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our story
Guiding good intentions into great community outcomes with people, ideas, energy + resources
passion = people + purpose
Storybox provides community engagement and project planning consultancy services to businesses, government and not-for-profit organisations in Western Austalia. We work across a range of sectors including resources; urban and regional development; social infrastructure; community development and community services.
Prior to establishing Storybox, Managing Director, Liz Storr, held senior community engagement and partnership management roles with the Clontarf Foundation, CITIC Pacific Mining, Iluka Resources, local governments and not-for-profit organisations spanning more than two decades.
Liz's work has included national, state-wide and local stakeholder relations and social investment; indigenous engagement; grass-roots community and economic development; management of community centres and a major eco-tourism organisation in the southwest of WA; volunteer development; and corporate-community partnership brokering with some of Australia's largest corporations.
Liz has developed her knowledge and passion for community spirit and grass-roots community development from many different locations across Australia. Her love of the Australian outback and coastal travel has enabled Liz to explore and discover amazing stories of community innovation. Sharing these experiences remains a driving force behind Liz's approach to business-community collaboration.
Through a close network of like-minded professional colleagues, Storybox draws together an experienced, passionate team to design and implement tailored solutions for every client.
Managing Director, Liz Storr
With over 25 years of experience in community engagement and development in the not-for-profit sector, local government and business, Liz has worked on diverse social, economic and infrastructure projects.
Liz holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Western Australia and a Graduate Certificate in Community Relations from the University of Queensland's Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining.
Liz is a Certified Practitioner and Member of the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) and a Member of the Public Relations Institute of Australia.
In the Peel region of WA, Liz is
Chair of Peel Community Development Group Inc., a member of the Peel Regional Leaders Forum and serves on the Board of Regional Development Australia Peel.


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On The Water With Your Fishing Buddies
Catering to theHard Core
No Better Time ThanFamily Time
Captain Alex invites you to come toBeautiful Marco Island
Our goal is for you and your family to have a Great Fishing Experience
© 2014 Say What Charters | All rights reserved. | 951 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island, Florida 34145 | Call Now! 1-239-248-2107 or 1-239-249-9271

subset: commoncrawl


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11 Podcasts My Smart Friends Listen To
I have brilliant LinkedIn connections. The kind that makes me want to work harder, and learn more. So I asked them in a LinkedIn post, "What's your favorite podcast?" I wanted to get the best podcasts for new listening.
Their answers have stretched my thinking. Or at the very least, given me a new podcast to binge listen to while I workout on the treadmill.
I broke up their feedback based on their "podcast persona" and share links if you want to add them to your listening queue.
Best Podcasts for the Headline Junkie
I have an IDEO U colleague that is a get-to-business type. She's warm and friendly, but she's also a firecracker and ready to dive into things when you meet up.
She turned me onto a daily ritual that I now have, listening to NPR's Up First and New York Times' The Daily.
About 30 minutes of my morning is dedicated listening to these news podcasts M-F. Good stuff, and if you read the bio on The Daily's host, Michael Barbaro, you'll find that he ends every show, "with a splash of gin." That is my kind of daily reporting.
Best Podcasts for the Whole Brain Thinker
I have another IDEO friend that is biz ops meets CPA with a side of pottery craftsmanship. Left and right brain thinker, her suggestions were just that: Freakonomics Radio and Song Exploder.
In both cases, I subscribe, and just cherry pick the episodes that interest me most and skip the ones that don't directly pull me in. Freakonomics, like the book, is a podcast from an economist that explores the hidden side of everything.
Whereas Song Exploder is a podcast series that dives deep into music. It's where "musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made" and is so enlightening if you like music.
These two suggested podcasts are great yin and yang additions to my playlist.
Best Podcasts for the Lifelong Learner
An educational technology consultant that is curious about all things related to learning suggested I check out Malcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History and NPR's Hidden Brain.
I was already listening to the first but was surprised I missed the NPR gem. The Hidden Brain podcast synopsis says it best, "Hidden Brain helps curious people understand the world – and themselves. Using science and storytelling, Hidden Brain's host Shankar Vedantam reveals the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, the biases that shape our choices, and the triggers that direct the course of our relationships."
The topics are varied and a nice glimpse into things I don't otherwise spend my time thinking about — I guess that's the point, right?
Best Podcasts for the Dark Horse
Another friend that I met at IDEO has since moved to a social impact organization. He's the IT guy that defies all IT guy stereotypes. He's friendly, approachable, and has hidden interests that add layers of human complexity. He shared a lovely, cerebral podcast list including WTF with Marc Maron, We Have Concerns, and The Phileas Club.
These suggestions are definitely in my queue for some listening in the future. But the Anna Farris Unqualified podcast suggestion was a standout for me. As the host, she interviews Hollywood folks to get their take on relationship advice.
I needed more interesting fluff in my listening queue, and this was just what I was looking for and needed. A recommendation like this, from the IT guy, well that made it all the juicier.
Best Podcasts for the Positive Realist
We all have the friend. She's a doer, a mom, and a freelance graphic designer. And she's got side hustle keeping her busy in her "down time" and beyond. She can dream big – but then set realistic goals around it. Her suggestion was right on point – Live Inspired by John O'Leary.
O'Leary is a bestselling author and his podcast hopes to help listeners, "wake up from accidental living so you can do, be, achieve, and impact more through your life." (NOTE: I added a comma to the quote I pulled from the podcast description. I just can't let a missing Oxford comma go by.)
I've only listened to one episode so far, and it was a worthy listen. I won't be able to tune into every episode, a girl can just get so inspired before being exhausted, but the one I heard was great, and I'll keep it on my list.
So there you have it. Have other podcasts to suggest I check out? Please comment and let me know what you listen to!
NOTE: I originally posted this article on LinkedIn, available here.


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10Good hygiene
Being beautiful is not enough. If a man notices that his girlfriend doesn't take proper care of herself, it may put him off. Even slobs want their women to look neat and smell nice. Men are so fine-tuned when it comes to a woman's hygiene that to them a well-cared woman often appears more beautiful than a stunner who looks filthy and untidy. Sloppy clothes, dishevelled hair, dirt under fingernails… Lay off it, unless you mean to push him away.


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We seem to be hitting a fair few milestones recently. Just last week my eldest son Marley finished Preschool and this September he will be starting what we refer to as 'big school'. As a final hurrah to the Preschool days the teachers and children put on a fantastic celebration, that included singing, personal stories and a reflection on what has been a really fun, inspiring time in Marley's life, and ours for that matter.
It's amazing how much a little person can develop and change in such a short space of time. When Marley started his Preschool adventure at just 3 years old we saw this as an opportunity for him to build friendships with children in our neighbourhood, learn a few things and maybe start to pick up some skills that would ease him into the world of 'big school'. How wrong was I? Yes he has developed some great friendships, but the development and learning has been so much more than I thought and this is down to Marley's passion to explore and get involved and most importantly the amazing drive, guidance and dedication of Marley's Preschool teachers.
I have real admiration for the Preschool team and tried to articulate my thanks for all their hard work, dedication and support. But I found it difficult to find the exact words to describe how much this means to us and Marley. I don't know if the teachers realise what a truly magical job they do. I wanted to get them a gift to say thank you, but a bunch of flowers and chocolates, as nice as they are, just didn't seem to cut it. So I decided to try and write down our feelings and immense gratitude.
What Marley has learnt in the past year is not just ABC and 123, its life skills and social development, which for me is just as important, if not more so, for a little person starting their way and making their stamp in the world. It might seem like the 'small things' but things like trying new foods, encouraging a really good bathroom routine, learning to share, reinforcing good manners and building confidence is at the heart of building a solid foundation for the future. And the thing is all this learning and support has come with such fun, laughter and positivity. The tale of encouraging Marley to eat his runner beans, will always make me smile.
So, Thank you for guiding and supporting our adventurous, funny little man on his first steps.
Written by Victoria @Mama and the Dudes


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are delivered fully assembled unless stated
available on stock items – order by 3pm
on all chairs over £150
Since 1971
All chairs have a manufacturers Warranty
Having a stylish boardroom table can make your company look professional and present the right image. It is also something that is likely to be used a lot for meetings with your staff and clients. That's why it is important that you make the right choice when selecting furniture for your boardroom. We have a wide range of styles and many of the tables come in different sizes and finishes, so you can be sure that we have a boardroom table that is right for you. Some of our tables also come complete with a set of chairs, so you don't need to worry about buying those or finding a table to match your set of chairs.
Boss Design Apollo Veneer Rectangular Office Meeting Table – This is a top of the range boardroom table that comes in a range of sizes and finishes. There is even the option to add built in power and data sockets to avoid those messy and unprofessional wires.
Verco DNA Boardroom Table – Another professional looking boardroom table that is perfect to suit all of your needs. It is available in a range of sizes and finishes to make sure that it is both right for your space and that it matches other furniture you may already have.
Boss Design Pegasus Table & 6 Delphi Low Back Stacking Chairs – This is a great table and chair set that gives you flexibility. If you don't have a large number of staff or clients to entertain then this could be the perfect solution if you need both table and chairs.
If you're looking for a boardroom table to host your staff meetings, or you want a stylish boardroom table to impress your clients, then we can provide the perfect solutions. With a range of different sizes and finishes there is something to suit everyone's taste.


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San Diego's fastest and most scenic half marathon. Run from the Cabrillo National Monument atop the tip of Point Loma, along San Diego Bay, Harbor Island, Embarcadero, past the Star of India, through downtown San Diego to a rousing finish in historic Balboa Park.
Date & Time
Sunday, August 16, 2020
- Half Marathon - 6:15 AM
- Virtual Races - on your own time!
Entry Includes
- Technical fabric short-sleeve shirt
- Half marathon and 5K finisher medals
- Complimentary beer in Ballast Point beer garden
- And much more!
- Half Marathon - 13.1 Miles
- 5K - 3.1 Miles
- Virtual - 13.1 or 3.1
Live Tracking
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Cars have been a part of our everyday lives in the western world for around a century now, with levels of car ownership rising as more and more of us can afford to buy them. Official automotive industry statistics showed in 2016 that there were more than 36m vehicles licensed to drive on the roads in the UK, with an estimated 261m in the USA. However, we are approaching a time of unprecedented change and potential opportunity, so is 'mobility' the future of the automotive industry?
What is 'Mobility'?
In 2015, Ford President and CEO Mark Fields made a speech at the Consumer Electronics Show that was meant to usher in a new era for the way we use cars. He unveiled the Smart Mobility plan, which talked about connectivity, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience and big data as the cornerstones of how Ford would do business in a changing world.
The definition of 'Mobility' in this context primarily means car sharing, a market that has been booming and is predicted to become even bigger. A report from Global Market Insights in March claims that the car sharing market in the States would grow to $16.5bn by 2024, driven by government regulations on emissions, petrol prices, and the new technologies out there to facilitate sharing.
Another report by McKinsey & Company in January 2016 predicted the further rise in car pools and sharing at the expense of rises in car sales, stating: "Overall global car sales will continue to grow, but the annual growth rate is expected to drop from the 3.6 percent over the last five years to around 2 percent by 2030. This drop will be largely driven by macroeconomic factors and the rise of new mobility services such as car sharing and e-hailing."
So where does this leave a multinational car manufacturer like Ford? For Fields, it's all about pushing the envelope and adapting to the way vehicle usage is changing.
"Even as we showcase connected cars and share our plans for autonomous vehicles, we are here at CES with a higher purpose," Fields said. "We are driving innovation in every part of our business to be both a product and mobility company – and, ultimately, to change the way the world moves just as our founder Henry Ford did 111 years ago.
"The existing infrastructure for motor vehicles simply cannot sustain the sheer number of vehicles expected to be on the road in the coming years," he continued. "Our roadmap has to include not only smarter cars, but smarter roads and smarter cities.
"We see a world where vehicles talk to one another, drivers and vehicles communicate with the city infrastructure to relieve congestion, and people routinely share vehicles or multiple forms of transportation for their daily commute. The experiments we're undertaking today will lead to an all-new model of transportation and mobility within the next 10 years and beyond."
What Happened Next?
The 'experiments' Fields talked about were 25 trial projects around the world which were designed to anticipate customer demands and requirements in those areas in the future. These included a predictive parking scheme in London, a 'dynamic social shuttle' in New York and a scheme to capitalise on car sharing trends in Bangalore, India.
Some of these have led to longer-term schemes, and in 2016 Ford invested in a shuttle-van start-up and a bike-share program in San Francisco, as well as announcing that they planned to have self-driving shared-ride vehicles on the roads by 2021. However, things haven't quite gone according to plan, with Ford stock down 40% since Fields was appointed, and chairman Bill Ford said that the company had been split by his "one foot in today one foot in tomorrow" plans.
Fields paid the price for his perceived failures in May when he was fired by Ford, with Wired summing up the scepticism the industry (and presumably his employers) had for his vision of the future: "If there's one takeaway from Ford ditching Fields, it's that in our current transportation environment, 'mobility' isn't so much a strategy as it is a euphemism for 'we have no idea what's happening next.'"
What Is The Future Of Mobility?
The dismissal of Fields shouldn't be taken as a sign that Ford has ditched mobility altogether. For one thing, his replacement is Jim Hackett, who had been leading on the company's mobility strategy, including the smart and driverless car division. So his appointment indicates that Ford is still planning to keep moving in that direction, even without Fields at the helm.
Bill Ford summed up the position the company finds itself in now in his announcement of the new CEO: "A time of unprecedented change for the industry is here now. Jim is a proven transformational leader, a visionary thinker. He's not just a futurist, he is a great operating executive able to seamlessly deliver a future that has been envisioned."
The onus is on Hackett to find a better way than Fields to balance the push towards a future of greater mobility and new technology with the existing challenges that Ford faces in the current market. For all car manufacturers, the future remains one full of uncertainties about how they will continue to thrive if we start to share cars rather than buying them in the numbers we have over the last few decades. The companies who adapt best to the changing circumstances will be the ones that survive the big changes ahead.
What do you think of mobility? Is it the future of the automotive industry, or just a fad that distracts from the here and now? Start the conversation online @mporiumgroup and subscribe to our blog for more fascinating articles and insight.


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Apeks Divers Watch Woman Series 200M
Apeks Divers Watch Woman Series 200M
Stainless steel case with attractive contoured stainless steel bezel with positive action, and screw down winder. This watch uses a reliable Seiko movement with date display.
Tested to 200 metres.
- Highly reliable Seiko VX42 Quartz movement.
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- Housed in a tough stainless steel case with screw-in crown.
- Mineral crystal face.
- PU Polyurethane strap.
- Tested to 200 metres.
- 33mm diameter, 10mm case depth, 16mm strap
- 12 months warranty.
Please take note if buyer(s) need more infomation about products / trips / courses , kindly please email to firstname.lastname@example.com or whatsapp to +60192867180 .
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Customer comments


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Disclosure: I wrote this post on behalf of The Baby Cubby. All opinions are my own.
I've got 4 children ages 13, 10, 2, and 5 months old. Over the years I've discovered that I didn't need nearly as much as I thought I did with baby number one. As we've grown our family, we've begun to outgrow our living space so minimizing has been necessary. Over the past couple of years, I've been on a quest to simplify our lives. I have found that when my environment feels cluttered and chaotic, I just cannot function. Therefore, as we have continued adding to our family, I have found so much freedom in buying just the things we need the most. I love chatting with new moms about what they need when it comes to having a new baby as I find that most feel very overwhelmed with all the options available to them. There are so many different places in both brick and mortar stores and online to find baby gear. Today, I'm sharing my top picks for new parents at The Baby Cubby.
Britax B-Agile & B-Safe 35 Travel System
- A Travel System Stroller – there will be so many times when you are out, and the baby will fall asleep in their car seat. The last thing you want to do is wake them as you transfer them from car seat to stroller. A stroller with a travel system is amazing. You simply click the car seat into your stroller without ever having to wake the baby. If you purchase a travel system, it takes care of both your car seat and stroller. Personally, Britax car seats are my favorite.
Crane USA Drop Shape Cool Mist Humidifier
- Cool Mist Humidifier – Inevitably at some point, your baby will get snotty. You are going to need a cool mist humidifier. You don't want to have to run out in the middle of the night to buy one. I am speaking from experience here. Having one on hand will save your sanity.
Skip Hop Chelsea Downtown Chic Backpack
- Backpack Diaper Bag – It took me until baby number 4 to figure this one out. A backpack diaper bag is essential. You are going to feel like you need eight hands to be able to do all the things that moms do. Having a backpack diaper bag frees your hands, which is more than amazing.
Avent Natural Bottle
- Bottles – Whether you breastfeed or formula feed your baby, you will need bottles. I've nursed all my babies, but I always keep bottles on hand so that my husband can feed the baby if I leave and am gone longer than expected. Also, I've always had to supplement my babies due to various reasons.
Little Unicorn Cotton Muslin 3 – Pack – Morning Glory –
- Receiving Blankets – How did I not know about Muslin receiving blankets my first three pregnancies? The size itself is amazing. I keep one rolled up at all times in my diaper bag to use as a nursing cover or blanket. Since the fabric is so lightweight, my baby doesn't freak out when I nurse her like she does with other blankets. I'm obsessed with these! And, the patterns vary so much. You can find the cutest designs for boys or girls.
Here is more info about Baby Cubby:
The Baby Cubby is for every parent out there who has ever felt overwhelmed or discouraged about becoming a parent. The Baby Cubby team is made up of parents who have been there. They know what it's like and are passionate about encouraging, inspiring, and reminding parents how amazing they are and how important their role is.
The way they do this is by finding the highest quality and safest baby gear to provide to parents in a fun shopping experience. They do things like test strollers on their stroller track, price match every day – even Amazon, offer free shipping nationwide at BabyCubby.com and actively engage with parents via social media and our Cubby Community Blog to discuss some of the difficult topics of parenting.
– always price match, even Amazon, so we know we're getting a great deal
– they carry only the highest quality and safest gear so that we can shop confidently (they spend hundreds of hours researching so we don't have to)
– free Shipping every day at BabyCubby.com over $49


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In continuing the series we started in the last issue we need to continue the overview of different sectors of the beef industry and what it takes to get started. This has obviously struck a nerve considering the responses I have gotten. If you have particular questions concerning this subject please let me know and I'll gladly respond as expediently as I can.
Other Programs
Stocker Cattle Production
As we've discussed, stocker cattle operations are a step between the commercial cow/calf operation and a feedlot. In general, stocker cattle operations receive cattle that have been recently weaned and place these cattle out on grass to grow or gain weight for a period of time prior to shipping to a feedyard. You will see many variations of this concept which may include the following:
1) Stocker operation coupled with a cow/calf operation. In this situation, the rancher weans his calves and separates them from the cows. He must have additional pasture for these cattle so they can be managed as a separate group. Aside from the requirement for extra land this can work well since it makes additional use of other resources such as facilities. This helps maximize the return on his investment in these resources. It also produces more total pounds of beef from his operation. The downside is, as mentioned, the need for additional land. Another potentially complicating factor is the need for especially good fences to keep the cows and newly weaned calves apart unless they can actually be moved some distance from each other. It will also require additional labor and other inputs such as feed, forage and labor but generally these inputs will result in a positive return and contribute to the overall profitability of the operation.
2) Stocker operation by itself. In this operation the rancher buys or receives newly weaned cattle for placement out on grass. These cattle may come from other ranches or out of auction facilities. The first and most important issue the stocker operator has to contend with in these new cattle is handling the weaning and transportation stress and followed by subsequent health issues. This is generally the most difficult as well as the most expensive part of the process. This requires appropriate handling facilities as well as a certain degree of training in diagnosis/detection of disease conditions. If managed properly this type of operation can produce the most beef per acre in many situations. This is especially true if the producer is able to run several turns of cattle per year. What this means is that he purchases cattle to run on a given area or pasture(s). Once he has grown these out and shipped them he procures another set immediately after these and does it again. The ability to accomplish this depends on a lot of factors. Stocker operations are based primarily on the utilization of grass in both winter and summer months. These programs will typically employ the use of winter annuals (wheat, oats, rye, ryegrass) and summer perennials, bermudas, crabgrass or possibly summer annuals such as sorghum sudan grasses or others. Much of this will depend on soil types to determine what will or will not effectively grow on the soil type you have as well as climatic conditions. For instance, there is not a lot of use in attempting to plant grass varieties which require significant moisture levels if you are in a semi arid or arid (low rainfall) area. All this goes to say, the ability to run one or more sets of cattle on a given area will depend on forage availability. In many cases the ability to accomplish this effectively may also depend on the implementation of a good feeding or supplementation program in conjunction with the grazing program. Cost-effective supplementation can accomplish several goals. First, it can enhance weight gains and therefore produce more pounds of beef. Second, it can get the cattle to a predetermined weight faster thus saving interest dollars or allowing for additional turns of cattle. Third, it can allow more cattle to be produced per acre at one given time or it can relieve some of the grazing pressure so that grass is available for future cattle.
Stocker operations can also procure cattle in different manners. One, obviously is for the operator to purchase the cattle himself. This takes a lot of capital. In today's market with 400 to 500 lb. steers costing $.98 per lb. or about $440.00 per head. This means purchasing enough cattle to stock a 100 acre pasture (~1 head per acre) one time would cost around $44,000.00; more if you stock more densely because you use a supplementation program (possibly as much as 2 to 2.5 head per acre). A second method is to allow someone else to own the cattle and you simply graze them for the owner. This is called a custom stocker or grazing operation. You go through the same motions only that you do it for a person that owns the cattle and you are paid for your resources, inputs and time. This is normally done on a gain basis ($X per head per lb), on a cost plus (operating costs plus a profit margin) basis or possibly on a flat fee basis ($X per head per month). There are as many possibilities as there are combinations of cattle owners and custom growers. If you are new to this, be sure to find out what type of agreements are common in your area and get as much background as you can. Secondly, DO NOT enter into an agreement of this nature without a written contract. Also, before you sign such a contract, have it reviewed by an attorney. Unfortunately, the good old days of operating on a handshake are long gone, even in agriculture.
One of the big positives behind a stocker cattle operation is that cash flow is more steady. In other words, you get paid more than once per year depending on the number of turns of cattle you run. This normally makes wives and bankers much happier.
All this said, to reiterate for a second, if you are going to enter into a stocker operation you need the following resources.
a. The land to operate (either owned or rented)
b. The necessary money to buy the cattle (may not be necessary if doing this on a custom basis) and to pay expenses (medicine, feed, hay, labor, etc.)
c. Facilities to receive and process the cattle as well as to process any sick cattle. This would include a loading chute, the necessary pens and a squeeze chute (or at least a headgate).
d. Labor availability to check cattle daily (more than once is preferable for several days after they first arrive).
e. Feed or commodity storage, a way to put out the feed (5 gallon buckets, tractor with front-end loader, feeder/mixer wagon, self feeders, etc.) and a place to provide feed or supplement to the cattle (troughs/bunks).
f. Facilities to gather and load cattle back onto a truck.
g. A truck and trailer to haul cattle if necessary.
While this appears substantial it's really not any more than is required to operate any other type of cattle operation and possibly less, especially since the size of facilities does not have to be as great as when you are running a herd of mature cows.
1) Preconditioning or backgrounding operation. Preconditioning (Precon) or backgrounding operations are a somewhat new animal to the industry. They have, in fact been around for quite some time but they have not really seen the popularity of recent years. Precon operations fall between one production stage and another. For instance, between the ranch and a stocker operation, the ranch and a feedyard or a stocker operation and the feedyard. Sometimes these may be referred to as a warm-up yard or a growing yard which are slightly different in their orientation. A properly managed precon operation is probably one of the most intense type of operations in the industry. The main reason for this is that ALL the cattle in the facility are relatively new cattle and are therefore subject to being checked regularly and are still showing much of the stress effects from weaing and transportation. In many cases, these cattle stay in the facility only 30 to 60 days maximum. The function of a precon operation is to receive the cattle, provide the necessary injections and other processes (dehorning, castration, branding, etc.), get them over stress effects, adapt them to eating from a bunk and drinking from a waterer and in general, prepare (or precondition) them for the next phase in their journey. This is generally most useful in cattle heading to the feedyard since the transition from pasture to a typical commercial feedyard is so significant.
In many cases precon operations are operated in combination with stocker or grazing operations or feedyards. A custom, stand-alone preconditioning operation is difficult to get started because of the cost involved (normally, medicine cost per head is significant as related to the short period of time they are there). Additionally, there is not a clear-cut realization of the demand for this service since it is relatively new and procurement of cattle by a new operation can be a challenge. Secondly, if an operator does not have a well-established reputation or track record, many cattle owners are hesitant to place cattle there because of the uncertainty of how the cattle will perform. For these reasons, as mentioned before, precon operations are often operated together with other entities to help spread out some of the risk. The resources and facilities needed are very similar to a stocker operation with the exception of needing more pens and a bunk feeding set-up similar to a feedyard. Starting cattle on feed is equally important to health management of the cattle since the two are directly related. These two facets are inseparable. Additionally, while record keeping is important in any operation, it is especially important in a preconditioning operation. When you examine the medical data collected on a group of newly received cattle any you then recognize that ALL the cattle in the operation are newly received cattle, a 2000 head precon operation will generate as much information as a much larger (18,000 to 20,000 head) feedyard. It is vitally important that a precon operation track health data closely to first, aid with overall health management and secondly to track costs.
Precon operations are challenging to say the least and are not to be entered into lightly. If you are considering getting into the business and do not have extensive experience in health management of new cattle as well as feed management, etc., this is NOT the place to start.
2) Feedyards. Unless you have a LOT of money and a lot of experience, a feedyard is also not where you want to start. It is true, you can run a lot more cattle on a lot less land but with this stocking intensity comes some significant concerns. One is the implementation of an intensive feeding program. You provide all the nutrients that the cattle require. There is no grazing. This means you have to have extensive feed storage, processing and delivery systems in place. Pens will require an extensive bunk system as well as waterers for the cattle to drink from. A second consideration, and this is becoming more significant all the time is environmental impact of a confined animal feeding operation (CAFO). Large feedyards have substantial water run-off control systems to contain the movement of particulate matter from the operation into the environement.
Feedyards must also have extensive marketing programs in place to insure maximization of sales price in any given market. Finally, they must also have a detailed record keeping system in place. Even very small operations require extensive management and a lot of money to operate.
Many opportunities exist for entry into the cattle industry. Do as much research as you can to determine what sector is of greatest interest to you. Take a detailed look at the resources you have available. Allow yourself room to make some mistakes (they will happen). Above all, start slow and carefully.
Dr. Steve Blezinger is a nutritional and management consultant with an office in Sulphur Springs, TX. He can be reached at P. O. Box 653 Sulphur Springs, TX 75483, by phone at (903) 885-7992 or by e-mail at sblez@ peoplescom.net.
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The nine-member Northeastern Jurisdiction Committee on Appeals has wrapped up nearly 3 hours of testimony and questioning, and the fate of Frank Schaefer now rests in their hands.
The committee, meeting near Baltimore, heard the Rev. Scott Campbell, counsel for Schaefer, say that their appeal was based on the defrocking penalty given Schaefer, not the 30-day suspension for performing his son's same-gender wedding.
Schaefer was found guilty Nov. 19, 2013, of violating the church's Book of Discipline for conducting that wedding, and for violating the church's order and discipline.
Counsel for Schaefer, the Rev. Scott Campbell, argued to the committee that the defrocking was based on possible behavior that Schaefer may—or may not—do in the future, namely, "upholding the Book of Discipline in its entirety."
"The church is not at liberty to add a penalty based on what a person may or may not do," Campbell said. "The act of marrying his son was the only thing he was on trial for."
Campbell repeatedly told the committee that the trial court was not at liberty to "mix and match" penalities for Schaefer. Citing Judicial Council ruling #240, Campbell said the trial court had to choose which penalty to affix to the case, but it could not do both suspension and termination.
"That was an egregious error in church law," Campbell said.
Schaefer, who said before the hearing began that he was "cautiously optimistic" about the outcome, spoke with reporters after the hearing.
"I felt it went pretty well," he said. "I felt very good about the testimony my counsel gave, and I felt good about the questions that were raised, particularly of the counsel for the church—I felt they were somewhat critical and that gave me a good feeling."
One question from the committee caught Schaefer's attention. It was asked by the Rev. Lyssette Perez, a clergy member from the Greater New Jersey Annual (regional) Conference, who wondered what the impact would be on the church if he was re-instated in light of the debate that is on-going in the church.
"I thought my counsel's response to that was brilliant," said Schaefer. "He said, 'You have to look at the law.' We have to abide by our own rules in the church, and that gives us some security. That's what we're trying to do. We're trying to say that this penalty that I received was not in line with our church law. So I'm hopeful the panel will do exactly that: look at the law and come up with a just decision."
The Rev. Christopher Fisher, counsel for the church, said in his statement that the only items the appeals committee could rule on were: 1) was there a question of guilt; and 2) were there any errors of law in the trial.
"Were there errors of law?" Fisher asked. "We submit, no."
Fisher said that Judicial Council ruling 240 was not applicable in this case because it was written before the current language in the Book of Discipline took effect. The current Discipline, he said, allows for church courts to fix penalties over a wide range.
Fisher also said that the penalty of termination was appropriate because Schaefer had, both in word and in deed, said that he could not uphold the Discipline in its entirety. United Methodist ordained elders, he said, take vows to uphold the Discipline, and Schaefer had broken those vows.
"The appellant (Schaefer) argues that no one could uphold the entire Discipline," Fisher said. "Are we to say that thousands of pastors have answered this question dishonestly?"
Fisher said that it was the church's opinion that the appeal shouldn't be heard at all, and he requested a dismissal of the appeal and an affirmation of the church court's ruling in its entirety.
Campbell asked the committee that they uphold the 30-day suspension, but that they declare the defrocking "null and void and of no effect."
If re-instated, Schaefer will have his credentials returned to him and will be called "the Rev." again. He will, however, not be reappointed to the Iona UMC in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference since a new pastor will be appointed to that church July 1, he said.
"I sense that the (committee) knows that this decision will have an impact on how we decide in the future, not only at trials but what we do with the Disciples as we get to our 2016 General Conference," said Schaefer. "It will have an impact. This would be a great, symbolic gesture and sign for the church that the church is considering change."
If the appeals committee upholds the trial court's November decision, Campbell said he would appeal it to the Judicial Council, the church's highest court. Both sides in the case have the right to appeal the decision to the Judicial Council, he said.
The appeals committee, made up of four clergy persons, one diaconal minister, one full-time local pastor and three lay persons, is now in deliberations in the case. They have up to 20 days to issue a written ruling, but it is expected a decision will be announced Saturday morning, June 21.
Twitter Screen Captures via Reconciling Ministries Network. Follow conversations through hashtags #FrankSchaefer #StandWithFrank and #MinistryOnTrial.


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Spits notes: OHL team backs Battalion relocation, Sanvido shines
The Windsor Spitfires joined every other team in the Ontario Hockey League Monday in approving the relocation of the Brampton Battalion.
The Battalion, who joined the league as an expansion franchise in 1998, will relocate to North Bay for the 2013-14 season where that city's Centennials team left for Saginaw in 2002 after two decades.
"The group from North Bay put a strong presentation together and it was clear that they will have great fan, corporate and city support," Spitfires president and head coach Bob Boughner said. "We look forward to having the OHL back in North Bay."
Owner Scott Abbott, who was a co-inventor of the Trivial Pursuit board game, struggled to make the franchise viable in Brampton.
Earlier this month, Abbott agreed to the move the franchise to North Bay and signed a 15-year lease if the city could guarantee 2,000 season tickets for the first three seasons. The town already had more the 2,100 signed on for season tickets.
There will also be $12 million in renovations to the Memorial Gardens that will reconfigure the ice surface to 200 by 85 feet from the current 190 by 90 feet, add 10 corporate suites, improve dressing rooms and add a new video scoreboard.
While the club has moved, the league has not said what, if any, readjustment to the current divisions and conferences would be necessary because of the move.
Sanvido close
Spitfires second-round picked Patrick Sanvido has quickly established himself as a regular this season with the club and has played in all 23 games.
So, some were surprised when the 16-year-old defenceman, who is six-foot-six and 220 pounds, was not selected for Ontario's team for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge next month.
"It was right down to the wire," Ontario head coach Troy Smith said. "There was a group of about 10 defencemen and four battling for that last spot and he was one of them."
It's a testament to how deep this Ontario roster is.
Windsor's second-round pick in the April draft, Sanvido was the 14th defencemen taken and only seven could make the Ontario team. That doesn't include Belle River's Aaron Ekblad, who is again eligible for the team after being granted exceptional status in 2011 and being taken first overall.
Nishi's niche
Former Spitfires goaltender Michael Nishi, who now plays for the Gatineau Olympiques, was named as one of the three stars of the week in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
The 19-year-old Nishi, who also had stops in the OHL in Sault Ste. Marie and Ottawa, allowed one goal in winning both starts last week and posted his first shutout for the Olympiques.
For the season, Nishi has a 6-10-1-0 record with a 3.64 goals-against average and .888 save percentage.
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Tory spin doctors have introduced a new rule barring bald men from becoming leader of the Conservative Party.
From 1st March, any MP showing signs of male pattern baldness will automatically be excluded from leadership contests.
Tory spokesman Rupert Hirsute said the change had been instigated by the lack of success of previous Conservative Party leaders William Hague and Iain Duncan Smith.
"Let's face it, they were both slap-heads and they were both shite," he commented. "From now on, only men with a full head of hair will be allowed to lose our elections for us."
Current Tory leader Michael Howard welcomed the change in regulations. "I think a few more hairdressers and barbers will vote for us if the main face of the party has a hairstyle," he said.
However, a spokesman for the Citizen's Advice Bureau described the move as "discriminatory and illegal".
"You can't make a connection between baldness and failure," he said. "Look at Kevin Keegan and Graham Taylor."


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S: Family 2011
BC: Merry Christmas 2011 Love, George, Lena, & Render
FC: Family | 2011
1: "Only love can be divided endlessly, and still not diminish." - Anne Morrow Lindbergh
2: "Don't count the years...count the memories."
5: Love is hard, and worth waiting for. But even better not to wait for it, but to walk up to it every day, stare over it's cliffs.... ....and jump | "Being a parent means never having a minute... yet always making a moment." - Michael Nolan
6: love isn't something you feel..."
7: ...its something you do."
10: A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words
11: Cherish The Ones You Love
20: "He holds her hand,She holds his heart."
21: To the world you may be one person, but to me you are the world.


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Need more information..
I'm guessing from your post that you have two partitions on the same physical system. And you have BRMS running where?
When you try to delete you should be using command WRKMEDBRM (or GO BRMMED and use option #2). Are you getting some error when you try to delete?
If you "display" using option #5 in WRKMEDBRM what do you see for the "system" on the volumes you are trying to delete – and what about the other volumes?
If you have BRMS handling both partitions and you really want to "allocate" certain volumes you might be able to specify the system for the tape. I think you also could (1) create a new media class of the same density for yout tapes (Go BRMMED, option #1) and (2) assign volumes to that class. (3) copy the media policy you use for the partition and change the copy to use the new media class. (4) change the backup control group you use for that partition to use the new media policy.
Last question, if you are using a media library and barcoded tapes (you didn't say what you had), do you care about what volumes are being used for what? BRMS will use the scratch tapes as needed and should report to you what was used.
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