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Moms and dads in 2017 have an ever-expanding network of family, friends, Facebook friends, friends-of-kinda-sorta-friends and total strangers to crowd-source ideas for getting through your latest dilemma. While this can be a recipe for information overload, sometimes you get that laser-focused advice or perfectly timed Facebook message that puts things into perspective. So we asked experts, celebrities and (of course) you to send us the best piece of advice you ever got. You're gonna want to hit the share button on these.
Potty Training
When they say "I'm a big girl" or "I don't want to wear diapers anymore," stop what you're doing and head right to the store to let them pick out new underwear. If you wait, the moment will have passed. —Kim Graham-Nye, co-founder, gDiapers
Take them to the bathroom every 30 minutes, and go straight to undies. —Kristina B., via Facebook
In the bathroom, we put up a colorful "Potty I Did It!" chart with stickers that they picked out. When they went in the potty, they placed a sticker on the chart. If they got four stickers, they could choose either a trip to Menchie's yogurt, a book from Barnes & Noble, or a trip to the mall's indoor playground (their fave). It was hit and miss at first, and then highly effective. —Tori Spelling, actress and author
Raising Good Kids
at the white house
No matter what's going on, at 6:30 p.m. we stop everything and have dinner together as a family. It creates good teaching moments, when something that might otherwise sound like a lecture becomes a nice conversation around the dinner table. —Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States
character isn't something you teach to your kids.
Character is something you show them. Not in some epic moment of your life, but in the sum of your daily actions. Want a good kid? Be a good adult. —Kelly Combs, blogger, ChattyKelly.com
help your children understand the difference between needs and wants.
There are items that we need in order to live and then there are items that we like but can live without. That line can become very blurred. —Lisa Reynolds, mom saver-in-chief at coupon website RedPlum.com
the surest way to make life difficult for your children is to make it too easy for them.
Prepare the child for the path, not the path for the child. —Betsy Brown Braun, author of Just Tell Me What to Say
our role as parents is not to ensure our kids are happy.
It's to prepare them to find their own happiness. So it's good to let kids fail. They will learn how to cope when things don't go their way, and gain the self-confidence to try new things, and go for it. —Marc Lore, co-founder, Diapers.com
Midnight isn't a good time to attempt a new approach to your baby's latest waking. You're better off to continue with your current method, rather than try something new out of desperation. Make a plan during the day when you can think clearly. —Suzanne Hansen, baby sleep coach, Plan2Sleep.com
Around 6 p.m., I start yawning in front of my 5-year-old and telling her how late it is. She can't tell time, so I capitalize on this to get her into bed at an appropriate hour. —Kendra Robins, founder, Project Night Night, which donates care packages to homeless kids
Children don't understand time, but they do understand sleep. So if my kids were going to see Grandma in two days, I would tell them we'll be visiting her in two sleeps. They understood that they needed to go to bed to make it happen. —Molly H., via Facebook
Don't tiptoe around the baby. Allow her to sleep with noises all around. —Jacki W., via Facebook
Marriage After Kids
Make it a point to have sex once a week. It's called Hump Day for a reason. —Suzanne Bastien, reader
A mom once told me: "Hire a babysitter for a date night every week and tell her you'll pay her no matter what." It forces you to take the time for each other. —Melissa Taylor, blogger, Class Notes, on parenting.com
When your kids are older, they will not remember that you went out once in a while—but you will. —Elisa D., via Facebook
I never feel guilty sticking my kids in front of the TV if it's for A.) a hot shower; B.) to make them a healthy dinner; C.) sex. None of that stuff takes long enough for their brains to start rotting (Sorry, babe.) —Erin Zammett Ruddy, blogger, Mom Without a Filter, on parenting.com
If you want to introduce your breastfeeding baby to a bottle, Mom should leave the room or even the house. For many babies, if she's around, the bottle won't be an option. —Alan Greene, M.D., pediatrician
Breastfeeding is a lifestyle choice. Know this going in, and you will better adjust to what your baby needs, instead of trying to fit feeding into your own routine and getting frustrated. —Katie Parsons, reader
I put glasses of water everywhere so no matter where I sat to nurse, I could always rehydrate. —Jessica C., via Facebook
When you see your newborn sucking her fingers or fist, or rooting around, it's time for a feeding. A crying baby can be difficult to latch, so watching for these early cues can make breastfeeding go much more smoothly. —Amy West, certified lactation counselor
When your baby gets up in the middle of the night, go pee before you pick him up. He will be OK for another minute, and you'll sit comfortably through the feeding. —Abby R., via Facebook
Managing the Chaos
If you're running late, it's not the kids' fault. Don't take it out on them. Get up earlier. This was a true revelation that changed my mornings. —Jaime Gold, reader
When you're really angry, pretend someone is watching and judging you. When I was teaching, if a student was pushing my buttons, I would pretend I was being evaluated. It would force me to stay ultra-calm. Now I do it as a mom, and it still works. —Allison McDonald, blogger, No Time for Flashcards
My dad always described outings as "adventures," even if we were going to the grocery store. I find myself doing it with my own son, and it makes life so much more exciting. —Joanna Goddard, blogger, A Cup of Jo
First Weeks With Baby
Use a zip-close, netted laundry bag for washing and drying all those tiny socks together. You'll never have to dig to find them or worry about losing them. —Jennifer W., via Facebook
When I had my first child, my mother told me to be slightly ahead of my kids' needs. Feed them just before they get too hungry, get them something to drink just before they get too thirsty, and give them time to rest just before they get too cranky. —Alan Greene, M.D.
Use the diaper as a poop shield when you're changing your baby. When newborns go, it's like a squirt gun. Always hold the old diaper over the bottom until you're totally ready to put on the new diaper. —Laura S., via Facebook
Stay in your pajamas when people come to visit. People will think you're about to have a nap or still haven't had time to shower, and—hopefully—they won't overstay their welcome. —Patti K., via Facebook
Always pack a shirt for yourself in the diaper bag. Always. —Kayliegh M., via Facebook
Use disposable plates and cups during the first few weeks so there's no dishwashing to worry about. —Christie B., via Facebook
Velcro. Forget the snap-on onesies. When it's 3 a.m. and you can't see straight, you'll thank me. —Ana Connery
Picky Eaters
Get picky eaters involved in the process. If you give them even the smallest task, they'll feel invested in the dish and are more likely to try it. You can even get them involved in the grocery shopping, and have them come up with ideas as to what to make. —Dean McDermott, actor and reality show star
Everything tastes better when it's jazzed up a bit. Try offering your child a shaker of toasted sesame seeds or salt-free seasoning for her to add flavor to her veggies. —Catherine McCord, blogger, Weelicious
Parent Hacks
Parent Hacks (parenthacks.com) has been sharing user-submitted shortcuts for simplifying family life since 2005. Founder Asha Dornfest, also the author of Minimalist Parenting, shares her favorite hacks.
play-doh as glitter cleaner
Glitter is incapable of remaining unspilled, but rolling Play-Doh over it mops it right up. Bonus: Now you've got glittery Play-Doh!
shoe organizer as pantry snack bar
Fill a clear over-the-door organizer with healthy, snack-size eats and let kids self-serve. No pleading for junk, and no interrupting what you were doing to fix a snack.
silly bandz as water-glass markers
Got a ton of these shaped rubber bands left over from the craze? Keep a pile near glasses, assign each of your kids a color and have them roll a band around the first cup of the day.
tissue box as car trash can
Use an empty Kleenex box to collect all the wrappers and snack bags that usually roll around the minivan. The design is perfect: Trash goes in but can't get out.
- A guy smarter than you just told your pregnant wife she looks beautiful. For the second time. Don't get complacent.
- When it comes to raising children, your grandparents' philosophical advice will be spot-on. Their medical advice will be terrible.
- Side with your partner more often than with your mother. You don't live with your mother.


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Sergio Garcia Gossip
Sergio Garcia gossip, latest news, photos, and video.
Nadal y Garcia
For all you Rafa lovers out there, including my cousin Cat - he looks F-CKING HOT. I thought about throwing this up on LifeStyle only without posting it to the homepage but then I took a closer look at how great he looks in these pants with the white shirt and, well, that needs some time on a front cover, you know? Full Story


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IRONVILLE AppleFolkFest will conclude the 2007 season at the Penfield Museum on Sunday, Oct. 7. Located in the Crown Point hamlet of Ironville, the museum is the former home of Allen Penfield and reflects the 19th Century, when mining dominated the regional economy. It is also the birthplace of the electrical age.
AppleFolkFest features chili, hot dogs, apple desserts, craft fair, music and games. The craft fair and flea market will be open 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Chili and apple desserts will be served 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The hamlet of Ironville, on the National Register of Historic Places, is listed as the Birthplace of the Electric Age, since it is the site of the first industrial application of electricity in the United States, in 1831. The electricity was provided by a simple battery known as a wet battery, which in turn was used to power one of Joseph Henrys electromagnets. The electromagnet was used in Ironville to recharge the magnetic prongs on the magnetic ore separator, a machine used to remove the iron from the crushed ore.
The magnet also became a novelty, and people would come from miles to see its strength. Thomas Davenport, of Brandon, Vt., was so fascinated with the magnet at Ironville that he purchased it from Allen Penfield at a cost of $75. With the experimentation that Davenport did on that magnet, it lead to his invention of the electric motor in the mid- 1830s.
Central to the museum is an exact replica of a large electromagnet now in the Smithsonian Institution, in Washington, D.C.
Penfield moved his family to Crown Point in 1828 to make his fortune in the mining industry. The home he built was occupied by three generations before becoming a museum which houses a collection of 19th Century artifacts memorabilia.
Crown Point iron was an indispensable product for the North in the Civil, War. Iron from Crown Point was used to construct the battleship Monitor.
The museum contains samples of iron ore mined by Penfield, along with pictures of the mines in operation.
Rooms in the museum are furnished with original pieces once belonging to the Penfields. Other historic furniture is also on display.
Ironville was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The homes along the main street were all constructed in the early 19th Century.
Those buildings, besides the museum, include the Harwood House, a church, a parsonage, a boarding house, and homes, and barns that have been in use for 150 years and longer.
There are 10 stations along a self-guided tour. Year-round historical and recreational trails wander across the 500 acres of the homestead.
In the summer, hiking and camping are available near the Penfield Pond.


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Here is what Lacey has to say about her fabulous store:
Stamp and Create is an online store based in the US with worldwide shipping. We have free shipping for US orders of $55 or more and low international shipping rates. We carry a wide range of stamps as well as ribbon, paper, and embellishments for all of your stamping needs. We have a Weekly Candy each Monday and a new Challenge on the first Monday of each month.
Lacey is also generously providing this week's winner with a $25 gift certificate to her store, so be sure to play along this week for your chance to win!
This week our challenge is 'Things with Wings'. And now for some inspiration from our fabulous Sundae Girls:
This week our challenge is 'Things with Wings'. And now for some inspiration from our fabulous Sundae Girls:
(using 'Fergus with Tulips - Wild Rose Studio')
(using 'Nestabilities')
(using 'Silver Fairy - Wee Stamps')
(will be back next week)
Back to the challenge:
Entry rules include that card creations must be new, linked back to the challenge, and the link posted must link directly to the card. Maximum three entries per person please however you may combine our challenge with others to a maximum of ten challenges. Please use widget below to link to your card. If the widget is missing, please use the comment section to add your link. Challenge closes at 11:59 pm EST Saturday, May 17th.
Each challenge we will select the Top Three winners who are invited to post our Top Three badge on their site!
Good Luck and Thank you for topping your Sunday with us!


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During the next ten weeks, first and second graders in Rio Rancho elementary schools will become "health ambassadors," learning healthy behaviors that they can take home to share with their families and friends.
The booklet's sponsor is the Sandoval Health Collaborative, a group of local educators, care providers (including the Sandoval Health Council) and community leaders seeking to improve health outcomes in Sandoval County. Teachers, parents, school administrators, a pediatrician, nurses, nutritionists and food service advisors helped create the content.
10x10 debuted in the spring of 2017 as a pilot program in a few classrooms county-wide. Rio Rancho Public Schools has been an early and strong supporter of this initiative, which was rolled out in first grade classrooms this year and is being expanded to include second grade this year. This year's 10 X 10 program will reach more than 3,000 students, their families and friends throughout Sandoval County. The goal is to ultimately include age-appropriate booklets in all 1st through 5th grade classes by 2020. In addition, Rio Rancho Parks and Recreation, public libraries, local governments, and hospitals, and youth sports programs are incorporating 10x10 into their existing programs where appropriate --reinforcing the culture of health.
Sandoval County ranks #2 in New Mexico for health outcomes, just behind #1 Los Alamos County. While we can applaud that ranking, recent county health assessments raise concerns of rising childhood and adult obesity and substance abuse. Chronic conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, are often the consequence of poor nutrition, physical inactivity and frequently, lack of access to affordable care and nutritious food.
The project already is attracting national attention. 10x10 is now a finalist in the national Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge, sponsored by the American Public Health Association, Aetna Foundation and National Association of Counties. Top prize, to be awarded next fall, is a $500,000 grant. That would sponsor 10x10 and promote better health outcomes here for many years to come.
For teachers, it's a fun way to engage kids' interest in their own health. For adults, we hope it becomes a handy, resource-rich booklet that helps families practice and share healthy behaviors daily. For all, 10x10 is a fun way to feel better and save money by reducing preventable chronic health conditions.


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- Markus: As an avid reader, I have read many disaster series and the predicted aftermath is the same. Akart's latest series relates to the magnetic polar shift which is happening today. The magne...
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- ChrisP: "Now we see Him indistinct , as if in a mirror; then, we shall see Him face to face" ; I think this could be candidate topic for self licking ice cream, but suffice to suggest...
- Rob83: This image calls to mind something else. When the angel cries penance is when the image of the bishop dressed in white appears – almost as if he is the object of the angel̵ 7;s...
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- acardnal: It should be noted that more people have died from the flu this season than from coronaviru s. In the USA about 8100 since October!
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"But if, in any layman who is indeed imbued with literature, ignorance of the Latin language, which we can truly call the 'catholic' language, indicates a certain sluggishness in his love toward the Church, how much more fitting it is that each and every cleric should be adequately practiced and skilled in that language!" - Pius XI
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Grant unto thy Church, we beseech Thee, O merciful God, that She, being gathered together by the Holy Ghost, may be in no wise troubled by attack from her foes. O God, who by sin art offended and by penance pacified, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy people making supplication unto Thee,and turn away the scourges of Thine anger which we deserve for our sins. Almighty and Everlasting God, in whose Hand are the power and the government of every realm: look down upon and help the Christian people that the heathen nations who trust in the fierceness of their own might may be crushed by the power of thine Arm. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.
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Tag Archives: galaxy
"A long time ago in a galaxy far far away…"
From the Beeb: An international team of astronomers has detected the most distant galaxy yet. The galaxy is about 30 billion light-years away and is helping scientists shed light on the period that immediately followed the Big Bang. It was … Continue reading
Posted in Look! Up in the sky! Tagged galaxy 48 Comments
Praise ye him, O sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars and light.
I was struck today by the image of a galaxy posted at Astronomy Pic of the Day. On the full screen it is amazing. Click it. Note other galaxies in the background. Sometimes I consider why the visible cosmos is … Continue reading
Posted in Just Too Cool, Look! Up in the sky! Tagged APOTD, Astronomy Pic of the Day, galaxy 17 Comments
"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…."
Very cool… er um… hot back then.. no.. cool… but… Just read: NASA Telescopes Spy Ultra-Distant Galaxy PASADENA, Calif. — With the combined power of NASA's Spitzer and Hubble space telescopes, as well as a cosmic magnification effect, astronomers have … Continue reading
Posted in Just Too Cool, Look! Up in the sky! Tagged 6000 years old, Big Bang, galaxy 7 Comments
A really old thing!
For the first time in a while I found something useful on the site of the National Catholic Fishwrap! Headline: Oldest and most distant object in the universe discovered No, this isn't about Richard McBrien or even Joan Chittister. Fishwrap … Continue reading
Posted in Just Too Cool Tagged galaxy 14 Comments


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Preserving the Blues since 1995!
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) June 02, 2014
Biscuits and Blues is excited to announce they will now be opening their doors for shows every Sunday starting June 1. With their first dinner show starting conveniently at 7 p.m. and the late cocktail show at 9 p.m., this allows guests to wind down their weekend with earlier shows, ending perfectly in time to start the new week fresh and relaxed.
The following list of headliners is only a small sampling of the acts to come, and all interested parties are encouraged to visit http://www.biscuitsandblues.com/lineup to view the June calendar of shows in its entirety.
Thursday, June 5, Nick Moss and his band will command the stage and celebrate their audacious new CD Release "Time Ain't Free." Transcending ordinary bounds of blues genre, Moss combines raw sounds of guitar, harmonica and vocals to create a sound that is exciting and full of pure talent.
Sugaray Rayford will grace the stage on the nights of June 6 and June 7. When Sugaray belts out a song, listeners not only hear it; they feel it. The excitement in the room is palpable when he takes the stage; he is a superb vocalist and entertainer.
Friday, June 13, Biscuits and Blues is proud to present their monthly installment of the fabulous Lavay Smith, "The Queen of Classic Jazz and Blues" and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers. The saucy vocalist and her eight-piece crew masterfully craft smooth R&B sounds to keep audiences tantalized and transfixed.
Saturday, June 14, the Greg Nagy Band will be performing their music, which is refreshingly authentic bathed with elements of soul, R&B, rock and gospel. His vocals and guitar chop mark him one of the foremost artists shaping contemporary blues.
On Father's Day, Sunday, June 15, Biscuits and Blues is honored to feature Alvon, the classic, authentic blues artist and 2005 Blues Guitar Player of the Year. With vocal influences like Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole, Alvon's classic blues performance proves blues is as good as it has ever been.
Thursday, June 19, the powerhouse duo Chris James and Patrick Rynn take over the bandstand, performing "deep, satisfying blues with a high-energy swagger." The duo is known to cut loose during their electric blues sets with powerful vocals and terrific guitar play.
Karen Lovely brings her rip roaring vocals back to Biscuits and Blues for two fantastic shows on Friday, June 20. Known for her passionate, driven performances and always backed by stellar musicians, this powerhouse vocalist delivers a blistering mix of contemporary and old school blues.
Saturday, June 21, Café R&B hits the stage for a fun-filled night of rhythm and blues. Imagine Etta James riding a Harley out of an active volcano, and one will have some vague inkling as to the vocal power emanating from 'Roach', the front woman of L.A.
Saturday, June 28, the fantastically soulful Earl Thomas & the Rhumboogies will tear up the stage of Biscuits and Blues. Earl's passion and raw talent emanate from the stage, which lights up with energy and charisma each time he performs. The Earl Thomas shows sell out quickly! Reservations are highly recommended.
To celebrate the Fourth of July, Junior Watson will be performing an electrifying "Red, White, and Blues" concert at Biscuits and Blues. Junior is a fan-favorite for his eclectic, original take on the electric blues, with extra reverb. He has described himself as a wild artist: "like a train off the tracks." His diverse influences coupled with his creative, individualistic style makes for one of the most fun blues shows around.
Reservations and ticket purchases can be made by calling the Box Office at (415) 292-2583 or going to http://www.biscuitsandblues.com/tickets.
Biscuits and Blues is proud to announce the addition of two new menu items to make guests' experience even sweeter. The first delight is a chocolate mousse cake with decadent sheets of thin milk and dark chocolate, layered lightly with a rich creamy flavor. The Skillet Licker is named affectionately after the one and only Lavay Smith & Her Band. The Skillet Licker's smooth taste is comprised of 1800 silver tequila, melon liqueur, sour & lime juice. It is sweet and sassy, like the Skillet Lickers themselves.
To plan a fantastic night full of stellar blues music, delicious southern cuisine and California fine wines, please visit the Biscuits and Blues website: http://www.biscuitsandblues.com.
About the company:
Biscuits and Blues is a full restaurant, bar and nightclub and one of the reasons why San Francisco is on the map for music lovers. Located at 401 Mason St. at Geary, they have been voted America's #1 Blues nightclub by the Blues Foundation and the Bay Area Blues Society. It is San Francisco's home to great live music in an intimate setting, where everyone gets a front row seat. Biscuits and Blues features savory award-winning Southern-style cuisine, California wines, micro-brews and specialty cocktails – all at reasonable prices that please tourists and loyal Bay Area clientele. Biscuits and Blues is also an event venue for parties. They can host everything from office parties to family reunions. For more information and current lineup, please visit their website.


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The 5th CDT bulletin has now been published and can be found here.
The 5th CDT bulletin has now been published and can be found here.
2016 MPhil students Ramya Gurunathan and Henry Chan awarded Churchill Scholarships.Oct 24, 2016
The Churchill Scholarship is awarded annually by the Winston Churchill Foundation of the United States to 14 or 15 recent graduates of the more than one hundred participating US universities and colleges.
2016 MPhil student Monica wins SIGHPC/Intel Computational and Data Science FellowshipOct 24, 2016
Congratulations to Monica Chelliah, who starts the MPhil in Scientific Computing this October on an ACM SIGHPC/Intel Computational & Data Science Fellowship.
New MPhil students for 2016-17Oct 18, 2016
The MPhil in Scientific Computing welcomes 24 members of the 2016-17 cohort.


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Main navigation | Main content
Cryogenic semiconductor particle detectors are undergoing revolutionary advancements that can greatly improve the reach of dark matter direct detection experiments. In order to fully realize the potential of these detector advancements, major challenges in ultra-low-energy calibration and device physics must be overcome. I will discuss techniques to use sub-keV energy deposits to bring the physics of detector response into sharper focus. Using the framework developed to study detector response at this level we will then muse about future devices with even more extraordinary capabilities.
The weekly calendar is also available via subscription to the physics-announce mailing list, and by RSS feed.


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About us
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's (formerly the Department for Communities and Local Government) job is to create great places to live and work, and to give more power to local people to shape what happens in their area.
- driving up housing supply
- increasing home ownership
- devolving powers and budgets to boost local growth in England
- supporting strong communities with excellent public services
Read our Single Departmental Plan to find out more about how we are performing against our objectives.
Corporate information
Access our information
- Petitions and campaigns
- Our energy use
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- Our governance
- Statistics at MHCLG
- Corporate reports
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Jobs and contracts
Read about the types of information we routinely publish in our Publication scheme. Find out about our commitment to Welsh language scheme. Our Personal information charter explains how we treat your personal information.


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There's no question rainfall is necessary. How much will we get and when? Those are perennial questions. This year, the answer hasn't been good in either case.
Much of the Midwest has experienced a wet year at the wrong time. Swollen rivers caused by heavy rains have flooded towns and farm fields. In Minot, North Dakota, snowmelt and unusually wet weather are wreaking havoc. Minnesota has seen considerable rainfall after record winter snowfall. The Minnesota Crop Report from May 2 showed 1% of corn planted versus 84% planted at the same time last year. Who would've thought?
Aside from unpredictability, what can rain teach about marketing? Here are three key lessons to keep in mind next time the sky pours forth and throws a wrench into your livelihood.
1. Situations can change quickly. A field that's dry one day can be flooded the next, sometimes without clear warning. You may see rain in a forecast and still be overwhelmed by the volume and speed with which it hits.
Lessons for your marketing: Remember that market conditions change quickly, so prepare for the possibilities, capture opportunities, and minimize your risks. July corn futures peaked on June 10 at just over $7.99, and on June 23 we hit a low of $6.39, approximately a 20 percent swing. December corn contracts peaked on June 9 at about $7.22 and hit $6.20 on June 23, not quite as significant a difference as July, yet a dollar a bushel is nothing to sneeze at. Did you prepare for a possible drop and make some sales earlier this month?
2. Forecasts are only forecasts. It's important to know what the weather might do but you can't bank on what it actually will do.
Lessons for your marketing: Move away from a price outlook approach to marketing and take a strategic approach. Develop strategies for whatever the market may do. There are too many market factors over which there is no control. Using outlook as a filter can help you make strategic decisions. Just like with weather, it's important to know what might occur with price. Yet, in marketing and meteorology, it's impossible to predict what actually will happen. You've see rain fall when it wasn't in the forecast, right? Prices can fall when all fundamentals point to higher prices.
3. Rain doesn't discriminate. Many parts of the Midwest are drenched, yet drought is taking hold around us. Areas of Kansas and upper Michigan have been abnormally dry. Rivers in Iowa were running low last month. Droughty conditions in Oklahoma and farther south have been moving northward. Rainfall amounts leave some people dancing in the rain and compel others to do a rain dance.
Lessons for your marketing: All other factors among neighbors being equal, the markets can hurt one person's profitability much more than the next guy's. Put a hedge line of credit into place so that your marketing decisions aren't being influenced by cash flow or availability of funds. Learn to use options. Market your entire production. And, become a marketing expert or hire one. In broader terms, protect what you work so hard to earn from markets that know neither mercy nor boundaries.
Scott Stewart is president and CEO of Stewart-Peterson, a commodity marketing consulting firm based in West Bend, Wis. You may reach Scott at 800-334-9779, email him at [email protected].
The data contained herein is believed to be drawn from reliable sources but cannot be guaranteed. Neither the information presented, nor any opinions expressed constitute a solicitation of the purchase or sale of any commodity. Those individuals acting on this information are responsible for their own actions. Commodity trading may not be suitable for all recipients of this report. Futures trading involves risk of loss and should be carefully considered before investing. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Any reproduction, republication or other use of the information and thoughts expressed herein, without the express written permission of Stewart-Peterson Inc., is strictly prohibited. Copyright 2011 Stewart-Peterson Inc. All rights reserved.
Check Out the Engine on That Thing!
KC Fed Bank Warns Of Potential Debt Problems In Agriculture


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Tuesday 1 October 2013
October 01, 2013
Cambodia Flood Killed At Least Thirty
Floodwaters in Cambodia continues to rise on Tuesday in the provinces along the Mekong river and in Phnom Penh, killing at least 30 people. Meteorology officials have voiced concerns that floods in some parts of the country could reach the levels of the ones in 1996, which claimed almost 170 lives and affected more than a million Cambodians nationwide. (Reuters)
July 25, 2013
On Coast, Chinese Development Pushes Thousands From Land
Thousands of families in the remote coastal province of Koh Kong have been evicted or are facing eviction in the face of a Chinese resort development project. Some families have moved unwillingly to relocation sites. Some are refusing to leave, setting the stage for another land dispute. The families are facing eviction from a 36,000-hectare resort development by the Chinese Union Development Group, which holds a 99-year lease on the land. Chinese hydrodam developments have already damaged major parts of Koh Kong, home to the Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia's richest source of biodiversity. The resort adds to the difficulties facing residents of the province, which has also seen major evictions and disputes rising from the growth of a massive sugar plantation. Part one of a two-part series. (Say Mony, Koh Kong)
May 10, 2013
Chinese Hydrodam Remains a Concern, Mystery to Locals
Villagers in Koh Kong province say they are being kept in the dark on a hydroelectric dam planned to be built by a Chinese company in the remote Areng valley of the coastal province of Koh Kong. But villagers here say they are worried that if the dam is indeed built, it will cause major harm to their livelihoods. Cambodia has turned to the Chinese for a number of hydropower dams across the country. Supporters say they are needed to power the country's growth and development, but opponents say they are not worth the environmental costs. (Say Mony, Koh Kong)
Most Read


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Pimp this! Conservative blogger bootcamp comes to Denver next month
A conservative blogger bootcamp comes to Denver next month, offering such workshops as "Pimp Your (WordPress) Blog."
FreedomWorks, which is sponsoring the event, said in its notice that "last year we had bloggers from 35 different states in Washington, D.C., for an awesome weekend of blogger bootcamp. This year we're bringing the party to Denver!" Among those who have confirmed: Michelle Malkin (she follows me on Twitter), Dana Loesch, Ed Morrissey, Steven Crowder, Tammy Bruce and Stephen Kruiser.
Colorado's own conservative bloggers are teaching one workshop: "Building a State Blogging Network." The participants are Michael Sandoval, Ari Armstrong, Todd Shepherd of Complete Colorado, T.L. James, co-founder and general manager of People's Press Collective, and Kelly Maher of WhoSaidYouSaid.
BlogCon 2011 will be held Nov. 11-12 at the Crowne Plaza Denver Downtown Hotel at 1450 Glenarm. For more information, click here.


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Willie Henderson Jr., 48, of New Smyrna Beach, remains jailed on this Sunday evening on charges of sexual battery with a deadly weapon/force, aggravated battery, false imprisonment and burglary with assault or battery, all felonies, that could net him a sentence of 40 years or more if convicted at trial in what Sheriff's deputies said was a violent attack on a woman in her home in the middle of the night.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A woman was awakened in the middle of the night, -- 3:30 a.m. to be precise, by a knock at the door and a face she knew: A man she had paid 20 bucks to mow her lawn.
Opening the door resulted in a life-changing experience for this 42-year-old woman that nobody would want to suffer through: The fight of her life for her life; reapeatedly beaten and raped in and out of consciousness in the most intimate and tranquile settings for any person -- on her own bed.
After a daylong investigation Friday following that ordeal, Volusia County Sheriff's investigators arrested 48-year-old Willie Henderson Jr. of New Smyrna Beach on four major felonies that could result in a prison sentence of 40 years or more if convicted at trial: sexual battery with a deadly weapon/force, a separate count of aggravated battery, false imprisonment and burglary with assault or battery.
Henderson is being held without bail at the Volusia County Branch Jail In Daytona Beach, a place he has been to repeatedly over the last decade on various felony charges.
"He didn't know her well, but that didn't stop Willie Henderson, Jr. from knocking on a woman's door at 3:30 in the morning," Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said. "When the woman opened the door, Henderson pounced, punching and beating the victim, dragging her into her bedroom and sexually assaulting her."
The victim's ordeal started early Friday morning, when she was awakened in her home just west of New Smyrna Beach by a pounding on her door. When she opened the door, the woman recognized Henderson from the neighborhood. While she didn't know his last name, she recognized him as "Willie," the man to whom she had paid $20 to mow her lawn just a couple of days earlier.
Sheriff's investigators told Davidson that acquaintance was all Henderson needed to try and get the victim to open the door and not call the cops.
"He immediately punched the woman in the face, then pushed his way into her home, where he continued to punch and beat the victim," Davidson said, "and continued in the bedroom -- the victim would later tell deputies that she felt like she was in a fight for her life. The woman said she fought back as hard as she could, but was simply overpowered by her attacker. At one point, Henderson climbed on top of the woman while the two were on her bed and started strangling her. The victim went in and out of consciousness and sustained cuts, bruises and swelling on her face and lips, a black eye and had finger marks on her neck. She also bled from her injuries onto her bed and door.
But that wasn't the worst of it, Davidson said. When the victim regained consciousness, she discovered that her clothes had been removed and she had been sexually assaulted. Henderson finally left after the victim convinced him that she wouldn't call the police. After hiding in a closet to be sure that her attacker was gone, the victim grabbed a phone and dialed 9-1-1.
Deputies began arriving at the scene at 4:34 a.m. to start their investigation. The house was in disarray and showed obvious signs that there had been a struggle, including blood, broken glass and furniture pushed aside. Deputies also recovered a cell phone that Henderson dropped during the scuffle.
Meanwhile, Sheriff's investigators were called in to piece together the crime scene while other units searched for Henderson . At 10 a.m., they found him at his house on Hickory Street.
During questioning, Henderson initially attempted to minimize his actions, Davidson said, but he "eventually confessed that he attacked the victim and became enraged when she fought back. That's when he started strangling and hitting her and then forced himself on her sexually."
When investigators located Henderson, he had his victim's blood all over his shirt and pants. And that's not all: He also had three pictures of her that he stole on his way out of her house, Davidson said.
The victim was treated for her injuries at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach. This isn't the first time that Henderson has been accused of violence against a woman. About a year ago, a female acquaintance accused Henderson of throwing her down on a walking trail, strangling her and attempting to sexually assault the woman before stealing her van. The Sheriff's Office filed criminal charges against Henderson , but the charges were later dropped.
In Friday's arrest affidavit, Sheriff's investigators wrote: "Willie Henderson is considered a danger to the public and society and is most likely to re-offend." Henderson was booked into the Branch Jail at 5:39 p.m., where he remained after his first apperance over the weekend.


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|Grimbold from The Lord of the Rings (film series)
|Biographical Information
|Other names
|Grimbold of Grimslade
Grimbold of Westfold
|Chief of a Company
Acting Marshal
|15 March T.A. 3019
Battle of the Pelennor Fields
|Physical Description
|Images of Grimbold
Grimbold was a rider of Rohan, who dwelt in Grimslade. He fought in the Battles of the Fords of Isen, and fell in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
[edit] History
Grimbold was a valiant captain under the Second Marshal. He was instrumental in the defense of the Fords of Isen; after his Marshal Théodred fell, he managed to hold the eyot in the river until Elfhelm arrived. Soon after, the troops of Isengard left; their mission was over with the death of the Marshal.
Grimbold and his company were scattered after the Second Battle of the Fords of Isen, though most of his troops survived. When Gandalf arrived, he sent Elfhelm to protect Edoras and Grimbold to join Erkenbrand, who was making his way to the Hornburg in an attempt to lift the siege.
After the victory at Helm's Deep and the lighting of the warning beacons of Gondor, Théoden had to quickly reorganize his troops. The elderly Erkenbrand commanded the defense of Rohan, while Grimbold was elected to take over command of the muster of the Westfold based on the valour he had shown at earlier battles.[1] At the battle, Grimbold fought on the eastern side of the Pelennor Fields, where he was slain. He was remembered in the Song of the Mounds of Mundburg as "doughty".[2]
[edit] Portrayal in adaptations
2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King:
- Grimbold is briefly glimpsed twice in this film. The first time is as Théoden arrives at Dunharrow and calls out to Grimbold. In this scene he appears as an elderly man in the armour of the guard of Edoras. Later on in the film as the Rohirrim arrive at the Pelennor Fields Théoden gives Grimbold orders and tells him to "Go forth and fear no darkness!". In these scenes he was played by Bruce Phillips.
2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:
- Grimbold can be found in his encampment in eastern Heathfells in the region of the Gap of Rohan. He is later found at the Fords of Isen in the aftermath of the second battle. He is the Thane of his hometown of Grimslade, which can found in the Westfold area of the West Rohan region.
[edit] See also


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some of dis leads to more of dis!
when de survunts get squiffy, a sensibul kat waits until dey go into the kitshun for ice, and den asks for treats.
you can do dis as often as you like bekos squiffy survunts don't understand time furry well. and if de survunt says, "Au meow you just had a treat" you just say "meow meow, dat wasn't me, dat was Target" and de survunt will believe you.
so remember: a squiffy survunt is a generus survunt!
also, make sure you keep your tayul tucked away safely because a squiffy survunt is also a clumsy survunt...
|my eyes say GIF ME A TREAT!
i haf a fan page on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/KatzTales a one stop centre for my tweets, quick updates and photos. Come like me right now!


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Game Engine and Editors
H3 MilSim (Harpoon 3 Pro)'s unique two part design enables users to construct and manage the database independent of the simulation engine. The database supports the construction of very high fidelity entities. The user can develop a range of individual entities covering propulsion, fuel, communications, sensors, weapons, warheads, etc. that collectively establish platforms and infrastructure to be used in the simulation scenarios. Many different databases can be created to incorporate virtually any data to support entities at the unclassified or classified level. Additionally, the database design allows for the discreet simulation of entity upon entity interaction parameters (combat resolution) as well as damage mapping used in scenario evaluation of combat outcomes.
Four Key Points:
The primary value that H3 MilSim (Harpoon 3 Pro) brings to the activity is discipline. All entities in the simulation are defined according to well understood metrics, there is no magic, nor "I'm senior, and therefore I'm right" noise with respect to capabilities.
Transparency. Everybody can see and appreciate, if not understand, the absolute and relative metrics applied to all the entities: be they ships, aircraft, weapons, sensors, or communications systems. Range, speed, capacity, altitude, etc are self evident. The development of a common frame of reference is critical to an informed discussion and debate on further issues as they arise.
Comprehensive integration of all entities into the same scenario. Many simulations are restricted to particular environments or system types and the exclusion of other advanced systems, integrated in the real world, can lead to erroneous outcomes based upon the failure to include such systems at all or an incorrect assumption regarding their potential implications.
The lack of cultural bias – there is no provision for delusion factors and weightings such as aggression, training, morale etc in a simulation where the weapons are fired beyond the targets ability to see it and the system responses are the only means available to defeat the threat.
The detail from such simulations can be used to create higher fidelity modeling environments to better understand the interactions and dependencies of systems and technologies being used. H3 MilSim (Harpoon 3 Pro) can be directly ported to AGI's Satellite Tool Kit (STK) which is one of the world's premiere modeling environments, capable of measuring performance and energy with precision. It is a perfect tool for Net Assessments in that it can simulate new and emerging technologies, concepts of operation and indeed analysis of competing strategies to illustrate underlying assumptions and biases that sometimes fail to be recognized.
Access industry standard inputs.
Unique simulation database and program design.
- Interactive environment for training and education.
- Analytical environment for exploration and evaluation.
- Outputs to industry leading products for additional uses.
- Detailed outputs to understand results and processes.
- Professional services – security, designs, product or tailored databases.
H3 MilSim (Harpoon 3 Pro) is available in single user or multi-user configurations and customizations are regularly performed.
– Sir John "Sandy" Woodward, Admiral (Ret) RN
Adm. Woodward knows the value of gaming tactics before engaging in combat. He led the British fleet in Operation Corporate that recaptured the Falkland Islands from the Argentinians in 1982.


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Horseshoe Bay WV Open House!
We are proud to announce that this Jul 9th, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM we will be hosting an Open House at 6347 ARGYLE Ave in the Horseshoe Bay WV neighborhood, West Vancouver. This is an opportunity to visit this excellent Duplex for sale in beautiful Horseshoe Bay WV.
Please come with any questions you may have. In the meantime you can take a virtual tour of this Horseshoe Bay WV Duplex for sale.
As always please do not hesitate to give me a call at 604-329-6771 if I can answer any questions before the open house, or if you would like to book a private showing.
Matthew Moadebi
RE/Max Crest Realty


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|Golden Valley, Minn.
|High School:
Freshman (2012-13):
Nominee for Bob Cousy Award ... Tabbed Ivy League Rookie of the Year ... Honored on All-Ivy League First Team ... Named to NABC All-District First Team ... Became first freshman to be named to All-Ivy first team in conference history ... Named Best Mid-Major Freshman by Yahoo Sports ... Tabbed to NBC Sports All-Ivy League Team ... Honored as Raymond P. Lavietes '36 Co-Most Valuable Player ... Earned Thomas G. Stemberg '71, MBA '73 Iron Man Award ... Ranked first in the Ivy League with 5.7 assists per game and was fourth in free-throw shooting (.814) ... Led the nation's freshmen in assists per game ... Stood sixth in the conference with 12.4 points per contest ... Reached double figures in scoring 21 times ... Started all 30 games ... Averaged 38.3 minutes per game, good for first in the conference and fourth in the nation ... Was third in the Ivy League in scoring with 13.7 points per contest and ranked first with 5.4 assists per game in conference play ... Had three double-doubles ... Was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week six times ... Played 36 minutes, scoring nine points in career debut against MIT (Nov. 9) ... Tallied 14 points and added seven assists in 40 minutes at Massachusetts (Nov. 13) ... Scored 14 points and dished out seven assists for second straight game in win over Manhattan (Nov. 16) ... Went 6-for-6 from the foul line and finished with 16 points, while handing out eight assists against Vermont (Nov. 27) ... Scored 13 points and was 4-of-4 from the line against Fordham (Dec. 1) ... Named Ivy League Rookie of the Week Dec. 3 ... Tallied 21 points, sinking seven baskets and going 6-of-6 from the foul line, while dishing out seven assists at Boston College (Dec. 4) ... Scored the game-winning basket with four seconds remaining and had 21 points against Boston University (Dec. 11) ... Tabbed Ivy Rookie of the Week for second time Dec. 17 ... Played all 40 minutes and had 14 points and five assists against Holy Cross (Dec. 22) ... Named COOP Athlete of the Week Dec. 24 ... Dished out a career-high nine assists in win at California (Dec. 29) ... Went 5-of-5 from long distance and had 16 points and seven helpers at St. Mary's (Dec. 31) ... Had first career double-double, scoring 14 points and assisting on 10 baskets in win over Rice (Jan. 5) ... Earned third Ivy Rookie of the Week honor Jan. 7 ... Tallied a career-high 22 points and was 3-of-3 from long distance in Ivy opener at Dartmouth (Jan. 12) ... Earned fourth Ivy Rookie of the Week honor Jan. 14 ... Dished out seven assists at Memphis (Jan. 19) ... Scored 21 points, hitting nine foul shots, and handed out seven helpers in comeback win over Dartmouth (Jan. 26) ... Tabbed Ivy Rookie of the Week for fifth time Jan. 28 ... Poured in 11 points in win over Yale (Feb. 1) ... Had second double-double, scoring 17 points and dishing out 10 assists in a career-high 47 minutes of action in double-overtime victory over Brown (Feb. 2) ... Dished out a career-high 11 assists and netted 18 points at Cornell (Feb. 8) ... Sank 8-of-10 foul shots at Columbia (Feb. 10) ... Tallied 11 points and added five assists against Princeton (Feb. 16) ... Averaged 14.0 points and 4.5 assists in a weekend road sweep of Brown and Yale (Feb. 22-23) ... Scored 16 points, sinking 5-of-6 field-goal attempts against Columbia (March 8) ... Netted 16 points and dished out five assists in Ivy clinching win over Cornell (March 9) ... Handed out seven assists and scored five points down the stretch to upset No. 3 New Mexico in the second round of the NCAA tournament (March 21).
Played varsity basketball at Hopkins High ... Captained the varsity basketball team in 2012 ... Led team to AAAA Minnesota State Basketball Championship in 2010 and 2011 and a third-place finish in 2012 ... Helped the varsity basketball team to state championship in 2009 ... Selected to the Basketball State Championship All-Tournament team in 2011 and 2012 ... Awarded the 2012 Minnesota Mr. Basketball title ... Named the 2012 All-Metro first team by the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press ... Selected All-State first team in 2012 ... Named All-Lake Conference first team in 2011 and 2012 ... Selected as Boy's Basketball Classic Lake Conference All-Conference second team in 2010 ... The 2011 Basketball Breakdown Tournament Player of the Game ... Named Minnesota Basketball Star Tribune All-Metro second team in 2011 ... Also selected Best Buy Basketball All-Tournament team in 2010 and 2011 ... Invited to the Lebron James Nike Basketball Skills Academy and Deron Williams Nike Skills Academy in 2011 ... Participated in the Nike Hoop Jamboree Top 100 in 2010 ... Selected as Jayhawk Basketball Invitational All-Tournament team in 2009 ... Member of iHoops from 2009-11 ...Holds the State Tournament record for single game free throws made (22 of 24) ... An Academic Letter winner all four years of high school ... Member of National Honor Society in 2011 and 2012 ... Also enjoys playing video games, football, and bowling.
Siyani Chambers with David Wilkins, Lester Kissel Professor of Law and Director of the Program on the Legal Profession, in front of the Statue of Joseph Story inside of the Harvard Law School Library's Langdell Hall. Professor Wilkins is also the Vice Dean for Global Initiatives on the Legal Profession at the Harvard Law School.


text: Up by 12 with three minutes remaining, the Calgary Stampeders seemed a lock for a win over Montreal last night. A quick Alouettes touchdown followed by a boneheaded interception by Stampeders QB Kevin Glenn —we called it, at the time, Favresque— with a minute remaining that had even the CFL's website in denial resulted in an improbable 33-32 Montreal victory before a crowd diminished by Alouettes fans who'd departed for the exits when a loss seemed certain. There was still drama at the end, as Calgary's attempt to call a last-second timeout to set up a field goal attempt was waved off as officials ruled the clock had expired before the timeout could be called. Put together, the series of mistakes was enough to give Calgary's coaching staff a serious case of the derp.


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We were hoping for a big crowd at the GeekWire Launch Party. Little did we know how big it would get.
With more than 800 people registered for last night's event, the turnout was a testament to the strength of the Seattle region's technology community. We can't tell you how much we appreciate the show of support.
And we hope you had as much fun as we did. Or at least as much fun as Jeremy Lewis of Big Fish Games, angel investor Geoff Entress, and Cheezburger's Ben Huh — pictured on the mini-golf course at right.
Thanks to our celebrity guests, including NBA legend Detlef Schrempf, rap legend Sir Mix-A-Lot, and Seattle Sounders Pat Noonan and Brad Evans. And a big thanks to our station sponsors — Big Fish Games, Decide, Maveron, Madrona, Kobo, TechDwellers, Gist, thePlatform and Filter — for offering up great games and prizes.
KING 5 News was there, as well, using the event to take the temperature of the local tech community in light of the unconfirmed report earlier yesterday that Seattle's PopCap Games is in acquisition talks with an unidentified buyer for a deal that could be valued at more than $1 billion. Here's the segment.
Here's a slideshow of photos from the event from photojournalist Karen Ducey.
Geekwire launch party photo gallery – Images by Karen Ducey
[Update: Also see coverage and photos by the Seattleite online news magazine.]
And here are more pictures below from the event by GeekWire photographer Annie Laurie Malarkey. Also, a special thanks to Kurt Schlosser for taking photos and shooting video, to Brent Roraback for spinning tunes all night, and to Seattle band The Dignitaries for the music used in the video above.


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Couscous Seafood Side Salad
There is a ton of flavor in this salad from Sharon Clow of Vanderhoof, British Columbia. She took a favorite recipe and added extra crabmeat, spinach and peas to make it over-the-top delicious!
Total TimePrep: 20 min. + chilling
Makes6 servings
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup uncooked couscous
- 1-1/2 cups finely chopped fresh spinach
- 1 cup chopped imitation crabmeat
- 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
- 1 small green pepper, chopped
- 1 small sweet red pepper, chopped
- 1 green onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons ketchup
- 1 teaspoon canola oil
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon ground coriander
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds, toasted
- In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil. Stir in couscous; cover and remove from the heat. Let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork; cool.
- In a large bowl, combine the couscous, spinach, crab, peas, peppers and onion.
- In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the vinegar, ketchup, oil, sugar, salt, pepper, oregano, garlic powder and coriander; shake well. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.


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Yanks' Sabathia down to 275 pounds, lightest in years
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- CC Sabathia got up from his chair in the corner of the New York Yankees' spring training clubhouse and looked almost slim -- at least for him.
Sabathia was a shell of his former self on the mound last year, and now his body is a fraction of what it once was. A six-time All-Star used to a hefty frame, he didn't have any superstitions about shedding the weight.
"Being a fat guy is a little different than wearing the same glove," he said Friday.
After the worst of his 13 major league seasons, Sabathia reported at 275 pounds, 40 below his high in 2010. He was shaken when a cousin, Demetrius Davis, died of a heart attack at age 45 in December 2012. Sabathia started thinking about his future.
"I'd lose the weight to be around, to be around my family, be around my kids," he said.
Sabathia dropped most of the pounds last year plus an additional 5 during the offseason. Changing eating habits was key for the 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner.
"I just did no carbs and then really worked out, and this offseason I just watched my diet and worked really hard," he said.
Photographs of his appearances during the offseason sparked a flurry of Internet comments. Was his weight loss the equivalent of Samson going for a haircut?
"Yeah, I thought it was hilarious," Sabathia said sarcastically. "I didn't think people cared that much, but whatever.
"Everybody was like mad at me and stuff. That's why when I went on 'First Take' I brought a Cap'n Crunch bag, just to let them know I'm still eating," he added. "Just not as much -- not two boxes at a time."
Sabathia's ineffectiveness was a weight on the Yankees last year, when the 33-year-old left-hander went 14-13 and set career highs for ERA (4.78) and home runs allowed (28).
In addition, he gave up a major league-high 122 runs, 45 on the homers, according to STATS.
Not what a pitcher with a 205-115 career record is accustomed to.
"Nobody wants to go through that again," he said. "It sticks with me a lot -- just being disappointed in not being able to help this team win. I feel like if I could have been a little better we might have made the playoffs. I blamed myself for a long time in the offseason."
His fastball velocity dropped from 93.9 mph in 2011 to 92.4 in 2012 to 91.3 last year, according to fangraphs.com. Following elbow surgery in October 2012, his fastball average barely topped 90 in the first two months of last season.
"I think not having a normal offseason because he was rehabbing his elbow was part of it," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I can't tell you exactly where his velocity is going to be, but the bottom line for success is not his velocity. Obviously it helps a little, but it's location."
Sabathia went on his diet without supervision, which he now admits probably was the "wrong way." He lacked the stamina he had been used to when he was the Big Man.
"By the fourth, fifth inning I was usually tired," he said.
Sabathia brought up his endurance when he spoke with Yankees head athletic trainer Steve Donahue.
"I felt like 'The Biggest Loser' last year," he said, referring to a reality television show about people dieting. "I lost a lot of weight, but I just wasn't physically ready to go out and play."


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ROCHESTER — On Monday morning, the city will celebrate the completion of the bridge at the Granite State Business Park, which will lead the way to a new manufacturing plant of Safran USA and Albany Engineered Composites.
The bridge, which goes over the railroad tracks, provides access to the newly advanced manufacturing plant, expected to bring in about 400 new jobs to the local area over the next several years.
The ribbon cutting for the bridge will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the business park on Airport Drive and Innovation Way.
Innovation Way, which meets Airport Drive in a T-intersection, is a new road the city constructed that will lead to the new manufacturing plant via the new bridge.
The road, bridge, and other infrastructure improvements at the Granite State Business Park were funded by the city through a $5 million bond to be paid back through captured tax revenue from the new manufacturing plant, which is in the process of being built.
Kathryn Buxton, public relations person for the expansion project, said with hundreds of new jobs resulting from the new plant, the bridge completion "is a big deal."
She said a number of state officials, Mayor T.J. Jean, as well as representatives from Albany Engineered Composites and Safran are invited to speak at Monday's event. City councilors, Planning Board members, and representatives from Great Bay Community College have also been invited to participate in the celebration.
A list of speakers participating has not yet been finalized, Buxton said Tuesday.
Hot chocolate and coffee will be provided at the event.
Those interested in joining Monday's ribbon cutting and celebration are encouraged to RSVP by calling the Economic Development Department at 335-7522 or emailing email@example.com.


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Nearest Town: VirginiaSite Size: 15 acres
Highlights: Raptors, Shorebirds, Songbirds, Upland Birds, Waterbirds, Waterfowl
Access: May dry up in late summer/early fall. Access free of charge.
Directions: I-15 Exit #36; 8.8 mi W on Virginia Rd (Hawkins Rd); L into reservoir parking lot. A foot trail crosses the dam and continues around the reservoir in the sagebrush habitat.
Description: The reservoir is surrounded by juniper hills and agricultural fields. Common Loon and dabbling ducks can be seen during spring migration. Look for Juniper Titmouse and Pinyon Jay breeding in juniper habitat surrounding the campground. Shorebirds use the reservoir during migration (fall is better than spring) with numbers peaking in July-Sept. Sharp-tailed Grouse present.
More Information: BLM (208) 478-6341Pocatello Chamber of Commerce (208) 233-1525
General Services:
Handicapped Services:What do these icons mean?
Select a species from the list to view other sites on the Idaho Birding Trail Sites this species may be observed.


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Luxe Down Alternative Duvet Insert
Please Select Size:
Earn 10% back 20% back in Reward Dollars* with your West Elm Credit Card.Learn More Apply Now
- Overview
Offering soft, luxurious comfort at an affordable price, the Luxe Down Alternative Duvet features a sustainably sourced fill for extra warmth without the weight. The baffle box constructions keeps the fill from shifting, while loops at each corner tie to your duvet cover to keep the duvet securely in place.
- Cover: 100% cambric weave cotton (230-thread count).
- Fill: 70% recycled polyester, 30% TENCEL™.
- Extra warm + lofty.
- Hypoallergenic.
- Baffle box construction.
- Corner loops tie to the duvet cover to keep duvet in place.
- Twin size is online/catalog only.
- Details + Dimensions
- Twin: 88"l x 70"w.
- Full/Queen: 98"l x 94"w.
- King/Cal. King: 114"l x 98"w.
Machine wash warm with like colors. Do not bleach. Tumble dry low. Remove promptly from dryer. Use warm iron if necessary. Do not dry clean.
- Shipping + Returns
With Front Door Delivery, your item ships from our Distribution Center by UPS and arrives to your home within 4-5 business days of order receipt.
The shipping rate varies depending on your order total and shipping options. Visit our Shipping Information Page for more information.
Add $8.50 for each gift wrap. For next day delivery, add $26.00 per address. Items shipped directly from the manufacturer and oversized items are not eligible for next day delivery.
For an extra charge of $26.00 per address, within the contiguous 48 states, we can arrange for next day delivery to most destinations. If we receive your order by 6pm PT Monday through Friday, you'll receive your order the next business day; orders placed on Friday after 6pm PT through Sunday will arrive on Tuesday. Note: Next day delivery service is not available for out-of-stock items, personalized items or for items shipped directly from the vendor.
You can return eligible items within 30 days of receiving an order or 7 days for Quick Ship upholstery items for a refund of the merchandise value. An original receipt or gift receipt is required. Monogrammed items and Made-to-Order furniture or rugs are not eligible for returns. Review the full list of ineligible items and our refund policy below before starting the process.
How to return:
- Return to Stores: You can return most non-furniture items to your local west elm store for free (west elm outlet stores excluded).
- UPS: For items under 70 lbs, you can print a return label from our Returns Policy page and bring to a UPS location.
- For furniture and other oversized items that are not Made-to-Order, please contact our customer service department at 1.888.922.4119.
Items not eligible for return:
- Made-to-Order (MTO) items, including custom rugs and furniture
- Drop Ship items, with the exception of wall art
- Monogrammed items
- Mattresses
- Gift cards
- Final sale items (with prices ending in $.X7 or $.X9)
- Items damaged through normal wear and tear
Complete details:
- For full details, please visit our Returns Policy page.
- For further assistance, please call our customer service department at 1.888.922.4119 or send an email to email@example.com.


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Rough Riders
Rough Riders
Roosevelt's personal account of his experiences commanding the Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War.
Book Excerpt
from Virginia, Maryland, and the Northeastern States, at Washington. Before allowing them to be sworn in, I gathered them together and explained that if they went in they must be prepared not merely to fight, but to perform the weary, monotonous labor incident to the ordinary routine of a soldier's life; that they must be ready to face fever exactly as they were to face bullets; that they were to obey unquestioningly, and to do their duty as readily if called upon to garrison a fort as if sent to the front. I warned them that work that was merely irksome and disagreeable must be faced as readily as work that was dangerous, and that no complaint of any kind must be made; and I told them that they were entirely at liberty not to go, but that after they had once signed there could then be no backing out.
Not a man of them backed out; not one of them failed to do his whole duty.
These men formed but a small fraction of the whole. They went down to San Antonio, where the regiment was to gather and w


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Flourysh needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 40 designs submitted by 20 freelance designers.
New online ecommerce store specializing in roses is about to launch. Elegant, romantic, curly soft on the eye logo required.
The Rose Shack
The logo should be based on the flower in the wallpaper (http://www.jws.co.za/client/theroseshack/wallpaper.jpg). It should be simple, curly, romantic, soft on the eye. The logo should 'flow' and not be 'blocky'. Background colour of the logo should be dark grey. The writing on the logo should be cream with a 'romantic' font. Tendrils (the small curly parts of the plant that grow from the stem) should be included to make the logo more 'flowy'. Have a look at this sample of wallpaper that is more flowy and has extra tendrils: http://www.jws.co.za/client/therose…aper2.jpg. An additional rose head may be included in the design.
The stem in wallpaper.jpg is too stiff. The logo's stem should be a bit more wavy.
The name of the business 'The Rose Shack' must be included in the design.
- Based on flower in wallpaper.jpg
- simple, romantic, soft on the eye
- dark gray background colour
- writing on the logo should be cream
- soft stem on the rose
- one or two rose heads
- extra tendrils to give the logo 'flow'
- Do not make an exact copy of the wallpaper, it is there as an example
- must not be blocky
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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The Hispanic Thing Really Is A GOP Problem
Immigration is not one of my top concerns, but if you ask me what I think about it, I come down more or less on the side of restrictionists. That said, Ryan Lizza's reporting indicates that Republicans are going to have to move in a direction in which many of their base do not wish to go. Take a look at this, from his interview with the new US Senator from Texas, Ted Cruz, who is a Tea Party guy:
As a senator from Texas, the largest and most important state in the Republican firmament, Cruz has a special role in the post-Romney debate. At the Presidential level, Texas has thirty-eight electoral votes, second only to California, which has fifty-five. It anchors the modern Republican Party, in the same way that California and New York anchor the Democratic Party. But, Cruz told me, the once unthinkable idea of Texas becoming a Democratic state is now a real possibility.
"If Republicans do not do better in the Hispanic community," he said, "in a few short years Republicans will no longer be the majority party in our state." He ticked off some statistics: in 2004, George W. Bush won forty-four per cent of the Hispanic vote nationally; in 2008, John McCain won just thirty-one per cent. On Tuesday, Romney fared even worse.
"In not too many years, Texas could switch from being all Republican to all Democrat," he said. "If that happens, no Republican will ever again win the White House. New York and California are for the foreseeable future unalterably Democrat. If Texas turns bright blue, the Electoral College math is simple. We won't be talking about Ohio, we won't be talking about Florida or Virginia, because it won't matter. If Texas is bright blue, you can't get to two-seventy electoral votes. The Republican Party would cease to exist. We would become like the Whig Party. Our kids and grandkids would study how this used to be a national political party. 'They had Conventions, they nominated Presidential candidates. They don't exist anymore.' "
And here is Lizza talking to the head of the Republican Party of Texas:
"If I say to you, your life depends on picking whether the following state is Democrat or Republican, what would you pick?" Munisteri asked. "The state is fifty-five per cent traditional minority. Thirty-eight per cent is Hispanic, eleven per cent is African-American, and the rest is Asian-American, and two-thirds of all births are in a traditional minority family. And if I was to tell you that, nationwide, last time, Republicans got only roughly four per cent of the African-American vote and about a third of the Hispanic vote, would you say that state is Democrat or Republican? Well, that's Texas. We are the only majority-minority state in the union that people consider Republican."
Immigration from Mexico only partly accounts for the change. More than a million Americans have moved to Texas in the past decade, many from traditionally Democratic states. More than three hundred and fifty thousand Californians have arrived in the past five years; since 2005, over a hundred thousand Louisianans permanently relocated to Texas, mostly in Houston, after Hurricane Katrina. The population is also skewing younger, which means more Democratic. But Munisteri is more preoccupied by the racial and ethnic changes. He turned to a chart showing Texas's population by ethnic group over the next few decades. A red line, representing the white population, plunged from almost fifty-five per cent, in 2000, to almost twenty-five per cent, in 2040; a blue line, the Hispanic population, climbed from thirty-two per cent to almost sixty per cent during the same period. He pointed to the spot where the two lines crossed, as if it augured a potential apocalypse. "This shows when Hispanics will become the largest group in the state," he said. "That's somewhere in 2014. We're almost at 2013!" He added, "You cannot have a situation with the Hispanic community that we've had for forty years with the African-American community, where it's a bloc of votes that you almost write off. You can't do that with a group of citizens that are going to compose a majority of this state by 2020, and which will be a plurality of this state in about a year and a half."
In Lizza's account, it's not just about immigration, or having more Hispanic candidates running as Republicans. The Hispanic community is not monolithic; some of them embrace a conservative hard line on immigration, for instance, and Ted Cruz's vote last week indicates that he had no crossover appeal to Hispanic Democrats. Lizza's reporting — especially the research that the panicked Texas GOP chief shares with him — suggests that while the GOP won't solve its Hispanic problem by embracing immigration reform (much less fielding more Hispanic candidates), it must at least embrace immigration reform as a starting point — or it's going to get wiped out nationally.
Cruz has a point that's hard to ignore: Given that New York and California are true-blue, how does a Republican win the presidency without Texas? We are just about at the point where the GOP cannot win Texas without winning a substantial portion of the Hispanic vote. Besides, white people aren't going to be heavily Republican forever. A Texas Hispanic Republican activist makes this point:
"If you're coming from the Anglo community, you may be seeing the death of your party and your political power and the way you understand things," he said. "You step on our side, the future looks bright."
That line made me think about how when I was a kid and just starting to pay attention to politics, I knew — everybody knew — that the Democrats were the natural majority in this country. Republicans would win the presidency sometimes (we had Nixon, for example), but the country was Democratic. Democrats set the agenda. Reagan began to turn that around. Even when the Democrats started winning again, under Clinton, the Republicans still pretty much set the agenda, because the country was, on the whole, center-right. The New Deal narrative had run its course; now Reaganism set the terms of the debate.
This political moment feels like everything is changing again. The dominant American political paradigm, I mean.


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GOP-led state Senate approves Medicaid expansion
LANSING — The state Senate narrowly voted Tuesday night to make more low-income adults eligible for Medicaid, a major step toward Michigan becoming the 24th state to accept a key component of the contentious federal health care law.
The Republican-led chamber, on a 20-18 vote, approved expanding the government health insurance program to nearly a half-million Michigan residents within a few years. Many are expected to be eligible in 2014 if the state receives federal approval.
The legislation now returns to the GOP-led House, which passed the bill in June and is expected to send it to Gov. Rick Snyder next week for his signature. The GOP governor, who strongly supports Medicaid expansion, had struggled to win backing in a Senate where many conservatives opposed to "Obamacare" have philosophical objections to expanding government.
"It's about helping 470,000 Michiganders have a better life," Snyder said during a Capitol news conference a after the vote. "Going to the ER for your health care, while we have wonderful people in the ER, is not a good solution."
The Senate fell two votes short of giving the bill immediate effect, which may force new Medicaid recipients to wait until April for coverage instead of January. Snyder said he was hopeful the Senate would revisit the timing, asking "should we make people wait three more months?"
Medicaid expansion is part of a strategy to ensure nearly all Americans have health insurance under the 2010 Affordable Care Act. It was designed to cover the neediest uninsured people but became optional for states because of a Supreme Court decision last year.
Many GOP-led states have declined the expansion, despite the U.S. government promising to cover the entire cost for the first three years and 90 percent later. Michigan is poised to become the seventh state led by a Republican governor to sign up.
The legislation won approval about 2½ hours after the Senate fell one vote short on its first attempt, when Republican Sen. Tom Casperson of Escanaba surprised by voting "no." That allowed one of the fiercest opponents of the federal health care law, Sen. Patrick Colbeck from Canton Township, to not vote, preventing Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Calley from breaking a tie.
Casperson voted "yes" the second time around after the bill was amended to limit how much hospitals can charge the uninsured for medical care.
Pressure from advocates of Medicaid expansion had been building in order for the state to receive federal OKs before residents can enroll.
Medicaid already covers 1.9 million, or one in five, Michigan residents - mainly low-income children, pregnant women, the disabled and some poorer working adults. The legislation would cover adults making up to 133 percent of the poverty level, or $15,500 for an individual and $26,500 for a family of three.
The bill includes GOP-written requirements that nondisabled enrollees pay some of their medical expenses after six months and pick up more costs after getting Medicaid for four years. They could lower their costs by not smoking or adhering to other healthy behaviors.
The newly eligible also would no longer be covered if savings from the expansion - primarily from shifting state mental health costs to the federal government - do not cover the state's cumulative costs. The nonpartisan Senate Fiscal Agency estimates the expansion would stop in 2027.
Supporters contend that offering health insurance to more poor people will make them healthier and minimize their expensive trips to the emergency room, saving money throughout the health system and also helping businesses meet requirements under the health law.
"It's a benefit to every person in the state of Michigan, whether you're in that expanded Medicaid population or you're lucky enough to be one of us, who has taxpayer-funded health care," said Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer, an East Lansing Democrat. "We know we all pay for uncompensated care in this state."
Opponents question such a large government expansion when the U.S. is trillions of dollars in debt and are suspicious of money-saving claims. Tea party and conservative activists say they will oppose Snyder's expected re-election bid because of his push to expand Medicaid coverage.
"The bottom line is we're spending more money," Colbeck said, calling the expansion "a path to a single-payer system where nobody gets control of their health care."
After the Senate adjourned in June without voting on Medicaid expansion, Snyder spent the summer traveling to Republican senators' districts to push publicly for the House bill, and pro-expansion allies paid for billboards calling out GOP senators to support the expansion.
Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville asked a workgroup to study the issue and held hearings that resulted in changes to the legislation - none considered deal breakers with Democrats or the House.
Eight Republican senators and all 12 Democrats voted for the bill. Eighteen Republicans opposed it.


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The V-Height Device - Quick Tech
For Measuring Vertical Spacing Such As Ride Heights
The V-Height device was designed for one purpose-accurately and visibly measuring vertical distances underneath hard-to-reach places such as automobile chassis, machine fixtures, molded parts, or any other overhanging features. With a range from 0.75 inch to10 inches, this device provides the stroke needed to reach a wide range of measured surfaces. The numeric output can be toggled between units of inch decimal, inch fraction (1/16 incremental) and millimeter. The display is tilted upward at a 55 degree angle so it may be easily read by a viewer standing upright. In addition, the display is brightly lit for easy viewing in bright or dim areas.
V-Height devices are provided with four stilts. These are used in instances where the measured object is raised above ground. A prime example is a racecar on four scales. With each tire on a 3-inch-thick scale for example, measurements from the chassis to ground level are offset by 3 inches. By setting the V-Height flat on a scale surface and adjusting the stilts to touch the ground, the measurement output will be just as if the car was on the ground. This allows the user to simultaneously weigh each wheel of the car and measure the frame stance. Stilts can translate the measurement ground plane up to 6 inches above the original ground plane.
It is common in auto racing to attain measurements under the chassis, and in the case of cars like those competing in NASCAR events, at each corner of the chassis. Frame rail corner heights are important because they are controlled by rules and also affect the handling of the car. Using under-tire scales to read corner weights, the chassis is raised or lowered at each corner to strike the correct balance of both height and weight.
Most commonly, the height measurements are made with a measuring tape. Using this method, the user may experience awkward body positioning, eye strain from reading tape marks in dimly-lit areas, and the prospect of circling all four corners of the car several times until the proper height is reached on all four corners of the chassis. In addition to this, time is also wasted by factoring fractional tape measure marks to the least common fractional denominator.
Measurements made using the V-Height eliminate error caused by tape mark interpretation and factoring. In addition, measurements are more repeatable and can be made more comfortably. Racecar chassis setup is merely one use for this device. There are many other uses for this concept outside of the realm of the automobile. This apparatus is useful for any application that requires finding the normal distance between a plane and a point.
We tested a V-Height device at the race shop. First you must lower the measuring arm and set the base measurement of 0.75-inch. Then release the arm and let it touch the bottom of the frame or part to be measured. We used the bench top, probably more level than your garage floor, and it gave us measurements of plus or minus 0.05-inch. In reality, this unit would be most accurate when used on a surface plate, but in most situations using a nominally level surface, you can get results with an accuracy error of less than 1/16-inch. Try getting that close with a bent tape measure.
Here we take a measurement up to the bottom of a tool box drawer in the shop. The four stilts shown sticking up are used to space the unit up to a height that might represent the height of your scales or other offsets from the floor. This provides compensation so that you can read the heights as if the tires were on the ground.


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The Bay State's economy has benefited from a decade-long surge in defense spending, but that sector's labor force is threatened by massive military budget cuts that are set for next year, the author of a new study warned Monday.
"It could be up to 30,000 jobs at risk," said Marty Romitti, director of economic and public policy research at the University of Massachusetts' UMass Donahue Institute, which prepared the report for the Defense Technology Initiative.
"If it ends up being that significant," Romitti added, "what you've done is, you've essentially taken away all the jobs that have been gained by the Massachusetts recovery over the last several years."
Last year, Massachusetts received nearly $13.9 billion in contracts from the US departments of Defense and Homeland Security. That is down from a peak of $15.5 billion in 2009, but still 83 percent more than in 2003. The increase reflects a surge in spending on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and on systems to defend against terrorist attacks.
Throughout New England, the US government spent nearly $34 billion on defense and homeland security in 2011.
Defense expenditures generated about 130,000 jobs in the state, with a total payroll of $9.7 billion. Romitti said that the number includes 47,000 people directly employed by defense contractors and another 71,000 jobs at other companies that provide goods and services to the defense firms.
The state also benefits from strong defense spending in the rest of New England. The region's other five states attracted $20 billion in military contracts last year. Romitti said that about 11,500 Massachusetts jobs come from money spent here by out-of-state defense contractors.
"The fact that they're getting jobs in Connecticut, for instance, means that businesses in the Pioneer Valley are benefiting," Romitti said.
Massachusetts builds a lot of military hardware; General Electric Co. makes jet engines in Lynn, for instance, and Waltham-based Raytheon Co. is a major producer of guided missiles.
But the single biggest chunk of money, 26 percent of the total, goes to research and development of new military technologies, at places like the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc. in Cambridge.
"It's really developing those next generations of weapons systems," said Romitti, "keeping America out ahead of the rest of the world."
But there is a huge cloud hanging over the defense sector because of the massive US budget deficit. The Budget Control Act, passed by Congress last year, will require the Pentagon to make $487 billion in cuts over 10 years, starting in 2013. In addition, Congress and the White House have agreed to a program called "sequestration," in which $1.2 trillion in budget cuts will automatically go into effect over 10 years.
Sequestration will take effect next year, unless the plan is modified by Congress, and the cuts must come equally from defense and nondefense spending. That would mean an additional $600 billion in Pentagon cuts, or more than $1 trillion in the next decade.
"The defense sequestration cuts that are set to begin in January present a direct threat to this robust defense industrial base in New England, with the potential to result in thousands of lost jobs, and leaving our country less safe and more reliant on foreign suppliers," Senator Kelly Ayotte, a New Hampshire Republican, said in a statement. But Romitti said there is some hope that Massachusetts companies could avoid the worst of the cuts. Romitti said the Pentagon plans to keep investing heavily in advanced technologies like unmanned aircraft, robotics, and network security software, areas where Bay State companies are strong.
Hiawatha Bray can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.