A Delhi court on Tuesday framed charges against the driver of U.S.-based cab service provider Uber for alleged rape and kidnapping, amid some drama by him inside the court room.

Additional Sessions Judge Kaveri Baweja framed charges against Shiv Kumar Yadav, accused of raping a 25-year-old woman executive, for offences under sections 376(2)(m) (while committing rape causing grievous bodily harm or endangering life of a woman), 366 (kidnapping or abducting woman with an intent to compel her for marriage), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code.

The judge also ordered trial on day-to-day basis in the case from January 15.

The court framed charges against 32-year-old Yadav after he pleaded not guilty.

Yadav created a bit of a drama by initially refusing to sign on the charge order and arguing with the judge, while alleging that arguments on charges were not advanced in his presence and claiming that he was not given a chance to engage a lawyer for himself.

Later, after being assured by the judge that nothing wrong was being done to him and all legal procedures were being followed by the court, he agreed and gave it in writing that he was signing the order on charge at his own will.

The police had filed the charge sheet 19 days after the incident on the night of December 5 last year when the victim, who worked for a finance company in Gurgaon, was headed back home in Delhis Inderlok area.

During the last hearing on January 9, the court had reserved its order on framing of charge after hearing arguments, during which the police asserted that scientific, medical and other evidence showed beyond doubt that Yadav had raped the woman passenger.

The counsel appearing for Yadav, however, had claimed that as per the victims medical report no injury was found on her body and she was tutored before recording her statement under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) before a magistrate.

The metropolitan magistrate, on January 5, had taken cognizance of the charge sheet filed by the Delhi Police and committed it to the sessions court for further proceedings.

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Uber rape case: Court frames charges against cab driver

OSAGE | The Osage School District has completed the first two steps in the process of securing funds for a potential safe room.

The third step involves completing pre-design plans and an estimated budget for the potential room which could be either an addition onto the middle school building or an addition to Lincoln Elementary School.

Although no money is available at this time, money could become available by the approval of Homeland Security, said Superintendent Steve Bass.

"Unfortunately, money generally only becomes available if there is a catastrophic event," he said. "Although we would hate to see that happen, we need to be prepared if that does."

According to Bass, the district has completed its letter of intent to file for funds and has received initial approval from Iowa Homeland Security, the agency that oversees the distribution of funds.

The board is pursuing the two options following a recommendation from the districts facilities committee to meet with architect Ed Wineinger about the possibility.

After speaking with a Homeland Security representative, Bass was informed that the funds could not be used for a middle school gymnasium safe room due to its proximity to the Cedar River Complex.

"They do not want people leaving a 'safe' building to go to another 'safe' building," Bass said. "Even though we know people would."

Bass said he believed the board would still want to consider pursuing a new second competition gymnasium that would include new, upgraded lobby, locker rooms and offices.

"When looking at the 18 schools making up the new super conference," said Bass, "Osage is one of only four schools in the conference that will not have a second competition gymnasium."

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Osage board continues safe room discussion

Cool Room addition decorating ideas

By: Decorations Style Ideas

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Cool Room addition decorating ideas - Video

I spent all of 2014 looking back at the 1988 Topps set. I used the 1988 Topps design for my 2014 Chachi set and I used 1988 Topps Phillies-related cards in my game preview posts. I wasn't able to feature all the Phillies-related cards from the 1988 Topps set either because the Phillies didn't play every team in the American League or certain teams just had way too many cards featuring ex or future Phillies.

Similar to what I've done with the 1973 and 1979 Topps sets, here's a look at all 154 cards in the 1988 Topps set featuring players, coaches or managers with a Phillies connection.

National League East (52 - 17 without Phillies) Atlanta Braves (6) - #90 Dale Murphy, #549 Dale Murphy TL, #627 Joe Boever, #732 Dave Palmer, #755 Ozzie Virgil, #39T Ron Gant Miami Marlins (0) New York Mets (7) - #8 Kevin Elster, #30 Sid Fernandez, #164 Dave Johnson MG, #333 Wally Backman, #355 Roger McDowell, #655 Len Dykstra, #787 Bill Almon Philadelphia Phillies (35) Washington Nationals (Montreal Expos) (4) - #93 Bob Sebra, #251 Tom Foley, #365 Floyd Youmans, #588 Jeff Parrett

National League Central (29) Chicago Cubs (9) - #10 Ryne Sandberg, #36 Jamie Moyer, #171 Manny Trillo TL, #287 Manny Trillo, #416 Keith Moreland, #564 Frank Lucchesi MG, #642 Bob Dernier, #717 Jay Baller, #768 Dickie Noles Cincinnati Reds (4) - #265 Bo Diaz, #475 Pete Rose MG, #686 Terry Francona, #55T Danny Jackson Milwaukee Brewers (2) - #592 Dale Sveum, #670 Dan Plesac Pittsburgh Pirates (3) - #168 Barry Jones, #349 Bob Walk, #539 Mike LaValliere St. Louis Cardinals (11) - #59 Danny Cox, #133 Greg Mathews, #208 Steve Lake, #310 Tom Herr, #483 Rod Booker, #509 Bill Dawley, #536 John Morris, #562 Jim Lindeman, #612 Curt Ford, #34T Jose DeLeon, #70T Larry McWilliams

American League East (6) Baltimore Orioles (2) - #11 Mike Young, #142 Andy Van Slyke Boston Red Sox (0) New York Yankees (2) - #636 Charles Hudson, #741 Mike Easler Tampa Bay Rays (0) Toronto Blue Jays (2) - #438 Rob Ducey, #24T Sil Campusano

American League Central (20) Chicago White Sox (5) - #334 Dave LaPoint, #613 Bobby Thigpen, #634 Jose DeLeon, #657 Gary Redus, #714 Jim Fregosi MG Cleveland Indians (4) - #82 Darrel Akerfelds, #293 Doug Jones, #374 Doc Edwards, #683 Julio Franco Detroit Tigers (3) - #14 Sparky Anderson MG, #713 Willie Hernandez, #751 Jim Morrison Kansas City Royals (5) - #324 Danny Jackson, #348 Jim Eisenreich, #597 Gene Garber, #724 Danny Tartabull, #777 Lonnie Smith Minnesota Twins (3) - #218 Dan Schatzeder, #317 Tom Nieto, #49T Tom Herr

Other Team USA (3) - #30T Pat Combs, #71T Mickey Morandini, #88T Jim Poole

Memory Lane

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The Phillies Room

Napa, CA (PRWEB) January 08, 2015

Chatterbox Wine Marketing Services, the wine industry leader in relationship-based telesales and tasting room reservation management through VinoVisit.com, has announced multiple new Omni-channel services that will support winery DTC and digital marketing efforts. In addition to Chatterbox Voice, which has assisted wineries in driving relationship-based telesales for over 5 years, new services such as Chatterbox Mail, Mobile, Social, SEO, Direct Mail, and Tasting Room Abandonment will enable clients to utilize marketing best practices for reaching customers in every step of their DTC journey.

Consumers demand a seamless purchasing experience. From social interactions to phone transactions, Omni-channel solutions are the only way to ensure you are reaching the consumer where, when, and how they want to be contacted. We are focused on delivering services that help our winery clients leverage best practices that can immediately improve every area that touches their existing and prospective customers, said Ron Scharman, COO of Chatterbox Wine Marketing Services.

Overview of Chatterboxs New Services:

Availability: All of Chatterbox Wine Marketings Omni-channel solutions are available now exclusively for clients. For information regarding services and pricing contact:

Chris Pappe, VP of Sales at (707)-556-2303 or Chris(at)chatterboxwinemarketing(dot)com

In the Spotlight: Chatterbox will be at the following 2015 trade shows to discuss services in detail to attendees: Direct to Consumer Wine Symposium (Concord, CA January, 14-15, 2015), Oregon Wine Symposium (Portland, OR February, 24-25), Wine Business Monthly Innovation and Quality (St. Helena, CA March, 4, 2015), WIVI (Paso Robles, CA March, 17-18, 2015), and Eastern Winery Expo (Syracuse, NY March 17-18, 2015)

Recap: Who Chatterbox Wine Marketing Services What New Omni-channel Services: Voice, Email, Mobile, Social, SEO, Direct Mail, Tasting Room Abandonment When Available now exclusively to clients Where Services are available to all wine regions in North America How Much Performance based pricing. Contact Chris Pappe, VP of Sales at (707)-556-2303 or Chris(at)chatterboxwinemarketing(dot)com for more details

About Chatterbox Wine Marketing Services

Chatterbox Wine Marketing Services is a Napa-based company founded in 2009 that offers relationship-based wine telesales, visitor reservation and guest management, and other consumer direct marketing services exclusively for the wine industry. The company serves a growing list of well-known established, and up and coming brands, that require high-touch services in marketing their wines to consumers. http://www.chatterboxwinemarketing.com.

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Chatterbox Wine Marketing Services Launches New Winery Omni-Channel Marketing Services and Website

Looking around inside Leiphart School, the one-room schoolhouse at the Midland County Fairgrounds, one word comes to mind: simplicity.

Mint green paint covers the walls and an original, gray colored desk sits in the corner. This desk rests on top of well-worn wood floors. There is one spot on the floor that outlines a nearly full circle where a potbellied stove used to sit.

The room itself may seem rather ordinary, but the history that took place there that is remarkable.

From about 1881 until 1950, children from kindergarten through eighth grade, many of whom were siblings, sat at their desks and learned their subjects all in one room, and mostly from one teacher. The concept today, with more populated towns and larger schools, seems harder to imagine, but for the students of Leiphart School it was a reality.

In one section of the room are off-white shelves that contain framed copies of photos. One photo from 1910 shows 26 children standing next to their teacher, Grace Sugnet.

Leiphart School is at least 133 years old and was once located on Jefferson Avenue, then known as Old State Road. Driving north on Jefferson today, it is easy to miss the grassy field set apart by a few short, wood pillars and some cable rope, where Leiphart, and eventually the two-room schoolhouse that replaced it, once stood.

After the two-room school was built, around 1950, Leiphart was kept intact but moved to the fairgrounds.

In recent months, 13 people some who went to Leiphart and some whose relatives went have formed a committee. Their hope is to raise the funds needed to renovate the school. The group would like to maintain the originality of the school and its design, while providing updates and some needed repairs.

There is value in preserving the history that goes with Leiphart #4, said Barbara Rice, associate broker at Mid-Land Realtors.

Rice talked about the nostalgia of a quiet, simpler way of life that the schoolhouse represents.

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Leiphart School has remarkable history; fundraiser planned

Meridian Hills Room Addition by Cliff #39;s Construction
Room Addition project completed in the Meridian Hills area of Indianapolis.

By: Cliffs Construction Home Remodeling

Excerpt from:
Meridian Hills Room Addition by Cliff's Construction - Video

Belkin has announced several new sensors for its WeMo home automation line, including the Door and Window Sensor, the Keychain Sensor, and the Alarm Sensor, the last of which triggers if an existing security system goes off. Another addition is a new Room Motion Sensor, which can track heat signatures up to 30 feet away within a 90-degree arc. The unit should ignore pets, and (through the WeMo app) not only let people set alerts or links with other devices but check the last detected movement in a given room.

Something still in development is the Water Sensor. That device will attach to a plumbing system and track a house's overall water usage, as well as any pressure changes. The product is still in field testing however, and no release date is on the horizon; the other new WeMo sensors are scheduled to ship in the second half of the year.

In the meantime Belkin will be shipping a collection of mobile charging accessories, such as the Wireless Charging Pad -- which will should support any Qi-compatible phone or case -- and two battery packs, the Power Pack 2000 and the MIXIT Power Pack 400, rated at 2,000mAh and 4,000mAh, respectively. Other new MIXIT products will include home and car chargers and a variety of cables. The Wireless Charging Pad will arrive in April for $40, while the new Power Packs are due in June for $20 and $30. The remaining gear is expected in May at prices between $20 and $30.

By Electronista Staff

Continued here:
Belkin launches more WeMo sensors, mobile charging accessories

Kings Christian Collegiate Music Room Addition
Concept model.

By: Dickinson + Hicks Architects Inc.

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Kings Christian Collegiate Music Room Addition - Video

The difference between a hotel room at $75 a night and $750 a night is the view, the extra shampoo, the cost of the pillows, the fluff of the towels. Price is a measure of comfort and service. What must always be the same at every price is your security, your safety and cleanliness. Unfortunately, it's not. Across the country, hotels are skimping on key safety measures, and the consequences range from stolen laptops and Peeping Toms to sexual assaults and robbery at gunpoint. More than 125 property crimes are committed in hotels and motels every day in the United States, in addition to more than 21 violent crimes (excluding murders).

What's needed is a grading system that will alert potential guests to the quality of a hotel's security, guaranteeing that A-rated facilities have measures in place to assure guests' safety and the rooms' cleanliness. In New York City, Los Angeles and other cities, restaurants are graded based on government inspections, and those grades are posted so you can see them before you walk in the door. Hotels and motels also are entrusted with customers' health and safety, and they must be held equally accountable.

That accountability starts with basic security. For instance, many hotels fail to perform adequate background checks on job applicants before hiring them. In September 2011, a woman staying at a Best Western hotel in Arizona woke up in the middle of the night to find a man standing over her bed. She says the man raped her. He was a registered level-3 sex offender, according to news reports, but Best Western had hired him as a night clerk and given him a master key to guest rooms, allowing him unfettered access to turn any of its female guests into his next victims.

Unfortunately, this story isn't unusual. Best Western fired the sex offender, but a few months later, a Marriott hotel in the same town added him to their payroll. Soon after, a woman staying at that hotel said he raped her, too. Two Arizona state senators are pushing a bill to ban hotels from giving registered sex offenders access to room keys. That is a good step, but sexual assaults are not the only threat to hotel guests.

A few years ago, the Onity electronic hotel lock was found to be easily hackable, leading to a string of hotel room break-ins and endangering 4 million rooms worldwide. Even after the company said it fixed the problem, the break-ins continued.

Fire safety is a major issue, too. While filming an episode of my show, "Hotel Impossible," at the historic Gadsden Inn in Douglas, Arizona, I discovered that not only were all of the fire extinguishers out of date and would not have functioned properly had they been needed, but the entire alarm system had been turned off for 15 years. According to the National Fire Incident Reporting System, there are about 3,900 hotel and motel fires per year, causing about 15 deaths. In nearly 60 percent of those fires, either there were no automatic extinguishing systems like sprinklers or they weren't working. In more than 25 percent of those fires, either there were no smoke alarms or firefighters couldn't determine if there were.

It's not just flammable curtains and faulty electrical systems that can kill you. Last year, three guests at a Best Western in North Carolina died from carbon monoxide poisoning due to a faulty pool water heater. Reacting to those deaths, the Best Western chain announced in September that carbon monoxide detectors would be placed in every guest room throughout the country.

Pool accidents are another leading cause of accidental death in hotels. At a Quality Inn & Suites in Seattle last year, it took hotel staff and rescuers nearly three hours to find a man who had drowned in the pool because the water was so murky. A series of problems had led inspectors to close the pool about a month earlier, including improper chlorine levels and loose handrails. Guests should know whether their hotel doesn't take basic pool safety precautions, like making life preservers and rescue hooks readily available.

Hotels vary dramatically in their level of cleanliness, too. I've found absurdly disgusting stains on sheets, pillowcases, blankets and floors that aren't visible without a blue light so guests would never know. I've also found heroin needles in drawers and diarrhea on the bathroom floor. In one hotel, The Empress in New Orleans, I found housekeepers using the same unwashed rags to clean bathrooms and bedrooms because the owner thought that washing rags was a waste of water.

In the absence of a hotel rating system, here's what guests can do help ensure their own safety:

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The case for giving hotels the same health grades as restaurants