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Striking writers target Desperate Housewives
Eva Longoria hands pizza to starving pensmiths
Striking writers who earlier this week forced The Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to air reruns, while reducing the presenters of Dancing With The Stars to traumatic improvisation, have upped the ante by descending on the LA set of Desperate Housewives.
According to the BBC, Seinfeld luminary Julia Louis-Dreyfus joined the crowd of agitated pensmiths at a location shoot in the Toluca Lake suburb. The offending episode, which is using a script completed before the strike began, is due to wrap shooting today.
In a conciliatory gesture, Eva Longoria used a break in filming to distribute pizzas to the doubtless near destitute members of the Writers Guild of America which is demanding more cash for residuals, including material redistributed on DVD and the internet.
Longoria told the press: "It's in the best interest of the entertainment community to begin a meaningful dialogue as soon as possible."
Previous meaningful dialogue broke down on Sunday, with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers' Nick Counter declaring his colleagues were "hunkered down for a long one".
The unrest has now spread to "at least six TV sitcoms", AP reports, with production halted on The Office when its cast failed to show up for work yesterday.
Stars of ER, meanwhile, "came out to back strikers at the Warner Bros studios".
Ellen DeGeneres, however, continued with a recording of her talk show yesterday with "a pledge of support". She told the audience: "I want to say I love my writers. In honour of them today, I'm not going to do a monologue."
While this threat might strike fear, or not, into producers' hearts, the consequences of the strike could be genuinely serious for some. In New York, staff at The Tonight Show with Jay Leno have been warned their jobs are at risk if the dispute continues. ®
Sponsored: Minds Mastering Machines - Call for papers now open


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100 People Worse Than Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber isn't going anywhere, so hating on him, or mocking him, or refusing to give him a high-five when you see him at Wendy's won't do anything besides show the world that you're petty (and probably jealous). Besides, is Justin Bieber really that awful? Sure he sometimes comes across as a cocky dork, and his music is as bland as a water salad, but the guy sold a bajillion albums and much to everyone's surprise, is more than a one-hit-wonder or a gimmick.
To help put things into perspective, behold 100 people who are worse than Justin Biebs.
100. Kim Kardashian.
99. Chris Brown.
98. People who stare at you when you cry.
97. Any of the 100 worst types of teachers.
96. The guy on the Quaker Oats box. Anyone else feel as though he's undressing you with his eyes?
95. Justin Bieber fans.
94. Middle-aged Justin Bieber fans.
93. Middle-aged male Selena Gomez fans.
92. Mel Gibson.
91. Shredder (from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).
90. Little guys who own mean dogs.
89. Voldemort.
88. Dentists who can't decipher your hand gesture for, "Ouch!"
87. Yosemite Sam.
86. People who make fun of you for calling Yosemite Sam, "You See Might Sam."
85. Anne Hathaway. She's a talented actress, but annoying otherwise.
84. Twilight fans.
83. Goldilocks. She's a trespassing snob.
82. Cooking show judges. All of them.
81. Nickelback.
80. Kanye West. He can make decent music, but his attitude is that of Goldilocks mixed with a mean dog.
79. The person (or robot dragon?) who invented dubstep.
78. People who didn't like The Dark Knight.
77. Kristen Stewart.
76. Michael Bay.
75. Miley Cyrus.
74. People who correct your pronunciation at a party.
73. Leprechauns. Just give us the gold, jerks. You're obviously not using it.
72. Scar.
71. Lance Armstrong.
70. The members of 98 Degrees.
69. Members of O-Town.
68. Shoe salesman who ties your shoes too tight.
67. Spider farmers.
66. Loki.
65. Hansel.
64. Bugs Bunny. He's a jerk. Stop defending his actions. He's a jerk and a bully.
63. Gretel.
62. Any cast member of Real World/Road Rules Battle of the Whatever.
61. That guy from The Hangover who isn't Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, or Ed Helms.
60. Jabba The Hut.
59. Bellatrix Lestrange.
58. The Geico Cavemen. (Ask your parents if you don't know who they are.)
57. Donald Trump.
56. Ashton Kutcher.
55. Rebecca Black. (Ask your parents if you don't know who she is.)
54. Tyra Banks.
53. Illusionists. All of them, from David Blane to Chris Angel.
52. Whoever was the idiot that fired Community creator Dan Harmon.
51. Alvin, the Chipmunk. His brothers are OK.
50. Polly Pocket. That's probably not even her real name! And what if she's not a person, but some sort of disguised insect.
49. Draco.
48. The monsters in Space Jam.
47. Joffrey Baratheon.
46. The Free Credit Report band.
45. The galactic Emperor.
44. Stephenie Meyer.
43. The bears who use toilet paper in those commercials.
42. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
43. Jim Carrey (From 2008 - 2012)
42. Cruella de Vil.
41. Gary Busey. (Seen here talking about Hobbits.)
40. Commenting trolls.
39. Anyone who cares that Beyonce may have lip synced.
38. Beyonce...if she did, indeed, lipsync. YOU ARE A LIAR AND THE WORST!
37. Superman (The real one, who hasn't yet revealed himself because he's being a baby about it).
36. Jackson Pollack.
35. Most professional basketball players.
34. Simon Cowell.
33. John Mayer.
32. People who talk on cellphones while in a bathroom stall.
31. Liz. (Jon's girlfriend in the Garfield comic strips.)
30. Peter Pan. What a cocky, childish douche!
29. The person who puts celery in tuna salad.
28. Guys younger than 21 who have a moustache.
27. Unicorn hunters.
26. Ventriloquists.
25. Anyone who likes their sandwiches with extra crust.
24. Skeletor.
23. Usher.
22. Mumford's sons.
21. Jennifer Lopez.
20. The lying, manipulative wizard of Oz.
19. Klingons.
18. People who don't say anything after you sneeze.
17. Anyone who picked the cat over the robot for the new Monopoly piece.
16. Dr. Phil.
15. Hamlet.
14. Bella Swan.
13. Edward Cullen.
12. Weeping Claire Danes.
11. Ryan Lochte.
10. Justin Bieber's entourage.
9. The director of that Justin Bieber documentary.
8. Harry Styles.
7. The Devil.
6. Adam Sandler's character in 97% of Adam Sandler movies.
5. People who say the world "selfie" aloud, without a hint of irony or sarcasm.
4. Guys who have their own name tattooed on their own body.
3. People who write lists about other people.
2. Anyone who leans while driving a car.
1. Adele's baby.
Is Justin better than these people?

subset: commoncrawl


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Mr. Anderson defeated Bully Ray in a winner takes all no disqualification match, knocking out his former Aces & Eights colleague with his own iconic hammer before pinning him to the canvas.
In front of a watching crowd at the top of the ramp that included several members of the TNA franchise such as former Main Event Mafia members Magnus, Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle, Anderson fought back from a difficult start to the match to finally dispatch the team he was once a part of.
The duo, who agreed on the match a week earlier, knew the high stakes of the match with defeat for Ray meaning he would be forced to disband his club, while Anderson was putting his TNA career on the line.
Elsewhere at the event known as Turning Point, Bobby Roode and Magnus joined Jeff Hardy and Angle in the world heavyweight championship tournament semi-finals, defeating James Storm and Samoa Joe respectively.
Former tag-team partners Magnus and Joe fought in a falls count anywhere match and it was the Brit, the only wrestler in the tournament without a world title, that emerged victorious.
Joe looked set to claim victory when he caught Magnus in a submission hold on the outside of the ring, but Magnus managed to break the hold and stagger back against a chair he had set up between the ropes in the nearest corner.
The Samoan went for the finisher as he charged towards his opponent, but Magnus managed to step out of the way at the final moment and Joe crashed head first into the chair. With the one-time world champion out cold, Magnus picked up the win via pin-fall and will now meet Angle in the tournament semi-final.
Roode was also struggling during the early stages of his match with Storm in a match-up that also paired two former tag-team partners. The match was a Florida death match – as requested by Storm at the start of the night. Storm requested the upgrade from a bull-rope match after Roode attacked him in a bar the night before their quarter final.
The turning point came when Roode pulled out a beer bottle from underneath the ring, reminiscent of his world title fight with Storm in 2011. With no submissions or pin falls, the only way for a wrestler to lose the match was to fail to answer a referee's ten count. Roode proceeded to attack Storm using chairs and a steel crutch, but each time the Cowboy somehow hauled himself back to his feet.
It was only when Roode emerged from the underside of the ring with a board laced with barbed wire that one bystander considered it too much to watch. Gunner, Storm's most recent tag-team partner, raced to ringside and threw in the towel, just as Roode was poised to drop the Cowboy onto the board. The victorious Roode will face Hardy in his semi-final.
Elsewhere, Gail Kim emerged victorious from her second open challenge to any woman outside of the TNA company – defeating Candice Larea by pin. Ethan Carter III beat wrestling 'legend' Shark Boy to maintain his undefeated record and Abyss failed to emerge to meet his challenge from brother Joseph Park, who left the stage to the mocking of Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian, who have been feuding with Park over the last month.
But it was Anderson's defeat of Ray that was the big story. Ray's remaining Aces & Eights associate Knux attempted to come to his President's aid, but he was the victim of a pile-drive into the floor and had his club jacket stripped off his back.
Back in the ring, Ray drove Anderson threw a table, reminiscent of their previous meeting, but this time Bully only managed a two count. Brooke attempted to throw Ray his hammer, but overshot the effort and handed the weapon to Anderson instead. He needed no further invitation, bringing it crashing down over the head of Ray.
A triumphant Anderson punched the air, Aces & Eights remaining jackets in hand as a delighted crowd applauded their new hero.
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That evaluation will take place over the next month. That process will involve Gettleman, the coaching staff and pro scouts reviewing the entire body of work during the 17-game season.
"The most important team you have to know is your own," Gettleman said.
And once the evaluations are made, there will be tough decisions to make due to the Panthers' salary cap situation.
"We are cap challenged. That's not going away any time soon," Gettleman said. "We have to identify the core and then keep the core. That's what you have to do.
"Everybody can count. We've got 21 UFAs (unrestricted free agents). There's no secrets here. We have got a lot of decisions to make. The biggest mistake you can make is make emotional decisions. We have to make business decisions, and it takes time."
Added head coach Ron Rivera: "We've got to evaluate. That's the key word right now."
The 21 unrestricted free agents include veterans like defensive end
After enjoying so much success in 2013, all of the players who are set to become free agents expressed a desire to return to Carolina. The challenge for Gettleman and his staff is determining which pieces of the puzzle fit into the plans for 2014 and beyond.
"Everybody lets players go," Gettleman said. "There hasn't been a team in this league that hasn't let a big dog walk out the door. There isn't anybody that hasn't done that."
A lot of players walk out several doors during their careers. Many of those same players walk into a new organization with a one-year contract in what Gettleman described as the "new NFL."
"The whole landscape has changed," Gettleman explained. "If I am a 27-year-old player and I think I am really good and the market is not there for me, I am going to take the 1-year deal. Every team is in the same situation. What happens is you've got a class of guys that really become mercenaries.
"I don't think anyone wants to have 21 guys floating through. I'm not looking for that. But you are always going to change the back seven-eight guys of your roster. That's just the way the league is designed."
Like all NFL rosters, changes will be made. But Gettleman hopes to retain the chemistry that was developed during the Panthers' run to a 12-4 season.
Despite severe salary cap limitations a year ago at this time, the 2013 Panthers raised the bar. Gettleman must overcome similar challenges in 2014 but plans on designing on a roster that has the pieces in place to raise that bar higher.
"Very frankly, I am really excited about the future and where we are going," Gettleman said.


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The new technical fund longs that rushed into the market on Wednesday got their heads handed to them
Ed Steer:
The last couple of trading days have not been kind to precious metals investors. The obvious price intervention in both the metals themselves and their associated equities, shows you just how desperate the powers-that-be have become. They're doing everything they can to keep the average investor as far away from the precious metals [and salvation] as they possibly can. The message they sent in the last couple of days is..."stay away, or you'll get burned."
"This day-to-day noise is aggravating and, without question, wears down the average investor. But, underneath the surface in the precious metal markets, there are big changes going on that we just aren't privy to...and it's a good bet that they're tied in with the economic and political changes that are engulfing the entire planet at the moment.
"The only thing that is certain, is that this situation can't go on forever...and I'd bet serious money that when the end does come, it will come suddenly...and probably on a weekend or overnight when no one is in a position to take advantage of it. You will either be all the way in...or all the way out when that moment arrives. ..."


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A question I've wondered a few times but never got around to posting a poll on. So vote away, CWers.
(If there's still no poll when you click on the thread then be bloody patient)
A question I've wondered a few times but never got around to posting a poll on. So vote away, CWers.
(If there's still no poll when you click on the thread then be bloody patient)
Appreciating cricket's greatest legend ever - HD Bird...............Funniest post (intentionally) ever.....Runner-up.....Third.....Fourthcricket player"; "Bob"), 1/11/1990-15/4/2006
(Accidental) founder of Twenty20 Is Boring Society. Click and post to sign-up.
I've got Marshall rated 5th on my alltime bowlers list.
Behind Murali, Hadlee, Barnes and McGrath.
Greatest Ever Test XI: JB Hobbs, L Hutton, DG Bradman (c), IVA Richards, BC Lara, GS Sobers, AC Gilchrist (wk), Imran Khan, RJ Hadlee, MD Marshall, SK Warne 12th man: M Muralitharan
Favorite XI: WG Grace, VT Trumper, IVA Richards, DCS Compton, FMM Worrell (c), AC Gilchrist (wk), CL Cairns, SK Warne, FS Trueman, SE Bond, T Richardson 12th man: H Larwood
"Neither of them will have an international cricket career past 2016."
Blocky on Martin Guptill and Ish Sodhi. 20/11/2014.
i havent watched marshall live but the videos i have seen of his just makes me wonder what it would have been like watching him live. I would definetly have him in the top 2 of my all-time fast bowlers list, which also includes Mcgrath.
McGrath uber alles. Well, not Barnes but I don't really consider him competition really.
-My beliefs summarized in words much more eloquent than I could come up with
How the Universe came from nothing
in my opinion, he was the greatest fast bowler ever...as to the best bowler ever, well i would put him in a group of 5 that includes hadlee, lillee, murali and barnes....mcgrath just outside of the group...
I'm, unfortunately, not really well-versed in cricket players and how good they were pre-1996 (except Bradman, of course!). So I can't really say where he'd stand over all, but I do consider McGrath as best ever on my list of fast bowlers seen.
I think it's a little difficult to compare cricketers across eras, for obvious reasons. It seems safe to say, though, that both Marshall and Barnes were among the best, if not the best, during their respective careers.
Probably a consideration I would make in answering this question is: was Marshall as integral to WI dominance as McGrath was to Australia's? Certainly seems that way. It is also obvious that the Windies really crumbled following his retirement and many people would claim the same sort of "low" period is hitting/about to hit Aus in the near future even if it probably won't be as dramatic as the slump WI cricket has been experiencing lately.
Statistically or otherwise, Marshall was the most complete fast bowler ever. Don't know how to rate Barnes as he only played 27 tests. At least Bradman played over 50..
Marshall 1 & Hadlee 2 for mine, although could be a touch of kiwi bias coming into play
i've heard stories of marshall being near unplayable in the nets in his near 40's when he was coach and his team was struggling, he was unreal, what's even more unreal was how long he spent out of the team waiting for an opportunity.
could bat a bit too
Don't agree with comparing players across eras, so i'll only say this: Marshall was ****ing good.
I thought Lillee better than MM, but not by much
You know it makes sense.
History treats Barnes surprisingly kindly in my view. That he was a very good bowler cant be doubted but he did get nearly half of his test wickets at less than 10 apiece (and had it not been for Herby Taylor that average would have been considerably less) against a South African side that great grandpa Dickinson would have treated with the same disdain as the current generation treats Bangladesh.
His wickets against Australia (and arguably he missed the series involving the strongest Australian sides of his era) and Yorkshire (who he only bowled against 4 times in championship cricket) cost about 22 and 26 each so rather different
As for Maco he was undoubtedly a great a shorter man with a magnificent action, terrific pace and a lethal breakback a latter day Harold Larwood but not quite as good
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26 Critics
The short, passionate life of Uruguyan poet Delmira Agustini is stylishly evoked in this film by Christine Laurent, longtime script collaborator of Jacques Rivette. Elegant, erotic and playful, the film contrasts its heroine's turbulent, tormented psyche with free and graceful filmmaking to create something mysterious and wonderful as a poem. The beautiful Laure de Clermont-Tonnere (The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec) is affecting and compelling as Delmira, tortured by her own genius.


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"Recognition and Responsibility for Excellence"
It is an honor when strong academic students choose Virginia State University for their college experience. The Honors Program provides superior learning opportunities that will challenge these young scholars to reach new levels of academic excellence. The Program is designed to meet the unique educational needs of the University's academically talented and highly motivated undergraduate students. Special opportunities are offered that enable students to acquire the skills and attitudes for intellectual development, cultural enrichment, and leadership development.
Honors Scholars
Participants in the Honors Program have access to the Honors House, a meeting place for study/study circles, seminars, colloquia, tutorials, guest/faculty lecturers, and social activities. The two-story facility is equipped with a computer lab, reading/seminar room, multi-media study/meeting room and lounge. The offices of the Honors Program director and staff are located in the building.
Upon admission to matriculate at VSU because of a demonstrated record of outstanding academic achievement in high school, first-year students are invited to become participants in the Honors Program as Presidential Scholars (with a minimum 3.2 GPA and an 1100 SAT or 24 ACT score) andProvost Scholars (with a minimum 3.0 GPA and a 1000 SAT or 21 ACT score). These scholars are eligible for a $7,000 or $3,500 scholarship, respectively (with $2,000 waived for room and board.) The scholarships are renewable for 3 years, providing the students maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, acquire a minimum 30 semester hours per year, and participate in required Honors Program activities.
In addition to the above scholars, continuing VSU students are invited to participate in the Honors Program as University Honors Scholars. These students must have a minimum 3.4 GPA and must have completed at least one semester (15 semester hours) or no more than three semesters of course work (45 semester hours). Scholarship opportunities for these students are available through the Financial Aid Office upon application.
Honors Residence Hall
As the Honors Program is an intentional learning community that is both experience-based and residence-based, Langston Hall, a co-ed Honors residence hall, is available for Honors scholars' use. This residential learning environment is a joint effort between the Honors Program and the Office of Residence Life to create a model living-learning center. This living-learning experience is designed to acclimate students to collegiate Honors education, focusing on developing skills to enhance students' academic success and to reinforce a variety of essential life skills. Students residing in this Honors community have access to a common space for meetings and discussions, study lounges and a computer lab.
Program Requirements
An important aspect of developing in Honors is the opportunity to enroll in Honors courses. The courses emphasize the development of analytical, critical and creative thinking skills, as well as excellence in written and oral communication. Additionally, the courses also promote discussion over lecture, focus on depth over acceleration, and offer students the opportunity to become more responsible learners. Honors faculty are highly qualified experts in their own fields and are genuinely concerned about teaching and student success in learning. They create in their classrooms an atmosphere conducive to student's interchange and collaborative learning where conversation is encouraged both inside and outside the classroom.
Honors Course Requirements
Honors courses are typically sections of General Education courses with an honors designation. During the first two years of enrollment, Honors students are required to enroll in designated Honors courses, depending on requirements in their major.
In continuing Honors education in upper level courses, Honors Contract courses are advised for major courses or related courses. An Honors contract is a mechanism for giving Honors depth and worth to a regular course. Specifically, an Honors Program student makes an agreement with the course instructor to engage in Honors quality course work in order to receive Honors credit for the course. The Honors Contract concept can be viewed as an opportunity for "bringing scholarship to Honors Education." Honors Program students must confer with the Honors Program director before initiating an Honors Contract with an instructor. Terms of the contract and departmental approval must be completed within the first two weeks of each semester.
Honors Program Scholarly Participation
The Virginia State University Honors Program is a member of several Honors organizations. These affiliations give Honors Program students the opportunity to participate in programs and events with other Honors students across the country. They include the following:
National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC)
National Association of African American Honors Programs (NAAAHP)
Southern Regional Honors Council (SRHC)
Virginias Collegiate Honors Council (VCHC)
Honors Program Students and Leadership Involvement
Many Honors Program students are and have been involved in leadership roles on campus and off campus. Proudly, the Program can boast of two students, Alicia Fritz and Crystal Burns, who served as student vice president of the National Association of African American Honors Programs (2004-2005) and the Virginias Collegiate Honors Council (2002 -2003), respectively. Currently, among the executive student leadership on campus, Shantae Perkins serves as "Miss Virginia State University," Nathaniel Graves is the reigning "Mr. Virginia State University" and Bianca Brodie serves as the student vice president for business and finance. Other scholars serve as class kings and queens and officers in the many campus organizations.
Honors Program Community Service
The Honors Program participates in the following community service activities:
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk – Richmond, VA
Walk Against Hunger – Downtown Churches United, Petersburg
Mind Games – Petersburg Public Schools
W.E.B. Du Bois Invitational Honors Conference – Host (Local middle and high school students)
Triple "R" Reading Club (Readers Reaching Readers)—Virginia Avenue Early
Childhood Learning Center, Petersburg Public Schools
Reach Out and Read Virginia—Reading to Children in Doctors' Offices,
Petersburg Alliance for Children and Families


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Climate Change Goes Local: A Youth Forum in Kiyi Community in Nigeria
It is essential to send a clear message on climate change to youths and leaders in Nigeria, Africa and across the world. Not only will young people of today have to confront the major impacts of climate change in the near and far future, but they also have to understand their critical role as decision-makers and implementers in a climate-aware society. The Young Nigerian Climate Leaders view this role as pivotal, and the successful dissemination of information among the youths will influence and enhance their knowledge, ultimately preparing them for the challenges ahead.
YNCL is a forum that captures young people's voices between the ages of aged 9-17 from schools around the country through strategic dialogues with policy makers, negotiators, legislators, business leaders and environmental experts. Its aim is to scout for future climate leaders in Nigeria and build their interest and expertise around issues of climate change policy and environmental justice.
This unique interactive forum is also intended to identify needs and begin to develop partnerships on programs and Activism Pack for Schools that will assist policy makers, local leaders and civil societies in addressing climate change policy, adaptation, and/or mitigation in Nigeria. The format of this forum focuses on facilitated dialogue among YNCL other stakeholders present.
On the 3rd December, 2010, Young Nigerian Climate Leaders carried out a community climate change education and awareness forum with over 250 students and youths in Kiyi Community in Kuje Area Council, FCT Abuja Nigeria facilitated by Miss Ella Tamufor.
During the dialogue, Primary 4 to 6 students were engaged in talks about the greenhouse gas effect, global warming and climate change – and inherent links – with special focus on Nigeria. The dialogue emphasized the individual contribution to the phenomenon of climate change and subsequently, individual options to mitigate and adapt to changing climatic conditions. Thus, it called for responsibility and personal commitment to act on climate change – a call well understood by students and the youth as well.
Furthermore, the forum engaged the School teachers as they play a key role in transmitting knowledge to the youth. Teachers were interviewed on the level of their understanding of climate change and regarding climate change education in their Schools and a Teacher's Workshop was proposed to sensitize and clear up any misconceptions on climate change education. At the same time discussions focused on how climate change could be mainstreamed in schools in order to reach the young people efficiently and comprehensively. The teachers requested the need for a "Climate Change Toolkit", which should comprise of a student booklet, respective lesson plans for teachers as well as exercises to better broaden their understanding of climate change. At this stage the school session ended.
A second component of the forum was the community youth forum. This strategic interaction will ensure that the youth of today will take the right decisions leading to the changes required for a sustainable future. There were over thirty 100 youths present including fish, poultry and irrigation farmers, students, traders and unemployed youth. Two out of all the youths had heard about climate change even though they had just little knowledge about it. They both spoke about the changing patterns in climate properties and the difficulties they face as a result. Some of the issues among others which they presented were as follows:
· Excessive heat.
· Extreme hunger.
· Malnutrition among children due to low agricultural yields.
· Absence of electricity in the community, as a result they are forced to use fuel generators which exacerbates climate change.
· The community water which is their only source for drinking, cooking and washing is highly polluted resulting in diseases like cholera, diarrhea, scabies, etc.
· The women use wood logs as their only source of energy for cooking and also for economic purposes due to lack of alternatives.
The youth were educated about the general effects of climate change and its consequences. They were given a chance by means of video to communicate to the world leaders and the Nigerian leaders in particular about their challenges and the intervention they need. They pleaded for alternatives to traditional fuels, electric generators and the river they drink from.
The forum ended with an exciting commitment from the youths in Kiyi Community to plant of 1 million trees on the 22nd January, 2011 to launch the building of a Kiyi Community Climate Change Center by the youths themselves on the piece of land that the Seriki (Community Head) donated to the community during a courtesy visit his palace on the same day.
I also received a bag of potatoes from the Madawaki (Gate Keeper of the community) and 5 tubers of yams from the youth leader on behalf of the youth as a mark of appreciation to our team for educating them about climate change and why they should be involved in the global fight to mitigate against this global challenge.


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I thought this was generally common knowledge.
Not the details, perhaps, but the tone of the summary and the bits of the article I read appear to imply this is some new discovery - that companies use tax havens as tax havens.
Or maybe it's just that British business is more tax-averse than those over the pond...
If you tax them, they move to India. Shareholders don't care.
Maybe the goverment should try spending less for a change.
If you tax them, they move to India. Shareholders don't care.
Maybe the goverment should try spending less for a change.
They should, but lets get back to the tax rates issue. I'd be happy to ban these overseas shenanigans if we would simply lower US corporate rates. Our rates are nearly the highest in the world, second only to Japan [alhambrainvestments.com].
Fine, eliminate the loopholes, but cut the rates. Think about where corporate profits are going; if they're not being sank right back into the company, then they're being payed out in dividends to shareholders.... where they're taxed again as personal income.
While there's no real excuse for these kind of slight of hand tax dodges, neither is there a justification for a tax rate near 40 percent on companies.
Our rates are nearly the highest in the world, second only to Japan.
If you only consider income tax, I'll bet you're right. There's more to taxing business than income tax however. Ever heard of the value added tax [wikipedia.org]? The US doesn't have one, but most EU countries do. Picking the income tax and ignoring VAT when comparing how we tax corporations is extraordinarily misleading.
Aside from my reluctance to take financial wisdom seriously from someone who uses "payed" instead of "paid", (sank / sunk notwithstanding) you seem to be forgetting the huge number of corporations who _aren't_ listed on the stock exchange, and who don't pay dividends. Lowering corporate tax rates would take a huge chunk of income away from the US, and do little to encourage companies to move back from... say.. Ireland, with its 12.5% rate.
Oh, and the way most companies avoid paying taxes? They expand. Got 10 million in profit you don't want to pay taxes on? Open some new locations. Do R&D. Hire some more people. Basically incur expenses. That 40% tax rate you disparage so offhandedly is responsible for influencing decisions that generally lead to more jobs.
Lowering corporate tax rates would take a huge chunk of income away from the US, and do little to encourage companies to move back from... say.. Ireland, with its 12.5% rate.
Lower it to 0% and they'll come running. No reason to tax corporate income at all. For that matter, no reason to tax income at all. Tax something that can't run to another country like real estate. That'll become a lot more valuable with 0% taxes on income.
Lower it to 0% and they'll come running. No reason to tax corporate income at all.
Naively optimistic.
For that matter, no reason to tax income at all.
There are alternatives to be sure but ANY tax scheme you come up with will have trade offs. There is no perfect tax system.
Tax something that can't run to another country like real estate. That'll become a lot more valuable with 0% taxes on income.
Your argument is that we should inflate the price of and tax burden on real estate instead of having an income tax? It would solve some problems but create many more.
Some places do most of their taxation based on real estate. Hong Kong [wikipedia.org] for instance which manages to do it because of their somewhat unique circumstances but not without problems. Problem is you are basically tying your nation's ability to tax to a single cyclical industry (real estate) instead of the entire economy. Works great when the real estate market is hot and tax revenues crater massively when the real estate market cools off. Asset price bubbles become a HUGE problem. Our current fiscal crisis would be FAR worse if the US relied solely on tax revenues from real estate. There is a reason you diversify your stock portfolio and the same thing applies to sources of government revenue. Do you really want to eliminate that much diversification in sources of tax revenues? I think you haven't really thought this through.
Another problem is that it is very easy these days to locate facilities elsewhere. There is a reason not a lot of manufacturing takes place in Hong Kong or Manhattan any more. Price of land is too expensive. Admittedly those are extreme examples but companies will make decisions about where to locate because of a single dollar per square foot in cost. Drive up the price of real estate and companies will locate where real estate is cheap. Companies will decentralize massively if there is enough tax savings to do so. Remember that labor in the US isn't especially cheap either.
Aside from my reluctance to take financial wisdom seriously from someone who uses "payed" instead of "paid"
I typed i pretty quickly, and I'll just have to beg the court's mercy for the typo.
you seem to be forgetting the huge number of corporations who _aren't_ listed on the stock exchange, and who don't pay dividends.
And why is that different? Instead of shareholders, you have owners. And they're still doubly taxed, as the profits that flow to them are still taxed again as personal income.
Lowering corporate tax rates would take a huge chunk of income away from the US, and do little to encourage companies to move back from... say.. Ireland, with its 12.5% rate.
Apparently it wouldn't, as the subject of the story is tax shelters that help such companies avoid high US taxes. The whole point of my proposal was "take away the tax shelters, and in exchange lower domestic corporate rates". If a company is paying the equivalent of Irelands' rate in the US, isn't that better than a lower sum via tax shelters?
Oh, and the way most companies avoid paying taxes? They expand. Got 10 million in profit you don't want to pay taxes on? Open some new locations. Do R&D. Hire some more people. Basically incur expenses.
Uh, we already tried such foolishness once before. FDR's Undistributed Profits Tax [wikipedia.org] did much of what you're suggesting, with predictably disastrous results. And when you get right down to it, don't people go into business to profit? You're essentially suggesting that they escape higher taxes by never taking home the profit they make, or at least a lot less of it.
That 40% tax rate you disparage so offhandedly is responsible for influencing decisions that generally lead to more jobs.
Where do higher taxation rates equal more jobs, especially in the long run? Higher rates are job killers. Even the Europeans have accepted that. The only thing higher tax rates get you is a bigger government payroll, a sector that grows no wealth in the economy.
No, a mixture of the customers, employees, and shareholders do. Your statement is only true if all other factors (like rate of profit, and size of bonuses) are fixed, which there is no particular reason for them to be. If you take money out of a corporation, where it comes from depends on the elasticity of all the other factors. Some corporations can easily cut salaries; other corporations can easily cut dividends; other corporations can easily raise prices; most end up doing some mixture of things, depending on market conditions.
Even if you don't tax them, they'll still move to India.
Corporations are not altruistic. They are not working for the good of the world or their fellow humans. They have no patriotic loyalty. The people who run them possibly less so. Corporations are looking for profit. More importantly, profit with the least amount of cost. They will do anything and everything they can to meet this end, including illegal activities if the penalties are small compared to the potential profit.
But the best part comes later. When a corporation becomes as large as Citibank or AIG, there's hardly any measures that can be enacted to punish them without having grievous consequences elsewhere. The people at the top have so much money and so many resources that trying to get their asses in jail is like trying to nail jello to the wall with a nail made out water and a hammer made out of meat.
Companies have all the rights of citizen with none of the penalties. In fact they have more rights than citizens do. They are meta-citizens. This wouldn't be a problem if they had a shred of human decency. The only time good works come into play is when there is profit (monetary or political goodwill).
Point being, it doesn't matter what we do. The corporations are going to go where it is most profitable. It doesn't matter what we tax or what kind of legislation is passed, they'll just go somewhere else. In any case, a company doesn't need to be anywhere near you to rake your ass over the coals these days.
These types of tricks should be unacceptable. Close the loops that allow this to happen, and let it be known that if you are going to do business in the US and benefit from our educated labor pool, infrastructure, markets, and resources you are going to pay taxes like everyone else. These shenanigans should demonstrate exactly why a corporation should not be treated as a legal person. They are immortal, and can skirt current law and tax codes by existing simultaneously in multiple places and jurisdictions at the same time.
Make it too costly for them to do business here, they wont.
Why are you coughing and being oblique?
Stop being a pussy and just say "We can solve this by destroying those companies."
You'd be wrong, of course. But sheesh, say what you mean.
The rich get richer, the poor, well, stay poor.
Nothing has changed since the times of Pareto...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilfredo_Pareto
(Take a look - the original '80/20' was 80% of the land was owned by 20% of the people)
These days, it's more like 90% of the world's wealth belongs to 10% of its population.
If you've got the money to have to worry about these things, then you can pay smart people to avoid tax.
Note I said avoid, (legal), not evade, which is not.
It is the duty of corporate officers to (legally) minimise tax burden.
It is the duty of governments to ensure equitable distribution of wealth, without discouraging wealth creation.
Guess who's doing a better job...
It is the duty of corporate officers to (legally) minimise tax burden.
It is the duty of governments to ensure equitable distribution of wealth, without discouraging wealth creation.
Guess who's doing a better job...
That's because corporations hire the best accountants, while government is run by the best liars.
That's because corporations hire the best accountants, while government is run by the best liars.
That's because corporations hire the best governments, while accounting is run by the best liars.
There, fixed that for you.
I like the idea of a Value Added Tax over income tax.
Imagine we have two scenarios: The US with a 20% income tax (both personal and corporate) and one with a 20% sales tax (not the same as VAT, but for simplicity sake we will stick with sales tax). In both cases we have a competitor country with a 20% sales tax.
In each scenario, imagine a good that costs $100 to produce in each country if there were no taxes
In scenario 1, an item that would cost $100 to make in the United States costs more as labor costs more due to taxes. It also costs a bit more as there is a tax on the company to make. Now, they ship it overseas were trading partner levies a 20% tax on the consumption of that item.
In the same scenario, foreign trading partner builds the thing for $100, no tax on the company, no tax on the labor. They ship over here for less than the U.S. can sell it for. Basically the trading partner gets a competitive advantage and forces down the price of items sold in its borders. It makes its money off of the US corporation.
In scenario 2, there is equality between the trading partners.
Now, a VAT would have to allow for some type of "kick back" to lower income individuals due to the regressive nature of the tax. But overall, it would go a long way to helping our economy and balancing trade.
Here's the problem- can you tell me, straight up, the value of the governmental services that you use? You've got your simple direct ones ones- roads/public transit, local schools and whatnot. Then you've got the slightly harder to count ones- fire and police, though we can count these as insurance-type costs. Now we get to the ones that are impossible to enumerate. What's the price of having the armed forces protect our country? What's the value of providing student loans to people, thus giving us an educated workforce? What's the cost of having someone tell us what the weather is going to be like, or predicting the next hurricane or earthquake?
You say that governments should follow the same basic economic rules businesses do, but would this really help or hinder private business? By this token Google, Cisco, and just about every major company should be paying the US government obscene royalties for using the internet. DARPA did, after all, invent it, so it's only fair to license it for what it's worth. How about medical research, or the stuff that's come out of NASA? The government has given so much away, whereas any private corporation would have patented and licensed the crap out of it. Let's be honest- how many private companies are financing risky research nowadays?
There are many reasons to be against the taxation proposed here. I think that any money made overseas shouldn't be taxable in the US because, quite honestly, the money wasn't made here. I'd be fine with companies bringing cash back to the US tax-free because that'd be more money that can be spent in our borders. Your argument, however, is silly. You can't tabulate how much government you use because it's everywhere. Hell, I think throwing 30+% of your profits to taxes is a pretty fair deal considering we live in a pretty stable society. There's also an issue of fairness- if you get rich because of a underpaid populous that's denied basic benefits (and the government steps in to provide them), it's only fair that you actually pay for the benefits needed for the workers that are used. As broken as the system is, the gov't does provide a basic safety net that corporations don't, and this is something we indeed need.
Sounds like a recipe for a much larger and more expensive bureaucracy to me. Rather than taking a simple 20% you have to monitor every single use of government services by every individual.
Don't click on that first link about GE's tax bill. It's worse than goatse.
Seriously, I think I'm going to throw up.
has its overseas subsidiaries license software to its US parent company in return for handsome royalties that get taxed at lower overseas rates
And thats only when you talk about taxes. How about foreign aid projects? Quote the job at domestic rates (it is a subsidy to local industry after all) then outsource the work to your subsidiary at half the cost. Funded internal projects: send your own managers to the offshore site to organise local implementation then invent reasons why the cost is going to rise. Hire consultants at the offshort site who actually work for you to siphon money out of the project. Put the operation on hold for the two days th
..."What you tax, you get less of." According to legend, The Zhou Emperor (China, about 1100 B.C.E) laid a heavy tax on salt. Enterprising traders found they could dissolve 20 times the volume of salt in fermented soy. Since there was no tax on liquids, people became more accustomed to salting and preserving their foods in soy. Should the peasants have been "patriotic" and insisted on paying higher prices for the salt?
Lay a tax on items and services, and you will get less of those items and services; lay a tax on businesses and you will get less of those businesses. Yup, they will move to friendlier shores. (For those of you thinking about this, what are the implications for Health Care? Arithmetically, price controls are form of taxation, and the new Health Care Reform imposes both controls and taxes.)
At the present time, Americans in the USA have very favorable prices for petroleum products compared to the rest of the world. What would the cost of gasoline be in the USA if we had to pay taxes on all the oil revenues including the taxes on where the oil is produced? (My estimate is around 9.44 per gallon, YMMV.) Then consider the implications for the Chemical Industry and consumer products.
You want jobs? Jobs are provided by profitable businesses. The more profitable businesses there are, the more jobs available. The more jobs available, the more competition for qualified employees. The more competition for qualified employees, the better the wages, conditions and benefits. There are equilibrium points with in the system, but when non-productivity costs (like taxes) get too burdensome, it makes it profitable for business to put up with the hassles and expense of moving to those friendlier shores.
Sales: $401 billion Pretax income: $20.9 billion Income taxes: $7.1 billion Tax rate: 34.2%
$1.2 billion of Wal-Mart Stores' taxes are international.
No. 2: ExxonMobil
Sales: $311 billion Pretax income: $35 billion Income taxes: $15 billion Tax rate: 47%
None of ExxonMobil's income taxes were paid in the U.S. In 2008 the company's income tax bill was $36 billion.
No. 3: Chevron
Sales: $172 billion Pretax income: $18.5 billion Income taxes: $8 billion Tax rate: 43%
Chevron paid $19 billion income tax in 2008. Of this year's taxes, just $200 million were paid in the U.S.
No. 4: General Electric
Sales: $157 billion
Pretax income: $10.3 billion
Income taxes: (-$1.1 billion)
Tax rate: N/A
GE's financial services unit, GE Capital, keeps the overall tax bill so low. Over the last two years, GE Capital has displayed an uncanny ability to lose lots of money in the U.S. and make lots of money overseas, where tax rates are lower.
No. 5: ConocoPhillips
Sales: $152 billion Pretax income: $10 billion Income taxes: $5 billion Tax rate: 51%
ConocoPhillips paid $13 billion in taxes in 2008.
No. 6: AT&T
Sales: $123 billion
Pretax income: $19 billion
Income taxes: $6.2 billion
Tax rate: 32.4%
AT&T's executive officers are eligible to bill the company $14,000 a year for their own income tax preparations.
No. 7: Bank of America
Sales: $120 billion
Pretax income: $4.4 billion
Income taxes: (-$1.9 billion)
Tax rate: N/A
How did Bank of America not pay any taxes on $4.4 billion in income? Because of deductions like $860 million in tax-exempt income, $670 million in low-income housing credits and a $600 million loss on shares of foreign subsidiaries. With a provision for credit losses of $49 billion, Bank of America probably won't be paying taxes for a long time.
No. 8: Ford Motor
Sales: $118 billion
Pretax income: $3 billion
Income taxes: $69 million
Tax rate: 2.3%
Ford's tax rate is so low because of past years' losses from U.S. operations.
No. 9: Hewlett-Packard
Sales: $115 billion
Pretax income: $9.4 billion
Income taxes: $1.75 billion
Tax rate: 18.6%
HP's low tax rate is due to lower tax rates in foreign countries. The company says in its annual report that President Obama's proposals to end tax deferrals on international operations would mean a big tax hike.
No. 10: Berkshire Hathaway
Sales: $112 billion
Pretax income: $11.5 billion
Income taxes: $3.5 billion
Tax rate: 30%
No. 11: JPMorgan Chase
Sales: $100 billion
Pretax income: $16 billion
Income taxes: $4.4 billion
Tax rate: 27.5%
Chief Executive Jamie Dimon has spoken out against an Obama proposal to levy a special tax on banks to recoup bailout costs. "Using tax policy to punish people is a bad idea," said Dimon. "All businesses tend to pass costs on to customers."
No. 12: Verizon
Sales: $108 billion
Pretax income: $11.6 billion
Income taxes:
To me, this screams for a simplification of tax law. Here's a thought:
Step 1: Eliminate corporate taxes. (and as another commenter opined, eliminate the ludicrous notion of corporate person-hood while you're at it)
Now, once you've done step 1, guess what? The argument about capital gains being double-taxation disappears. So:
Step 2: Eliminate any distinction between capital gains and any other form of income in terms of taxation. Treat all income as just income.
The big corporations aren't paying corporate taxes anyway, and all it really does is incentivize them to dump their profits into advertising to increase their market cap.
why don't we hear it from the right?
corporations are:
completely unpatriotic. in fact, as this tax situation shows, they are basically anti-patriotic: their actions actively undermine the country
corporaitons work against individual rights, liberties, privacy, and freedoms
they threaten to hollow out the country into a corporatocracy, they actively turn your representatives into shills for corporate interests, not interests of the citizens
we have been hearing these howls on the left for decades
but how come we don't hear it from the right?
A good first step would be to make interest paid by corporations non tax deductible.
There are three ways a company can pay for its capital. It can pay out dividends, borrow and pay interest, or buy back its own stock. All should get equivalent tax treatment.
This would make leveraged buyouts and private equity transactions much rarer, because those are basically equity-to-debt conversions. If the tax advantage of debt payments over dividends went away, we'd see less dept-heavy corporate structures and more dividends. This leads to sounder companies more able to weather bad times.
Because here in the USA we impose taxes on _earning_ money, no wonder why American businesses large and small are moving both blue-collar and white-collar jobs out of the USA, corporate headquarters included! No wonder why we have problems with unemployment.
Maybe it's time to completely rethink our national taxation system and switch to taxing consumption instead. This is the gist of FairTax (H.R. 25/S. 296--yes, it's a real bill in Congress) that would end all forms of income taxation--along with repealing the 16th Amendment--in favor of a singular 23% consumption tax, with a "prepayment" once a month to every legal household in the USA to pay for the consumption tax up to the Federally-defined poverty level. Note that this tax does not apply to business-to-business sales, sales of used goods (including sales of existing homes), and college tuition.
By eliminating the entire current income tax system in favor of FairTax, we get these huge benefits:
1) We save ourselves somewhere between US$350 and US$500 BILLION per year in income tax compliance costs.
2) Congress can no longer use the income tax code to favor or punish financially even the smallest constituency--the most insidious form of corruption in the USA right now.
3) American residents and businesses will no longer need to hide their liquid assets outside the USA to keep them out of the reach of the IRS. That means the US$2 TRILLION now participating in the illegal cash-only underground economy and US$13 TRILLION in liquid assets sitting in offshore financial centers beyond US borders--both done as income tax dodges--return to the USA, providing a US$15 TRILLION liquidity boost to the US financial system that would start a new economic boom and then some--the world's largest "private bailout."
4) American businesses will no longer need to outsource jobs beyond US borders as a tax dodge. That could mean millions upon millions of jobs return to the USA under better tax circumstances, immediately lowering the unemployment rate.
5) Foreign companies will do a land rush to expand US operations, since the USA is now the world's largest legal income tax haven.
6) Shipping companies would quickly register their ships under the US flag, since there is no more taxes on the income earned from shipping for a US-flagged ship. That could mean hundreds of thousands of new and repatriated blue-collar jobs as new ships are now constructed and repaired at US ports free from income taxation.
So what are we waiting for?
New systems generate new problems.


text:
Music legend Paul McCartney told his fans that he is working with Bungie on the music for an as yet unannounced game, releasing a photo of himself chatting with Bungie composer Marty O'Donnell. We can only assume the collaboration involves the project codenamed "Destiny".
"I'm really excited to be working on writing music with Bungie, the studio that made Halo," McCartney said on his Facebook page and his Twitter (via Eurogamer). The posts finally offered specifics to an interview he did in January with German magazine Die Zeit where he said he was working on a video game. McCartney had previously worked with Harmonix on The Beatles: Rock Band.
Bungie's "Destiny" was revealed in court documents as part of Activision's court battle with Infinity Ward. The action shooter was in the original 10-year contract the developer signed with Activision in 2010. If the plans in the documents hold true, "Destiny" is scheduled for a 2013 release.


text:
The lights are on
Rayman has always been known for its unique level design and cute, funky storyline. With Rayman Origins, the art style crossed a threshold. The first musical level brings the game's beauty out in sharp relief.
Rayman is known for containing musical levels including drums with faces and enemies in the style of musical instruments, but with the creative detail of Rayman Origins, the first musical level stands out after all of my years playing Rayman.
While in the musical level, it's easy to spot the piles of drums waiting to be jumped on. Each and every enemy and instrument has a different musical sound to match. Even the music in the level is rhythmically beautiful and somewhat catchy, and I've found myself humming it long after turning my console off.
One of the enemies in the music level is a guitar string (or some sort of musical instrument string) that has a red vibration traveling through it back and forth. Rayman must avoid the red vibration and jump across. In the background there are various musical instruments that line the sky. The walls you jump and climb on are flute-like, a wind instrument.
The creative art style of the level coupled with the imaginative music-related theme sings to those who keep all things music close to their heart.


text:
Let's try to work out the most convenient time for a session. I'm thinking some weekday after at least 7PM EST. When would work for you?
My schedule has some flexibility but generally I'm free after 8PM CST.
The only days I can't are sunday/tuesday/thursday-- beyond that I'm flexible on time, so whatever works best for anyone else.
I'm going to tentatively put Wednesday night out there and see how that rolls (hehe) with everyone.
7pm EST on Wednesdays would work for me, starting on 11/28 (i.e., after Thanksgiving).
Okay, so 8PM CST is 9PM EST, would 8PM/9PM (CST/EST respectively) on Wednesdays work for everyone thus far?
That's fine by me, but I'd need to plan on wrapping up around midnight EST.
That is also fine by me as well too.
So, what's the word?


text:
VDR Wiki:Candidates for deletion
From VDR Wiki
Articles and pictures that should be deleted can be listed here. This is useful in several ways. First there is a single place so the sysops have an overview of all deletion requests. Second there is a single place where the users can discuss those requests.
Please add a deletion request in the following way
== [[Link to article]] == Short reason --~~~~


text:
PPIR CLERMONT - Monday November 19th, 2012 - B2B REALTOR® and Affiliated Businesses Networking Mixer - FREE TO ATTEND ! All small business owners invited! - (PPIR = Professional People in Real Estate)
PPIR Clermont - Art Vuilleumier -888~767~0119
Monday, November 19, 2012 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM (EST)
When & Where
Downtown Bar & Grille
794 W. Minneola Ave
Monday, November 19, 2012 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM (EST)
Add to my calendar
PPIR Clermont - Art Vuilleumier -888~767~0119
"PPIR = Professional People In Real Estate"
PPIR is a B2B networking group formed to serve the REALTOR® and small business community. It primarily serves the Real Estate and construction industry, but is open to all businesses that provide any service or product to the Real Estate business community.
PPIR was created to fill a void in the B2B networking community - most networking groups require a great deal of commitment, time, effort and money by the participants; PPIR strives to make B2B networking simple, uncomplicated, inexpensive (FREE to attend) and fun - A social hour that maximizes your networking opportunities and benefits local businesses.
Unlike other networking groups, PPIR has no membership dues or fees for attendees, there are no committees, complicated formalities, paperwork or rituals to perform – the watchwords we live by are "KEEP IT SIMPLE" and maximize networking time! We strive for absolute simplicity in Business to Business networking, and creating a "win-win-win" situation for everyone!
There are established and successful PPIR Chapters in Gainesville, Ocala, The Villages, Tavares and Clermont and more are planned as community interest builds!
Out current network reach includes nearly 5700 REALTORS® and affiliated businesses throughout the heart of Florida.
PPIR Chapters generally meet once a month after business hours (5:30PM to 7:30PM) on the following general schedules and locations:
The Villages – 1st Tuesday at Gators Dockside Spanish Springs Towne Square - 1004 Main Street, Lady Lake
Gainesville – 2nd Tuesday at Splitz – in the Thirsty Gator Lounge 1301 NW 76TH Blvd, Gainesville
Ocala – 2nd Tuesday at Gators Dockside off I-75 exit 350 (SW Hwy 200)
Clermont – 3rd Monday at Downtown Bar & Grille, downtown Clermont
Tavares – 3rd Tuesday at Hurricane Dockside Grille, Hwy 441 Tavares
What's often left out of the discussion of this current and struggling economy are the smaller, local businesses bearing the brunt facing the daily struggle head-on.
These are the true "heroes" of America's economy; not the large corporations. It is the locally-owned businesses that are driving our economy and who invariably hold the key to its recovery!
High Tech meets High Touch!
PPIR is an open B2B Networking group that has set out to benefit the communities and businesses where we live, work, serve, volunteer and have our businesses in …
We have Facebook on-line communities & also monthly mixers in Gainesville, Ocala, The Villages, Tavares and Clermont Florida. Are you a small business owner or an aspiring owner? You may start a PPIR group in your area or your area of influence. Just contact me and I will be happy to help you set that up ...
Who networks through PPIR B2B Mixers? Employees looking for a career change, Realtors®, Mortgage brokers, Network marketers, contractors, interior designers, real estate stagers, business owners promoting their local business such as coffee shops dinners, pizza restaurants, virtually any restaurant trying to bring more business in their restaurant, contracting, landscapers, Life coaches, Doctors, insurance providers, landscapers, web designers, SEO service providers, photographers, network providers, someone with an idea that needs support and the list goes on and on...
This B2B networking group is focused primarily on serving the Realtor®, affiliated family of businesses and the communities that we live in!
Hosted By: Art Vuilleumier 352-615-9412 or email@example.com


text:
Lisa Riebe, from Morris, has always had a vivid imagination and would often spend her spare time looking for new things to invent.
A few years ago, Riebe was sitting around a pond in her backyard with her son and a friend. At that moment, she came up with the idea that she wanted to develop a toy that that would be specifically themed toward ponds. With that thought in mind, the evolution of the Pond Punkies began.
However, Riebe believed that it might be difficult to get children to play with Pond Punkie action figures if they didn't know anything about them. So she decided to write a book that would introduce the characters and explain where the Pond Punkies came from.
After an eight-year development process, she was ready to take young readers, ages 7 to 10, on an adventure that is out of this world. The start of one science fiction book has already transformed into a three book series.
The first book in The Remarkable Adventures of Pond Punkies titled The Arrival was released in 2009. The first book was co-authored by Riebe and Cynthia Nunn. Book two in the series, The Unearthing, was released in 2011 and was authored by Riebe. Book three, The Departure, was released in June 2012 and was co-authored by Riebe and Miriam Ofstein.
Riebe also hired an illustrator to give the books some exciting, visual elements.
Each of the books in the series feature large fonts, extra space between lines and up to 18 pages of illustrations to make it more appealing to a young reader.
Riebe said, "Young readers are often reluctant to read because of how many words they see on the page. Intimidation sets in and they close the book. That's where this series is a little different."
The book series was selected as an Indie Book awards finalist for Science Fiction and Children's Fiction and was recognized as a Global eBook Award winner.
Riebe has also been working with a local toy designer to develop a prototype of a Pond Punkie action figure that she hopes to manufacture. Her website is full of a variety of interactive materials that young readers can visit to enhance their experience with the Pond Punkies book series. She often visits local schools and libraries to inform children about the Pond Punkies.
The books are available in eBook format and can be purchased and downloaded through iTunes, amazon.com or the Pond Punkies website. A printed copy of the book can also be purchased through the Pond Punkies website or at Barnes and Noble bookstore upon request. The book can also be found on the shelves of some area libraries.
Ultimately, her plan is to create an entire industry centered around the Pond Punkies. The books are a launching pad to develop other merchandise such as action figures, trading cards, t-shirts and much more. Riebe also hopes that her book series will encourage children to read.
She said, "When you get a child reading, there's nothing like it."
She realizes that by creating great stories with interesting characters, it will help to build an interest in Pond Punkies.
Even though Riebe has a business background, she consulted with a business analyst from the Illinois Small Business Development Center at JJC to receive additional expertise. Joe Giunta, business analyst, assisted her with her uploading the eBook to iTunes as well as developing a business plan.
Riebe stated, "Joe is fantastic with the business plan. He broke it down so that I could understand it one step at a time."
Giunta also provided her with contacts at the Village of Plainfield so that she could take advantage of an opportunity to rent office space in their building. This will allow her to have an office location for her business. Riebe would also like to add an intern to assist her as her business progresses.
In addition to a business analyst, Riebe also met with Eric Peterson, a Small Business Jobs Act (SBJA) consultant to receive assistance with adding social media to the website as another element to promote the Pond Punkies. Peterson initially gave her an overview of social media and started her with the development of a Facebook page. She is going to continue consulting with Peterson to add Twitter and other components to increase traffic to her website.
Giunta stated, "Lisa is a very remarkable person. She had this dream for a long time and has an extraordinary amount of tenacity to do whatever it takes to make the Pond Punkies a household name. She should really be congratulated for her efforts."
Under the SBJA grant, clients of the Illinois Small Business Development Center at JJC have the opportunity to receive free consultation in a variety of specialized areas such as: financial planning and accounting, bookkeeping with QuickBooks, website design and development, social media, marketing and more. Funding is provided by a grant from the Small Business Administration (SBA). The grant is part of the Small Business Jobs Act (SBJA) that was signed into law in 2010. The grant funding has been extended through Jan. 31, 2013. This will provide additional opportunities for small business owners to receive free specialized consultation.
To learn more about Riebe and the Pond Punkies, visit pondpunkies.com or call (815) 942-2344.
To learn more about the Illinois SBDC at JJC and free specialized consultation that is available, call (815) 280-1400, email email@example.com or visit the website at www.sbdcjjc.com.
The Illinois SBDC at JJC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Department of Commerce and Economic Development and Joliet Junior College.


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Child-rape suspect: She 'seduced' me
Volunteer for Islamist organization says alleged victim dressed 'provocatively'
A University of Washington neurobiology student charged with child rape after being accused of picking up a 12-year-old girl from the Seattle streets and taking her to his apartment has been identified as a volunteer with a leading Islamic activist organization.
And he's blaming the child for the alleged assault.
According to Pamela Geller, editor and publisher of Atlas Shrugs.com and president of the American Freedom Defense Initiative, suspect Omar Abdelbadie is a volunteer with the Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
The Answering Muslims apologetics website said Abdelbadie was born in Egypt but has lived in the U.S. for the past eight years. In addition to volunteering with CAIR-Washington, he promotes interfaith unity as vice-president of Bridges, the University of Washington's interfaith council.
According to SeattlePI.com, Abdelbadie claimed the child "seduced" him after he brought her to his apartment.
The digital paper said Abdelbadie told police the girl was dressed "provocatively" when he met her on the university district's main thoroughfare. He allegedly admitted he 'hooked up' with the girl, but would not say whether he knew her true age, SeattlePI.com reported.
"There are many, many cases all the time of sexual predators taking advantage of underage girls," wrote Geller. "This one, however, has two elements that show traces of the effects that Islamic supremacism can have on a human mind. Abdelbadie claims that this 12-year-old girl 'seduced' him – an idea that might occur easily to someone who, following Muhammad's example, sees girls as young as nine as sex objects. Also, he claims she was dressed 'provocatively.'"
Geller noted many Muslim clerics have justified sexual abuse of women by saying that they brought it on themselves with their immodest dress.
"Muslim men in Islamic cultures have no obligation to control themselves," she wrote. "Women have to make sure they don't get attacked by not 'provoking' the men. This little girl was a victim of that mentality."
Geller, author of "The Post-American Presidency: The Obama Administration's War on America," said it's the "same modus operandi behind the scores of Muslim child sex trafficking gangs in Europe."
"Vulnerable preteen plied with drugs and alcohol. Sex jihad …. this is how it starts."
SeattlePI.com said according to the girl's account, Abedelbadie approached her and started talking to her, then asked her to smoke marijuana with him.
Abdelbadie, 22, a University of Washington senior, was described by prosecutors as a threat to community safety, despite his lack of a criminal record, SeattlePI.com said.