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"He came out here and did some events when I was party chairmen in 1977," he said. "I hosted him and got to know him and work with him. Then I put on some events for him, and then after a while we became good friends."
Bush, a World War II veteran who served as Ronald Reagan's vice president before being elected the nation's 41st president in 1988, died Friday at age 94.
He's been remembered by people across the political spectrum as a decent man with a strong commitment to public service. Prior to his time in the oval office, he represented the Houston-area in Congress, was the U.S. envoy to China, and served as the CIA director under President Gerald R. Ford.
Once Bush was elected, Secchia was offered a position in Washington working for the president. But Secchia, who worked for Bush's presidential campaign, turned down the offer. He says he "had been around a long enough time working in politics to know that Washington was not a place" he wanted to be.
An intriguing offer came later, Secchia said, when the Bush administration asked whether he would consider becoming a U.S. ambassador.
"I sort of laughed, because my image was not to be an ambassador," he said. Secchia said he would consider the offer "only if it was for Italy, because my grandfather emigrated from Italy in 1907."
The offer proved too good to pass up, and Secchia spent the next several years in Italy. He said the "fall of the Soviet Union happened about three months after we got there," and "Bush put me in charge of removing the nuclear weapons from Europe and Turkey where we had them all stored."
Despite all Bush's accomplishments, he remained a humble, "regular guy."
"He was a guy who laughed at a good joke," he said. "He was a person who was kind to all of his friends."
Former Xbox 360 exclusive, current multi-platform title Tales of Vesperia has a release date — very important for a game that's going to be, well, released.
On September 17, the game will be released in Japan. Priced at ¥7,800 (US$79), the game features new character, pirate girl Patty. She'll even be appearing in the game's opening cinematic!
The Winnipeg Goldeyes made several transactions Monday in advance of their series-opener against the Sioux City Explorers.
The Goldeyes signed veteran right-handed pitcher Juan Carlos (JC) Sulbaran, veteran infielder Tommy Mendonca, and catcher Tyler Baker. The Goldeyes have activated left-handed pitcher Shane Dawson from the Inactive List. Veteran infielder Tucker Nathans has been placed on the Disabled List, retroactive to June 28, while...
Sulbaran last pitched in 2016 where he was a combined 5-10 with a 5.24 ERA in 27 starts and one relief appearance at two levels of the St. Louis Cardinals’ organization. The native of Willemstad, Curacao, totaled 146.0 innings for the triple-A Pacific Coast League’s Memphis Redbirds and the double-A Texas League’s Spri...
Mendonca hit .273 with three home runs and 12 RBI in 31 games earlier this season for the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. The Turlock, Calif., native hit .291 with six homers and 28 RBI in 49 contests last year for the Lincoln Saltdogs after spending the previous three seasons with the Explorers. Mendonca was drafted by the T...
Baker played in 46 games earlier this season for the class-A California League’s Modesto Nuts (Seattle Mariners). Last season, the Topeka, Kansas, native hit a combined .238 with six home runs and 15 RBI at two levels of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ system. A left-handed batter and right-handed defender, Baker was drafted...
Garcia is expected to miss the remainder of the season after suffering an injury on Saturday versus St. Paul. Garcia was batting .273 with one home run and 18 RBI in 40 games, and led the American Association with a 50% caught stealing rate.
Dawson had been on the Inactive List since June 2, and is 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA in three starts this season.
Additionally, left-handed pitcher Josh Blanco has cleared waivers and is now a free agent, while rookie first baseman Jamey Smart has been placed on irrevocable waivers for the purpose of granting his release.
The Winnipeg Goldeyes lost 5-4 to the Sioux City Explorers at Lewis and Clark Park on Monday night.
Dave Sappelt jump-started Winnipeg with a solo home run two batters into the game, but the Explorers scored five unanswered runs beginning with two in the bottom of the second. Dylan Kelly and Daniel Jackson delivered back-to-back two-out, RBI singles.
Kelly singled again in the fourth to produce two more runs, and the Explorers took a 5-1 lead in the fifth on a two-out single from Jose Sermo.
Winnipeg started chipping away in the top of the sixth. Andrew Sohn singled home Josh Romanski. Tommy Mendonca scored an unearned on the same play when left fielder Luis Durango was charged with an error.
Reggie Abercrombie singled home the Goldeyes’ fourth run in the top of the seventh. Winnipeg maintained a threat with the bases loaded and one out, but Parker Markel worked out of the jam, and then struck out the side in the eighth.
Eric Karch threw a perfect ninth to earn his sixth save.
THE SKINNY: The Sioux City Explorers used quality relief pitching to hang on and beat the Goldeyes 5-4.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Goldeyes right-hander Jack Charleston, pitching on a fifth consecutive calendar day, worked a scoreless bottom of the seventh.
PLAY OF THE GAME: The Explorers came into the game hitting .344 with two outs and runners in scoring position. Three of their five runs were chased home on two-out hits.
NEXT UP: Winnipeg lefty Shane Dawson returns from the Inactive List and faces righty Justin Vernia tonight at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on 93.7 FM.
As he congratulated incoming president Halimah Yacob yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also took the opportunity to thank the two men who offered themselves as potential candidates.
Mr Farid Khan, 61, chairman of a marine services company, and Mr Salleh Marican, 67, chief executive of a property company, were informed by the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) on Monday that they did not qualify to contest.
Neither had helmed a company with at least $500 million in shareholder equity in the most recent three years, a key requirement for private sector candidates.
In a Facebook post, Mr Lee noted that it could not have been easy for them to decide to contest, given the media attention and public scrutiny they would face.
This has been a divisive run-up to the nomination for the president. I hope Madam Halimah will heal the wounds. Given her experience and background, I believe she will be a unifying president.
MR SALLEH MARICAN, in a statement.
I wish Madam Halimah Yacob all the best, and I hope that she will have the people of Singapore in her thoughts when making any decision that will affect our lives and the lives of our children.
MR FARID KHAN, in a Facebook post.
"They respected the Constitution and conducted themselves with propriety and decorum. They did not confuse people with wild promises that exceeded the remit of the president, which had happened before," he said.
He also thanked them for accepting the PEC's decisions, saying: "This is the way to make our democratic processes work properly and in the interest of Singaporeans."
Communications and Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim also thanked Mr Farid and Mr Salleh for stepping forward. Dr Yaacob, who is also Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, said: "I hope that they will continue to contribute to the community and serve Singapore."
Pebble, the company that ignited the smartwatch market with its $10.3m (£6.7m) crowdfunding campaign in 2012, has returned to Kickstarter with a new device called Pebble Time.
The new version has a colour e-ink screen, a claimed battery life of seven days, and is 20% thinner than Pebble’s previous smartwatches. It can also track its wearer’s activity with a built-in accelerometer like a fitness band.
Pebble Time’s crowdfunding campaign went live at 3pm GMT, and hit its $500k funding goal 17 minutes later. It then became the fastest Kickstarter campaign to hit $1m in 30 minutes and $2m in 58 minutes. It will cost $159 (£103) for 5,000 “early bird” backers, although its regular price once it launches in May will be $...
The device is one of only very few smartwatches that will work with multiple smartphones, rather than just being restricted to Android or iPhone, such as, respectively, Android Wear smartwatches or the upcoming Apple Watch.
While Pebble’s new device also includes a microphone for dictating voice replies to messages, its key feature – if it delivers on its promise – will be the week-long battery life. As a comparison, the best Android Wear watches manage three days, while the Apple Watch is expected to need a nightly recharge.
Unlike those devices, though, the Pebble Time has no touchscreen. Instead, it will be controlled by three buttons on its side to scroll through text and activate functions.
Pebble has sold more than 1m smartwatches since its first model in 2012, and now has over 6,500 third-party apps and watch faces available, including apps for music playback and controlling smart-home devices.
GENEVA (Reuters) - Atheists and other religious skeptics suffer persecution or discrimination in many parts of the world and in at least seven nations can be executed if their beliefs become known, according to a report issued on Monday.
The study, from the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), showed that “unbelievers” in Islamic countries face the most severe - sometimes brutal - treatment at the hands of the state and adherents of the official religion.
But it also points to policies in some European countries and the United States which favor the religious and their organizations and treat atheists and humanists as outsiders.
The report was welcomed by Heiner Bielefeldt, United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, who said in a brief introduction there was little awareness that atheists were covered by global human rights agreements.
The IHEU - which links over 120 humanist, atheist and secular organizations in more than 40 countries - said it was issuing the report to mark the U.N.’s Human Rights Day on Monday.
According to its survey of some 60 countries, the seven where expression of atheist views or defection from the official religion can bring capital punishment are Afghanistan, Iran, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.
The 70-page report lists no recent cases of actual execution for “atheism” — but researchers say the offence is often subsumed into other charges.
In a range of other countries - such as Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Kuwait and Jordan - publication of atheist or humanist views on religion are totally banned or strictly limited under laws prohibiting “blasphemy”.
In many of these countries, and others like Malaysia, citizens have to register as adherents of a small number officially-recognized religions — which normally include no more than Christianity and Judaism as well as Islam.
Atheists and humanists are thereby forced to lie to obtain their official documents without which it is impossible to go to university, receive medical treatment, travel abroad or drive.
In Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin and North America, countries which identify themselves secular give privileges to or favor Christian churches in providing education and other public services, the IHEU said.
In Greece and Russia, the Orthodox Church is fiercely protected from criticism and is given pride of place on state occasions, while in Britain bishops of the Church of England have automatic seats in the upper house of parliament.
In at least seven U.S. states, constitutional provisions are in place that bar atheists from public office and one state, Arkansas, has a law that bars an atheist from testifying as a witness at a trial, the report said.
The Good The standard six-speed manual in the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi is fun to use. Bluetooth streaming, iPod integration, and a smart key are standard, as well. The Rockford Fosgate audio system pumps out rambunctious sound.
The Bad The interface for choosing music from iPod and MP3 CD is frustrating.
The Bottom Line The 2010 Suzuki Kizashi looks like it should have serious performance chops, but is more of a sheep in wolf's clothing. Cabin tech options befit a modern car.
Suzuki's introduction of an all-new midsize sedan may come as a surprise, but even more surprising is how much Suzuki is waving the performance flag around the 2010 Kizashi. Suzuki included a modified Road Race version of it at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show, even the high trim versions come standard with a six-speed m...
Few midsize sedans appeal to driving enthusiasts, as the market is dominated by the Toyota Camry, setting the pace for the segment with comfortable, economical cars built as everyday commuters. As such, these cars show their best virtues in getting superior fuel economy and providing the kind of cabin tech that lets dr...
The 2010 Kizashi meets some of these requirements with the SLS trim level, comfortable and power-adjustable leather seats, a standard Bluetooth phone system, and a 2.4-liter engine that easily got mileage in the mid-20s during our testing.
But the Kizashi asserts a more rambunctious character. One clue is the six-speed manual in a market dominated by automatics. You can bring it back in line with the majority by opting for a continuously variable transmission.
Six-speed manuals are not common among midsize sedans.
Another clue is the 425-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system, standard in the two top trim levels. This audio system makes big sound, with enough bass pumped out of a subwoofer on the rear deck to make the whole car shake and rumble.
Suzuki also gives the Kizashi a tech edge by making a smart key and USB port, which also offers iPod integration, standard at all trim levels. In the SLS trim, it also gets Bluetooth streaming to the audio system. There is an optional navigation system, as well, but it wasn't included in our test car so we can't commen...
We took the Kizashi's sport notes as a challenge to test it on the kind of roads we normally reserve for dedicated sports cars, winding mountain tracks with hard corners that test grip and handling. Right out of the garage we put the engine to the test with a few jackrabbit starts.
As noted above, the Kizashi comes with a 2.4-liter four cylinder, a run-of-the-mill mill with an output of 185 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. These are not impressive numbers, but Suzuki publishes a zero to 60 mph time for the car of 7.4 seconds. That is not crazy fast, either, but just the fact that Suzuki p...
The exhaust pipes are integrated into the bumper, a stylistic performance touch.
We got the Kizashi's revs up and dropped the clutch, producing front-wheel spin and traction control warnings flickering on the instrument cluster before the car moved smartly forward. The fast start wasn't bad, but we could have gotten the same performance out of the Mazda6 we tested earlier. The six-speed manual adds...
With nothing exceptionally noteworthy under the hood, we set out to see if Suzuki gave it a big handling advantage. On the freeway, we noted the somewhat close gear ratios, with sixth gear letting the engine run at 2,500rpm. Dropping down to fifth only produced a 500rpm difference. We would have expected a taller top g...
Once in the fun stuff, taking the car through the first set of curves showed that it could be pushed, but again nothing dramatic, with handling no better than the Mazda6 or the Nissan Altima, as another example. The Kizashi leaned as inertia pulled it out on the turns, and we gave it some throttle, letting the front wh...
A big Rockford Fosgate subwoofer mounted on the rear deck shakes and rattles the car.
The steering feels nice and tight, but successive curves produced plenty of understeer. Getting onto damper roads, the front end showed a tendency to wash around as the traction control tried to give it some grip while fighting the turns. The rear wheels were no particular help, although the Kizashi can be had in all-w...
After a while, we realized that the Kizashi is more bluster than bite, and started to drive it as transportation. The ride was comfortable and the cabin roomy enough for a car in this class, and that Rockford Fosgate audio system let us terrorize urban streets by setting off car alarms up and down the street.
The iPod interface is standard, but requires a lot of scrolling for music selection.
Feeding the sound system music from an iPod, we found the music interface usable, but mediocre. The radio display includes two big lines of text in monochrome glory. We quickly figured out how to push the buttons and turn dials to select artists and albums, but it is a tedious process, requiring you to scroll through l...
Bluetooth audio streaming is also available, which, as in other cars, works like a wireless auxiliary input. The Bluetooth phone system is fairly typical, using voice command for its interface. It does offer a phonebook function, but you have to push contacts from phone to car; it won't automatically import anything.
Although sporting an aggressively good-looking body, the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi's running gear is pretty average, using an engine similar to that in many midsize sedans. The availability of a six-speed manual is a nice touch for driving enthusiasts. Cabin tech is modern, if not particularly cutting edge. Drivers will find...
Indian developers’ interest in marquee London properties seems to be rising steadily.
After Lodha Group’s Rs 3,000-crore (Rs 30 billion) acquisition there recently, another Mumbai firm, Indiabulls Real Estate, on Thursday bought an iconic building in London’s Mayfair for Rs 1,550 crore (Rs 15.5 billion).
The firm bought the 87,444-sq ft feet property -- 22, Hanover Square -- from Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (part of Aberdeen Asset Management), which had put the building up for sale in April through consultancy firm H2SO.
According to the deal, the acquisition cost comes to Rs 165,000 per sq ft and the total saleable value of Rs 4,500 crore (Rs 45 billion).
The firm is seen earning Rs 2,000 crore (Rs 20 billion) from the project over five years.
It plans to pull down the building over a three-year period and construct premium residential towers and sell the apartments for Rs 450,000 per sq ft.
Indiabulls Group Chairman Sameer Gehlaut said: “The building’s location in prime Mayfair adjoining Bond Street is exceptional and Hanover Square will arguably become London’s best-connected square when the new Bond Street Crossrail station opens in 2018.
"The building has huge potential for redevelopment.” H2SO Co-founder John Olney said: “Free-hold assets of this quality and scale are rare in Mayfair.
"There was high investor interest in the building.
Indiabulls Real Estate, part of the Rs 20,000-crore (Rs 200-billion) Indiabulls Group, has 24 million sq ft of projects under construction.
DPA Microphones, the leading Danish Professional Audio manufacturer of high-quality condenser microphone solutions for professional applications, is pleased to welcome René Mørch as the company’s new Product Manager. Mørch previously worked for DPA Microphones from 2006 until 2009 as the Research & Development Manager.
ALLEROED, DENMARK, JULY 21, 2016 – DPA Microphones, the leading Danish Professional Audio manufacturer of high-quality condenser microphone solutions for professional applications, is pleased to welcome René Mørch as the company’s new Product Manager. Mørch previously worked for DPA Microphones from 2006 until 2009 as ...
As Product Manager, Mørch will act as the bridge between the Sales, Marketing and Research & Development departments. He will gather information from the market through internal and external sources, and will be a part of the team that decides short- and long-term product strategy. Taking an active role on the manageme...
Rene Morch joins DPA Microphones as Product Manager.
DPA Microphones, the leading Danish Professional Audio manufacturer of high-quality condenser microphone solutions for professional applications, is pleased to announce that Jewel Kusek has joined the DPA team in the United States as General Manager of DPA Microphones, Inc.
DPA Microphones, the leading Danish Professional Audio manufacturer of high-quality condenser microphone solutions for professional applications, is continuing to celebrate 25 years in the business with the addition of two more limited-edition, commemorative microphone kits.
DPA Microphones, a leading manufacturer of high-quality miniature microphone solutions for professional audio applications, is pleased to announce that Evan MacKenzie has joined the team as the new Marketing and Communications Manager for the United States.

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