He said inclusion of new activities would boost the performance of the scheme.

An expert committee, headed by Planning Commission member Mihir Shah, had submitted a report in February this year, suggesting a new set of operational guidelines for MGNREGS.

The committee has recommended inclusion of a number of activities under the scheme, which has been accepted by the Ministry.

The report of the committee, which is uploaded on the website of the Ministry, has suggested an expanded list of permissible works to be included under the scheme.

The new list suggested by the committee has 30 different categories of work related to agriculture, rural sanitation, drinking water, watersheds, fisheries and livestock.

In the first case, Ang Mo Kio Police Division officers were on their rounds in the vicinity of Hougang Street 61 when they spotted two suspects, aged 19 and 20 years, behaving suspiciously.

The officers conducted a check on them and found loanshark-related paraphernalia such as ATM cards, bank transaction receipts, cash amounting to more than $1,300 and mobile phones containing suspected debtors records on them which were seized as case exhibits.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the two suspects had assisted loansharks in their moneylending businesses by verifying the particulars of potential customers before issuing loans to them and carrying out electronic fund transactions via ATMs.

Investigations against the suspects are still on-going.

In the second case, officers were alerted to loanshark harassment where the door of a unit along Ang Mo Kio Ave 3 was splashed with paint.

Loanshark-related graffiti was also found on the wall.

When officers arrived on the scene, the suspect was no longer there.

Through follow-up investigations, the identity of the suspect, a 33-year-old man, was established and he was arrested at night on the same day.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect is a debtor-turned-runner who committed several cases of loanshark harassment in the Ang Mo Kio housing estate, similar to the one found.

The suspect will be charged in court on May 6, 2012 for loanshark harassment.

First time offenders found guilty of loanshark harassment shall be fined between $5,000 and $50,000, face mandatory imprisonment of up to five years and mandatory caning of up to six strokes.

First-time offenders found guilty of assisting in the carrying on of the business of an unlicensed moneylender may be fined between $30,000 and $300,000, be imprisoned for up to four years and may also receive caning of not more than six strokes.

spanaech@sph.com.sg

Hargrove was suspended in part because he actively obstructed the leagues 2010 investigation into the program by being untruthful to investigators, the league said in a statement.

The Packers couldnt have been thrilled with Goodells verdict, but theres no harm in keeping Hargrove. Suspended without pay, he wont count against Green Bays 53-man roster. He is allowed to participate in off-season activities and the preseason and will begin the 2012 season on the suspended list.

Thus, coaches can keep him fresh in the bullpen. Injuries are always a possibility.

The team originally signed Hargrove to a one-year deal worth the veterans minimum of $825,000 with no bonus. Hell lose $388,000 through the eight-week suspension.

Wednesdays harsh punishment shouldnt come as a major surprise. Goodell has not held back. The commissioner has spent a good portion of this off-season trying to clean up this bounty mess.

On March 21, he suspended head coach Sean Payton for the entire season, Gregg Williams indefinitely, general manager Mickey Loomis for the first eight regular-season games and assistant coach Joe Vitt the first six regular-season games. The Saints also were fined $500,000 and lost second-round picks in 2012 and 2013.

The players were going to be held accountable, too.

No bounty program can exist without active player participation, Goodell said in a statement. The evidence clearly showed that the players being held accountable today willingly and enthusiastically embraced the bounty program. Players put the vast majority of the money into this program and they share responsibility for playing by the rules and protecting each other within those rules.

In New Orleans NFC Championship win over Minnesota in 2010, Hargrove reportedly celebrated quarterback Brett Favres ankle injury by shouting, Favre is out of the game! Favre is done! Favre is done! In response, Hargrove released a statement saying the late hit and the comments were both mistakes and that he did not want Favre injured.

The league stated that Hargrove actively participated in the program while a member of the Saints. From there, bad turned to worse for the 28-year-old pro.

Hargrove submitted a signed declaration to the league that established not only the existence of the program at the Saints but also that he knew about and participated in it, the league stated. The evidence showed that Hargrove told at least one player on another team that Vikings quarterback Brett Favre was a target of a large bounty during the NFC Championship Game in January of 2010. Hargrove also actively obstructed the leagues 2010 investigation into the program by being untruthful to investigators.

Green Bay was protected well in Hargroves deal and then drafted two more defensive linemen last weekend in Michigan States Jerel Worthy and Iowas Mike Daniels. All three players were brought in to give Green Bays 32nd-ranked defense more interior pass rush. On a situational basis, Hargrove figured to serve a role. The last three seasons, he has 89 tackles, nine sacks and four forced fumbles.

The eight-game ban is an inconvenience for Green Bay. Third-year end Mike Neal was also suspended for the first four games of this season for violating the leagues policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Worthy and Daniels may be needed soon alongside BJ Raji and Ryan Pickett.

And while the Packers could cut ties with Hargrove, it might make more sense to keep him around.

A recent case on which I worked is representative of the systemic problem of cultural and social bias against transgender people that is reflected in our family court systems. Anne (all names listed are pseudonyms) has been the primary caretaking parent of her 5-year-old child, Molly. She had Molly with an ex-partner, Tom. Although Tom saw Molly occasionally, Anne was the constant, stable presence in Mollys life. Tom never objected to that arrangement. Anne recently fell in love with and married Brian, a kind, loving, supportive partner. He is also transgender, a fact Tom learned by doing an Internet search on Brian. After learning of Annes marriage to Brian, Tom filed for sole legal and physical custody of Molly. Because Brian is a caring and competent stepfather and Anne has been a stable and loving parent for Molly her entire life, Tom was unable to attack Annes parenting rights directly. Instead, Tom threatened to bring into court the fact Brian is transgender and threatened to out Brian to his employer and community.

Its not a fair fight. In fact, it shouldnt be a fight at all. But transgender people caught up in domestic relations matters have much to lose and, sadly, few protections.

A new book, Transgender Family Law: A Guide to Effective Advocacy, which I co-edited with Elizabeth E. Monnin-Browder, is intended to improve the legal landscape for transgender people and our families. It is designed to be a roadmap for transgender clients and their attorneys navigating family court systems in an evolving area of law. Reversing bad precedent, establishing favorable outcomes, and changing public attitudes are the goals of this book.

In recent years GLAD has brought lawsuits that successfully challenged transgender bias in all types of settings: a middle schools mistreatment of a transgender student, a prison systems denial of essential health care for a transgender inmate, a government agencys denial of insurance coverage for a transgender persons medically necessary care, the federal governments unequal treatment of a transgender taxpayer, among others. Yet transgender family law cases with favorable outcomes remain elusive. In speaking with my colleagues about why that is so, I realized that one of the challenges in bringing family law impact cases on behalf of transgender clients is the dearth of knowledge among family law attorneys — even those deeply committed to advocating for transgender clients — about effective representation for our community. As a result, many transgender clients have been negotiating away family law protections out of fear, often well founded, that they will fare worse in the courts, which often share the widespread community and social bias against transgender people. Rather than risk draconian results, many people agree to negotiated agreements that unfairly and unjustly restrict their familial rights.

For instance, an attorney once told me about a client she represented some years ago, a transgender woman who, prior to her gender transition, was in a lawful different-sex marriage. The client was being divorced by her wife of many years but had a close, loving relationship with their daughter. However, the wife threatened that if her estranged spouse challenged the divorce in court, the transgender client would never see the child again. She quickly turned to poisoning the relationship between the parent and child. Although this sounds like a common family law scenario, the difference is that courts predictably side with the non-transgender spouse in imposing all kinds of unprincipled restrictions on transgender parents up to and including terminating a persons parental status. Understanding the risk she faced, the transgender client chose not to challenge the wifes legal custodial status, asking only that she be allowed to retain her parental status and a financial obligation of child support. The transgender parent, fearing the worst, wanted her child to know that regardless of what happened to their relationship, she would always provide for her.

Stories like this are common and heartbreaking. They cry out for advocacy and education to reverse the negative legal precedent, bias, and discrimination against transgender people that infuses our legal system. I hope publication of Transgender Family Law: A Guide to Effective Advocacy marks the beginning of the end of unfair and unjust outcomes for transgender people in family law matters.

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Apr 6, 2012 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. is NASCARs most popular driver, and thus he gets the most attention from the media. As a result of all the coverage, fans have a pretty good idea of what makes Earnhardt Jr. tick and what drives him.

But while weve all read the stories about his love for video games and iRacing, is that how he spends all his spare time?

It couldnt be. I figured Earnhardt Jr. had to have some other hobbies, even if he insisted, I really dont do a whole lot when you come down to it.

So during a recent question-and-answer session with a small group of reporters at a Degree Men commercial shoot, I asked Earnhardt Jr. to discuss his side interests.

At first, he eyed me warily while scratching his nose as if he had no good answer to offer, and I should have already known that.

I sit down at the house and wait for the next weekend, wait for the next race, he said.

But when he got into specifics, it turned out Earnhardt Jr. does quite a lot.

COOKING

I like to cook, the driver said. I cook a lot of meals.

Whoa, what? Yes, it turns out Earnhardt Jr. has an interest in the culinary arts because, as he said: I like to eat. Eating is good. Eating is fun.

So what does he cook?

I do a lot of tacos, steak and chicken and salad (with) steak and chicken, he said. I can cook French toast. I can cook anything.

OK, but anyone can cook. That doesnt mean people will eat it. Is Earnhardt Jr. any good, or does he poison people who just eat his food to be polite?

Im good! he insisted. I think Im good. Ive cooked for my boss (Rick Hendrick) when I was trying to get hired. I had Rick over and cooked him a dinner with my sister; well, I cooked the dinner, but my sister was there.

I cooked for my girlfriend, my mom. I like to cook. I get on the Internet and Google the recipes and try to make it.

Another reporter asked what meal Earnhardt Jr. prepared for Hendrick.

Steak, he replied. I dont really get too crazy. I can make my own French onion dip for chips. Because one day I was craving French onion dip for chips, and I didnt have any. All I had was ranch. So I got on Google and figured out the recipe and made it.

I just Google whatever the hell I want to cook.

I dont fault a guy for wanting to cook his own food, but I was also a bit puzzled. Forbes estimates Earnhardt Jr. earns nearly $30 million per year, so doesnt he have someone to make food for him or to go on a food run for some French onion dip?

Nah, he said. Ive got a lady that does a little cleaning around the house, and if I asked her to cook, Im sure she would. But I feel bad asking her to do it, because its easy to do. I like to do it.

RECORDS

Earnhardt Jr. has gotten into collecting vinyl records and spends quite a bit of time listening to them.

We built these big cases to hold the records, and theyre nicely stacked in these nice cases, he said. … I love listening to music. Like when I get home from the race on Sundays, I go to the basement and I listen to records all night until I get tired, because my adrenaline is going and I dont want to go to sleep.

I might do that all day Monday. I might do whatever I got to do during the day and in the evening go downstairs and listen to records. Just play pool, whatever, piddlin around, whoevers there, bullshittin, just sit there all night listening to vinyl.

MOVIE NIGHTS

Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon unknowingly helped Earnhardt Jr. figure out a Wednesday night activity last month.

We were listening to Flash Gordon, Earnhardt Jr. said, because Ive got it on this Queen album, it had just played. I was like, Man! Remember that movie? And my buddy Sonny, my property manager, was like, Yeah!

Then I went to Bristol, and that was Jeffs intro song. I was like, Holy shit! Man, weve got to get that movie and watch it. So thats what were doing tonight. 8 oclock. My house.

TV SHOWS

I watch a lot of TiVo, Earnhardt Jr. said. I TiVo shows like The Office and Restaurant: Impossible.

Whats Restaurant: Impossible about? I hadnt seen it before.

Its where this cook goes into these restaurants and he fixes them, he said. Theyre in trouble and about to be closed because theyre in trouble. I like shows like that. I watch a lot of TV.

Earnhardt Jr. is also into the show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. He writes down the DDD locations and tries to visit the out-of-the-way eateries whenever hes near one for a NASCAR race.

ESPNS STREAK FOR THE CASH

Theres a game on ESPN.com (as well as an app) called Streak for the Cash, where players try to predict the outcome of random games and see how many in a row they can get correct.

Earnhardt Jr. plays Streak for the Cash in a league with other drivers and NASCAR industry types.

Im on the computer sort of looking for odds for these random-ass soccer games in the middle of the world somewhere, he said with a laugh. Or like college lacrosse. Im learning all kinds of shit about these teams that I never would ever have paid attention to otherwise. So thats funny to me, and I enjoy doing that.

Heres the difference between Earnhardt Jr. and many other Streak for the Cash players: He actually invests the time in watching the games take place.

I get online with these live streams and watch these crazy games that nobodys watching except for the people from wherever, he said. Im sitting there on a Wednesday watching these two Mexican B-(league) teams going at it. Im like, Cmonnnnn!

VIRTUAL FORMULA ONE TEAM MANAGER

Earnhardt Jr. enjoys playing an F1 management game at the site igpmanager.com. Its not a driving game, but instead puts players into the role of directing an F1 team everything from negotiating deals with sponsors to signing drivers to developing the race strategy.

Players then sit back and watch the race from an aerial view.

Its pretty simplistic, Earnhardt Jr. said. So I warn you … Dont expect it to be like iRacing.

OTHER STUFF

As if all that isnt enough, Earnhardt Jr. hosts a basketball league at his house (the teams consist of his friends), is obsessive about fantasy football and enjoys playing with his dog.

Oh, and girlfriend Amy Reimann gets some of his time, too.

But even with all that, Earnhardt Jr. still thinks his home life would be boring to others.

I really just sit around the house, he said.

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Full coverage of video games at Tech Talk

The man who brought us Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kongand The Legend of Zelda was in Paris to promote a Nintendo 3DS-visitors guide for the Louvre Museum.

Miyamoto spoke with many journalists at the event about this career and Nintendo games, but it was what he said about Sonys new handheld console, the PS Vita, that raised a few eyebrows.

Its obviously a very hi-spec machine, and you can do lots of things with it, Miyamoto told Edge magazine. But I dont really see the combination of software and hardware that really makes a very strong product.

The gaming legend may have been taking notice of the few games that have come out for the PS Vita since launch. To be fair to Sony, the PS Vita came with more launch titles than any other handheld video game console.

Miyamoto speaks from experience. The launch of the Nintendo 3DS was, at the very least, rocky. Last month, Nintendo announced its first ever annual loss – posting a net loss of 43.2 billion yen ($533 million). Miyamoto lamented the lack of strong launch titles, like Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 – both titles came out after the console launched last year.

This isnt the end of the road for the 60-year-old game designer. Miyamoto remains optimistic about the future of Nintendo and handheld games, as a whole.

Games have grown and developed from this limited in-the-box experience to something thats everywhere now, Miyamoto told the Guardian in an in-depth interview. Interactive content is all around us, networked, ready. This is something Ive been hoping for throughout my career.

As for why he still plays video games, Miyamoto told the Guardian because he still makes games. From the looks of it, he has no intentions of hitting the pause button soon.

One of the many reasons Miyamoto has become a legend in the industry is because of his ability to think outside of the box. The video game icon started his career at Nintendo designing the companys first coin-operated arcade game, Sheriff.

Miyamotos first big success came with Donkey Kong in 1981, a game that involved a gorilla and carpenter fighting over a girl. That carpenter, originally named Jumpman, went on to inspire Super Mario Bros. His portfolio also includes The Legend of Zelda, Star Fox and Wii Fit.

DALLAS (AP) Derek Fisher remembers how it felt to be swept out of the playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks.

That was only last year, when he was still playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. The veteran guard is now part of an Oklahoma City team full of young stars that has a chance to finish off a first-round sweep of the defending NBA champs.

You just never forget not finding a way to win a game in a playoff series, Fisher said Friday. But you learn from it, you grow from it. I feel like its made me better in terms of appreciating when youre in an opportunity in the postseason later in your career to really just give everything you have.

Oh, how quickly Fisher is getting that chance.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Dallas, where the Thunder led throughout and by as many as 26 points in a dominating 95-79 victory in Game 3 after winning the first two games at home by a combined four points.

You dont ever anticipate being up by mid-20s against Dallas on their home floor. Thats awful aggressive on your part if youre thinking that way, Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. Weve played good basketball.

After Dallas surprisingly swept past the Lakers to get to the Western Conference finals last year, the Mavericks needed only five games to eliminate Oklahoma City.

Only a week into this years playoffs, the Mavs find themselves playing for a little pride and trying to at least win one game.

No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series.

The focus is very narrow, its on one game, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. Were not tense or tight. We understand the nature of competition. … We havent lost any enthusiasm about our approach, and we will not.

That sounds a lot like Oklahoma city.

When the Thunder walked onto the American Airlines Center floor for a workout Friday, Kevin Durant had headphones over his ears. So did James Harden, who sang along to whatever he was listening to.

Durant, the three-time NBA scoring champ, had the game-winning bucket in the series opener and finally rediscovered his shooting touch in Game 3 when he scored 31 points on 11 of 15 shooting. He had 15 points in the first quarter.

We know we have to be prepared and focused and locked in, Durant said. Weve got a good opportunity. … We havent (done anything). Thats what we have to think.

Fisher, whose No. 37 Thunder jersey matches his age, won five NBA titles with the Lakers. He signed with Oklahoma City in March after Los Angeles traded him to the Houston Rockets, who then bought out his contract.

The Thunders starting lineup of 20-somethings includes All-Stars Durant and Russell Westbrook. Adding Fisher provided a lot of experience, playoff and otherwise.

There are definitely things I can share verbally to my teammates. At the same time, its those experiences in themselves that help you understand what it means and how to appreciate certain things, Fisher said. Its important for them to experience it for who they are and what it means to them.

What Fisher had seen from the other side was confirmed when he got to the Thunder. It is a group that has pure joy for playing the game with a certain energy that is unique to the game.

Its been a great ride so far, Fisher said.

One that could continue against Fishers former team. Without a monumental collapse, the Thunder will advance to play the winner of the series between Los Angeles and Denver.

Before that can happen, the Thunder have to close out their series against Dallas. Winning the series is the focus, not necessarily getting a sweep.

I dont think theres a negative to just thinking about winning the next game, which by default means (a sweep), Fisher said. There is not any pressure to sweep a team. The pressure is to win four out of seven, and were three games closer to that goal.

Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

• Frank Tilley
  Mary Louise Resendez wears a mini sombrero in good fun at the Senior Citizens Cinco de Mayo celebration. The activities calendar for May is full of items from bingo to Memorial Day celebrations.
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• Frank Tilley
  Beatriz Rodriguez wears a rose comb in her hair to add color to the Senior Citizens Cinco de Mayo celebration. The dining hall was decorated in festive colors to brighten the luncheon.
  Buy This Photo rel=prettyPhoto[sl_helping_hands_050512_175242]>

Victoria County Senior Citizens Association

Victoria County senior citizens have a full calendar in May.

Fridays Cinco de Mayo luncheon kicked off the month that is filled with activities for the over-60 set.

The Victoria County Senior Citizens Association is at the forefront of many of these activities.

The associations two centers – open from 7 am to 3 pm weekdays – provide a number of services for Victoria seniors including lunch, delivery of meals to the homebound, free health screenings, games, exercise equipment, arts and crafts, computer access, lectures and other activities.

The Murray Street center also houses the Jubilee Store, which sells handmade crafts, creations and specialty items from 8 am to 12:30 pm Monday through Friday.

MAY SENIOR EVENTS:

May 10 – 9-11 am, Mothers Day haircuts and manicures, Halsey Center

May 11 – 9-11 am, Mothers Day haircuts and manicures, Murray Center

May 17 – 8:30 am-2 pm, Healthy Aging Conference, Victoria Community Center, $2 admission includes breakfast and lunch, 361-574-4581

May 25 – 9 am, Memorial Day picnic, Lions Club Park, veterans recognized at 11 am

CENTER LOCATIONS:

603 E. Murray St. and 4009 Halsey St.

CONTACT:

Debbie Garner, executive director, 361-576-2189

Here are three ideas — including fresh takes on the silhouette and the family tree — for creating a new family treasure in just an afternoon.

Silhouette pendants

From Whitney Phippen, of Fort Collins, Colo., comes the traditional silhouette — a black profile positioned on a white background — reinvented as a keepsake pendant. Phippen has made silhouettes of countless children, but also of adults, dogs, cats — even a pet chicken. It was adorable, she said.

This mother of two young boys has made hundreds of pendants since opening her Etsy online shop, Lucky Me Beads, five years ago.

She likes working with childrens profiles.

I love how their hair is so random and can have all these little spikes and curls, Phippen said.

Phippens pendant-making process is slow and methodical — she works by hand — but she suggests that others can craft something similar with a few shortcuts.

A photo can be turned into a silhouette using Photoshop, or it can be done the old-fashioned way: Cut the profile out of a photo.

Phippen goes this route, cutting from a large photo to capture more detail and then scanning it into her computer, where she manipulates the image and shrinks it to pendant size.

Family trees

Vana Chupp, of Mount Prospect, Ill., also works in silhouette for her online store, Le Papier Studio, and an Etsy shop of the same name. Chupp works in several mediums — card stock, fabrics, jewelry and dishware.

A family tree of silhouettes can fit three or four generations. The tree can be cut out of paper or fabric, or theres a template on her website. Chupp likes to use the likenesses of real family members, but silhouette templates also can be used.

She suggests hanging the genealogical tree among family photos as a go-to point for explaining ancestors and family relationships to children.

Other Chupp projects are in her book Silhouette Art (Chronicle books, 2010).

Family-story
triptych

Sondra Hines came up with this idea several years ago for an elementary school art program at the Holter Museum of Art, in Helena, Mont., where she is curator of education.

A triptych consists of three panels, two of which often fold onto the third. Younger children need adult guidance to make one, but teenagers can do it on their own.

Basically, you just want to put things in it that hold memory, so when you look back you can go, Ohhh, I remember … , Hines said.