entering his pleas and sat next to his attorneys with his eyes downcast, looking even younger than his 20 years.
In a statement provided to Judge Vickie Churchill, he said his childhood was one he wouldn't wish on his "darkest enemies."
Still, he said he takes responsibility for the crime spree that brought him international notoriety.
Harris-Moore said he studied manuals and online videos to teach himself to be a pilot, and the thrills he experienced while flying stolen planes renewed his passion for life and will help him rehabilitate while in prison.
"The euphoria of the countdown to takeoff and the realization of a dream was nearly blinding," he said of his first illicit flight on Nov. 11, 2008. "My first thought after takeoff was 'Oh my God, I'm flying.' I had waited my entire life for that moment."
He said he'll use his prison time to study and get ready to apply to college, with the hope of earning an aeronautical engineering degree.
Several victims and a few curious citizens watched Harris-Moore enter his pleas in Island County Superior Court, along with Harris-Moore's aunt.
"He was a menace," Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks told the court. "His burglaries threatened and distressed people. People were afraid to leave their houses."
He pleaded guilty to a total of 16 counts from Island County, including identity theft, theft of firearm and residential burglary. Then the hearing continued with Harris-Moore pleading guilty to 17 counts from San Juan County.
Harris-Moore's daring run from the law earned him international fame and a movie deal to help repay his victims after he flew a stolen plane from Indiana to the Bahamas in July 2010, crash-landed it near a mangrove swamp and was arrested by Bahamian authorities in a hail of bullets.
State prosecutors asked for a nine-and-a-half year sentence. Browne and attorney Emma Scanlan, sought a low-end, six-year term, citing Harris-Moore's bleak childhood in a Camano Island trailer with an alcoholic mother and a series of her convict boyfriends. They laid out the details of his upbringing in psychiatric and mitigation reports filed with the court.
Harris-Moore's first conviction came at age 12, in 2004, for possession of stolen property, and according to the reports, his first experience with burglary came when he broke into the homes of his classmates to steal food because his mother spent most of her Social Security income on beer and cigarettes -- something she has denied.
Over the next three years he was convicted of theft, burglary, malicious mischief and assault, among other crimes. At one point he was arrested when a detective posed as a pizza-delivery driver.
In 2007, the boy was sentenced to three years in a juvenile lockup after pleading guilty to three burglary counts in Island County. But he fled the minimum-security facility in April 2008 and was soon back to his old tricks, breaking into unoccupied vacation homes, stealing food and sometimes staying there.
As red-faced investigators repeatedly failed to catch him, his antics escalated: He began stealing planes from small, rural airports and crash-landing them -- at least five in all.
"What was characterized by the media as the swashbuckling adventures of a rakish teenager were in fact the actions of a depressed, possibly suicidal young man with waxing and waning post-traumatic stress disorder (following his first plane crash in November 2008)," wrote Dr. Richard S. Adler, a psychiatrist who evaluated him for the defense lawyers.
Waves of burglaries broke out on Orcas Island, where Kyle Ater runs his Homegrown Market and Deli, in late 2009 and in early 2010, after stolen planes were found at the airport there. The second time, Harris-Moore left Ater's new security system in a utility sink, under a running faucet. He took cash and a tray of croissants, and Ater's insurance company jacked up his rates.
Mike Parnell, a former owner of the Oakley sunglasses company who lives on Orcas, was repeatedly victimized. Harris-Moore hid out for long periods in the second level of his hangar at the airport, and when Parnell and his family would go on trips in their plane, Harris-Moore would take their car to their house and eat their food. At one point, Harris-Moore entered their home while Parnell was there with his wife and three children and grabbed his wife's car keys off a counter.
"We were all fearing for our lives," Parnell said Thursday. "The kids wouldn't sleep in their own bedrooms. We purchased night vision goggles. I'm glad that day is finally approaching when we will finally know what the consequences are, and I hope it's sufficient for the way our whole island suffered."
Harris-Moore's final spree came after he stole a pistol in eastern British Columbia and took a plane from a hangar in Idaho, where investigators found bare footprints on the floor and wall. That plane crashed near Granite Falls, Wash., after it ran out of fuel.
He made his way to Oregon in a 32-foot boat stolen in southwestern Washington -- stopping first to leave $100 at an animal shelter in Raymond, Wash. From Oregon, authorities said, Harris-Moore traveled across the United States, frequently stealing cars from the parking lots of small airports. In Indiana, he stole another plane and made for the Bahamas, more than 1,000 miles away, where authorities finally caught him in a manhunt that spanned multiple islands.
Among the courtroom spectators Friday were 18-year-olds Annie Cain and Hayley Hanna, who drove from nearby Langley to be at the courthouse at 5:30 a.m. -- four hours before the hearing.
"We wanted to be here just because he's so young, and everything he did, it's fascinating," Cain said.
"This man is a serial burglar," San Juan County Prosecutor Randall Gaylord told The Associated Press. "I'm glad he's going to be held accountable, and I'm really glad he's taking responsibility for these things. I hope he gets through this chapter in his life, is resilient and is able to move on."
Fox bought the movie rights in a deal that could be worth $1.3 million, and Dustin Lance Black, who won an Academy Award for writing the movie "Milk," about the gay rights activist Harvey Milk, is working on the screenplay.
Lawmakers keep state's poor at a safe distance [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive]
The good folks at the Arizona Community Action Association have invited all members of the Arizona Legislature to spend an afternoon being poor.
You'd think our politicians would jump at the chance, having proven themselves to be poor policy makers, poor communicators, poor problem-solvers and poor role models.
In this instance, however, the association simply wants them to be ... poor. Like the nearly 20 percent of Arizona families estimated to live below the poverty level. Like the one in three Arizona citizens classified as "working poor."
The ACAA plans to hold a "poverty simulation" May 10 in which volunteers will participate in a role-playing exercise that allows them to experience what it's like to struggle each day to provide their families with food, shelter and other basic necessities.
"We have heard from a few who thanked us for the invitation, a couple of whom have said that they have a conflict from a calendar perspective," she said. "That's about it."
The ACAA's website notes that "Arizona ranks 50th in the nation in combined state and local spending on social and human services."
"This is the first time our association has done a simulation," Zwick told me. "We find that you don't know what it's like for a struggling family until you are out looking for benefits, looking for child care, trying to balance your job with the demands or just struggling to make it through the day economically. It can be quite eye-opening."
"Most of the families we work with have some employment," Zwick said. "But it's a day-to-day struggle. How do we pay the utility bill? Can we put gas in the car? Is there money for rent?
"With the senior population what we hear is that many of our seniors are making choices each day between food and medication."
For many people living here there is no such thing as a luxury. If anything, necessities are luxuries.
'There is no health-care coverage for most of the jobs these people have," Zwick said. "If someone gets sick that is it. That will financially ruin them. A number of the families we've seen were hit hard by the recession. They lost jobs, blew through their savings, lost their health-care insurance. Same with dental care, which is even more difficult to get and can lead to all kinds of other health issues."
"We have to approach the issues faced by these families in a holistic way rather than simply plugging holes with every crisis," Zwick said. "It would benefit leaders to see the complexity of the problem from a human perspective. When budgets get tight it becomes easy to hide behind the statistics. People aren't statistics, however.
"When the decisions get more difficult it's easy to look at the numbers and ignore the human impact. We think it's good to be reminded now and then about the humans behind the numbers."
In The Third Man, one of the best movies of all time, a villainous character played by Orson Welles is at the top of a Ferris wheel with his one-time friend, played by Joseph Cotten, who has found out that Welles is selling watered-down medicine, callously putting profit over people. It's one of those movie scenes that transcends the film and describes the greater human condition, then and now.
"You know, I never feel comfortable on these sort of things," Welles says. "Victims? Don't be melodramatic. Look down there. Tell me. Would you really feel any pity if one of those dots stopped moving forever?"
• by Toby Clark The commercial vehicle market in the UK is in a surprisingly healthy state, and 2000 was a much more successful year than most pundits predicted, judging by the......
• With sales at a high, are we looking at a growing pare of commercial vehicles? Not necessarily, according to Iveco Ford managing director Giuseppe Franchi, who points out that......
• The light CV market showed signs of further fragmentation In 2000, with smaller manufacturers increasing their market share at the expense of once-dominant Ford. To be fair,......
• The obvious winner In the numbers game was Daf, retaining its leadership with a volume increase of 5.4% to take 18.6% of the market over 3.5 tonnes. But more impressively,......
I hope you're enjoying a healthy and inspiring fall season. Here at Canyon Ranch Institute, we're inspired by CRI Founder Mel Zuckerman, who recently told us, "Life is a wonderful gift, and with hope, purpose, and perseverance, you can accomplish almost anything."
We're thrilled to share with you that in addition to new partnerships with Ohio State University College of Nursing, Berkshire Health Systems, and Tucson Medical Center, CRI continues to sustain our other wonderful partnerships to improve health and well being. We will soon announce several more new partnerships that we've been developing with organizations that share our mission.
CRI is also expanding in new ways. In 2013, we welcomed our first participant in the McIntire Fellowship, a new program for young professionals. We're also expanding the ways that individuals can volunteer with CRI, and we have new career opportunities opening up.
On behalf of CRI President Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, I'm also pleased to announce that our Board of Directors is growing, and he will soon introduce you to our new members!
As always, please contact me with your suggestions - and always feel free to share what inspires you and your community!
CRI President Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, delivered the keynote address at the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at The Ohio State University. The event was co-sponsored by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Hispanic/Latino Network and CRI partner Ohio State University College of Nursing. Read more.
During a recent visit to Berkshire County, CRI Senior Director for Health Literacy and Research Andrew Pleasant, Ph.D., and CRI Life Enhancement Program Manager Chuck Palm, M.P.H., met with Berkshire Health Systems faculty and staff to discuss health literacy and integrative health. Read more.
Chuck Palm, M.P.H., CRI Life Enhancement Program Manager, presented to incoming students at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH) about his professional path and career opportunities in the public health field. The event offered students a chance to hear from Chuck and four other MEZCOPH alumni about using their public health degrees in real-world settings. Read more.
Are you ready to get involved with Canyon Ranch Institute to help empower every person to prevent disease and embrace a life of wellness? CRI engages volunteers to support our work "in the field," as well as behind the scenes as consultants, advisors, and content reviewers. Read more.
CRI President Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, reflects on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and reminds us all of the power we hold to realize Dr. King's vision by respecting each individual's achievements. Read more.
LEADERS magazine interviews CRI President Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, about the power to reform health care and achieve optimal wellness for all people. Read more.
Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, President of the Canyon Ranch Institute Board of Directors, is sharing his views on public health, safety, and security from both a national and global perspective on Twitter. Follow @DrRichCarmona today.
Urban Health Plan-Canyon Ranch Institute Demonstration Kitchen Chef and Coordinator Karla Giboyeaux-Berlingeri, M.A., R.D., is our first-ever McIntire Fellow. During her fellowship with CRI this summer, Karla participated in discussions and practicums focused on effective interpersonal and professional communications, practical ways to engage colleagues and work collaboratively, and CRI communication best practices. CRI established the McIntire Fellowship in 2012 in recognition of CRI team member Jan McIntire. Read more.
The Institute of Medicine Roundtable on Health Literacy global health literacy workshop summary features a chapter on the Arts for Behavior Change Program developed through CRI's partnership with The Clorox Company. Read more.
As part of the CCA Forum track focused on novel approaches to seniors and Medicaid populations, CRI Executive Director and Board Member Jennifer Cabe, M.A., CRI Senior Director for Health Literacy and Research Andrew Pleasant, Ph.D., and CRI Life Enhancement Program Manager Chuck Palm, M.P.H., will present "Health Literacy and Integrative Health: Making the World Healthier Today."
Andrew Pleasant, Ph.D., CRI Senior Director for Health Literacy and Research, will speak as part of a panel about Health Literacy Measurement at this multidisciplinary meeting that attracts a variety of health professionals to discuss innovative research in health literacy.
CRI Executive Director and Board Member Jennifer Cabe, M.A., and CRI Senior Director for Health Literacy and Research Andrew Pleasant, Ph.D., will present to adult literacy advocates, educators, and leaders about the CRI Life Enhancement Program and the Arts for Behavior Change Program, as well as career opportunities in health and wellness.
CRI Life Enhancement Program Manager Chuck Palm, M.P.H., and CRI Senior Director for Health Literacy and Research Andrew Pleasant, Ph.D., will present about the CRI Life Enhancement Program and the development of the new CRI LEP for Families.
CRI President Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, will deliver a keynote address at the 2013 Greater Tucson Leadership Health Care Issue Day, and CRI Program and Evaluation Coordinator Amy Martin will serve on a panel to discuss successful public health approaches that incorporate best practices in health literacy and prevention, while addressing the social determinants of health.
This workshop will feature a discussion of health literacy activities currently underway in public health organizations. CRI Executive Director and Board Member Jennifer Cabe, M.A., and CRI Senior Director for Health Literacy and Research Andrew Pleasant, Ph.D., will present about health literacy initiatives in public health.
We value your feedback, so we invite you to ask questions or tell us what you think about the CSUMB.EDU/catalog website, print catalog, or anything else catalog-related that comes to mind.
If you have questions, we ask that you first check our FAQ page to see if we have already provided an answer. Your taking the time to do this will ensure that we have more time to answer questions that have not already been covered . Thanks in advance for your consideration!